I think Shawn that Mike needs to confirm differently due to being an
International ham.


Mike, check this link, or just continue reading:

http://www.echolink.org/authentication.htm

Access Policies

One of the chief concerns about interconnecting Amateur Radio with the
Internet is preventing access by non-hams.

EchoLink's policy is that each user must hold a valid Amateur Radio license in
order to be allowed access.  Each new user must be validated, and the most
critical part of validation is authentication.  Authentication is simply
verifying that you are who you say you are.  If your callsign is W1XYZ, you
would
probably not be pleased if someone else claimed to be W1XYZ.

How it Works

The validation process begins automatically the first time you run the
EchoLink software.  The software sends a message to our servers, called a
validation
request, containing the information you entered when you installed the
software.

In general, EchoLink requires that each new user also submit proof of license
in order to be validated.  Sometimes, this requirement is waived if a
heuristic
analysis of the available information casts no doubt on the authenticity of
the request.  After being processed by the EchoLink servers, each request is
reviewed by a volunteer staffer, who either approves the request or sends an
e-mail message asking for more information.  Typically, these requests are
reviewed within a matter of hours.

You will know you've been validated if a list of stations appears on the
EchoLink screen.  However, if it's been more than 24 hours since you started
up
the program and your callsign has still not been validated by EchoLink, or if
you have received an e-mail message from EchoLink Support requesting proof
of license, it means that you must provide authentication in order to be
validated.

Please understand that the purpose of authentication is not to exclude any
licensed Amateur from using EchoLink, but to ensure its continued enjoyment by
you and other users who appreciate its commitment to security.  Also, the
purpose is not to determine whether the callsign is valid -- that can usually
be checked elsewhere -- but to verify that you are indeed the licensee.

How to Authenticate Yourself

If you have been asked for authentication, there are currently only two forms
of authentication we can accept:

1. A photocopy of the Amateur license, showing the callsign under which you
are requesting validation.  The copy must clearly show the license expiration
date, if applicable in your country.  If you live in a country where operator
licenses and station licenses are separate documents, you must provide the
station (or apparatus) license.  Please see
Validation Documents
for details.

The license copy may be sent to the EchoLink validation team either by e-mail
(as an attachment), or by fax.  You can fax it to +1 312 803 1851 (a U.S.
number), or send it as an attachment to
[log in to unmask] .
If you send it as an attachment, the attachment must be a digital image of the
license, such as a scan or a digital photograph, which is clearly readable.

-OR-

2. A digitally-signed request, using a Trusted QSL digital certificate issued
by the American Radio Relay League under its Logbook of the World (LoTW)
program.
 If you are already participating in LoTW, this may be the easiest option.
EchoLink provides a special utility you can use to digitally sign your
EchoLink
request using your key and the certificate issued by the ARRL.  (The digital
certificate is free to amateurs in all countries, and ARRL membership is not
required.)

To download the EchoLink Authentication utility, click
here.
When the download completes, click Open to begin running the utility.

For more information about Logbook of the World, please see
www.arrl.org/lotw.
For more information about Trusted QSL, please see
www.trustedqsl.org.

Acceptable Callsigns

To be validated, the requestor must hold a current, valid amateur radio
license, CEPT Class 2 or equivalent, or above.  The following callsigns will
not
be accepted for validation:

Callsigns for licenses that have expired, been cancelled, or do not appear in
the corresponding official government database, where available (Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand,
Sweden, and the United States.)

Novice-class callsigns in the U.S.  Novices do not have privileges on the
frequencies on which most EchoLink nodes operate.

SWL or training-station callsigns (e.g. DN or HE9 prefixes).

Sysop callsigns in the U.K. for which no Notice of Variation (NoV) has been
issued for Internet Voice Gateway operation.

Temporary, portable, or special-event callsigns.

Additional callsigns held by users who have already had access privileges
withdrawn.

[There are a few exceptions to the CEPT-2 minimum requirement, such as Class 3
licenses in Germany.]Steve
K8SP