do you need a computer for Echolink?

[KD8OQM]

hey all, this might be a dumb question, but do you need a computer to use echolink on the radio? if not, how do you use it?thanks guys

[KJ4IDH]

No, you do not.
Go to http://www.echolink.org/links.jsp and search for a node near you. You can then use that node to connect to any other worldwide.
It looks like KI4IVP is in your town. That should make it very easy.

[KE7VLC]

hey all, this might be a dumb question, but do you need a computer to use echolink on the radio? if not, how do you use it?thanks guys

To use Echolink you need one of two things. Either a radio that you are able to connect to a repeater that has Echolink capabilities.....or a computer.

You can use an HT or a mobile radio that has a DTMF pad to connect to a repeater....if it has the capabilities of connecting to the internet and has an Echolink node. All you need to have is the node number of the other repeater or station you want to connect to. For example driving down the highway the one repeater you can reach has the capability, all you would have to do is key up and keep holding it down while you are punching in the DTMF (the repeater owner should advertise this but if you can't find it then you will have to ask around) that keys up the Echolink program connected to it then punch in the node number and let off the key. The repeater should announce that it has connected. Then you transmit just like any normal QSO on a repeater. Once done with the ragchew just follow the directions to drop the node. Make sure you ask if anyone is using the repeater first and wait a min or so for a response....if not then announce that you are trying to activate Echolink and proceed. Once you are finished let everyone know that you are done using the repeater. It's really close to the same proceedure for a phone patch.

If you don't have a mobile radio or an HT OR a repeater in the area that has a Echolink sysop then you will have to use a computer. Echolink requires an internet connection so it's obvious why someone wouldn't want to set one up....especially if there is no internet connection near the repeater.

Hope this helps.

[KD8OQM]

i am not sure what to punch in on the DTMF keypad on my kenwood tm-261 but what do i need installed in the radio to use echolink?

[KE7VLC]

i am not sure what to punch in on the DTMF keypad on my kenwood tm-261 but what do i need installed in the radio to use echolink?

You don't need anything installed on your radio. You just need to be in range of a repeater or a linked radio to access Echolink.

As far as the DTMF that would be something the owner of the repeater will have to tell you. Some require you to press the * key and then an 8 to activate the internet connection, once the repeater has informed you that you are connected to the internet then you key up the radio and using the DTMF once again you select a node number.

Some linked radios will have hot keys and all you have to do is press either the # or the * and then 1 through 0 keys for preselected nodes, or simply press in the node number. But you need to know the node number of the repeater, linked unit or the computer on the other end of a tunnel.

The tunnel discription is the best way to think about it. You need an entrance and an exit as well as a tunnel between. If you know you have a repeater in range that has access to Echolink then you need to know the code to open the tunnel......the tunnel is the VoIP or Internet link between the repeater and the servers and then the final destination.

So you need to find a local node that is either a link or a repeater and contact them to find what DTMF codes you need to access Echolink. They may not even have any codes you need. So start there and see what you can drum up.

[KD8OQM]

how do i put in the tone on my radio from the site that kj4idh gave me?

[K8MHZ]

how do i put in the tone on my radio from the site that kj4idh gave me?

First, you need to make sure the DTMF feature is turned on.

Once the feature is activated, you just push and hold the push to talk button and at the same time push one of the keypad buttons. Someone listening will hear tones transmitted like on a touch tone telephone. The computer connected to the repeater you are using responds to the tones sent.

Some radios will give you the choice of long or short DTMF. Try short first, if the repeater fails to respond, try long. I have found that there doesn't seem to be a set rule.

[KD8OQM]

1. how do i turn on the DTMF function?
2. after that do i put in the node #?
3. no computer hooked up to internet in my shack.
4. long or short DTMF????? i dont understand.

[KJ4IDH]

The KI4IVP link is running on 443.612mhz, tune your radio to that frequency with a PL 103.5 and listen. If it is a busy node you will hear activity. If you hear nothing, toss out your call and see if anyone responds. If they do not, try to connect to a node by using your DTMF pad to dial the node number to connect to. Example, transmit “this is KD8OQM accessing echolink” then send the DTMF tone 429535. Listen for the connection to complete then WAIT to make sure the other end is not busy. If you hear nothing, toss out your call to see if anyone is on. The node number above is mine and it is linked to our repeater here in Fl. Feel free to try it out. Make sure to transmit # to disconnect.

[KD8OQM]

what does pl 103.5 mean? i dont understand half the stuff about echolink

[KJ4IDH]

What type of radio do you have?

[KD8OQM]

What type of radio do you have?
i have a kenwood tm-261. no CTCSS unit installed

[K8MHZ]

i have a kenwood tm-261. no CTCSS unit installed

CTCSS and DTMF are not the same.

You don't need CTCSS for Echolink.

[KJ4IDH]

Ok, if you have no tone board then you are out of luck. Echolink relies on CTCSS tones, or PL tones as some know them by, to access and use Echolink. Your only other option would be to use the PC software.

[K8MHZ]

Ok, if you have no tone board then you are out of luck. Echolink relies on CTCSS tones, or PL tones as some know them by, to access and use Echolink. Your only other option would be to use the PC software.

If there is no access tone on the repeater, why would you need anything other than DTMF?

[KJ4IDH]

Sorry, my fault. Not quite what I wanted to say. The node local to him requires a PL of 103.5 to access it. But, if a repeater has echolink and does not require a tone then yes, he is good to go with just DTMF.
Here in Fl we are required to use PL tones on all repeaters.
There is a repeater in Delaware, OH. on 443.550 that does not list a tone, try that one.

[W4RLR]

There is one other way to access Echolink. If you have an iPhone get the Echolink app.

[KD8OQM]

Sorry, my fault. Not quite what I wanted to say. The node local to him requires a PL of 103.5 to access it. But, if a repeater has echolink and does not require a tone then yes, he is good to go with just DTMF.
Here in Fl we are required to use PL tones on all repeaters.
There is a repeater in Delaware, OH. on 443.550 that does not list a tone, try that one.
i will have to get the TSU-8 (CTCSS) unit because i want to be able to access all repeaters. whats long or short DTMF? whats the access code for the repeater

[K8MHZ]

i will have to get the TSU-8 (CTCSS) unit because i want to be able to access all repeaters. whats long or short DTMF? whats the access code for the repeater

Well, only some radios have the feature to choose, but basically it's how long the tones are sent if a string of numbers is entered into the memory and then played back. You don't have to worry about it if you are punching in each number separately.

The feature was designed for use with phone patches where people would program a telephone number into their radio and be able to dial it with just a couple key strokes. The entire string, including the command and pauses can be programmed to fire from two strokes, for instance, you could program your radio to send *(pause)5555555 to activate the phone patch, wait for a dial tone and then dial the number, in this case 555-5555, just by punching (for instance) *1.

[K8MHZ]

Sorry, my fault. Not quite what I wanted to say. The node local to him requires a PL of 103.5 to access it. But, if a repeater has echolink and does not require a tone then yes, he is good to go with just DTMF.
Here in Fl we are required to use PL tones on all repeaters.
There is a repeater in Delaware, OH. on 443.550 that does not list a tone, try that one.

Great info to cover, though. Most all of our repeaters are toned as well, due to lots of tropo. I can work 146.82 repeaters from one location several months out of the year.

[KD8OQM]

can you use pl tones with out the ctcss unit. in my radio i have a tone function but its slightly different than ctcss