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  • EchoLink

    From Dennis Scott@1:275/89 to All on Mon Feb 27 08:20:46 2023
    Sorry about that. Yes, EchoLink.

    I thought I might use this spare Anytone 868 radio as a 'simplex link' into the EchoLink network so that locals could use it similiar to a normal repeater. Seems like a cheap enough endeavor if I can find a way to connect it to my PC.

    I've never used EchoLink but it looked interesting on their website and it seems there are a good many people doing something similiar to what I'm trying to do.

    Thanks,
    Dennis, KD4LLC
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  • From Rob Swindell@1:103/705 to Dennis Scott on Mon Feb 27 11:05:13 2023
    Re: EchoLink
    By: Dennis Scott to All on Mon Feb 27 2023 08:20 am

    Sorry about that. Yes, EchoLink.

    I thought I might use this spare Anytone 868 radio as a 'simplex link' into the EchoLink network so that locals could use it similiar to a normal repeater. Seems like a cheap enough endeavor if I can find a way to connect it to my PC.

    I didn't realize EchoLink had "sysop mode", that's pretty cool.
    Here's the rig interfaces it appears to support (if you didn't already find this): https://www.echolink.org/interfaces.htm

    I've never used EchoLink but it looked interesting on their website and it seems there are a good many people doing something similiar to what I'm trying to do.

    Cool.
    --
    digital man (rob)

    Rush quote #16:
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  • From Daryl Stout@1:2320/33 to Dennis Scott on Tue Feb 28 01:00:00 2023
    Dennis,

    Sorry about that. Yes, EchoLink.

    That makes more sense...although as fast as technology is changing, they might name a new mode after Echonet.

    I thought I might use this spare Anytone 868 radio as a 'simplex link' into the EchoLink network so that locals could use it similiar to a
    normal repeater. Seems like a cheap enough endeavor if I can find a way
    to connect it to my PC.

    I'm not an expert on that, but I'm sure you need a special cable...I'll
    defer to others in here on that.

    I've never used EchoLink but it looked interesting on their website and
    it seems there are a good many people doing something similiar to what
    I'm trying to do.

    I use the desktop application for some of my nets, and the smartphone
    app as a backup, if the home internet goes out.

    I also maintain a list of selected D-Star, Echolink, and D-Rats Nets,
    in Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Time, which you can find at http://www.wx4qz.net/elk.htm -- the list has mostly D-Star Nets, with
    quite a few Echolink Nets, and a few D-Rats nets for good measure.

    That's also the first hyperlink from my bio on QRZ -- and you'll find
    PDF files related to amateur radio...including a collection of ham radio
    humor, setting up Netlogger for use with nets, and "The PCL Net", from
    the NS2B BBS in Penfield, New York.

    Daryl, WX4QZ

    ... I just bought a cured ham. I wonder what it had??
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  • From Brent Hendricks@1:154/50 to Dennis Scott1:275/89.0 on Thu May 22 08:40:21 2025
    Good morning!

    Depending on how much money you want to spend and how complex you want your system to be, there are several ways to get a Simplex stationm setup.

    I run one here in Pensacola, FL (KF6HDJ-L <NODE 264334>) - Here is my system.

    Radio: Yaesu FT 2980 (At 85)watts.
    Antenna: Diamond X30A (Up 22 feet).
    Computer Interface: RIGBlaster NOMIC.
    USB Soundcard interface.
    Software: Echolink Client in SysOp Mode on Windows 11.

    Some considerations to improve mysetup.

    Having a radio that can do 85W out of the box is nice, but outside of implementing and testing I would buy an external amplifier. Let it do the work and not the radio!

    Get a radio with a dedicated DATA port, you can use this for a hardware carrier sense circuit so you do not have to rely on the Echolink clients VOX to send your signal over the internet.


    Look in to a used Kenwood with built-in Echolink support, (As far as I know Kenwood is the only manufacture that has built in Echolink support).

    If you want to get into a friendly BBS / Ham Radio competition. I check in to the East Coast Reflector's Trivia Net weekly. I would like to get a friendly competition going on my BBS. Check out the BBS in my signiture for more details.

    Brent Hendricks (Rug Rat)
    bbs - bbs.catracing.org 6840
    * C-Net/5
    * Origin: call.rofbbs.com ports 6800 6400 8502 / 423-541-8271 (1:154/50)