AllStar Link

What is AllStar Link?

AllStar Link (often shortened to AllStar or ASL) is a worldwide network that lets licensed amateur radio operators link repeaters, remote bases, and personal radio nodes together over the internet using Voice over IP (VoIP).

In plain language: if your local repeater (or a small node at home) is connected to AllStar, you can talk with hams on other linked systems far outside your radio’s normal RF range. The RF path still matters locally; the internet carries the voice between nodes.

Nodes, hubs, and linking

  • Each AllStar endpoint has a node number (a numeric ID on the AllStarLink network).
  • Nodes can connect in flexible ways: temporary links for a net or event, longer-lived hub-and-spoke setups, or permanent multi-site systems, depending on how operators configure them.
  • Linking is typically done with DTMF commands from a radio, from a node console, or via web/monitoring tools the node owner provides.

How hams usually connect

  • Radio into a linked repeater or hotspot — talk on a local machine that already has an AllStar connection.
  • Run your own node — a computer (commonly a Raspberry Pi or x86 host) wired or radio-linked to a transceiver, registered with AllStarLink.
  • Softphone / app clients — some nodes allow IAX or SIP softphones, or apps such as IAXRpt / DVSwitch-style clients, when the node operator has configured credentials and access. That is operator-specific, not a universal “dial any node from a phone app” service.

Asterisk, app_rpt, HamVoIP, and ASL3

AllStar Link is built on the open-source Asterisk PBX with the app_rpt radio application. Distributions such as HamVoIP (a popular Raspberry Pi image historically used by many operators) and current AllStarLink ASL3 packages package that stack so amateurs can stand up a node without building Asterisk from scratch. The network directory, node registration, and documentation live at allstarlink.org.

AllStar is amateur radio voice linking. It is not a substitute for a cell carrier, and transmitting through it requires a valid amateur license and Part 97 operating practice.

Cache Valley & Northern Utah AllStar activity

We only list facts we can verify from public club and coordination sources. If something is not documented, we say so.

Verified: BARC / AC7O AllStar node 52787

Public listings from the Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club (BARC) repeaters page and the Utah VHF Society repeater list associate AllStar node 52787 with the following Cache Valley machine:

  • Frequency: 147.200 MHz (+ offset)
  • CTCSS: 103.5 Hz
  • Callsign: AC7O
  • Location: Smithfield Fire Station (Smithfield / Cache Valley, Utah)
  • Trustee (per BARC): Ted McArthur, AC7II
  • Also listed on that repeater (BARC): IRLP node 3381, EchoLink node 495125

BARC describes this 147.200 repeater as part of its linked analog FM system context (it can be manually linked to the wider BARC linked system when needed). The Utah VHF Society row for Smithfield 147.20 notes A52787 alongside IRLP I3381.

AllStarLink’s public stats page for node 52787 exists; online/reporting status can change, so treat club listings plus live stats as the source of truth rather than this summary alone.

What we have not verified

  • We are not inventing additional Cache Valley AllStar node numbers, private hubs, or scheduled “AllStar-only” nets beyond what clubs publish.
  • BARC publishes regular club and ARES nets primarily on its FM linked system and other modes; check BARC nets for current schedules rather than assuming every net is carried on AllStar.
  • Nearby Utah listings sometimes mention AllStar on machines outside Cache Valley (for example elsewhere in the state). Those are not automatically “Cache Valley Mesh” resources.

If you operate or know of another publicly documented Northern Utah AllStar node, point us at a club page, UVHFS listing, or AllStarLink directory entry and we can update this page with sources.

Why this page lives on Cache Valley Mesh

Cache Valley Mesh is a volunteer community focused on resilient, local communications across Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho). Our neighbors already rely on strong amateur radio infrastructure through clubs such as BARC. AllStar sits in that toolkit as licensed voice linking over IP, alongside topics we cover like Meshtastic (LoRa text/location mesh).

These systems solve different problems. Meshtastic is great for short encrypted texts without a ham license. AllStar is for hams who want familiar FM-style voice paths that can reach far beyond a single repeater footprint. We do not claim a documented Meshtastic↔AllStar bridge on this site; if one is built and published later, we will cite it here.

Related community pages: About Cache Valley Mesh, Events & presentations, Meshtastic, and AREDN.

Getting started

  1. Hold (or work toward) an amateur radio license, and learn local repeater etiquette.
  2. Read BARC’s repeaters notes for the 147.200 / AllStar 52787 machine and any control or linking guidance they publish.
  3. Explore official docs and node tools at allstarlink.org if you want to run or monitor a node.
  4. Confirm live node status on AllStarLink stats for 52787 before depending on a link for an event or emergency exercise.

FAQ

What is AllStar Link?

AllStar Link (ASL) is a worldwide amateur radio VoIP network that connects repeaters, remote bases, and personal nodes over the internet using Asterisk and the app_rpt application. Licensed hams can link systems for voice communication across long distances.

Is there an AllStar node in Cache Valley, Utah?

Yes. BARC lists AllStar node 52787 on the AC7O 147.200 MHz (+ offset, 103.5 Hz CTCSS) repeater at Smithfield Fire Station. The Utah VHF Society list also notes A52787 for that machine. Always confirm current status with BARC and AllStarLink stats before relying on a link.

Do I need a ham license to use AllStar?

Yes. AllStar Link carries amateur radio voice traffic. You need an appropriate FCC amateur radio license (and must follow Part 97 rules) to transmit through AllStar-connected systems.

Is AllStar the same as Meshtastic?

No. AllStar is licensed amateur radio voice linking over IP. Meshtastic is primarily license-free LoRa text/location mesh networking. They are complementary tools in the Cache Valley Mesh conversation, not the same protocol.

How do people connect to an AllStar node?

Common paths include keying a radio into a linked repeater or hotspot node, running your own AllStar node (for example ASL3 or HamVoIP on a Raspberry Pi or PC), or using operator-approved softphone/IAX clients. Exact access depends on how each node operator configures their system.

Sources