[arm-allstar] AllStar reliability -- was: dtmf macros for repeater control

[David McGough]

Hi Willem,

The "latest" solution I'm using for repeater and RPi2 power includes this 
hardware:

Power supply for the RPi2 and repeater:
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Mean-Well/LRS-350-12

Power supply for the RPi2:
http://www.mini-box.com/picoUPS-120-12V-DC-micro-UPS-battery-backup
Generic SLA battery, like: http://www.ebay.com/itm/400775437151
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170899169185

I'm powering the repeaters (Kenwood TKR 750/850) directly from the
mean-well switcher, it has a variable output voltage pot which I've turned
up to about 14V.  The mini-ups, SLA battery and 5V DC-DC converter supply 
high-reliability power to the RPi2.  Note that I solderer the 5V converter 
leads directly to the RPi2 PCB!

With this config, I'm seeing the same level of reliability with the RPi2
that I have with PC's.  I've found a very good torture test for the RPi2
PS is to plug in a 1 amp USB load and then perform a Linux kernel compile
with "make -j 5" ....If the compile succeeds without lockup/reboot, you
should be good to go.

73, David KB4FXC



On Sun, 27 Dec 2015, Willem Schreuder wrote:

> On Sun, 27 Dec 2015, David McGough wrote:
> 
> > So, obviously, I'm sold on the AllStar solution--hence why I'm investing
> > so much time helping to improve and promote it.
> 
> David, I am similarly sold on this as the solution.  To the good points 
> you made, I would add the ability to relink nodes using alternative paths 
> which would not be possible with hardware links.  I have yet to have a 
> node fail due to a software issue, and so far no hard drive or similar 
> failures (touch wood).  My CentOS boxes at the office often have uptimes 
> of several years.
> 
> I am a little concerned about the rPi based machines since I have had some 
> rPi failures in other applications due to bad power, although my rPi 
> AllStar node has been continuously since I first booted it.  It is 
> probably to soon to tell, but I'd be curious to know what others' 
> experience with rPi nodes are in terms of reliability.  (Probably the 
> wrong list to bring this up.)
> 
> 73 -Willem
> 
> ================================================================
> Dr. Willem A. Schreuder,  President,  Principia Mathematica
> Address:  445 Union Blvd, Suite 230,  Lakewood, CO  80228, USA
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