The Internet/Radio Connections At K1PDY
 

[Current K1PDY-R Status: Online and available.]

[Last update: 05/29/2008]

There are now two ways to connect to the internet via radio at station K1PDY in Canterbury NH. One is via the Winlink application RMSpacket and the other is via Echolink. RMSpacket specifically allows the user to send and receive e-mail to/from another station or to/from a normal e-mail address. It is designed to operate using VHF packet. There are other applications that use Pactor on HF. Echolink, on the other hand, provides a voice-over-IP (VoIP) connection between a radio and the internet. This allows a radio station to connect, over the internet, to similarly equipped stations potientially anywhere in the world.
 

RMSpacket
 

The RMSpacket installation at K1PDY is presently operating on 147.57 Mhz with a Tentec 2M radio and amplifier at a transmit power of 20 watts and uses a simple vertical half wave dipole mounted inside the garage. It has been accessed as far away as Dublin NH (off the back of K4EH's beam!). To use this facility the simplest method is to connect via 1200 baud packet to K1PDY-10. When connected, you will receive a command prompt. Typing "help" will provide guidance as to what functions are available. It is very much like the PBBS operation of a KPC-3 TNC. The latter is disabled at K1PDY. RMSpacket turns it off since the TNC is running in KISS mode and would not allow access to it anyway.

It is also possible to do e-mail with an application called "airmail". This is much like Microsoft Outlook. It provides a windows based, user friendly, interface to RMSpacket and the Winlink system.

Refer to  http://winlink.org for more information on this subject and links to downloads for the free applications and documentation.


ECHOLINK

The computer running RMSpacket also is home to an installation of Echolink. The Echolink station at K1PDY uses an ICOM-207H radio operating at 10 watts with a 4 element yagi pointed at Pat's Peak and a WB2REM "Ultimate Linking Interface" to connect between radio and computer. The hours of operation and accessibility will be limited as described below.

The purpose of providing this capability is two fold. First to allow linking of multiple (Echolinked) repeaters for wider coverage in time of emergencies or special events. Secondly it provides a means of calling home for those who head south for the winter. By running Echolink remotely or by connecting to an Echolink equipped station at the remote location, it is possible to stay in touch with the folks back home in the K1BKE area. (e.g. N1VE connects to the 147.390 lakes region repeater from his Florida home in the winter months.) When operating remotely via a simplex Echolink node you simply punch in the K1PDY-R node number (321904), release PTT and wait for an announcement that you are connected. From Echolink running on a PC you can look up the entry for K1PDY-R and connect to it. One thing to always keep in mind: ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME FOR THE LINK TO TURN AROUND. If you start transmitting too soon after the other station releases the PTT, your transmission may be ignored. Wait about 10 seconds and/or until all the courtesy tones stop and the carrier drops.

There are three ways to use Echolink:

  1. via radio through a repeater

  2. via radio over a simplex link

  3. via computer useing Echolink and a mic/speaker

The insallation at K1PDY will normally operate in mode #1 on the K1BKE repeater frequency (as K1PDY-R). Echolink provides limited control capability via DTMF tones over the radio. Although K1BKE has been altered to allow DTMF tones to pass through, that will be disabled at K1PDY. This has been done because there are numerous considerations when connecting this echolink (and K1BKE) to other Echolink nodes which could be other repeaters. So the only way to access the K1PDY Echolink node is from the internet via another Echolink node. Since connections can potentially be accepted from anywhere in the world, you may from time to time hear stations on the repeater with non US calls/accents. (Presently access is being limited to Canadian and US nodes.) There seems to be a set of users out there that browse the echolink system and attempt to connect to other repeaters around the world. This limitation is in line with the goal of providing interconnections for emergencies and special events as well as for CVRC and other local hams to call home from remote locations.

For more information on Echolink go to http://www.echolink.com

ARRL also publishes a small book on the subject that covers Echolink as well as other applications that do the same sort of thing.
 

AVAILABLILITY


RMSpacket and Echolink are available as described below with the following provisions. The computer on which they run may be shutdown in times of severe weather (summer thunderstorms) or when the control operator will be away from the station for an extended periods. Hours for both modes is restricted to the period between approximately 3 PM until 11:30 PM each day.

RMSpacket presently is available  on 147.57. If needed it may be moved to another frequency temporarily.

Echolink is presently available on 146.895Mhz. Also if needed, it may be moved to another frequency or switched to simplex operation as needed.

Of course operation of either RMSpacket or Echolink implies a working internet connection (broad band preferred for Echolink). K1PDY is connected to comcast and for the most part this has been a reliable service. Power is the other consideration. The K1PDY household has a 4500 watt generator that can be pressed into service if needed to power things. There would be an interruption in service while the change over is made.

At present connects to and from the following countries are allowed: