3.  Once you're connected and after hearing the confirming voice ID, wait at least 15 seconds before transmitting...

The repeater may be in use, and your entry may have occurred between transmissions.

The voice ID of your node is longer than the voice ID of their node, and the connection is not made until the ID is fully played.

Their computer may be slower, and hence take longer to process the connection than yours.

4.  If no response to your call is heard, announce your call again and your intent to drop the link. Using the keypad on your microphone, enter the "OFF" code ("73").

NOTE: It's not a good idea to transmit touch-tone commands without first giving your call-sign. Not only is this courteous it is a regulatory issue in some countries who may be connected to the reflector.

5.  DO's and DON'Ts

• DO pause between transmissions to let other stations in or others to enter DTMF command.


• DO identify before sending DTMF command tones.


• DO hold your microphone PTT for about 1 second before talking to allow all systems time to rise.


• DO pause for 10 seconds or when entering the reflector before talking.


• DON'T rag-chew on your local repeater while connected to the reflector.


• DON'T start or plan a Net without pre-authorization from the reflector owner.


• DON'T attempt to connect to more than one node at any given time. You must be connected to a reflector in order to link multiple nodes. More info can be found in the IRLP Guidelines.

Caution: The information above should be considered as a simplistic introduction to the IRLP. You can find more detailed information about the IRLP including a list of available nodes, freqs, PL tones, their status, location, etc. at: http://irlp.net

USING IRLP NODE 4867

1.  To use Node 4867 (owned and operated by SARA) follow these directions:

A.  Set your frequency to 147.345 + .600

B.  Set your PL tone to 131.8 - You will not be able to activate the node without a PL.

C.  Bring up a specific node. Let's say you want to bring up Node 5390 - The Boulder Amateur Radio Club in Boulder, CO.

(1)  Announce that you will be bringing up the node - Key your microphone, give your call sign and say "bringing up node 5390"

(2)  Using your DTMF keypad on your microphone, press the PTT button and enter "5390" - You will hear a "link on" message if the connection is successful. You might also hear a message that says the node is in local use. This is similar to the busy signal on the telephone.

(3)  Pause for 10 seconds

(4)  Announce your presence by saying "(your call) is listening". If you're lucky someone will respond to your call.

A.  Announce that you're bringing down the node

B.  Give your call sign and

C.  Enter "73" using your DTMF keypad on your radio. You will hear a closing message and the link will disconnect.