Updated 28 February, 2006
 

Welcome to UARC's IRLP Node.  This node is part of the Internet Radio Linking Project, a network of many radio systems across the globe connected via the internet.  With this network this repeater may be connected to one or more other linked radio systems providing access to these other places via 2 meters.

Please be aware that while the 146.76 repeater itself is available for all amateurs to use, its autopatches and the IRLP node are reserved for UARC members only and out-of-town guests.  Why is this done?  It seems only fair that those using the system help support it.  Also, restricting access to members only can help prevent abuse of the system.

Before going any farther, please read IRLP Operating Guidelines.

This is a common-sense guide that briefly explains hows, whys, and etiquette of IRLP operation.

For a printable, easy-to-use info sheet about UARC's node, click here.

Talking on the node:

"Speak up - they can't hear you!"

If you have listened to the radio for very long, it has probably occurred to you that a number of people seem to be afraid of their microphones and hold them quite some distance from their mouth!  This causes their transmitted audio to sound very quiet, making it extremely difficult for the station(s) on the other end to even hear you.

Remember:  Microphones for mobile radios and HTs are designed to be held only an inch or two from the mouth.  Why?  If they were more sensitive, they'd pick up too much vehicle or room noise and be unusable!

Pauses are important:

Using and IRLP node is much like using a linked repeater system - and there are three things to remember:

• PAUSE
• PAUSE
• PAUSE

• After keying up, wait at least one second before saying your first word.  If you begin speaking immediately, your first second or so may be cut off.  This can be especially annoying if the first thing you say is your callsign!
• Before replying to someone, wait at least two seconds!  Remember:  There may be other stations that wish to get in, or the other station may have dropped out briefly.

Like on any linked system, there may be a lot of people listening - and a lot of people who would like to talk as well.  Try to avoid long-winded transmissions and excessively long QSOs - especially on reflectors!

Don't carry on "local" QSOs when linked!

Be courteous to others when the system is linked (especially when it is linked to a reflector) and avoid "local" chatter:  It is of no interest to the ham in Australia that you have just picked up groceries and the kids and are headed home!

If you need to make such an exchange, please move to another repeater (or go to a simplex frequency) or disconnect the node!

Soliciting contacts:  Saying "Monitoring" doesn't mean that you want to talk...

Often one hears someone get on the air to report that they are "monitoring."  This would seem to be pointless as one need not tell the world that he/she is "monitoring" - you don't even need a license to "monitor" let alone make a transmission!

If, what you really wish to do is make a contact, say so - and "CQ" is recommended.  It is perfectly appropriate to make a short CQ to announce that you are looking for someone to talk to!  It is true that some repeater operators don't like CQ's, but IRLP etiquette permits a short call like "This is W7XYZ calling CQ" to let others know that you are looking for a QSO.

Listening to the repeater - the "Double-Dit" courtesy beep:

Any transmission that comes from the internet will end with a "di-dit" (the letter "I" in morse code) to let the user know this.  Note that ONLY those listening to the 146.76 repeater will be able to hear this:  No-one on the internet can hear it or the repeater's morse ID.

Be responsible for your connections:
 
If you bring up a node, you are responsible for taking it down again when you are done - or at least handing it off to another responsible party.

Using the node:

"Nodes" versus "Reflectors" - what's the difference?

• A Node is another radio system to which you can connect.  Connecting to another node is much like making a two-party telephone call in that the only ones connected are you and the distant node:  Anyone on another node that tries to connect to you or the to the node to which you are connected will get a polite message saying that the node is busy as a "Node-to-Node" connection involves those two nodes only.
• A Reflector is not connected directly to a radio system but is more of a "party line."  Multiple nodes can connect to a reflector and all nodes connected will hear everything that is going on with the other connected nodes.  Please note that while many can listen, only one can talk at one time.

Sending commands:

It is required that all commands be preceded with an ID of the station and announce their intention.  The following is recommended:

• "This is <your callsign> for IRLP Control" followed by the DTMF sequence, including the control code.  The exact words should reflect what it is that you are doing - such as connecting to or disconnecting from a node, etc.

The control operator may wait until he hears a legitimate ID before he presses the 'Authorize' button and lets the sequence go through.  If the command did not go through, wait a few seconds and try your ID and the sequence again.

If this still doesn't work, it may be because of one or more of the following:

• You didn't speak loudly enough and your ID wasn't heard.  A lot of amateurs (especially newer ones) seem to be afraid to speak into the microphone and because of this, their audio sounds very low on the other end.  This is not a good thing!  Having very quiet audio makes it difficult for others to even hear you - including the control operator!
• You entered the wrong control code.  It is possible that you have mis-remembered the control code, or it is simply the wrong one, having been changed.  If your UARC membership is current, you can obtain the current code from the secretary.
• Your signal may be poor.  If your signal into the repeater is noisy and/or dropping out, you may not be able to issue the command sequence.  Remember that if your signal is too poor to send the control sequence, it's probably too poor to carry on a conversation, anyway.

Putting the repeater in IRLP Mode:

By default, the repeater is always in the "IRLP" mode - that is, it can, at any time, accept incoming connections or allow local user to "dial out" to other places in the IRLP network. Note that a few people (control operators, "official" UARC repeater monitors, etc.) have the code required to disable the node - but this should be the exception rather than the rule.

To check the current status of the IRLP node, look at the Node 3352 Status Page and look at the line that says "Current Node Status" - if it says "Idle" then the node is awaiting a connection.  If it says "Online" it is already connected to another node or reflector.  It is only if it says "Offline" that the node is not available for IRLP connections.

Connecting to a Node or Reflector:

The sequence for connecting to a node or reflector is as follows:

• You must say "This is <Your Callsign> connecting to node ####" followed by the control prefix followed by the Node Number.

Example:
If your callsign is "W7XYZ" and the control code were "123" and you wanted to connect to node "5678" you would do:
"This is W7XYZ connecting to node 5678" followed by the digits " 123  5678 "
• If you are successful in sending the command, you'll hear a voice status return.  This status could tell you that:
• You have successfully connected to the node.  Sometimes you'll also hear a short informational message about the node.
OR
• The node is currently busy.
• If you hear nothing at all, either the repeater is not in IRLP node or your command did not go through.

Disconnecting from a Node or Reflector -  the "73" command:

The sequence for connecting to a node or reflector but staying in IRLP mode is as follows:

• You must say "This is <Your Callsign> disconnecting from the node" followed by the control prefix followed by the " 73 ".

Example:
If your callsign is "W7XYZ" and the control code were "123" you would do:
"This is W7XYZ disconnecting from the node" followed by the digits " 123  73 "
• If you are successful in sending the command, you'll hear a voice status return telling you that you have disconnected.
• If you hear nothing at all, either the repeater is not in IRLP node or your command did not go through.

For a printable, easy-to-use info sheet about UARC's node, click here.

For more info about the W7SP 146.760 repeater, go to the '76 repeater page.

If you have any questions to ask about this IRLP node, please click here.

Go to the Utah Amateur Radio Club (UARC) repeater page.
or
Go to the Utah Amateur Radio Club (UARC) home page.