Echolink

Echolink is one of the greatest advancements to this hobby ever IMO.  Besides being able to use your PC to connect to another radio anywhere in the world, it also allows 2 repeaters to connect to each other, not to mention simplex operation.  For example, my neighbor runs an Echolink Simplex Link on a Yaesu FT-8800r. He then connects to his buddies repeater in New York and talks to him on his way home from work.  Chicago, to New York.  Nobody is talking on a PC, but two are being used to link the 8800 and the repeater together.

If you're interested in trying out EchoLink.  The software is free, and you can download from http://www.echolink.org. It is also available for Android and iOS.

Now, to the main reason why I made this section on my webpage.  It seems anyone using a firewall has problems using the EchoLink software.  This is because you must open ports in your router/firewall to use it.  This has to be done.  If you can't open these ports (5198 & 5199 UDP), you can't use EchoLink, plain and simple.  I have written a small guide on how to do this with a Linksys router, and the built in Windows XP firewall.

The EchoLink Firewall Guide by N9TES

Please note: This guide only supports Windows XP, and Linksys routers.  If you are using another operating system,  firewall, or router please consult the documentation that came with it, and see if you can use my information stated below as a reference.

Step 1: Enabling EchoLink with the Windows XP firewall.

    First, open the Windows Control Panel and double-click on Windows Firewall.  You should see this:

Make sure Don't allow exceptions is NOT checked!

    Next, click on the Exceptions tab located on the top of the Window.  You should now see this:

    Click on the Add Port button.  A box will appear, enter in the information needed to make it look like the box below.  Then click OK.

Click on Add Port again.  Make the box that shows up look like this, then click OK.

Congratulations, you have now configured the Windows XP firewall.

Step 2: Configuring EchoLink to work with a Linksys router.

This part is pretty easy, but some people make a big deal about it.  First, you need to find out what your network IP address is.  To do this, go into your Start Menu and click on Run.  A small box will appear, type in command and then hit Enter.  You should see a DOS window that looks something like this:

Now, type in IPCONFIG and you should see something like this:

My network IP Address is 192.168.1.51.  This number may be different for you (192.168.1.101 for example).  Basically, you just need to know the last number, so in my case I have to remeber 51.

Now, you have to get into your routers settings.  To do this, enter the IP address 192.168.1.1 into your browser's address bar.

Your router will then ask for a password.  Unless you have changed it (which you should) the default username is left blank, and the default password is admin.

You are now in your routers settings.  You want to click on the Applications and Gaming tab.  Enter in the name that you want (I used Echolnk), then the start port of 5198, and the end port of 5199.  Then under protocol select UDP.  Next, under IP Address, enter in the number you got from running IPCONFIG a few steps above (for me it was 51).  Finally, make sure you check Enable.  See pic below:

Congratulations!  Your computer should now be able to run Echolink without any problems.  Go ahead and install the free EchoLink software found at http://www.echolink.org.