Authentication

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EchoLink's policy is that each user must hold a valid Amateur Radio license in order to be allowed access.  Each new user must be validated, and the most critical part of validation is authentication.  Authentication is simply verifying that you are who you say you are.  If your callsign is W1XYZ, you would probably not be pleased if someone else claimed to be W1XYZ.

How it Works

The first step is to download, install, and run the EchoLink software.  This registers your callsign with the system.  However, you will not be able to connect with anyone on the EchoLink network until you have been authenticated.

The next step is to visit the Validation page to request access for your callsign.

Please understand that the purpose of authentication is not to exclude any licensed Amateur from using EchoLink, but to ensure its continued enjoyment by you and other users who appreciate its commitment to security.  Part of this is to ensure that the callsign you're using is valid.  But the other, and most important part, is to verify that you are indeed the licensee.

For answers to common questions about EchoLink validation, please see the Validation FAQ.

How to Authenticate Yourself

There are several different ways you can authenticate yourself for EchoLink.  The specific options available vary somewhat depending upon the country in which you are licensed.

To begin the validation process, please go to this URL:

http://www.echolink.org/validation

Note that one of the validation options may be to scan and upload a copy of your station license. If you choose this option, the file you upload must be one of these file types: JPG, GIF, TIF, PDF, or PNG. Complete instructions on how to upload are provided on the Validation pages.

Acceptable Callsigns

To be validated, the requestor must hold a current, valid amateur radio license, CEPT Class 2 or equivalent, or above.  The following callsigns will not be accepted for validation:

• Callsigns for licenses that have expired, been cancelled, or do not appear in the corresponding official government database, where available (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United States.)
• Novice-class callsigns in the U.S.  Novices do not have privileges on the frequencies on which most EchoLink nodes operate.
• SWL or training-station callsigns (e.g. DN or HE9 prefixes).
• Temporary, portable, commemorative, reciprocal, or special-event callsigns.
• Additional callsigns held by the same user. If you hold multiple callsigns, please use only one of them with EchoLink.

[There are a few exceptions to the CEPT-2 minimum requirement, such as Class 3 licenses in Germany.]

Club and Repeater Callsigns

EchoLink will accept validation for a club or repeater callsign if a valid copy of the club station's license document is provided, subject to the same rules as any other station license. However, a club or repeater callsign will not be validated for single-user mode, only for sysop mode (with a -L or -R suffix).

Access Policies

Finally, please familiarize yourself with the Access Policies page.  This page outlines the rules under which EchoLink stations must operate in order to continue enjoying access to the system.