Echolink

Echolink

The KansasCityRoom-Wide Fusion digital network of repeaters is now accessible to individuals via Echolink. The node name is WØFH-L and the node number is 746258. No links (-L) or repeaters (-R) please, see below.

Echolink Clients for Windows and Mac

There are Echolink clients for Windows computers downloadable from: https://secure.echolink.org/download.htm  

You can find an Echolink client for Apple in the Mac App Store called EchoHam.

Mobile Device Clients

Apple and Android phones can find Echolink clients in their App Store. There are open-source clients available for Linux.

Validating Your Callsign

You will need to log in to the Echolink website and validate your Amateur Radio license before you can use Echolink. Go to: http://echolink.org/register_data.jsp  Note that you will need to send a copy of your license to get validated. Copies can be downloaded from the FCC web site. The FCC provides instructions at: https://www.fcc.gov/how-obtain-official-authorizations-uls  It may take a day or two to get validated after you submit your request.

If you have problems getting set up, please visit: https://secure.echolink.org/support.htm

Echolink Community

There is a groups.io Echolink group at: https://groups.io/g/EchoLink/topics

Echolink Audio Quality

We understand that the big advantages of Fusion digital radios is the great audio quality. Echolink has a (sometimes deserved) reputation for sounding awful. Echolink uses high-quality codecs for transporting sound across the internet, but multiple analog-to-digital conversions can degrade audio quality. We are doing our best to maintain high quality audio:

  1. Echolink is provided to allow individuals more access to the room. Connections from other repeaters (-R), repeater links (-L), and conferences are not allowed. Your connection will be refused if you try to connect from one of these nodes. Repeaters and links add additional analog to digital conversions as well as CW IDs, courtesy tones, and over beeps.
  2. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE connect to the *ECHOTEST* conference BEFORE attempting to connect to the KansasCityRoom-Wide. *ECHOTEST* is a ‘parrot’ that plays back what it hears from you. Use this to adjust your audio levels or microphone gain for the best sounding audio.
  3. Using a mobile phone client in a noisy environment is NOT a good idea. Phone microphones are very sensitive and will pick up every background sound and transmit it to the room. If you must do this, lower the mic gain in your Echolink client, and talk directly into the phone microphone.
  4. Do NOT set any kind of courtesy tone or ‘over’ beep in your client. It may be called an ‘End-RX Sound’ or a ‘TX Sound’. It’s also wise to set your phone to DO NOT DISTURB while connected to Echolink. If you don’t, your cute ringtone or raunchy song will go out over Echolink if you happen to be talking at the time.

Comments are welcome at feedback@kansascitywide.com