I currently have all the “makings” for a 6 meter base station;
an almost (new old stock) GE Master II 40 watt mobile, 2 channel 52.525 and a local repeater.
a short cable that would go to the control head ( no control head)
a nice 20 amp power supply and any number of raspberry pi’s.
my “original” plan was to connect the pi’s together via the internet, and put the
remote base at a friends house, but he moved. I was told that I was trying to
"re-invent the wheel and that putting up an alstar node would be easier …
the first two questions, can one build there own radio interface ? and along those lines
is there anything in the software to allow changing channels ( only two channels )
Not sure I understand your statement of tying to re-invent the wheel.
You can use allstarlink software as a repeater controller or a remote base.
It would depend in how you configure your system.
Yes you can certainly build your own radio interface.
Here is one of many youtube videos on building your own sound fob interface.
As far as changing channels it all depends on how the GE Master II mobile radio works. I am unfamiliar with the workings of this radio. The Pi boards do have GPIO lines that could be used via scripts in the Allstarlink software to control the channels of the radio. Maybe someone could chime in that has experience with how the channels are controlled on the GE Master II radios.
Thanks for the reply Marshall, By “re-inventing the wheel”, we mean doing something that already has
been done.
What I need to understand, is how allstar works into the Pi.
IF the allstar software can control the GPIO’s of thee PI, I think we can
build the radio interface.
The channel changing requires a ground on a lead into the radio to control the channel and another
GPIO to ket the transmitter. The GPIO’s will operate a relay, which will change channel and key the radio.
The challel control is a SPDT relay that will put ground on channel one when idle and put ground on channel two when operated. The PTT will be controlled by another GPIO / relay.
One of the things I don’t understand is if there are any “safegards” that will un-key the radio, should connection be lost.
I see people modifying sound card fobs, but is this needed if we can control the GPIO’s.
I have a lot of questions, that somebody should be able to answer.
Thanks
Hi Don, did you ever get all you questions answered. I use the raspberry pi 3B+ with hamvoip asterisk software and a usb fob and a uhf repeater, just finishing up a remote base to add to the
mix. I programmed a stand-alone raspberry for alarm sensing and announcements.
there is a lot available and lots to learn.
I just started looking at this forum.
73
Dave
Hi Dave.
My project has been slow going, for any number of reasons.
One reason, I bought a couple of masters communications radio interfaces, https://www.masterscommunications.com/ ( an RA-25 and a RA-42)
I think I have it figured out .
The RA 25 I bought as a “kit”, not because it was cheaper, but because
I haven’t built a kit in about 50 years. This was a mistake.
at 77 years old my eyes are not what they were in the 70’s.
I now have a friend finishing it up.
At any rate, the RA-25 will be used in my “radio-less” node and the RA-42
for the remote base.
I am still looking for a place for it, if needed I may be able to put it at my son’s in Stow Ohio, but this is not my “first choice”.
The “plan” is to use the the “local control” ( pin 7 on the DB-9)
to operate a relay to put the radio ( a GE Mastr II ) on channel two,
using a touch tone code command. This will require some code written
for the Pi ( which may be “out there”)
Going to a meeting tonight, which might shed some light on"project"