The K0KDS-L VOIP node is currently not active. This page exists for reference only.
I maintain a limited-coverage simplex Echolink node in Ankeny, Iowa, which is five miles north of Des Moines along Interstate 35. The node is open to any licensed amateur radio operator. The node can be reached at 445.400 MHz, with a PL tone of 123.0 (encode/decode). Other Echolink-enabled stations can reach K0KDS-L by dialing node number 99854.
The node radio is currently an Icom ID-800H dual-band digital radio, which feeds into a Diamond NR72BNMO dual-band antenna, on a magnetic mount, on an upside-down coffee can, on a south-facing window sill, in my ground-level apartment — hence the limited coverage. I am working on improving the efficiency of that setup. At 15 watts, the node covers most of the city of Ankeny.
There are certain events that are scheduled on the node to allow locals to take part in various VOIP nets. I welcome users’ input on what nets and events they would like to participate in. While any user can connect to any node at any time to take part in any net they want, I can set the node up so that it automatically connects to a conference server or repeater hosting a net. The automatic schedule can also be altered at any time to allow for special events such as Skywarn. If you think I should add or remove an automatically scheduled event, feel free to drop me a line. The current schedule is:
Any of the automatically scheduled events can be disconnected during a break in transmission, by hitting the # sign on your keypad, except the Amateur Radio Newsline report. All nets will be disconnected 90 minutes after the scheduled start time. Before the Amateur Radio Newsline report is transmitted, all stations will be disconnected and the node will be listed as busy.
| DTMF | COMMAND | DTMF | COMMAND |
| 09 | Last connected | 9999 | Audio testing server |
| * | Play info | 001 | Random favorite node |
| 08 | Link status | 011 | Random favorite link |
| # | Disconnect | 021 | Random favorite conference |
| ## | Disconnect all | 031 | Random favorite user |
| 06 | Query by node | *08 | Who is connected? |
| 07 | Query by call | **1 | Current weather |
| 00 | Random node | 55* | Current temperature |
| 01 | Random link | **3 | Weather warnings |
| 02 | Random conference | **4 | Weather warnings summary |
| 03 | Random user | **5 | Weather warnings complete |
| DTMF | CALL | LOCATION/NOTES | NODE # |
| *01 | N0INX-R | Grimes, Iowa | 460526 |
| *02 | WA0DX-R | Ottumwa, Iowa | 376609 |
| *03 | KE0BX-R | Ottumwa, Iowa | 13213 |
| *04 | AB0DX-R | Washington, Iowa | 343657 |
| *05 | WB0VHB-R | Mt. Pleasant, Iowa | 339174 |
| *06 | K0GQ-R | Raytown, Missouri | 403841 |
| *11 | KD0FLC-L | Fort Dodge, Iowa (Webster ARES) | |
| *12 | N0NHB-L | Red Oak, Iowa (14 linked repeaters) | 509846 |
| *13 | N0MPM-L | Pella, Iowa | 50219 |
| *20 | *IOWA* | Iowa conference server | 415629 |
| *22 | *WX_TALK* | Skywarn and WX4NHC nets | 7203 |
| *23 | *CARE_HUB* | Consortium of Amateur Radio Experimenters | 119705 |
| *24 | *DODROPIN* | DODROPIN ragchew/net conference server | 355800 |
| *25 | *MISSOURI* | Missouri conference server | 452514 |
| *26 | *WCIL* | West Central Illinois Repeater Group | 348514 |
| *27 | *NASA* | NASA audio – listen only | 13599 |
| *28 | *AMSAT* | AMSAT conference server | 101377 |
| *30 | K0KDS | K0KDS – Internet |
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