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Lets start out with my setup so this might not work for you. My repeater is a Bridgecom BCR-40DU, I purchased the URIx, 25 pin cable, and Micro SD from the myGMRS store. Make sure your not using a Raspberry Pi 4, trust me it doesn't work. I ended up getting a Raspberry Pi 3B+. After installing the micro sd card into the pi make sure you connect an ethernet cable, log in, change password like instructed, then set up wifi if you want by following instructions in the quick start guide that came with the micro sd card, don't forget to log into your router and set up port forwarding. Your gonna wanna go into your simpleusb.conf file and change a few things. sudo nano /etc/asterisk/simpleusb.conf carrierfrom = usbinvert ; no,usb,usbinvert ; no - no carrier detection at all ; usb - from the COR line on the USB sound fob (Active high) ; usbinvert - from the inverted COR line on the USB sound fob (Active low) ctcssfrom = usb ; no,usb,usbinvert ; no - CTCSS decoding, system will be carrier squelch ; usb - CTCSS decoding using input from USB sound fob (Active high) ; usbinvert - from the inverted CTCSS line on the USB sound fob (Active low) duplex = 1 ; Duplex 0,1 ; 0 - half duplex ; 1 - full duplex When your done making the changes hit ctrl + o followed by enter then ctrl + x followed by enter. I wasn't able to use DTMF tones to connect to different nodes so I found a command in one of the forum pages to connect through ssh. sudo asterisk -rx "rpt fun 24219 *3172" 24219 is my node so insert your node number, *3172 will connect me to node 172, *3xxxxx will connect you to your node of choice, xxxxx being the node number. If your gonna use the Pi as your repeater controller then your gonna have to modify your rpt.conf file. sudo nano /etc/asterisk/rpt.conf hangtime = 1000 ; squelch tail hang time (in ms) (optional, default 5 seconds, 5000 ms) althangtime = 2000 ; longer squelch tail totime = 180000 ; transmit time-out time (in ms) (optional, default 3 minutes 180000 ms) idrecording = |ixxxxxxx ; cording or morse string see http://ohnosec.org/drupal/node/87 ;idtalkover = |ixxxxxxx ; Talkover ID (optional) default is none see http://ohnosec.org/drupal/node/129 ; See Telemetry section Example: idrecording = rpt/nodenames/24219 idtime = 900000 When your done making the changes hit ctrl + o followed by enter then ctrl + x followed by enter. Change the xxxxxxx to your callsign make sure you keep the |i or it won't identify. After your done making all the changes make sure to restart asterisk by using: sudo service asterisk restart These are all the changes I did to make everything work with my system. Once I get voice ID working I'll do an update. I hope this helps someone. It took me quite a few days of playing around trying to figure this out. Joe WROE856

I just put together a controller kit yesterday, the ID-O-Matic IV from Ham Gadgets: http://www.hamgadgets.com/id-o-matic-iv From the name it sounds like just an IDer, but it actually can control a repeater. It has a lot of features for the low price, and is in my opinion all I really need or can use for a GMRS repeater. Works pretty well as a ham repeater too, in fact. You can get this controller already assembled for about $60, but I elected to save $20 by assembling it myself. It's been awhile since I put together a kit anyway, and that's part of the radio hobby for me. It shipped quickly and wasn't missing any parts. It doesn't include a hard copy of the manual; you have to download a pdf from the website. I had already done so in preparation. It went together with no issues, and no magic smoke escaped when I powered it up to test. I haven't tested it with the radios yet. First I have to figure out the programming, which is done via usb with a terminal emulator program. I also have to interface to the radios, which shouldn't be too difficult.

So I am thinking, that little Raspberry box might have more left in it that can be of use at a repeater site. External control of "other" devices. For starters cooling fans based on a temp sensor input. Loss of power resulting in transfer to backup. Backup battery state. Solar charging system state And more.... With the Pi GPIOs external in-outs the hardware is there. I do realize there are probably some repeater controllers running out there that already incorporate some of these functions, but mine do not. So the questions comes down to... Can PHP be loaded along with Asterisk? This would require opening Port 80 so a "Dashboard" of monitored points and access to functions could be accessed remotely. Is there enough horsepower and memory? I believe the Pi myGMRS is sending out is a 3 B+ 1.4 gig 64 bit quad core processor with a gig of memory. (not sure the Linux version running can utilize the 64 bit though). Over thinking it? Too much time on my hands? Just add another Raspberry to handle these operations? Never Satisfied (Rick H) WQHJ382 / W2rgh

I did a bit of reprogramming of my ID-O-Matic IV controller tonight. Minor stuff; changing ID and EOT beep speed, COR polarity, etc. Connected a short section of phone cord to carry mic and PTT signals to the front panel of the TK-805D I'm using for transmit. There are only 4 wires in the phone cord vs. 6 in the mic cord, but it plugs in and only 4 wires are needed, so it works. Actually it would work with only 3 wires: PTT, audio+ and ground. I cleared the memory on that particular radio and reprogrammed it for repeater use. Also turned the power down to 10 watts to up the duty cycle. I've tested it by jumping the COR line and listening to it on another radio. Everything's working fine. Now for the receiver portion. I found a guy on ebay advertising programming on a variety of radios, including the GE Phoenix. I've been in touch with him and he says no problem. So I'm planning to send him my Phoenix to be reprogrammed. I've tested the Phoenix and it powers up, receives, PL works, sounds fine. The only problem is it's currently on the wrong frequency. So when I get it back it should be good to go. That's why I changed the COR polarity on the controller, in fact: I was originally planning to use another TK-805D for receive. COR is active low on the 805; active high on the GE. The GE is a much better choice for the repeater. All connections are external, no mods necessary. And being a two-channel radio, it's not much good for anything else. So that will free up another of my TK-805s for vehicle or base use.