El Jebel Computer Club eQSO Presentation - May 2006 · © 2006 MicroBlue Software, LLC 4 What is...

© 2006 MicroBlue Software, LLC 1

Ken BehrensKBØYLN

eQSO eQSO –– Ham Radio on the InternetHam Radio on the Internet


What is Ham Radio?What is Ham Radio?

A housewife in North Carolina makes friends over the radio with another ham in LithuaniaAn Ohio teenager uses his computer to upload a digital chess move to an orbiting space satellite, where it's retrieved by a fellow chess enthusiast in Japan


What is Ham Radio? (continued)What is Ham Radio? (continued)

An aircraft engineer in Florida participating in a "DX contest" swaps his call sign and talks to hams in 100 different countries during a single weekendIn California, volunteers save lives as part of their involvement in an emergency response

El Jebel Computer ClubeQSO Presentation - May 2006

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What is Ham Radio? (continued)What is Ham Radio? (continued)

Distinguishing characteristic of Amateur Radio– Unique mix of fun, public service and convenience

Common traits of Hams – Basic knowledge of radio technology – Operating principles– Pass an examination for a Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) license• Operate on radio frequencies known as the "Amateur Bands“• Reserved by the FCC for use by hams

– Intervals from just above the AM broadcast band all the way up into extremely high microwave frequencies


WhoWho’’s the typical Ham?s the typical Ham?

Amateur Radio operators come from all walks of life– Doctors– Missionaries– Movie stars– Politicians– Students– Truck drivers– Shriners (El Jebel RADOPS)– And… just plain folks


Why is a license required?Why is a license required?Although the main purpose of Amateur Radio is fun, it is called the "Amateur Radio Service" because it also has a serious faceThe FCC created this "Service" to fill the need for a pool of experts who could provide backup during emergenciesThe FCC acknowledged the ability of the hobby to advance the communication and technical skills of radio, and to enhance international goodwill. This philosophy has paid off. Countless lives have been saved where skilled hobbyists act as emergency communicators to render aid, whether it's during an earthquake in Italy or a hurricane in the U.S.


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Why are we called Why are we called ““HamsHams””??"Ham: a poor operator. A 'plug.'“

That's the definition of the word given in G. M. Dodge's "The Telegraph Instructor" even before there was radio. The definition has never changed in wire telegraphy. The first wireless operators were landline telegraphers who left their offices to go to sea or to man the coastal stations. They brought with them their language and much of the tradition of their older profession. In those early days, every station occupied the same wavelength-or, more accurately perhaps, every station occupied the whole spectrum with its broad spark signal. Government stations, ships, coastal stations and the increasingly numerous amateur operators all competed for time and signal supremacy in each other's receivers. Many of the amateur stations were very powerful. Two amateurs, working each other across town, could effectively jam all the other operations in the area. Frustrated commercial operators would refer to the amateur radio interference by calling them "hams." Amateurs, possibly unfamiliar with the real meaning of the term, picked it up and applied it to themselves in true "Yankee Doodle" fashion and wore it with pride. As the years advanced, the original meaning has completely disappeared.


How do we communicate?How do we communicate?VoiceMorse code (still widely used) Digital modes (computers directly connected to radios)– Packet – Radio teletype (often called Ritty) – PSK

Slow scan television to send pictures over the airVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)


eQSO eQSO –– Ham Radio on the InternetHam Radio on the Internet

eQSO is client / server software designed by Amateur Radio enthusiasts for linking Amateur Radio RF gateways and radios via the Internet. The software may be used by licensed Amateur Radio operators and unlicensed Short Wave Listeners (SWL) provided the rules are followed.

FOR MORE INFO...

www.eQSO.org


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eQSO eQSO –– Description (continued)Description (continued)

Application written by Paul Davies MØZPD in the UKUses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to connect Ham radios to the InternetFree software (donations accepted) with online registration required


eQSO eQSO –– Description (continued)Description (continued)

3 software components– PC client– RF Gateway– Conference server


eQSO eQSO –– PC ClientPC Client

Runs on your PCRequirements– Access to Internet

• High speed DSL or cable modem• Dial up• Wireless (can drop connections)

– Sound card – Headset or microphone & speakers


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eQSO eQSO –– PC Client (continued)PC Client (continued)

Supported PC Operating Systems (OS)– Win98/98SE– ME– 2000– XP

Unsupported OS– Win95 (will probably run)

No plans for a native Linux client version– Will run on a Linux platform using “Wine” (Windows

Emulator software).


eQSO eQSO –– PC Client (continued)PC Client (continued)

To comply with international radio regulations, eQSO restricts SWL (unlicensed users) operation to talking only to other PC users– Some servers severely limit SWL use – A few prohibit use by SWL’s


eQSO eQSO –– RF GatewayRF GatewayA Gateway (a computer connected to a radio transceiver) facilitates worldwide communications for radio transceivers that normally only have a range of a few milesHas two functions– Radio receives local (short range) amateur radio

transmissions• The audio is fed into soundcard• eQSO Gateway software sends the voice data over the Internet

(using VoIP)• Can be received on another computer using eQSO software

– May be a PC running the Client with headphones or speakers– May be another Gateway

– eQSO Gateway software receives voice data from the Internet.• Feeds those data into a radio transmitter, which sends it to local

radio amateurs


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eQSO eQSO –– RF Gateway (continued)RF Gateway (continued)

Some gateways are called 'simplex links' (those with a “-L” suffix) because the Gateway radio transceiver receives and transmits (alternately) on the same frequencyA few Gateways are 'duplex repeaters', (those with a “-R” suffix) which use a separate receiver and transmitter on different frequencies (simultaneously)


eQSO eQSO –– Conference ServerConference Server

A server hosts rooms on the eQSO systemRooms connect everyone together so they can communicateSome servers have only one or two rooms, others many rooms


eQSO eQSO –– Conference Server Conference Server (continued)(continued)NOTE. Some servers have password only accessOnce in a server, you can change rooms (or create new rooms providing it has sufficient bandwidth)


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KBKBØØYLN eQSO ServerYLN eQSO ServerClosed server.– Password controlled access– Limit of 8 concurrent users

• May increase if bandwidth permitsAccess via port 100242 Rooms defined– RADOPS

• Connected to Kenwood TS-2000 transceiver• Tuned to KØFEZ 2m repeater

– Test Room• No radio – use for off air conversations


How it all worksHow it all works

Page 1

eQSO System Diagram

Internet

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DSL Modem

ZoneAlarm Pro

ZoneAlarm Pro

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Kendecom2m Repeater

ICOM440 Repeater

eQSO Client

eQSO Client

KenwoodTS-2000

eQSO Conference Server

RigBlaster PlusSound Card

eQSO Client


HandoutsHandouts

System diagramScreen ShotseQSO HistoryHam Radio History


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CreditsCreditsReference material

– www.ARRL.org and www.Hello.org – www.eQSO.org– www.Hampedia.com

Audio files– www.ARRL.org and www.Hello.org

• What is Ham radio• Hello radio• NA1SS space station

– www.I0QM.org• DX audio Italy to Guatemala

– www.DXzone.com• CW• Packet

– www.Earthquake.com• W6ASH net control audio for Loma Prieta earthquake

Hardware, Software, Presentation & Printing Services– MicroBlue Software, LLC


Live DemonstrationLive Demonstration


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EQSOFrom Hampedia.com

eQSO is a client server application written by Paul Davies M0ZPD. The system comprises a central server to which any combination of PC clients or RF Gateway Clients can connect. Server administrators and users can set up any number of conference rooms. The most popular room being 101ENGLISH.

Radio Amateurs use their handportable, mobile or fixed radios to transmit into their local RF gateway typically on the VHF and UHF bands. Their voice is packetised and sent over the internet in real time and simultaneously out to all other gateways in the same conference room. These gateways then re-broadcast the voice out on various frequencies across the world depending on which gateways happen to be in the same room - rather like a world wide simplex channel or HF Net. The same thing happens in reverse so two way conversations can take place.

Radio Hams use the system to keep in touch with friends abroad, talk about technical topics or just while away long car journeys. Shortwave listeners (SWL) can also listen in either via a PC connected to the room using PC client software or via their local gateway over the air, much as they do on the shortwave amateur radio bands.

Simple On-line registration is required, the username being the amateur's callsign. Unlicenced listeners will be allocated a SWL callsign and the software will prevent them them talking in any room which has one or more RF gateways present. This ensures that SWL's can talk to each other as well as licenced amateurs (for training purposed) but stops them transmitting (illegally) on the air through RF gateways.

The PC and RF gateway client software is free and can be downloaded from www.eqso.net (http://www.eqso.net) .

eQSO differs from other VoIP systems such as IRLP and Echolink in that it is based on the concept of a radio Net. i.e. everyone sits and listens on the same channel. It is possible for RF users to QSY away from 101ENGLISH using DTMFto a small number of preset rooms e.g. 101GW, 102GW, 103GW etc - rather like moving from the calling channel to a simplex channel either side. PC clients on the other hand have more flexibility and can create their own channel and call itwhat they like.

Once downloaded the software defaults to room 101ENGLISH on the main eQSO server. However, there is nothing to stop users setting up their own private servers which can be made secure through the use of passwords and alternate TCPports.

Retrieved from "http://www.hamsexy.com/wiki/index.php/EQSO"

Categories: VOIP repeater linking | Things to do with Ham Radio

This page was last modified 00:22, 9 November 2005.


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Article from an eQSO User

HOW IT ALL BEGAN Around the year 1999 or a little earlier ( we stand to be corrected ) an enterprising young man Adrian, G7WFM, discovered a way to link his 2 metre ham radio equipment to the internet. Not wanting to be in breach of his licensing conditions he made steps to get permission from the powers that be to do this legally. This was granted to him and others followed in his footsteps and from that small beginning we had the new experience of digital VOIP Ham Gateway linking communication in the UK.

It is thought that it was around for some time in the States before the UK had a go at it but it was a major breakthrough for the UK to get the Dinosaurs bones moving in the corridors of power to grant permission. ( Its easier to move Nuclear waste and dump it than to get any decision about Ham radio usage in the UK)Anyway, from that beginning all was not smooth running.The first program to be used was Iphone. This was a commercial server system which was used where a few hams had written programs to adapt its use so that rooms appeared which stations could enter and have contacts similar to room 101english. The problem was that we had no control available as to who came in the room and from time to time the rooms were visited by those who had had brain surgery which had gone wrong.

There were no courtesy tones and it was difficult for the gateway keepers to send station idents from their gateways without chopping up users incoming audio.In 2001 the Iphone server became unstable and again ways around this were devised.After it had settled down a question was put to Dave G4CGB at a club evening at the Hillcrest ARS in Dudley by Paul M0ZPD. “ how is the gateway going then ?”

Dave’s reply was “well, glad you asked because we have no courtesy tones we have no way of putting out idents like a repeater does without chopping users audio , other than that fine we seem to just blunder on, but its great fun”Paul remarked that he would have a go at fixing this and came up with a little bolt on program which did all the missing things. Marvellous !What happened then, you guessed it, 3 weeks later Iphone went belly up and we had nothing for a week or two.

The dedicated gate keepers battled on and several other programs were tried. TEAMSOUND, ROGER WILCO and a few others were tried but were all lacking in some way.In the mean time Paul M0ZPD was busy writing the first version of eQso. It took several versions to get it perfected. The main problem for months was it consumed resources and after an hour your pc locked up and died. The server fell over every hour and in those days users had to be glued to their Pc’s to keep the software going. But it was all worth it hearing all the Dx stations coming in on 2 metres.

Sanity returned to the hobby of VIOP gateway linking towards the end of 2001 when the software versions became stable and from then on Paul has provide us with more control for admins and much better overall views of the system with easier movement from room to room.Up until the early 2002 a good old boy G7WZL John was providing the server on his broadband connection but as new users came along this took up his bandwidth and we went through a spell of lots of packet lost , and I mean lots of packet loss.Then the yanks arrived. Johnny K5JD in Richmond Texas saw we were in need of assistance and has dedicated the spare capacity on his office system since around early in 2002. What a difference it made. Fantastic, clear audio with hardly any breaks and a pleasure to listen to. We owe a lot to the Yanks one way or another. We owe our thanks to Johnny for his provision and trust and hope his system remains available to us to use for many years in the future. Thankyou Johnny from all who use the server.

There are many others who have indeed spent many hours behind the scenes from the beginning


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up until now writing programs, preparing help files, monitoring the rooms (Admins) for none conforming audio noises.Eqso is not a program which runs itself, it has to be carefully monitored and groomed by those who enjoy its provision and agree to help in its function.Thankyou lads for your support.And of course, the users who have had to get used to a new way of communicating with different protocols need a mention here.Well, that’s it, we await a new version which we hope will give us better movement around the rooms using DTMF tones. Paul is working on it right now so stay tuned for the next version coming your way soon.

Dave G4CGB July 2003


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“Why do they need wires?”

The First VoicesAs a ten year old in 1876, Reginald Fessendenheard his uncle describe Alexander GrahamBell’s miraculous accomplishment of sendingthe human voice over wires. With childlikewonder, Fessenden thought, “Why do they need wires?”…Early attempts at sending voices over the air were unintelligible, but onDecember 23, 1900 Fessenden made the first true voice contact by radio. He thenbegan more experiments in voice transmissions and in 1906 Fessenden planned asurprise. On Christmas Eve, instead of using the usual dit-dah Morse code, he wasgoing to talk to people on the radio!

At the appointed hour, radio operators all across the North Atlantic were shocked to hear a voice comingout from their radios.Fessenden’s historic feat caused thousands of inquisitivehobbyists to join the ranks of those experimenting with thisnewfangled technology called Radio. They were, and are still,called “amateur” radio operators.

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Commercial broadcasting didn’t begin for another 14 years afterFessenden’s historic Christmas Eve broadcast. Meanwhile, amateurslabored in attics, barns, garages and cellars to perfect what we nowcall radio. Amateur Radio operators,also called hams, have continuedto be at the forefront of developingtechnologies years in advance ofwhen they are rolled out to thepublic.

FM, television, mobile telephones, VoIP technologies — thesewere all used by Amateur Radio operators years ahead of thepublic. And you should see what the hams are doing today!

Who’s the Typical Ham Radio Person Today?Amateur Radio operators come from all walks of life — movie stars,missionaries, doctors, students, politicians, truck drivers and just plainfolks. They are all ages, genders, incomelevels and nationalities. They say Hello tothe world in many languages and manyways. But whether they prefer Morse codeon an old brass telegraph key, voicecommunication on a handheld radio orcomputerized messages transmitted through

satellites, they all have an interest in what’s happening in the world,and they use radio to reach out across towns or continents.

What’s the Appeal of Ham Radio?Some hams are attracted by the ability to communicate across the country, around the globe,or even with astronauts on space missions.Others like to build and experiment with electronics.Computer hobbyists enjoy using Amateur Radio’s digital communications opportunities.Those with a competitive streak enjoy “DX contests,” where the object is to see how many hamsin distant locations they can contact.

Some like the convenience of a technology that gives themportable communication.Mostly, we use it to open the door to new worldwiderelationships over the airwaves with people we may nevermeet, but come to call friends.


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Group or onlinecourses

are available!

What is Amateur Radio?A housewife in North Carolina makes friends over theradio with another ham in Lithuania.

A teenager in Ohio uses hiscomputer to upload adigital chess move to anorbiting space satellite,where it’s retrieved by afellow chess enthusiast inJapan.An aircraft engineer inFlorida participating in a“DX contest” swaps his call

sign and talks to hams in 100 differentcountries during a single weekend.In Louisiana, volunteers save lives as part of theirinvolvement in an emergency response.And from his room in Chicago, a ham’s pocket-sizedhandheld radio allows him to talk to friends in the Carolinas.

This unique mix of fun, public service and convenience is the distinguishing characteristic of Amateur Radio.Although hams get involved in the hobby for many reasons, they all have in common a curiosity to see howthey can say Hello to other people over the airwaves.Amateur Radio is the last place where an average person can, using just his or her own gear, talk freelyacross town or around the world to others.

Do I Have to Learn Morse Code?Not any more. While many hams like to use Morse codewith its history and traditions, it is not required for your entry level license.

How Much Does it Cost?Basic study materials for passing the FCC test and getting your initiallicense usually cost less than $40. There are also classes held by many

local groups for people who want moreinteraction. If possible, taking part in one of theseclasses is the best way to go,but there’s even an onlinecourse you can take if youprefer.

Once you have your first license, you may find it best tostart with simple equipment and grow over time. It usuallycosts less than $200 to get your own first license andradio and start saying Hello!

What is the ARRL?Founded in 1914, the 150,000-member American RadioRelay League is the national association for AmateurRadio in the USA. Other countries also have their ownnational associations. The ARRL is the primary source ofinformation about what is going on in the ham radioworld. It provides books, news, support and information forindividuals and clubs, special operating events, all sorts ofcontinuing education classes and other benefits for its members.

www.Hello-Radio.org

Being a member of the ARRLis important for hams!


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El Jebel Computer Club eQSO Presentation - May 2006 · © 2006 MicroBlue Software, LLC 4 What is...

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