[HCRA] IRLP node is functional!

[John J. Pise, Jr.]

The HCRA sponsored IRLP node is now functional, and waiting for your
use!  Everyone
is invited to try it out!  Here's how:

Listen on 2m:   146.46 Mhz   (PL Tone is 114.8)
    This is a SIMPLEX link, so local users will not be repeated, like a
duplex repeater.
    If you are not within range of a local user, you will only hear the
"link" side of the
        conversation.  Please use common courtesy, and wait your turn if
you find that
        this is the case.
    You should listen for a while to see if anyone else is using the
link, before trying
       to activate it.

There are two types of remote stations:  nodes and reflectors.
    If you access a "node" on the system, you will be the only remote
node allowed to do
        so.  Others trying to access ours, or the remote node, will get
a busy indication.
    If you access a "reflector" on the system, you will enter into a
server where many "nodes"
        may be logged in.  Again, please use common courtesy when
activating a reflector,
        and use "repeater etiquette" when trying to communicate.

To activate the link, you need to use the DTMF keys on your radio, and
know the node
number that you are trying to reach.
    You must press in the PTT key on your mike, and press the DTMF
buttons while
        keyed up.  Use a trailing "0" to open a node,  use a trailing
"1" to close the node
        when finished.
    A list of common nodes follows this note.  The full list can be
found on
            http://www.irlp.net

Say, for instance, you would like to activate the Denver reflector, node
#920

    Press the PTT on your microphone, and while holding the PTT, push
the
        following DTMF buttons:  9200  (node number 920  and the
trailing "0" for "on")

    In about 20 to 30 seconds, you should hear a linking announcement or
a QSO
        in progress.  You are now linked.

There is a short lag caused by the Internet data stream.  Try to get
into a habit of
    waiting two seconds after the previous user has spoken, key up, and
wait another
    1 to 2 seconds before beginning to speak.
When identifying for the first time, please state your intention:
    "Kx1x, from South Hadley, MA, listening for any contacts",     or
    "This is Kx1x, call please"     (of course using your own callsign).

After a time of inactivity, the node will automatically close its
connection.

As a courtesy, when you have finished, please close the connection by
pressing
    the node number followed by a "1"   ("9201" for instance)


For more information:
    LOCAL NODE  (Kx1x, #727, South Hadley, MA)
            http://www.hcra.org
    GLOBAL NODE INFO:
            http://www.ipass.net/~jimprice/irlp/


If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me at:
kx1x@arrl.net

This DX node is brought to you by the Hampden County Radio Association
as a service
to its members as well as all licensed hams in this community.  It is
HCRAs intent to provide
yet another source of interest in our fine hobby.  Since you are using a
2m radio to
access this resource, it is open to anyone with a Technician class
license, or above.

'73 de Kx1x,
John J. Pise, Jr.

Below are SOME of the nodes available, taken at random for the entire
list
found on http://www.ipass.net/~jimprice/irlp/

100  VE7RHS  Vancouver    BC   Canada
120  VE6RPT  Calgary AB Canada
133  VE5CMR  Saskatoon      SK  Canada
308  WR6AVM  Honolulu      HI
512  GB3EE   Sheffield  SY   England
600 VK2RBM  Sydney NSWAustralia
690 ZL3TMB Christchurch  NZ  New Zealand
700 J73D  Roseau Dominica Dominica
712 9Z4CG  San Fernando Trinidad Trinidad and Tobago
730  HC2ENM Guayaquil   Ecuador
777  8P6HE  Bridgetown  Barbados
796 KL3K  Anchorage AK
800 SK6RAB Oxaback Sweden
888 KC4USV  McMurdo Station   Antarctica
920       Denver Reflector    CO