EchoLink is a software application that allows licensed amateur radio operators to communicate with each other over the internet using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology. Many ham operators use Echolink to connect via their computer/phone to distant radio repeaters, to listen and chat with operators near that repeater.
But for this to work, you need the Echolink app installed on your phone or computer. After changing firewalls, I’ve been struggling to get my laptop computer to connect to Echolink. A direct connection does require that UDP ports 5198 and 5199 are forwarded inwards through the firewall to the PC. But even though these ports were open on my firewall and I could see they opened green to pass traffic, Echolink was still failing on the inbound tests.
I noticed that my phone though was connecting fine. It connected even if I disable the port forward rule! I checked its Echolink settings and noticed it used a relay to connect. Interesting.
So I looked in the PC Echolink app, and saw it also has proxy and relay settings. I chose a relay, and it connected just fine. It takes a little longer to get connected, but it is passing its audio tests just fine.
The advantage is now that I can also close those opened ports on the firewall.
I’ve seen so many struggling, as I have, checking Windows firewall settings, checking router firewalls, changing app compatibility to Windows 8, etc. No-one has even mentioned trying a relay. So I hope this post helps some others out too.
Thanks also to all those who host these Echolink relays 24/7.