K3MN AllStarLink/Echolink System

The K3MN AllStarLink/EchoLink Radio over Internet Protocol (RoIP) system (a kind donation from Vince, WA3ADI) is a combined application and hardware appliance located remotely from the repeater site. There are some usage guidelines that must be adhered to in order to get the fullest use from the system.

The callsign for the AllStarLink side of the system is K3MN, node number 62654. The callsign for the EchoLink part of the system is K3MN-L.

The system is "incoming only" meaning that user connections are made to the system via the Internet only. Users may not create connections from the RF side of the system. DTMF system commands are not currently enabled at the repeater. RF users are able to participate with incoming Internet connected stations.

When communicating with stations connected via the AllStarLink/EchoLink system, RF users must wait for the repeater carrier to drop before connected stations can talk. Rapid fire RF QSO's will exclude connected users.

The system will identify itself in Morse code per the current FCC requirements. It announces the local time at the top of the hour and does a full verbal identification at the bottom of the hour. Idents occur from 6AM until midnight every day. The system is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

The system is also configured to check the local NOAA weather statements for Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. These statements are played immediately after they are posted by NOAA. Subsequent less verbose warnings about the current weather statements are played at the top of the hour until the weather event has passed or is cancelled. To alert RF listeners to the presence of a weather event or statement, a curtesy tone is appended to any communications that come through the AllStarLink/EchoLink system. This tone is removed after even expires or is cancelled. 

In co-operation with the repeater owners we will be scheduling regular connections to other nets on other repeaters where requested. The ARRL Audio News will also be played once a week on a Sunday afternoon. 

AllStarLink is a network of Amateur Radio repeaters, remote base stations and hot spots accessible to each other via Radio over Internet Protocol. AllStarLink runs on a dedicated computer (including the Rasperry Pi) that you host at your home, radio site or computer center.

It is based on the open source Asterisk PBX running the app_rpt application. App_rpt makes Asterisk a powerful system capable of controlling one or more radios. It provides linking of these radio "nodes" to other systems of similar construction anywhere in the world via VoIP.

Access to the AllStarLink network can be made via your personal AllStarLink node, another node on another repeater or by various software packages available for both Android and iPhone.

EchoLink® software allows licensed Amateur Radio stations to communicate with one another over the Internet, using streaming-audio technology. The program allows worldwide connections to be made between stations, or from computer to station, greatly enhancing Amateur Radio's communications capabilities.

It is much less sophisticated than AllStarLink, has been around for over 30 years and has a significant application support base. Clients for all platforms are available.