Introduction To EchoLink
By Michael Harper,
KQ4PP
EchoLink®
software allows licensed Amateur Radio stations to communicate with one another
over the Internet, using Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) technology.
The program allows worldwide connections to be made between repeaters, from
computer to repeater, or between computers greatly enhancing Amateur Radio's
communications capabilities. There are more than 200,000 validated
users worldwide — in 162 of the world's 193 nations — with about 3,400 online
at any given time You can use EchoLink to connect your radio
station (or your computer) over the Internet to other amateurs using the same
software, and carry on a voice QSO. This greatly enhances the range and
utility of mobile and portable VHF/UHF-FM stations, and also allows
computer-equipped hams to access distant repeaters directly. You can access EchoLink either with a 2-meter
radio or a computer. If you are in range of an FM repeater equipped with
EchoLink, such as the KQ4PP repeater in Ocala,
you can use DTMF commands from your radio to access the EchoLink network.
If you are a licensed amateur with an Internet-connected PC, you can access
EchoLink stations directly from your PC.
The KQ4PP Repeater in Ocala
has a dedicated EchoLink station connected to it. This allows local Hams with 2-meter radios
equipped with DTMF tone capability to connect to other EchoLink Repeaters
throughout the world. In addition to
connecting to other repeaters, you can also connect to a Ham’s PC that is
connected to the internet and has EchoLink software installed and running. In addition to accessing other repeaters
through EchoLink, the KQ4PP repeater has additional capabilities to retrieve
local weather conditions and weather forecast reports.
Instructions
for Accessing Other EchoLink Repeaters and Stations through the KQ4PP Repeater:
- Tune
your 2-meter radio to the KQ4PP Repeater in Ocala, Florida
just like you were going to talk to someone over the repeater.
Repeater Output: 145.27 mHz
Repeater Input: 144.67
mHz (-600 KHz)
PL Tone Required: 123 Hz
- Find
the Node Number of the EchoLink Repeater or Station you want to call. To connect to another EchoLink repeater
or station, its just like making a phone call, except you need to know the
Node number of the receiving station instead of a phone number. You can ask your friend on the other end
what his Node Number is, or you can look it up on the internet and print
out a list of common ones. Here is
the web site where you can find all of the EchoLink stations that are
currently active along with their Node numbers:
- Website
that lists all active Echolink Repeaters/Stations sorted by callsign: http://www.echolink.org/logins.jsp
SAMPLE WEBPAGE SCREENSHOT
- Web
site to look up an active EchoLink Stations by either City/State, Grid Square,
or Longitude/Latitude:
http://www.echolink.org/links.asp
SAMPLE WEBPAGE
SCREENSHOT
Its
handy to print out one of the above lists and keep it by your radio.
- Connect
to the EchoLink Repeater or Station.
Before beginning the connection, remember to identify yourself
and say something like “Callsign accessing EchoLink” over the air. Then do the following:
- While
keying the microphone, press the following DTMF keys:
“A” then the Node Number.
For example, to
connect to Node 12345, key the mic and press A12345.
NOTE: There are four extra DTMF keys on most mics,
A B C & D. They are usually on the
right hand side or across the top. See
radio instructions for keying these on some radios, as they are not commonly
used and may require a function key to access.
TIPS: DTMF
keys are tricky and sometimes difficult to push and decode. Its also difficult for most radios to receive
these clearly enough to decode. For best
results, use quick, short key presses.
Pressing the key too long will result in the system hearing the key
twice. You also need full quieting into
the repeater for the DTMF keys to be decoded.
Make sure you keep the mic keyed the whole time you are entering the
DTMF codes with no breaks.
- Release
the key on the microphone and listen for EchoLink to respond. You will hear one of the two following
messages:
- “Connecting
to CALLSIGN” where the callsign is the station you are calling. This is good. After a few seconds a listening, you
will hear another message, “Connected”.
You are now connected to the remote repeater or station.
- “12345
Not Found”. This message from
Echolink means you entered a DTMF code that was not found in the active
database. This can occur when the
EchoLink station or repeater you are calling is offline or else the Node
number is incorrect. Often the
Node number contains a duplicated digit like 122345 causing an
error. Remember to use quick short
key presses and you must be full quieting into the repeater. In any case, you must repeat step 3
again and try to reconnect.
- Begin
your QSO by calling the remote station. Listen for few seconds to make sure the
other repeater or station isn’t in use and then begin your call, just as
if you were transmitting on the distant repeater. Don’t just start talking. Make sure you use your callsign and the
callsign of the person you are calling.
Everything you transmit from now on is being transmitted on the
KQ4PP repeater and on the distant repeater you are connected to. Don’t be a “LID” !!!
NOTE: There is a lot of audio compressing and
computing going on behind the scenes.
Sometimes you will get connections where the other party sounds great
and is easily understood. Sometimes,
there is so much audio compression or the transmitting audio is so high that it
can be distorted and difficult to understand.
Ask the other party to speak further away from the mic if you can’t
understand them. By comparison, its
often difficult to hear clearly on the HF bands, so take this in stride and
remember its Ham Radio. Part of the fun
is being able to drag those difficult QSO’s out of the mud !!
- Disconnect
at the end of your QSO. You
must remember to disconnect from the remote repeater/station after a
successful connect or it will stay connected forever. Just key the mic and press the “B”
key on your DTMF pad. Listen and
EchoLink will respond with the message “Disconnected”. Remember to give your callsign and say
“Clear” to end your QSO. The KQ4PP
repeater will now be returned to normal use.
EPILOGUE:
Here are some additional tips and
ideas:
- Just
as you can make outgoing EchoLink connections through the KQ4PP
Repeater, there are incoming
connections coming into the repeater all day long. Many Hams are connecting to this
repeater looking for a QSO. Try
adding the KQ4PP to your 2 meter radio memory presets and then scan both
the KQ4PP and the K4GSO repeaters.
When you hear someone connecting to the KQ4PP repeater and calling
CQ, feel free to answer them. Just
pick up your mic and talk to them.
Show them what Ocala
hospitality is all about. If you
have a Ham friend elsewhere that has access to EchoLink, tell them to
contact you through their KQ4PP EchoLink node, its node # 260074
- Want
more info on EchoLink? Try
installing the EchoLink software on your home internet connected PC. You can talk to Hams and repeaters all
over the world from your PC with this software and its FREE. For more info, go to http://www.echolink.org/
- Remember
to wait a couple of seconds inbetween transmissions on EchoLink. Its takes a little time for relays to
click, radios to engage, and internet transmissions. Its just as easy to “double” with
someone on EchoLink.
- Want
the current weather conditions or forecast? Key DTMF
“11*” for current weather conditions or “22*” for a 5 day forecast from the
National Weather Service.
- For
some real fun, try calling CQ on EchoLink.
Key DTMF “A01” to get a random connected repeater somewhere in the
world. Then call CQ !!!
- Remember,
the KQ4PP repeater also has a telephone autopatch for use in case of emergencies. Its connected directly to the Munroe Regional Medical
Center telephone
system but an outside line for local calls is available. To access the autopatch, key the mic and
press the “*” key. Release the mic
and wait for a dial tone. Then you
can key the mic again and key the hospital extension you need, or key “9”
plus the local phone number.
Release the mic and listen for the phone to ring and the party to
answer. Tell them you are on the
radio and begin your conversation.
When finished, key “#” to hang up.
Remember to give your callsign before and after making the call.
- If you
forget any of these common EchoLink commands, just key “411” on the
repeater for a list of common connection commands.
KQ4PP REPEATER
DTMF Command Code Chart
DTMF CODE
|
PURPOSE
|
|
|
|
|
REPEATER COMMANDS:
|
|
|
411
|
Basic DTMF Commands and General Info
|
|
11*
|
Current Weather Conditions
|
|
22*
|
5 Day Weather Forecast
|
|
33*
|
Current Area Weather Warnings (if any)
|
|
44*
|
Current Time
|
|
*
|
Activate Telephone Autopatch
|
|
#
|
Disconnect Telephone Autopatch (Hang Up)
|
|
|
|
ECHOLINK COMMANDS:
|
|
|
“A” + Node Number
|
Connect to EchoLink Node (or distant Repeater/Station)
|
|
B
|
Disconnect Echolink from Node
|
|
A01
|
Connect to a Random Active EchoLink Repeater
|
|
A00
|
Connect to a Random Active Node
|
|
A03
|
Connect to a Random Active User
|
|
A04
|
Connect to a Random EchoLink Conference
|
|
A09
|
Reconnect to the Last Node
|
|
55*
|
Current Node Status
|
|
99*
|
Connect to the NHC Weather Net (if active)
|
|
66*
|
List All DTMF Commands Available
|
|
|
|
Mike Harper
KQ4PP
Ocala, Florida
jmichaelharper@yahoo.com
