[arm-allstar] 3 nodes on 1 pi

Fri Dec 24 11:52:46 EST 2021

Thank you David for the info, this is the part I like most about your forum
and your efforts as well as others, honest reporting and facts.
Having your experience shared makes it so much easier to move forward with
an install, no guesswork.
This is really good news. I feel better about using a zero-2.
Thanks
Dave

On Fri, Dec 24, 2021 at 11:38 AM David McGough <kb4fxc at inttek.net> wrote:

>
> Dave,
>
> I'll mention that all I run is WiFi on my production systems.  FOR ME, it
> doesn't skip a beat.  Over the last decade, I've switched completely away
> from wired Ethernet to the node, which was basically a requirement with
> old x86 PCs, running a custom version of the old ACID release of AllStar.
>
> I'm currently EXCLUSIVELY using Ubiquiti LocoM2 APs (which have now about
> DOUBLED in price!!!  GRRRRRRR).  I typically turn the TX power levels on
> all WiFi hardware down to 0 dBm.  I even have these systems in sealed
> Aluminum tower-top mounted cabinets.
>
> Most of my repeaters are Kenwood TKR 750/850 class hardware.  I literally
> mount the RPi3B with USB fob (mostly DMK URIs) and DC-DC power supply
> directly on the repeater chassis, with a single, short wired connection
> going to the DB-25 connector for audio and signaling on the back panel.
> Power comes from the 15-pin ACC connector on the back panel. This is
> simple, neat and self contained.  A few years ago I purchased 50
> polystyrene cases from China at about $1.50 each. The RPi is placed in the
> case to protect it. I drilled some vent holes in the cases and use fairly
> large heatsinks on the SoC chips.
>
> All these sites are co-located with high-power broadcast transmitters.
> The tall towers get direct lightning strikes with each T-storm, and we get
> a lot of them!  Flowing lightning plasma near the towers gives me the most
> grief---I've got photos of charred conduit, feedline insulation, etc.,
> from plasma....But, no repeater or RPi failures in 3+ years now. (Knock on
> wood!!!)  When I first was installing these "latest generation" systems, I
> did has a few DC-DC converter failures. I was using epoxy-encapsulated
> converters at the time.  I've had zero failures since switching to the
> LM2596S converters.
>
>
> 73, David KB4FXC
>
>
> On Fri, 24 Dec 2021, Dave Petrie wrote:
>
> > One more thought, the raspberry pi 3 b plus has the ability to use a
> wired
> > Ethernet port, with shielded cat 5 wire and metal connectors for a noisy
> > environment.
> > I have had too much interference from wifi routers in the past. Just
> > thought of it when I was looking over the new pi-zero.
> > Problem is finding a Pi3 b plus, I can't believe how they have gone up in
> > price. I am in the process of trying to get a usb to com port on my
> > raspberry pi 3 b plus
> > to present itself to my windows 7 computer so i can remotely attach to
> the
> > comport on site to program an attached radio, another good reason i like
> > the raspberry Pi 3 B plus is the number of usb ports.
> > Happy Holidays
> > Dave
> >
> > On Fri, Dec 24, 2021 at 8:45 AM Dave Petrie <wa2kjc at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Just throwing out my thoughts, if you add up what it cost for the
> > > enclosure, metal would be better at a repeater site, and the sd card
> and
> > > the power supplies and sound card to attach a repeater, times 3
> repeaters
> > > at a site, you far exceed the cost of a raspberry pi 3 b plus which
> will
> > > handle 3 nodes with no problem. One of the repeater sites I been
> helping
> > > with for the last three years, has internet via microwave,
> Allstar/Echolink
> > > is a pseudo node so it can be isolated if need be, a UHF repeater on
> the
> > > second node which we call the hub node, that will be used for RF
> linking if
> > > we ever lose the microwave, and the third node is a VHF repeater. The
> > > repeaters are 100w Motorola MTR2000 and there is a 1000 watt paging
> company
> > > at the site along with lots more stuff and we haven't seen any real
> > > challenges. I modified the sound cards and my friends installed
> everything.
> > > So far it's working great. There are three other sites that link in
> with
> > > the same setup and me most of the time via the Internet.
> > > Have a look at some of my documents in my dropbox. I like the Hamvoip
> > > software and how nice it is to be able to get help from this forum.
> IT's
> > > all about having fun with the hobby and helping each other.
> > >
> > >
> https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ftanpv00kcvfqep/AACJdF2sRt2cB5fbbysQmjOca?dl=0
> > >
> > > Happy Holidays
> > > Dave
> > >
> > >
> > > On Thu, Dec 23, 2021 at 11:40 PM "David McGough via ARM-allstar" <
> > > arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
> > >
> > >>
> > >> Hi Jason,
> > >>
> > >> An RPi3B or RPi3B+ should support all 3 nodes. I believe the RPi4B
> issue
> > >> is also resolved in recent boards, hardware revision 1.2 or later.
> > >>
> > >> Also, the new RPi Zero 2 W is an excellent choice for single nodes,
> > >> giving
> > >> all the functionality as the RPi3A+, at least as needed for HamVoIP
> use.
> > >>
> > >> Personally, for co-located repeaters and node radios, I still
> recommend
> > >> only a single node per RPi, even though the software and RPi hardware
> will
> > >> support more than one radio.  This configuration makes isolating the
> > >> grounds, audio and control signals between radios trivial, helping to
> > >> solve potential audio, RF and even lightning surge issues.
> > >>
> > >> Pishop currently has some RPiZ2W boards in stock for $15 each.  Also,
> > >> they're available at MicroCenter, etc.  Here is the PiShop link:
> > >>
> > >> https://www.pishop.us/product/raspberry-pi-zero-2-w/
> > >>
> > >> To add a third node to an existing system, you'll need to add a node
> > >> stanza in the rpt.conf file and a device stanza in the simpleusb.conf
> > >> file.  To support in-coming connections to the node instance, you'll
> need
> > >> to add the node number as an extension to the dialplan [radio-secure]
> > >> stanza, in the extensions.conf file.  Then, restart asterisk and
> setup the
> > >> new node radio config using simpleusb-tune-menu.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Merry Christmas!
> > >>
> > >> 73, David KB4FXC
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Thu, 23 Dec 2021, "john gnatowsky via ARM-allstar" wrote:
> > >>
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > Hey all, i know it's only recommended to run 2 nodes but i have a
> need
> > >> > that would make life much easier if i can run 3 (2 repeaters and 1
> link
> > >> > radio). What needs added/modifed to what files? Are pi3 still the
> way
> > >> to
> > >> > go? Last i heard more than 1 node on pi4 wasn't working right?
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >  John "Jason" Gnatowsky
> > >> >
> > >> > KG4FJC
> > >> >
> > >> > 434-841-9290
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > _______________________________________________
> > >> >
> > >> > ARM-allstar mailing list
> > >> > ARM-allstar at hamvoip.org
> > >> > http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
> > >> >
> > >> > Visit the BBB and RPi2/3/4 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 RPi2/3/4 web page - http://hamvoip.org
> > >>
> > >
> >
>
>