The Internet Radio Linking Project

Presented by the

KD4RAA Repeater Group www.kd4raa.net

Portions of this presentation are reproduced courtesy of VE3SY & VE7LTD

Presentation

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Introduction - who we are KD4RAA-K4JDR Repeater Group and Link System Affiliated repeaters What is IRLP?

Nodes vs. Reflectors Reflector Mode Point to Point Mode Inventor Technology - How it Works Node 426/427 configuration

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Modes of Operation IRLP Node Status IRLP Operation How To IRLP Active nodes (maps) 146.775 on reflectors 441.725 point-to-point Raleigh IRLP Policy 2m open / 440 for supporting membership Use – things to remember IRLP QSO Demo

The KD4RAA Repeater Group First organized in 1994

• Cooperative effort of NC and SC hams • Not affiliated with any specific club • Purpose: fostering good amateur radio practice,

developing technical skills, repairing and maintaining repeater systems, exploring new technologies, and taking an active role in helping establish and maintain local, interstate, and international repeater network capabilities

• Individual ham radio operators bringing distinctive

skills, resources and knowledge to facilitate other organized efforts and repeater projects

• Self-supporting though the generous donations and

cooperation of area hams and non-hams

Target Goal of KD4RAA-K4JDR Repeaters… HAVING FUN with Amateur Radio !

KD4RAA-K4JDR Supported Repeaters

K4JDR KD4RAA K4JDR NC4SU W4ATC 441.725 444.875 444.775 146.775 442.675 West Raleigh Hub (IRLP #427) Raleigh Temp Site Cary Raleigh Fairgrounds (IRLP #426) NCSU, Raleigh (IRLP #741 temp) KA2FWC 443.625 N4HAJ 444.575 N4ZBB 444.675 KB4PQA K4JDR NE4J KB4WGA 443.125 444.150 444.650 444.925 KB4WGA 444.375 K4OBX 145.150 Ericsson, RTP Kinston (IRLP node #429) RTP Greenville, SC Clayton (soon) Middlesex Durham Henderson- Kerr Lake Buxton- Outer Banks KD4MJO 443.525 N4JDW South Hill, VA 145.170 Wilmington, NC (IRLP node 748)

KD4RAA-K4JDR Linked as of April 2002

K4JDR KD4RAA K4JDR NC4SU W4ATC 441.725 444.875 444.775 146.775 442.675 West Raleigh Hub (IRLP #427) Raleigh Temp Site Cary Raleigh Fairgrounds (IRLP #426) NCSU, Raleigh KA2FWC 443.625 N4HAJ 444.575 N4ZBB 444.675 KB4PQA K4JDR NE4J KB4WGA 443.125 444.150 444.650 444.925 Ericsson, RTP Kinston (IRLP #429) RTP Greenville, SC Clayton (soon) Middlesex Durham KB4WGA 444.375 K4OBX 145.150 Henderson- Kerr Lake Buxton- Outer Banks KD4MJO 443.525 N4JDW South Hill, VA 145.170 Wilmington, NC (IRLP node 748)

KD4RAA-K4JDR Proposed Linked

K4JDR KD4RAA K4JDR NC4SU W4ATC 441.725 444.875 444.775 146.775 442.675 West Raleigh Hub (IRLP #427) Raleigh Temp Site Cary Raleigh Fairgrounds (IRLP #426 ) NCSU, Raleigh KA2FWC 443.625 N4HAJ 444.575 N4ZBB 444.675 KB4PQA K4JDR NE4J KB4WGA 443.125 444.150 444.650 444.925 KB4WGA 444.375 K4OBX 145.150 Ericsson, RTP Kinston (IRLP #429) RTP Greenville, SC Clayton (soon) Middlesex Durham Henderson- Kerr Lake Buxton- Outer Banks KD4MJO 443.525 N4JDW South Hill, VA 145.170 Wilmington, NC (IRLP node 748)

New Repeater Henderson 444.375+ 100.0 PL KB4WGA Directional NorthEast

KD4RAA-K4JDR Supported Repeaters General Transmitter Location

What is I.R.L.P. ?

IRLP stands for Internet Radio Linking Project, the brainchild of Dave Cameron VE7LTD of Vancouver BC. Dave was frustrated with the unreliable operation of the Windows based IPHONE and decided to build a system on a LINUX platform. Iphone and other systems use VOX where the IRLP digital concept reduces delays to almost nil thus many less missed first words of a transmission.

IRLP System Designer

• Callsign: VE7LTD • Name: David Cameron • Addr: 4708 CAULFIELD DRIVE • City : WEST VANCOUVER, BC V7W 1G2 • Country: CANADA • Birthday: 06 Aug 1975 • Email: [email protected] • Home Page: http://www.irlp.net

VE7LTD and VK2YX

Eight months later in 1998 the IRLP network was born and is now on Version 2.0+ of hardware/software and growing in leaps and bounds.

IRLP allows the linking of two or more repeaters together using Voice over IP technology (VoIP) where the analogue radio audio is converted to digital IP packets and sent over the net.

IRLP requires a full time high speed Internet connection, a dedicated Linux computer, some custom hardware and a link radio. Each Linux box on the IRLP network is assigned a code and a central name-server keeps track of the IP addresses (IP= the routing code used by

all packet of internet data flowing on the

internet) in use by all nodes.

The IRLP uses a Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) streaming software called Speak Freely. Linux is the operating system of choice for the IRLP system as it allows the best in reliability, programmability, efficiency, and functionality. Most IRLP nodes use RedHat Linux 6.2 as it is a very stable release and runs very smooth on any 486 Dx100 class or better computer .

David’s custom IRLP software -takes the audio from the receiver which is fed into the sound card - where it is converted into ADPCM digital data the same format used by the phone companies for Long Distance service.

IRLP by design requires Amateur Radio access, all QSO’s are over the air. No computer to computer access is allowed (this is not I-link)

IRLP … Amateur Radio or Not ?

Hardware from VE7LTD

•

The Custom Red Hat CD-ROM

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Red Hat Boot Diskette

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Custom IRLP Software

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Custom IRLP Control Board by Dave Cameron VE7LTD

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Does COR, PTT & DTMF

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DB9 IRLP to Repeater Interface

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LPT1 to IRLP Jumper Cable

DB9 for Xcvr Inter -face

+12VDC from PC

DB25 for Data Control from Linux Box & IRLP

IRLP Indicators on Control Board

– DTMF Decode Sense – Carrier Operated Squelch Sense – PTT out to Link Radio or Controller

Typical Node Setup No.1

8-64Kb Internet connection To another IRLP Node CATV/DSL MODEM 10Mb Ethernet Connection Router RF Link RF Link Repeater or Remote Base PTT COR Audio Repeater Controller Link Port 10/100Mb Ethernet Connection Link Xcvr PTT COR Audio IRLP Computer w/ Custom Red Hat 6.2

O/S Link Xcvr PTT COR Audio

Typical Node Setup No.2

8-64Kb Internet connection RF Link To another IRLP Node CATV/DSL MODEM 10Mb Ethernet Connection Router 10/100Mb Ethernet Connection PTT COR Audio RF Link with CTCSS gating COS Repeater or Remote Base PTT COR Audio Repeater Controller Link Port Link Xcvr IRLP Computer w/ Custom Red Hat 6.2

O/S

Typical Node Setup No.3

8-64Kb Internet connection To another IRLP Node RF Link CATV/DSL MODEM 10Mb Ethernet Connection Router 10/100Mb Ethernet Connection Repeater or Simplex Radio PTT COR Audio Repeater Controller Link Port PTT COR Audio IRLP Computer w/ Custom Red Hat 6.2

O/S

Node 426 – KD4RAA (1)

300Kb Internet connection RF Link To another IRLP Node Internet Hub 10Mb Ethernet Connection Local 2M 146.775 Repeater Multi-Port Switch VHF Link Radio PTT,COR, DTMF,TX/RXAudio 10/100Mb Ethernet Connection IRLP Linux Computer w/ Custom Red Hat 7 O/S & IRLP interface NODE TO REFLECTOR

Node 427 – KD4RAA (2)

300Kb Internet connection RF Link To another IRLP Node Internet Hub 10Mb Ethernet Connection Local UHF Repeater Linksys Router DHCP UHF Link Radio PTT,COR, DTMF,TX/RXAudio 10/100Mb Ethernet Connection IRLP Linux Computer w/ Custom Red Hat 7 O/S & IRLP interface

NODE –TO NODE

Node 429 – N4HAJ Kinston

300Kb Internet connection RF Link To another IRLP Node Internet Hub 10Mb Ethernet Connection Local UHF Repeater Linksys Router DHCP UHF Link Radio PTT,COR, DTMF,TX/RXAudio 10/100Mb Ethernet Connection IRLP Linux Computer w/ Custom Red Hat 7 O/S & IRLP interface

NODE –TO NODE

748 – N4JDW Wilmington

300Kb Internet connection RF Link To another IRLP Node Internet Hub 10Mb Ethernet Connection Local VHF Repeater Linksys Router DHCP VHF Link Radio PTT,COR, DTMF,TX/RXAudio 10/100Mb Ethernet Connection IRLP Linux Computer w/ Custom Red Hat 7 O/S & IRLP interface

NODE –TO NODE

741 – KD4RAA-3 Raleigh

300Kb Internet connection RF Link To another IRLP Node Internet Hub 10Mb Ethernet Connection Local UHF Repeater Linksys Router DHCP UHF Link Radio PTT,COR, DTMF,TX/RXAudio 10/100Mb Ethernet Connection IRLP Linux Computer w/ Custom Red Hat 7 O/S & IRLP interface

NODE –TO NODE

100MB Switch 10MB Hub Linksys Router DualBand 2M/440 Control Xcvr 440 Link Radio 2M Link Radio Audio Equalizer and Broadcast Leveling

KD4RAA Node 426 / 427 Configuration

Modes of Operation

There are two modes of IRLP operation Point to Point Mode – Only two repeaters are linked

–This mode is much like linking two

repeaters together via a link radio or remote base Reflector Mode – Multiple Audio Streams -Much like a party line – everyone hears everyone else

United Kingdom RPTR

Reflector Mode

North RPTR Carolina Canada RPTR Australia RPTR Hawaii RPTR Texas RPTR IRLP Reflector California RPTR

Raleigh Reflector 921

IRLP Server

Point to Point Mode

RPTR

Raleigh Miami

RPTR

IRLP Network

30 3 15 Australia New Zealand 140 Canada England + Scotland 232 United States

IRLP Network

1 1 1 2 1 Caribbean 1 Barbados 2 3 Others 1 Dominica Trinidad & Tobago Antarctica Ecuador Japan Netherlands South Africa Sweden

IRLP Network

20+ new nodes per month

Nets: IRLP International Nets (biweekly), ISS contacts, JOTA, Kids Net, Special Weather, others

Australia United Kingdom

North Carolina’s first IRLP node, more planned 146.775 NC4SU #426 located in Raleigh at 340 feet, near the Fairgrounds , open node, courtesy tone present when IRLP link is active, normally -REF 2 441.725 K4JDR #427 located in Raleigh at 340 feet closed node, NO courtesy tone/ hang when link is active. Linked to 444.875 Raleigh, 444.775 Cary, 444.675 RTP, 444.925 Durham, 444.375 Henderson Control ops: Dan KD4RAA, Ron K4JDR, Todd N2XL Jim WW4M, Byron K4NGJ, Ken N4ZBB, Jack N0VLD

East Coast Reflector 921 signed on October 18, 2001. Its Red Hat Linux based server resides at the offices of Inflow in Research Triangle Park. Jack Thorpe, WA0ERX is the node administrator and is responsible for helping us secure the server and bandwidth at Inflow.

The purpose for having our own reflector is to link our regional participating repeaters in the KD4RAA-K4JDR Repeater Group that are out of range of our present RF capabilities. This will give us Emergency and Severe Weather Coordination ability as well as provide support for Public Service Events. We reserve use of 921 for coordinated response to severe weather and other conditions that affect North Carolina.

East Coast Reflector 921 has been used to: Track our recent Winter Snow Storm. Nodes from GA, SC, NC, VA participated. Coordinate the Worldwide Boy Scouts Jamboree over the Air. JOTA Make a connection to the McMurdo Science station in Antarctica for a “This week in Amateur Radio Newsline” Feature.

“Broadcast” worldwide to participating IRLP nodes the International Space Station (ARISS) educational contact from Chapel Hill.

921 Used as the Primary Backup to the ever popular Denver Reflector 2 (920) Connect our Regional IRLP Repeaters (Kinston, Wilmington, Outer Banks, and others) for Linking and Maintenance .

IRLP Node 429 activated December 2001 Doug Blizzard N4HAJ Kinston, NC 444.575 + 88.5

Link on Demand to Ref921 to K4JDR-KD4RAA link System

IRLP Node 748 activated April 2002 David Whicker N4JDW Wilmington, NC 145.170 + 88.5

Link on Demand to Ref921 to K4JDR-KD4RAA link System

IRLP Node 741 activated April 2002 Danny Musten KD4RAA Raleigh, NC Frequency Agile Currently - 442.675

IRLP Nodes soon to come on line Outer Banks (Richard Marlin K4HAT) Greenville, SC (Terry Lambert KB4PQA)

Pause between transmissions, listen for others Hold your PTT for about 1 second before talking to allow all nodes time to rise No local rag-chews when on a reflector Do not kerchunk -- which causes all other nodes to key up Do not discuss codes -- refer inquiries to a local control op or request a supporting membership Make sure your signal is solid

Anything you do on an IRLP reflector can be heard around the world. Please listen to observe how others do it before you give it a try.

For More Information

IRLP in Raleigh

www.kd4raa.net

General Information about IRLP www.irlp.net

Node Activity & Connection Status status.irlp.net