VoIP: Internet Linking for Radio Amateurs
Growing numbers of hams are using VoIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol, in combination with their radios for long-distance communication spanning hundreds or thousands of miles. They’re using the Internet as the relay between their base stations, handhelds and mobile transceivers.
There are four primary VoIP systems used by hams: EchoLink, IRLP, eQSO and WIRES-II. Getting started can vary in complexity from beginners who just want to set up and try using these systems, to arrangements with plenty of technical “meat” for those who want to dig deeper and explore how the systems actually work.
VoIP possibilities, using Amateur Radio to provide communications across expanses where normal phone services are damaged in storms, has been extensively used in the recent past following several hurricanes. There is an ARRL book published to help hams get involved in this new area. This may be the first book ever written about the developing ham radio applications of VoIP. Author Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, is the creator of EchoLink and one of the top experts in Amateur Radio Voice Over Internet Protocol. (ISBN: 0-87259-926-4)
