As with other standard Windows applications, EchoLink offers a set of pull-down menus in a bar across the top, and a toolbar with clickable icons as shortcuts to many of the commonly-used menu items.
The EchoLink toolbar is shown below. For descriptions of each function, see the descriptions of the matching menu items, below.
As with other Windows applications, EchoLink includes a row of pull-down menus along the Menu Bar. Each menu is described in detail below.
Print: Prints the current contents of the Station List.
Print Preview: Displays the current Station List as it would appear when printed.
Print Setup: Allows you to select a printer and set printer options for use with EchoLink.
Profiles: Selects a new profile, or creates or deletes an existing one. (A profile is a collection of EchoLink settings. For more information, see Profiles .)
Exit: Log off the system and exit the program. This is the same as clicking the Close icon (the X in the upper right-hand corner).
Cut: Copies the current selection to the Clipboard, and deletes it.
Copy: Copies the current selection to the Clipboard.
Paste: Places the contents of the Clipboard into the selected location.
Delete: Deletes the current selection.
Items on the Edit menu apply to the current selection of the EchoLink window which has "focus". This can be the Index View, the Explorer View, the Text Message window, the Text Chat window, or the Text Chat Send box. To change focus to a different window, click on it, or or type one of the keyboard commands listed in Keyboard Shortcuts.
Transmit: This item becomes active when you are connected to another station. Check this item to "transmit" (speak to the remote station), and un-check it to stop transmitting. This is the same as clicking the Transmit icon in the toolbar, or tapping the space bar on the keyboard.
Connect: This item becomes active when you select a station's callsign in the Station List area (by clicking on it). Choosing Connect will attempt to establish a connection with that station. This is the same as double-clicking the station's callsign, or selecting the station and pressing Enter on the keyboard.
Connect To: Opens the Connect To dialog, which allows you to enter either the callsign or the node number of a station you wish to connect to. EchoLink will try to connect to that station only if it is currently listed in the Station List.
Connect To Test Server: Connects to a special conference server, called *ECHOTEST*, which simply records and plays back any transmissions you send to it. This is useful for general system testing and setting audio levels. (You cannot connect to *ECHOTEST* if another conference is already connected.)
Reconnect: Re-connect to the station you most recently disconnected from. This is especially useful if your conversation had become disconnected due to a timeout or a network problem.
Disconnect: Disconnect from the current station. If more than one station is connected (in Conference mode), you will be prompted to disconnect a specific station, or to disconnect all stations at once.
Call CQ: Open the Call CQ dialog to set your CQ preferenes and initiate a CQ call. EchoLink will try to connect you to some other station that is also calling CQ with matching preferences. For more information, see Calling CQ
Info: Opens up a dialog which displays basic information about the selected station.
Find: Opens the Find dialog, which prompts you to enter a callsign or location. Find then searches the Station List for a match (or partial match), and shows the result. The Find dialog remains open so you can repeat the search or start a new one.
Refresh List: Updates the Station List immediately.
Alarms: Opens the Alarms dialog, which lets you manage a list of callsigns for which to set Alarms. If any of these stations comes online (or switches from Free to Busy, or vice versa), EchoLink sounds an alarm and notes the event in bold just below the Station List. Any number of callsigns may be specified. Alarmed stations are also listed in a special folder in Explorer View. You can also set up the Index View to show only stations which are in your Alarms list. For more information, see Preferences.
List Me as Busy: If not currently connected, changes your station's listed status from On to Busy. This is useful to discourage other stations from trying to connect to yours during periods when you would like to run EchoLink but do not wish to accept incoming connections.
Disable Link: In Sysop mode, enables or disables the program. When EchoLink is disabled, your callsign will no longer appear in the Station List, and incoming connections will not be accepted. Choose this item again to re-enable the link.
Listen-Only Mode: In Sysop mode, prevents any transmissions received over the RF link from being sent over the Internet to the remote station. This is useful for monitoring a conference, while assuring that any local RF activity (IDs, squelch tails, etc.) does not interrupt it inadvertently. Select this item again to clear Listen-Only mode and return to normal operation. EchoLink will also return to normal operation automatically when the current connection is dropped.
Setup: Opens the Setup dialog, which provides access to basic configuration of EchoLink. For more information, see Setup.
Preferences: Opens the Preferences dialog, which provides access to user-preference options. For more information, see Preferences.
Sysop Settings: This item is available only if EchoLink is running in Sysop mode. Opens the Sysop dialog, which provides access to advanced features applicable only to Sysop mode. For more information, see Sysop Settings.
Link Setup Wizard: Starts a wizard which creates a basic Sysop configuration based on answers to a few questions about your link. This Wizard is recommended for first-time users who have a transceiver connected to the PC for linking operation.
Adjust Sound Device: Opens up the Windows Volume Control panel for adjusting the playback or recording levels.
Tone Generator: In Sysop mode, keys the local transmitter and plays a sine-wave signal at the specified frequency and amplitude. This is useful for tests and adjustments.
Start Recording: Starts recording the current QSO. While in Recording mode, EchoLink will create one or more WAV files containing the transmitted and received audio. See the Recording setting on the Audio tab of Setup, and Record and Playback for more information..
Play Sound File: Opens and plays a WAV or MP3 sound file, sending the audio to the connected station(s). If your system has a full-duplex sound device, the audio will also be heard through the local speakers, or over the air if running in Sysop mode.
Stop: If playing a sound file, stops playback, closes the file, and stops TX. If recording, stops recording and closes the file.
Pause Playback: If playing a sound file, temporarily suspends playback and stops TX.
Network Test: Launches the Network Test utility. This utility examines your local nework, and your machine's Internet connection, and generates a report which can be useful for troubleshooting. The report includes results of a test which verifies that your node will be able to successfully connect to other stations, both inbound and outbound. There is also an experimental utility which uses Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) to discover routers on your local network, providing an easy way for you to configure the port forwarding rules which EchoLink requires.
Toolbar: When checked, displays the Toolbar near the top of the screen, just below the menu bar. The Toolbar provides quick one-click access to several frequently-used menu items. Un-check this item if you wish to hide the Toolbar and allow EchoLink to occupy less space on the screen.
Status Bar: When checked, displays the Status bar at the bottom of the screen. The Status Bar includes indicators which show the transmit/receive/connect status, and descriptions of the menu and toolbar items. Un-check this item if you wish to hide the status bar.
Connection Statistics: When checked, displays the Connection Statistics window. This window "floats" on top of the EchoLink screen, and may be moved or closed if desired. The Connection Statistics window shows detailed information about the current connection, if any. For more information, see Connection Statistics.
Station Summary: When checked, displays the Station Summary window. This window "floats" on top of the EchoLink screen, and may be moved or closed if desired. The Station Summary window shows summary totals of the stations in the Station List, grouped by type, status, and country. For more information, see Station Summary.
Alarm Log: When checked, displays the Alarm Log window. This window "floats" on top of the EchoLink screen, and may be moved or closed if desired. The Alarm Log displays the list of Alarmed stations which have changed status since the program was started. If "Show Alarms in pop-up window" is checked (see Preferences), the Alarm Log window opens automatically when an Alarm is sounded. Note that you can close and re-open the Alarm Log window at any time without losing the information it contains.
DTMF Pad: When checked, displays the pop-up DTMF encoder pad. This is a utility that allows DTMF signals to be sent over the Internet to the connected station, which is useful for certain remote-control functions that the other station might be supporting. The DTMF Pad is not available unless EchoLink is connected to a station which has specifically permitted it (see Sysop Settings). It is also not available if either station is participating in a conference. The DTMF Pad closes automatically when the station disconnects.
Server Message: Displays any informational message that might have been returned by the server the last time the Station List was updated. Check this message if you suspect that the Station List area is not working correctly, or if you are in Auto Proxy mode and want to see which of the public proxies is currently being used by your node.
System Log: Offers the option to View or Edit the current System log file. Choosing View opens the log using a built-in, read-only viewer. Choosing Edit opens the file using a Windows text editor, such as Notepad. This log file (called QSOLog.txt) maintains detailed information about each station that connects or disconnects, and other system events.
Callsign Log: Offers the option to View or Edit the current Callsign log file. Choosing View opens the log using a built-in, read-only viewer. Choosing Edit opens the file using a Windows text editor, such as Notepad. This log file (called CallLog.txt) logs one line for each station contacted, at the conclusion of the QSO, with the date and time the contact began and ended, and the callsign and name of the other station.
Contents: Opens the main Help menu. (If the Help window does not open, check to be sure your system has the latest Microsoft HTML Help controls installed.)
Search: Opens the Help system, and allows you to search for a particular keyword.
Index: Opens the Help system, and displays the index of Help items.
EchoLink Web Site: Navigates your Web browser to the EchoLink Web site's home page.
Help on the Web: Links to a Web site containing detailed and up-to-date Help topics. Choosing this item will open your default Web browser and navigate to the EchoLink Help page.
Software Updates: Opens a window which gives you the opportunity to automatically check the EchoLink Web site to see if a new version of the software is available.
About EchoLink: Displays EchoLink's current version number and copyright information.