FREQ:430.0125 FM

User Guide

  

Unless you've used voice internet gateways before, it might all seem a little unclear, but in reality it's very simple. If you are intending to use the facilities here, all I ask is that you read these instructions first. Most of it is common sense, but it doesn't do any harm to cover some old ground.

The first and most important difference is that the node at M1ESA is a SIMPLEX voice internet gateways. That is, unlike a repeater, it can either transmit or receive at any one time, not both. If you listen to a repeater, it repeats what it hears on its input frequency onto its output frequency. In other words, listening on the repeater's output let you hear everything that's going on. On a simplex gateway, the only way you're going to hear the local station using the gateway, is if you can hear that station directly.

Imagine for example you're in Preston, with an outside aerial, and you can normally hear the gateway at S9 plus when its transmitting. You arrive in the shack and switch on, you hear nothing. All clear you think, and you dive in and try and connect the gateway someplace for a QSO. Think however, of the poor guy in Southport town centre, who at that very moment, is running milliwatts from his hand portable, using the gateway on a regular contact to his mate in the USA. He's getting into the gateway just fine because he's close to it, but you can't hear him. Result? You walk right over him and wreck the contact.

 

Golden Rule

 

LISTEN, LISTEN and LISTEN Again (for at least 2 or 3 minutes) on the frequency to check that the gateway really is free. If you're really wanting to find out quickly, you can key a " *1 ", this will then announce whether the node is free or busy. It's always better to listen first though.

Ok, so you're sure it's free and you want to use it. Now what ?

For a start, don't worry about any 1750Hz toneburst, its not required on IRLP 5292 or any CTCSS at the moment

 

Ok, you've listened and established that IRLP 5292 is clear now what? Well, you need to know where you want to call! IRLP has two modes of operation. Either way, you're going to need an up to date list of nodes. A current node list can\be found at the IRLP web site and it is sorted by Country, Call sign.

The two modes are direct, (Gateway A connects to Gateway B), or by use of a reflector. Let's take the first case because it's easier to explain.

 

Point to point (direct). In this mode one IRLP gateway is linked to another. It is important to remember that while the gateway at 5292 is connected to another gateway node, no other connections (either inbound or outbound) are possible until the existing connection is closed. You establish a "link" between the gateway and another gateway of your choice. Whilst linked, anything that you transmit is re-broadcast on the remote end and vice versa. This enables the contact to take place. So, an example. Lets say you've got the list and have spotted you may like to see who's around in Dallas USA. You note that the gateway's callsign is N4MSE and its associated node number is 4180. And so to the third rule.

You'll need a rig capable of sending DTMF tones or a DTMF keypad.

 

That's because the entire system is driven by DTMF tones. Without DTMF you're lost. So, to call, you've waited and established the node is not in use,  press the PTT, announce your callsign, and ask if Node 5292 is clear  "dial" 4180, then drop carrier, and listen. That's all there is to it. If you're in luck, you'll get a message back along the lines of "<callsign> <location> link on" Once you've heard this, the path is established and you're away. So, to turn a link on, simply dial the node number. If your rig doesn't have DTMF, all is not lost. Some users have been known to use their mobile phones as the DTMF source!

Once a link is established, listen a while before transmitting.

 

Streaming audio over the Internet can introduce some delays, which can be path dependent. Always wait a little while to be absolutely sure you're not going to talk over someone at the other end.

It's best practise when making a call to identify your callsign, location and where you are calling from. For example, "This is M1ESA, Hull,East Yorkshire,UK listening on N4MSE via IRLP" This is good since in many countries IRLP nodes are interlinked with normal repeaters. Without specific information, some remote users may get terribly confused about what's going on!

Incidentally, its not considered good manners to open up a link, then close it again without announcing yourself. Please identify yourself at all times.

Hopefully you'll get a reply and the QSO is underway. But remember about pausing a little before going back. It's also important to wait a second or two after pressing the PTT before talking. This allows the link to stabilise, if you don't do it, the other end is likely to miss your first second or two of audio. So the golden rule(s) when in QSO

When in QSO, and the transmission is passed back to you, leave a pause of a few seconds before transmitting yourself, then don't speak for about a couple of seconds after that.

This allows other stations to join in the QSO.

Now a word about timeouts. Firstly, yes there are some. As far as I can make out you've got about four minutes maximum for each transmission you make. If you exceed this, the link will be closed. If you get used to keeping overs fairly short, you won't have a problem.

Your QSO is at and end. What now? Well, as already mentioned don't just end by switching off. Unless there's anyone else wishing to use that link (and you'd have heard that by leaving pauses between transmissions...) agree between yourselves who's going to "Close down the link" If it's you, key 73, you'll be notified that the link is Closed

Your contact is complete.

 

Reflectors

 

Previously I mentioned that there are two modes of operation, direct, and via a reflector. So, a word about reflectors.

A reflector is a sort of gateway, but one that doesnt have any radio equipment connected to it. What it does have lots of though, is Internet bandwidth. Thats because its there to join lots of gateways together into one super node.  When youre connected to a reflector, whatever you say is faithfully rebroadcast to every other gateway connected to that reflector. Think about that, you could be being heard in several continents simultaneously. Remember therefore at all times when connected to a reflector, your audience may be a lot larger than just the 1 Station on the remote IRLP Gateway Node your taking to.

All that has been described previously applies equally, if not more so when connected to a reflector. You'll find the reflector codes on the nodes list. For example the Sydney reflector is 9500. The concept is very simple, if you connect IRLP 5292 gateway to a reflector (Sydney for example by keying 9500), you'll hear anything that's going on at any other node also connected to that reflector. Which nodes are connected to that reflector can also be found from my reflector status page.  What is important is to pause a little while longer at all the times mentioned above. This is to allow people to switch off links and or call in. In essence, on a reflector, when you put a call out, you're doing it on every node that happens to be connected to that reflector. You could end up in a QSO with two Stations, one in the States, the other in Australia, consequently breakfast, dinner and supper can all occur simultaneously on IRLP Reflector.

 

If you wish to hold an extended conversation with someone whilst using a reflector, consider exchanging node numbers and setting up a direct link. It free up the reflector for other users. Guess its sort of like moving off the calling channel onto simplex. Having said that, if you intend only a short QSO, there no problem with doing that on the reflector.

 

5292 Station ID's

 

Gateways 5292 will broadcast a short voice Timer every 30 mins when the node is not in use.

It's there to be used, so enjoy it, but please follow the guidelines noted above. If anyone's still uncertain about anything, drop me a line at argentjohn@yahoo.co.uk   or you can call me on the 5292 Freq: and I'll see what I can do to help.

 

Many Thanks

John M1ESA IRLP 5292 Keeper

 

Make a Free Website with Yola.