AllstarLink on StarLink

AllStarLink
1

I’m interested in using StarLink for AllstarLink. I’m not clear on how it port forwards, which seems to be automatic in their system since VoIP phones seem to work seamlessly. I’m interested in any insights related to AllstarLink.

Thanks,
Bob
K6ECM

2

Bob, I have not used starlink, but I can’t see how it would differ from any other true ISP.

Port forwarding happens on your intrAnet - Your local router. Where network address translation occurs.
That is to say which pc(by ip or other means) is going to expect to recieve communications on port 4569 from your wide area connection/internet.

I am not aware if they may be blocking any ports to your IP as some services might.

Hope I said that in a way that was helpful and not confusing.

3

Starlink uses NAT. Port forwarding is not possible with NAT. For incoming connections you must use a VPN or proxy.

Many of us have set up VPN servers on VPS host providers such as Vultr. A few of us have implemented VPN servers using 44-net address blocks from AMPRNet for ham radio. I wonder if Allstarlink could provide a VPN or proxy service for Allstar nodes similar to what IRLP does for their nodes?

David WD5M

4

That is very good info.
I was not aware. Thanks.
I may end up with 1 or 2 starlink connections myself.

Try to keep this thread alive with any news on progress.

5

Do you have anything documented for setting up a vpn server using a 44-net address block?

Jim, K6JWN

6

No detailed documentation, but the process has normally been as follows.

  • Chose a VPS provider that will support BGP and publish AMPR 44-net subnet for you. Vultr.com has been my, and several other hams, choice due to free BGP, ease of setup and previous knowledge of AMPR 44-net addressing.
  • Register with AMPR.org and request a 44-net subnet address space. They have instructions on their web site.
  • Submit a request with your VPS provider for using BGP with AMPR address space. There will need to be a LOA shared and approved with AMPR and your provider. AMPR may handle some interaction with the service provider agreement, but you have start the process and approvals. Vultr provides BGP instructions at these links.
    Configuring BGP on Vultr - Vultr.com
    Log In to your Vultr Account - Vultr.com
  • After configuring BGP on your VPS host, I suggest installing PIVPN.io. Visit the PIVPN.io web site to see what PIVPN does. It will install on a Debian VPS host as well as RPI despite the name. It installs and manages Openvpn (or WireGuard) VPN server software and makes it easier to manage VPN client files. You will need to make a couple of manual edits to the resulting PIVPN and OpenVPN server configuration to use your 44-net subnet space, since PIVPN install does not ask for your 44-net address space details during setup.
  • I use the smallest ($5/mo) VPS host on Vultr plus snapshots or automatic backup.
  • Vultr makes it easy to spin up, test, learn, destroy and finally save and backup a working VPS host.
  • You may wish to enable and manage a server firewall like ufw. Vultr also provides an optional free firewall feature that runs outside of the VPS host in the Vultr account settings.
  • If you rollout many VPN clients, watch your network usage on the VPS host. Allstar directory updates and some web admin interfaces (supermon/allmon) can use extra network allocation due to inefficient/chatty network use.

I’m happy to help answer any questions you may have. I’ve helped a couple of hams set up 44-net VPN servers on Vultr. Our ham group provides amateur radio VPN/proxy services for north Texas SKYWARN RoIP nodes including Allstar, IRLP and EchoLink.

David McAnally WD5M
WX5FWD SKYWARN Team

7

Hi David, thank you for this information.

I am trying to set up my allstarlink node on starlink using the information you provided in this comment. I am not at all a network person, so much of this is over my head.

Currently I set up an account on 44-net and received an IP address from them as well as the $5/mo Vultr service and installed Debian as you mentioned.

I'm currently trying to get the BGP setup, waiting from a response from 44-net's admin team about the LOA.

Once the BGP is setup and I get PiVPN installed on the Vultr server, how do I go about connecting the AllStarLink node to the VPN?

What about port forwarding, since I would like to use the Starlink router. Along with port 4569 for Allstarlink, I'd like to also forward 5198 and 5199 for use with EchoLink.

Thank you so much!

8

A recent new VPN service is available from ARDC now. It's for hams, it's free, and you can set up Wireguard VPN client address(es) all by yourself. More information can be found at these links.

44Net VPN Announcement www.ardc.net/introducing-44net-connect-a-simpler-way-to-access-44net/
44Net VPN Service connect.44net.cloud
44Net VPN subgroup discussion list ardc.groups.io/g/net-44-vpn

David McAnally, WD5M

9

I wonder if there’ll be enough addresses to go around, considering the direction the ISP/cellular industry is going (I’m awful at math). (“Did you bring enough gum for the entire class…?”)

10

Hot dog! Thanks for the update.

I've been painstakingly following your original comment. It's about all there is online regarding AllStarLink on Starlink.

Guess I can close my Vultr account. At least it's only cost me $6 so far.

It's frustrating how there's not good source of information on this. As someone who's not at all familitar with networking trying to peice together bits of information here and there from all over the internet is killing me.

Hopefully this new ARDC VPN service is a one-stop-shop to get my AllStarLink node up and running.

Still unsure about how port forwarding works for AllStarLink and for EchoLink.

11

Have you tried the actual ASL directions/manual? 44Net Connect for ASL - AllStarLink Manual

12

I haven't seen that yet, thank you!

Just created a tunnel on 44-Net and followed the steps in the page you lined. At first glance it seems to be working from my house internet.

If that’s all there is to it, I’m impressed. Saved me so much headache. Thank you!

Are there any other settings I need to adjust on the AllStarLink node for port forwarding? Or is that all handled behind the scenes already?

Edit: I’m having trouble with my audio fob after setting up the tunnel. Seems to be a similar issue as seen in this post here: Node radio (cm108) "dead" after running apt update apt upgrade and reboot - #9 by WA3WCO

I’m going to start a new thread since now this is straying from the topic of this one.

Edit 2: Just as in the post I linked, my issues with the sound fob seem to have resolved themself. Strange, but everything is working 100% from my home internet. I’ll plug it into my mobile starlink tomorrow and see how it fairs.