SharkRF recently introduced a new device. It has a microphone and a speaker. It’s a lot like a handheld radio. But it’s not actually a radio. Although it behaves like one. It’s strictly a network device utilizing wifi to communicate. It does all the various digital voice modes. And it also does Allstar.
After debating this purchase for a couple of months, I finally decided to get one. And I put away all my other ham gear. So now… this M1KE is the only piece of ham gear I am using. It works great!
But as I started experimenting with the Allstar capability, I quickly discovered something. The M1KE doesn’t connect to other nodes as a normal node. It connects in “web transceiver” mode. And unfortunately… this mode of connecting is commonly blocked by popular repeater networks.
So… I was chatting with AI about this… and we came up with a great plan. How about setting up a cloud-based Allstar node? I could use that as a gateway. I could connect to it with my M1KE. And then connect the cloud-based node directly to the other node I want to talk to that would have blocked a direct connection from the M1KE.
I’ve setup a number of Allstar nodes in the past. But I’ve never set one up that uses the IAX2 method of connection (which is what the M1KE needs to be able to do in this situation).
So… I enlisted the help of AI. And it helped me with the specifics of setting up a cloud-based node and properly configuring it to act as a bridge between my M1KE and the other nodes that I might want to connect to. I was even able to set this up so I can use my cell phone to control the connections of the cloud-based node.
In case you’re wondering… did AI give me all correct answers throughout this process? Absolutely not. I had to keep it honest. It was a bit of a challenge. And it was a cooperative effort. But… without the assistance of AI I probably could not have done it. Or… it would have taken weeks, instead of hours.