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N2CKH/R Lakewood, NJ IRLP Nodes 404 & 728
UPDATE: It is now Spring 2003 and the planned repeater controllers have not yet been released, so node 4040 is moving to the 447.925 machine for a while to provide more access to IRLP from Lakewood with node 7280 sitting on 443. What follows below will detail the history and planned future access of the nodes.
The first N2CKH IRLP node,
Node 4040, was assigned October 25th, 2001 with all integration and testing completed
by Monday, November 5th, 2001. The node was then made available for public use. We
are the first and only system so far in New Jersey to have a 6 Meter repeater node
linked into the IRLP.
The next IRLP node was assigned
May 2nd, 2002, IRLP Node 7280 with all testing was completed by Monday, May 6th, 2002
and the node was made available for public use via the AERIALS 443 repeater system.
This 2nd IRLP node is destined to reside on a full duplex linking hub to support as
many repeater systems in the Ocean-Monmouth county area that wish to link in via the
JOMARLS concept.
During 2002 there are planned
2 meter, 1.25 meter and 70cm repeaters to be co-hosted with the 6m that will allow
access from any of the four bands to one of the IRLP nodes. Except for the 6 meter
repeater, all repeaters will be able to access both reflector 4040 and 7280 co-hosted
in Lakewood, the 6m repeater will on be on node 4040.
During 2002 there are planned
2 meter, 1.25 meter and 70cm repeaters to be co-hosted with the 6m repeater at the
hub in Lakewood that will allow access from any of the four bands to one of the two
IRLP nodes. All the Lakewood co-hosted repeaters will be open for connection combinations
of bands and IRLP nodes with the exception that the two IRLP nodes will NOT be allowed
to connect/bridge to each other wihtout going through an IRLP reflector. However is
planned that the two IRLP nodes will NOT normally be connected to the same refelctor.
IRLP stands for the Internet Radio Linking Project
The aim of IRLP is to link radio systems separated by long distance without the use of expensive
leased lines, satellites, or controllers. The N2CKH Repeater Hub and future RF linked local repeaters
will now be linkable to hundreds of participating repeater nodes throughout the United States, Canada,
and Internationally.
The IRLP uses Voice-Over-IP
software and the power of the Internet to link amateur radio sites around world
with full dynamic range, telephone quailty sound. The IRLP system uses a custom
interface board and software to bring about the system. The interface board handles
the DTMF encode/decode, PTT and carrier squelch (COS) to the local link radio/repeater
controller. Many simply operate IRLP with a remote base, others use a remote into a
local repeater and still others as we do, interface directly to a repeater controller.
When a repeater system is involved, all local (and linked) repeater users will be able
to particpate in an IRLP session via the internet to any place in the world that a node
exists one on one or through a reflector.
The IRLP server computers at N2CKH are Pentium Pro IBM PC Server 325 computers
running Linux v6.2 at the repeater hub in Lakewood, New Jersey.
For more information on the IBM PC 325 Server (Click here).
The server sits on heavy duty rack mount shelf with an Allied Telesyn CentreCom
AT-3012TR rack mounted hub/repeater sandwiched in between it and a similiar IBM unit
at 266Mhz running MS-Windows 98 that acts as a co-controller for all the repeater system
bels and whiles working in conjunction with the RC-1000 repeater controller. Both systems
are configured with 64MB RAM and large SCSI hard disk drives.
In the photos below alone with the PC 325 servers, one can also see parts of the the actual GE Master II VHF low band radio that is the 6 meter repeater,
the RC-1000 controller and rack mounted Bird watt meter. There are additional GE Master II radios being configured for repeaters on other bands, remote
bases, link receibvers, link transceivers and a duplex UHF linking hub.
The missing items in the photo's are the 2nd units keyboard and mouse that is off to the side on a counter top for now. I need to find a pair of rack mount 1U height slide out shevles cheap for both sets of keyboards and mice. The video monitor is on an A/B switch and also off to the side on a counter top. The monitor will not be mounted in the current rack. That will wait until I add a second rack for the additional radio equipment that will come on-line over the next year.
The PC 325 Servers have front doors that are lockable. They have multiple status indicators that light through the door when closed.
The photos below show the interconnecting cables for the IRLP interface to the parallel port and repeater controller
along with the audio and in and out through the sound card on the Linux box, the last photo is the custom interface
cable which has all point of contacts tied to a 25 pin male/female jumper box which goes between the 25 pin D connector
from the Master II to the RC-1000 controller. This interface makes it simple to remove the IRLP hardware from the
repeater for service or augmentation.
The photos below are the IRLP board installed in the PC 325, the board does NOT actually make use of a slot in the PC, it simply
uses the DC power, back place for mounting and thats it. A supplied cable connects the board to the 25 pin printer port and a
9 pin D connector is the connection between the IRLP board and the custom cable for interface to the IRLP radio or in my case
repeater controller and sound card.
As IRLP activity started in 1999 in Canada and came
to the U.S. in 2000, it has steadily increased in North America, ,the U.K., Austraila and New Zealand and now
is taking off around the world, with over 200 nodes currently active, the opportunities for making contacts
and new friends via IRLP is increasing daily. It is actually amazing how many people
have discovered the IRLP. We are excited about using the IRLP and are pleased
to provide it to the local amateur community. For hams that have never heard
IRLP before, check out the new system and you will hear arm chair copy from
around the world via your VHF transceiver. We encourage the use of this new
method of global repeater linking system, but IRLP requires a little different
operating procedure. Before operating on IRLP, please read through the
Node User Guidelines.
Please remember to leave a
two second pause before you key to allow control operators to sign on and
bring down their individual nodes and to give time for internet delays,
and then to pause a moment after you key up to give time for the global
connections to come up. Also make sure you have a good signal, not only
so people can copy what you're saying but so you can ensure that you are
able to close any connection that you've brought up.
User Access:
N2CKH is the main point of contact for all
repeater system operation and IRLP node administration. Please direct all policy
questions and control code queries to
. We encourage and appreciate your support of this new technology in amateur
radio repeater linking.
We plan to do live IRLP demonstrations
at local area amateur radio clubs and group meetings. Please email us to
schedule a demo... if we are available, one of us will be back in touch.
We also plan to provide Amateur Radio Newsline
transmissions weekly by use of Linux scripts via the IRLP interface over the internet out
onto the N2CKH repeater system. A schedule for the Newsline transmissions has not
yet been decided upon, the thought process is for the release night between 7-9pm and
to allow the most recent few broadcasts to be played on demand at any time by system users.
Useful links:
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