Setup
Setup allows you to set basic features of EchoLink. Choose one of the tabs along the top to view the MyStation, Servers, Timing, and Audio options. Each of these tabs is described in detail below.
MyStation Tab
The MyStation Tab configures the system mode, callsign, and other information about your station.
Mode: Choose the appropriate mode for EchoLink. The following modes are available:
- Single-User (no radio connected to your PC)
- Sysop (System operator)
For a complete description of each mode, see Modes.
Callsign: Set the callsign exactly as you wish to be registered. If you have already registered, use the same callsign you used previously. The callsign must be at least 3 characters long and may not contain spaces or punctuation, except as part of an -L or -R suffix.
If you have selected Sysop mode, put an -L or -R at the end of your call, to indicate a "repeater" or "link", respectively (for example, K1RFD-L). Use -L if the link is tuned to a simplex frequency or -R if the link is tuned to the frequency pair of a local repeater.
If you have selected Single-User mode, do not use a suffix after your callsign.
Password: If you have registered previously with EchoLink, type your original password here. Otherwise, select a password you can easily remember, and it will be assigned to you as you register. Once established, you cannot select a new password using EchoLink, but if you realize you had entered it incorrectly, you can re-enter it after choosing Change Callsign.
For protection against casual glances, the password is shown only as a series of asterisks. To display the actual password, click the question-mark icon.
Change Callsign: As a precaution against inadvertent changes, you cannot enter a different callsign or password without first choosing Change Callsign. Note that if you are connected to another station, you will be disconnected when you change callsigns.
Name: Enter your first name here. This name will appear on the other station's screen when you establish a contact.
Location: Enter the location of your station, or a description of its function. This will appear in the list of available users. Examples: "Ridgefield, CT", or "Link to W2ABC/R, NYC".
Email Addr: Enter your e-mail address (optional). This information will be sent when a station you contact requests it, or if EchoLink Support needs to contact you.
Servers Tab
The Servers tab configures the connection between EchoLink and one or more Registration Servers. Registration servers maintain information about which stations are registered, and which are currently on the system. Normally, this information does not need to be changed.
Pref 1 through Pref 5: Shows each of the server names (or addresses), in order of preference. If the server at Pref 1 cannot be contacted, the server at Pref 2 will be tried, and so on down to Pref 5.
Reset to Defaults: If you had found it necessary to change any of servers in the list, choose this option to restore the original settings. You will be asked to indicate in which region of the world you are located. This information is used by EchoLink to select the best combination of servers closest to you.
Retry Timeout (sec): Specifies the number of seconds EchoLink will wait while trying to contact each of the servers on the list. If the time expires without success, EchoLink moves to the next server on the list. The default is 10 seconds.
Timing Tab
The Timing tab configures several of EchoLink's time-out timers. Limiting the time allotted to certain features helps assure smooth operation of EchoLink and other stations on the system.
Connect Attempt: Specifies how long EchoLink will try to establish a connection with another station. If there is no response from the other station by this time, EchoLink cancels the request. The default is 30 seconds.
Transmit Time Limit: Specifies how long EchoLink will allow a single transmission (from this computer to another station on the Internet) to be. If the time limit is approaching, a special warning message appears near the bottom of the screen. If the limit is exceeded, EchoLink automatically stops transmitting. The default is 210 seconds. Enter 0 to configure no such time limit.
Receive Time Limit: Specified how long EchoLink will allow another station's transmission (from the Internet to this computer) to be. If the limit is exceeded, EchoLink automatically disconnects the other station. Enter 0 (the default) to configure no such time limit.
Inactivity Timeout: Specifies how long EchoLink will allow a connection to remain connected if neither station is making a transmission. If the time limit is exceeded, EchoLink automatically disconnects. Enter 0 to specify no such time limit, which is the default.
Receive Hang Time: Specifies how long EchoLink remains in "receive" mode after the remote station has stopped sending. This value is specified in milliseconds (1 second = 1000 ms). The default is 1200 ms, or 1.2 seconds.
Audio Tab
The Audio tab lets you specify which of your PC's sound cards to use, and make adjustments to compensate for a slow computer or slow Internet connection.
Sound Device: Specifies the sound card or device EchoLink should use. This is useful when EchoLink is used on a PC with more than one sound card installed. In most cases, the [system default] setting is appropriate. When this choice is selected, EchoLink will use the Record and Playback sound devices that have been set up in your Windows Control Panel.
Open in Full Duplex: Check this box only if you sometimes receive an error message, when you begin transmitting, about EchoLink being unable to open the sound device. When this box is checked, EchoLink will keep the sound device open for Recording at all times while the program is running. Do not check this box if your computer uses a "half duplex" sound card or driver.
Auto Sample Rate Compensation: Check this box to allow EchoLink to compensate automatically for variations among sound cards. Some sound cards may operate as much as 2% away from the desired sample rate, which can cause periodic gaps in received audio, even over a perfect Internet connection. When this feature is enabled, EchoLink detects this problem and inserts or removes packets to compensate for it dynamically. You might perceive this compensation as a slight skip or echo periodically.
Network Buffering: Controls how much data EchoLink will accept from the Internet before it begins to play it. This technique is known as "buffering", and helps ensure that incoming audio does not sound choppy due to variations in the timing of the Internet. Moving the slider to the right (for more buffering) may produce smoother audio on your system if you are connected to the Internet over a slow link, such as a dial-up modem. However, the further the slider is moved to the right, the longer the delay.
PC Buffering: Controls how much data EchoLink will send to your PC's sound card at once. As with Network Buffering, this technique helps ensure smooth-sounding audio. If your PC is an older machine, or is running other tasks at the same time (particularly if there is a lot of hard-disk access), you may get smoother performance by moving the slider to the right.
The illustration above shows the default positions of these two sliders, which is recommended for normal operation.
Total Audio Delay: Displays the estimated delay between the moment the remote station speaks to the moment you hear the sound from your speakers. This value is updated automatically as you move the Network Buffering and PC Buffering sliders, so you can see the total effect.
Reset to Defaults: Returns the Network Buffering and PC Buffering sliders to their default positions.
Note: If you are running Windows 98 or above, you can choose Adjust Volume from the Tools menu to adjust the Playback or Recording audio levels. On all versions of Windows, you can also choose the Sounds icon in your Windows Control Panel, or double-click the loudspeaker icon which appears near the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.
