Hello everyone,
I wanted to share a project I have been working on: VOTER firmware version 4.00.
This effort was initially driven by some added hardware features in the K3MK Radio Thick Client Module, which required some firmware tweaks to activate. As I began implementing those updates, the scope expanded into a broader review and refinement of the firmware.
The changes described below were not based on user requests and have been reviewed only by me - a VOTER user of only 2 years. As a result, I fully expect and welcome constructive criticism from more experienced VOTER users regarding both the features and the implementation choices.
I do not expect this to appeal to everyone, so for now I plan to maintain the project as a fork rather than submitting a pull request to merge it into the official AllStarLink VOTER repository. That decision can change depending on interest and demand.
Most of the work consists of targeted tweaks rather than major operational changes. I do not claim deep expertise in the most critical aspects of the VOTER firmware, such as timing and audio processing, and I intentionally avoided those areas to minimize risk and preserve existing behavior.
Full details are available in the GitHub repository, but the following is a high-level overview of the changes:
- DSPBEW functionality unified into a single firmware build
- Rebuilt and reorganized menu system with clearer grouping and improved usability
- More robust GPS handling with validation, clearer logging, and improved reliability
- Immediate read-only Telnet console access for faster monitoring and troubleshooting
- Improved RX level display with accurate numeric deviation and averaging
- Configurable offline delay to prevent false offline transitions
- Hardware connection status reporting with manual override support
- Expanded status reporting, including reset cause via the RCON register
- Scheduled automatic reboots and cold power reboot timer
- GPS reset support on compatible hardware
- PTT collision avoidance during connect and disconnect events
- Updated default settings aligned with modern systems and ASL3
- Rebuilt logging system with clearer and more consistent output
- New RX, TX, and STAT debug logging for detailed timing and performance analysis
- Code optimizations, feature cleanup, and general stability improvements
- Quality-of-life and bug fixes, including stable live CTCSS adjustment and hidden password entry
This firmware is still in beta and requires real-world testing. At this point, it has only been deployed on bench hardware while I rebuild my UHF simulcast system. My goal is to deploy this firmware on at least four Thick Client v2.0A units in 2026 and begin long-term stability testing.
If you are interested in testing this firmware or contributing feedback through GitHub, your participation is very welcome.
If you've read this far, you should probably join the VOTER Users Discord server if you haven't already.