Global Chinese amateur
radio conference network Dec-2003
Since
our first attempt to conduct global conference (during lunar New Year period)
between amateur radio stations at different countries, we finally reached a
platform where multiple users (radio and internet based) can be joined up
freely. Thanks to the effort of various pioneers who dedicated their time and
resources to make this a reality.
Briefing on structure of
this conference media
This
new platform is built on two popular ham VOIP applications Echolink
and EQSO. Both platforms support radio gateway operation to provide access from
local radio users to internet conference media. Echolink
allows radio users to execute remote connection to their target stations via
DTMF commands. It is very close to another successful platform IRLP but has the
advantages of running on window based PC (easier for user to setup). Like IRLP,
Echolink requires validation of user’s identity
before they are allowed to join in as echolink nodes.
This is an effort to ensure all echolink users are
licensed amateur radio stations. EQSO provides a more open self-serve support
environment with less security screening. This is an advantage if users have
difficulty to get verification of their license status over the country (during
the application of an echolink node registry). In
EQSO environment, the connection of a gateway with other internet VOIP parties
is a responsibility of the EQSO gateway owner. Even though people using EQSO
might not carry equivalent security clearance as Echolink
users, their participation within a strict licensed amateur radio environment
can be monitored and controlled by their gateway owner. By the way, EQSO uses
less bandwidth to exchange voice packet and can therefore provide a more fluent
conversation if user has ISP bandwidth limitation.
Thanks
to fellow hams from
Following
is a diagram showing a typical connection scenery when these conference are
exercised.
The
primitive conference server was set up by AF4BH on EQSO platform in mid 2002.
It is now known as:
EQSO server AF4BH.NET port 10024.
Inside
this server, we can open up multiple rooms for conference. The most important
rooms are Chinesehams
and repeaters. These two rooms house participants that
are valid amateur radio stations or district gateway repeaters. Through these
rooms, we conducted our initial test to allow users from different Chinese
speaking areas to talk with each other (via their local EQSO gateway or EQSO
installed PC). We also have rooms like “off air” for conversation between users
who do not want on-air conversation or simply if they do not have legal status
to exercise RF transmission (like SWL discussion).
The
result is an overwhelming success except we soon run into the first issue -
bandwidth shortage. In reality, a domestic internet link can not support a lot
of EQSO users in the same conference. We encountered stability issue as soon as
the participants in a conference exceed 9. Situation could get critical if one
or more participants have serious digital delay (e.g. if they were using poor
quality dial up internet access). Under worst case scenery, the server can
collapse while all users were being disconnected without warning.
This
issue directed us to consider techniques related with bandwidth sharing. That’s
what made Echolink platform so interesting. Echolink by itself uses more bandwidth then EQSO hence a
better audio quality. It is less favorable if a single Echolink
application has to house the same number of user (as compared with EQSO). Yet Echolink has a very important feature of allowing
conference to be deployed in layers. Under this condition, bandwidth
consumption can be spread upon multiple users (each supporting a small
conference underneath deeper layers). In this case, the maximum bandwidth usage
of each conference node is much smaller as compared to one single EQSO server
handles all users. This created a second issue of variable multi-hop delay.
Unlike EQSO where every participant in a conference bears only one hop delay
(same round delay between the server and every user for each voice packet’s
circulation), shared bandwidth configuration under Echolink can have serious difference for the same voice
packet to reach multiple users. To improve this issue, Bay area members come up
with the next solution - they provide three extra servers.
Seagate,Sealink and Seanet are three Echolink
servers sponsored by the Bay area hams (W6EE,KK7BEN,KG6TN). By theory, each
server can handle over 100 users “logically”. The real capacity differs based
on the supporting internet backbone and are tested out as between 6 to 22 users
(differs between servers). With virtual link up (provided by KE7KD and KG6TN),
all three servers can be joined during major big events. This boasted their
combined limit to somewhere between 40-45 users. These virtual links are not
activated normally so as to allow different but smaller groups of users to make
multiple conferences at the same time (on different topics of interest).
In
order to allow Echolink users to talk with EQSO
users, we set up a cross-connect point at AF4BH. This basically is a digital
crossover at data bus level. AF4BH-L is an echolink
gateway. It is coupled with AF4BH-G (EQSO gateway). By default, AF4BH-L logged
into SEANET server. AF4BH-G logged into EQSO room Chinesehams.
With this setup, EQSO users talking into Chinesehams
can cross over to Echolink platform via Seanet. The trade off is a remarkable delay of 2 sec (which
is the minimum safe margin for audio to cross the two platforms without serious
threat of stability. This set up also made server *SEANET* slightly different
from the other two since it is an EQSO-Echolink
bridge.
Conference session set up
and operating procedure
Operating
profile on a global conference is similar to H.F. net operation. Be reminded
that your voice can appear on a totally different country zone while there can
be other users standing by. In general, the rule of thumb is to listen for a
while to see if there is on-going traffic after your fresh connection. If the
channel is quiet, identify yourself as soon as possible. Ask if anyone is on
standing by and if any on-going discussion is running. Don’t go for a CQ DX
call unless you are certain that doing so would not interrupt on-going
conversation. Remember to state full call sign with phonetics spelling. This is
a concern that audio quality going through multiple systems can degrade and it
is required by law to ensure positive identification of every station in
contact. So please don’t drop the prefix of your call letter even if such
practice might be acceptable at your local area.
We are
all licensed amateur radio operators. It is unnecessary to repeat rules and
regulation regarding contents of discussion. Just treat it like the H.F.
environment and exercise the same attitude and respect during operation.
To join
the conference, one of the following set up is required:
Direct
internet access to EQSO via home PC. This can be achieved by using a PC with EQSO
software installed to access internet. Make a connection with AF4BH.NET port
10024 into room Chinesehams. You can expect to hear
users in the same room or from Echolink platform who
is in conference inside server Seanet. If you speak
into EQSO server, they can hear you as well. To get EQSO software, visit and
download from www.eqso.net .
Direct
internet access to Echolink via home PC. This can be achieved by
using a PC with Echolink software installed to access
internet. Locate and connect with node *SEANET*. This node can be found inside
the node type “conference? Once connected, you can see all other connected
nodes inside SEANET.?If you
see AF4BH-L connected, you can expect your voice be heard by other EQSO users
listening on EQSO room Chinesehams. To get Echolink software, visit and download from www.echolink.org . Have the software
installed and fill in your true callsign, name and
address data. Once the filled data are verified over the net (part of the
software’s function), your attempt to log on Echolink’s
global participants server will be granted. For users outside
Remote
access to echolink nodes or server via radio. This can be achieved by using your radio to work
with your local Echolink gateway repeater and if they
allow DTMF remote access control originating from local radio users. Make a
transmission when the system is idle, identify yourself and key in DTMF code
08. This is a general command to check if the gateway is connected with any Echolink nodes. You can expect to hear a voice announcement
confirming if the gateway is “not connected” or is “connected with ??????”. If it says “connected with S E A N E T, then you know you are already in the conference. If
it is “not connected” , you can key in DTMF code
121958 (node number of Seanet or node number of your
target repeater/server). You can hear voice message “connected with S E A N E T
if you got a successful connection. To release a connection after you finished
your QSO, key in DTMF code #. These are just general default procedures for a
fresh start Echolink gateway. Different system
operator might change the code sequence at their own discretion. Please check
with the owner of the concerned Echolink gateway if
you encountered difficulties. Some of them might need special arrangement or
set up conditions. Node numbers of Echolink supported
Cantonese repeater will be released later in separate web page.
Remote
access to preset EQSO conference media via radio. This can be achieved by using your radio to work
with your local EQSO gateway. Only system operator of the gateway knows where
the gateway is connected with. Consult him for the time schedule and specific
procedure if exist.
Additional hardware to
setup your own gateway
If you
are interested to provide a R.F.gateway
for your local stations to participate in these activities, you might consider
to build a simple interface (a cable normally) between your PC and a radio
system. By using built in VOX mode of both software, one doesn’t even need
modifying the simplex radio for
Please
check with your local telecommunication authority if special qualification is
required to do so (this is equivalent to running a repeater). In
Above shows
a typical temporary setup using a laptop with dial up access to support a mini
gateway for small area. As a start, even a simplex portable radio can do the
job very well. Following diagram shows how one can build such an interface
cable (using VOX mode activation of Echolink or
EQSO), In order to support full DC control on Tx towards internet, you only need a receiver with
Feel
free to contact us over the conference or Email me [email protected]
for more detail
See you
down the net at Echolink *SEANET* or EQSO room “Chinesehams”