Radio Connections
Instructions for connecting radios, repeaters and AllStarLink interfaces including USB Radio Interfaces, RTCM, GPS, URI/URI X and like devices.
PC or Raspberry PI Interfaces
The most common solution for connecting an ASL node to a radio is through use of USB Audio Interfaces/Radio Adapters that make use of the CMXXX series USB audio chips. The difficulty can range from advanced to beginner, usually depending on the completeness and cost of the solution.
Masters Communications RA-Series Radio Adapters
Based on the CM119A series sound chips. These are inexpensive but feature rich USB Radio Adapters for AllStar Link. These can be used in either PCs or Raspberry Pis
Digital Radio Adapters
These can also be used for analog. If your radio has a 6-pin interface (Yaesu, Kenwood), these are plug & play, with no soldering required.
URI / URI X
The URI is manufactured and sold by DMK Engineering.
SHARI/DINAH/BRIAN USB & Pi Hats
The SHARI is a popular interface for the Pi that comes in both USB and Pi Hat versions. This is recommended for users who want to DIY a micronode for use inside a home.
ClearNode
ClearNode is a Raspberry Pi based AllStar, Echolink and DMR node with an integrated low power UHF or VHF radio transceiver. It is an all-in-one "hotspot" solution for those looking to use the AllStarLink network locally. This is a plug-and-play solution that requires almost no technical knowledge of AllStar.
Yellow Box
Modified CM108/CM119 USB FOB
You can purchase an unmodified CMXXX USB sound card and solder GPIO directly for COS, PTT, and CTCSS. However, it's not for the faint of heart. Doing this requires a steady hand and magnification equipment to solder to the tiny leads on the circuit board.
- How to Modify A CM108 Sound Fob For Allstar
- Baofeng 888 Pocket Node
- Kenwood TMG-707 Dual Band FM mobile Radio(pdf)
Radio Interface Cables (URI Cables)
KE6PCV's URI Cables are custom-made cables for many radios. If you don't want to deal with the tedium of soldering cables for your radio interface to your radio, this is the option for you. They can be used with the Master's Communications RA and DA adapters and URI/URI-X adapters. Cable selection includes:
- Yaesu FT-2600M
- Yaesu FT-7800
- Yaesu FT-8800R
- Kenwood TM-V7A
- Kenwood TM-D700
... and many more
RTCM/VOTER
See the VOTER page for the primary entry point to the detailed information about the RTCM/VOTER interfaces. They are primarily used to build a voting repeater system (optionally with simulcast). Also note there is model specific radio information below on this page that also discusses connecting to the RTCM/VOTER.
Motorola
CDM
CDMs make great nodes. This eBay reseller has very nice cables. Use to connect to URI or RTCM.
CDM Cable from Kurt Meltzer ex-WB9KNX, now KC4NX - Cable 83 has only one output to use for either COS or CTCSS. Use another cable if you need both COS and CTCSS.
Maxtrac
The venerable Maxtrac is a radio that was very well built, apparently has very stable reference LO, and can take a beating. When aligned properly, and sufficient *vectored* cooling is made, this radio will last for a very long, time even under several hours with of transmitting per day.
The radio will need to be aligned, and programmed to the frequenc(y/ies) you want to use. You will also need to program the Accessory Option for PL/DPL & CSQ Output.
- Most URIs can accept active high or active low for valid RX signal detection, ie, open squelch. It is HIGHLY recommend in any situation COS is set to USB or active high. This will prevent issues. Too many to mention.
- It is a good idea to program pin 8 on the Maxtrac/GM300 for PL/DPL & CSQ output, active high. This will cause the radio to emit a 5Vdc signal when the squelch is open, and go low when squelch is closed.
TX/RX audio, COS, and PTT connections
With the radio facing you in normal operating positing, volume knob on top left, and mic connection right below it, turn the radio over from the right side. The accessory connector is located on the rear, right top of the radio at this point. Starting from left to right, the pins on the top are / and the pins on the bottom are /. If you want to hear audio from the radios speaker, just a header jumper on the far right pins 15 and 16.
This section is a work in progress.
References: The GM300 section has the link for further reading; the Maxtrac and GM300, are relatively close in design.
MTR-2000
Quantar
The Quantar can be tricky to interface as it's extremely programmable and you will need a wireline card for I/O connections. By default the I/O will not work unless the "wildcard" table is programed. This wildcard table is Boolean logic of interrupt states in the radio, is extremely flexible and frustrating to debug. It's a base station in it's own class.
Note you will want to use DSP/BEW Firmware on the RTCM if using the RTCM do squelch.
- Another Quantar/RTCM Interface Cable
- Astro-TAC/RTCM Interface Cable
- Interfacing to a Quantar with P25NX - Interfacing the Qunatar using simple USB into Allstar and P25NX linking at the same time. This is driven by programing on the Quantar Wildcard tables.
- Quantar/URI Cable
- Quantar MRTI/URI Cable
Also see the dedicated Quantar RTCM page for detailed information.
Syntor X
The Motorola Syntor X with an Xcat installed makes a great frequency agile remote base. For more information see this Syntor Xcat page.
VRM-850
GM300
These older radios are fairly common and easily to come by due to the narrow banding. Probably the hardest part is finding a computer and the RSS to program them. The Gm300 family has many different configurations, from low band VHF, to 800 Mhz. But the easiest variant of the GM300 is ones with the 16 pin connector. All about GM300 Radios
Connections are fairly simple but can be hard to determine which is the correct one to use. This link is a good place to start.
Kenwood
TMG707A
Cable Adapter Card for TMG 707A
TKR720/820
Connections to: PTT, COS, RX audio out and MIC audio in
TX/RX board, MIC audio input, pins 4 & 5: floating ground, must not tie to any other ground! Some installations may require a 10dB, resistor L-network consisting of a 4.7k and 470 ohm resistors. The 470 ohm resistor connection across pins four and five, the 4.7k resistor is soldered to pin 5 to which your TX audio from the URI will connect to.
The MIC audio gain, deviation, and balance adjustments are *very* sensitive!
- RA-35 without TX adj. trimmer pots: Using a service monitor with deviation metering, start low and work your way up to 3KHz deviation with 1KHz tone, generated by simpleusb-tune-menu. If enabled, *904 turns this tone on and off by command, ie, no tone time-out as in simpleusb-tune-menu.
TKR750/850
Using the Masters Communications RA-35 or RA-40 radio adapters with the TKR750/850
Yaesu
FT 7900/8900
Both models sport a mini-DIN 6 pin connector on the rear panel. These can easily be hooked into a URI of your choice, such as a DRA-50 and an appropriate cable. This is a nearly plug & play solution for this radio.
Yaesu 7900/8900 Data Port Diagram
Baofeng
Baofeng 888
Baofeng UV82
Repeater Controller
An example of using RTCMs to replace 420 links
Spectra Engineering
- MX800 Base station - Complete setup guide for the MX800 Base station which includes fallback to the built in controller and an audio delay module.