The AllStar Link network consists of a number of large (and small) individuals and groups who wish to provide efficient large-area communications to the Amateur Radio public in their respective local areas. This is done by providing a local VHF or UHF repeater system controlled by a Linux-based computer system running the open-source Asterisk PBX telephone switch platform along with the app_rpt repeater/remote base controller/linking software module (which is included in the distribution of Asterisk) connected to a high speed (broadband, such as Cable Modem or DSL) Internet connection.

AllStar Link is an organization devoted to the proliferation of this technology, and to organize its public use. Certainly, anyone can have a “private” system using this technology, and they would have no need for AllStar Link affiliation, but there needs to be a single, central point of organization for public use of this technology, and that’s what AllStar Link provides.

Unlike other Radio-centric VOIP technologies, such as Echolink or IRLP, etc, Allstar and the app_rpt/Asterisk technology have been specifically designed to be part of, and to link together parts of the very infrastructure of the radio systems that it implements, as opposed to be an end-to-end protocol like others.

We provide the following nodes in this area:

  • N4LMC 53.230, Node #510137 – This repeater has NO offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 146.2.  Located atop Lookout Mtn providing wide coverage.  Normally linked to the N4LMC 224.120 repeater and carries the Alaska Morning Net and other special events.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Walker & Dade counties in GA.
  • N4LMC 144.920, Node #46145 – This repeater has a positive offset of +2.5Mhz. and uses a DCS code of 073.  Located atop Signal Mtn providing wide coverage.  Normally linked to the W4KEV repeater system and is also used for other special events.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Hamilton county in TN.
  • W4GTA 145.350, Node #46331 – This repeater has a negative offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 100.0.  Located atop Lookout Mtn, GA providing wide coverage.  Normally linked to the N4LMC 146.640 repeater.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Walker county in GA.
  • N4LMC 146.640, Node #510130 – This repeater has a negative offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 146.2.  Located atop Signal Mtn providing wide coverage.  Normally linked to the W4GTA 145.350 repeater.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Hamilton county in TN.
  • W4ABZ 146.715, Node #510139 – This repeater has a negative offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 67.0.  Located atop White Oak Mtn in Ringgold GA –  providing wide coverage.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Catoosa county in GA. (this node runs in pre-approved “whitelist” mode only)
  • W4BZJ 147.135, Node #510135 – This repeater has a negative offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 141.3.  Located atop Dug Gap Mtn, GA providing wide coverage.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Whitfield county in GA.
  • N4LMC 224.120, Node #510138 – This repeater has a negative offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 146.2.  Located atop White Oak Mtn in Ringgold GA –  providing wide coverage.  Normally linked to the N4LMC 224.560 and 224.920 repeaters and carries the Alaska Morning Net and other special events.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Catoosa county in GA.
  • N4LMC 224.560, Node #46530 – This repeater has a negative offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 146.2.  Located atop Lookout Mtn in GA, providing wide coverage.  Normally linked to the N4LMC 224.120 and 224.920 repeaters and carries the Alaska Morning Net and other special events.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Walker & Dade counties in GA.
  • N4LMC 224.920, Node #460771 – This repeater has a negative offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 146.2.  Located atop Signal Mtn in TN, providing wide coverage.  Normally linked to the N4LMC 224.120 and 224.560 repeaters and carries the Alaska Morning Net and other special events.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Hamilton county in TN.
  • N4LMC 441.875, Node #510133 – This repeater has a positive offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 146.2.  Located atop Aetna Mtn.  Normally linked to the W4GTA 145.350 repeater. Broadcasts NWS alerts for Walker & Dade counties in GA.
  • N4LMC 443.525, Node #510132 – This repeater has a positive offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 146.2.  Located atop White Oak Mtn in Ringgold GA.  Can be used for other important feeds as needed.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Catoosa county in GA.
  • KB4ACS 444.700, Node #510136 – This repeater has a positive offset and uses a CTCSS tone of 100.0.  Located in Sequatchie County, TN.  Can be used for other important feeds as needed.  Broadcasts NWS alerts for Sequatchie county in TN.
  • LMARC SouthEast Link Bridge System, Node #510131 – Normally linked to SouthEast Link Digital Bridges.  Provides Analog access via Echolink (N4LMC-L Node #94680) and via Allstar (Node 510131) to D-Star, DMR (Brandmeister, DMR+, TGIF & QRM), C4FM (Wires-X, FCS, YCS & YFS), M-17, NXDN and P25 reflectors, rooms and talk groups.
  • We also provide other N4LMC / LMARC nodes (46077, 46292, 510131, 510134 and others) that provide certain functionality such as hubs, links and / or bridges.

Local Allstar Node Information and Tips

PLEASE NOTE:  In the event that the systems are linked to special nodes for weather events, DO NOT unlink or change the links during these events!

If you want to  use the telephone portal, where you can call into a node via a telephone, you will need to go register at https://allstarlink.org/portal/register.php. Once your registration is complete, go sign in and you will have been assigned a 10 digit pin code.  The # in the US is 763-230-0000.  See help here: https://allstarlink.org/support.html#telephoneportal.  To see a list of all nodes, even ones that are offline go here: https://allstarlink.org/nodelist.php.  To see a list of online nodes, go here: http://stats.allstarlink.org/.  To get Q/A’s and help, just Google “allstar network” and there is tons of information out there.

PLEASE NOTE!  Make SURE you do NOT connect up/bridge multiple systems or disconnect/change systems during or prior to any net!  If you do not understand what you are doing, please just don’t do it.  If it happens and problems are caused, or we get complaints, you could lose your access and be locked out of the systems on a permanent basis.

The commands for the N4LMC Allstar systems are as follows (in most cases):
(<NodeNumber> means enter a valid node number)
#*1 <NodeNumber> - Disconnect Node
#*2 <NodeNumber> - Connect Node in Monitor/Receive only mode
#*3 <NodeNumber> - Connect node in full transceive mode
#*70 - Get node status
#*76 - Disconnect all nodes that are currently connected
#*77 - Reconnect all nodes that were previously disconnected
#*80 - Make the node ID
#*81 - Say time of day in 12 hr format with repeater site weather
#*82 - Say time of day in 24 hr format with repeater site weather






Remember, the system may be linked to more than you realize.  Other nodes can be linked to us and those nodes as well as other nodes downstream from them can be linked… and so forth.  You can see who/what is linked online by going to https://lmarc.net/club/on-the-air/dashboards/ and look at the dashboard for any of our Allstar systems.  If you want to look at the full list of connections, click on the “Click here for Bubble Chart” link at top left of page.  NOTE the direction of arrows between nodes, if the arrow is present on both ends of the link between nodes, it’s a a full transcieve link, if the arrow is present on only one end of the link between nodes, it’s a a receive only/monitor link.  See the examples in the graphics below.




Please always feel free to use the nodes as you wish, how ever, please also always be courteous to others.  Check and see what is connected, make sure someone isn’t using the node, feel free to disconnect and connect what ever you want, but when you’re done… put it back like you found it.




If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I’ll answer them the best I can.






 


  








 Links for status pages: