I am working on my Echolink IRLP node. This is a Ham Radio/Voice over the internet protocol (VOIP) amalgam. Echolink and IRLP are two different manifestations of this combination of ham radio and the internet. They both can be run off of a linux server. My old one was a Pentium II. I decided to move to a Rasberry Pi for several reasons. One is energy savings. The Pi a Iphone sized computer uses much less electricity. The second is for “fun” and education. I have had to extend my knowledge of Linux a bit and also knowledge of the software to make it go.

Despite the monumental and well appreciated efforts of those programming IRLP, Echolink, The Bridge, Debian, and Debian on Rasberry, the installation of all of this is not trivial. It can be, what I think of as frustrating fun. The hurdle is a pain until you’re past it. This is sort of a manifestation of hitting your foot with a hammer so that it will feel better when you stop. I still have at least one hurdle left. Then node is not accepting my DTMF commands via radio or a web interface on Echolink. Consequently I cannot call out on this software, but incoming connections are working.

The basic steps in this are:
Securing proper equipment
Formatting your SD Card for you Pi
Installing your Linux version on the card
Configuring your Linux for IRLP
Getting a modified IRLP board for the Pi or modifying it yourself
Getting or modifying cables to work with the board, the pi, your radio and a USP soundcard.
Installing the IRLP software
Configuring and testing the software. Learning that if you download then you probably need to use aumix to set your sound.
Reconfiguring the sound.
Getting CW ID to work. This means bridging pins 3 and 4 on you DB9 to the radio cable. Hey maybe this is pins 2 and three, look it up somewhere else!
Final IRLP test and then backup_for_reinstall . Save with a name indicating that this does not have echolink installed yet.
Download and install Echolink.
So far the bug I have found is that a file in bin should be in sbin. This was fixed with a symbolic link.
Here are pictures:

IRLP board-Pi board-with ribbon cable connector
The proposed enclosure is behind it. There will be room inside for a Baofeng 440 transceiver.

Pi

IRLP board with yellow tape under one side of the diode to modify it for use with the Pi

Old commercial radio modded for 440 with power supply and fan.

Antenna.

Enclosure