New Node doesn't respond to DTMF tones

Kinda new to Allstar overall - used it some, but never setup a node similar to this one.

I have a Repeater Builder RIM-Alinco device running on a DR-235III and the ASL_1.01-20180228 image on the RPI3+B. I can see my node on this page, so it is logged in - http://stats.allstarlink.org/

Node doesn’t respond to DTMF tones at all. I went through the first-time setup menu and thought I did everything correctly,but I probably missed something. Right now I have the node running only Allstar and not connected to Echolink.

Running asterisk -rvvv and hitting tones on my radio produces no results either.

I am using a Kenwood D74 HT

Thanks and 73

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Check if you see any activity from asterisk -rvvv when you key your radio. If nothing then you might have check both your radio connections and the settings for the channel driver. Make sure you are not using CTCSS detect for now, you can turn it on later if needed.

If you are seeing asterisk activity the next question is, are you getting a courtesy tone and/or a Tx light when you unkey?

Nothing happens when I key the node. I can hear myself in the node and see my signal in the s-meter, but no courtesy tone or anything comes back. No activity when running asterisk -rvvv and keying the radio, either. See pasted lines below.

Yesterday I was toying with it and I changed it from SimpleUSB to usbradio, and afterwards I was able to get a response when I dial *70 into the node, but no other commands seems to work. And it doesn’t ID every 10 minutes when monitoring the frequency.

Where is CTCSS detect enabled/disabled?

repeater@repeater:~ $ su -l
Password:
root@repeater:~# asterisk -rvvv

AllStarLink Asterisk Version 1.01 2/13/2018 GIT Version adaec47
Copyright © 1999 - 2018 Digium, Inc. Jim Dixon, AllStarLink Inc. and others.
Created by Mark Spencer markster@digium.com
Asterisk comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; type ‘core show warranty’ for details.
This is free software, with components licensed under the GNU General Public
License version 2 and other licenses; you are welcome to redistribute it under
certain conditions. Type ‘core show license’ for details.

Connected to Asterisk GIT Version adaec47 currently running on repeater (pid = 534)
Verbosity was 0 and is now 3
repeater*CLI>

Correction, keying *70 into the nodes gives the response, “Node 46436 repeat only”

I recommend simpleUSB for a Pi. It’s config file is /etc/asterisk/simpleusb.conf, at least that’s usually the name. You see a setting in there for CTCSS.

From the asl-menu
select option 6 ASL Configuration Edit Menu
select option I Edit simpleusb.conf file

what are these settings configured at?
carrierfrom =
ctcssfrom =
deemphasis =
invertptt =
duplex =

also, did you make your cable or purchase one online

I am using the Rim-Alinco device from Repeater Builder.
carrierfrom = usbinvert
ctcssfrom = usbinvert
deemphasis = no
invertptt = 0
duplex = 0

That looks to be correct setting for that radio. Have you run asl-menu option 4 ( run simple-usb-tune-menu for SimpleUSB configuration) ?

set your rx (received audio level)
set your tx (transmitted audio level)

what are the results and levels used?

I’d add that setting CTCSS to NONE is helpful when troubleshooting a new node.

Well as I said, I changed from SimpleUSB to usbradio because SimplexUSB was producing no response at all, but after changing to usbradio, I now get a response from the node when dialing *70. However, nothing else seems to work.

Previous to that, yes I did run Option 4 for SimpleUSB tune, but I am not sure how to set the rx and tx levels manually with that option.

It can take a few iterations to set up a new node. You’ve made good progress by getting a response from *70.

So what is not working now?

Nothing else works. It doesn’t ID every 10 minutes like my other node used to do (I had one that uses a URI type cable to a Baofeng HT, but it was problematic also, so I decided to upgrade equipment) - and I can’t connect to another node with DTMF tones.

Do you see *3xxxx on the console when you try to connect?

ok, then you will need to run usbradio-tune menu
if you do not have a service monitor and frequency generator then we can only get it close.

from asl-menu use option 3 (radio-tune-menu)
select option 3 to set RX level
from another radio, transmit a somewhat stable tone. i’ve whistled into the mic before
you should see a level or around 3k - 5k of deviation.
you will adjust the level up or down depending on the responsive visual meter.
usually this is set with a service monitor generating a 1000hz tone

once you have that close move on to option 6 (set transmit voice level
adjust for good comfortable level

use option F to toggle transmitting a test tone

once you have a comfortable transmit level (well for a 1k test tone that is unpleasant to listen too)
select option W to write(save) the values.

if you do not get any received audio:
exit radio tune menu and edit usbradio.conf and change
carrierfrom = value

if you do not get any transmitted audio or radio does NOT transmit (no ptt):
exit radio tune menu and edit usbradio.conf and change
invertptt =

What console? Connect where, via SSH or elsewhere?

When I choose Opt3 from the asl-menu, I get the following message: USBradio must be enabled in modules.conf and selected in │ │ rpt.conf

I ran through the Opt2 yesterday when I changed from the SimpleUSB to usbradio, so those options in that menu must not have updated something it is looking for (which is probably my main issue). I opened these conf files and looked through them but I am not sure what the system is looking for when it gives me that error.

to use the usbradio channel driver:
in modules.conf
noload => chan_usbradio.so must be changed to load => chan_usbradio.so

in rpt.conf
rxchannel = Radio/usb_YOURNODENUMBER must have the ( ; ) semicolon removed from the beginning of the line AND a ( ; ) semicolon needs to be added in front of
rxhannel = SimleUSB_usb_YOURNODENUMBER
the beginning of the usbradio.conf file must match your node number in rpt.conf

example of the beginning of usbradio.conf
[general]

[usb_YOURNODENUMBER]

eeprom = 0 ; EEPROM installed: 0,1
; 0 = no (default)

also you need to have a file named usbradio_tune_usb_YOURNODENUMBER.conf

All of this was already done… 1 exception was that it showed both
load => chan_usbradio.so
load => chan_simpleusb.so

I changed the simpleusb to noload since both were selected to load.

Otherwise everything you listed was already set. And I do have a file named usbradio_tune_usb_46436.conf in /etc/asterisk

what is the log file say? use:
tail -n30 /var/log/asterisk/messages this will ‘print’ the last 30 lines of the log file

I’m familiar with the tail and cat cmds.

root@repeater:~# tail -n30 /var/log/asterisk/messages
[Mar 1 11:40:03] NOTICE[516] ./xpmr/xpmr.c: xpmr rxhpf: 0
[Mar 1 11:40:03] NOTICE[516] ./xpmr/xpmr.c: xpmr txlpf: 0
[Mar 1 11:40:03] NOTICE[516] ./xpmr/xpmr.c: xpmr txhpf: 0
[Mar 1 11:40:04] NOTICE[567] app_rpt.c: Normal Repeater Init 46436
[Mar 1 11:40:04] NOTICE[589] chan_usbradio.c: Assigned USB device 1-1.2:1.0 to usbradio channel usb_46436
[Mar 1 11:40:04] WARNING[589] chan_usbradio.c: Loaded parameters from usbradio_tune_usb_46436.conf for device usb_46436 .
[Mar 1 11:40:24] ERROR[588] chan_usbradio.c: HID process has died or something!!
[Mar 1 11:40:25] WARNING[567] app_rpt.c: rpt_thread restarted on node 46436
[Mar 1 11:40:25] WARNING[942] chan_usbradio.c: Loaded parameters from usbradio_tune_usb_46436.conf for device usb_46436 .
[Mar 1 11:40:25] WARNING[942] chan_usbradio.c: Unable to re-open DSP device 1 (usb_46436): Device or resource busy
[Mar 1 11:40:25] WARNING[942] chan_usbradio.c: Loaded parameters from usbradio_tune_usb_46436.conf for device usb_46436 .
[Mar 1 11:40:25] WARNING[941] chan_usbradio.c: Possibly stuck USB read channel. [usb_46436]
[Mar 1 11:40:26] WARNING[941] chan_usbradio.c: Nope, USB read channel [usb_46436] wasn’t stuck after all.
[Mar 1 13:52:54] NOTICE[518] dnsmgr.c: Managed DNS entries will be refreshed every 300 seconds.
[Mar 1 13:52:54] NOTICE[518] cdr.c: CDR simple logging enabled.
[Mar 1 13:52:54] NOTICE[518] loader.c: 56 modules will be loaded.
[Mar 1 13:52:54] NOTICE[518] ./xpmr/xpmr.c: xpmr rxlpf: 0
[Mar 1 13:52:54] NOTICE[518] ./xpmr/xpmr.c: xpmr rxhpf: 0
[Mar 1 13:52:54] NOTICE[518] ./xpmr/xpmr.c: xpmr txlpf: 0
[Mar 1 13:52:54] NOTICE[518] ./xpmr/xpmr.c: xpmr txhpf: 0
[Mar 1 13:52:54] NOTICE[567] app_rpt.c: Normal Repeater Init 46436
[Mar 1 13:52:54] NOTICE[589] chan_usbradio.c: Assigned USB device 1-1.2:1.0 to usbradio channel usb_46436
[Mar 1 13:52:55] WARNING[589] chan_usbradio.c: Loaded parameters from usbradio_tune_usb_46436.conf for device usb_46436 .
[Mar 1 13:53:10] ERROR[588] chan_usbradio.c: HID process has died or something!!
[Mar 1 13:53:10] WARNING[567] app_rpt.c: rpt_thread restarted on node 46436
[Mar 1 13:53:10] WARNING[756] chan_usbradio.c: Loaded parameters from usbradio_tune_usb_46436.conf for device usb_46436 .
[Mar 1 13:53:10] WARNING[756] chan_usbradio.c: Unable to re-open DSP device 1 (usb_46436): Device or resource busy
[Mar 1 13:53:10] WARNING[756] chan_usbradio.c: Loaded parameters from usbradio_tune_usb_46436.conf for device usb_46436 .
[Mar 1 13:53:10] WARNING[755] chan_usbradio.c: Possibly stuck USB read channel. [usb_46436]
[Mar 1 13:53:10] WARNING[755] chan_usbradio.c: Nope, USB read channel [usb_46436] wasn’t stuck after all.