Amateur Radio, Your PC and the Internet

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Amateur Radio, Your PC and the Internet
Presented by KR4AD.
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Internet Linking is exploding!
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Internet Linking is exploding!

• Internet linking is one of the fastest growing
  areas of our hobby, with hundreds of linked
  systems and tens of thousands of hams using
  Internet links around the world.

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What is Internet Linking?

• Internet linking allows Amateur Radio stations to
  communicate with one another over the Internet,
  using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology.

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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER

• Local FM audio signal received by the local link

SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP
Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER

• Local FM audio signal received by the local link

SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP
Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER

• Local FM audio signal received by the local link

SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP
Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER

• Local FM audio signal received by the local link

SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP
Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP

• Audio input to sound card

Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP

• Audio input to sound card

Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP

• To the Internet

Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP

• To the Internet

Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP

• To the Internet

Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP

• To the Internet

Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP

• To the Internet

Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP
Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works

• Received by linked PCs

PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP
Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works

• Received by linked PCs

PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP
Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP

• Re-transmitted by simplex or repeater stations

Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP

• Re-transmitted by simplex or repeater stations

Repeater/Simplex
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How Internet Linking Works
PC USER
SYSOP
INTERNET
Repeater/Simplex
SYSOP

• Transmitted by simplex or repeater stations

Repeater/Simplex
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What sorts of systems are there?

• There are a wide variety of linking systems in
  use. Some feature highly secure links, others
  feature access directly from your PC. Some
  systems offer DTMF control to radio users and
  many other features.

• IRLP

• IPhone

• HamLink

• I-Link

• eQSO

• EchoLink

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IPhone, IRLP, eQSO, ILink, EchoLink and HamLink

• These programs allow worldwide connections to be
  made between stations, from computer to station,
  or from computer to computer.  

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• Echolink has the greatest flexibility and
  control. It is the software of choice for the
  following reason

• Runs on Windows operating system

• DTMF Controllable

• User Friendly

• Stable

• Good audio quality

• Different choices of radio to PC interface

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• Using EchoLink

• When loaded, the main program window
  will show all online stations

• List will show three types of stations

• L or R stations (top section of list) are
  stations that have either Repeaters or Link
  Radios connected to them. Example KR4AD-L or
  KR4AD-R

• Normal callsign stations are stations using
  computer only (no radio interface) Example
  KR4AD

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Typical Interface Board Hook-up
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What do you need?

• Valid Amateur Radio License

• PC, 133 MHz or higher

• Windows 95/98/NT/Me/2000/XP

• 16 bit sound card

• Internet Service, 24kbps or higher in each
• direction

• 5Mb disc space

• Sufficient RAM to meet minimum OS requirement

• Microphone and speakers, for single-user mode.

• ASCII or direct-serial rig interface, for sysop
  mode.

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Rig Interfaces (sysop mode)
RIGBLASTER by WEST
MOUNTAIN RADIO

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Rig Interfaces (sysop mode)
Ilink Board by VA3TO

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Rig Interfaces (sysop mode)
Ilink Board by WB2REM
G4CDY

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Rig Interfaces (sysop mode)
ULI Board by WB2REM
G4CDY

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Rig Interfaces (sysop mode)
OR BUILD YOUR OWN SIMPLE SERIAL PTT CIRCUIT

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Create your own security codes

• In Richmond 146.880 (-)

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• Begin all commands with

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• Start Random Links

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• End user 0 0

• Link or Repeater 01

• Disconnect

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• Request ID

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Impact of Internet Link on Amateur Radio and the
Public
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Impact of Internet Link on Amateur Radio and the
Public

• Level of amateur activity has increased
  dramatically.

• Amateurs who have been inactive for a long time
  are coming back on the air.

• Amateur Radio is becoming more appealing to
  todays Internet oriented youth.

• New opportunities for experimentation.

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REMINDER

• Interfacing your rig to the Internet/Echolink is
  like maintaining numerous interconnected
  repeaters.
• Anyone with the cooperation of a local repeater
  owner can control an EchoLink repeater or simplex
  link from their PC. There is no need to visit the
  repeater site for tweaking.

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Additional Information

• www.wb4fay.com

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• www.synergenics.com/el

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• EchoLink group at yahoo.com

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Thank You
KR4AD