More EchoHam problems!

[Slydude]

I'm pretty sure that EchoMac is the older program. See here for example. EchoMac was originally released as far back as 10.3.9. See here.

 

[pm-r]

Now when I try to open EchoHam I am informed that it closed down unexpectedly, OK computers are funny things but I cannot see it closing down a program on it's own.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news sllewk, but it sure can and does.

Maybe try opening Console.app (Utilities folder) and have a look at the "crash" log and see if any part of it makes any sense.

Also, have a look at some of the user comments in case some may help:
https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/11249/echomac

BTW: We got and used a Logitech USB Desktop Microphone that worked very well, and even a cheap USB Desktop Microphone we picked up from the corner "Dollar Den" worked amazing well, at least for that type of use.





- Patrick
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[MacInWin]

Keith, first of all, Happy Birthday!

I've had some time to do some research and I think I know what the problem is. The Virgin Media Super Hub 2ac router uses Port Forwarding, so you need to set it up to forward the ports 5198, 5199 and 5200 to the MBP instead of (or in addition to) your other system. I found this website that describes what you need to do to edit your router for port forwarding:

https://portforward.com/virgin-media/super-hub-2ac/

It's a bit wordy, but it talks you through everything you need to do.

One part of what it says is that you need the new MBP to have a FIXED IP number, that is, an address on the network that does not change. To do that, you will need to open System Preferences/Network and then click on the WiFi interface on the left side window, then Advanced in the right side window and finally on the "TCP/IP" tab on the bar of the next window. Then where it says "Configure IPv4" you want to change from "Using DHCP" to "Manually" and enter a number where it says "IPv4." That number needs to be in the format "192.168.x.y" where the x and y are replaced. The x should be the same value that it had before you changed away from DHCP and the y should be a number between 0 and 255, probably a number above 200. It's a bit of a risk to go fixed IP because you MIGHT end up with two devices with the same number, but if you go above 200 the probability is pretty low. Leave the Subnet Mask and Router numbers unchanged. Once you have it entered, you can click on OK, then APPLY and then leave System Preferences. You'll need to remember that fixed IP because after you set it up, you have to set up the Port Forwarding to send the packets to that IP address for EchoHam to work.

I won't repeat the steps from the linked website. Do take note that the software the site is pushing is for Windows only, so you are going to have to do this manually.

A long-winded analogy for why you have to do this to make it work:

Imagine you live in a hotel (network) and every day you have to check in again (login). Most days you get the same room (IP number) and all is well. But sometimes that room is taken by someone else (a different device) so you get assigned to a different room. But all the rooms are the same, so you don't really care. Even the keys are the same!

Now, you are expecting some packages (UDP Packets) to be coming in for you, but the hotel has a strict "No Mail" policy (firewall). But being a clever lad, you hand the clerk at the desk a fiver and suggest that packages addressed to you (Port numbers) be sent to your room (IP number). The clerk agrees, and for that day, all your packages arrive at the room just fine. But then you get assigned a different room! The clerk isn't the sharpest tool in the shed and keeps sending your packages to that room you first told him about! So you run down to the clerk, hand over another fiver and tell him you aren't in THAT room, but now in THIS room (you change the firewall forwarding settings to a new IP). And so your packages begin to arrive again. Eventually you get tired of having to hand over a fiver almost every day (keep changing settings), so you just always go to the SAME room (fixed IP) because the key works there as well as your assigned room. Ah, all is well, your packages arrive just fine and you are a happy man. Until one day a strange person bangs on your door insisting that HE is the proper owner of the room, not you! (duplicated IPs) One of you has to change! And since you are the briber and therefore in the wrong, you have to move away. So you get in touch with Hotel management and get a long term lease on the room you want (Configure router for fixed IPs as well as DHCP). Now you can get your packets with regularity and nobody will bang on the door because the hotel knows you are there.

So, what you need to do is to set up the router to forward the packets from those ports to your new fixed IP on the new system and EchoHam should begin to work just fine.

 

[Slydude]

Nice job Jake. I should have thought of this the other day when Keith and I were looking at this.

We're going to owe you a few 10 gallon hats for this.

 

[pm-r]

Keith, first of all, Happy Birthday!

I've had some time to do some research and I think I know what the problem i

s.


Here's hoping, and that should make a pretty nice birthday present for Keith if it all works.

Good sleuthing and rationalized thinking.






- Patrick
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[Slydude]

@Jake I'm sending you a PM with a question that I have. For the moment I don't want to confuse folks reading the thread with what might be a wild goose chase.

 

[pm-r]

@Jake I'm sending you a PM with a question that I have.

Does he wear one of those big hats???

You might want to wait until he's wearing one if it's a complicated question.






- Patrick
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[Slydude]

After his continued participation in this thread we are either going to need to get him a 10 gallon hat or a bottle of headache medicine,

 

[MacInWin]

Nope, don't need either. I wear baseball caps, not in the 10 gallon size. And this is a kind-of fun issue to resolve, something different from the normal issues we see here. And as a ham myself, it was fun to learn about EchoHam. Might start using it myself! As part of my testing I did make contact with a fellow in Kansas City who helped me get it all going, listened in to one repeater for a while, generally wandered about the system. It's pretty amazing what a bunch of amateurs can put together on an all-volunteer basis!

 

[Slydude]

I looked at this software a little last year while trying to help Keith. At the same time I thought I might work on a license to communicate with one of my nephews. It was something I had thought about years ago as a Boy Scout. In those days the morse code test was still required. That plus lack of equipment at the school I was attending put a stop to things.

I did find there is more in the way of logbook software etc. for the Mac than I thought. There is also an alternative to EchoHam called HamSphere. It seems rather full-featured but I must confess was a bit over my head. It might be of interest to you if you transition more to using the computer rather than an actual radio.

 

[sllewk]

Hello every-one, Maybe at around teatime here in England there was a sound something similar to thunder. That was yours truly shouting with joy because I actually made a contact using EchoHam on the Mac Mini!! I have been working on it all day today, deleting the program and reinstalling it about five times with lots of frustration at each attempt. Just before 16.00hrs local time (BST) I called out on a UK frequency and suddenly an amateur came back to my call. I am not bothered about the laptop having it installed so I am at last a very happy bunny. Slydude and MacInWin, please accept my deepest thanks; what a wonderful pair of members you are - thank guys. I send my heartfelt thanks to all who offered help, in fact I could not have done it without that help-- Thank You One and All.Sly, Hamsphere is a very good bit of Ham Software but has a cost each month or so whereas EchoHam is free and I am by nature just a wee bit tight fisted. Must be down to my Scottish given name of Keith.
Very best regards to all of you in the USA from Keith in Derby England.

 

[Slydude]

Glad to hear that you are up and running though in all fairness Jake has been taking the lead on this. Without a call sign I haven't been able to do any real testing.

If being Scottish is the key to frugality is there somewhere I can get a transfusion? I can always use a bit more frugality in my life.

 

[pm-r]

Without a call sign I haven't been able to do any real testing.

Well it's sure not for your area but maybe you could use the one we used to use and then substitute whatever letter you like, just for "practice" sake, wink, wink, nudge, nudge. VE7 A*F

These ones are probably still in use unless the old ham has died. There are/were al lot of very old operators throughout the province.
http://www.bcpl8s.ca/HamRadio.htm






- Patrick
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[sllewk]

Slydude, I am not too sure about this but I seem to think that Hamsphere can be used by anyone, you do not need a ham call sign at all, in fact you just make one up and register it. If I were you I would check it out, that way you will get all the experience you want without all the studying. Best regards from Keith in Derby England.

 

[MacInWin]

Congratulations, Keith! Well done!

One small word of caution: IF you do decide to try with the MBP again, don't have both the Mini and MBP running EchoHam at the same time. The UDP Packets that EchoHam uses are being forwarded from the firewall to your Mini and if you fire up the MBP version of EchoHam and configure the router to send UDP Packets to THAT system, then open two sessions, I'm not sure what the router will do. You may get garbage and noise, or you may get nothing. In any event, just don't do it.

Glad you got it working.

73
Jake
W1HRE

 

[pm-r]

73
Jake
W1HRE

WOW!!! Very nice looking place you have there Jake, or should I say nice mansion.

And nice city and area by the looks of the photos for that area.






- Patrick
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[MacInWin]

Patrick, not a mansion, just a house. Winchester is one of the nicest cities I've ever lived in. People are friendly, the city government is well-run, we have a local university (Shenandoah U) and a great medical center. Good place to retire.

 

[Slydude]

Slydude, I am not too sure about this but I seem to think that Hamsphere can be used by anyone, you do not need a ham call sign at all, in fact you just make one up and register it. If I were you I would check it out, that way you will get all the experience you want without all the studying. Best regards from Keith in Derby England.

You are exactly right. You can do things that way. In fact, they recommend that you do that and spend some time just listening to get a feel for what's going on. I actually signed up for the demo last summer but never quite got around to putting it to use.