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Internet Radio Linking Project
How To Access The Club's Repeater IRLP Link System
- Say
your callsign and state "This is (your callsign) for the IRLP"
- Then
send the touch tones you need to connect where you want to go to.
- Now
wait at least 10 to 15 seconds to hear if there is a QSO in progress if
not then,
- Key
your microphone and leave at least 3 seconds before you start to
talking.
- Give
your call sign in Phonetics and and say listening.
- DO
NOT CALL CQ, remember your on a repeater not HF.
- Now
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!!
- Then
after the other party on the link unkeys, wait at least 10 to 15
seconds before you key your transceiver to answer. Pause - Pause
- After
the QSO, wait for at least 30 Seconds to see if anyone else wants to
talk.
- Then
enter the code to bring down the link.
- Then give your
callsign, and say that you are clear the IRLP.
All Club IRLP
connections to other IRLP Nodes are for club members only.
If anyone wants
to connect who is not a club member, just ask for a club repeater
control operator, and we will be glad to connect you.
Connections
from outside the local IRLP linked system are open.
Here
are the important links needed to operate
the IRLP
IRLP Operating Guidelines Page
Courtesy
Kitchener-Waterloo ARC
Node 2410 &
2420
UPDATED November
23, 2001
Thanks to IRLP,
Amateur Radio is
receiving a new breath of life through his Internet Radio Linking
Project. Many repeaters around the world that were next to
empty are now alive and well with radio amateurs now speaking with
other hams around the world. As with any new
technology, it does take some time to adopt to operating procedures
that differ from conventional FM repeater use. This work in
progress can serve as a guideline for those wishing to use their local
IRLP enabled repeater node.
PLEASE
NOTE:
The following guidelines may differ from those provided by your local
node operator. These notes are only a guideline and at no time
should take precedence over the wishes of your local node sponsor.
COMMON
MODES
There are two connection modes for an IRLP connection. Direct
one-to-one or, one-to-many via a Reflector.
Direct connect is just
like it sounds where repeater (node) "A" connects direct with node
"B". With this type of link the two nodes are interconnected and
no other IRLP connections are possible. While repeaters "A" and
"B" are connected, anyone attempting to connect with either node will
be told by a recording that - "The node you are calling is
currently connected to callsign" however all local traffic on each
repeater will be heard on the other repeater as well.
While Direct Connect is
preferred for a city to city chat, the most common type of
connection in use today is via the Denver Reflector (Ref2). A
reflector is a Linux computer that is not connected to any radio but
rather sits on lots of internet bandwidth capable of allowing many
repeaters to be inter-connected together by streaming the received
audio back to all other connected stations. At any given time
there are usually 6 to 10 repeaters around the world interconnected via
this Reflector. You can always check which stations are
connected to the reflector by visiting http://status.irlp.net and
looking for nodes connected to REF 2.
REFLECTOR
USE
With reflector use the first thing we must all remember is to leave a
gap between transmissions. Having said that this is a good time
to list the three main rules when connected to a reflector:
- Pause
- Pause
- Pause
Due to the
slight increase in delays
created by multiple Tone Squelch radios in the links between the
repeater and IRLP link radio, a slight change in our normal operating
procedures is required with IRLP.
By leaving a pause
between transmissions it .....
- allows
users on other nodes a chance to check in.
- allows
other nodes time to send touch-tone commands to drop their node.
The most
important guideline to
remember is leaving a pause after pressing the PTT button as well as
between transmissions.
REFLECTOR
ROUND TABLES
Round tables are conversations involving more than 2 parties.
Unlike a net a roundtable requires some organization to keep the
conversation thread passing in an orderly fashion from party to
party. Do not become intimidated if a group grows and, if
mobile, do not be overly concerned if you are unable to remember
all or any callsigns. Just try and remember the call and or name
of the next station that you pass it to. If you are listening and
wish to break into a conversation, let a cycle go by so you know the
participating station are then announce your callsign during one of the
"pauses". You should be recognized and then when finished with your
transmission be sure to specify who you are turning it over to.
If you do not specify a station to pick up the connection chaos will
result as 2 or more stations may try to talk at once.
ANNOUNCING
YOUR PRESENCE
Announcing you are looking for a QSO or acknowledging someone else's
call differs from your local repeater were you usually just give your
call. With IRLP your transmission is now being heard on many
repeaters around the world and others may not just be sure what your
intentions may be.
To resolve this it is a
good idea to give your callsign (phonetically) along with your name and
your QTH and state you are monitoring for a call. Many listeners
are mobile and may only pick out your prefix, your name or possibly
just your QTH.
ESTABLISHING
A CONTACT
When you hear a station that you wish to speak with always identify who
your call is meant for. It is not a good idea to simply state
your call but rather your call and your intentions.
Scenario: Several
stations including a DX station complete a QSO and you wish to contact
the DX station. Action: VK3xxx this is Joe K9xxx in
Kalamazoo Michigan. By doing this rather than just IDing
with your call, you leave no question who you wish to speak with.
A simple ID many times goes unanswered as neither station knows
who you are calling.
BREAKING
INTO A QSO
When an existing conversation is underway and the topic of conversation
is of interest, just give your callsign between breaks and the next
station to take it should acknowledge you and bring you into the
QSO. PLEASE do not break into an existing QSO because you want to
work one of them. This is poor ham radio etiquette and on
HF would result in a severe chastisement :-)
NETS
ON A REFLECTOR
Nets on a reflector without prior approval of the Reflector manager are
highly frowned on and will no doubt be quickly challenged by
someone. A roundtable can sometimes be construed as a net so be
somewhat careful if a group gets to large as it tends to monopolize the
reflector.
If any wishes to organize
a reoccurring net or use a reflector for a special purpose such as the
Scouts annual JOTA weekend (Jamboree On The Air), they need to contact
the reflector custodians.
MAKING
A DIRECT CONNECTION
First of all listen on your local machine for at least 15 -30 seconds
before transmitting and then ask if the repeater is currently in
use. Assuming all is clear, identify your self and give the node
name or number you wish to call . Example: "VE3xyz for the Sydney
node" - - then enter the ON code for the node and release your
PTT. Your local repeater should come up with a
carrier as it waits for the connection to be authenticated. This
can take a few seconds of dead-air so don't be concerned. When
the connection is confirmed, the voice ID of the destination node will
be transmitted back to you as well as your nodes voice ID to the other
repeater.
NOTE: If your node is
already connected to another node or reflector, a greeting will play
saying; - "your node is currently connected to...ID of the
connection") In this case confirm if anyone desires the
connection to remain up before dropping by using the OFF code..
Once connected and after
hearing the confirming voice ID, wait at least 15 seconds before
transmitting as.......
- The
repeater may be in use, and your entry may have occurred between
transmissions.
- The
voice ID of your node is longer than the voice ID of their node, and
the connection is not made until the ID is fully played.
- Their
computer may be slower, and hence take longer to process the connection
than yours.
Press and hold
the microphone PTT
for a second and then announce your presence and your intention such as
you are calling someone specifically or just looking for a QSO with
another ham in that city.
If no response is heard,
announce your call and your intent to drop the link and then touch-
tone in the OFF code. Not a good idea to transmit touch-tone
commands without first giving your call-sign. Not only is this
courteous it is a regulatory issue in some countries who may be
connected to the reflector.
Some nodes are
configured
so you cannot connect to them if that repeater is active. In this
case you will receive the message "The node you are calling is being
used locally" If you receive this message wait 5 or 10 minutes
and then try again.
If you stay
connected to a node and there is no activity on your repeater for 4
minutes, the connection will time out and automatically disconnect with
a voice ID disconnect message on both nodes.
CONNECTING
TO THE REFLECTOR
As above, listen to your local machine for local use and then announce
your intention for the Reflector before keying the ON command.
When you hear the confirmation ID always WAIT at least 15 seconds
before transmitting as you are most likely now connected with many
repeaters and a QSO could be in progress. If after 15 seconds you
hear nothing, identify yourself and indicate you are listening to the
Reflector from "City and, Prov./State, Country". With the world
wide IRLP activity your local repeater now has world wide coverage thus
the suggestion to better detail your QTH.
Don't be in a hurry to
hear someone come back to you. You may have to do a bid of
pleading from time-to-time to un-lodge someone from whatever they are
currently involved with.
By default, connections
to the reflectors now time out with no activity however many node
owners set this period for a long period so it is not unusual for
repeaters with minimal traffic to stay connected to the Reflector for
extended periods of time. When or if the node times out from a
Reflector connection a standard time-out greeting will precede the
timeout saying, "Activity time out ... Reflector xxx, link off"
If you are new to IRLP
you should always consult with your local node sponsor to confirm the
local guidelines on reflector connections in your area.
If you hear or wish to
engage in a prolonged rag-chew on your local repeater (long discussion
of a local nature) out of courtesy to other node listeners drop
the reflector.
ERROR
MESSAGES
From time-to-time you may receive error messages when attempting to
connect with a node or reflector. The most common ones are:
"The
node you are calling is not responding, please try again later"
This is caused by a loss of internet connectivity to one end of
the call attempt.
"BEEP
Error- The call attempt has timed out, the connection has been lost"
This error occurs when a node is OFF-LINE. Some nodes such as in
the UK use dial-up connections and then, only for short periods.
Also there may be temporary net or node problems.
"The
Connection Has Been Lost"
If the internet connection drops, this error message will be
heard. I found this out when I accidentally kicked out my network
cable while working around the node computer.
DO'S
and DON'TS
In summary then a few
do's and don'ts
- DO
pause between transmissions to let other in or others to enter DTMF
command.
- DO
identify before sending DTMF command tones.
- DO
hold your microphone PTT for about 1 second before talking to allow all
systems time to rise.
- DO
NOT rag-chew on your local repeater while connected to the
reflector.
- DO
pause for 10 seconds or when entering the reflector before
talking.
- DO
NOT start or plan a Net without pre-authorization from the reflector
owner
SUNDAY NETS
Every
other Sunday an IRLP net is held inviting check-ins from around the
world which is an excellent chance to hear IRLP at its best. To
participate in the net there must be a local net controller for your
node otherwise you will only be able to monitor.
A few guidelines which
will be enforced by the Central Net Controller will be
- Do
not connect your local node to the net during net times unless someone
is acting as a local net controller.
- Do
not make calls directly to other stations during the net.
- Above
all NO local conversations during the net while connected to the
reflector.
- Do
not attempt a call unless your local net controller has you as a pre
check-in.
- Disconnect
our node if any local interference is present.
- Keep
your check-in short and to the point. Remember that several hundred
others may be waiting for a chance to check-in as well.
Check the
Official IRLP Net web page
at for details on schedules http://www.irlp.net/
OTHER
TIPS
Do you have any suggestions on improving this help page?
If so please contact Paul Cassel VE3SY irlp@kwarc.org
Enjoy IRLP and pass the
word.
Paul VE3SY
Nodes 241, 242, 243
paul@ve3sy.co
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