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Author Topic: No Response to CQ on Echolink  (Read 876 times)

VE3XDB

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Re: No Response to CQ on Echolink
« Reply #30 on: December 28, 2022, 04:44:45 AM »

Scanned through the responses and didn't see the obvious answer.  Maybe I missed it!
  • Use the CQ function on the app.  If you are using Echolink through a repeater or using another app, such as DVSwitch Mobile, the CQ function is not available.
  • Check the settings.  Make sure the app is set to "Direct", not "Relay".  If set to relay, one is not able to connect to individuals who are connected via the relay.  At least one of the callers must be using a direct connection.
  • You can check to see if anyone is currently calling cq by looking here: https://secure.echolink.org/cqlist.jsp
  • Sometimes, one must wait for awhile to get a response.  I have waited up to 30 minutes.
I have had several interesting qso's using the cq calling function on the Echolink app.  Hope you have some success with it!

Happy New Year!

Doug VE3XDB
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KD2HCU

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Re: No Response to CQ on Echolink
« Reply #31 on: December 28, 2022, 05:18:45 AM »

I don't use echolink much anymore, but I did notice that one of the newer versions has a CQ button on it.  I've tried a few times to get a response and had about 50% success.  It might be that you will only get a response from others who have clicked on the cq button and are willing to get a call.  Probably most folks on echolink just use it when their uhf/vhf rig isn't available at the time, or they don't have a vhf/uhf rig.  IMHO putting the cq feature on echolink was a great idea, and hopefully will get more use in the future.  Just another possibility is try the PEANUT app.
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N1YFA

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Re: No Response to CQ on Echolink
« Reply #32 on: December 28, 2022, 05:25:14 AM »

I can give you a couple ideas from my own person experience.

1. No one does CQ anything on a repeater. I know and have known many people who wont even answer a contester on VHF or UHF (and yes, I have heard people contest on both bands).

2. Now here is the real sad part - There was no one listening because no one uses repeaters. Well, I don't want to say no one, anywhere. Since the early 2000's, Hams have been getting coerced or chased off of repeaters by extra, advanced, and general class Hams onto HF to join the contesting crowd. Yes, chased off. I have heard of Hams telling other Hams that repeaters are for emergency use only. I have personally heard Hams telling newer Hams that "No one uses repeaters to talk on, if you want to have a QSO, you need to go on the HF bands". What is really funny is when I hear Hams talking about how they cant figure out why the 2 meters and 440 are so dead. I just recently heard that conversation the other day by a couple of HF'ers.

I am not sure what happened in your case because its different all over the United States when it comes to repeaters and echolink. I know places where repeaters are smoking night and day with QSO's and other parts where there are repeaters that sit and ID night and day and wont hear a single key up for over a month.

Simply put, people are enticed into Ham Radio with a Baofeng radio and a 2 meter repeater being told that in emergencies, Hams are the ones communicating when the communications go down (something I am yet to see happen). When people get their license and their little handheld and try talking on 2 meters, they get to have a short conversation a few times and eventually get told that there really isn't much on 2 meters or 440 and that their next step is to upgrade to general so they can talk where the real action is, on HF. From that point, that person either gets discouraged because it seems like they are just chasing the carrot and they hang up the hobby and get out of it, OR, they get their license upgrade and get on HF and are never heard from again on 2 meters. Anyone can fight me on this but I have been personally watching this exact scenario play out for years now. Its really sad, but if Hams want to know why, well, this is it. Hams are the only ones who make Ham Radio what is it. The equipment doesn't, the band conditions don't, the FCC doesn't, Baofeng doesn't, even digital voice doesn't, Hams DO. 

I like using echolink when needed. It is a really good tool in Ham Radio. I think there probably would be more activity on it if it was linked to HF. I hope all works out with it for you. Keep at it, I am sure you will find a sweet spot that works.
« Last Edit: December 28, 2022, 05:35:03 AM by N1YFA »
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WA3SKN

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Re: No Response to CQ on Echolink
« Reply #33 on: December 28, 2022, 08:42:45 AM »

2021 post.  Is the question even still valid?  I have heard plenty of responses to CQ calls over our local repeaters connected via echolink lately.

-Mike.
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