[arm-allstar] Pi4 B & HDMI console?

[David McGough]

Jeremy,

I've got many TKR-750 & TKR-850 repeaters setup directly with RPi3B 
controllers running HamVoIP. This combination works very well and after a 
few years of refinement, has proven to be as close to bulletproof as you 
could ask for.  For example, here is one repeater uptime, as of right this 
moment...The last reboot was performed at the last software update:

[root at repeater-444850 ~]# uptime
 00:25:44 up 342 days,  8:23,  1 user,  load average: 0.06, 0.03, 0.00

repeater-444850*CLI> core show uptime 
System uptime: 37 weeks, 6 days, 4 hours, 23 minutes, 37 seconds 

I'm using RPi3B boards and DMK URI USB fobs for most of my installations.
This hardware combo simply indicates the length of time these systems have
been installed---there are many USB fob solutions commercially available 
now.

My system setups are simple. RPi board, $2 LM2596S DC-DC converter powered
directly from the repeater DC supply and URI. I place this hardware inches
from the repeater, with very short interconnects. *ALL* my RPi and fob
grounds go to the repeater chassis via short 14gauge conductors. This 
completely solved all intermittent ground-loop buzzes I once had, back 
when I was running AllStar (ACID release) on an in-cabinet PC computer.

I link the RPi systems to the network using in-cabinet WiFi. My AP of
choice is the Ubiquiti LocoM2.  I typically set all the WiFi power level
at 0dBm.

I know many repeater owners have their own formulas for "best practice."  
There are a lot of strategies, one size doesn't need to fix all.  My
methods prioritized reliability, while remembering I did have practical
budget limits!


73, David KB4FXC