Interstate Repeater Society – Amateur Radio Club – Derry, NH

Echolink Registration & Installation Instructions

Installation

Go to your Download directory and double click on EchoLinkSetup-2-3-121.exe. The program will lead you through the setup process.

Internet Access Verification

The first hoop, and the most difficult one you will encounter is where the program determines if you have necessary Internet access for the program to work. Echolink uses a protocol called VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol. It requires access to three port addresses on your home router. My experience has been that this test will only partially succeed. If the test fails click on the Help button. This will guide you through a setup process that is part of the program and includes a link to obtain further assistance. If you still do not succeed, contact me at w1uv@arrl.net and we’ll see what we can do.

If all attempts fail, you can still get access through a number of Proxy stations. Echolink discourages Proxy use but it is there as a failsafe. Also be aware, a selected Proxy may not be available every time you run the program so expect the need to select a new one. Look for one closest to your callsign area.

If internet access verification continues to fail, you can still gain access through a number of Proxy stations. Although Echolink discourages Proxy use, it is there as a failsafe. Please be advised, a selected Proxy may not be available every time you run the program so be prepared to select a different one. Look for Proxies closest to your designated callsign area.

Echolink Verification

The second hoop is that you must get registered with the Echolink organization. This is done by sending them an original copy of your FCC license. Go to https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/licManager/login.jsp. If you have not logged into the FCC database before instructions can be found here. Once you have access click on “Download Electronic Authorization”, enter your callsign in the top search field and then scroll down.

Echolink requires this copy of your license. We’ve found a signed copy will not work. Once you have the license copy follow the Echolink instructions for submitting it. Expect authorization within 24 hours. If you don’t get authorization within that time, you likely did something wrong. If so, go through the process again.

Recommended Settings

The installation process will do most of the work, but let’s review. Start up Echolink and click “Tools” and then ”Setup”.  You’ll see a display like this with your information:

You can ignore the “Servers” tab. Click on the “Proxy” tab.

If you were successful in getting your Internet to work make sure the “Direct Connect (No Proxy”) is selected. If not, select “Choose Public Proxy” and scroll through the list and select one near you. The “Automatic Proxy Selection” is also an option.

Note: The proxy you selected may not be available every time you start the Echolink program. You will get a notification if this is the case. Return to this setup page and select a different proxy or click on the Re-Select button if you’re using the Automatic Proxy Selection.

Next, click the “Timing” tab. Change the settings to those shown below and click OK:

Next, click the “Audio” tab. Select your audio input and output devices and Mic type. Check all three boxes and then click on the “Calibrate” button in “Sound Card Tuning”. If you PC audio is working correctly this operation should run fine.

The next step is click on ‘Station” and then “Connect to Test Server” Use the Test Server to adjust your audio levels found in Windows Control Panel, Sound.

Note: It is very important you get your microphone level set correctly. This setting will determine how well the other users will hear you. In the “Recording” – “Levels” window, adjust the level so that your voice peaks near the top end of the yellow range.

Note: The settings below are for my PC and are just an example. Your display will be different and dependent on your PC configuration.

You can ignore the “Performance” tab. This completes all the necessary setup. There are additional settings under “Tools”, “Preferences” you should check out.

Operation

Access to the IRS Echolink is open to all Amateurs. You can access the 85 repeater in one of two ways:

1. Click on “Station”, “Connect to” and enter “K1CA-R”. If successful you can now monitor 85. To transmit, tap your “Space Bar” and make your call. When done, tap the “Space Bar” again. That’s it, you’re in.

Using the example below navigate to the “Area 1” window and double click on K1CA-R.

IMPORTANT: While Echolink access to the 85 repeater is open to all Amateurs, anyone who abuses this privilege can have their connection request automatically rejected by any IRS Officer, Technical Committee member, or the repeater trustee if deemed to be in the best interests of the IRS Repeaters.

Note

Echolink and the Internet introduces a 1.5 second delay in your actions and audio. If you are conversing with a local user and finding your transmissions stepped on, ask the users to delay the start of their transmissions a little longer. Good Luck.

Connection Problems Troubleshooting

There have been a number of reports with Echolink users having difficulty connecting to the 85 Repeater using Echolink. Let me start by saying that the Internet connection process for Echolink requires a great number of things working correctly, both on the user side, and with Internet itself. Dave, WB1FLD, and myself have spent a great deal of time and effort making sure, to the best of our ability, that the router settings, which provides the Internet access, and the PC settings, which runs the Echolink application at the repeater, are set correctly.

With that said, here are a number of suggestions for things to try if you have difficulty connecting:

1. In the “Tools” drop down menu select the “Inbound Router Test”. Enter your callsign in the box. If this is the first time you’ve run this test it will ask you for the password you entered when you registered with Echolink.
   Note: If you have forgotten your password go to the https://www.echolink.org/validation/ page and click on “Change Password”.
   After entering your callsign click on the “Run Ping Test” button. One of three things will happen:
   1. The test runs correctly and you will see a Ping notification in the Echolink application. Disconnect and try accessing the repeater again.
   1. The first test fails. If so, it will try again. If it passes you may, or may not, get a Ping notification in the Echolink application. Disconnect and try connecting to the repeater again.
   1. Both tests fail. This could indicate a problem on your end, or somewhere in the Internet. Go to Step 2.
2. Run the Outbound Router Test. If this fails all three tests, try rebooting your router by powering it down for 10 seconds and powering it back up. Once you’ve regained Internet access, try connecting to the repeater again.
3. Close and restart the Echolink application.
4. Reboot your PC.

I have found that Step 1 usually solves the problem when I’ve experienced it. This usually happens if I try and connect right after I bring my laptop out of Sleep mode. I’ve also observed that if I wait a while after rebooting or coming out of Sleep, I will usually connect right away. All I can say is that getting a connection can sometimes be fickle. Wait a bit and try again.

Windows Antivirus Firewall Issues

Most Windows Antivirus programs include an Internet protection feature called a Firewall. This is used to protect your PC from nefarious access to your system. Windows comes standard with Antivirus/Firewall software called Windows Defender. I’ve had difficulty using this software with Echolink. So much so that I replaced the Antivirus/Firewall on the Echolink Server PC at the site with Norton 360. However, there are settings you can change in Windows Defender to improve your chances of successfully connecting to the repeater. It’s a little involved so bear with me:

1. Click on the Windows Icon in the lower left of your screen and then move the cursor up to Settings (looks like a small gear). Click on Settings.
2. In the Settings Menu click on the “Update and Security” icon
3. Click on “Windows Security” on the left side.
4. Click on Firewall & network protection

1. Click on “Advanced Settings” and answer Yes when prompted.
2. In the Advanced Security window scroll down to the “View and create firewall rules.
3. Click on “Inbound Rules”
4. In the right panel click on “New Rule”.
5. Click on “Port” and click Next.
6. Click on “UDP” and below that click on “Specific local port”
7. In the box enter “5198,5199” and click Next
8. Click on “Allow the connection” if not already checked. Click Next.
9. In this window click all three boxes if not already checked. Click Next.
10. Enter a rule name. I used Echolink. Click Finish.
11. Click on “Outbound Rules”
12. Repeat steps 8 thru 13. For a name I used Echolink1. Click Finish.
13. Close all the open windows and restart the PC.
14. Start the Echolink program and click on the Tools dropdown button. Run both the Outbound and Inbound tests at the bottom. If everything worked as planned you should be able to connect to K1CA-R.

Other Antivirus programs will do this process differently. The goal is to get into the Firewall settings and enable UDP access to Ports 5198 and 5199. Good Luck.