I want to build an Echolink repeater

[KD7VEA]

OK, here is what I am facing. I lived in Arkansas until I was 18, I then moved to Utah where I have been for the last 11+ years. I have a few ham radio friends that live in Arkansas, and a few that live here in Utah. a good friend of mine (KE7GZK) moved back to Arkansas from Utah, and we are now looking for a way to tie the two areas together. I am wanting to build something like a reflector I guess. I want a constant linked repeater between central Utah, and southern Arkansas. is there any good websites out there that run down the info I need to get these setup? I have the equipment that I need to tune, and program Motorola, and midland radios, so I figured I would use a set of these commercial radios, build 2 repeaters, keep one here, send one to Arkansas, and link them together. are there any problems that I may run into, is frequency coordination going to be a nightmare? I have not decided what band I would like to set these up on just yet, so I guess I am pretty flexible in that area. I would like it on 2 meters, but 440, or even 900MHz would work. any thoughts, advice, or tips would be appreciated.
KD7VEA

[KA9JLM]

All You need to do is setup a Echolink-R or -L on both ends, then use Echolink to control it. You could use simplex.

http://www.echolink.org/

[K6ABZ]

I'm with JLM. You don't really need a repeater, unless you just want a repeater.

You certainly CAN run a repeater, in which case I'd suggest getting an actual repeater radio with a duplexer. Otherwise, just set up Echolink in SysOp mode; you use a radio at each end as a simplex link, and you're good to go.

One note: frequencies. Be sure to check with the band plan in your area; your area's band plan may have specific frequencies set aside for local simplex and for IRLP/Echolink linked simplex communications. You definitely don't want to be talking on a repeater's output channel or on the weak signal portion of the band.

I would start with this simplex link; if it works, then you can consider adding repeater capability as a separate issue.

Depending on the radio, you can do it for pretty cheap or for up to around $200 at each station (for a good interface that decodes DTMF externally.)

I can help you with the basics of what you need to get up and running, if you want to talk directly.

[KD7VEA]

Thanks for the info guys, and I will take all the help I can get. I just got started with echolink a few weeks ago when a local repeater got set up with it. I had a friend of mine back in Arkansas get the app running on his phone, and we chatted through the repeater for a few minutes, but as we all know, if you are talking through a phone, its just not the same as holding a mic in your hand, so any info you can give me, or point me to a good reference for setting up a simplex node would be great. I could get all of that up and running for now, and then move on to the repeater a bit later. I am really considering a 900MHz setup, its a pretty dead band in my area, but there are also no local repeaters active. I have talked to a lot of people that have 900 MHz radios, they are just not sure what to do with them, so a repeater has been something I have wanted to do for a while, and linking it would just make it that much better. Back to the main point of Echolink, how does The ID work on the echolink simplex machine? I am just trying to figure out what I need to do about it IDing iself? thanks for the info guys.
Jake
KD7VEA

[KA9JLM]

After you get Echolink in SysOp mode you just set it up as to how and when you want it to ID.

The Echolink SysOp mode Help would be a good place to look for help.

And reading the Echolink Operating Manual file should help you.

If you have the radio equipment then setting up a repeater is easy too.

There are Radio Interface kits that you can buy, or you can make your own.

[K6ABZ]

Okay, it really comes down to one simple thing:

You need at least 3 connections between your radio and your computer to get a radio working with Echolink. You need a speaker and mic line, and you need a PTT circuit. It's also a good idea to have the COR line coming back to the computer from the radio. (COR is the wire that tells the computer the radio is receiving a signal.)

The simple way to do this is to pick up a dedicated interface box. A dedicated Echolink interface box is the absolute best way to do it, but failing that, I'd go with something like the Rigblaster Plug And Play.

No matter which interface you get, you'll need to find out what pins on your radio's auxiliary port are tied to which functions: you need ground, PTT, COR, TX audio, and RX audio. Once you identify those lines, you can hook to any interface on the market.