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Reviews For: Echolink

Category: Ham Software/Apps - Other than logging

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Review Summary For : Echolink
Reviews: 68MSRP: Free
Description:
Software enabling a link between a radio or repeater to the internet for a licensed radio amateur.

NOTE: These should be reviews for the EchoLink software package - not the mode.

Product is in production
More Info: http://www.echolink.org
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00683.6
K0OEH Rating: 2021-10-02
Installed flawlessly Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Installed flawlessly on both of my computers. One being windows 7, the other being windows 10. The newest version is really great with the option to call CQ. How anyone could not like it is beyond me. Having a lot of fun with it.
HB9PJT Rating: 2019-04-15
Great pleasure with Echolink. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
We have an Echolink connection at our repeater since 2003. Our club members use the connection regularly every week from all over the world. Windows PC, iPhone, iPad or Android are used as end devices. We all have great pleasure with Echolink.

I don't understand why OM's come here and give a rating of 0/0 for a very mature and clean product. Either the OM's don't read the configuration manual or don't understand network technology. Why Echolink is to blame that the Windows PC doesn't run anymore, I really don't have the words for such an argumentation.No, it's not as easy to put into operation as Whatsapp, and grandmother can do that. Echolink is very universal and allows many application scenarios.

Anyone who has problems with commissioning will surely find support in the local club or on the web.
KJ4DGE Rating: 2019-04-15
Does what it does well Time Owned: more than 12 months.
While many have a love/hate relationship with VOIP programs, EL is written for and by a HAM operator. It does what it does well and connects many different groups together worldwide and through repeaters and allows technician licensed ops a chance to work worldwide. IT is also fun to piece together a radio RF link that extends your connection even further. I have used it on XP to Windows 10 with no problems. It does allow those folks without HF to communicate long distances and also keep in touch with old friends if you ever move away from your current QTH.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by KJ4DGE on 2011-02-08

It works for me with a DSL modem and a D-link router. Make sure you forward ports to both.
WI2Q Rating: 2019-04-14
EchoLink is useless on IOS systems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you try to use EchoLink with an iPad or iPhone, 98.9% of the time you never get to connect to anyone. Many of the proxy’s used i.e k2mmf in nj, won’t allow connection to anyone else. Not only that, you are unable to select a different proxy because the one the program chose for you is inoperative. You will spend most of the time watching the message “timed out”. So I thought there would be upgrades or improvements over the past 10+ years but no. The dev, in my opinion, has abandoned the app. Was really nice to be able to connect to repeaters across the country but now I just use my cell phone. This app is useless to me and I’ve deleted yet again after many many trials and failures. Unless you use an actual pc you will find this program a time waster.
WD9GNG Rating: 2018-02-21
Careful if you uninstall!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If you uninstall Echolink on Windows 10 it might screw up your PC. It killed my Start Menu!!!!! I contacted Microsoft for help but they wanted $150 for support. I was able to regain control of my PC by reloading Windows 10 and now I have to figure out how to get all my applications working again since you have to start over! Thanks Echolink for an evening of grief!!!!!!!!!
VU3BRE Rating: 2014-07-02
Wonderful Software Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This software is very handy to connect with other HAM's. I use this with repeaters, and works great. The hard part lies with configuring the router settings for UDP ports. I am using it for more than one and half year now and this is my major communication mode while travelling. The apps for android and ios makes it much more interesting.
G3SEA Rating: 2013-02-03
Proven System Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Despite the naysayers both Echolink & IRLP Systems are still here and have grown for the many and obvious reasons.

On the non RF side I have used it on Win 98,XP, Win 7 and Apple OS.

Mahalo to Jonathan Taylor K1RFD for his innovative system.

KH6/G3SEA

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Earlier 5-star review posted by G3SEA on 2009-01-07


Ironically it works fine on plain old Dial Up ;)

There are a gazillion RF repeaters & RF Links to natter on World Wide.

KH6/G3SEA
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Earlier 5-star review posted by G3SEA on 2008-08-06


It does have it's porting problems if used through a WiFi network but otherwise is a nice software package enabling 24/7 access to distant repeaters when HF condx are poor.

KH6/G3SEA
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Earlier 5-star review posted by G3SEA on 2008-07-07


I have used the software on and off since 2003 and had no problem nattering on Worldwide RF Repeaters.

For non Ham Friends and Family I use Skype.

KH6/G3SEA
KD7RDZI2 Rating: 2013-02-03
Great with Linux Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is my second review. This piece of software was written for Windows but was impossible to use it on a Windows machine... so my rating was a big zero... problems with ports? with the firewall? who knows? After a couple of years the big change! I scrapped Windows! And moved to Linux, a new world! A totally different world! Using the Wine (Windows) emulator the program runs fast with NO ISSUE AT ALL!
W0IT Rating: 2011-04-08
Comparisons, ease of use Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using Echolink® and IRLP® since just after the SE Tsunami. I use them on a local Echo-IRLP® equipped repeater. I also use them on my Echo-IRLP® node, and use Echolink® as a user using a proxy server on my home computer. People who are unable to get their Echolink® setups to work should use http://PortForward.com for information and try using a proxy server. It has never let me down.
IRLP® is great but in some parts of the world the cost of the board makes it much less attractive than echolink® and those who insist on only communicating via radio links are missing the fact people are the real key to ham radio, not RF.
I speak Thai and communicate with Thai Hams every day via echolink®. Most are poor and have licenses without any HF privileges. Because of Echolink® I am now fluent. I lost count after my first 300 Thai hams I have talked with.
For those who want a stabile low maintenance node I would suggest trying echo-irlp® which runs on a linux box and requires an IRLP® card.
Even with the compressed audio quality of echolink®, Thai nodes often do no have the bandwidth necessary to keep the audio packets coming in an uninterrupted fashion. This becomes critical in disasters. I prefer talking with my brother via IRLP® because of better quality audio, but I also like being able to talk with Thai Hams.
I am indebted to the writers and supporters of IRLP®, Echolink®, and EchoIRLP® for their gracious donation of their technical expertise and time.
WZ3O Rating: 2011-03-10
Have used it, nice but .. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Decent software, no setup issues. It is what it is, a software package used to interface with RF occasionally. Use it infrequently, but serves a purpose.