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I Hold 6 Nov's (Notice
of Variation) on Echolink and eQSO,
144.825,
50.540,
430.1625,
29.530,
70.4125
and
1299.850
(GB3BK-R), except for 29.530 and 70.4125
there is no |
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CTCSS, all other
links use CTCSS 103.5 for access., to email me a signal
report click
RF Reports |
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All link radios,
software, interfaces have a maximum key down time of
4 minutes, inactivity timeout is set to 1 minute. |
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Tip:
RF users using any of the links please set your
Radio to narrow deviation (NFM), if your Radio does
not have NFM then taking the microphone away from
your mouth slightly will certainly reduce the
chances of over deviating any of the Rf gateways. |
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How to use
Internet Gateways you will need Acrobat Reader (PDF)
you can get it
Here
or Click
Here
to read the article. |
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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!,
Echolink is offered free of charge to
licensed Amateur Radio operators worldwide. Please
note that you must hold a valid Amateur Radio
license in order to use EchoLink. |
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Basic Operation |
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This section
describes how to use the basic functions of EchoLink
from your Computer. |
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Callsign Validation |
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If you have never
used EchoLink before, the callsign you entered will need
to be validated by the system before you will be able to
access it. This process may take several minutes or
several hours, since each call is individually validated
by hand. During this time, the Station List area of the
screen will be blank, or may display a message
indicating that your callsign is being validated. Once
validation is complete, you will see the list of
stations appear in the Station List area, and you can
proceed to use EchoLink. |
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For more
information about guidelines for callsign
validation, see the
Support section of the EchoLink
Web site. |
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Connecting to a
Station |
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To connect to
another station, find the station's callsign in the
Station List. Use the tabs at the bottom to select
either Index View or Explorer View, depending on
your preference. Once you've located the station
you're looking for, double-click on the station's
callsign to connect to it. After a few seconds, you
should see the station's callsign and name appear
near the bottom of the screen, and you should hear
the "connected" signal. You are now in direct
contact with the other station and you can begin
conversing. If, after about 30 seconds, you see the
message "Cannot connect" instead of "Connected", it
means that the attempt to connect to the other
station failed. This can happen for several reasons.
The other station may have already established a
contact with someone else, or may have just logged
off the system. Another possibility is that a
network "firewall" problem is preventing your PC
from receiving data from the remote station. If you
suspect this might be the case, see
Firewall Issues
for more information. You may also be able to find
solutions in the
Support section of the EchoLink Web site. |
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Speaking Back and
Forth |
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Once you're
connected, you can converse with the remote station
as in an ordinary QSO. The space bar works as a
locking "push-to-talk" switch. Tap the spacebar once
to begin "transmitting", tap it again to stop (don't
hold it down). A red TX indicator appears on the
screen whenever EchoLink is "transmitting", that is,
sending audio over the Internet to the connected
station. If you prefer, you can click the "lightning
bolt" icon near the upper left corner of the screen,
instead of using the spacebar. You can also change
the software so that the spacebar is held down to
transmit and released to receive, more like a
push-to-talk switch. See
Preferences for details. You can
switch to Transmit only when the other station is
not already transmitting. When the other station is
transmitting, the letters RX appear in the status
bar at the bottom right, and the sound-level meter
moves from left to right to show incoming sound. If
you see that the other station is speaking, but you
do not hear audio from your PC speakers, you may
need to increase the volume on your sound
device. Click the loudspeaker icon near the bottom
right-hand corner of your Windows screen to
adjust. Also, be sure the volume knob on your
speakers is turned up. While transmitting, speak
into the microphone and watch the sound-level meter
at the bottom-center of the EchoLink screen. The
meter moves farther to the right as the sound gets
louder. For best results, adjust your
Windows Recording Volume settings so that the meter
moves vigorously, but does not reach full-scale
except on peaks. |
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Chat |
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If the other
station is also sitting in front of his PC (rather
than communicating over a radio link), you can
"chat" while connected by typing messages back and
forth. Type a brief message in the box near the
bottom-right corner of the screen and click Send.
The message you sent, and any response you might
receive, appear in the Chat window just above
it. Note that you can send a Chat message even while
the other station is transmitting. |
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Disconnecting |
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Once your
conversation is finished, click on the red "broken
link" icon near the top of the screen to
disconnect. You should hear the "Disconnected"
signal, and see the message "Not connected" near the
bottom of the screen. |
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How to use the DTMF functions,
from RF to Internet. |
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Command |
Description |
Default |
|
Connect |
Connects to a station on the Internet, based on
its node number. |
num |
|
Connect by
Call |
Connects to a station on the Internet, based on
its callsign. |
C+call+# |
|
Random Node |
Selects an
available node (of any type) at random, and
tries to connect to it. |
00 |
|
Random Link |
Selects an
available link or repeater (-L or -R) at random,
and tries to connect to it. |
01 |
|
Random Conf |
Selects a
conference server at random, and tries to
connect to it. |
02 |
|
Random User |
Selects an
available single-user station at random, and
tries to connect to it. |
03 |
|
RandomFavNode |
Selects an
available node (of any type) at random from the
Favorites List, and tries to connect to it. |
001 |
|
RandomFavLink |
Selects an
available link or repeater (-L or -R) at random
from the Favorites List, and tries to connect to
it. |
011 |
|
RandomFavConf |
Selects a
conference server at random from the Favorites
List, and tries to connect to it. |
021 |
|
RandomFavUser |
Selects an
available single-user station at random, and
tries to connect to it. |
031 |
|
Disconnect |
Disconnects the station that is currently
connected. If more than one station is
connected, disconnects only the
most-recently-connected station. |
# |
|
Disconnect All |
Disconnects all stations. |
## |
|
Reconnect |
Re-connects to the station that most recently
disconnected. |
09 |
|
Status |
Announces the callsign of each station currently
connected. |
08 |
|
Link Down |
Disables EchoLink (no connections can be
established). |
(none) |
|
Link Up |
Enables
EchoLink. |
(none) |
|
Play Info |
Plays a brief
ID message. |
* |
|
Query by Call |
Looks up a
station by its callsign, and reads back its node
number and status. |
07+call+# |
|
Query by Node |
Looks up a
station by its node number, and reads back its
callsign and status. |
06+num |
|
Profile
Select |
Switches to a different stored set of
configuration settings (0 through 9). |
B#+num |
|
Listen-Only On |
Inhibits transmission from RF to the Internet. |
0511 |
|
Listen-Only Off |
Restores normal transmission from RF to the
Internet. |
0510 |
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EchoLink®
software is offered free of charge to licensed
Amateur Radio operators worldwide, for Amateur Radio
use only. Please note that you must hold a valid
Amateur Radio license in order to use EchoLink. |
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Windows Vista
EchoLink has been tested for compatibility with all
versions of Microsoft Windows Vista, the newest
edition of the Windows operating system. If you are
running EchoLink on Vista, please be sure you have
installed the latest version of EchoLink (2.0 or
above). |
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Take a Tour
or see who is on the Echolink system
right now click
Here |
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Download the
Echolink user Guide you will need Acrobat Reader
(PDF) you can get it
Here
if already installed click
Here |
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EchoLink
Trouble-shooter If you're having trouble
getting EchoLink to work correctly, the EchoLink
Trouble-shooter utility may help. The
Trouble-shooter helps solve the two most common
problems that new EchoLink users might encounter,
Cannot connect to other stations (firewall/router
issues), and Problems with audio (sound card
settings). |
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EchoLink and Windows XP SP2 For computers
running Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft will soon provide an update
known as Service Pack 2, or SP2. SP2 has some important new security
features. However, to use EchoLink with SP2, you will probably
need to make adjustments to the Windows security settings, click the
link for further information. |
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Echolink Vanity Node
Numbers
are now available! This is a great way to get a
short, easy-to-remember ID for your node, and to
help support EchoLink. Most of the daily costs of
running the EchoLink system are offset by the Vanity
Node Numbers program. |
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Echolink Proxy
Is a peer-to-peer system, by design. This means that when your node is
connected to another node over the Internet, the
voice and text signals are sent directly from one
node to the other, rather than going through some
central server. This helps ensure that the system is
scalable and reliable. |
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EchoLink Proxy List The following "public"
EchoLink Proxy servers have reported their status within the last 10
minutes. The owners of each of the following servers have indicated (in
their proxy configuration file) that they welcome any registered
EchoLink user to use their EchoLink Proxy. These are shared resources;
please be considerate and use them sparingly. |
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Echolink proxy lookup
Operators of EchoLink Proxy servers have the option
of registering their server with this Web site, as a
way to track the server's public IP address, which
may change from time to time. If you have configured
your Proxy server for automatic registration, use
this page to discover your proxy server's current IP
address. You will need to know the RegistrationName
that appears in your ELProxy.conf configuration
file. |
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Google Earth
is a desktop application that
provides detailed views of the Earth's surface by
combining a variety of data sources, such as maps
and satellite images. If you have installed this
program on your computer, you can also use it to
view the location of many active EchoLink nodes.The
Link Status
page now offers an option to view the location of
all active EchoLink nodes using the Google Earth
software. If your -L/-R node doesn't yet appear on
the Link Status page, be sure to enter the lat/lon
information in the EchoLink software on the RF Info
tab of under Tools->Sysop Settings, for Help and FAQ
go
Here |
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Echolink News Catch up with
all the latest news. |
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 This
group is for users of Echolink, to subscribe to this
group click on the logo. |
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The book contains plenty of detailed
information about EchoLink and other VoIP
systems, and answers many of the most
frequently-asked questions about Internet
linking. It's also a great way to help
support EchoLink, since a portion of the
author's proceeds from the book go directly
to the costs of operating the EchoLink
system. |
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For details, Click
Here |
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Click
Here to read the reviews. |
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Echostation Is a repeater-control program
for Windows which makes it easy to set up a
complete, fully-functional repeater or "announcement
machine" using a personal computer. The software
even lets you set up an "announcement machine" which
plays scheduled voice announcements over your club's
existing repeater, using a radio at another
location, such as a home station. Echostation
is perfect for portable and emergency use, or for
clubs wishing to use a PC instead of specialized
hardware to control a repeater. It also makes an
excellent "store and forward" simplex repeater when
connected to a single transceiver. |
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EchoAnswer
Automatically answers EchoLink calls when you can’t. It lets the
person calling, leave a message for you. It has both Answer-Record and
Announce Only modes. You can customize it with your own personal
outgoing voice messages. EchoAnswer, Freeware Version, will store up to
five incoming messages. |
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EchoTime
TTS
(Text to Speech) is a free program that works with
EchoLink by to provide extra functions for an
EchoLink node. |
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EchoCell Is a program that provides you
with THE FINAL solution for your EchoLink communications needs. Tired of
dragging that clunky HT around when that little flip phone fits so
nicely in your shirt pocket? Toss that HT, you won't be needing that
thing any more! |
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EchoButtons Is a program that provides
you with forty "Buddy Buttons" for quick and easy
connections thru EchoLink. No more scrolling thru
the list looking for the station you normally
connect to. |
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Echo Tone
This is a Free courtesy tone system for Echolink,
the system will send the required tone as the
Transmit or receive event completes. The Morse code
character used is only transmitted to the RF side of
a line even if you have vox enabled. |
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Echolink DTMF
This is a small dialler program which allows you to
generate DTMF tones with your PC for use with the RF
side of EchoLink |
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EchoAddons.com
Collection of EchoLink Add-Ons That can be use with
the K1RFD EchoLink® Program. |
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| Echolink
hardware used on 430.1625 MHz with CTCSS 103.5. |
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Icom IC-449E, vertical Tri-Bander base station
aerial for 6m/2m/70cm. |
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| Echolink
hardware used on 29.530 MHz no CTCSS. |
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Radio Shack HTX-10, vertical Solarcon A99. |
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The eQSO system
uses the Internet and a number of servers to provide a
voice communication link between RF gateways and PC
users. The system was developed by Paul M0ZPD and is
intended specifically for use by Radio Amateurs,
eQSO is a client / server software program designed by
Amateur Radio enthusiasts for linking Amateur Radio RF
gateways and repeaters via the Internet, the software
may be used by licensed Amateur Radio operators and
Short Wave Listeners provided the rules are followed. |
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eQSO has now moved to a full registered system, you
will need to download the new version of the software.
To apply for registration go
Here
or to download the software click
Here |
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| My
links runs on its own server. |
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 All
my eQSO RF gateways are now operated from within its
own server this is Crossed linked to 101 English, as
with echolink you can only connect once from the
same IP number but you can connect twice if you have
multiple IP’s numbers or like me use a echolink
proxy but most public proxy links have a time limit
to get round this a mate has allowed me to install a
dedicated computer at his shop this is so I connect
to echolink twice with G0WYG-L and MB7IBR-L these
now run 24/7, getting back to eQSO this is similar
problem running 2 gateways or more from a single IP
number, eQSO will allow you to connect more than
once but you have to use different callsigns for
example G0WYG-L and MB7IBR-L if you use the same
callsign G0WYG-L and G0WYG-L in the same room 101
English this will cause everyone's screen to
flicker, if seen by Admin your link stands a good
chance of getting muted or kicked of the system. I
had to find a way round this because I had 4 links
in 101 English 3 RF links and a RF dummy link (the
dummy link was so I could join in the QSO), what I
found was when the server fell over I had to
basically restart my links which run 24/7 and I am
not always about when this happens, so I started
looking for ways to stay connect to 101 English a
way round this was to run my own server which is
gb3bk.no-ip.org, my server would then have all my RF
links connected and from there connect back to 101
English. I first tried linking both 101 English and
gb3bk.no-ip.org via RF this was some what successful
but it was tying up extra hardware 2 radios, 2
interfaces and 2 dummy loads this was not as good as
I would have liked as there was quite a delay
between the 2 servers, my second attempt was a
little more successful I tried linking 2 computers
each running a copy of eQSO gateway via the sound
cards microphone < to > speaker on computer 1 then
speaker < to > microphone on computer 2, this work
slightly better than RF but again I still wasn’t
happy, my third attempt is how I have it running now
and does work without hiccups (well so far) no RF
links or interfaces needed its the same idea with
linking sound cards but this time running 2 copies
of eQSO gateway on the same computer with 2 sound
cards installed this connects the same way sound
card to sound card, 1 copy of eQSO sits in 101
English and the second copy sits in my server
gb3bk.no-ip.org so anything heard in 101 English get
transferred via sound card in to my server then over
the RF links and anything heard on my RF links gets
transmitted back via the sound card to 101 English,
for rig keying I use VOX and every other box is
unchecked no need for any other boxes to be ticked
as both copies of eQSO are dummy connections, I am
now happy knowing that if 101 English does fall over
my links will stay running then automatically
re-connects when it comes back on line, for the time
being gb3bk.no-ip.org is password protected, the
image below shows gb3bk server and 101 English
crossed linked. |
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eQSO Gateway
list, to add your gateway or find out Who's
Online\Offline go
Here |
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This group is for users of eQSO, to subscribe to this
group click on the logo. |
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eQSO is a voluntary
organization. It relies on generous donations of time, money and equipment to
operate. Without the donation eQSO as we know it could simply not exist. |
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| eQSO
hardware used on 144.825 MHz with CTCSS 103.5. |
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Alinco DR-130E,
vertical Tri-Bander aerial for 6m/2m/70cm. |
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eQSO hardware used on 70.4125 MHz with CTCSS 103.5. |
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Tait 2010,vertical Sirio CX 4-68. |
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| eQSO
hardware used on 50.540 MHz with CTCSS 103.5. |
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Alinco DR-M06TH, vertical Tri-Bander aerial for 6m/2m/70cm. |
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eQSO hardware used on GB3BK 1299.850 MHz with
CTCSS 103.5. |
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Icom ICRP-1210, 1.2 GHz Amateur
Repeater 10 Watts in to a Diamond
X-5000 Tri-Bander aerial for 2/70/23,
with LDF-450. |
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The
history of GB3BK started in September 2006
when 2 enthusiasts G0TOD (Todd) and M1DMN
(Bob) were looking to get a new
23cm voice repeater to go on air
in or around London/Kent boarders, they
finally ended up banging on my front door
asking if I was interested in housing the
repeater at my home QTH, they didn't have to
ask me twice I jumped at the chance to help
and to give my support in any way I can.
When the first application was applied for
there were some mixed feelings the biggest
being would it get approved or
rejected by the CAA (Civil aviation
authority), well it did get rejected by the
CAA so we started to look at other
possibilities maybe a 3 meg split repeater
but this didn't seem feasible the question
was would the cavities tune with the odd
split there was some doubt, we then looked
at maybe a parrot box as the last resort,
not wanting to be defeated or give up it was
then someone suggested we apply again this
time for another frequency but further up
the band, it took just over a year to get
the application though once it was approved,
our thanks go to Dave G7UZN who tuned the
repeater with the new crystal, retuning the
cavities to the new frequency and installing
the logic, TX
is 10 Watts
in to a Diamond X-5000 Tri-Bander aerial for
2/70/23. |
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It has
taken all involved some time to get GB3BK on
air but its been worth the wait, maybe its
opened doors for any others or groups who
have been rejected in the past and want to
re-apply for a 23cm Voice repeater further
up the band. |
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GB3BK finally come on
air on Sunday the 6th January 2008, All
reports and feedback are welcomed click
Here |
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Callsign |
Channel |
Band |
Input |
Output |
Qthr |
Location |
CTCSS |
|
GB3BK |
RM0A |
23cm |
1293.850 |
1299.850 |
JO01AK |
Bromley Kent |
(G)
103.5 |
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With only
a few 23cm repeaters doted around the UK,
GB3BK is the first 23cm Voice repeater to be
found in London and within the M25 Motorway. |
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|
Channel |
Repeater Out |
Repeater In |
|
RM0 |
1297.000 MHz |
1291.000 MHz |
|
RM1 |
1297.025 MHz |
1291.025 MHz |
|
RM2 |
1297.050 MHz |
1291.050 MHz |
|
RM3 |
1297.075 MHz |
1291.075 MHz |
|
RM4 |
1297.100 MHz |
1291.100 MHz |
|
RM5 |
1297.125 MHz |
1291.125 MHz |
|
RM6 |
1297.150 MHz |
1291.150 MHz |
|
RM7 |
1297.175 MHz |
1291.175 MHz |
|
RM8 |
1297.200 MHz |
1291.200 MHz |
|
RM9 |
1297.225 MHz |
1291.225 MHz |
|
RM10 |
1297.250 MHz |
1291.250 MHz |
|
RM11 |
1297.275 MHz |
1291.275 MHz |
|
RM12 |
1297.300 MHz |
1291.300 MHz |
|
RM13 |
1297.325 MHz |
1291.325 MHz |
|
RM14 |
1297.350 MHz |
1291.350 MHz |
|
RM14A |
1297.350 MHz |
1277.350 MHz |
|
RM15 |
1297.375 MHz |
1291.375 MHz |
|
RM0A |
1299.850 MHz |
1293.850 MHz |
|
23cm
coverage map
or
23cm
locations map |
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Join the 23cms_fm_group, To
subscribe click on the logo. |
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The contours
represent 20dBµV/m (green), and 30dBµV/m (blue) for a receiving antenna of 12dB
gain at 1.5 metres above ground level. As is the case with all radio amateur
situations, reception may be obtained by the use of improved gain and favourable
locations,
Click on
map to expand. |
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Icom ICRP-1210, 1.2 GHz Amateur
Repeater 10 Watts in to a Diamond
X-5000 Tri-Bander aerial for 2/70/23,
with LDF-450. |
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Zetron Model 38 is an advanced
repeater panel that is capable of
handling 50 CTCSS tones and 110 DCS
codes simultaneously. Its ability to
accommodate up to 160 user groups
makes it ideal for scan-based
trunking applications,
Spec-sheet. |
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What keeps it all running. |
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All radio
links and interfaces are powered by a 60 amp
PSU. |
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BT-2700HGV, This wireless ADSL modem/router
is so trustworthy that BT send it out with
their expensive business package.
It is a wireless base station for the home
or small office network that comes with a
built-in ADSL modem, and also with 4 10/100
Ethernet networking ports, providing
flexibility and compatibility! |
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Netgear
GS608 Gigabit 10\100\1000 Power for the
Home, for a high-speed network on a small
scale, these fast, easy, and affordable
Gigabit switches gives your home network the
maximum capacity to handle huge bandwidth. |
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The
Belkin Gigabit 10\100\1000 Desktop Network
PCI Card lets you easily upgrade your
desktop computer to full gigabit speeds.
It's backward-compatible with your existing
10/100 network. |
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Two-Way Radio in Motor Vehicles. |
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The use of 2-way
radio equipment (unless the device can also be used
as a phone) when driving is not included in the new
offence. It must be remembered that there is still a
risk of distraction and prosecution under other laws
should an accident occur. |
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If stopped by the
police for operating mobile amateur radio, the
reference to quote is: |
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The Road Vehicles
(Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No.4)
Regulations 2003 Statutory Instrument 2003 No 2695.
This lays out clearly the exemptions under the new
law. Statutory Instrument No. 2695 can be viewed
Here |
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