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Written by: Aaron Jones K6ABJ

AllStar on an iPhone or Android device

AllStar enables amateur radio operators to use the Capital Radio Club K6SAC repeater through their phone in-lieu of a radio. AllStar is perfect for club members who are outside of the repeater's coverage area either because of where they live or because they are away on a trip. Most hams use AllStar through an app on their iPhone or Android device. The name of the app on an iPhone is called "RepeaterPhone". The app on the Android is called "DVSwitch Mobile". There is a one-time cost of less than $10 to purchase the app. Another way hams access the AllStar system is by purchasing a ClearNode from Node-Ventures, this option however comes with a hefty price tag of about $400. No matter the method, a reliable internet connection is needed through your cell phone or home wifi. Here are the directions...

1. Create an AllStarLink Account:

Before using the app on your Cell Phone app, you first need to get an AllStarLink login and node number. Here are the steps on how to do so...

  1. If you do not already have a copy of your ham license, Obtain a Copy 
  2. Register yourself on the AllStarLink website using this link: Begin Registration.
  3. Enter your: 
  • Enter your name
  • Choose a Password
  • Enter your Call-Sign and contact information using the address on your FCC license
  • Upload a copy of your Amateur Radio License
    Submit the form and wait for approval (usually 1-24 hours).
  1. Once approved, log into the AllStarLink website and navigate to Nodes → Request a Node Number
  2. Fill out the short form and press submit
  3. Your node number and the password for that node will appear in your account once approved
  4. You’ll use that node number and password in the iPhone/Android apps.

2. If using an iPhone

  1. On your phone find and install the app "RepeaterPhone"
  2. Open the app → add a new node
  3. Enter:
    • Your Node number
    • Your Node password (not the password for AllStarLink)
    • IAX port (default 4569)
  4. In the Directory, search for “Capital Radio Club K6SAC node 68377”
  5. Mark the K6SAC Node 68377 as a Favorite by “clicking on the Star” next to its name
  6. Tap "Connect" to access the node, and to transmit while talking hold down the Green PTT button.
  7. Keep the mic gain setting in your app moderate to prevent distortion.

3. If using an Android

  1. On your phone find and install the app "DVSwitch Mobile"
  2. Open the app then 
    1. Tap More
    2. Tap AllStarLink
    3. Tap WT Setup
    4. Enter:
      1. Your CallSign
      2. Your AllStarLink password (same one used at allstarlink.org)
    5. Tap “Update Token” | DVSwitch should confirm Login Successful.
    6. Tap More → AllStarLink → Enter WT Mode
  3. Open the app → go to the Dialer screen

        * The dialer should now show ASL‑WT mode.

  4. Connect to a node by entering node number: 68377 at the top of the dialer,    
        * Tap Connect    * That’s all you need for WT mode — no server configuration is required

  5. Tap and hold down the PTT button to talk.
  6. Keep the mic gain setting in your app moderate to prevent distortion.

4. Bonus Info

  • Node 68377 is not the K6SAC repeater itself, it is actually a “Conference Room” program running on a computer in the cloud. When you connect to the club's Node 68377 using an app on your phone you are actually connected to a party line that enables you to communicate with the users of other devices connected to the club's conference room. One of the devices connected to the room is a ClearNode device with the identifier 510732/N6BUM, and it is connected via the internet full time. Picture the ClearNode as a Handie Talkie which has internet capabilities, because that is essentially what it is. This Handie Talkie (HT) sits about 50 feet away from the repeater and it bridges the chatter happening in the conference room to the chatter happening on the repeater. When you use the AllStar app on your phone you are remotely operating the Handie Talkie (node 510732) and using it to communicate over RF with the k6SAC repeater. 
  • Every device on the AllStar Network is assigned a unique Node Number as an identifier. Some of the nodes are Conference Rooms (Hubs), some are Cell Phones running apps, some are Repeaters, and some are ClearNodes. Most of the devices on the network do not allow users to connect directly to them. 
  • On the k6sac.org website, under the “Radio” drop down menu, is an option that enables you to view the Status of the Club's AllStar Conference Room (68377). The status page enables you to see 1) if the club's Conference Room is operational, 2) if the club's ClearNode 510732 (N6BUM) which bridges the club's conference room to the K6SAC repeater is on-line and connected, and 3) what other nodes, users, and repeaters are currently connected to the Capital Radio Club's AllStar Conference Room. 
  • A word about ClearNodes... They consist of are a RaspberryPi mini computer with a small low-wattage radio transceiver board (hat) attached. The club's ClearNode connects to the internet over a WiFi connection, and then uses it's transeiver to transmit and receive 2-meter signals between it and the nearby club repeater just like any other radio would do. Used a bit differently, many hams buy ClearNodes to act more like a personal repeater while on the road. Instead of using an app on their cell phone to connect to the AllStar Network, these Hams use their analog FM transceiver to communicate over RF to their ClearNode and then configure their ClearNode to connect to the internet over WiFi (often using their phone as a hot-spot), and will then send DTMF commands to the ClearNode to connect to various AllStar repeaters and Hubs.