We have extensive experience working with Echolink and associated hardware.

We were very early adopters and helped refine some of the early hardware.

The big #1 problem for new users (and even longtime users) is TX audio level.

This is the level from your mic or radio RX (for link and repeater users) into the sound card and then onto the net. Since you cannot hear your outgoing signal, most users have less than wonderful audio. (this is a critical setting)

The problem is that if you over-drive the digital A to D circuits in the sound card, the result is pretty awful sounding on the other end. The display bar-graph is mis-leading, in that if you run it at 80% or so modulation, it will sound totally un-intelligible on the other end. You have to run it at about 50%. Also, adjusting the mic or line level is tricky.

The normal mixer is the one you get by double clicking on the yellow speaker icon at bottom right (windows). Problem is, that isn't the mic adjustment. You have to open that one up, then select Options/Properties, then select "recording" to get the input controls.

Now, adjust your mic level for around 50% average. Talk about 2 inches from the mic in a normal to low voice. This will give the best signal to noise ratio.

Now, secondly, most people just put up with the 5 second delay between transmissions, but you don't have to. Go to the Echolink program's Tools/Setup menu..then select the Audio tab up top. Now, slide the two sliders all the way to the left. This will really speed up the TX/RX turn-around. As long as you have a fairly decent internet connection, this will work super.

Remember repeater/link owners, use the line-in on the sound card and turn up the volume from the radio RX. Keep modulation about 50% or less. Failure to do this results in horrific net audio.

Ideally, one would use a limiter/compressor/EQ in the RX line to make all incoming signals equal.

You are shooting for signal to noise ratio here, and if things are good, you should see no bar-graph deflection when people stop talking on the repeater/link.

That's it for now.

Enjoy-

Bob AB5N