My AllStarLink3 Node stopped working! Where do I start to look for the problem?

Image:  ASL3 Diagnostic Check Command  (Click on image for larger view.) 

I recently experienced some issues where my 49355 ASL3 HUB node went offline for some rime or reason.  The following issues were diagnosed:

• Configuration Conflict:   The node was simultaneously running legacy IAX registration syntax and newer AllStarLink 3 (ASL3) HTTP API configuration blocks. This structural overlap threw a fatal error, preventing authentication.
• Systemd Startup Crash Loop: A system update introduced an incompatible high-priority flag (-p) into the systemd configuration wrapper. The underlying version of Asterisk rejected this flag, resulting in an immediate initialization failure (status=2/INVALIDARGUMENT), forcing the Asterisk process to repeatedly crash.
• HTTP Module Bypass: While ASL3 defaults to HTTP registrations, local software variables caused the Asterisk package on this specific machine to bypass the modern res_rpt_http_registrations.so engine entirely. 

How was the above issues diagnosed?  Looking at the three issues the task to get the node up and running look like a daunting one where I will have to write a complete new SD Card.  Writing a complete new card and setting it up would have taken me several hours.  No I did not make a backup -  naughty, naughty me! 

In my search around on how to find out what was the actual issues I found the following command to diagnose the node.  I tried using Diagnostics Reports in the Cockpit but that returned - No System Reports.  Well I found the following command:  sudo asl-node-auth-check

What is the purpose of this command  (sudo asl-node-auth-check) when using it to diagnose your AllStarLink3  Node?

The sudo asl-node-auth-check diagnostic script was introduced in AllStarLink 3 (ASL3) to address complex network environments. It automates the verification of your node's local configuration, registration, and end-to-end network path. 
Here is a breakdown of what the tool evaluates when executed: 

1. Holistic Configuration Audit

    • Node Detection: Scans the active Asterisk environment to identify every node provisioned on the local machine.
    • Conflict Resolution: Cross-references file parameters to detect mismatches or syntactic syntax conflicts between config files. 

2. Deep Network Profile (IP & NAT Diagnostics)

    • Multi-Location Testing: Performs concurrent tests over both HTTP and Inter-Asterisk eXchange (IAX) protocols against three geographically separate AllStarLink server locations. 
    • CGNAT Identification: By verifying network reach-ability from multiple external points, it definitively establishes if your node is trapped behind a Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) or a restrictive mobile hotspot firewall. 
    • IP History Tracker: Displays information on the last time your node’s perceived public IP address changed. 

3. Individual Node Authentication & Registration

    • Syntax Validation: Checks that the local registration strings match the valid format mandated by the network. 
    • Port Verification: Confirms that the local port defined in your configuration exactly matches the database port assigned to you in the central registry database. 
    • Server Handshake: Tests actual routing and reach-ability directly to register.allstarlink.org. 
    • Staleness Tracking: Verifies if your node registration is active and current (checking that a valid database check-in has succeeded within the last 10 minutes). 

4. Inbound IAX Reachability Test

    • Parrot Routing System: Uses the newer central "Parrot/Reach-ability" system to simulate an incoming connection attempt to your node.
    • Port Forwarding Proof: This tests if inbound traffic on your designated port can actually pierce your local router firewall and reach the node. 
If your node has a green status on the AllStarLink Node List but cannot accept incoming connections, this utility isolates the fault. 

As can be seen from the above this command is a very convenient way to diagnose issues your node might experience.  Please note that is is a very powerful diagnostic command tool and one should use it with caution.  

Here is the output of the command:

ZS1I@49355:~ $ sudo asl-node-auth-check

-----===== AllStarLink Node Authentication Check =====-----

Checking configuration:
      Info: Skipping evaluation of private node 1961
      Info: rpt.conf has configuration for: 49355
      Info: /etc/asterisk/iax.conf contains 1 registration line(s)
      Info: /etc/asterisk/rpt_http_registrations.conf contains no registration lines.
      Info: Registrations present for configured node(s): 49355
      Info: IP from https://conntest-east1.allstarlink.org/ip reports: xx.xxx.xxx.xxx
      Info: IP from https://conntest-west1.allstarlink.org/ip reports: xx.xxx.xxx.xxx
      Info: IP from https://conntest-west2.allstarlink.org/ip reports: xx.xxx.xxx.xxx
      Info: IP from udp://conntest-east1.allstarlink.org:4570 reports: xx.xxx.xxx.xxx
      Info: IP from udp://conntest-west1.allstarlink.org:4569 reports: xx.xxx.xxx.xxx
      Info: IP from udp://conntest-west2.allstarlink.org:4569 reports: xx.xxx.xxx.xxx
        OK: HTTP IP probes have consensus on the same perceived IP
        OK: IAX IP probes have consensus on the same perceived IP

Testing node 49355:
        OK: Node registration config is well-formed
        OK: Node registration type is IAX
        OK: register.allstarlink.org is reachable (via HTTP)
        OK: IAX registration state is Registered
        OK: Perceived IAX IP:PORT for this node is: xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:4569
        OK: Registered to aws-east1a-register1.allstarlink.org - xx.xx.xxx.xxx
        OK: Server-set UDP port matches bindport in iax.conf
        OK: Node registration within 10 minutes: 2026-07-31 14:11:50 UTC
      Info: Last time IP changed was 2026-07-29 09:48:32 UTC
        OK: Incoming connections to IAX from other nodes is successful
      Info: IAX ping test has a roundtrip time of 238ms
        OK: No problems detected with node 49355

ZS1I@49355:~ $  

xx.xxx.xxx.xxx - IP Addresses removed for obvious reasons. 

Errors / Warnings will be reflected in the output of the command.  From thereon you can fix the errors / omissions etc.  As can be seen I experience three issues which was solved and the node is now running as it should.   I also ensured that I made a paper format back-up of the current 49355 node setup as well as the back-up tool in sudo asl-menu.

I trust that this article might be of use to fellow radio amateurs that experience issues with an ASL3 node.  This tool really "saved my bacon"!! 

Update: The ZS1I 6 Meter CW Beacon Project (Part 3)

In Part 1 available HERE I gave a short overview of the Next Generation Amateur Radio Beacon (s) for the Southern Cape.  You can read more HERE about the ZS1I 6 Meter Magic Band Project in the Southern Cape Area of South Africa.  This past few weeks I have been working on the 6m CW Beacon.  As I said before this is not an elaborate beacon but more of a modular / practical beacon.  

Update: ZS1I 6 Meter CW Beacon Project (Part 2) available HERE

This past few weeks I have been working on the 6m CW Beacon building it into a project box.  As I said before this is not an elaborate beacon but more of a modular / practical beacon.

The beacon is now built into the project box and ready to be installed to the antenna and power supply. 

Particulars of the beacon:

General:

Owner:  ZS1I

Beacon Type:  6 Meter CW Beacon

Beacon Message:  VVV de ZS1I KF15BT /B

Mode:  CW (Unmodulated telegraphy)

Frequency:  50.010 Mhz Software:

Current final output power:  +- 2 watt

Morse Code Speed:  14 wpm

 

Hardware:

 

OLED display = SSD1306 (128 x 64 pixels)

Si5351 Clock Generator (RF Generator)  Quartz crystal value = 25 Mhz

2 x Power Modules (1 x 9 vdc and 1 x 5 vdc)

7 Pole Chebyshev Low Pass Filter (LPF) 50 Mhz

Arduino Nano 328P Micro Controller

Broadband 2 w Driver Power Amplifier  

Delta Loop Antenna for 50 Mhz

Small audio speaker to listen to the morse code

Morse Code function LED (Red)

Power LED's and Switches

 

Software:

 

zs1i-beacon.ino

si5351.cpp

si5351.h

Adafruit GFX

Adafruit SSD1306

wire.h

spi.h

Adafruit OLED Library for text scrolling

 

Installation of the Beacon:

Site:  ZS1I Station Shack, Heiderand, Mossel Bay
License: ZS1I Amateur Radio License
Note:  This beacon is NOT located on a remote site which requires a separate license.  The current location allows the owner to monitor and control the beacon while it is on the air.  

 

I still need a solar power supply for the beacon upon final installation.  The Delta Loop antenna needs to be lifted higher in the air.  It appears that we are now on the home run to get this beacon on the air and ready for the "magic band" season in South Africa.  An update article will follow once the final installation has been done and the beacon is up and running.

 

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

 

 

Videos:

 

 

Notes:  

 

1.  The broken face-plate was replaced with 2  x PVC Pipe plates that I made out of 80 mm PVC gutter down pipe.  It works great and I will in a future article explain how I turned the round gutter pipe into a flat piece of PVC.  I used a very old pipe that needed to be sprayed with either white or black spray paint.  Personally I think it did not turn out that bad.

2.  The angle at which the second video was taken did not show the complete message on the OLED.  If I lifted the project box then you would be able to see the full message.  Apology for the bad photography. 

ZS1I 49355 HUB Node, Mossel Bay experienced a few issues the past two days - Now fixed!

ASL3 Node inside StarShip - AI

The ZS1I 49355 HUB Node experience a few "glitches" in the past two days.  Apart from very erratic internet connections the node would not register to the AllStar Servers and therefor not allow in and outbound connections.  I enlisted the services of AI as I did not feel like re-writing ASL3 to an SD Card and go through all the settings to get the node to behave as it should.  NO I did not make a back-up as I await an order for SD Cards.  Locally cards are way to expensive.

Well between me and AI several issues were solved and the node is now running as it should.

I apologize for any inconvenience but if you want to stay on the forefront of new technology and developments these things do happen from time to time. 

#6 - Amateur Radio News and Announcements (28 July 2026)

1.  Reminder:  Do tune into the DMR-ZA Net this evening at 19h30 SAST

Herewith a list of different equipment / apps and images that cross transmit / receive the DMR-ZA Net on a Tuesday evening. (Click on images for larger view.)

1.  ZS1I 49355 AllStar Hub Network which incorporates Echolink. (ZS1I-R)

2.  DMR / DVSwitch /AllStar Bridge (TG 65522)

3.  ZS1I MMDVM Digital Repeater (TG 65522)

4.  145.550 Mhz Analogue Simplex RF Link Mossel Bay area.

5.  DroidStar / VoxDMR Applications for DMR  TG655

6.  ASL3 to Mumble Bridge PC (Mumble Client) as well as Mobile Phone (Plumble Client) 

7.  BrandMeister - Hoseline Application (PC or Mobile Phone - Receive only.)

8.  DVSwitch Mobile Application (PC or Mobile Phone)

9.   Many Analog-Repeaters and Links are connected to the ZS1I Hub Network on a daily basis.  Some of these analogue repeaters will be connected to the ZS1I Hub Network on a Tuesday evening and they might also be linked to other repeaters country- and world wide.  So why not link up with your local analogue repeater.  You might just be able to connect to the DMR-ZA Net on a Tuesday evening at 19h30 SAST. 

Finally:  There are an abundance of means illustrated above to connect to the DMR-ZA Net on a Tuesday evening at 19h30 SAST.  The DMR-ZA Net is an open net and all radio amateurs are welcome to join / connect to the net.  Brian ZS5BR is the net controller and I would like to thank him for professionally conducting the net each Tuesday evening.  Highly appreciated!! 

2.   Linux Mint isn't the best Windows replacement anymore

And the replacement is ........ ?

ZorinOS is more modern and polished, making it easier for Windows/macOS users to switch.

Built-in Windows app support installs .exe/.msi with a click; Mint requires manual WINE setup.

Ships Wayland by default: crisper text, smooth animations, better scaling, NVIDIA and phone integration. 

ZorinOS has been getting a lot of hype ever since Microsoft dropped support for Windows 10. Turns out the hype is justified. Linux Mint has been my go-to recommendation.

Read more HERE about ZorinOS. 

3.  16-Year-Old ARRL Member Wins 2026 Student Coding Competition

 ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is pleased to announce that member Ben Leovy, KC3ZPQ, of Ellicott City, Maryland, has been named the winner of the 2026 ARRL Student Coding Competition. Leovy, 16, recently completed his sophomore year at Howard High School. He designed a mobile application to help users prepare for their amateur radio license examinations.

Leovy will receive a $5,000 prize awarded by ARRL. His project was selected by a panel of judges based on usability, clarity, stability, and code quality. The judges also recognized his enthusiasm for software development and creativity by awarding him a new MacBook Neo to encourage his continued exploration of programming and technology.

“The ARRL Student Coding Competition was created to encourage young radio amateurs to apply their skills to a real-world opportunity that will benefit the amateur radio community and future entrants,” said ARRL Senior Director of Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. “Ben’s project demonstrated the kind of problem-solving skills and creativity that will help shape the future of amateur radio.”

The judges were also impressed with the strength of Leovy’s technical approach and the potential value of continuing its development. ARRL has offered him a consulting project this summer, to further refine and improve the application in collaboration with ARRL employees – an opportunity to gain professional experience. Upon successful completion of the project, Leovy will earn an additional $5,000. He will also be eligible for a $5,000 ARRL scholarship when he enrolls in college after high school.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to continue improving the application and working with ARRL,” said Leovy. “I hope it helps more people, particularly students my age, to get involved in amateur radio and to join ARRL.”

Leovy became interested in amateur radio through his grandfather and through friends involved with the scouts who shared an interest in the hobby. In addition to amateur radio and programming, Leovy participates in his school’s robotics club and enjoys exploring technology through hands-on projects.

The ARRL Student Coding Competition was launched in January 2026 as part of ARRL’s ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of radio amateurs. The competition encouraged ARRL Student members ages 21 and younger, who already have ham radio licenses, to combine their interests in amateur radio and software development.

“Programs like this help young people discover that amateur radio is more than a hobby — it is a pathway that inspires hands-on, practical, and technical experiences,” said ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA. “By investing in students and their ideas, ARRL is investing in the future of amateur radio.”

The competition is another ARRL program intended to develop student interest in future education and careers in STEM/STEAM fields. Other ongoing initiatives include the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Program, and the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program. 

The competition judges were ARRL First Vice President Kristen McIntyre, K6WX; Hudson Division Director Ed Wilson, N2XDD; previous Director of Education and Learning Steve Goodgame, K5ATA; ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM; and Education & Learning Support Specialist Max Freedman, N4ML. Additional support was provided by past Pacific Division Director Anthony Marcin, W7XM.

Since 2024, ARRL Student Membership has been free for full-time students ages 21 and younger. This no-cost membership opportunity makes it easier for students to become involved in amateur radio and access ARRL resources while they explore radio, technology, and STEM-related learning opportunities.

For more information about ARRL Student Membership, visit www.arrl.org/student.

- ARRL  

4.   Paper Logging

As an amateur radio operator, logging and QSLing are topics that keep me busy all the time. While I recently stopped confirming my radio contacts (QSLing), it’s still very important to me to log my QSOs. I’ve tried many different options for this and most recently used Wavelog, with which I was generally satisfied. However, I’m currently trying (not just in amateur radio) to simplify things and return to the original ways. That’s why I’ve decided to switch to paper logging, even though the drawbacks are obvious: no automatic generation of statistics, no search options, and no quick way to tell if I’ve had a QSO with a station before. However, I like having the maximum freedom to enter whatever I want into the logbook, however I want. It also feels somehow more personal to log the QSOs by hand.

After testing this out for a while with an existing paper logbook, it turned out that while I like this approach, existing logbooks don’t suit my needs. I make contacts both on shortwave and via satellites. For the latter, I need fields such as the locator or the name of the satellite. That’s why I first designed my own logbook template in OpenOffice Calc, exported it as a PDF, and then had it bound into a ring binder by a professional printing service.

The following image shows the finished logbook with 100 pages, a transparent plastic cover page, and a black plastic page as the last page for less than 10 Euro: 

My logbook design is based on the template by WD8DAS, which can be found here: https://www.wd8das.net/HamLogs/HamLogs.html

If anyone would like to use my template, they can download it from my server as an ODS file (logbook_a5.ods) or as a PDF file (logbook_a5.pdf)

Now all that's left is to see how long paper logging will keep me happy...

- DK1MI

5.   The Technology We Killed in the 1960s Is Now Worth $3.3 Billion 

In 1904, a British engineer built the first vacuum tube in a London laboratory. Within decades, it became the foundation of modern electronics. Radio, television, military radar, and the first computers all ran on vacuum tubes. Then in 1947, Bell Labs demonstrated the transistor, and by the 1960s the entire industry had moved on. Factories closed permanently, and the vacuum tube was declared dead.

But it never actually disappeared. It survived in places most people would never think to look, and in 2022 a geopolitical crisis exposed just how dependent the modern world still is on a technology it supposedly abandoned sixty years ago.

This is the full story of the vacuum tube, from the invention that started it all to the billion-dollar market nobody sees. 

  

6.  Listen to FreeSTAR SystemX Live No App Required [2026] 

 

Stream the conversation. Anywhere. Anytime.

FreeSTAR SystemX Live Activity Feature Directly From Your Browser,  No App is Required 

Listen To Any FreeSTAR SystemX Talk Group Or Set Up A TG To Listen Once It becomes Active. 

Web Brower Tool: http://hosepipe.freestar.network 

7.   The End of DMR Codeplugs? Z3DMR Application

 

Z3DMR is a free, mobile push-to-talk application designed for licensed amateur radio operators to communicate over Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) networks directly from their smartphones. 

Developed by the Radioamateur Club Z37CPR, it eliminates the need for physical DMR hardware, a hotspot, or an HT (handheld transceiver) to access digital ham radio networks

Key Features:

Network Support: Connects directly to major DMR networks, including BrandMeister and Homebrew

Talkgroup Management: Features network-specific talkgroup lists, alongside manual configuration options for master servers, contacts, and custom talkgroups.

Call Types: Supports both group calls and private calls.

Advanced Automation: Automatically activates Auto-Static talkgroups and allows multiple user profiles with Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) support.

Built-in APRS: Includes integrated Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) functionality for location data transmission

Accessibility: Available in 24 languages with a modern, clean, user-friendly interface.

Platform Availability:

Android: The app is fully released and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

iOS: An Apple iOS version is actively under development

Official Resources:

For the latest updates, configuration guides, and community support, you can visit the Official Z3DMR Website or join their support community via the Z3DMR Telegram Group.

Z3DMR Website 
https://z3dmr.com/

Facebook Group - Click HERE.
  

- END 

 

HAMNET MeshCore Western Cape Tech Talk Video

 

 

 
HAMNET MeshCore Western Cape Tech Talk Video 

The Boland Amateur Radio Club (BARC) invited me to do this talk on 23 July 2026. HAMNET Emergency Communications provided the Zoom platform. The audience consisted of radio amateurs, citizens, and disaster management. MeshCore is a newer type of license-free decentralised radio network that allows citizens, government agencies including nature reserves, disaster management agencies, and amateur radio operators to all talk together, whether in public channels, directly to each other, or even in private encrypted channels. This is WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal without the Internet. The network is not only useful to make new friends across the city and stay in communication with neighbours, but more importantly it is a resilient network that will stay operation long after the Internet has ceased to work due to a disaster or lengthy power outages. This is achievable through solar-powered repeater nodes at high sites, and the fact that this network is not dependent on any central server or presence, and of course there is no approval or registration to use it. My talk highlights the similarities and differences between MeshCore and Meshtastic networks, and the reasons why such a network is so important to have in place across cities and towns. I highlight two recent outages we've had in the Western Cape where towns lost their electricity supply due to adverse weather conditions, and had their normal communications cut off for up to a week. In this time HAMNET does assist with communications but only from key points. Having a broader MeshCore network available, allows citizens and disaster management agencies to stay in contact with each other for essential services and assistance. The City of Cape Town and Western Cape Provincial Government, recognise the value of having fallback communications, and HAMNET already has emergency radio rooms at both sites, which are kept in operational readiness. We are aiming to have something like MeshCore also officially endorsed by the City and Province, so that citizens can equip themselves with these radios ahead of any potential disasters in the future. We also have some wilderness areas in and around Cape Town which have no cellular phone coverage, such as the top of Table Mountain. These areas are also ideal to have such radio networks operational, as they are easy to deploy, and radio nodes cost around R500 each (whether bought by citizens/tourist, or even available to rent for the day). The talk concludes with a comprehensive Q&A around various topics relating to MeshCore radio. 

Chapters:

Intro 00:00
What Is HAMNET 01:49
Context Intro 03:40
What is MeshCore/Meshtastic 09:50
What It Looks Like 12:44
Diagnostic Comparison 14:20
Path Routing 19:31
Noise Floor 12:12
Bandwidth and Battery Life 22:23
Strengths of Each Platform 23:39
Use Case Scenarios 27:31
MeshCore SAR App 31:57
Default MeshCore Radio Settings 33:10
Way Forward 37:08
Danie's Website Page 38:20
MeshMapper Wardriving 38:54
Flashing Firmware 41:42
SF and CR 43:15
Local Hardware 44:04
Importance for Amateur Radio Clubs 45:30
Discord Server 46:58
Meet Your Fellow Citizens 48:40
How Close Can Antennas Be 49:33
Reticulum Radio Network 51:55
Proximity To Other Antennas 44:59
Roof Nodes 58:54
Yagi Antennas 59:29
Why 868 MHz and not 433 MHz 01:00:37
Getting Out Of Repeater Shadows 01:03:52
Repeaters on Buildings 01:05:38
Disaster Management Endorsement 01:06:23
Permission To Put Repeaters Up 01:08:40
Motivation To Put Repeaters Up 01:10:10
HAMNET Emergency Comms Trailer 01:11:48
Cape Town Moving Forward 01:12:52


LINKS: 

MeshCore website https://meshcore.io 

MeshMapper CPT https://cpt.meshmapper.net/index.php?... 

South African Discord Server   / discord   

Danie's MeshCore Page https://gadgeteer.co.za/hamradio/mesh... 

OpenWebRx SDR Receiver https://openwebrx.gadgeteerza.co.za - Choose 'RTL-SDR Meshtastic' profile 

- Danie vd Merwe ZS1OSS