Allstar Node Linking
These instructions are assuming you are editing these files using putty through SSH into your node. Everything will be the same if you are using WinSCP except for creating directories and saving files. I am going to assume if you have made it this far with your node using WinSCP that you know how to complete these steps.
Linking your Allstar node to AmateurWire is simple and provides access to nodes and repeaters just by dialing a short extension number right from your phone. When you dial an allstar node you will be able to transmit and receive from the node by dialing *99 to transmit and # to end transmission and switch back to listening.
To accomplish this link we create an IAX string. This is done by adding some configuration to your iax.conf file. I recommend using the custom config which can be found in /etc/asterisk/custom If that directory does not exist you will need to create it. On the Allstarlink version of allstar you will need to be root. Once you are logged in as repeater (the default user account on allstarlinks version) type sudo su. This will make you root. Then you can type mkdir /etc/asterisk/custom (alternatively while logged in as repeater type sudo mkdir /etc/asterisk/custom).
Next we will want to go to that directory.
cd /etc/asterisk/custom
Now we will create the files needed.
nano iax.conf
In this file we need to create the stanza which will provide the username, password, and other necessary information for the link.
NOTE: Whatever you name the stanza inside the initial block [ ] must match what is after username=
Your iax stanza will look something like this.
[stanza-must-match-username]
username=<username-must-match-stanza>
So for an example of this as if your stanza name and username were awire and your password was password it would look like this.
[awire]
Now you will save the file by pressing CTRL+X
Y
Enter
Now we need to create the extensions.conf file and add the context we mentioned in the iax.conf with context=awirephone. You will need to change the node numbers in this part to match your node number.
So we type nano extensions.conf and we enter this information
[awirephone]
exten => 50853,n,Playback(rpt/node)
exten => 50853,n,Playback(digits/5)
exten => 50853,n,Playback(digits/0)
exten => 50853,n,Playback(digits/8)
exten => 50853,n,Playback(digits/5)
exten => 50853,n,Playback(digits/3)
exten => 50853,n,Playback(rpt/connected)
exten => 50853,n,Set(CALLSIGN=AWIRE-${CALLERID(name)})
exten => 50853,n,rpt(50853|P|${CALLSIGN})
In this example I have used the 5 digit version of one of my node numbers 50853. If your node has been extended to a 6 digit node number simply copy the last line exten => 50853,n,Playback(digits/3) and edit the node number and the individual digit at the end to match the last digit of your node number. These are the numbers the automated announcement reads out to everyone who connects to your node so these are your node number one digit at a time line by line.
NOTE: You might have trouble if you have to forcefully disconnect a user that has dialed your node. If you have this issue change the CALLERID(name)}) to CALLERID(num)}) in the 3rd line up from the bottom of the extensions stanza.
Once you have completed these steps it is time to reload these configs. This can be done either by rebooting your node or you can type asterisk -rvvvvv
Thats asterisk -r and 5 V’s
At the asterisk cli just type iax2 reload then press enter. Once that is reloaded type extensions reload and press enter. Once this is completed you can type exit and press enter and the hard part is completed.
Now we need to create the string. This will look like this
IAX2/username:password@fqdn:4569/node number
So for the example above that used awire as the username and password for the password it would look like this
IAX2/awire:password@fqdn:4569/50853
For your FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) You can use a service like dyndns if you do not have a static ip address to your node. If you do not want to use dyndns the two providers Allstarlink.org and Hamvoip also provide dynamic names. These would look like this
For Allstarlink: NodeNumber.nodes.allstarlink.org (example 50853.nodes.allstarlink.org)
For HamVoip: NodeNumber.ip.hamvoip.org (example 50853.ip.hamvoip.org)
4569 in the string is the IAX port. If you have specified another port in your iax.conf or even forwarded a different port in your router to 4569 inside your network we need the port that is open to the outside. The default is 4569 but some of us run multiple nodes on one external IP address so I get it if you have changed this port.
Just create a new support ticket for an RF link request and put that string in the ticket. Once it is added we will respond to your ticket with the extension number to dial your node.
If you have any further questions feel free to contact us either on discord, Jitsi, or in the support ticket system for further assistance.
