How does AllStarLink actually work, I asked

I asked the Claude AI “how does AllStarLink actually work?” The long-but-understandable response seems pretty good to me. Find it at https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/87ecadbe-a4ab-4b5d-9045-fd55dc2c533d

Following are a few excerpts from Claude’s long (but good) response. There is a lot more at the link and if you are interested in learning more about AllStarLink, it’s worth reviewing.

From Claude:

What Is AllStarLink?

AllStarLink is a network system that connects amateur radio repeaters, remote base stations, and hotspots worldwide using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Think of it as a phone system for radios—instead of dialing phone numbers, you “dial” node numbers to connect different radio systems across the internet.

Core Architecture

The Foundation: Asterisk + app_rpt

AllStarLink is built on two key components:

Asterisk PBX – An open-source phone system (Private Branch Exchange) that handles audio routing and call management. Asterisk is essentially a sophisticated audio switching system that was designed for telephone systems.

app_rpt – A custom application written specifically for Asterisk that transforms it into a repeater controller. This is the “secret sauce” that makes Asterisk understand how to work with radios instead of just phones.

Node Architecture

What Is a Node?

A node is the basic building block of AllStarLink. Each node consists of:

1. Computer/Server – Runs Linux (typically Debian) with Asterisk and app_rpt software. This can be:
   • Raspberry Pi (models 3, 4, 5, or Zero 2 W)
   • Standard PC (x86_64/AMD64 architecture)
   • Virtual machine in the cloud
   • Embedded systems
2. Radio Interface – Connects the computer to radio equipment via:
   • USB audio adapters (modified or commercial like URI devices)
   • PCI radio interface cards
   • Sound card interfaces
3. Network Connection – Internet connection for linking to other nodes
4. Node Number – A unique identifier (like a phone number) that other nodes use to connect