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There is an addon as well for Echolink called EQ-100 that will give the program the look and feel of a hardware amateur HF rig. Together, these programs can transform your computer into an amateur radio station, again without the need for outdoor antennas. The program is available as a free download at www.echolink.org; the EQ-100 addon is also a free download, but to get to the link you need to look up the callsign N8AD, on QRZ.com or HamCall.net. This is the callsign of the developer of EQ-100, Leonard A. Stefanelli, of Fairview, Pennsylvania; the download link is about a third of the way down from the top of the home page. This program will "hook" onto Echolink (the latter must be installed on your computer), allowing full control of EL via your mouse, just by clicking buttons on the virtual transceiver. This is just an idea I had after reading that you only used your ham license for two years or so before going back to online communications in chat rooms, etc.; you can use it or ignore it, of course, as you see fit. I mentioned Echolink because you said you are a computer person and don't seem to care much for the RF aspects of ham radio. EL does use RF links (transceivers connected through an interface board to the Echolink software), but they are behind the scenes, being used as "nodes" to link Echolink-enabled computers to the HF bands. I am not trying to twist your arm and tell you to get back on the air; it is your choice. It's just that, liking the hobby as much as I do and as involved in it as I am, I hate reading or hearing about licensed amateurs who give up on the hobby after only a short time. I've had a license for nearly 38 years and am still active, both on 2 meters with the local radio club and on HF with Echolink. BTW, you are right on the mark as far as repeater autopatches vs. cell phones are concerned. With more and more people (including hams) having cell phones these days, the need for repeater autopatch systems is nowhere near as pressing as it was in the days before cellular really took hold in the US; in fact, I don't remember the last time I heard anyone in the local club use the repeater's autopatch. I have never used the system's autopatch personally, and I've been a member of the local club for well over two decades; however, since I have a cell phone, I have no use for the repeater's phone patch. Out of sheer curiosity, I looked up your callsign on HamCall.net a few minutes ago. Your license expired 56 days ago (from the date of this post, May 24, 2010), but you can still renew it as it is within the 2-year grace period. Again, I am not telling you to do anything; it is entirely up to you whether or not you renew your ticket, but I just thought I'd let you know that as of 56 days ago, you are no longer licensed. However, I wouldn't wait too long to renew. Two years can go by awfully quickly, and once the grace period expires, you will need to retake the written test (there is no longer a Morse code requirement for US amateur radio licenses). 73,
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Jeff, WB8NHV Collecting, restoring and enjoying vintage Zenith radios since 2002 Zenith. Gone, but not forgotten. Last edited by Jeffhs; 05-24-2010 at 03:29 AM. |
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