Courage Center Handiham System

Dear Elmer,

How do I get to the text box in EchoLink while using keyboard commands? I use a screen reader and I want to try out the W0EQO-L remote base. I hear you can control the frequency of the TS-480 by putting the number in the text box.

Signed,
Eager Beaver

Dear Eager,

The way to get in to the chat text window is alt 4 on the top number row of the keyboard. First, open EchoLink on your computer, then search for W0EQO-L. If you wish to search by node number, look for 261171. Don't bother trying to connect through a node, as the connection can only accept single callsign computer users. Once you find W0EQO-L, you can connect. You will hear audio of some kind, either static if the radio is not tuned to a station, or you might hear a QSO in progress. Up to 5 stations can connect to the node at one time, so other users may already be listening. If the station is in use by a beta tester through the W4MQ interface, you will not have control of the frequency. If there is no such user, you can control the radio's frequency through the EchoLink text box. All you do to get to the text box is click in the box area with your mouse or use the keyboard command alt 4. Do not get this confused with alt F4, which will simply close EchoLink. If your cursor does not end up in exactly the right spot in the texting area, you may want to try tabbing once to get focus in the text entry field. In that field, you can type a frequency, such as 5, then press enter and you will hear WWV on 5 MHz if conditions are right. To get to PICONET on 3.925 MHz, type in 3925 and press enter. Notice that there is no decimal point. The radio will respond by changing frequency and telling you what frequency it is on in spoken audio. To change modes, you can type USB, CW, LSB, AM, and so on. Remember that LSB is used on PICONET and across the 75 meter band.

For users of Window-Eyes, it is necessary to type insert b first, as this is their bypass command, and Window-Eyes won't try to accept alt 4 as a screen reader command.

Have fun with the remote base!

73 from Elmer