Here is more information to the Link station and what it does. I have formed this into a type of F.A.Q.
What Exactly is a PMR446 Link Station?
Why have you set this link up?
What are the rules and regulations of running or operating a 446 Link Station?
What do I need to access the Link?
Where is the station based, and what range does it cover?
What hardware have you used to make the Link Station?
A simple question, that could give a very long complex answer!
In recent years there has been a massive interests in the use of Walkie Talkie type radios - To the point that Superstores are now selling them down to the ridiculous price of £20 for a pair. These radios operate on a new band of frequencies which was made available for general public use in 1998 (or so) around 446Mhz, and this has become known as the PMR446 band. These radios generally have 8 channels, which are further expanded with 38 CTCSS codes. For more information try HERE.
So these radios are now, really, really popular and affordable. The only limit is their range. With the output power of 500mW (half a watt), the range is pretty much limited to a mile or two and even less if there are buildings, trees, hill etc that are in the way.
Link stations take all this one stage further by attaching a PMR446 radio to the INTERNET!
The UK567 Link station is simply a PMR446 radio that is attached to a PC which has a permanent Internet connection. The software the PC runs is called eQSO.
eQSO was originally written by M0ZPD (Paul), and is a 'voice over-IP' application. It allows you to connect a PMR446 radio to a PC to operate as a PMR446 gateway and that gateway in turn will connect to a server via the Internet and thereby to other users who have done the same.
If that sound
too technical and complex, here is an example of what eQSO does.
Someone within range of my gateway link radio (about a 2 mile radius from
my location in Ryde, Isle of Wight) can talk through my radio, over the internet,
and out through another gateway rebroadcasting on PMR446 in, say, Belgium
or Sydney Australia (on UHF CB). Anywhere in the world in fact! Someone within
range of that second gateway can then communicate back and thus establish
a conversation.
For fun! I love radio,
and the possibilities that eQSO and PMR446 offer I found to be exciting.
It would be nice to think my efforts would spark peoples interest and maybe
take up radio as a hobby, or become active operators as a result.
Yes. Connecting PMR446 radios (not directly, but by means of a Gateway) through the P.S.T.N. (Public Switched Telephone Network) is allowed, and there is specific clarification from Ofcom for this. Over the past few years, rules and regulations for this system have been discussed and ratified. The PMR446 band was originally only intended for short range communications. With the massive up take of radios, and the (unforseen) popularity of the PMR446 band, the Radiocommunication agency rules for the band have been expanded. For more information about the legality of operating Link stations on PMR446 go HERE. A link to the Ofcom page is HERE.
One further thing to mention is that my Link must not be used for any form of BUSINESS use.
The Link radio must an OfCom approved device and must not be modified in any way. Obviously adding a better aerial to the radio than its 'rubber duck' would greatly improve its range, but this is not allowed. I have placed the Link Radio as high as I can get it (in the loft) to try to get the best range as possible.
All you need is a PMR446 Walkie Talkie that is in range of my Link! The only proviso of this is that the radio must have access to the 38 CTCSS codes. Some cheaper radios do not have these. Generally, if you can hear my link station, then you should be able to use it. Switch your radio to channel 7 and CTCSS code 19.
Be polite - Just give a call and
see if anyone is listen.
'Hello, this is Fred in the Isle of Wight, talking through the UK567 link
station - Can anyone here me, over?' . . . . . . Would be a good start. You
will hear a 'dah-dee'dah' tone, which will mean that the station has accepted
your transmission. Please leave two or three seconds between transmit and
receive.
Please turn off Roger Bleeps and other types of call tones.
The station is based in the Town of Ryde, on the Isle of Wight. It covers Ryde and parts of the South Coast of England - For more detailed information of its coverage, click HERE.
The station is run on a Pentium 3 800 PC machine that has a permanent ADSL connection to the Internet. The Link station radio is a Telcom TW1000. Rig keying is performed by a Homebrew Port Keyer and all inter-wiring is also D.I.Y.
