Linking radio to the internet
How ham systems connect a local radio to people around the world, and what to know before you try.
Popular systems
| System | What it is | License |
|---|---|---|
| EchoLink | Talk from a computer or phone to ham repeaters and nodes | Ham |
| AllStarLink | Free software that links radios and repeaters into networks of numbered nodes | Ham |
| IRLP | An older voice-over-internet repeater linking system | Ham |
| Wires-X | Yaesu system that links digital repeaters and rooms | Ham |
| DMR and D-STAR networks | Digital voice networks with talkgroups or reflectors | Ham |
How a link works
- Your radio hears someone and passes the audio to a small computer.
- The computer sends it over the internet to another node.
- That node plays the audio into its own radio, and the people near it hear you.
What you need
- A license that matches the radio service you link
- A radio, an interface, and a computer or hotspot
- A stable internet connection
- Permission from any repeater owner you link into
Good habits
- Listen first. Linked systems can have people all over the world on them.
- Say your call sign clearly, keep it short and keep it clean.
- Check each network's own rules before you connect.
General information, not legal advice. Check the current FCC rules before you transmit.
