What Does EchoStation Do?

EchoStation is software that lets you connect a personal computer to one or two radios, to create either a repeater or an announcement machine.  The program takes care of all necessary functions, such as turning the transmitter on and off at appropriate times, and sending a CW ID or voice ID periodically.

Repeater-control circuits typically use specialized hardware to perform functions such as CW identification, tone generation, and timing.  Since EchoStation implements all of these functions within its software, no such equipment is required.  This makes EchoStation ideal for portable or emergency set-ups, or for clubs who wish to use an existing PC to control their repeater.

EchoStation uses your PC's built-in sound card to communicate with a transceiver (or a separate transmitter and receiver), by receiving audio signals from the receiver's speaker jack and sending audio signals to the transmitter's microphone input. 

The program can run in any of four different modes:

  • Announcement machine
  • Duplex repeater
  • Simplex repeater
  • Simplex autopatch

    Each of these modes is described below.

    Announcement machine

    An announcement machine plays any of several pre-recorded announcements at designated times.  It is most commonly used to announce club meetings, hamfest information, news bulletins, etc. over an existing repeater.  To prevent interference, it "listens" before transmitting to be sure the frequency is not already in use before beginning an announcement.

    Note that EchoStation can run as a repeater and announcement machine at the same time.

    Duplex repeater

    A duplex repeater (a conventional repeater) receives on one frequency and transmits on another simultaneously.  Anything received on one frequency is immediately re-transmitted on the other.  Of course, this setup requires a separate transmitter and receiver, and some type of RF isolation to prevent the transmitter from interfering with the receiver.  EchoStation also allows a telephone line to be connected, through a "voice modem", for autopatch capability.

    Simplex repeater

    A simplex repeater receives and transmits on the same frequency, but at different times.  It picks up a signal on the receiver, begins "recording" it, and after the signal finishes, it turns on the transmitter and "plays it back".  This can be accomplished using an ordinary transceiver and a single antenna.  However, it is generally only usable for short transmissions, because there are long periods of silence between each one.  This type of repeater is usually used for portable or emergency set-ups.

    Simplex autopatch

    A simplex autopatch allows telephone calls to be placed or received over a single radio frequency.  In this mode, EchoStation connects to an FM transceiver, and switches it rapidly between receive and transmit.  A station using the simplex autopatch sends touch-tone commands over the air to begin and end each call, and during the call, the two parties take turns speaking to each other.