Mastering the Internet to Enhance Amateur Radio

Internet enhances amateur radio-- a description of Echolink use for new year's net.

Mastering the Internet to enhance amateur radio

I have been an amateur operator for 54 years and  seen exciting changes  in amateur radio due to technology enhancements. Many enhancements have been common for years but were unknown in 1953. Such as single sideband – repeater operation – satellite links –  and many of new digital modes. CW and radio teletype, were the only common digital modes in 1953.

I'd like to give one example of how the Internet has been so useful in enhancing radio amateur communications. We have a regular radio schedule on 20 meters three times per week, our normal mode of operation is single sideband (SSB). We use the net to keep in contact with members and friends of the Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service (FAIRS). Our (FAIRS) headquarters is located in Floyd, Virginia and the net includes Canada, USA, Caribbean, South America and Ukraine.

This net being on the last day of the year I especially wanted to give a big Happy New Year to all who checked into the net. 20 meter signals to Georgetown, Guyana and Peter 8R1WD were really good however the stations in Dominica could hardly be heard on the 20 meter band.  I was copying Clem J73CI sufficiently to ask him to call me the Echo Link. Echo link uses the Internet Voice over IP  as part of the transmission path.  In simple terms the radio signal goes via VHF to a local repeater in Dominica then into the Internet using a computer and interface to the radio and special software to make the whole system work.  The only actual radio link is local and short range and is arm chair copy – then it travels over the Internet to a repeater near me on Poor Mountain and emerges from the Internet to the repeater and I copy the signal just like any VHF/UHF repeater within my working range. The reverse path is used  from here to Dominica.  It does not depend on hf propagation and is full arm chair copy .   Using this mode I was able to easily chat with Dominica friends Clem J73CI, Joseph J73JT, Conrad J73CAJ, Curtis J73CAG, Hetty J73HPL, Clement J73CPL and with relay from Clem get a new Years greetings to Tony J73TP.  All this is static free copy and none of the noise and fading with weak signals on 20 Meter SSB today.  It made the day into a real success and without the Echo Link I would have most likely copied only 2 stations.

Our friend 8R1WD can also use the Echo Link as well as our Canadian and European friends. Many stations can be connected at the same time for net operations and it is very effective.

There are literally Thousands of stations world wide that are using the Echo Link and it common to hear a station on our local repeater from India, Japan, Ukraine or just anywhere their are amateur radio operators and Internet service. Our local Echo link node is hosted and maintained by Mike K4IJ. Mike  furnishes the computer, local radio link to the repeater and also the repeater. This is a serious commitment of time and money and we thank K4IJ very much for this effort.  Clem J73CI does the same in Dominica and we thank him also.

Our local node for me KK4WW is K4IJ  126596 and the Dominica node is 243124 so give us a call about anytime as we monitor the local repeater at home, in our FAIRS office (N4USA) and in the mobile.  For information on how the system works and how to use it look at the Echo Link web site   www.echolink.org. Their have been some good articles in the ARRL publication QST see www.arrl.org. Echo Link is not the only virtual radio link using the Internet. IRLP www.irlp.net is similar in that it is repeater based, some are totally virtual and are just using the Internet and no radio link at all. QSO.NET  uses the Internet as  a virtual hf radio – really a neat idea see www.qso.net.  These virtual and real radio links have many uses and one really good one is for folks that can't put up a real antenna --- maybe living in a nursing home or  a handy capped amateur radio operator  that can use a computer but not operate a radio. The possibilities are also endless for general and emergency uses.

If you have not tried any of these virtual modes you are missing a great application of the newer modes of operation. Ham radio folks have always been pioneers in leading the way for new communication ideas.

Echo Link sure made my day as an alternate to using 20 meter SSB when signals were not readable  and we could have a good time wishing our friends a happy new year.

73's Dave KK4WW at the Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service (FAIRS)

P. S. Hope to hear you on real or virtual radio soon-- give us a call at N4USA or KK4WW  -- Happy New Year to all.

Article Source: http://www.lcfarticles.com/.