EchoLink®—an Overview
presented by

Sam Anderson

   
 

Tuesday, April 25 at
Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio

No charge.    Please bring a friend.    Guests welcome.

Please join us Tuesday night, April 25, 2006 for this free presentation in Room 101 Fawcett Hall, Wright State University. We'll begin at 7:30 p.m. Bring a friend.

Please note that we're meeting at Fawcett Hall Room 101, Wright State University tonight!

by Bob Kwater, Editor The DataBus

 

The Internet and the use of voice over IP technology have expanded and opened the world to many other forms of communication. The world of Amateur Radio is one of these areas.

EchoLink® software allows licensed Amateur Radio stations to communicate with one another over the Internet, using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology.  The program allows worldwide connections to be made between stations, or from computer to station, greatly enhancing Amateur Radio's communications capabilities. There are more than 170,000 registered users in 158 nations worldwide!

A program designed by Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD to allow amateur radio stations to communicate with one another over the Internet, using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology. The program allows worldwide connections to be made between stations, or from computer to station, greatly enhancing Amateur Radio's communications capabilities. Linking Example Illustration

There are several different ways amateur operators can use the EchoLink software. They can set up a "simplex link" in their shack, with a VHF or UHF transceiver connected to their PC, to allow anyone in range of their station (or a nearby repeater) to communicate by voice with any other similarly-equipped station around the world.

Or, they can use the PC's microphone and speakers and remotely connect to any of more than 2,000 different repeaters and simplex stations that have EchoLink capability.

In System Operator (sysop) mode, EchoLink connects to a conventional FM transceiver using either the custom-designed linking interface boards from WB2REM and VA3TO, or general-purpose digital-mode interfaces such as the RIGblaster from West Mountain Radio. Hams can even build their own interface from junk-box parts. The board connects the computer's sound card and serial port.

For licensed hams, EchoLink® software opens up new possibilities for communicating around the world with other amateurs.  Your PC links you or your local repeater to any of thousands of other stations over the Internet.

The station-list screen keeps running tabs on who's currently on the system. Stations which have recently come on or off are noted separately. Sort the list any way you like. You can set up any number of "alarms" which will sound when your favorite stations come online.

In Sysop mode, EchoLink connects to a conventional FM transceiver using either the custom-designed linking interface boards from WB2REM and VA3TO, or general-purpose digital-mode interfaces such as the RIGblaster from West Mountain Radio.  You can even build your own interface from junk-box parts.  The board connects to your computer's sound card and serial port.

Virtually any type of Internet connection may be used with EchoLink, from dial-up to DS3.  Custom settings allow you to tailor EchoLink to compensate for older computers or slower Internet connections.

The program includes a number of important security features, such as the ability to restrict access by country, to help comply with your nation's third-party traffic or reciprocal operating rules.

If the bandwidth of your Internet connection permits it, EchoLink allows up to 100 different stations to be connected to you at once.  This is especially useful in Sysop mode for running a roundtable on your local repeater, or allowing "listening" stations to be connected without blocking out others.

Links worth trying:

All are welcome. The meetings start at 7:30 p.m. Guests are always welcome. Directions are here.

Parking

WSU has agreed to issue temporary parking permits for the DMA Meetings. These permits cost two dollars each and are good for the entire Quarter [if you purchased a permit in the Fall, you'll need to spend $2 for another temporary permit.] In other words, two bucks gets you a parking pass for all meetings in April, May, and June. The alternative is to take a chance and park illegally.

Here's how to obtain the parking permit:

Although parking regulations are not enforced as stringently after 5:00 P.M., there is some enforcement. Two dollars is cheap insurance.

After the meeting, we'll enjoy pizza and conversation at the CiCi's Pizza in Beavercreek, behind Chili's and next to OfficeMax on the southeast corner of the intersection of North Fairfield and New Germany Trebein roads. See this map for approximate location. The Beavercreek CiCi's number is 427-2433.

 

Bob Kwater, Editor
The DataBus
editor@dma.org

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