# Permanent Connection on startup macro **URL:** \ **Category:** AllStarLink\ **Created:** [September 6, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/permanent-connection-on-startup-macro/21822 "2024-09-06T20:00:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KC2NJV](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/kc2njv/32/3634_2.png) [@KC2NJV](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/KC2NJV)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/permanent-connection-on-startup-macro/21822/1 "2024-09-06T20:00:50Z")
Under “[1800]”“(node-main)” I have the following: startup\_macro = \*362499 Works perfectly. But I wanted a permanent connection to a buddy’s node. I uncommented the 800 ilink commands I changed the macro to =\*8362499 and them \*81362499 and could not get it to work. Where did I go wrong?? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Mike](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/mike/32/1569_2.png) [@Mike](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/Mike)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 12:11am UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/permanent-connection-on-startup-macro/21822/2 "2024-09-07T00:11:46Z")
I think you are confusing a “ilink command” with a dtmf number. ilink,8 is con perm. But you have to assign a dtmf command for what you want ilink,8 to execute. [https://wiki.allstarlink.org/wiki/Rpt.conf#Link\_Commands](https://wiki.allstarlink.org/wiki/Rpt.conf#Link_Commands) 1=ilink,1 ; Disconnect Link xxx 2=ilink,2 ; Con Link xxx RX-Only (mon) 3=ilink,3 ; Con Link xxx TX 4=ilink,4 ; Enter Command Mode on XXX 5=macro ; Run a macro ## So x=ilink,8 Choose the value of x carefully so you don’t conflict with any other commands. Then you can use the value of x in a macro. ---
**Author:** ![KC2NJV](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/kc2njv/32/3634_2.png) [@KC2NJV](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/KC2NJV)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 10:08am UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/permanent-connection-on-startup-macro/21822/3 "2024-09-07T10:08:10Z")
I left out that I did this: > ;;;;;; Mandatory Command Codes ;;;;; > 1 = ilink,1 ; Disconnect specified link > 2 = ilink,2 ; Connect specified link – monitor only > 3 = ilink,3 ; Connect specified link – tranceive > 4 = ilink,4 ; Enter command mode on specified link > 70 = ilink,5 ; System status > 99 = cop,6 ; PTT (phone mode only) > **8 = ilink,13 ; Perm node** \<\<=== \<\<=== In my rpt.conf I have SkyWarnPlus, so the 831- 839 series is used. In my friends node, it is open. ---
**Author:** ![N8EI](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/n8ei/32/4254_2.png) [@N8EI](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/N8EI)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/permanent-connection-on-startup-macro/21822/4 "2024-09-07T12:22:49Z")
If you are already using three digit DTMF codes in 831-839 then you can’t use just 8 for a different command. Otherwise 831-839 will be detected as the “8” command and “3n” is part of the parameter for the command. If you look at `rpt.conf` there’s already pre-created function macros in the 81 series: ```auto 811 = ilink,11 ; Disconnect a previously permanently connected link 812 = ilink,12 ; Permanently connect specified link -- monitor only 813 = ilink,13 ; Permanently connect specified link -- tranceive ; 815 = ilink,15 ; Full system status (all nodes) 816 = ilink,16 ; Reconnect links disconnected with "disconnect all links" ``` Uncomment those, if necessary, and then set: ```auto startup_macro = *81362499 ``` Also make sure that your `startup_macro` is inside the correct node template stanza. For example from one of my systems: ```auto [460181](node-main) statpost_url = http://stats.allstarlink.org/uhandler idrecording = |iN8EI duplex = 2 rxchannel = SimpleUSB/460181 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Your node settings here ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; startup_macro = *81348496 ``` ---
**Author:** ![KC2NJV](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/kc2njv/32/3634_2.png) [@KC2NJV](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/KC2NJV)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/permanent-connection-on-startup-macro/21822/5 "2024-09-07T13:44:01Z")
I matched what you wrote, but no joy. This is on my node, so I have 62499 and 1800. I am connecting 1800 to 62499. Strange… ---
**Author:** ![Mike](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/mike/32/1569_2.png) [@Mike](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/Mike)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/permanent-connection-on-startup-macro/21822/6 "2024-09-07T14:23:31Z")
Yea, I misspoke anyway not looking at the command correctly and using a bad memory. It was ilink,13 > [@KC2NJV](#): > > In my friends node, it is open. Your friends node does not matter here. Just yours if you are initiating the connection. But it sounds like a conflict with other commands, which we can not see. For a test, try to assign it 69 unless you have commands that start with a 6 or 69 Save your edit and reload/restart asterisk before testing. If it works, you will need to scrub through your file looking for the conflict of using 8. Just a skinny… If you have a 2/3 digit command that starts with an 9, you can not then have a command that is an 9 as the longer commands will never execute. Asterisk is a ‘first match system’. It will execute the first command it recognizes. Not positive what would happen with 2 of exact match, but likely the one it looks at first wins. Just something to think about as you look it over. ---
**Author:** ![KC2NJV](https://community.allstarlink.org/user_avatar/community.allstarlink.org/kc2njv/32/3634_2.png) [@KC2NJV](https://community.allstarlink.org/u/KC2NJV)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.allstarlink.org/t/permanent-connection-on-startup-macro/21822/7 "2024-09-07T14:46:26Z")
That seems to have worked. Thank you!!!