From aa9vi at comcast.net  Wed Aug 14 10:08:21 2019
From: aa9vi at comcast.net (MIKE SWIATKOWSKI)
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 09:08:21 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: [ILHam] Illinois Allstar Network
Message-ID: <425743931.594235.1565791702112@connect.xfinity.com>

Fellow Illinois Amateur Operators,

The Illinois Repeater Association with the help of Andy, KC9ONA, has established a new hub for connecting repeaters across our state.  We call it the Illinois Allstar Network and it is at node 50243.  All repeaters and simplex nodes are invited to connect.  Our goal are to encourage technical collaboration, communication of events, and to bring life back to otherwise dead or quiet repeaters.  Other adjacent states have done something like this before and it's time we come together across our state!  I hope you will join us and spread the word to your club and other ham friends.


If you have no idea what Allstar is or want to get the equipment to join, I am copying what I sent IRA members just days ago:


Here are the tools you need:
A Raspberry pi 3 and SD card : https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_atf_aps_sr_pg1_1?ie=UTF8&adId=A0673182CG4OM8B6ZP0Y&url=%2FCanaKit-Raspberry-Starter-Premium-Black%2Fdp%2FB07BCC8PK7%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1_sspa%3Fkeywords%3Dcanakit%2Braspberry%2Bpi%2B3%26qid%3D1565278544%26s%3Dgateway%26sr%3D8-1-spons%26psc%3D1&qualifier=1565278544&id=319945917545911&widgetName=sp_atf https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_atf_aps_sr_pg1_1?ie=UTF8&adId=A0673182CG4OM8B6ZP0Y&url=%2FCanaKit-Raspberry-Starter-Premium-Black%2Fdp%2FB07BCC8PK7%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1_sspa%3Fkeywords%3Dcanakit%2Braspberry%2Bpi%2B3%26qid%3D1565278544%26s%3Dgateway%26sr%3D8-1-spons%26psc%3D1&qualifier=1565278544&id=319945917545911&widgetName=sp_atf
A URI radio to computer adapter: http://www.dmkeng.com/URI_Order_Page.htm  (note ham discount!)
A Radio (for remote linking), or you can connect directly to the back of the repeater
The HamVoIP FAQ and Software Page: https://hamvoip.org/


Let me stress that the investment is minimal and it is very easy to assemble your own node if you follow the well written steps on the HamVoIP site. The voice quality is far superior to Echolink and you'll have a very nice web based dashboard to control your node the way you want. So, don't be shy about joining us from Peoria, Champaign, Springfield, Rockford, Moline, Carbondale, Chicago or any town in between.


If you have any questions, feel free to email me directly so we don't tie up this list too much.

73,

Mike, AA9VI