Hamshack Hotline

The Ham-Run VoIP Telephone Network for Preparedness & Disasters

Hamshack Hotline (HHL) is a private VoIP telephone system built by amateur radio operators, for amateur radio operators. Unlike repeater-linking systems such as EchoLink or IRLP, Hamshack Hotline behaves like a closed telephone network—with extensions, call routing, conference bridges, and PBX features—while remaining completely separate from the public telephone system.

For preparedness-minded operators and groups, HHL fills a very specific niche: reliable, low-friction voice coordination before, during, and after disruptions, as long as IP connectivity exists.

What Hamshack Hotline Is (and Is Not)

What it is

  • A non-commercial VoIP PBX network
  • Access restricted to licensed amateur radio operators
  • Users receive a 7-digit extension (often callsign- or region-based)
  • Works with:
    • Desk IP phones
    • Softphones
    • ATA adapters
  • Supports direct calling, ring groups, voicemail, and conferencing

What it is not

  • ❌ Not RF
  • ❌ Not connected to the public phone network (no PSTN)
  • ❌ Not a replacement for HF/VHF/UHF radio
  • ❌ Not grid-independent by default

Think of HHL as “the wired side of the shack”—a coordination and control layer that complements radio, rather than competing with it.

Why Hamshack Hotline Matters in Preparedness

In real emergencies, the first communications failures are often congestion and coordination, not total silence. Hamshack Hotline excels in exactly that gap.

Typical Use Cases

  • Net control back-channels
  • Leadership and logistics coordination
  • Quiet planning conversations without tying up RF
  • Cross-region liaison during developing events
  • Training and rehearsal communications

When RF is busy—or intentionally silent—HHL provides clean, private voice paths.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Clarity and reliability: No noise, no fading, no interference
  • Fast coordination: Dial extensions, not frequencies
  • Scales well: Group calls, conference bridges, ring groups
  • No airtime congestion: Doesn’t compete with emergency nets
  • Low barrier to entry: Inexpensive hardware, minimal learning curve
  • Ham-only access: Reduced exposure compared to public VoIP systems

Cons

  • Internet-dependent: No IP = no HHL
  • Power-dependent: Requires powered network gear
  • Not anonymous: Extensions are tied to licensed operators
  • Not tactical: Unsuitable for field or mobile comms
  • COMSEC is limited: See below

COMSEC Considerations

Hamshack Hotline inherits the same legal and practical constraints as amateur radio:

  • No encryption for message privacy
  • Traffic may be monitored by system operators
  • Callsigns and identities are known

What this means in practice

HHL is appropriate for:

  • Coordination
  • Logistics
  • Status updates
  • Tasking and planning

It is not appropriate for:

  • Sensitive personal data
  • Tactical movement details
  • Anything you wouldn’t say on an open net

Mitigation strategies

  • Use brevity codes and plain operational language
  • Separate coordination from execution
  • Pair with offline or pre-arranged plans

Resiliency & Redundancy

Hamshack Hotline itself is not resilient—your setup must be.

Improve Your Odds

  • UPS on:
    • Modem
    • Router
    • Switch
    • IP phone
  • Secondary ISP (cable + LTE/5G)
  • Generator or battery power
  • Softphone fallback on laptop or tablet

Redundant Thinking

  • Assume HHL will fail eventually
  • Practice clean transitions to RF
  • Do not let VoIP become a single point of failure

Used correctly, HHL buys time, which is one of the most valuable resources in a crisis.

Hamshack Hotline in a Layered Communications Plan

A resilient comms architecture is layered, not linear.

Example Layered Stack

  • Layer 1 – Planning & Coordination
    • Hamshack Hotline
    • Email / messaging
  • Layer 2 – Local RF
    • VHF/UHF simplex & repeaters
  • Layer 3 – Regional RF
    • Linked repeaters
    • AllStar / IRLP
  • Layer 4 – Long Range
    • HF voice & digital

HHL occupies the top coordination layer, reducing load on RF and improving decision-making quality.

Use in Disasters

Early Phase (Watch / Warning)

  • Situation awareness calls
  • Group coordination
  • Planning conferences

Impact Phase

  • Net control support
  • Leadership back-channel
  • Cross-area coordination

Recovery Phase

  • Logistics
  • Resource matching
  • Rebuilding coordination

In every phase, Hamshack Hotline acts as a force multiplier, not a replacement.

Bottom Line

Hamshack Hotline is:

  • Not magic
  • Not grid-proof
  • Not tactical

But it is:

  • Purpose-built
  • Ham-controlled
  • Extremely effective when used intentionally

In a preparedness context, HHL belongs alongside radios, not instead of them. It is the quiet, efficient voice channel that keeps plans aligned and people coordinated—until it’s time to switch to RF and keep going.

Preparedness isn’t about one tool. It’s about knowing when to use which layer—and when to move on.