[arm-allstar] Boot from Raspberry Pi 3B+ USB Stick

[Kevin Custer]

Howdy Jeff,

Okay - so you're using one of my radio adapter interfaces. <grin>  
Obviously - I wasn't expecting that since thought you purchased it from 
"Repeater Builder".  I know it's tough to keep straight, but I don't 
sell products under the RB name, even though I own the web domain (RB 
website), and "Repeater Builder" is a registered trademark that I own.  
My products are sold under the Masters Communications branding.

Anyway - the RA Series interfaces that have the added LM386 
amplification like your RA-40 can require more current from the USB 
power source.  As such, you have to accommodate for that, and it seems 
you're well on your way to doing that.

Please let us know how you make out when the powering gets updated.

Thanks,
Kevin W3KKC

On 1/2/2021 5:11 PM, Jeff Hochberg wrote:
> Hi Kevin,
>
> Thanks for the response. Right out of the gate, the only purpose the 
> RPi will serve is providing EchoLink to our users. The RPi that's been 
> running at the repeater site is/was running svxlink purely for 
> EchoLink service. Since it has been so unreliable, I am going to swap 
> out the power supply with one that's designed specifically for a 
> Raspberry Pi as opposed to the generic one that was originally installed.
>
> All that will be connected to the RPi is a USB sound card interface 
> that has a connection directly to our RLC Club Deluxe repeater 
> controller.
>
> I'm fairly certain this is the model we're using:
>
> http://www.masterscommunications.com/products/radio-adapter/ra40.html 
> <http://www.masterscommunications.com/products/radio-adapter/ra40.html>
>
> The controller links EchoLink to our 2m analog repeater (most of the 
> time) and we link in a 220 MHz repeater during our nets which take 
> place a couple of times a week.
>
> We are not using a RIM at all at this time, though it is something 
> we've considered.
>
> We did buy an RTCM at one point with the intent of using it for 
> site-linking it at a remote receiver site, but were never able to 
> secure a physical location, so it's been sitting around with nothing 
> to do. I know MicroNode is no longer in business, so we likely won't 
> be using it since it would be difficult (if not impossible) to replace 
> if it were to fail. That said, we would likely go with a RIM if/when 
> we are able to secure a location for a remote receiver.
>
> ***************************************************
> Georgia Digital: http://dmr.georgiadigital.net/ipsc 
> <http://dmr.georgiadigital.net/ipsc>
> GeorgiaDMR.net on Groups.io: https://groups.io/g/GeorgiaDMR 
> <https://groups.io/g/GeorgiaDMR>
> Appalachian Trail Golden Packet: https://atgp.groups.io/g/main 
> <https://atgp.groups.io/g/main>
> ***************************************************
>
> Jeff Hochberg
> W4JEW
> Atlanta, GA
> 404-304-4575
> jeff at w4jew.com <mailto:jeff at w4jew.com>
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 2, 2021 at 8:01 AM Kevin Custer <kevin at kc-wireless.com 
> <mailto:kevin at kc-wireless.com>> wrote:
>
>     Jeff,
>
>     If you are using the RB RIM (not a lite version - but the full
>     blown RIM that's packaged like the URI), because of its design, it
>     takes a good bit of DC current.  One reason is because of the
>     onboard DC-DC converter (charge pump) to create a higher voltage
>     for the audio amplifiers. Obviously - this current has to come
>     from the Raspberry Pi and its power supply.  This additional
>     current draw may be taxing your power supply making the system
>     unstable.  As has been mentioned previously, powering may be the
>     cause of your instability.
>
>     If you're using one of the "Lite" versions - then this information
>     doesn't apply, because they draw the same as any other radio
>     adapter - probably less.
>
>     All of AllStar compatible USB radio interface modules that
>     Repeater Builder builds use a genuine C-Media CM119A. IMHO - over
>     time - this has been proven to be the best chipset for AllStar
>     utilization, regardless of the software or channel driver method
>     chosen to run it.
>
>     Disclosure - The RIM is not my product - it's Scott Zimmerman's
>     (RB the company)
>     <http://www.repeater-builder.com/rbtip/whoisrb.html>, but I helped
>     design it.  The same chipset is used in all of my RA, RL, and DRA
>     products.
>
>     Kevin - W3KKC
>
>
>     On 1/1/2021 6:16 PM, "Jeff Hochberg via ARM-allstar" wrote:
>>     For what it's worth - we have a USB audio card from Repeater Builder - IRRC
>>     (C-Media chipset) that's connected to the svxlink box, then that goes to
>>     our RLC controller.
>>
>>     I have a USB sound card here (also with a C-Media chipset - I believe the
>>     exact same chipset), so I'm going through the setup process hoping that
>>     when I remove the USB sound card I'm using temporarily and replace it with
>>     the production USB sound card, that all will work well.
>
>