EchoLink/Zello

[Spider255]

I have no idea what I am doing but hoping some of y'all can tell me the best way to get started on echolink... I've downloaded it and installed it to my PC, I imagine I will need an interface box to link it to a radio.

I don't know what I am doing, this is my first time playing about with this stuff and I want to see if I can make a simplex echo link, I have also been looking into Zello to see how it could tie into me continuing to use my old analog transceivers somehow as the upper bands are dead and lots of people are using Zello...

I know nothing about Zello either other than its a phone app. I have been watching YouTube videos of it and there are groups you can create.

I was thinking about creating a 4 meter 70MHz talk group on Zello if one doesn't exist already and then somehow link that to a Tait T2000 on 4 meters with Echolink?

I also have a lot of Raspberry Pi's unused so maybe I could put some of those to use for this project I don't really know how it all works but my goal would be to have a "Zello 4 meter 70MHz Talk group" and then have it come though on an analog 4 meter simplex frequency so that Zello users of the talk group come out on analog 4 meters and intern I'll be able to talk to Zello users of the talk group on my analog 4 meter radio. Just an idea.

I need to begin with the very basics to start with, what stuff would I need to achieve this?

 

[Spider255]

OK Scrap that idea.

Zello isn't free so I wont be bothering with it. Doesn't seem worth it.

Is there any Network radio apps that are free to use without having to subscribe?

I may just give up and stick with DMR & analog until its last days, at least its free and is real radio instead of falling into this Zello jello crap trap.

 

[W9WSS]

My friends and I are on Zello and don't pay anything. We have several talk groups and communicate all the time. It works like the old Nextel on steroids!

 

[AK9R]

I don't normally put Echolink and Zello in the same thought. They are two completely different systems.

Echolink is a tool for linking amateur radio repeaters and simplex nodes through the Internet. The assumption is that one or both ends of the conversation are by amateur radio. To put up an Echolink node, you need a radio, antenna, computer, and an interface between radio and computer. Yes, there are apps you can run on a computer or smartphone that will allow you to access the Echolink network without a radio. I suggest you check out the Echolink website which has a ton of information for users and node ops.

Zello is a push-to-talk communications app for two-way comms over the Internet. Yes, there are people who have connected their ham radios to Zello, but that's secondary to Zello's primary purpose.

 

[nd5y]

I have no idea what I am doing but hoping some of y'all can tell me the best way to get started on echolink... I've downloaded it and installed it to my PC, I imagine I will need an interface box to link it to a radio.

If you want to do EchoLink (or IRLP or AllStar) the right way then the node radio you use must have a squelch output (sometimes called COR or COS). If you try to use VOX it will drop out all the time and have delays or other problems. You can make an interface similar to the one below. There are a some commercially produced ones and also some that include a USB sound card.

Years ago I looked at Zello and at one time they sold a radio interface but I don't think they do now and you had to pay to get the pc application that supported the radio interface.

 

[Spider255]

Okay... I found a free version of Zello... there must be different versions. I installed it to my PC but works better on my tablet, better mic.

I found a few groups, PMR446, FRS and Freestar, International Space Station and a CB one some require authentication tho but I have the PMR446 & FRS plus a another. Wasn't much chatter but they came to life after 8pm. I hope I get accepted into the others.

I'm thinking about making a network radio from a Raspberry Pi and using an old CB mic, using a CB 4 pin connector but the connector will be wired to a USB plug, the CB mic will be modified inside so its basically a USB MIC with PTT, plus added Bluetooth module inside to make the PTT operational. The network radio will be made like a CB base station with its own speaker so it will look and feel like a radio with a small touch screen and Raspberry Pi, the speaker will be amplified so that it will have adjustable volume, and it will have 70s wood grain effect mixed with chrome.

I will also create a channel 4 Meters FM... it will be called. I will say this is not a replacement for real radio tho its just something to play about with because I do love my antenna setups and my 2 meters simplex operations with a bit of UHF. Zello will never replace those. I want to try creating my own echo link.

 

[Spider255]

Couldn't get MURS or GMRS tho.

 

[KD8DVR]

Couldn't get MURS or GMRS tho.

Where 4 meters is legal, GMRS and MURS isn't. Thry are totally USA services. Also, 4 meters isn't legal in the USA.

 

[Spider255]

Where 4 meters is legal, GMRS and MURS isn't. Thry are totally USA services. Also, 4 meters isn't legal in the USA.

I'm UK based so 4 Meters is legal... GMRS &. MURS is fine if using the link to America.

I got GMRS & MURS now on Zello, the mistake I was making was adding as contact rather than adding as a channel.

The CB one is the most active especially the 27.305 channel...

The rest have a lot of people listening but nobody talking which is interesting.

 

[Spider255]

Zello is totally dead. I thought there would be some good activity it being a Friday evening with many channels but not a single person talking. Does everybody go to bed early now on a Friday total silence.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Zello is totally dead. I thought there would be some good activity it being a Friday evening with many channels but not a single person talking. Does everybody go to bed early now on a Friday total silence.

Have you Tried PMRS there in the Uk ? PMR is Dead in the US because most hams aren't Aware of where it it is, or that WE can use it.

 

[Spider255]

Have you Tried PMRS there in the Uk ? PMR is Dead in the US because most hams aren't Aware of where it it is, or that WE can use it.

I tried that one but crashed Zello when I tried to add it.

I've got lots of channels but nobody talking. It goes to show how dead the hobby has become. I thought Zello was the "new thing" but nope nobody using that either. The only channels I couldn't get were Fusion & D-Star but I have Free Star now.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I tried that one but crashed Zello when I tried to add it.

I've got lots of channels but nobody talking. It goes to show how dead the hobby has become. I thought Zello was the "new thing" but nope nobody using that either. The only channels I couldn't get were Fusion & D-Star but I have Free Star now.

I would try it, using an actual Radio instead of Zello.

 

[alcahuete]

I thought Zello was the "new thing" but nope nobody using that either.

I have never heard of anyone using Zello, except as a way to get into existing repeaters.

 

[AK9R]

The only people I've heard talk about using Zello are hams trying to check into nets on distant repeaters.

 

[Spider255]

On Free Star I hear people coming in on Zello a lot on the local echo link repeater. There seems to be bursts of activity then it all stops. The PMR446 Dundee Zello repeater cross link has been quite active this evening. The CB ones have been quiet.

I've worked out how I can do my own Zello repeater, I've pretty much got everything I need to build one.

 

[Spider255]

I would try it, using an actual Radio instead of Zello.

Do you mean PMR446?

I am not sure what PMRS is... I have googled it but not seeing anything radio related other than the PMRS group on Zello. unless you meant GMRS which isn't available in the UK.

 

[dkcorlfla]

I just did a quick read but did not see what smartphone your using but if you have access to an android phone then you might want to check out DVswitch Mobile.

Also did not see what OS your running on the PC.

I recently setup an Allstar Link node on a Raspberry P400 running Linux and used DVswitch on the phone to connect to the node. Worked great and the P400 ran it with ease. Allstar Link I believe would run fine on much less. I'm thinking a Raspberry 3B+ should be more then enough.

In anycase DVswitch I believe supports lots more then just Allstar Link, Echolink should not be a problem.

 

[dkcorlfla]

Here is a picture of the P400. It's an interesting Raspberry because it has a large heatsink built into the bottom as part of the keyboard. It runs completely silent (no fans) and cool.

The unit in the picture is run headless and has Allstar Link 3.0 on it. The thing sticking out the back from an USB port is a CM108 sound card (same as what they use on the radioless nodes) Ignore the black and yellow wires - left over from another project. The grayish cable runs to an aux input on a radio speaker amp. This allows monitoring Allstar Link without even having the phone on.

Nice simple low cost system that uses little power and can be accessed using DVswitch anyplace within range of my LAN WiFI.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Do you mean PMR446?

I am not sure what PMRS is... I have googled it but not seeing anything radio related other than the PMRS group on Zello. unless you meant GMRS which isn't available in the UK.

Personal Mobile Radio Service in the UK is the equivalent to Family Radio Service in the US.