we use AllStar as the entire controller
it handles the ID,timers and all other features of a repeater controller
we had been retrofitting GE Mastr II repeaters with AllStar
but now have moved several of them to Yaesu System Fusion machines with AllStar as a external controller, so they run in dual mode Fusion/analog, but none of them is a WIRES-X machine at this time
several of us have simplex nodes in the area
the 145.230,147.345 are linked repeaters (which are connected to Barron,Duluth,St.Paul as well as Florida at times and today Vermont is hooked up
the 147.375 and the 444.350 are both W9CVA club repeaters
which are linked together on Monday night for a net are both open AllStar machines
My simplex nodes are not accessible from the network side, I use them for monitoring the local machines, as I live in a antenna compromised location
I have been here for 10 years and lived further west before that
if you listening to the local machines, it isnt really obvious that they are AllStar machines as the system works so good that everyone seems to be a local
I saw you connected to the 147.375 the other day
just have to yell as there really is not constant traffic on any machine