Using Allstar And The Willamette Valley AREDN Mesh Network To Replace UHF Radios For Linking Repeaters
For almost 20 years, I used dedicated 430 mHz links for linking my multiple repeater sites with my home station (which is where my internet connection was for IRLP and EchoLink). Here's how the system looked:
It worked reasonably well but there were times the links were less than ideal (i.e. noisy and phase distorted) and such times were becoming more and more frequent.
It was becoming obvious to me that after such a long time in operation (and noting the degradation of performance of the links) it was probably time to consider performing some serious maintenance on the antennas and perhaps feedlines. I have also been wanting to obtain Internet access at my sites in order to have better control of the system using software I developed (http://www.arcomcontrollers.com/WebRCP) and this might be a good time to consider adding wireless Internet to the tower.
About the time I started planning the required work, I had a conversation with another ham regarding the AREDN Mesh Network . This is a high speed digital network that does not rely on the internet and is implemented solely on Amateur Radio frequencies within the microwave bands. Here in Oregon, there is a local group very much involved in AREDN and have established a large network - Willamette Valley Mesh Network and they have been my mentors in getting my repeater system on the network.
I became a believer and decided that this was the way to go so I started the process of replacing the UHF RF Links with 5.8 gHz digital ones on the Willamette Valley Mesh Network. This would mean that I would need some sort of VoiP application and, even though I had run an IRLP/EchoIRLP node for nearly 20 years, it seemed an expensive proposition as each site would require a Raspberry Pi and IRLP Interface Board. Now, as most of us know, Raspberry Pi's are very reasonably priced and affordable but the IRLP interface board is around $100 US. Furthermore, not only didn't I need my nodes to be publicly accessable, I really didn’t WANT my link system to be publicly accessible nor require any 3rd party involvement so this ruled out IRLP. Echolink was another option but it is also a publicly accessable network and it only runs under Windows©. As I am not a fan of running remote Windows computers and being well versed in Linux, I chose to go with Allstar.
Allstar offers some distinct advantages over the available options:
- It is open source and not dependent on one sole source
- It offered many capabilities that would make management of my system easier
- You can set up totally private nodes that don’t require the involvement of any 3rd party but still allows for designated "outside" nodes access.
- The hardware needed to interface to radios/external controllers was easy to fabricate or you could choose from several very reasonably priced commercially available interfaces
For my interfaces, I chose to go with one available from Repeater-Builders (http://www.repeater-builder.com/products/usb-rim-lite.html) for only $50 and it plugged directly into the Arcom RC210 Repeater Controllers that I use. So I bought enough to build out my new system. I had several Raspberry Pi3’s laying around so my hardware needs were all set.
I spent the next few weeks learning Allstar and (especially) how to configure it to meet my initial need of linking various repeater sites together via a common hub. I still wanted to be able to tie IRLP/EchoLink into my system so the hub concept seemed the most efficient way to do so. During this time, I learned many of the tricks needed in order to fine tune things to my needs and I was able to deploy my system. Here’s how it looks today:
I will leave the ins & outs of the hardware used for the AREDN system as that referenced in my earlier link but it has proven to be reliable and well-performing. I highly recommend it. I am also glad that some of my sites provided a means to expand the Willamette Valley Mesh Network into areas previously uncovered.
My Allstar nodes are private and not part of the public Allstar network and all nodes are run within the AREDN Network, which doesn't suffer the pitfalls of the internet (hacking, downtime, etc). And it's all done on Amateur radio frequencies.
Over the coming weeks, I will be adding more content, including detailed descriptions (as well as the code/scripts) of special things my Allstar system does, such as weekly Newsline broadcasts, provide wireless access points to the Willamette Valley Mesh Network (useful when you're servicing something - all you need is a webbrowser with wireless capability). I also take advantage of an NTP server on our network to keep the controller clock and calendar accurate, easily and without the need for intervention. It's completely automated! (as are my Newsline broadcasts).
Be sure to check back often for additional content!
73,
Ken, AH6LE