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Original article available HERE refers.
A practical audio test was conducted yesterday afternoon between Koos ZS5KDK and Johan ZS1I relating to Echolink and AllStar applications. Koos ZS5KDK is the caretaker of several repeaters in Kwazulu Natal connected to the Pietermaritzburg (ZS5PMB-R) repeater. Koos used Echolink to connect to the ZS1I-L GRHub Network in Mossel Bay while Johan was using AllStar. A group of radio amateurs that included Koos were talking on the ZS-Link Network where audio quality of AllStar was discussed. Koos decided to connect his AllStar Node to the AllStar ZS-Link Network. I immediately noticed a huge difference in audio quality but said nothing. When I transmitted on the ZS-Link Network via AllStar, Koos commented that the audio quality was great and far better than the Echolink audio that he used earlier. The AllStar audio is really great and personally I think that it is worthwhile to migrate to AllStar. Please note you will not be able to hear the great audio of AllStar if you use Echolink. This will only be heard when two AllStar nodes are connected and one AllStar node is your node.
If you would like to use AllStar as a Radioless Node it can easily be done with a Raspberry Pi, USB Soundcard Dongle and a good microphone/earphone headset. No radio is connected and the benefit is you do not tie up your computer for the purpose. The Raspberry Pi runs in the background and monitors activity while you can use your PC for other purposes.
The link to AllStar is available HERE
If anybody experience any issues setting up or installing AllStar they are most welcome to contact me via the ZS-Link Network or EMAIL
