
The March meeting program was all about AllStarLink. Dave, KC7MAD started things off by teaching us about classical phone system PBXs and how modern IP-based systems replace them. Telephone switching for a business that used to require a room full of equipment and wires can now be handled by a small computer on the network.
The “PowerPoint” presentation consisted of Jeff, N7CCW taping various notes up to the wall. These combined to show the network topography of both older and modern networks.
Dave passed around some examples of Raspberry Pi-based AllStarLink nodes, which can perform all the functions of a PBX.
These are very inexpensive as well as compact. Any computer that can run Linux can run the software for AllStarLink. To top things off, the door prize at the meeting was a Raspberry Pi, sound card, and other parts required to construct an AllStarLink node.
Next up was Steve, KB7KWK who discussed using the Raspberry Pi with repeaters for AllStarLink, repeater control, and a mesh connection instead of internet. Steve set up a connection to a node in Michigan and made a contact through it. He was also connected to the club repeater, putting the entire contact out there as well.
This was followed by John, KD8PC talking about the comparison between AllStarLink and EchoLink. AllStarLink has many improvements over the older EchoLink system. These include clearer audio and many additional features.
The easiest way to set up an AllStarNode is to have ClearNode do it for you, although that involves extra expense. As an alternative, you can set up a system yourself with a Raspberry Pi and save some money. HamVoip.org has extensive information on AllStarLink.
You don’t need a node just to make a contact through AllStarLink, you can just install the app on your Android or iPhone. Then you just need an AllStarLink account and you’re in business. You can set up the account at AllStarLink.org.
We then took a break at about 7:40, with the meeting resuming at about 8:00 pm.
Steve announced that future meetings, along with this one, will focus on the meeting program and conversation between members rather than conducting business. This is how several of the other clubs in the area do it, and it seems to work well for them.
Most business issues can be handled by the board meetings, and the general meeting will include announcements about those decisions. When an issue requires more input from the membership, we will occasionally include such discussion after the program in the general meeting. The minutes of meetings can always be found on HamClubOnline.
