Echolink is communication on the internet. Millions of people do that
daily, with no license needed.

You can do the same thing with a cellphone.


There is nothing wrong with Echolink, but it is silly and dishonest to call
it communicating by radio, which is what hams do.

When a person says he "worked" Germany on Echolink, he is either mistaken
or dishonest. What he has "worked" is his local telephone connection,
usually a distance of about five miles. It is hard for me to believe that
this person could really believe that he "worked" Germany. If I pick up
my cellphone and call Germany, can I get a QSL card for it, and get ARRL
credit ??? Huh ??

It utterly amazes me that a person would study for a ham exam, only to use
Echolink, when you can do the very same thing with any computer or
telephone. There is no ham license or ham equipment needed to talk on the
phone or on the computer. Ever heard of ICQ and other chat programs ?
Ever heard of Voice Over Internet ?

Lots of folks have fun on Echolink. For that reason, I truly think it is
Great !!! Just don't pretend that it is ham radio when the world knows
that it isn't.


Well, that's my two cents worth. See ya on the radio waves !!


73 de Jim K4PYT