Our club is looking to add internet linking capability to our 2-meter repeater. We've been researching both IRLP and EchoLink systems but are having trouble deciding which route to go. The repeater currently serves a rural area with decent internet connectivity at the site.

From what I understand, IRLP keeps everything RF-based with their "Keeping the Radio in Amateur Radio" motto, while EchoLink allows both radio links and direct computer/smartphone connections. What are the real-world differences in terms of setup complexity, ongoing maintenance, and user experience?

IRLP requires a dedicated Linux computer and has specific hardware requirements, but it's rock solid once set up. The big advantage is that users control connections with DTMF tones from their radios - no need for computers or apps. Setup is more involved initially, but maintenance is minimal.

We went with EchoLink on our club repeater and love it! The software runs on Windows, has mobile apps for iPhone and Android, plus the new web-based version means our members can participate from anywhere. Just remember that callsign validation is required which takes a few days for new users.

Consider EchoIRLP - it lets you run both systems from the same hardware, giving your users the best of both worlds. We've found that different folks prefer different linking methods, and this way you're not forcing anyone into one camp or the other. The setup is a bit more complex, but the flexibility is worth it for a club repeater.