[arm-allstar] Allstar & WiFi Hotspots - Monthly Cost

Buddy Brannan buddy at brannan.name
Tue Aug 14 23:04:15 EDT 2018 

Hi there,

I’m intrigued by this. 

Deploying a portable node again, because moving…and a way to have always on without carrying around yet another box, even though it’s a tiny box, intrigues. 

So. This dongle works without additional drivers beyond PPP and usb_modeswitch (a package with which I am not familiar)? One thing I’m not clear on from the description though; does it use a standard SIM card, like the big size from ages ago cellphones, or does it use a nano SIM (like in newer iPhone/Pixel/iPad/thingies)? And of course, being able to connect via wifi or cellular networks as required would be terribly handy. 

Vy 73, de KB5ELV

> On Aug 14, 2018, at 4:53 PM, Lawrence Roney via arm-allstar <arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
> 
> Instead of using a cellular to Wi-Fi hotspot, I have had success using a 4G LTE Huawei E397u-53 USB cellular dongle plugged directly into the Raspberry Pi.  These run $21 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0769Z7WVQ/)    Pros: It offers a direct USB connection that is powered directly off the Pi versus a separate device that is broadcasting Wi-Fi signals into an already RF "heavy" environment.
> 
> I activated the $10 per month, no commitment, 2GB plan with T-Mobile.   This gives you unlimited data. The first 2G bytes is at high speed before it throttles you down to 256Kb/sec.  This would still be ample to support backhaul from the repeater to an Allstar hub machine.   
> 
> To get it working, you basically need to:
> - Load the "usb_modeswitch" and "ppp" packages into ArchLinux with pacman.
> - Configure /etc/chatscript  and  /etc/ppp/peers files with the T-Mobile (or another GSM carrier's) APN information
> - Set the Pi to establish the cellular data connection on startup.
> - I also configured a DTMF code to re-establish (and drop) the connection if needed 
> 
> Notes and caveats:
> - Correct. There is no port forwarding supported.  You will want the repeater to connect outbound to another node or hub.  This is usually not an issue and you probably don't want people connecting directly in to the mountain top anyway.
> 
> - Make sure you have a good power supply as you are adding another device that is drawing power from the Pi directly.
> 
> - It appears to work with AT&T (I successfully popped the SIM out of my phone and changed the APN information)
> 
> - For remote management, you can setup a reverse SSH connection to another node or hub machine as long as the other machine is reachable from the Internet.  Again, I programed the reverse SSH setup into the initial connection script.
> 
> - As another author suggested, at 10,000 feet cell service could be difficult or non-existent so check with a regular cell phone, using the same carrier, before you get too excited.
> 
> - I have not used this for a full blown repeater, but it has worked well on a simplex node over a week with no issues and no service drops.  It also works well in a portable setup.
> 
> I can clean up and share my implementation notes if you are interested.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Lawrence - N6YFN
> N6YFN at arrl.nets
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: arm-allstar <arm-allstar-bounces at hamvoip.org> On Behalf Of arm-allstar-request at hamvoip.org
> Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2018 1:15 PM
> To: arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
> Subject: arm-allstar Digest, Vol 51, Issue 32
> 
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> 
> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Update on hamvoip registration/dns servers (Doug Crompton)
>   2. Scripts (srogers)
>   3. Re: Any one remember : Intruder Alert (Doug Crompton)
>   4. Re: Any one remember : Intruder Alert (Justin Reed)
>   5. Re: Scripts (Tony Ross)
>   6. Allstar & WiFi Hotspots - Monthly Cost Guesstimate?
>      (Peter Buckley)
>   7. Re: Update on hamvoip registration/dns servers (James Hause)
>   8. Re: Allstar & WiFi Hotspots - Monthly Cost Guesstimate?
>      (Jay Urish)
>   9. Re: Allstar & WiFi Hotspots - Monthly Cost Guesstimate?
>      (Chris Viningre)
>  10. Re: Allstar & WiFi Hotspots - Monthly Cost Guesstimate?
>      (Robert Forest)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:53:19 -0400
> From: Doug Crompton <wa3dsp at gmail.com>
> To: ARM Allstar <arm-allstar at hamvoip.org>
> Subject: [arm-allstar] Update on hamvoip registration/dns servers
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAMp6vsuyg2AJ9C0z_M6NaRooPXdaOnZ-AEORX3bigD3yKQJ78A at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> 
> Just a quick update on our switchover.
> 
> An interim update V1.5.3-40 has been released as a preliminary update. All users should update now.
> 
> This makes DNS lookup the default for all V1.5 hamvoip users and changes the way dns-query works. If you already have added the DNS line in your rpt.conf file it can stay without any consequence as it is the default. At the moment except for those issued manual registration lines from us we are still depending on the Allstar registration which is rather flaky.
> 
> Everything is in place and working and a release to allow users to register with hamvoip will be happening hopefully later today. A few are testing now. If you have a node that is currently not registering please give us the node(s) and we can send you a register statement to get you back online.
> 
> As of today the allstar registration server is still working poorly and many nodes are not registering or registering very slowly.
> 
> Again thank you for your patience. When this is all up and running we will have a very solid independent hamvoip system in place.
> 
> 
> *73 Doug*
> 
> *WA3DSP*
> 
> *http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:55:49 -0400
> From: srogers <srogers at epbfi.com>
> To: arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
> Subject: [arm-allstar] Scripts
> Message-ID: <mailman.257.1534277701.2753.arm-allstar at hamvoip.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> 
> I would like to dabble and learn more about script writing for Allstar.? I have looked through existing scripts to start with and pick up what I can.? However, I would still like to learn more detailed info.? Anybody have any suggestions (books, tutorials, guides, etc) related to script writing.
> ThanksSteve
> 
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:57:12 -0400
> From: Doug Crompton <wa3dsp at gmail.com>
> To: ARM Allstar <arm-allstar at hamvoip.org>
> Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Any one remember : Intruder Alert
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAMp6vstP2QMSd4-jJ9GWCm+n_uPtb-L9VgEXh9VD605bT7on2w at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> 
> Angelo,
> 
> This would be very easy to do using either the USB FOB GPIO or the Pi GPIO. It actually would be better to use the FOB GPIO as this would make for cleaner wiring and accessibility. If you want I will write something up for you and others at least an example.
> 
> 
> *73 Doug*
> 
> *WA3DSP*
> 
> *http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, Aug 13, 2018 at 11:59 PM, "Angelo Glorioso via arm-allstar" < arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Guys,
>> 
>>  With the raspberry pi have the extra gpios, is it possible to setup 
>> a way to notify a repeater owner if someone is getting into their 
>> cabinet???? Just asking.
>> 
>> 
>> Angelo
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> arm-allstar mailing list
>> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
>> http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
>> 
>> Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:10:47 -0500
> From: Justin Reed <celltech161 at gmail.com>
> To: ARM Allstar <arm-allstar at hamvoip.org>
> Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Any one remember : Intruder Alert
> Message-ID: <ECF16B5E-5DC7-4162-AA1C-88676DC72F36 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=utf-8
> 
> I?m definitely interested. 
> 
> Justin
> NV8Q
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Aug 14, 2018, at 11:57 AM, Doug Crompton via arm-allstar <arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Angelo,
>> 
>> This would be very easy to do using either the USB FOB GPIO or the Pi 
>> GPIO. It actually would be better to use the FOB GPIO as this would 
>> make for cleaner wiring and accessibility. If you want I will write 
>> something up for you and others at least an example.
>> 
>> 
>> *73 Doug*
>> 
>> *WA3DSP*
>> 
>> *http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Mon, Aug 13, 2018 at 11:59 PM, "Angelo Glorioso via arm-allstar" < 
>> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi Guys,
>>> 
>>> With the raspberry pi have the extra gpios, is it possible to setup 
>>> a way to notify a repeater owner if someone is getting into their 
>>> cabinet???? Just asking.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Angelo
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 
>>> arm-allstar mailing list
>>> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
>>> http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
>>> 
>>> Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> arm-allstar mailing list
>> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
>> http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
>> 
>> Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 11:25:29 -0700
> From: Tony Ross <ynotssor at yahoo.com>
> To: arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
> Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Scripts
> Message-ID: <672560ca-3a18-37d9-7be6-d35102d090bc at yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> 
> On 08/14/2018 09:55 AM, "srogers via arm-allstar" wrote:
>> I would like to dabble and learn more about script writing for Allstar.? I have looked through existing scripts to start with and pick up what I can.? However, I would still like to learn more detailed info.? Anybody have any suggestions (books, tutorials, guides, etc) related to script writing.
> 
> http://google.com/search?q=bash+shell+scripting
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 19:26:22 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Peter Buckley <skierinavon at yahoo.com>
> To: "arm-allstar at hamvoip.org" <arm-allstar at hamvoip.org>
> Subject: [arm-allstar] Allstar & WiFi Hotspots - Monthly Cost
> 	Guesstimate?
> Message-ID: <1566913481.7895186.1534274782640 at mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> To all experienced Allstar Hotspot Users....
> Am looking for a WiFi Monthly Cost - Guesstimate..
> We have a Mountain Top Repeater location (10,000 ft.) that can be easily supported by a WiFi Hotspot into Allstar.Plan is (then) to have that Mountain Top Allstar Node - connect into our Ham Club Allstar Server/Hub already online and connected to the Internet via a cable modem.
> Am aware that total monthly WiFi/Hotspot cost will be dependent on the total amount of monthly data passed through the Mountain Top Allstar Node.
> Am looking for some comments from Hams who are using HotSpots today (to get some idea on cost) and which WiFi HotSpot providers provide the best monthly deal.Verizon? AT&T? Sprint?? Those vendor Hotspots - all available in our geography.
> Thanks!
> -pete? N0ECT
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 7
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:41:56 -0500
> From: James Hause <hausejd at gmail.com>
> To: ARM Allstar <arm-allstar at hamvoip.org>
> Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Update on hamvoip registration/dns servers
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAPoL7-FSVPxzY+s6aVPaieVeV6ZAdwKLGrnRarQ+-pc7hOoM0Q at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> 
> Thanks for all the hard work !
> Just did the update at 2:40 CDT.  All went well.
> Jim, KF5LBT
> 
> On Tue, Aug 14, 2018 at 11:53 AM, "Doug Crompton via arm-allstar" < arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
> 
>> Just a quick update on our switchover.
>> 
>> An interim update V1.5.3-40 has been released as a preliminary update. 
>> All users should update now.
>> 
>> This makes DNS lookup the default for all V1.5 hamvoip users and 
>> changes the way dns-query works. If you already have added the DNS 
>> line in your rpt.conf file it can stay without any consequence as it 
>> is the default. At the moment except for those issued manual 
>> registration lines from us we are still depending on the Allstar registration which is rather flaky.
>> 
>> Everything is in place and working and a release to allow users to 
>> register with hamvoip will be happening hopefully later today. A few 
>> are testing now. If you have a node that is currently not registering 
>> please give us the node(s) and we can send you a register statement to 
>> get you back online.
>> 
>> As of today the allstar registration server is still working poorly 
>> and many nodes are not registering or registering very slowly.
>> 
>> Again thank you for your patience. When this is all up and running we 
>> will have a very solid independent hamvoip system in place.
>> 
>> 
>> *73 Doug*
>> 
>> *WA3DSP*
>> 
>> *http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> arm-allstar mailing list
>> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
>> http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
>> 
>> Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
>> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 8
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 15:07:00 -0500
> From: Jay Urish <jay at unixwolf.net>
> To: arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
> Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Allstar & WiFi Hotspots - Monthly Cost
> 	Guesstimate?
> Message-ID: <91f1c365-9672-4100-cf17-ca32ac6cbac6 at unixwolf.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> 
> Could you do P2P wireless from the mountain to town and piggyback somebodies broadband?
> 
> 
> 
> On 08/14/2018 02:26 PM, "Peter Buckley via arm-allstar" wrote:
>> To all experienced Allstar Hotspot Users....
>> Am looking for a WiFi Monthly Cost - Guesstimate..
>> We have a Mountain Top Repeater location (10,000 ft.) that can be easily supported by a WiFi Hotspot into Allstar.Plan is (then) to have that Mountain Top Allstar Node - connect into our Ham Club Allstar Server/Hub already online and connected to the Internet via a cable modem.
>> Am aware that total monthly WiFi/Hotspot cost will be dependent on the total amount of monthly data passed through the Mountain Top Allstar Node.
>> Am looking for some comments from Hams who are using HotSpots today (to get some idea on cost) and which WiFi HotSpot providers provide the best monthly deal.Verizon? AT&T? Sprint?? Those vendor Hotspots - all available in our geography.
>> Thanks!
>> -pete? N0ECT
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> arm-allstar mailing list
>> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
>> http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
>> 
>> Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 9
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:10:06 -0600
> From: Chris Viningre <chrisviningre at gmail.com>
> To: arm-allstar <arm-allstar at hamvoip.org>
> Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Allstar & WiFi Hotspots - Monthly Cost
> 	Guesstimate?
> Message-ID:
> 	<CA+QqUh=YSe1MBxpKVs4V8b=-pwx5znEkMZWQSBmBd2HVsa-tXQ at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> 
> AT&T will not port forward so no connection remotely. Maybe someone else
> knows a way. Maybe one of the others providers will.
> 
> On Tue, Aug 14, 2018, 1:46 PM "Peter Buckley via arm-allstar" <
> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
> 
>> To all experienced Allstar Hotspot Users....
>> Am looking for a WiFi Monthly Cost - Guesstimate..
>> We have a Mountain Top Repeater location (10,000 ft.) that can be easily
>> supported by a WiFi Hotspot into Allstar.Plan is (then) to have that
>> Mountain Top Allstar Node - connect into our Ham Club Allstar Server/Hub
>> already online and connected to the Internet via a cable modem.
>> Am aware that total monthly WiFi/Hotspot cost will be dependent on the
>> total amount of monthly data passed through the Mountain Top Allstar Node.
>> Am looking for some comments from Hams who are using HotSpots today (to
>> get some idea on cost) and which WiFi HotSpot providers provide the best
>> monthly deal.Verizon? AT&T? Sprint?  Those vendor Hotspots - all available
>> in our geography.
>> Thanks!
>> -pete  N0ECT
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> arm-allstar mailing list
>> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
>> http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
>> 
>> Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 10
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2018 16:12:16 -0400
> From: Robert Forest <73aa4ii at gmail.com>
> To: ARM Allstar <arm-allstar at hamvoip.org>
> Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Allstar & WiFi Hotspots - Monthly Cost
> 	Guesstimate?
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAGtY5=VgZ1hgu=4X-hOxu0DuRaR5Q2RfJEj0XTX7Kd2Z6KRfzw at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> 
> It seems that 10,000 might be too high for a cell signal. If there is a
> cell site up there they might be your only choice.
> 
> On Tue, Aug 14, 2018, 4:09 PM "Jay Urish via arm-allstar" <
> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
> 
>> Could you do P2P wireless from the mountain to town and piggyback
>> somebodies broadband?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 08/14/2018 02:26 PM, "Peter Buckley via arm-allstar" wrote:
>>> To all experienced Allstar Hotspot Users....
>>> Am looking for a WiFi Monthly Cost - Guesstimate..
>>> We have a Mountain Top Repeater location (10,000 ft.) that can be easily
>> supported by a WiFi Hotspot into Allstar.Plan is (then) to have that
>> Mountain Top Allstar Node - connect into our Ham Club Allstar Server/Hub
>> already online and connected to the Internet via a cable modem.
>>> Am aware that total monthly WiFi/Hotspot cost will be dependent on the
>> total amount of monthly data passed through the Mountain Top Allstar Node.
>>> Am looking for some comments from Hams who are using HotSpots today (to
>> get some idea on cost) and which WiFi HotSpot providers provide the best
>> monthly deal.Verizon? AT&T? Sprint?  Those vendor Hotspots - all available
>> in our geography.
>>> Thanks!
>>> -pete  N0ECT
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 
>>> arm-allstar mailing list
>>> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
>>> http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
>>> 
>>> Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> arm-allstar mailing list
>> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org
>> http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
>> 
>> Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Digest Footer
> 
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> arm-allstar mailing list
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> 
> ------------------------------
> 
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> _______________________________________________
> 
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> 
> Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org

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