Our club is looking to add internet linking capability to our 2m repeater and we're trying to decide between the three main systems. IRLP is radio-to-radio only with no smartphone connectivity, EchoLink supports radio/smartphone/PC connections with good voice quality, and AllStar offers crystal clear voice quality with very flexible network options. We want something that's relatively easy for members to use but also reliable for emergency communications.

• How do the setup costs compare?
• Which system do you find most user-friendly?
• Any recommendations for a medium-sized club (about 50 members)?

IRLP is similar to EchoLink but not nearly as friendly to install or operate, requiring Linux and a proprietary commercial interface. For a club your size, I'd recommend EchoLink - it's the most user-friendly and has the largest user base.

Our repeater offers all three systems full-time and we believe we're the first in Wisconsin to do so. AllStar gives the best audio quality but EchoLink sees the most casual use. IRLP is rock-solid reliable but limited to RF-only access.

From an EmComm perspective, AllStarLink runs on dedicated computers including Raspberry Pi and can be hosted at various locations. The redundancy options are excellent, and you can operate without internet using private networks if needed.