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Amateur Radio, Your PC and the Internet

Presented by Wilbur Evans, KR4AD

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KR4AD and Amateur Radio

• Licenced since 1992 as KD4OFP• Active in the following areas:

– Internet Radio Linking (EchoLink)– PSK31, HF Packet, Radio Teletype, MT63– Slow Scan TV, CW– Mobile and Portable Operation

• Member of OMIK - Amateur Radio Association

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• Australian Amateur FAQ– http://members.ozemail.com.au/~andrewd/hamradio/hamfaq.html

• Remote Bases and Web Radios– W7DXX Remote Base http://www.lamonica.com (RA)– Lots of online receivers http://www.qsl.net/oe3mzc/receivers.html

• IRLP - Internet Radio Linking Project– Reflector 2 Live Audio http://www.live365.com/stations/253404

• There are many more online receivers on the Internet!

Monitoring Amateurs from your PC

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The Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP)

• Uses the Internet to link distant radio sites together.

• Gives global coverage to normally localised VHF and UHF frequencies.

• Enables minimally equipped stations to communicate globally.

• Allows end user control of links via their radio.

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How Internet Linking WorksMobile

Station

Repeater

IRLP Node

IRLP NodeRadio Link

Internet Distant

Repeater

The Internet is used as a link

to connect distant repeaters together

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Typical IRLP Node

• Standard PC compatible is usually used.• Pentium P100 or faster.• Linux operating system.• Soundcard and appropriate drivers.• Simple hardware interface to control link radio.• Radio tuned to the appropriate link frequency.• ISDN/xDSL/cable/broadband Internet connection.

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IRLP Reflectors

• Enable multiple nodes to be linked together into a network – number limited only by bandwidth.

• Running a reflector requires very fast Internet access (32 kbps per connected node) to handle the multiple data streams. Most reflectors are hosted at Internet Service Providers who often donate the bandwidth.

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Impact of IRLP on Amateur Radio and the Public

• Level of amateur activity has increased dramatically.

• Amateurs who have been inactive for a long time are coming back on the air.

• Amateur Radio is becoming more appealing to today’s Internet oriented youth.

• New opportunities for experimentation.– Global network to communicate with ISS

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The Future

• Internet linking is already becoming commonplace – over 250 IRLP nodes on air.

• Improvements in technology will improve performance of links.

• IPV6 and multicast offer more flexible linking with less bandwidth.

• Technology can be ported to high speed amateur microwave and satellite links.

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More Information• IRLP – http://www.irlp.net• Amateur Radio FAQ

– http://members.ozemail.com.au/~andrewd/hamradio/hamfaq.html

• Online Receivers– http://www.qsl.net/oe3mzc/receivers.html

• Software - http://www.muenster.de/~welp/sb.htm

• Moorabbin and District Radio Club– http://www.mdrc.org.au

• WIA Victoria - http://www.wiavic.org.au/

• Wireless Institute of Australia– http://www.wia.org.au

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Demonstration of IRLP

• What you are listening to is streaming audio which originates from IRLP Reflector 2, which is the busiest IRLP reflector in the world.

• The URL to listen is http://www.live365.com/stations/253404

• Or alternatively, select the “Listen Live!” Link from http://www.irlp.net.

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Thank You

Wilbur Evans, KR4AD