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EchoLink. Amateur Radio meets Voice over the Internet Protocol. Andy Zwirko – K1RA http://go.to/andyz andyz@sort.net. Overview. VoIP Concepts and Terminology Analog, Digital, Samples, Buffers Packets, Client/Server, TCP/IP Ham VoIP Projects Access, Modes, Connecting, Audio Quality
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EchoLink Amateur Radio meets Voice over the Internet Protocol Andy Zwirko – K1RA http://go.to/andyz andyz@sort.net
Overview • VoIP Concepts and Terminology • Analog, Digital, Samples, Buffers • Packets, Client/Server, TCP/IP • Ham VoIP Projects • Access, Modes, Connecting, Audio Quality • Topology, Users, Is this ‘Ham Radio’? • EchoLink Software Graphical User Interface • Setup, Radio, Computer • Modes, Configuration • Radio Interfaces • K1RA-L Live Node Demo • Good Practices • Common Problems
What is VoIP? • Convert Voice to Digital 1’ 0’s (A/D) • Compress Digital Data (Encode) • Buffer digital sample data into packets • Send packet buffers via Internet Protocol • Receive and assemble packet buffers • Uncompress Digital Data (Decode) • Convert Digital 1’s 0’s to Voice (D/A)
A/D – D/ATerms and Concepts • Analog <> Digital • Continuous <> Discrete • Air Pressure <> Volts • Sampling Rate • Freq. (KHz) 8, 11, 22, 44 • Unit time (secs) • Sampling Bits • Quantization (#) 2^8, 2^16 • Dynamic range (dB) 50, 98 • Nyquist Theorem • Sample Rate >= 2 x Freq.
Encode / DecodeCompress / Decompress • Codec Types • GSM (E/L 8kbps) • uLaw • aLaw • ADPCM • Function • Don’t send dead air • Combined similar values • Save space and time
Internet and IP • Hosts • Routers • Dotted Decimal Addresses • Transport (TCP/UDP) • Source & Destination Ports • Data / Buffers • Checksum
Connecting via VoIP • Two methods / implementations • Client / Server (Middleman) • Client is Authenticated (Callsign / Password) • Client Requests Users List ( Callsign, IP Addr.) • Client Makes Connection to User • No Central Server (Client to Client) • Client Must manually obtain remote IP Addr. • Client Makes Connection to User
Amateur Radio VoIP Projects • EchoLink – http://www.echolink.org/ • IRLP – http://www.irlp.net/ • CQiNet – http://cqinet.sourceforge.net/ • WIRES II – http://www.vxstd.com • eQSO – http://www.eqso.net/
Echolink Overview • Link Radio Amateurs via the Internet • PC-PC Users, PC-RF Gateways, RF-RF • Simple Password Access to Server • “By Hand” Callsign check for Password Validation • GSM Vocoder 8kbps/user • Lower Voice Quality (Dial-up or Broadband ISP) • Multiple Connections per Node Possible • Bandwidth Limited (Broadband Required for Conf) • Node Information (http://www.echolink.org/logins.asp) • 2700 Active Nodes Worldwide • 552 Users, 1064 Links, 962 Repeaters, 122 Confs.
VoIP Network Topology 209.176.50.1 68.54.3.2 K1HTV K1RA 128.10.60.73 WA3NAN-R 212.50.33.5 141.9.5.102 NA3J/0
EchoLink - The Software • Windows • Mac • Linux • Sysop • User
Interfaces • Types • Commercial • Homegrown • Function • Isolate • Attenuate • Match • Key PTT • COR
K1RA-L • Echolink node #199756 • Warrenton, VA – FM18cr - ~ 550ft ASL • 144.440 MHz Simplex - ~20w • Adelphia Cable ISP - 4Mbps / 512Kbps • Supports 4 simultaneous users • Software version 1.980 • Access is Open 24/7
Node Hardware • Radio Equipment • ICOM IC207H • 20 Watts • 5/8ths vertical @25ft • 12v 20A P.S. • Computer Equipment • Pentium II – 350MHz • 192 MB RAM • 6 GB Hard Disk • 10baseT NIC • Linksys D614+ FW • 2000VA UPS
Control Operation • 3 Levels of Control • DTMF over Link Frequency • HTTP Web Interface • Direct PC Keyboard • Control Operators • K1RA - Andy • KZ1AMY - Amy
Node DTMF Commands • Status – 08 • Connect – 4, 5, 6 digit node number • Echo Test Server = 9999 • short cuts, ex: *90 = WA3NAN-R • Disconnect - # • Reconnect – 09 • Help File -*411
Good Operating Practices • Identify Yourself • When connecting • When sending DTMF • Pause, Wait, Listen • Use DTMF Status Command 08 • Rag chewers beware • 3 minute timeout
Common Problems • Connection Timeout • Disconnects • Audio issues • Broken • Garbled • Drop outs
Question?Tnx & 73 ! Andy Zwirko – K1RA http://go.to/andyz andyz@sort.net