Welcome to the KR3ORY-R EchoLink^® Node (3176)

This is an on-air repeater link that works through the

                   Blue Knob Repeater Association’s NU3T Brush Mountain UHF repeater.

  

Plan your trip   Local Radar   Detailed Forecast

Operating Frequency: 442.100MHz (+) 5MHz Offset, PL® 167.9Hz. 

NU3T Brush is a high profile open repeater that provides excellent coverage for Blair County, Pennsylvania, and surrounding areas.  The map at left is a little optimistic especially for areas East of the 78 meridian.  The light green areas are higher elevations and dark green areas are valleys.

GoogleEarth© users can add the following Network Link for a location:

http://db.aprsworld.net/datamart/googleEarth.php?call=ECHO3176

When the link is connected¹ to another EchoLink^® node(s) you may hear on-going QSO-s from around the country and/or the world.  You may hear strange sounding call signs coming in from time to time calling CQ or nets from other parts of the country. 

As a ham operator (see the "Mobile Stations" in the Linking Example at right) please feel free to join in the fun just as you would with local operators on Brush.  Establishing a link to a distant  EchoLink^® node is almost as easy.  EchoLink^® RF links accept commands from hams using DTMF tones much like using an auto-patch.  The following table lists some of the basic EchoLink DTMF commands which are commonly used on most RF links, HOWEVER...

NU3T's controller automatically mutes DTMF tones on the repeater output. Since this is an "on-air link" you'll need to temporarily disable this muting when you send tones by sending a  # tone before any and all sequences of DTMF tones.

Remember: on NU3T Brush start all DTMF command sequences with a # tone first, otherwise they won't work.

Starting a QSO. 

 ²For local hams using their radios (yeah this is Amateur Radio! ) I've created some "Station Shortcuts" which may be easier to use than trying to remember and key in long node numbers.   Click on  KR3ORY-R Station Shortcuts for a list of the latest available on this link.  You may want to print and keep a copy of this list with your radio for quick and easy reference.    If you don't want to bother with a list just remember the "0 1 1" command, which will randomly connect you with one of my favorite stations in the USA.  If you'd like to setup a pre-arranged connection for a specific date/time just drop me a note with the specifics KR3ORY@comcast[REMOVE_THIS].net and I'll have EchoTime connect it for you automatically. 

Here are my suggested EchoLink^® operating procedures:

• Identify yourself and intentions before sending DTMF codes to connect.
• Wait for the announcement confirming the node is indeed “connected” then listen to check that the linked nodes are clear before calling CQ, etc.    
• While connected and after pressing PTT, take in a deep breath in before speaking.  This will allow for VoIP latency and multiple links and repeaters to key up, otherwise the first syllables of your over may get clipped.
• Rag chews are fine, but keep individual key downs to less than 175secs and remember to wait 3-5 seconds between transmissions to allow other stations to break or disconnect and all connected repeaters to reset
• EchoLink^® is not an eQSO^® listening room.  If you connect, please make a call or call CQ!  Its not considered polite if you connect, lurk for a few seconds, and then disconnect without trying to make a QSO.  We're trying to make connections, go for it!  
• Long or repetitious CQ-s are not needed or appreciated, you're on FM.  Usually a simple "CQ CQ..YOURCALL listening from …. Pennsylvania USA" will do.  Speak in a normal relaxed volume to avoid overdriving the audio and over deviating the RF.   
• You’re not required to ID yourself before disconnecting a node (especially during a busy roundtable QSO) but its nice, otherwise just disconnect immediately after the next courtesy beep.
• ID yourself after confirmation of link disconnection to sign off legally.
• The link will disconnect itself after eight minutes of inactivity.

As a reminder, the transmit timeout for this link is approximately 175 seconds (that's if everyone is leaving 3-5 second breaks!) so if someone coming through from EchoLink^® talks more than 175 seconds the link will timeout and disconnect.  If you notice the other parties getting a little long winded on their overs you may want to gently remind them of the time restrictions since they're so easy to forget.  Timeout disconnects aren't fun and are especially problematic when there are multiple connections on the nodes.  If it's just one node connected you can use the 09 command to reconnect, otherwise it's a mess.  Most nodes have similar disconnect timeouts so most VoIP users already know this, so again, shorter individual TX-s and 3-5 seconds between transmissions are strongly recommended. 

This repeater link uses EchoTime TTS Plus©

For a current list of nearby EchoLink^® radio links click on the QSL card to the right ---->    

³Conference Servers are powerful internet hubs which can handle many connections at a given time.  In the world of IRLP they are called "Reflectors" and function in a similar way.  For those who are new to VoIP radio linking think of them as being similar to HF calling frequencies and therefore places to start QSO-s.  Please keep in mind some hams view a Conference Server as a type of calling or special interest channel so if you find yourself in an extended QSO with only one other station with a subject that may not be of interest to others you may want to QSY by disconnecting the conference server and re-connecting directly to the other party's individual node.  If they don't know their node number then they can connect to you with node number 3176.  If three or more are in QSO please remember to pass the QSO off to another specific operator or NET control to avoid doubling just as you would on a local one.  If you no longer wish to participate please remember to disconnect after the next courtesy beep. 

Help!

If you want to check your audio going into EchoLink^® connect with the *ECHOTEST* conference server (see the shortcut list.)  Once connected it will repeat your transmissions back to you as they were received by the link.  As the control operator for this link I'm required to monitor its operation (hence this will not be a 24/7 link) so please feel free to ask for assistance on the air.  Also, I am requesting that QSO-s via this link be conducted in English.  I reserve the right to take the link down at any time for any reason with or without warning as I would expect the same from the repeater control operators. 

Again, a big thank you to Jeff and Dave and the Blue Knob Repeater Association. 

73-s and I hope to hear you on the link,

Rory,

KR3ORY  

If you would like to give me any feedback about this web-page please send an e-mail to Kr3ory@[erase]comcast.net ,thanx.

EchoLink^® , its radio tower icon and QSL card graphic are registered trademarks of Synergenics, LLC.

Radius GM300® and PL® are registered trademarks of the Motorola Corp.

GoogleEarth© Copyright Google.

APRS® is a registered trademark of APRS Software and Bob Bruninga, WB4APR

EchoTime TTS Plus Copyright © 1999-2006 Jim Kehler, KH2D

Here's a photo of my shack which is about 35 miles from the NU3T repeater site.  I'm using a 40watt Motorola Radius GM300® with an Elk Antenna 8 element UHF beam.  The link radio is connected to a Gateway P4 with an AMI-2/WB2REM interface.  I use COS signaling because the NU3T repeater only passes PL as it receives it from users and the link radio in turn squelches anything without the PL so remote EchoLink^® users will never hear any squelch tails or IDs coming from our repeater.  This is the ideal every link sysop should strive for.

For APRS fun at home I use an older Dell P3 running UI-View32.  Most of the time I run it as an I-Gate and a UI-InfoKiosk server.  I'm using the AGW Packet Engine® soundcard software with a RASCAL® GLX interface instead of a standalone TNC.  It's hooked up to a  Kenwood TR-7400A (on the right.)  Both PCs are connected to my home network which in turn is connected to a cable modem service. 

My main radio is still my HT, the Kenwood TH-D7 (pictured here in front of the link radio) and it's usually tethered to my portable APRS rig bag.  My APRS rig bag keeps the power and data cabling, a Lowrance GlobalMap100 GPS, and the HT altogether for mobile and portable APRS fun.