EchoLink

Hi guys. We’ve had a couple of emails from regular users of GB3OA’s IRLP facility requesting the latest news on returning IRLP and Echolink onto the air.

Unfortunately, when the original server that ran IRLP and Echolink became faulty and was investigated, after solving faults it was found that others had appeared and now it has been decided to lay that particular server to rest.

For those that don’t know the technical part of IRLP in detail, if you’ve been running an IRLP node in the past it’s not a matter of just replacing one PC for another. The technical and documents submission process for running an IRLP node on a new local server has to be gone through partially again with the powers that be in Canada who ‘own’ the IRLP mode. They ensure that before the node comes on air it is working fully and assigned correctly within the IRLP servers in Canada. This ensures that someone who wants to run an IRLP node but knows nowt about it, can’t.

So the latest situation with GB3OA’s IRLP and Echolink node is that a new local server has to be purchased and configured etc. with the guys in Canada. As can be imagined, it’s impossible to say when the nodes will be back on-air, but be assured that all is being implemented so they’re back on as soon as possible.

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.

Owing to a fault with the IRLP and Echolink nodes server these are not available at present. The fault is being investigated subject to work commitments.

Apologies to those who use these portals – obviously the technical team wish to bring them back on-line a.s.a.p.

The fault does not affect the RF capabilities of GB3OA, so RF communication through the repeater is unchanged.

Both the IRLP and Echolink nodes have now returned to service after the fault on the hard drive of the server was rectified.

Again apologies to all those who use the nodes for the downtime of them.