Published reference

Node number · Asterisk/app_rpt · VoIP linking · RF interfaces

AllStarLink / ASL3

AllStar can be reached through fixed-site software and network nodes, but the troubleshooting order remains local audio, identity, network and destination. Change one variable at a time.

When the audio dies, guessing is not diagnostics.

Regular linked-system destinations

AllStar 2560 · AllStar 51018

Node 2560 is the WIN System destination used for Insomniac Trivia and TechNet; node 51018 is the W6EK destination used for Coffee Break and the weekly club net. They are hangouts and scheduled destinations, not personal K6RCS nodes.

Current AllStar node list

What it is

AllStarLink links amateur repeaters, remote bases and hotspots over VoIP. ASL3 is the current generation, built on modern Asterisk and Debian-based systems.

Where it fits at K6RCS

K6RCS uses AllStar as both an operating network and a systems-learning target through clients such as QSO One. It deserves its own setup discipline because a node is a server, network host, audio interface and radio system at the same time.

Identity and addressing

Node numberAllStarLink network identity for a node.
Callsign/accountPortal/user identity associated with the node.
IAX/VoIPNetwork transport layer used for node linking.
Radio interfaceUSB/audio/radio hardware and COS/PTT configuration for RF nodes.

Setup order

  1. Request/confirm the AllStarLink account and node number before installation.
  2. Install current ASL3 using the official path appropriate to the hardware.
  3. Secure the host and management access before exposing services.
  4. Configure one node and local audio/PTT first.
  5. Make one known connection, verify audio levels and disconnect behavior, then add automation or bridges.
Test sequence: prove receive first, then local RF/audio, then the network connector, then the destination, and only then cross-mode or bridging. Change one layer at a time. The goal is to learn which thing works, not merely achieve a temporary miracle.

Common failure modes

  • Following ASL2-era instructions against ASL3 configuration files.
  • Giving services unnecessary root/sudo privileges.
  • Opening ports or dashboards broadly before authentication and firewall rules are understood.
  • Tuning RF audio and network routing at the same time.

Security and privacy

Do not publish passwords, API keys, device UIDs, hotspot security values, local IP addresses, management URLs, or detailed behavioral schedules. Keep backups of known-good codeplugs/configurations, use unique credentials, and document firmware/software versions before changing them.

Primary sources and directories