The WDRS EchoIRLP Node |
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MEETINGSMeetings are held most Tuesdays at 8pm, at Ossett Community Centre, Prospect Road, OSSETT, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF5 8AN.This page was last updated on Sunday. 22nd June, 2008 |
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NEWS! NODE NOW BACK ON THE AIR!
Sincere thanks to all who offered
help, but particularly
to Les 2E0NDM for the re-engineered computer!
CURRENT NODE STATUS -
CLICK HERE (OPENS IN NEW WINDOW)
Support is now provided for
EchoLink users via the use of software known as "EchoIRLP". This software does
NOT permit
the the interconnection of IRLP and EchoLink stations; however, what it DOES
allow is the use of EchoLink from the
MB7IWR Node and connection to EchoLink Users and Conferences via this Node. The
reason EchoIRLP has been installed
is so that the Society can offer support to EchoLink enthusiasts as well as IRLP
fans. Also, the Society supports the
Scout's Annual 'Jamboree On The Air' or JOTA and this event ALWAYS has an
EchoLink Conference in operation.
The MB7IWR Node IRLP Node
Number is 5918 and the EchoLink Node Number is 318283. You will need these node
numbers if you wish to connect back to this node from a distant (perhaps
foreign) node, either IRLP or EchoLink
THANKS TO DAVE G6SSF, LES 2E0NDM AND
STEVE 2E0SLT FOR ALL THEIR HELP.
If
you DO encounter any problems, please let the
Node Operator (Dave G4CLI) know as soon as possible,
either by email to
g4cli@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 07748
221855.
FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS
FROM DAVE CAMERON VE7LTD WHO BOTH WROTE IRLP
AND OPERATES NODE 1000. PLEASE DO
NOT
USE "1000" TO TEST WHETHER THIS
NODE AND YOUR EQUIPMENT IS WORKING. PLEASE
USE ONE OF THE ECHO REFLECTORS "9990" TO "9999" INSTEAD.
DAVE CAMERON VE7LTD IS GETTING TIRED OF USERS OF THIS (AND OTHER NODES)
USING
HIS NODE FOR TEST PURPOSES.
THE ECHO REFLECTOR IS PURELY ELECTRONIC
AND CANNOT GET TIRED HI! ONCE CONNECTED
TO THE ECHO REFLECTOR, ANYTHING
YOU TRANSMIT TO THE NODE WILL BE RECORDED AND PLAYED BACK TO YOU,
PROVIDING A FULL TEST OF BOTH CONNECTIVITY AND
AUDIO PATHS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
ALSO DO NOT FORGET TO DISCONNECT WITH
"73" WHEN FINISHED.
A QSO TIMEOUT OF 30 MINUTES HAS BEEN INSTALLED!
Severe interference is being caused to the Node by operators using 145.350 and 145.325 at 5kHz deviation! The two metre band is scheduled for 12½ kHz channel spacing and it has been for some time. 12½ kHz channel spacing dictates a maximum deviation of 2½ kHz, as opposed to the old, obsolete maximum of 5 kHz. Please check your rig's setup. Most modern rigs can be set to "narrow" or "low" deviation. If you cannot reduce your deviation, please consider avoiding 145.325, 145.350 until you can. Thank you!
We're also
experiencing phantom disconnects by someone who thinks it's funny to send DTMF
"73" whilst the node is in use.
If you know who is doing this, please let us
know so we can
inform OFCOM. Thanks!
The Wakefield & District Radio Society node (MB7IWR) operates from the QTH of the Secretary. Dave G4CLI in Thornhill, Dewsbury (IO93EQ). The node is part of the global IRLP network, and has node number 5918 and is also part of the EchoLink Network with node number 318283 Useful information about the node, and both the IRLP and EchoLink networks can be found below
IRLP' stands for the 'Internet Radio Linking Project' and was
originally conceived and designed by David Cameron VE7LTD in Canada and started back in November of 1997
as an attempt to use the internet to link radio systems across Canada. The first
full time link that was established ran from Vancouver, British Columbia to
Saint John, New Brunswick. The link had many problems and was shut down in March
of 1998 due to the numerous computer crashes and repeater lockups it was
causing, and the lack of user control over the system. The Canadian team set out
to design a better way to use the same technology to perform the same task,
while improving usability, user control, and sound quality. Their first
breakthrough was to replace the existing operating system, Windows, with a more
stable and versatile one. They chose 'Linux', an open source form of the
operating system UNIX designed by Linus Torvalds, because of its superior
networking characteristics, its reliability, and its ease of programming.
Next, an interface board was designed to interface the radio to the computer. This allowed a large amount of delay to be removed from the system because two VOX circuits were no longer being used. Additionally, custom control software was written, along with modifications to an existing voice-over-IP software package (IPhone) to accommodate the project. The final product was a combination of hardware and software that created a nearly seamless radio link between two remote sites on the internet. The product works so well that many people can not believe that they are talking through a link at all!
The links below are to external sites, and will open in a new window.
The MB7IWR Node is sponsored (and therefore owned) by the Wakefield & District Radio Society and was licensed earlier in 2005 to operate on 145.3375 MHz, The operator (Dave G4CLI) has received
a Notice of Variation to operate unattended under the callsign MB7IWR (Internet Wakefield Radio), and this is now in use.
To access the
node, you will require a normal FM transceiver equipped with either a DTMF
microphone or keypad. 'DTMF' stands for 'Dual Tone Multi Frequency' and is what
most modern telephones (including mobiles) use, so if your rig is not equipped
with DTMF, you can always hold the microphone of the rig up to the earpiece of a
mobile or fixed phone, and use the phone's keypad. The DTMF tones are used to
'call' or 'select' other nodes on the IRLP network. Also note that due to
licensing restrictions, you will need a CTCSS (or sub-audible
tone) of 82.5 Hz. This requirement was imposed by the RSGB in order to limit
interference between well-located nodes. If you do not use this tone, the Node
will be unable to "hear" you
and you will NOT be able to use it!
PLEASE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT YOU IDENTIFY BY USING YOUR CALLSIGN BEFORE DIALLING! (After all, it IS a legal requirement!)
There is no need for ANY software on your home computer; all the computing requirements are taken care of in the node itself. However, if you hold an amateur licence, you may wish to install home-based-Echolink on your PC at home. You can get it by downloading it from
www.echolink.org. where you will also be able to see all the other repeaters, conferences and users currently active on the Echolink network.
Next, choose the node to which you wish to connect. Note that IRLP nodes are FOUR digits in length, but Echolink nodes can be up to SIX digits! To connect to an IRLP node, simply "dial" the number of the node. For an Echolink connection, prefix the node number with 'hash' (#).
For example, the original 'home' of IRLP is node 1000 (VE7RHS in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada); the K7OJU node in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA is node 3407. The 'node number' of this node is 5918. You will need this number if ever you are abroad and want to use IRLP to call home! Echolink is very similar, but the node numbers can be up to six digits in length. For example, the VE7RHS node mentioned above has also the Echolink node number 190638, and a very popular local repeater, GB3IR in the North East is 1353. Note that although GB3IR uses node number 1353, this is an Echolink node number, NOT IRLP! GB3IR's IRLP node number is 5562.
To re-iterate,
to make a connection to GB3IR via this node using IRLP, simply dial "5562"; to
connect using the EchoLink
network, dial "#1353".
Next, identify yourself using voice through the microphone, then type in the chosen node number using the DTMF keypad. Release the PTT, and wait for the local node to say "Connected". You may then proceed to call CQ or a distant station. When you've finished, please key your rig and type "73" to close the link down.
You may also wish to try connecting to an IRLP Reflector. There are several of these, and they all have 'node numbers' in the 9000 range. A reflector is a 'special' node which allows several other nodes to connect simultaneously, to create an IRLP 'net'. Once again, when you've finished, please don't forget to type "73" to close down the link. There are also Echolink "Conferences" which provide a similar service. You can find a list on www.echolink.org
Another difference you may notice is that when connecting over IRLP, the connection message is quite short, but Echolink can be a little more informative (or verbose). When disconnecting, IRLP nodes always confirm disconnection. EchoLink nodes do not! If you're not sure about the status of the node, dial "*123" (STAR-1-2-3) which will cause the node to announce its current status.
It
is also important to realise that MB7IWR is a SIMPLEX node, not a repeater.
This means (among other things) that it CANNOT
receive whilst transmitting.
I often hear people attempting to make a disconnect request whilst the node is
actually transmitting!
MB7IWR Node Special Features ("Star services" :-)
The node is capable of a lot more than simply acting as a communication pipe. For example, it has already been configured to provide a "time check". You can get this simply by entering DTMF "*100" (note the "*" (Star) at before the 100 - hence "star" services).
I am open to reasonable and feasible suggestions for other services. Please also note that these services are unique to this node; other nodes may have similar services but the codes dialled to activate them will almost certainly be different. Please also note that the list of "Star Services" below, only "*123" works when the node is already connected. The others are ignored.
PLEASE CHECK THE NODE'S STATUS WITH "*123" BEFORE USING!
Here's a list (correct 27th May 2008) of all the "star" services:
*100 Play current time (in UTC)
*101 Play Society events for current month
*110 Play current LOCAL time
*123 Play current node status
*130 Plays details of last connections, (in out or waiting)
*1471 Same as *130
*150 Connect to random IRLP node
*199 Play help file listing all current services
*9nnnn (Star-9 followed by a four-digit node number, e.g., STAR-9-5-9-1-8) Play local time at node "nnnn"
The last one (STAR-9) has been added so that users can check the local time at a distant node
BEFORE they make a connection and try to get a contact. This will hopefully reduce the number
of attempts to talk to stations in Australia at their local time of 0400, which I hear regularly!
For those of you who want to find out more, check out these Microsoft® PowerPoint™ presentations.
If you don't have PowerPoint, you can download a viewer here.
o G4CLI Presentation o IRLP Presentation
Above all, support the Wakefield & District Radio Society by USING and ENJOYING the node, and PLEASE come to our weekly meetings.
If you enjoy what you hear, and would like to actually gain a licence to transmit, please come along to one of our regular, Tuesday night meetings where any member of the committee will be pleased to advise you of our RSGB approved training courses. If you can't make one of our meetings, you may call the Lead Instructor, John Carter G7JTH on 01924 251822 or e-mail g7jth@wdrs.org.uk.
73 David G4CLI
Node Keeper (IRLP:5918 Echolink:318283 MB7IWR),
Web-Master, Instructor and Secretary
Wakefield & District Radio Society
