The Space bar can be configured to be used as a PTT button by going to tools, preferences, connections and select space bar TX control to momentary. Personally, I think toggle is best, but if you are having trouble remembering to toggle, switch to PTT.

Next of all, while using Echo Link, If you have opened any other window or program on your desk top, it will stop the space bar from working, and you can't toggle back to receive. You must close, or minimize the open windows first to get the space bar to work again.

The list of stations that contain a -R stand for repeater stations, and the -L stand for simplex radio stations. Normal call signs indicate amateur operators.

I suggest you use your call sign even when you chat directly with another ham station, just to keep in practice for when you connect to a radio link, or repeater station, where you are required to identify. Another reason to identify, is that it is possible to connect to a amateur station, that may already be in conference with a radio station. Another reason is that if you are getting a poor internet connection, your connection may breakup some, making the station on the other end think you turned it back to him. Get in the habit of identifying at the end of all transmissions.

If your operating system is Windows XP, you may be having trouble connecting to, or passing audio on to Echo Link. There are procedures listed on the Echo Link web site about how to configure your XP security system to allow ports to be opened for Echo Link. It may be that your router needs to be configured also.

It seems that the majority or Echo Link users have trouble with there modulation level. It needs to be adjusted, because some guy in a car going 80 miles an hour, with road noise screaming through his open window, on a 100 degree day, can't put his head down into the radio speaker, for fear of crashing into something. And, as bad is the over bearing, distorted, and broken sounds, from a computer with a bad or real cheap microphone, or an over modulation adjustment. The Echo Link people have made it real easy for you. They put a real nice modulation bar at the bottom, middle of the screen. You need to adjust the level so while speaking close to your mic, the blue bar reaches the yellow mark some times, but never into the red. Some guys think that adjusting the Windows mixer, microphone level, will correct the problem, wrong, Echo link has a recording level, and a microphone level control, which can be found on the echolink screen in tools, preferences, audio. Note that when you open any window, the space bar stops working.

Something I have noticed that what many hams do is to call CQ on an FM frequency. You know that a FM simplex, or repeater system, on 1Ø, 6, and 2 meters, and above, is channelled, and a station is either going to be on the frequency to hear you or not. Calling CQ only takes up air time, and it can be annoying to a station waiting for you to stop transmitting "CQ" so they can answer your call. A simple, to the point transmission, is all that is needed. I suggest saying something like: "KØRWU monitoring" or "KØRWU monitoring the frequency", or "KØRWU is QRZ the frequency". Calling CQ on the CW, AM or SSB frequencies, of any band, is just fine, and I wish more hams would do that.

Another thing I have noticed some hams do on Echo Link do is to connect, then make a call, and then if they don't receive a reply within a few seconds, they disconnect. If you don't receive an answer, wait a minute and try again. Sometimes operators are busy doing other things, and maybe just can't get back to you for a minute or so.

OK, enough said for now, Enjoy Echo Link, and please don't abuse it, or bad rap it. It is a great help to amateur radio, not a hindrance as some think.