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I built this node years ago so I could talk to Ashley KE5PIN.
We do lot of experiments with Ham radio deluxe in remote controlling each other radio's the net.
My node has evolved over the years and now runs on a Toshiba laptop and a Kenwood TM-D700. This is dependant to my day to day shack running. I have a dual band antenna on the shed roof and the power is set to 5 watts.
The Kenwood lends it self well to computer interfacing and audio connections.
The APRS feature is the other bonus. The internet connection is a ADSL one connection. The Node does from time to time go down. the main issue being the laptop deciding to shut it self down or a blackout causing the ADSL modem to lose connection.
The Toshiba laptop was used because, its quite, not RF noisy and does not use much electricity. The radio side run on a solar system, the lap top has its own battery and has about 3hours run time. The ADSL modem and router still need to be wired up to the solar set up. As I said before the main purpose of this link is to allow Ashley KE5PIN (VK5ZDX) and XYL Rebecca KC0LYZ radio access to there home town Adelaide. They live in Bryan Texas and the local IRLP node is very limited in range.
The node usually runs 24hrs a day now so it can be use by anybody if they wish. Usually in the mornings on the week ends im using the system my self.
This Node can be accessed by proceeding a DTMF "C" and any commands.
The reason for this is to stop the IRLP and echo link clashing with each other.
To connect to a know node, lets say 28300 type C28300
To check the echo link connection status type C08
To Disconnect the last connected station type C73
To Disconnect all stations connected type C##
To Play information about the node type C*
To reconnect to the last station type C09
To change link to listen only type C0511
To reset the link to disable listen only type C0511
Note this node can have up to 3 connections at the same time. So don't get confused who were!
When listen to NASA audio direct broadcast their is no need to set the listen only mode as the like is one way only.You can use the echolink and IRLP at the same time. So its a bridge between both connection protocols if you like.
An example is if your on holidays and have echolink in the hotel. you can dial up echolink 28300. Once connected you can call on the VK5RSB repeater or using DTMF command the IRLP node.
Because this node if of an experimental in nature, at time's it may be QSYed to another simplex frequency. It is also used at time's with HAMRADIO DELUXE software to remote control a transceiver. An example is Ashleys TS2000X in Texas. The advantage is when using it as a receiver. the Stateside hams are 5/9 but they can still here you from VK5 transmit site with no problems. Its one way of cheating the QRM in the city.
If you want to know more about echolink click on the image below.
