# I'm stumped, where to now? **URL:** \ **Category:** AllStarLink\ **Tags:** new-users\ **Created:** [September 25, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611 "2020-09-25T22:08:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/wb6rfv)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/1 "2020-09-25T22:08:16Z")
OK, I’m completely stumped as to where to go from here. I walked through the entire registration process, got my node number/password, downloaded the R-Pi image and ran through the setup instructions. Everything seemed to go fine until I got to the radio part. To be honest, I was thinking that Allstarlink is similar to echolink, but just running on a dedicated app. But I’m missing the whole part of how you connect to the network. Do you need a radio? What radios can you use? Is it possible to run/connect/talk without a radio, similar to Echolink? Sorry, I’m not at all understanding how this works or how to get into the network. Thanks in advance and 73, Dave WB6RFV ---
**Author:** ![KE6PCV](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/ke6pcv/32/429_2.png) [@KE6PCV](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/KE6PCV)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/2 "2020-09-25T22:49:12Z")
Dave, This is a good video to watch. It covers a good deal of what Allstarlink can do. [![](https://community.allstarlink.org/uploads/default/original/2X/5/530b2974e782f3b5e06dc5edbd8995e4b993b282.jpeg "AllStar Link Demo and linking commands (Amateur Radio + New Technology) KD0WHB") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPl5bf4BiWE&t=390s) 73 Marshall - ke6pcv > **···** > > **From:** David Erickson via AllStarLink Discussion Groups [[mailto:noreply@community.allstarlink.org](mailto:noreply@community.allstarlink.org)] > **Sent:** Friday, September 25, 2020 3:18 PM > **To:** [ke6pcv@cal-net.org](mailto:ke6pcv@cal-net.org) > **Subject:** [AllStarLink Discussion Groups] [App\_rpt-users] I’m stumped, where to now? > > > ![](https://community.allstarlink.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/45.png) > > > > | > > > > [**wb6rfv**](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/wb6rfv) > > September 25 > > > > | > > > > - | - | > > OK, I’m completely stumped as to where to go from here. I walked through the entire registration process, got my node number/password, downloaded the R-Pi image and ran through the setup instructions. Everything seemed to go fine until I got to the radio part. To be honest, I was thinking that Allstarlink is similar to echolink, but just running on a dedicated app. But I’m missing the whole part of how you connect to the network. Do you need a radio? What radios can you use? Is it possible to run/connect/talk without a radio, similar to Echolink? Sorry, I’m not at all understanding how this works or how to get into the network. Thanks in advance and 73, > Dave > WB6RFV > > * * * > > [**Visit Topic**](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/1) or reply to this email to respond. > > You are receiving this because you enabled mailing list mode. > > To unsubscribe from these emails, [**click here**](https://community.allstarlink.org/email/unsubscribe/2018ca8ff240f92c4872787f0821f6276f82c33179905238d91a7c5d88239fa4). ---
**Author:** ![wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/wb6rfv)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/3 "2020-09-26T13:15:50Z")
Thanks this helps. However he doesn’t describe in detail how you set up the radios and connect them to the computer. I guess you need a dedicated radio for the link. Is there any documentation on the hardware required for a node? Thanks for the help. ---
**Author:** ![W9DWH](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/w9dwh/32/4240_2.png) [@W9DWH](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/W9DWH)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/4 "2020-09-26T23:27:31Z")
This is what I use for a transceiver [https://hamprojects.info/shari/](https://hamprojects.info/shari/) It’s $60 (UHF) or $65 (VHF) for the kit or $85 (UHF) or $90 (VHF) assembled and tested. Shipping is $8. You would then need a Raspberry Pi board to control it (I’m using a 3B+) [https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/](https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/) ---
**Author:** ![KM4VPG](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/km4vpg/32/1268_2.png) [@KM4VPG](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/KM4VPG)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 12:13am UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/5 "2020-09-27T00:13:41Z")
[hamvoip.org](http://hamvoip.org) has all kinds of how to’s. ---
**Author:** ![wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/wb6rfv)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 12:27am UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/6 "2020-09-27T00:27:35Z")
Thanks very much. I’m starting to get the idea now. I guess you can modify a cheap HT to work with the URI, right? How do most people access Allstarlink? It would be great on this site to have just a basic how-to with a high level description of what it takes to get on ASL. I don’t see that anywhere on this site unless I missed it. It’s taking some research but I’m starting to find pre-built nodes or radio-less nodes. But basic operation looks like you need a radio for the node, which you can then use another radio to connect to. Is that basically correct? Thanks for all the help. BTW, I was curious as to whether you know of any plans or kits to use the Raspberry Pi with a sound card to do the radio-less node? 73 ---
**Author:** ![wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/wb6rfv)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/7 "2020-09-27T00:46:00Z")
Thanks, I’ll check that out. 73 ---
**Author:** ![K6AAN](https://community.allstarlink.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@K6AAN](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/K6AAN)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/8 "2020-09-27T01:12:39Z")
Hi David, Take a look at this little node. It really gets the job done and does away with a lot of the confusion over trying to build stuff if you are not amenable to that. I have had one of these ClearNode devices for about three months and absolutely love it. > **[ClearNode - AllStar & Echolink by W6WNG - Node-Ventures](https://www.node-ventures.com/)** > > ClearNode is a Raspberry Pi based AllStar + Echolink node with an integrated low power UHF or VHF radio transceiver. Delivered to you pre-configured or un-configured – your choice. You can use the free companion mobile applications to configure it... ---
**Author:** ![k8zgw](https://community.allstarlink.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@k8zgw](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/k8zgw)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 3:39am UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/9 "2020-09-27T03:39:02Z")
No radio needed on the “control” end. I have a " No-radio" node that is currently “bread boarded”. I have a Raspberry pi 3 running Hamvoip, which I am thinking about changing to the newest ASL version, a Masters Communications RA-25 a mic and a touch-tone pad ( you could use a TT mic). The RA-25 has a standard 9 pin connector, and for a no-radio node you only need 5 pins, 1,3,5,6 and 8 ( that is ground.) I haven’t really used it, but I know it works. (tested with a friend) de K8ZGW ---
**Author:** ![wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/wb6rfv)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/10 "2020-09-27T16:27:46Z")
This great, thanks a lot. Starting to get more clarity on what the options are here. It would be great if the Beginners Guide on this site could include a high level diagram of what you need to put a node together, and some basic instructions or pointers to how-to’s, rather than just how to download and configure the software. 73 de WB6RFV in Thornton, NH ---
**Author:** ![wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/wb6rfv)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 4:28pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/11 "2020-09-27T16:28:56Z")
That’s great, good luck with the project. What are you using for the audio? USB sound card? Thx, Dave WB6RFV ---
**Author:** ![KE6PCV](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/ke6pcv/32/429_2.png) [@KE6PCV](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/KE6PCV)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/12 "2020-09-27T19:15:28Z")
David, That is a great idea about adding a high-level diagram of what one needs to put a node together to the Beginners Guide. That is the beauty of this open-source project. Everyone is welcome to contribute and help out. Allstarlink has an official wiki page to help folks. > **["AllStarLink Wiki"](https://wiki.allstarlink.org/wiki/Main_Page)** You can request an account on the Allstarlink wiki. Once you have been approved, you can help out by contributing content to the wiki. It’s a community effort. 73 Marshall - ke6pcv ---
**Author:** ![wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@wb6rfv](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/wb6rfv)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/13 "2020-09-27T20:38:27Z")
Hi Marshall, I’d be happy to work on that diagram and some basic pointers to good resources for the absolute beginner. I’ll sign up for the wiki. Best, Dave WB6RFV > **···** > > **From:** Marshall Oldham via AllStarLink Discussion Groups [[mailto:noreply@community.allstarlink.org](mailto:noreply@community.allstarlink.org)] > **Sent:** Sunday, September 27, 2020 3:26 PM > **To:** [jdaviderickson@comcast.net](mailto:jdaviderickson@comcast.net) > **Subject:** [AllStarLink Discussion Groups] [App\_rpt-users] I'm stumped, where to now? > > > ![](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/ke6pcv/45/429_2.png) > > > > | > > > > [**KE6PCV**](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/ke6pcv) ASL Admin > > September 27 > > > > | > > > > - | - | > > David, > > That is a great idea about adding a high-level diagram of what one needs to put a node together to the Beginners Guide. That is the beauty of this open-source project. Everyone is welcome to contribute and help out. > > Allstarlink has an official wiki page to help folks. > > ![](https://community.allstarlink.org/uploads/default/original/2X/c/c81c671fc27fdfb745c56ef1100a24d02b3bbd06.png)[**wiki.allstarlink.org**](https://wiki.allstarlink.org/wiki/Main_Page) > > ### ["AllStarLink Wiki"](https://wiki.allstarlink.org/wiki/Main_Page) > > You can request an account on the Allstarlink wiki. Once you have been approved, you can help out by contributing content to the wiki. > > It’s a community effort. > > 73 > > Marshall - ke6pcv > > * * * > > [**Visit Topic**](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/12) or reply to this email to respond. > > To unsubscribe from these emails, [**click here**](https://community.allstarlink.org/email/unsubscribe/0763402f282e25d5942cb8a0b3e17d9a5a53e857c63671664523fe1a6cce7cbc). ---
**Author:** ![KE6PCV](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/ke6pcv/32/429_2.png) [@KE6PCV](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/KE6PCV)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/im-stumped-where-to-now/17611/14 "2020-09-27T21:12:33Z")
David, Thanks, it’s good to get advice and perspective from folks that are just starting out in Allstarlink. Sometimes, those that have been around a while forget. A fresh perspective is always welcome. Appreciate your offer of help to make it better for the new folks. 73 Marshall - ke6pcv