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"I see the list of stations, but every time I try to connect to one, I get a "Connect attempt failed" message after 30 seconds. What's the problem?""My node is running fine, except that it seems that I can only initiate a connection to another station; my node doesn't accept connection requests from others."Most likely, a problem with your network set-up is preventing your node from receiving messages from other stations over the Internet. This is a very common issue. Please note that this is not a problem with the EchoLink software itself. For this reason, the EchoLink Support team will not be able to help you solve it. However, the information on this page might help. It's also recommended that you first try the Firewall/Router Test Page on this site. The solution depends on what kind of hardware and software you are using for your Internet connection. Unfortunately, many different hardware and software products may be involved, so it is not possible to document every solution. A few of the most common situations are listed below. Basic Information
DSL, Fiber, and Cable Modem ServiceIf you connect to the Internet using DSL, Fiber, or Cable Modem service, there might be a router built into the equipment that the telephone company or cable company provided you. For example, some of the equipment provided by Comcast and Verizon have built-in routers. Check the make and model of your modem or router, and then look for instructions on one of the Web sites described below. Cellular and Satellite ServiceIf you connect to the Internet using cellular or satellite service, such as T-Mobile or Starlink, there are some special challenges due to the use of CGNAT. For more information, please see Internet Service Providers. Learning About Port ForwardingThere are some good resources on the Internet for learning about port forwarding, with some step-by-step instructions for how to set it up: How to Port Forward provides a good overview. But when you get to Step 5, please use the EchoLink Firewall/Router Test page instead. How to Forward Ports on Your Router might also be helpful. A useful Web site that discusses port forwarding, with solutions for specific makes and models of equipment, is www.portforward.com. Choose EchoLink from the list of applications, then select the make and model of your equipment. (Please note that portforward.com is not affiliated in any way with EchoLink; we recommend that you use the portforward.com Web site as an information resource, and not necessarily for the optional configuration software being sold on that site.) Microsoft WindowsWindows comes with a built-in "firewall" feature that helps protect your computer from undesired connections from the Internet. In order to use EchoLink, you will need to adjust some settings if the built-in firewall is enabled. This is normally done automatically during installation, but in some cases, you might need to manually add an "exception" for the EchoLink.exe software. Problems With Some Connections, And Not Others?If you router isn't properly configured, you might that you are able to connect to some stations on EchoLink, but not others. For more information about this, please see the article "Echolink, Firewalls, and Routers." Satellite Internet Service ProvidersMany users are successfully running EchoLink using an Internet connection provided through a satellite dish. Although the latency (time delay) is usually higher with this type of system, it rarely affects EchoLink since EchoLink does not use end-to-end acknowledgements of voice packets. However, some service providers use a router which does network-address translation (NAT), which often cannot be configured by the customer. Check with your satellite ISP to see if this is the case, and whether a different tier of service is available which will avoid it. For more information, see: |
