Echo Link - The World Connection
Keith Moberry, WAØTXJ
Illustration courtesy http://www.echolink.org/
Note: Due to spam related repetitive connections, often lacking legitimate content, we recently implemented a spam filtering software, BoreMaster v3.2, which may affect your ability to connect.
The W ØIDS Echolink internet access point is located my residence. The Echolink access point that talks to the repeater is:
- Motorola Radius SM50 family mobile radio. The connection to the interface port is through the 16 pin accessory connector on the heatsink panel. The transmit time-out timer is set at 120 seconds.
- A robust fan is blowing on the mobile radio PA
- The G3VPF interface has the DTMF decoder and audio matching network.
- A Creative Sound Labs audio board. We tried a white box brand board and chased after bad audio (restricted audio passband) for quite a while. The solution, a brand-name board, was found by component substituting.
- The application is run on Compaq 166 Mhz computer
Getting Your Computer on Echolink
Echo-Link uses three additional ports, 5198 UDP, 5199 UDP and 5200 TCP. If they are not open, you will not be able to connect and communicate.
- If you have Windows XP you will need to open them under Local Area Network Connections, click on the advanced tab.
- Don’t forget to open up the ports on your third-party software firewall, such as Norton Internet Security
- Finally, if you have a router (Netgear, Linksys, D-Link) you may have to open up the ports there, also.
There is a difference in microphones. I tried Echo-Link on the cheap by using the built-in ThinkPad microphone, I did not receive any rave comments about the audio. Few notebook internal microphones sound good, most do not. I've observed that users with USB headsets always sound clear. The best sounding audio seems to come from users with Heil headsets, but the USB headsets are much lower cost.
For additional information on ports, routers, firewalls and other Echo Link related high tech stuff Keith recommends this link: http://www.portforward.com/english/applications/port_forwarding/Echolink/Echolinkindex.htm
Getting on EchoLink using the IDS repeater in Minneapolis.
The following DTMF key sequence on your mobile or portable radio command the radio link:
- * Star key will play station info.
- ** Star key establish a link between the EchoLink system and your computer.
- # Hash key disconnects the between the EchoLink system and your computer.
- C Key sequence will connect to a user by Call.
- 00 Key sequence will connect to a user at random.
- 01 Key sequence will connect to a Link or Repeater at random.
- 02 Key sequence will connect to a Conference server at random.
- 03 Key sequence will connect to any user at random.
- 06 Key sequence will query by Node
- 07 Key sequence will query by Call
- 08 Key sequence will indicate the status of the link
- 09 Key sequence will reconnect to the last station.
Thanks to Keith, WAØTXJ, and his wife Becky for this information and for hosting Echo Link
