Update for ASL3 Manual

AllStarLink
1

in the ASL3 Manual, i would like to suggest moving a few subsections out of ASL3 Installation to the Basic Operation aka User Guide. specifically, Quick Config via ASL-Menu, Asterisk Console, and Node Configuration on the principle of installation ends after software is loaded and settings are all defaults.

the updated Basic Operation section would look something like this:

Basic Operation

Once you have installed ASL3 on your system you will want to configure your node and any radio interface you may have.

The ASL3 menu asl-menu will help you get started with many common configurations including nodes with USB audio interfaces, USB radio interfaces, and "hub" nodes. ASL3 menu will also help you maintain your ASL3 system.

SimpleUSB Configuration

If you are setting up a "hotspot" with ASL3 using available USB Dongles containing a SA818 radio module and a CM108 audio interface, it will simplify testing your ASL3 setup if you do the SA818 programming before configuring your node. The SA818 menu sa818-menu will help you get started with your external device.

Be sure to note which USB jack you chose when you intially set up your node. If you later plug the dongle into a different USB jack on your system, you will need to run asl-find-sound and edit simpleusb.conf to reflect the changed device address.

Also be sure to refer to the instructions provided by your USB Dongle vendor.

Node Configuration

If you haven't already, the next step is to configure your node settings. YouTube author Freddie Mac has a nice ASL3 installation and configuration video. Also see ASL3 Menu for details.

Quick Config Using ASL3 Menu

The node may now be configured. New users or those wanting a streamlined set-up experience should use the ASL3 menu utility with sudo asl-menu.

Cockpit Terminal CLI
Starting asl-menu from Cockpit Terminal1488×350 11.7 KB

ASL3 Menu is navigable using menu index, keyboard arrow keys, tabs, and spacebar.

ASL3 Menu
ASL3 Menu1672×980 43 KB

Proceed from here to Node Settings in order to configure your node number, choose the interface, and configure your audio or radio interface.

Asterisk Console

Your ASL3 node is built on Asterisk software. Once you have been able to confirm your configured node is functional, you may encounter issues or unexpected node behavior.

To monitor node actions or troubleshoot node functions, use the Asterisk console. To start the asterisk console from the Terminal window enter sudo asterisk -rv.

Asterisk console CLI
Asterisk Console1410×426 40.7 KB

[markdown file is available but i am unable to upload it at present - forum restriction]

2

The manual is open source and they have been asking for contributions to it via GitHub. Just open a PR, I'm sure they'll appreciate the help :grin:

3

oh, that looks like a project in and of itself. turtles all the way down.
working on it

4

We wouldn't accept a PR to move those pages. We could add them to the submenu in another section. We're not going to reorient the manual around SA818 users. The steps in ASL3 Installation are designed for the majority of users to end up with a working node by applying the standard steps. If anything, the ASL3 Installation steps need some "If you have X maker's device....". We've tried to get people to contribute content for those but have come up largely empty.

2 Likes
5

it's not my intent to reorient, but the Node Configuration, Asterisk Console, and Quick Config sections are post-installation activity, aren't they?
Install ends in an unconfigured state. Operations begin with tailoring configuration and testing.
please do use new content i wrote for "If you have a generic SA818 dongle" subsection.