How to Use Amazon Echo in Ham Radio

How to Use Amazon Echo in Ham Radio

How to use implement Voice activated computers such as Google Voice, the Amazon Echo-like digital assistant, or the Ubi, the ubiquos computer in Ham Radio. They can be used to access Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) repeaters remotely.
 Putting the voice activated computers on line, we can send voice commands followed by DTMF  and access the Internet directly.

We can learn about the weather, and other ham radio information, such as call letters and other Ham Radio related news and have the repeater speak important anoucemments.

Ubi and Alexa have now become good friends and this latest integration open many posibilities.
Ubi is an excellent voice activated computer that was developed through the Kickstarter program.
  You can implement powerful  HTTP requests to link into the repeater servers and make all kind of changes, or have the computer simply make group  announcements on the repeater. The Amazon Echo available through Amazon, is another refined voice activated device that's totally amazing. The handshaking of those two devices open many possibilities.

 I remember using the ComShack 64 with a Comodore 64 computer and used a program called voice packet that actually did the very same thing with only 64 K of memory.
 The processor was very slow and it voice was crude and primitive but it did the job. The machine actually sounded more like an Alien from a far away Galaxy.

It allowed me to control an HF rig remotely using voice and DTMF commands. On a memorable occasion I was able to communicate with my Dad, HR2AD from the mountains of Honduras with only one watt of power.

 I presently use a Raspberry Pie computer to control one of my repeaters and I am trying to incorporate the UBI (Ubiquitous computer) on to another system.
I was very lucky that during Hurricane Katrina, one of my repeaters never lost power, and in the aftermath of the storm, it became one of the few links between New Orleans and the outside world. One of the greatest gift anyone can receive.

After having the machines for over 25 years, free of charge, if course, my efforts eventually paid off. The 444.150 machine, on top of Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans  was taken by the Armed forces and other ham operators to use with the help and rescue operation of many hurricane victims.
Old fashioned communication came to the rescue when everything digital failed.


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