Modes
EchoLink operates in one of two modes. The choice of modes is
made during Setup, and can be changed at any time via the MyStation tab
on the Settings screen.
Single-User Mode
Choose Single-User mode if you expect to use your PC to connect to
other EchoLink stations over the Internet, using your PC's microphone
and speaker to communicate. This option is appropriate if you do not
expect to connect radio equipment to your PC to operate a repeater or
link node.
For this mode, no special interface is required to use EchoLink.
If you plan to use single-user mode, enter your callsign without any
special suffix.
Sysop Mode
Choose Sysop mode if you have connected (or intend to connect) a
transceiver to your PC, in order to make your rig accessible to other
EchoLink users connecting over the Internet. This mode generally
requires a special hardware interface between your PC and your
transceiver. For more information, see Interfacing.
If you plan to use Sysop mode, enter your callsign with either a -L
or -R suffix. -L signifies a Simplex Link and -R signifies a
Repeater. Please use -R if your link will be tuned to the
frequency pair of a local repeater (or directly connected to it), even
if the callsign is not the same as that of the repeater.
Simplex Link
A simplex link is typically a transceiver tuned to a quiet simplex
frequency. Stations in local range can communicate with connected
stations over EchoLink, but not with each other unless they are in
simplex range of each other as well.
Repeater
A repeater link is typically a transceiver tuned to the frequency
pair of a local repeater. This type of link acts as a bridge
between the repeater and EchoLink. Any station in range of the
repeater can communicate with connected stations over EchoLink, and also
with any other station in the repeater's range.
If a PC and Internet connection are available at the repeater site,
it is also possible to connect EchoLink directly to the repeater
equipment. One advantage of this arrangement is that it may not be
necessary to rely on VOX for carrier detection. For more
information, see Interfacing.