M1ERS (our local expert in IRLP) will be giving us an over view and talk on IRLP via Sheffield Live later this year (2005). IRLP stands for the Internet Radio Linking Project. The aim of this project is to link radio systems separated by long distance without the use of expensive leased lines, satellites, or controllers.

The IRLP uses Voice-Over-IP software and the power of the Internet to link your radio site to the world. The system uses its own custom interface board and software suite which makes interfacing your radio system to the world simple and cost effective.

The IRLP runs a large network of dedicated servers and nodes to offer the very best in voice communications. The heart of the IRLP is its Amateur Radio network which reaches hundreds of towns and cities across the World, linking them all with a full dynamic range, telephone quality sound.


Due to many poorly factory adjusted radios these days, not all radios and nodes you will hear through Live365 will exhibit the excellent audio quality that IRLP is capable of. However, due to the digital nature of IRLP linking, a properly adjusted node and user radio will have the identical audio quality to that of a local user.

NOTE: A few IRLP nodes are not rolling off their sub-audible tone squelch audio which will cause a very low frequency hum on some nodes

Other Advantages to IRLP around the World

We would also like to add that this project does not only cover the scope of amateur radio, but also includes several commercial applications as well. A couple of commercial uses include:

Replacing leased lines used by national carrier companies.

IRLP designed and implemented a central homed system for dispatch of multiple vehicles across the province of British Columbia using internet links, mountain-top repeaters, and remote base radios. The IRLP system was interfaced directly into an existing console, and the dispatchers did not notice a difference in functionality.

Town of Canmore Alberta replaced 911 dispatch circuits for Fire, police and Ambulance between Calgary and Canmore using several IRLP nodes featuring embedded processors. These single board computers run under Linux and have no moving parts. The commercial IRLP implementation handles voice and paging tones over the VoIP connections

Replacing older technology paging equipment.

IRLP designed and implemented a multi-cast voice paging network (4 transmitters) for a remote school district in British Columbia without the use of RF based links between sites. This saved the school district thousands of dollars in RF gear and reduced the operating cost of their paging system by 75%.

Monitoring of remote areas for security reasons.

Connecting people from remote offices together.



Enjoy IRLP and please pass the word.

Copy write Steve M1ERS also Repeater Keeper of GB7SF D-Star