The first time you run EchoLink after installing it, the Setup Wizard will appear to step you through the basic setup. The Setup Wizard gathers enough information about your system to get you started using EchoLink. Each screen of the Setup Wizard is described in detail below.
The first choice you will need to make is whether you want to run EchoLink in User mode or Sysop mode.
User Mode
Choose User mode if you expect to use your PC to connect to other EchoLink stations over the Internet, using your PC's microphone and speaker to communicate. This option is appropriate if you do not expect to connect radio equipment to your PC to operate a repeater or link node.
Sysop Mode
Choose Sysop mode if you have connected (or intend to connect) a transceiver to your PC, in order to make your rig accessible to other EchoLink users connecting over the Internet. This mode generally requires a special hardware interface between your PC and your transceiver. For more information, see Interfacing .
For more information about each mode, see Modes.
If you selected Sysop mode, you'll be asked to indicate which type of interface board you are using, and which COM port it is connected to, if it requires a serial port. The list of available COM ports (if any) is shown. Be sure to select the correct port, and verify that the port is not already in use by another application.
For more information about the types of interfaces EchoLink supports, see Interfacing.
You'll be asked to enter some information about your station.
Callsign: Set the callsign exactly as you wish to be registered with EchoLink. If you have already registered, use the same callsign you used previously. The callsign must be at least 3 characters long and may not contain spaces or punctuation, except as part of an -L or -R suffix.
If you are planning to run in Sysop mode, put an -R or -L at the end of your call to indicate a "repeater" or "link", respectively (for example, K1RFD-L). Use -L to denote a simplex link, or -R if the link is tuned to the frequency pair of a local repeater.
If you are expecting to run in User mode, do not use a suffix after your callsign.
Password: If you had used EchoLink previously, type your original password here. Otherwise, select a password you can easily remember, and it will be assigned to you as you register. Be sure to make a note of it, in case you need to re-install the software.
First Name: This name will appear on the other station's screen when you establish a contact. Enter the name by which you wish to be called.
Location: Enter the location of your station, or a description of its function. This will appear in the list of available users. Examples: "Ridgefield, CT", or "Link to W2ABC/R, NYC".
Email Addr: Please enter your e-mail address. This address is used only for initial registration, and will not be published or displayed anywhere. After registration, please use the EchoLink Web site to inform us of any change in your e-mail address.
You will be asked to indicate in which general region of the world you are located. This information is used to select the nearest set of "addressing servers" for EchoLink to use. All servers carry the same set of information, so this choice is not particularly critical, but may yield slightly faster refreshes of the Station List.