I would say that the use of IRLP or Echolink would be up to your
individual needs after you know how each works. If IRLP hooked up to
repeater XYZ in country A and you like to talk to people in country A
then you are good to go. If you are at work and have your desktop hooked
up to Echolink and enjoy talking to people in country B or simply
picking your best buddy off the connected list because he is in Iraq,
then go for it.
The Houston AMSAT Net has done all kinds of neat things with
communications over the years. When the closest IRLP for us in Houston
was in Richmond, we used it for a couple of nets and took checkins.
Problem was that with such a wide area of coverage, checkins lasted over
30 minutes of a 1 hour net. We had to let that go. Now, we use Echolink
and it is one way, me transmitting for the hour linking the 145.47
repeater to the internet with Echolink as well as our own internet
streaming. We do the checkins from the list of those connected to the
conference. Works quite well for our purpose. Echolink also works on an
iPhone and I think there is also an IRLP app for the iPhone as well.
Even broadens one's capabilities.
I guess next really good question is the difference between DStar and
say Motorola's digital service, etc. I have DStar in my new radio and
had my first HF QSO on 20m with DStar. Unbelievable, the clarity is like
you are on a local repeater with HF capabilities. DStar on 2m or 70cm is
basically like IRLP and Echolink where you connect up to a repeater that
has DStar running. Of course, there is a learning curve on DStar for
making all the connections. But its kinda neat. This would be a topic
for another day.
73...bruce
On 7/3/2014 11:19 AM, Michael K5WRN via BVARC wrote:
First, the differences.
IRLP: The Internet Radio Linking Project (http://www.irlp.net/); Is a
way to link radios together via the internet. This is commonly used
today to link repeaters together. There are several IRLP nodes in the
Houston area. A couple are available to operators to dial, however
the 444.3 machine is on a schedule and cannot be controlled by the
operator. Saltgrass is IRLP.
Echolink: Is a computer based program. When tied to a radio or
repeater, it will allow a computer user to talk over a repeater. It
will also allow computer to computer chat such as any other VOIP
system. There are several repeaters in the Houston and Pasadena area
with Echolink active.
There are computer servers, known in the IRLP world as Conference
Reflectors. These conference reflectors are basically the equivalent
of switching hubs. They allow both IRLP and Echolink nodes to connect
to them, combining the best of both worlds.
For an example (good and bad) of IRLP, tune in the 444.3 machine in
Houston. I think the tone is 123.0, but the book says 100.0. Never
trust my memory. Try the 100.0 first.
Most of the day after 2pm, the 444.3 is connected to the Winlink IRLP
system. In the morning, at 9am, the machine connects to the Western
Reflector which is a combo of IRLP and Echolink. At noon it connects
to the Alaska Net which is also a combo of IRLP and Echolink. Note,
Winlink is IRLP only.
Michael Wrenn - K5WRN
Sugar Land, Texas
www.kiltedcowboy.com
www.qrz.com/db/K5WRN
On 07/03/2014 11:04 AM, Bryce Lindsay via BVARC wrote:
I searched the archives and didn't find anything. I was wondering
on peoples opinions on things like Echolink or IRLP.
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--
Bruce Paige, KK5DO
AMSAT Director Contests and Awards
ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE
Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT*
Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com
Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes
Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News
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