EchoLink^® software allows licensed Amateur Radio stations to communicate with one another over the Internet, using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology.  The program allows worldwide connections to be made between stations, or from computer to station, greatly enhancing Amateur Radio's communications capabilities.

There are several different ways amateur operators can use the EchoLink^® software. They can set up a "simplex link" in their shack, with a VHF or UHF transceiver connected to their PC, to allow anyone in range of their station (or a nearby repeater) to communicate by voice with any other similarly-equipped station around the world.

Or, they can use the PC's microphone and speakers and remotely connect to any of more than 3,000 different repeaters, simplex stations, or other PC users who have EchoLink capability.

In System Operator (sysop) mode, EchoLink connects to a conventional FM transceiver using either the custom-designed linking interface boards or general-purpose digital-mode interfaces. Hams can even build their own interface from junk-box parts. The board connects the computer's sound card and serial port.

Local gateways