amateur radio (ham) overview

Amateur RadioAmateur Radio(HAM)(HAM)

OverviewOverview

What is it?What is it?

Personal communicationsPersonal communications

Emergency communications (back-up)Emergency communications (back-up)

MARSMARS

A hobbyA hobby

A learning toolA learning tool

ContestingContesting Field day (Last Weekend in June)Field day (Last Weekend in June)

An obsessionAn obsession

More informationMore information

Internal web siteInternal web site

ARRLARRL

QRZ.comQRZ.com

So Dave, what’s this about using the Internet for amateur radio

communications?

VOIP

DHCP

TCP/IP

PPP PPTP

FTP FDDI HDLC

IPX/SPX

CSMA/CD

POP

RAID

LLC

NCP

Echo Link OverviewEcho Link Overview

System DiagramSystem Diagram

RepeaterRepeater

Alternate SystemAlternate System

You can also down load the software to your PC and chat with any EchoLink station from your PC.

Find some node numbersFind some node numbers

Types of Connections:Types of Connections:ZL1VK-R The “-R” means that you are connecting to a repeater at the other end.

ZL1VK-L The “-L” means that you are connecting to a link, possibly a radio operating on a simplex frequency, at the other end.

KC2APG No suffix means that you are connecting to a computer at the other end that does not connect to a radio.

CommandsCommands

(227963) Entering the node number (227963) Entering the node number directly connects you to that node.directly connects you to that node.0808 Status is announcedStatus is announced0909 Reconnect to last stationReconnect to last station011011 Connect to random favoriteConnect to random favorite0202 Connect to random conferenceConnect to random conference0303 Connect to random user (link)Connect to random user (link) ## DisconnectDisconnect

DemonstrationDemonstration

Tune our Radio to the 146.880 repeaterTune our Radio to the 146.880 repeater Listen for activity……Listen for activity……On the TT pad, punch 01 (Random node)On the TT pad, punch 01 (Random node)The voice announces KA2TSC The voice announces KA2TSC connected…….N2STCconnected…….N2STCYou then announce {your call} listening, or You then announce {your call} listening, or call CQcall CQWhen someone answers, talk normallyWhen someone answers, talk normallyWhen finished, hit # to drop the connectionWhen finished, hit # to drop the connection

EchoLink CommentsEchoLink Comments

•Broadband or Dial-up Internet connections work.

•Some consider computer-to-computer not “amateur radio.”

•If you access the Internet through a router, you have to program the router to forward packets. At home this is OK. In big companies, a problem.

•Some folks leave EchoLink software running on their computer even when they’re not around to answer calls. This isn’t polite.

•There is sometimes a slight delay in the audio. It’s best to leave a longer pause on an Echolink repeater.

•Callsign validation process not robust.

Links for more informationLinks for more information

www.qrz.com/n2stcwww.qrz.com/n2stc

www.echolink.comwww.echolink.com