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<H1>Echolink for JOTA</H1></DIV>
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<P><B>The Echolink system can pass radio signals over the internet. Your signals
can go from the air waves onto the internet and vice-versa.</B> <B>And reach
e.g. that very distant Scout group. Exciting? Read on...</B> </P></DIV>
<DIV class=attribute-long>Echolink allows PC users and amateur radio stations to
directly communicate with each other. In fact, you do not need amateur radio
equipment to make a contact with radio
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<P><IMG title=""
style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px"
height=130 alt=""
src="http://www.scout.org/var/corporate_site/storage/images/media/images/echolinkicon/10433-1-eng-GB/echolinkicon_small.gif"
width=130> </P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV>stations anywhere in the world. You need
a PC with a soundcard, speakers and a microphone. Your PC transmits your voice
signals over the internet, to an Amateur Radio station which is connected
directly to the internet.<BR>
<P>Echolink connects for example two-way repeater radio stations and / or
computers to each other. That means that you can make contact with your portable
radio set to a local repeater station. Your signal is then transferred from this
repeater, via the internet, to another repeater or to a computer on the network.
The other repeater re-transmits your signal in its local area. In this way you
can speak to an amateur radio station in that area. Or to a radio amateur
connected with his personal computer directly to the echolink network.<BR>E.g.:
a Scout camping in Nijkerk, Netherlands makes radio contact with the local
repeater station in Amersfoort. Using the internet, his signal is transferred to
the main repeater in Sydney, Australia. Via this system, he has a pleasant
conversation with another Scout in Paramatta, close to Sydney, who uses a
portable radio station at his local camp site. Another Scout, located in Roanoke
Virginia, USA, uses the computer room of the local high school. He too connects
himself to the Echolink network and can speak to the Scouts in Nijkerk and
Sydney at the same time. </P>
<P><B>Advantages for use during the JOTA.</B><BR>Suppose you are at a location
that does not allow you to put up antennas. Or you have easy access to the
computer class room in a school building. Now you have the chance to take part
in JOTA from the school's PC's, simply by connecting to Echolink. </P>
<P><B>Protection against internet abuse.</B><BR>Because of licence regulations
and the possibility to actually transmit via a connected radio station, you do
need the assistance of a licensed radio amateur. That the same regulations apply
as for the regular, on the air, radio contacts. The transmissions are identified
with the radio call sign, so they are not anonymous, and can be traced to the
responsable operator. The license of the operator is checked before access to
the system is granted. In this way, Echolink protects youngsters from unwanted
elements present on the public internet and ensures child safety. </P>
<P><B>Registration.</B><BR>Your radio amateur has to register with Echolink so
his license can be checked. This takes a few days, so don't wait till the last
moment to prepare your Echolink station. <I><B>Register with Echolink before 1
October if you intend to use it for JOTA.</B></I><BR>Special-event call signs
can be used on Echolink, but not to register; instead you must use the call sign
of the 1st operator. The software, however, allows you to set a station
descriptor; JOTA stations are asked to put in their station descriptor "JOTA:
your call sign", so they can easily be recognized on the system. A detailed
instruction for JOTA stations is available <A
href="http://www.scout.org/en/media/files/global/events_file/jota_files/echolink_setup"
target=_blank>here </A>. </P>
<P>If your JOTA station does not have an internet connection available on site,
you can still use the Echolink system. Ask your radio amateur to determine which
VHF or UHF link station is nearby and within reach of your JOTA station. Next,
obtain the co-operation of the operator of your local link station. Set up
instructions can be found <A
href="http://www.scout.org/en/media/files/global/events_file/jota_files/echolink_rf_setup"
target=_blank>here</A>. </P>
<P><B>More info. </B><BR>For details and technical assistance to your radio
amateur on how to use Echolink, please see <A href="http://www.echolink.org/"
target=_blank>the specialised web site</A>. </P></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>