[App_rpt-users] New to allstar and would like to learn about "remote base" operation

I currently have all the “makings” for a 6 meter base station; an almost (new old stock) GE Master II 40 watt mobile, 2 channel 52.525 and a local repeater. a short cable that would go to the control head ( no control head) a nice 20 amp power supply and any number of raspberry pi’s. my “original” plan was to connect the pi’s together via the internet, and put the remote base at a friends house, but he moved. I was told that I was trying to "re-invent the wheel and that putting up an alstar node would be easier … the first two questions, can one build there own radio interface ? and along those lines is there anything in the software to allow changing channels ( only two channels ) Thanks, Don, K8ZGW Twinsburg Ohio