Hi guys. Although there’s not much to report, the IRLP/Echolink server is being upgraded and fully tested before coming on-air. There’s no way that a time frame can be stated for this, but very hopefully sooner than later. Apologies to all, and there’s a number, who do use this feature of GB3OA Southport.
When it does re-appear there’s a matter of using it. As normal with your licence, give your callsign (slowly) once connected to another node or a reflector. And remember that we have a tie with the Kathmandu repeater and node, 9N1SP (5511), in Nepal near Mt.Everest.
Operators may or may not remember that Kathmandu was devastated by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in April 2015. As an answer to the earthquake disaster, to help with comms in any further disasters, a 2m repeater and node has been mounted on a building of the Pulchowk Engineering Campus at Tribhuvan University. Electronics and Radio students took the Radio Amateurs Exam and were given ICOM HTs for both normal and emergency use. When linking to have a chat with them in Kathmandu remember that they are five hours ahead of us….
So, very hopefully the IRLP/Echolink nodes will be back on-air imminently. RF-to-RF QSOs are not affected.