Using Flex with CG NAT - Smartlink and an Exit node VM in Azure

VK1HF

for this who want to try doing things the 'classic way' - I just really wanted to get this working.. not sure it is the way I'll roll forward with, but very happy to get it working for sure..

Update : I got it working.

What : Remote HF (8400) using a cloud hosted 'exit node'. (Azure Cloud)

Status : Seems fine, some packets via the VPN will jump in latency - not sure if this is the VM in Azure or what - testing.

If you want to get your head around how it is setup watch this :

https://youtu.be/8gFNgKUJ8JE

If you want to understand my backstory and why Flex/Why this networking option, LISTEN to this :

https://youtu.be/6fatxaHKEyI

Me.?

• NOT a contester
• NOT interested in driving a radio from a a PC (I want the knows and dials experience and not need a PC)
• ONLY want one VFO/Slice - hence 8400 versus 8600 etc. Way cheaper.
• mainly interested in SSB Voice and CW
• using Starlink at the remote site.

What do I like about this option.?

• it solves the challenges arising from CG-NAT (Starlink, Telco 4G etc).
• I am using the cheap Starlink mobile services - $80 AUD per month - versus the commercial service. (~$150-190 AUD/month)
• it is elegant - networking wise - and does not use any of the new 'magic vpn solutions' like Tailscale or ZeroTier etc.
• there is a RaspberryPi required at the Radio end but none anywhere else.
• it used all open non windows software.

what do I not like.?

• the cost of the VM per month - $18USD.
• at present every 15th packet or so seems high latency - not sure why, working on this.

Where to from here.?

• will see if I can nut out this occasional 1 high latency packet issue
• maybe will try ZeroTier and see how that goes performance wise - but I would need a Pi on the radio and the maestro end for that - not sure I like that.? but ZeroTier does look very cool I will admit.

Pastor

Hello Ian -VK1HF,

I too use a Starlink system for my home internet. I tried viewing your videos, but they are marked private. In any case I have been looking for options to gain access via my Maestro to my home Flex 8400 Radio. If understood your post correctly you have found a work around. Can you please go into some detail on what you did? I would like to be able to access my Starlink internet home network and do the same.

VK1HF

videos should be able to be viewed now..sorry bout that.

update..

1. I am using Amazon light sail..so cheap. Crazy cheap. Hard to believe really. So far it is costing me literally zero per month. And I have finish the free period.
   
2. No more packet loss isssues to speak off. I have gone to a physical cable versus using wireless on the radio end.

I love this setup. It works, it’s simple, no weird networking or agents to be installed etc.

At this point, I like this solution more than using zerotier BUT…ZT is very cool in its own way. I am still in POC phase..should be in production in about 2 weeks. Our issues are all related to noise from MPPT solar chargers, not the basic networking per se.

Once we go to production we will leave it this way for a few months but I do want to try the zerotier setup also and compare pros and cons of each setup.

If there is much interest in this happy to share but I would rather have a real time discussion versus protracted. Maybe a zoom call or something.

re the exit node VM. I was messing around with running different VMs with different providers and in different DCs. I stumbled accross AWS lightsail so tried that. I am now using a lightsail VM in the AWS Sydney DC.