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Date Last Updated:
8/2/2008
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Ham Radio in Clallam County

Hosted by Sheldon Koehler N7XEI, the purpose of this node is to provide no-membership open-access IRLP network coverage for all licensed hams in the Port Angeles/Sequim/Joyce areas. IRLP is a new technology that has already proven to attract the interest of many active and inactive hams in the area, both young and old.

Node Coverage

The N7XEI node is located in central Port Angeles, near Safeway and the Clallam County Courthouse. This is a simplex node; there is no repeater involved. The node has handheld radio receive coverage in the Port Angeles area, and mobile/base receive coverage from Sequim to Joyce. Local transmit coverage is from just east of Sequim to 10 miles west of Joyce.

The node also has fringe coverage to many outlying areas, including the Northwest coast of the Olympic Peninsula (Clallam Bay/Sekiu), the Southeast coast of Vancouver Island (Victoria, Sidney, Sooke), Whidbey Island (Oak Harbor, Anacortes), and the San Juans (Friday Harbor). Signal strength to these locations vary from no signal at all to a full-quieting signal, depending on many different factors (terrain, weather conditions, etc.), so users from these areas may need to use high power (25-50W and a gain antenna) to reliably use the node.

Coverage Map

The node transmits 50W into a Cushcraft Ringo Ranger antenna.

Using the Node

First of all, you must have a DTMF keypad on your radio to use IRLP. Numbers 0 thru 9 are all that is needed.

Second, you must read and obtain a full understanding of the "IRLP Operating Guidelines" page. You can read it online in HTML Format, or for a printed version, download the Adobe PDF version.

Third, bookmark the IRLP Status Page. You'll need it so you can get a full listing of all IRLP nodes, information, and status.

Node Details
Please conform to the IRLP guidelines. If you don't know what you're doing, PLEASE DO NOT USE THE NODE. If you have questions, ask. Also please remember to identify yourself before you send the connect tones, and after you disconnect. This is important.

Node Usage Information

To connect the N7XEI node to another node, key your radio, identify yourself, press [other node's number] (4 digits), then unkey. You should get a reply. If not, you may be out of range of the node or the numbers were entered incorrectly.

For example, if you want to connect to node 1840, key your radio, press 1840, then unkey. If after sending the connect code you get a verbal reply that says "you are connected to...", that means that someone else is using the node and that you are out of receiving range of the other person using the node. Please wait until you hear a message that says the link is off before you re-attempt connecting.

To disconnect the node, key your radio, press 73, then unkey.

Since node 7610 is a simplex node and not a repeater, you must be careful that you do not interrupt a QSO in progress. If you are in Joyce, there is a good chance you will not hear the person in Sequim that is using the node. Listen for a couple minutes to make sure the frequency is not in use before attempting access. You may only hear one side of the conversation in some circumstances.

Miscellaneous Node Information

To manually force a voice ID, key your radio, press 0, then unkey. The voice ID will be played back. To manually force a modulated CW ID, key your radio, press 00, then unkey. The modulated CW ID will be played back.

Remember: Please conform to the IRLP guidelines when using the node. If the guidelines are not followed, the node owner may be forced to close the node for general use. If the node experiences any ongoing problems with illegal or malicious interference, the node will be barred from general use. Usually someone is always monitoring the frequency, and the node can be disabled at both the control point and via remote control as needed.

Who do I contact regarding the N7XEI IRLP node?
The following people would be happy to answer your questions:

Sheldon Koehler N7XEI

It is with deep reget that we report the passing of Armand Ozbasar VA2EE, a founding member of the N7XEI IRLP project. Armand became a silent key on February 26th 2003 and will be greatly missed in the amateur radio community.

Links

Ham Radio in Clallam County - Home Page
Ham Radio in Clallam County - IRLP in Clallam County
Official IRLP Website
Official IRLP Status Page
G4EID's Node Status Page

Node 7610 Contributors

Sheldon Koehler N7XEI - (Node Owner) Site Location/Internet Connection
Casey Hicks KJ7XE - Technical Assistance
Jerry Bevan K3SWH - Cushcraft Ringo Ranger Antenna
Olympic Hosting Services - Internet Service Provider

Where is Port Angeles?

Click on the Area Information link below for details.

Broadband Internet connectivity for all IRLP services in Clallam County are provided by:

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