I currently maintain EchoLink node #217959, K2RRA-R. EchoLink is a method of connecting Amateur Radio operators and voice repeaters via the Internet with voice over IP (VoIP) technology.
It is a full-time Internet link to Rochester Radio Repeater Association's K2RRA 146.880 MHz amateur radio repeater located in Rochester, New York and is always available for general amateur use.
The link PC and radio are located at my parents house in Webster, NY, and is running on the same PC that hosts the websterweather.com website. The PC, radio, cable modem and firewall (and Time Warner DVR) are powered through a beefed-up UPS, providing over 30 minutes runtime in the event of a commerical power failure. For more information about the PC server and weather station hardware, check the WebsterWeather Project page.
Besides Internet audio linking, the node also provides on-demand playback of current weather conditions, weather forecast, and severe weather alerts for the greater Rochester area via the 146.880 MHz Repeater in Rochester. Additionally, instant notifications (push) are sent over-the-air when severe weather alert is issued by the National Weather Service.
Prior to issuing DTMF commands, please remember to announce your callsign.
In order to satisify FCC 97.213, the link radio has a transmit timeout (deadman's switch) of three minutes. During pre-recorded news playback on Sunday nights when segments are longer than three minutes, a 50 millisecond gap is inserted every two minutes to reset the timer on the radio. If an EchoLink user exceeds three minutes of transmit, the link radio will cease transmitting and EchoLink will force the user to unkey, so try and keep things short.
Status
LINK STATUS: ALL OK, NO KNOWN ISSUES
Hardware
- Yaesu FT-2800m at 10 watts (LOW2 power setting)
- RIGBlaster Nomic PTT control
- 70' of cheapo Radio Shack RG-8 coax (no link, go save your quarters for something decent, like TMS LMR-400)
- Cushcraft A148-3S 3 element beam
DTMF Commands
C - Connect by node number
CC - Connect by Call
## - Disconnect by node number
### - Disconnect all
00 - EchoLink Information
000 - EchoLink Status
C1 - Connect to N2TY 145.170/447.075 MHz TARA Repeaters (Capital Region of New York)
C2 - Connect to N2HLT Repeater System (Fingerlakes, Southern Tier of New York, Northern Pennsylvania)
80 - Current Time
81 - Weather Conditions at websterweather.com
82 - Weather Forecast for the Greater Rochester Area
83 - Severe Weather Alerts for the Greater Rochester Area
84 - Severe Weather Alert Summary for the Greater Rochester Area
88 - Temperature at Westfall Road
89 - Temperature at websterweather.com.
8097 - Link Down
8098 - Link Up
0510 - Listen Only Off
0511 - Listen Only On
Example: To connect to node 420, press C420. To disconnect a connected EchoLink node, press ##. If more than one EchoLink node is connected and you wish to disconnect all, press ###.
Technical
For my own reference or for others attempting to set up their own EchoLink node, here are the settings I have found to best work with the K2RRA repeater:
- Carrier Detect: VOX
- VOX Delay: 1000ms
- Anti-Thump: 250ms
- ClrFreq Delay: 2500ms
- Squelch Crash Anti-Trip: Checked, 200ms
ChangeLog
1/4/2009
- Updated EchoProducer to v3.1.5. Added DTMF command 89.
12/28/2008
- Changed the node callsign from KB2CHY-L to K2RRA-R. The node number will remain the same.
12/19/2008
- Updated EchoProducer to v3.1.4 (and added a number of new DTMF commands to allow muting announcements)
10/28/2008
- Upgraded Echo Producer to v3.1.0
10/24/2008
- Uninstalled EchoProducerPlus and installed EchoProducer v3.0.9.
- Added DTMF command 84, which will speak a summary of any current severe weather alerts.
- Ordered a polyphaser for lightning protection; To be installed spring 2009 to the existing ground rod.
10/13/2008
- Ditched the 100' of RG-58 feedline and sketchy omni-directional antenna with 70' of RG-8 and a Cushcraft A148-3S 3 element beam. The link radio is now making it to the repeater full quieting with 10 watts. Also, a three minute deadman timeout has been implemented to satisify FCC 97.213.
Additional ChangeLog info over on the WebsterWeather Project page, since the PC used in this project is shared.
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