Echolink

[SDF_Specialist]

I know there are a few hams in here, so this topic is directed to them, and perspective hams. Who besides me runs Echolink? I'd like to get a CAP Echolink group going. My call sign is KD8ERE. My apologies if no one finds this post interesting. Just another Comm guru typing

[drcomm]

I'm a ham but have not messed around with echolink much.  I would like to learn more about it though.

My call is KA5OWI.

[SDF_Specialist]

I'm a ham but have not messed around with echolink much.  I would like to learn more about it though.

My call is KA5OWI.

If you go to www.echolink.org, you can download it on your computer. It's completely free. They will have to validate your license, then you can talk. It doesn't matter what license class you have.

[MajorChuck]

I do echolink... Im on Echolink now!

Big Supprise,huh??

[SDF_Specialist]

I do echolink... Im on Echolink now!

Big Supprise,huh??

I just went to sign on to your name, but you signed off. Maybe we can meet up again sometime.

[CadetProgramGuy]

Echolinker.......

Not much at this time though.....

KC0RHY

[SDF_Specialist]

We should all coordinate a time to get on to one or the other's stations. I think that this could be fun for all of us.

[MajorChuck]

Im on now

N8SN

[CadetProgramGuy]

Is there a way to form a net or a user group?

[SDF_Specialist]

Is there a way to form a net or a user group?

log on to Echolink and click on my call (KD8ERE). I'm talking to Chuck Cook as I type this.

[CadetProgramGuy]

Is there a way to form a net or a user group?

log on to Echolink and click on my call (KD8ERE). I'm talking to Chuck Cook as I type this.

Wish I could.....I'm at work...shhhhh

[SDF_Specialist]

Is there a way to form a net or a user group?

log on to Echolink and click on my call (KD8ERE). I'm talking to Chuck Cook as I type this.

Wish I could.....I'm at work...shhhhh

Well don't be afraid to ever jump on and call me. I'm almost always on.

[Nick Critelli]

Somebody set up a schedule.  Also I run the IRLP node 4110.

73 K0PCG

[SDF_Specialist]

Somebody set up a schedule.  Also I run the IRLP node 4110.

73 K0PCG

I'm always open to suggestions. I'd say 9:00 ET

[MajorChuck]

How about Our non Ham members?

http://www.goteamspeak.com/index.php?page=news
How about Teamspeak?

Its free to non commercial groups.

Group VOIP that all Captalk members could use.

[Nick Critelli]

How about Teamspeak?

Very interesting.  Have you used it? Give us details.

[SDF_Specialist]

It looks like it's confrence hardware. I'm gonna read more about it, but this could be a great idea.

[SDF_Specialist]

I just played around with the settings on my Echolink account. I can now allow conferences of up to 10 stations.

[♠SARKID♠]

How about Teamspeak?

Very interesting.  Have you used it? Give us details.

Its a very simple system.  Download, install, sign on to server, talk.  All you need is a mic and an internet connection.  Its used in video games to communicate speech between players.  I use Ventrillo, the original/grandaddy of teamspeak, but you have to pay for servers.

[SDF_Specialist]

If there are any LAPD officers here, or officers in the area of L.A., please PM me. I have a question for you.

[nhcapmember]

new member of CAPTalk

hame here - general license - KB1MEZ

I have echolink - which of the 1700 links are you suggesting we use?

[Nomex Maximus]

I tried echolink and it worked ok, but I somehow could not get worked up about getting on to some random local repeater somewhere on the other side of the planet - just somehow it had no relevance to me. Sort of like talking to a total stranger on an internet chat room...

...but then I just haven't been much interested in ham radio since I became a pilot and joined CAP... too bad I can't USE my ham radio skills in CAP...

[nhcapmember]

I'm LGM for my wing and I'm also on the Comm group although its not my specialty track. Got my callsign and was issued a radio

I'm one more body, one more set of ears, another resource on the ground and radio's don't intimidate me

we also have a state-wide net every evening during the week and I log in as often as I can

I think echolink is a great tool if we use it right

[SDF_Specialist]

I'm LGM for my wing and I'm also on the Comm group although its not my specialty track. Got my callsign and was issued a radio

I'm one more body, one more set of ears, another resource on the ground and radio's don't intimidate me

we also have a state-wide net every evening during the week and I log in as often as I can

I think echolink is a great tool if we use it right

nhcapmember, we can't use Echolink for CAP. This was just something that a bunch of us hams started talking about. It would be cool if we could get something like this for CAP, but I don't see that happening. Echolink is a great communications tool for recreational use. If you have your ham license, you can download the software for free, make contacts all over the world. Just go here for Echolink

[nhcapmember]

yes, I know we can't use it for CAP missions but we can use it for recreational contacts

I already have it on my system and was talking with a nice chap in New Zealand for about an hour last night

[Ricochet13]

I'm LGM for my wing and I'm also on the Comm group although its not my specialty track. Got my callsign and was issued a radio
I'm one more body, one more set of ears, another resource on the ground and radio's don't intimidate me
we also have a state-wide net every evening during the week and I log in as often as I can
I think echolink is a great tool if we use it right

nhcapmember, we can't use Echolink for CAP. This was just something that a bunch of us hams started talking about. It would be cool if we could get something like this for CAP, but I don't see that happening. Echolink is a great communications tool for recreational use. If you have your ham license, you can download the software for free, make contacts all over the world. Just go here for Echolink

So . . .  the question is, how do we develop/encourage development of a CAP version of Echolink?

[nhcapmember]

well, there is a couple of things I'd like to figure out if it were OK to develop - not just Echolink

APRS would be a huge asset for ground teams, but that involves use of the amateur bands as well

I don't think the problem lies with the owners of the Echolink code

I think its a problem with the FCC and use of the amateur bands for commercial purposes although we could certainly argue that CAP is certainly not a commercial enterprise

after all, ARES and RACES all use amateur bands to accomplish similar missions - community service

from a commercial standpoint I don't recall ever getting a paycheck from CAP or ARES either!

[SDF_Specialist]

Well how about this.....CAP has one primary frequency throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, right? Why not set up an amateur club that has the same frequency thoughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico the same was as we have established out Communications network? Everything right down to the PL tones the same. There wouldn't be a need for specific call signs like what we have in CAP as our ham calls would be fine. One call sign for the entire state for the club. Of course there are a bunch of details that could be worked out, but for the gist of the situation, what would it hurt?

[Major Lord]

We can use APRS, we just can't use the ham bands to do it. You can set up an inexpensive tracker with a TinyTrack and a cheap GPS, and have it encode your position on our radios and exisiting repeater networks. It just sends a 1/3 second burst after you unkey your microphone. Total hardware costs less than 100 bucks. Arizona had such a system operating at one time I believe. I have experimented with it a little bit on the Mount Diablo repeater in Northern California and it shows great potential.

Major Lord

[Ricochet13]

We can use APRS, we just can't use the ham bands to do it. You can set up an inexpensive tracker with a TinyTrack and a cheap GPS, and have it encode your position on our radios and exisiting repeater networks. It just sends a 1/3 second burst after you unkey your microphone. Total hardware costs less than 100 bucks. Arizona had such a system operating at one time I believe. I have experimented with it a little bit on the Mount Diablo repeater in Northern California and it shows great potential.

Major Lord

My squadron has begun working of implementation of APRS.  Have conducted two demonstrations for wing staff highlighting the posibilities and enhanced safety/mission effectiveness possible through use of APRS.  Has received favorable response.

So, perhaps APRS along with Echolink could be adapted/devloped to meet mission needs?

[nhcapmember]

I raised the possibility of APRS with some staff here in NH and it was immediately shot down

I wonder if this is an opportunity to resurrect the idea

I also like the idea of a network of a common link repeater network throughout the US

Right now I have a Johnson 5300 in my car but its not usable outside of NH - when I am in Vermont I can hear a regularly scheduled net taking place but I can't participate

[isuhawkeye]

Someone should get ahold of the Iowa Director of communications.  he has had many discussions with NHQ on APRS.

[Ricochet13]

I raised the possibility of APRS with some staff here in NH and it was immediately shot down
I wonder if this is an opportunity to resurrect the idea

Worse that can happen is "no" again, but be persistent.

Right now I have a Johnson 5300 in my car but its not usable outside of NH - when I am in Vermont I can hear a regularly scheduled net taking place but I can't participate

Guess I'm missing something here — why is the 5300 unusable outside of Vermont, and why can't you participate in the regularly scheduled NETs?

[nhcapmember]

the radio has been programmed for the local repeaters and what we need in NH, but if I switch zones, nothing additional has been programmed

for example, I can hear Vermont, but the PL hasn't been programmed so I have no way to re-channel the radio

I will certainly raise APRS again in a slightly different format..if I can get some ammunition from other regions and their successes, that would further the cause

[Ricochet13]

the radio has been programmed for the local repeaters and what we need in NH, but if I switch zones, nothing additional has been programmed
for example, I can hear Vermont, but the PL hasn't been programmed so I have no way to re-channel the radio
I will certainly raise APRS again in a slightly different format..if I can get some ammunition from other regions and their successes, that would further the cause

Now I understand.  One of the disadvantages of the "thinking" of the national level communications "powers" currently making decisions.  Would be willing to venture that there is also no way to easily get the VHF reprogrammed to add the necessary frequencies.  That seems to be so in my wing at least.

[nhcapmember]

the frequency list and PL tone list has been 'classified' as FOUO and allw e have are channel numbers - ie Zone 1 Channel 5 is a repeater, 1 is air to air, 2 is air to ground...

no way to find out, and there is no way to change or add without programming software and cabling...

I understand the 'reason' for doing it this way, its just that it inhibits cooperation

anyhow, back to echolink - I will do some more research and I will also find out more about the possibilities of APRS for the wing - I think it would be huge to be able to use it as a tool to direct ground assets

[♠SARKID♠]

Just signed up for echolink

KC9MJP

[♠SARKID♠]

So yeah, nobody wants to talk to me... 
Put out a good number of calls, no-one responded

[Ricochet13]

So yeah, nobody wants to talk to me... 
Put out a good number of calls, no-one responded

Just passed my Technician exam Saturday  so look for me on Echolink as soon as call sign is posted on FCC site.   

[nhcapmember]

OK, what repeater? A regular time once a week? there are almost 1800 choices in the US...pick one

[drcomm]

It took me a little while but I finally have taken the time to install echolink on my system.  Anything going on with CAPTalk folks on echolink yet?

de KA5OWI

[dwb]

I'll participate in a little CAP Talk chat on EchoLink later this week, if there is sufficient interest.

KC2SOL

[NHQ-OS-126 Frank]

Hello everybody.


I am on echolink too. Not all the time but "the machine" is running about 3 days a week.


My callsign is:    LX1MG

Would be great to meet other CAP Hams.



Frank