[HCARC] Monday net -- echolink

Fred Gilmore cw4evr at hctc.net
Wed Mar 22 20:14:16 EDT 2017 

I could not duplicate this problem this week.Over the past few years 
there have been several problems with Echolink and the ISP companies 
serving some areas of the US.Here in Kerrville we found that there was a 
problem when we updated the Echolink software to the latest version, 
which caused some problems to phone users running the earlier 
versions.Updating everyone to the latest version resolved this problem.

I don’t use a cell phone to access the system, so don’t have any 
experience in that area, however I would suggest this to resolve most 
problems.


If you are having a phone problem, try Echolink with a computer.If you 
can connect to the test server, and everything works ok with the 
computer, the problem is in the Phone setup.Echolink FAQ suggestions:


*I see the list of stations, but every time I try to connect to one, I 
get a "Cannot connect ... timed out" message after 30 seconds.  What's 
the problem?*


**

Most likely, there's an adjustment which needs to be made to your router 
or your computer's "firewall" configuration. *Please note that this is 
/not/ a problem with the EchoLink software itself*; it will probably 
require adjustment to other equipment or software you may have, so there 
isn't much additional help we can provide you. However, we have posted 
some tips on the Firewall Solutions 
<http://www.echolink.org/firewall_solutions.htm> page.


Did you get an error message?The FAQ section at Echolink shows this.

*
*

*EchoLink for iOS*


**

*What is EchoLink for iOS?*

EchoLink for iOS is an edition of the EchoLink software that runs on an 
iPhone <http://www.apple.com/iphone>, iPad <http://www.apple.com/ipad>, 
or iPod touch <http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch>. If you own one of these 
devices and are a validated EchoLink user, you can access the EchoLink 
system from nearly anywhere where WiFi networking is available. If you 
have an iPhone or cellular-capable iPad, you can also use it to access 
EchoLink over the cellular data network. EchoLink for iOS is available 
free of charge 
<http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=350688562&mt=8> 
from Apple's App Store.

*What Apple devices will it run on?*

EchoLink for iOS runs on any iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 8.0 
or above. If are running an older version of iOS, go to 
Settings->General->Software Update to see if a newer iOS version is 
available. (Some older devices are not upgradeable to iOS 8.) If you had 
already installed EchoLink on a device running an older iOS version, 
EchoLink will continue to work, but it cannot be upgraded to 2.0 or beyond.

*Does it have the same features as the EchoLink software for Windows?*

The iOS edition focuses on the basic features of EchoLink, such as 
managing the Station List, connecting and disconnecting, and 
transmitting and receiving voice and text. Unlike the Windows edition, 
you can be connected to only one node at a time, and there is no Sysop 
mode. The user interface has been re-designed to function smoothly on 
the smaller screen of the iPhone, and to take advantage of some of its 
built-in hardware features.

*The app is prompting me for a password when I start it up. How do I get 
a password?*

If you have used EchoLink before (for example, on Windows), enter the 
callsign and password you already have. Otherwise, choose and enter a 
password, and the app will walk you through the first part of the 
registration procedure.

*Does it work with a Bluetooth headset or hands-free device?*

Yes. Although the app uses the device's microphone and speaker by 
default, you can switch the audio source to a paired Bluetooth device, 
AirPlay, or the internal handset audio after startup, using the icon 
that appears just to the right of the audio-level meter on the QSO screen.

*I see there are some Network Connection options on the Settings tab. 
How do these work?*

EchoLink for iOS has some special networking features to make it work 
more smoothly with different kinds of mobile and wireless networks.

  * *Direct:*With this setting, the app communicates with the Internet
    the same way the Windows edition of the software does. Choose this
    option *only* if you are using your own WiFi network and your router
    has been configured to forward UDP ports 5198 and 5199 to your
    mobile device. Depending on your WiFi network configuration, you
    might be able to use this mode even without setting up port forwarding.
  * *Relay:*The Relay setting uses a special set of Relay servers to
    reach other nodes in the EchoLink system. This mode gives the best
    performance on a cellular network connection because it uses UDP.
    It's also convenient over WiFi because it requires no router
    configuration. However, please note the limitations of Relay in the
    FAQ item below.
  * *Public Proxy:*In this mode, the app automatically selects a Public
    Proxy from the current list of available EchoLink proxies. The
    system attempts to connect to the proxy that is geographically
    closest to your current location.
  * *Custom Proxy:*This mode lets you enter information to connect to a
    specific proxy, such as a private proxy you have set up yourself.
  * *Automatic:*When Automatic is selected, the EchoLink app will try to
    choose the most appropriate setting (Direct, Public Proxy, or Relay)
    by probing the characteristics of the network.

*Are there any special limitations of the Relay networking option?*

Yes. Although Relay is the default, and will generally give the best 
performance, the following limitations currently apply:

  * You can initiate a connection, but you cannot receive one; stations
    that try to connect to you will receive a "No route available" error
    message. This means that iOS or Android users that are using the
    Relay mode cannot connect to each other.
  * Because there are only a small number of relay severs, you often
    cannot connect to the same conference or conference server that
    another node using the Relay mode is already connected to. This
    means that two iOS or Android users that are using the Relay mode
    often cannot join the same conference at the same time.

*I'm having trouble connecting to other stations. Any advice?*

  * Check to be sure you have a good, solid network connection. If you
    are on cellular, look for 4 of 5 bars in the signal strength
    indicator; if you are on WiFi, look for a full-strength signal.
    Field tests have shown that the cellular data network is not always
    available even with a strong cellular signal in some situations.
  * If you are getting the message "No route is available to the station
    you selected", try connecting to a different station, try connecting
    later, or try Public Proxy instead of Relay. If you still get a
    similar message even via Proxy, the station you are trying to reach
    might be an iOS or Android user behind a Relay, who will not be
    reachable.
  * Do not try connecting to yourself. This won't work in most situations.
  * Do not use the Direct mode unless you have put in special
    port-forwarding rules in your router.
  * If you get a message like "Bye Bye", try again after a few seconds.

*Am I running up a bill with my carrier when using EchoLink on iPhone?*

If you're connecting over cellular instead of WiFi, you are using your 
carrier's cellular data network to communicate with the Internet. If you 
have a flat-rate, "unlimited" data plan with your carrier (such as AT&T 
in the United States), you are probably not being charged extra, since 
streaming audio is permitted within the data plan. If you have any 
doubts, check with your wireless provider to be sure.

*Any plans for creating other editions of EchoLink for other smartphones?*

Over the years, users have asked about the possibility of an EchoLink 
app for BlackBerry, Symbian, PalmOS, and Windows Mobile. Unfortunately, 
these platforms are all very different from each other, so developing 
software for each would involve four separate development efforts, in 
addition to iPhone. An edition of EchoLink for Android is available, but 
there are no projects underway right now to develop editions for other 
platforms.

Here are a couple other suggestions.


*Other Downloads*

*EchoLink Proxy Software*v 1.2.3 Download 
<http://www.echolink.org/downloads/EchoLinkProxy_1_2_3.zip>
Works together with EchoLink (version 1.9 or above) to allow access to 
the EchoLink network via restricted Internet services in hotels, 
airports, offices, and other areas.  Please see EchoLink Proxy 
<http://www.echolink.org/proxy.htm> for more info and installation 
instructions.

*I seem to be able to connect to the Test Server, and to other stations, 
but I don't hear any audio -- or, I can hear audio, but the other 
station can't hear mine.  Any ideas?*

If you're not hearing any audio, first check to see if a text message 
appears on the right-hand side of the screen when you establish the 
connection.  (Typically, this message says a few words about the station 
you have connected to.)  If not, you might have a "firewall" problem 
that needs to be resolved -- see the first FAQ above.

Next, double-check the settings under Tools->Setup, on the Audio tab.  
The two audio devices listed should match the name of the sound card 
you're using, or should be set to "[system default]".

*Sometimes, a station connects to mine, but then disconnects after a 
little while without saying anything. Why?*

A common reason for this is that the other station is having a 
"firewall" issue, such as mentioned above.  If that's the case, the 
other station will be able to connect to yours, but won't realize he's 
connected since he never receives an acknowledgement.  He would also not 
hear any transmissions you make after connecting.


On 3/20/2017 6:39 PM, kd5wdq . wrote:
> Team,
>
> Tried several times to get into the net with no joy.
>
> Also it took like 5x to get echolink to "stick" - it kicked me off about
> 4x,  5 seconds after login in.  (then it woked on receive, no xmit)
>
> --eddie AF5SA
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