The Metropolitan Amateur Repeater System (M.A.R.S.) including the Branson Repeaters is accessible via AllStarLink node 49266. AllStarLink is a network of Amateur Radio repeaters, remote base stations and hot spots accessible to each other via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). AllStarLink runs on a dedicated computer (including the Raspberry Pi) that you host at your home, radio site or computer center. It is based on the open source Asterisk PBX.1
Before using AllStarLink, you will need to create a free account by visiting the AllStarLink website. You will need a PDF version of the “Official Copy” of your Amateur Radio License.
Accessing the M.A.R.S. Branson Repeaters via Telephone
This is a great feature. It’s kinda like reverse-autopatch (for those who remember what that is). While there are no official AllStarLink smartphone/tablet apps available as is the case with EchoLink, AllStarLink does have a really handy feature that will allow you to access most AllStarLink nodes including our 49266 node via telephone. Many of you may remember the days of repeater autopatch and even reverse autopatch. The AllStarLink telephone portal is very similar to a reverse autopatch with one major exception: you must be a licensed ham in order to use it because having an AllStarLink account requires each user to be licensed. Within the “Account Settings” of your AllStarLink account is your PIN. This PIN is needed to use the AllStarLink telephone portal.
To access M.A.R.S. including the Branson Repeaters via the AllStarLink telephone portal in vox mode:
1) Dial: 1-763-230-0000
2) Enter: 49266 #
3) Enter: 1
4) Enter: your PIN (in your AllStarLink account under “Account Settings”)
5) Enter: 1
6) Mute your telephone microphone.
7) Unmute your phone microphone and speak to transmit and
8) Mute again to unkey
9) Just hang up when you’re done
You can automate this dialing sequence using commas as “pauses” within the telephone digits of your phone’s contact that contains the AllStarLink entry.
Here’s an example that has worked for several folks:
17632300000,,,,,49266#,,,1,,,
1“Welcome to AllStarLink!” AllStarLink, AllStarLink Inc, https://web-tpa.allstarlink.org
