The Utah Amateur Radio Club   IRLP Node #3352   On the Lake Mountain 146.76 repeater   -600 KHz offset, carrier squelch

Welcome to UARC's IRLP Node.  This node is part of the Internet Radio Linking Project, a network of many radio systems across the globe connected via the internet.  With this network this repeater may be connected to one or more other linked radio systems providing access to these other places via 2 meters.

Please be aware that while the 146.76 repeater itself is available for all amateurs to use, its autopatches and the IRLP node are reserved for UARC members only and out-of-town guests.  Why is this done?  It seems only fair that those using the system help support it.  Also, restricting access to members only can help prevent abuse of the system.
 

About Control codes:

The UARC board and membership has decided that IRLP and autopatch access is to be limited to members and this is done with the use of control codes.  The control codes are distributed to current UARC members only.

A few things to remember about these codes:

• Please, do not give out the control codes over the air!
• Please, do not give the control codes to non-members.
• Out-of-town guests are welcome to use the node, but a UARC member should be the one bringing up and taking down the node for their QSO.
• Control codes will be changed occasionally, but there will be an overlap period between the "old" and "new" codes.

Talking on the node:

Speak up - they can't hear you!

After just a few days of monitoring, it became clear that some people seem to be afraid of their microphones!  This causes their transmitted audio to sound very quiet, making it extremely difficult for the station(s) on the other end to even hear you.

Remember:  Microphones for mobile radios and HTs are designed to be held only an inch or two from the mouth.  Why?  If they were more sensitive, they'd pick up too much vehicle or room noise and be unusable!

Pauses are important:

Using and IRLP node is much like using a linked repeater system - and there are three things to remember:

• PAUSE
• PAUSE
• PAUSE

• After keying up, wait at least one second before saying your first word.  If you begin speaking immediately, your first second or so may be cut off.  This can be especially annoying if the first thing you say is your callsign!
• Before replying to someone, wait at least two seconds!  Remember:  There may be other stations that wish to get in, or the other station may have dropped out briefly.

Any transmission that comes from the internet will end with a "di-dit" (the letter "I" in morse code) to let the user know this.  Note that ONLY those listening to the 146.76 repeater will be able to hear this:  No-one on the internet can hear it or the repeater's morse ID.
 

Using the node:

"Nodes" versus "Reflectors" - what's the difference?

• A Node is another radio system to which you can connect.  Connecting to another node is much like making a two-party telephone call in that the only ones connected are you and the distant node:  Anyone on another node that tries to connect to you or the to the node to which you are connected will get a polite message saying that the node is busy as a "Node-to-Node" connection involves those two nodes only.
• A Reflector is not connected directly to a radio system but is more of a "party line."  Multiple nodes can connect to a reflector and all nodes connected will hear everything that is going on with the other connected nodes.  Please note that while many can listen, only one can talk at one time.

Sending commands:

It is required that all commands be preceded with an ID of the station and announce their intention.  The following is recommended:

• "This is <your callsign> for IRLP Control" followed by the DTMF sequence, including the control code.  The exact words should reflect what it is that you are doing - such as connecting to or disconnecting from a node, etc.

The control operator may wait until he hears a legitimate ID before he presses the 'Authorize' button and lets the sequence go through.  If the command did not go through, wait a few seconds and try your ID and the sequence again.

If this still doesn't work, it may be because of one or more of the following:

• You didn't speak loudly enough and your ID wasn't heard.  A lot of amateurs (especially newer ones) seem to be afraid to speak into the microphone and because of this, their audio sounds very low on the other end.  This is not a good thing!  Having very quiet audio makes it difficult for others to even hear you - including the control operator!
• You entered the wrong control code.  It is possible that you have mis-remembered the control code, or it is simply the wrong one, having been changed.  If your UARC membership is current, you can obtain the current code from the secretary.
• Your signal may be poor.  If your signal into the repeater is noisy and/or dropping out, you may not be able to issue the command sequence.  Remember that if your signal is too poor to send the control sequence, it's probably too poor to carry on a conversation, anyway.

Putting the repeater in IRLP Mode - the "* 4" command:

Before any IRLP contacts can be made - or before anyone on the "outside" can successfully connect to the the repeater, it must be put into IRLP mode using the proper procedure:

• Before putting the repeater into IRLP mode, please make sure that you are not interrupting an ongoing conversions.
• Use the following procedure:
• "This is <Your Callsign> for IRLP Control" followed by the control code followed by " * 4 " (That is, "Star-Four")

Example:
If your callsign is "W7XYZ" and the control code were "123" you would do:
"This is W7XYZ for IRLP control" followed by the digits " 123  *4 "
• If you are successful, you should hear "IRLP Node Enabled" followed, in morse code, by "IRLP".
• Once in IRLP mode, one of two things may happen:
• You may connect to another node or reflector.
• Another node may connect to this node.
• While the system is in IRLP mode, you will hear "IRLP" sent occasionally in morse if there is no IRLP activity from the internet.

Connecting to a Node or Reflector:

The sequence for connecting to a node or reflector is as follows:

• You must say "This is <Your Callsign> connecting to node ####" followed by the control code followed by the Node Number.

Example:
If your callsign is "W7XYZ" and the control code were "123" and you wanted to connect to node "5678" you would do:
"This is W7XYZ connecting to node 5678" followed by the digits " 123  5678 "
• If you are successful in sending the command, you'll hear a voice status return.  This status could tell you that:
• You have successfully connected to the node.  Sometimes you'll also hear a short informational message about the node.
OR
• The node is currently busy.
• If you hear nothing at all, either the repeater is not in IRLP node or your command did not go through.

Disconnecting from a Node or Reflector - but staying in IRLP mode - the "73" command:

The sequence for connecting to a node or reflector but staying in IRLP mode is as follows:

• You must say "This is <Your Callsign> disconnecting from the node" followed by the control code followed by the " 73 ".

Example:
If your callsign is "W7XYZ" and the control code were "123" you would do:
"This is W7XYZ disconnecting from the node" followed by the digits " 123  73 "
• If you are successful in sending the command, you'll hear a voice status return telling you that you have disconnected.
• If you hear nothing at all, either the repeater is not in IRLP node or your command did not go through.

Disconnecting from a Node or Reflector and taking the system out of in IRLP mode - the "#" command:

The sequence for connecting to a node or reflector but staying in IRLP mode is as follows:

• You must say "This is <Your Callsign> exiting IRLP mode" followed by the control code followed by the " # " (That is, the "#" or "Pound" key.)

Example:
If your callsign is "W7XYZ" and the control code were "123" you would do:
"This is W7XYZ exiting IRLP mode" followed by the digits " 123  # "
• If you are successful in sending the command, you'll hear, after a few seconds, "IRLP Node Disabled" followed by "IRLP OFF" in morse code.
• If you hear nothing at all it is likely your command did not go through.

More to be added, maybe...
 

For more info about the W7SP 146.760 repeater, go to the '76 repeater page.

If you have any questions to ask about this IRLP node, please click here.

Go to the Utah Amateur Radio Club (UARC) repeater page.
or
Go to the Utah Amateur Radio Club (UARC) home page.
 

  This page updated 20091015