So long, 2014!
Experimented with the AllStarLink radio linking network. Setup a server with two nodes and replaced my EchoIRLP installation for a few days. Unfortunately, the system did not perform as well as what I had. There is no centralized documentation for AllStarLink which made troubleshooting and fine tuning quite difficult. Additionally the server seemed quite unstable, locking up fairly regularly requiring a power cycle to bring it back. The lockup was usually a result of restarting the asterisk daemon. So this particular project has been shelved. I suspect that I’ll revisit it down the road as I have experience with asterisk and had some interesting ideas for integrating IP telephony to repeater systems.
In the world of DMR, I traded for a new radio. The Motorola SL300 is a slick little radio. My thoughts (pros/cons) can be found here: http://volkswagen.websitewelcome.com/~atkinson/nf9k.net/?p=431
I had some discussions with an Avon Ham surrounding the CS700 HT. He was selected for their beta program and we’ve been comparing notes between the non-beta and his beta unit as well as sharing my acquired knowledge on the CS700.
Additionally, I began looking at an alternative DMR network to the DMR-MARC. DCI is very popular out west and since we already have a DMR-MARC machine here, in the interest of providing the richest possible DMR experience to Indianapolis area repeater users, I thought that might be a nice alternative. I’ve reached out to some Ohio-based DCI repeater owners to discuss finding a master to peer with.
Lastly in terms of DMR, I spent a good deal of time experimenting with a wireless internet option (AT&T) for my DMR machine when it moves to it’s new home. Unfortunately I won’t be able to share existing internet at the new location, so I’m having to come up with something on my own. AT&T is NAT’ing traffic to their wireless devices resulting in the end device receiving a private (10.x.x.x) address, which is non-routable via the internet. Also since the NAT’ing means I’m behind an AT&T routing, I’m subject to their access-control lists, etc., which is also proving to be a problem. Next stop will be to check out the offerings from Verizon as I have a spare USB card in a drawer.
I was finally able to spend some much needed time in the shack during my time-off over the holidays. I had a pretty decent check list beforehand and as the sun sets on my Christmas Break, I think I’m about 80% through it, so not bad at all!
Looking forward to what I’m going to learn and accomplish in 2015!
