Echolink

System for connecting to repeaters and RX/TX over the internet.

Required materials

To use echolink, you may need the following info:

• Ham radio license FRN number (like a serial number that goes with your ham license)
• Electronic copy of ham license

To get your FRN, use the FCC's website, specifically, the CORES portal, to search for your callsign and get the associated FRN: https://apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do

Once you have gotten your FRN, you can use the FCC's website, this time the ULS portal, to create an account and log in to change details or download an electronic copy of your license: http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home

Platforms

You can use various platforms to use Echolink.

Android

Start by downloading the Echolink app.

When you open the app, it will ask for your callsign, and for an email/password to register with your callsign.

You will receive an email with a link that gives you several options for verifying your callsign:

• Download electronic copy of license from FCC ULS system and upload it to Echolink website
• Verify address information is same as credit card (costs $1)

The former option takes 24 hours, the latter option is instantaneous. Pick whichever one you want. Note that you'll need to set up a username and password with the FCC's ULS system, and that will require you to have your Ham Radio license FRN number.

Mac OS X

Downloaded/installed program called EchoHam, free, available through the App store.

No clue how to use it. It doesn't seem to actually be doing anything. I can "connect" to some server somewhere, but I don't know which one, or what it is, and I see no stations or nodes listed. The interface doesn't explain much and is unusable as is.