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South Seattle Community College; Brockey & Olympic HallsSaturday (April 16th) & Sunday (April 15th)

We thank the following for supporting the 2011 Communications Academy:*Adcomm Engineering*ARRL - ARES*C-Comm Seattle*City of Bellevue Emergency Management - EARS*City of Kirkland Emergency Management*City of Seattle Emergency Management - ACS*Day Wireless Systems*Depiction Inc.*Doubletree Suites – South Center*Hot Press Shirts

*Icom*King County Emergency Management*Kirk Bellar*Microsoft Matching Gifts*Mike Matteson*South Seattle Community College*Washington State Dept. of Health*Western Care*Western Washington Medical Services

Exhibitors & radio kits in Olympic room 101

9:30 AM Saturday KeynoteReality Check: The four stages of ARES. Speaker: Allen Pitts,  W1AGP, Media and Public Relations Manager, ARRLFrom 9-11 and Katrina to the revision of the latest ARRL training courses, Allen Pitts, W1AGP, has seen ARES actions all over the country.  But what works in one place may not be helpful in another.  The motivations of one group will differ from another.   Allen has learned there are four stages of ARES activity and we need to address each in a meaningful way.  He will help you identify each of them, understand why they are that way, and recognize the attributes and dangers they pose in ARES management.  Then we’ll look at some current plans from around the country to work with them - both good and bad.

Allen Pitts, W1AGP, is the Media & PR Manager for the ARRL.  His background includes being an ordained Lutheran pastor, extensive community and social agency work in some of the poorest areas of the country, being a DEC and then SEC for Connecticut.  He was one of the three key leaders at HQ during Katrina and again during Haiti.  His SEC work included the first trials and evaluation of the ARES EmComm Level 1 course that began in Connecticut many years ago.  More recently he was tasked with the writing of the new ARES basic and management courses coming out in 2011.   He’s the creator of the Hello, We Do That and Emergency campaigns.  In 2011 he is working on recognition of the many non-emergency services that hams provide to their communities.

3 things why I may be speaking to you.1. Working at ARRL headquarters and see what is going on around the country.2. Experience & working through various crisis: Emotional, spiritual, emergency, ham radio etc. 3. Approaching retirement and say things as I see it.

Let’s try real listening. What are the great undercurrents of Ham Radio today? Hearing: “I tired…”… tired of things worked for being taken apart. …. Of the Glen Becks of the world. … of the public paranoia (global warning, pandemic threats, etc.)

HistoryThe names change but the battle goes on.1919 following WWI - Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the NAvy attempt to have Navy to control all radio frequencies. Placed a ban on all amateur radio. Wanted bills to be passed in Congress to keep the control. Today, Homeland Security wants control through the FCC to control all Amateur Radio for the good of the country

A hobby that can be emergency service or is it Emergency Service that can be a hobby. Media love Emm Comm because it makes for great stories. We need to look at ourselves. Who are we?

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Level one: The first Group690,000 FFC Lic holders of which (5%) 35,000 ARRL members who have Emerg. Comm trainingLet’s say there are 245,000 Lic holders so 12.5 (35,000) are ARRL members. Police & Fire are 1st responders. Ham’s are 1st reporters. Taking ICS courses does not change reality that the first moments the first reporters are any Ham operators. Japan earthquake & tsunami There were no formal HAM group on the air. But there were 100’s of HAM were on the air reporting what was happening. Aside: General Morgan, Revolutionary WarBattle of cowpens The Battle of Cowpens (January 17, 1781) was a decisive victory by American Revolutionaryforces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War. It was a turning point in the reconquest of South Carolina from the BritishUsed the militia in a creative way as they should be used. Blended them with regular Colonial Army for counter strike against the British.Untrained people can do things, How can we use them? Plain HAMs that give first reports that give first responders. Goal is to bring training to them. That is useful to them. How do we reach them? How do we train them to give good informative first reports.

Level 2: 2nd group is just as interesting: 35,0000 HAMS who have some training. ARES & RACES, where does one begin ARES is a program, it is not a group or club. There are many ARES clubs, but you are a participant. ARES is not a first responder.Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is a corps of trainedamateur radio operator volunteers organized to assist in public service and emergency communications. It is organized and sponsored by the American Radio Relay League and the Radio Amateurs of Canada.The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Print out  this formand mail it to your Section Emergency Coordinator. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible to apply for membership in ARES.  Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES.  Please inquire at the local level for specific informaton.  Because ARES is an Amateur Radio service, only licened radio amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.Partner them with regular EOC staff. They need meaningful work to be done. Community service seems to be the current best use for them. Flyer is available to explain this to the managers and public to keep teams intact.

Level three: Management –ARES Leadershipwhere many emm comm. leaders need a reality checkWhole section on integrating other HAM groupsHerding cats in a room of dogs in the dark. ARES is built on a framework. What works in Texas may not work in Vermont. Example of Tallahassee EOC on Haiti response (totally foolish). Requiring all group to go through them inorder to work in Haiti. Warning: I’m not listening! Example of digital use.ARES and HAMS and commercial interest – seeking a balance.Where do we draw the line: National Guard use and Police cruisers; Hospital and a large insurance companyWhat is the appropriate use of HAM radio. Split for demand by HAMs for technical use of frequencies,

Level 4 – The Blue lights group, the group of HAMs ultimate geek userYou believe a day without a crisis is like a day without sunshineYour car looks like a porcupineThere’s a .357 in the glove box

HAM’s are people. People with different energies and level of participation,

Dit dit dah dit dah dit dit dit because without them there wouldn’t be HAM radio

Bi-modal curve of HM users (demographics) –early 60’s people in or near retirement looking for something to do

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Other group is the 20 something, coming for emm comm.DIY group- Like to make their own things, “Make” magazine is their QSTDiana Eng, part of PR Not equal to 20 something group, this is the third group coming in

Several bill in congress wants to take the D block and give It emergency.VHF (TV not using)Were going to sell it, then changed mind. Give it away fo emergency comm. use, but take away other bands and sell it to commercial to raise money for govt. Plan to auction it off 420-440 (Dstar, satellite) & 450-470 - HR607Letter writing campaign to Congress to stop this, not Senate. Resent it was even presented in congress.

Recon scout, was developed in Europe. Brought to U.S. used by police. This is problematic, HAMs will probably interfere with them. FCC needs to address it. But will not until some tragedy happens.

10:45 Morning SessionsHow Digital Can Enhance Your Capability and Why it Belongs in Your EmComm Toolkit NBEMS/FLDIGI Demonstration Instructors: Curt Black, WR5J, Jeff Coleman, W7EIR,  and Ken Iverson AB7X

Curt Black was first licensed in 1981 and was very active with The University of Texas Amateur Radio Club as their president.  The UTARC provided communications for many Skywarn events and storm-event Red Cross damage assessments in Texas.  After returning to Washington, Curt became active with King County Red Cross and the Seattle Auxiliary Communication Service.  He is very interested in preparing for the next disaster by increasing our "message throughput" by using the Narrow-Band Emergency Messaging System.   An ever-growing number of hams are doing this every week by participating in digital nets in Seattle. Curt is now the President of the historic West Seattle ARC.  This club dates into the 1920s but is currently a hotbed of digital activity in the Pacific Northwest.

Ken Iverson (AB7X) Ken was first licensed as a Novice in 1972 and made his first contacts using a WWII vintage BC-348Q and Heathkit DX40.    He was active through 1992 when life intruded and his license lapsed.   During his working life he was employed in several roles including as a telegrapher and dispatcher for the railroad that eventually became the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Ken was licensed again in 2010 and now holds an Amateur Extra Class. He is active in the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club and is currently serving as Vice President.  He is one of the Net Control Stations for the Sunday and Monday UHF Digital Nets with the Puget Sound Digital Hams using FLDigi and EasyPal.

Jeff Coleman discovered amateur radio in 1979 and it changed his life. His fascination with ham radio and the electronics theory he had to learn to get his license led him to undergraduate studies in electrical engineering and computer science and a graduate degree in computer science. Thanks to ham radio, the former cabbie enjoyed a twenty-year career as a Member of Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories, where his first project was writing core software for the world's first cellular telephone system. An Amateur Extra Class, Jeff is a member of Seattle Auxiliary Communication Services and an active participant in Puget Sound digital communications activities. He loves building antennas and bouncing signals off amateur radio satellites as they fly over Seattle.

Although 10 years old Winlink is the Swiss army knife of digital and will get things into an EOC. Digital works in noise. Made and built by HAMs. FLDIGI, FLWRAP and FLMessage Use of digital tools to send more data (medical lists, etc.) transmitted far faster than you can speak. With option to slow done to increase sensitivity. Information can be stored and saved when messages come across, while unattended.

Why Digital? Can out perform voice.Low power 10-20dB improvement over voiceSpectrum efficiency – many conversations in bandwidth if one SSB QSOReliable communications – HF-VHF-UHS equipment: Yasua 897

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Many modes-choose mode depending on conditions100% integrity on complex messages- sent one-to-manyUse in your daily practice so proficiency is high

Example Holly beach, Lousiana; 2005

Need a 12volt to low power inverter to run a laptopWeak signals are almost betterSeconds to send Gettysburg addressPSK-500 ~1 S/N in dB 21 secondsPacket AX.25 300 baud 3 S/N in dB

Meet FLDIGI – demoId configCall sign, 6 character, 500 Hz limit, mode width limit, pre-signal tone 2.0 secondsMisc tabFlmsg: c:program files/flmsg-1.1.6/flmsg.exe

NBEMS file then subfolders of WRAP, ARC, etc.Calibrate sound cardGoto FLMSG includes FLWRAP

Can use audio coupling or signal link to direct connect laptop to handheld transceiver (HT).Resource: http://panbems.org/

Sound card calibrationCheck sample rate on soundcard. 2 minutes is fine

Multipsk Ham radio deluxe (HR) 60 mg size MixW

NBEMS – 3 mg sizeNarrow band emergency messaging system Can boot from puppyLinux on a thumb drive.

MT63 used by most EOC’s and repeaters because of good through put and spectrum efficiency

What is digital? Modes using “digital computers” with bitsm bytes, analog to digital AtoD) and digital to analog (DtoA) conversion, detection and decoding and encoding and synthesis of transmetted signal…”

Use of modems and using the algorithms All work is use of Discrete Fourier transform equations. Internet remote radioWhy use in emerg radio?10 to 20 dB advantage over voice We train on MT63/2000 for UHF/ VHF and MCT63/500 that is a factor of 10 to 100 of power usage.

How to participate?Email WR5J@arrl.net

www.w1hkj.com/download.html

join washington digital

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Shoreline ACS now has 70% participation on their netsWork on your station 12volt laptop, printer, etc.

EasyPal

Saturday, 13:30Digital Session 2 - Picking the Right Mode and Transmitting a Perfect Digital Signal - Moving beyond PSK-31 to MT-63, DominoEX22 and Olivia Instructors: Curt Black, WR5J and Clint Hurd, KK7UQClint Hurd, KK7UQ was first licensed at age 14 in 1953 as WN7WJK, and advanced to General four months later.  The experience provided by amateur radio started a lifelong career in computer design and telecommunications.  After retirement, he has been involved in all aspects of digital radio, publishing designs, manuals and articles about interfacing and operating techniques.

Resource: Richard Lion book on digital signals

Hearing signals below the noise. Using signal side band radio

Groups.yahoo.con/group/wa-digital/

Tech Groups.yahoo.con/group/P-S-Digi-Hams

Modulate the audio tone w/ data in a mode such as PSK (phase shift ..) …Example at 14.070mHz mod w/ a 1500 Hz tone produces a signal at 14.071.500 mHzControl of output power modes are often high duty cycle keep ave output power under 50%

Use pc sound card for signal encode

Positive PTT control is more reliable than using the VOX on the radio.

Full feature interface: navigatorwww.USInterface.com

binary phase shift keying – BPSK31most popluar modes used nowcarrier at 31.25 baudreverse phase 180 degreesuses variable length encodingone bit time – 1/31.25PSK basic overdriving the signal does not improve the signal. Adjusting audio drive can be with pc, or resistor pot on interface,

MT63 not seen on HAM HF bands, bandwidth to wideUsed on VHFSupported by FLDIGI, Ham radio deluxe/DM780, MixW, MultiPSKFeatures, 64 different simultaneous modulatd tones, bandwidth up to 2000 Hx , usues Forward Error Correction (FEC)Data rate consistent with that of an average typist – about 24 words per minuteFEC buffer up to 12.8 sec delaysSuperior perfornmance with poor S/NEasy to tune 100 to 250 Hz Immune to jammingWell suited to transfer of large blocks of data

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DisadvantageLatency can take 15 secondsInterferes with other users of the channel

MT63 TuningLeave the settings alone when switched to MT63-the software is scaled to not exceed 100% of the audio drive.

MT63 receive tuningSignal is often hard to see on waterfallSet rig dial freq to pre-agreed frequencyUsually, the center of the signal is set to 750 for MT63-500, 1000 for MT63-1000, 1500 for MT63-2000

DominoEXIncremental Multi frequency Shif Keying (IFK)18 tone frequencies, bandwidth up to 524 Hz wideOptional FEC

Olivia

Saturday, 15:15Packet and Beyond in 2011 – WinLink2000 Airmail/Paclink and Winmor to APRS Tracking and Messaging Tools for HF, VHF and UHF Instructors: John Rader, AA7ZV and Curt Black, WR5JJohn Rader earned his Extra Class license in 1993. Has been active supporting bicycle rides, foot races and other public events. About 7 or 8 years ago John heard about Winlink.  A short time later he startedusing it for sending email and email like messages to friends and family members.  John has been very active in helping people get up and running with the Winlink System.  He has been involved with Camp Murray for about 7 years and has been the RACES Station Manager for the last 3 ½ years.

Winlink, the Swiss army Knife of digital, 20 years of history.

Winlink, also known as the Winlink 2000 Network, is a worldwide radio messaging system that mixes internet technology and appropriate amateur radio (RF) technologies. The system provides radio interconnection services including: email with attachments, position reporting, graphic and text weather bulletins, emergency/disaster relief communications, and message relay. The system is built and administered by volunteers without pecuniary interests. Winlink 2000 is a project of the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation, Inc. (ARSFI), a charitable entity and 501c(3) non-profit organization registered with the US Internal Revenue Service. Winlink networking started by providing interconnection services for amateur radio. It is well known for its central role in amateur radio Emcomm messaging. The system runs several central message servers around the world for redundancy. During the past decade it increasingly became what is now the standard network system for amateur radio email worldwide. Additionally, in response to recent needs for better communications disaster response, the network has been expanded to provide separate parallel radio email networking systems for MARS and UK Cadet communities.Generally, email communications over amateur radio in the 21st century is now considered normal and commonplace. Email via High frequency (HF) can be used nearly everywhere on the planet, and is made possible by connecting an HF single sideband (SSB) transceiver system to a computer, modem interface, and appropriate software. The HF modem technologies include PACTOR, Winmor, and Automatic Link Establishment (ALE).The Winlink system is open to properly licensed amateur radio operators. The system primarily serves radio users without normal access to the internet, government and non-government public service organizations, medical and humanitarian non-profits, and emergency communications organizations. Duly authorized MARS operators may utilize the MARS part of the system. As of July 2008, there were approximately 12,000 radio users and approximately 100,000 internet correspondents. Monthly traffic volume averages over 100,000 messages. –Wikipedia

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Network Containing 5 mirror images, redundant Common Message Servers (CM); located in sandiego (USA), Washington DC, Wien (Austria), Halifax (Canada), and Perth (Australia). These ensure that the system will remain in operation should any chunk of the Internet become inoperative. Each Radio Message Server node (RMS) is tied together as would be the ends of a spoke on a wheel with the hub-bing being done by the Common Message Servers. Traffic goes in and out between the CMS and the Internet email recipient, and between the end users and the Radio Message Server gateways. Multiple Radio-to-Radio addresses may be mixed with radio-to-internet e-mail addresses, allowing complete flexibility. The Winlink System stations maintained by the ARES response members for CCEMS not only support local emergencies such as Katrina and Ike but also have been used to support emergencies in Hatti and International Health Services yearly trips to Honduras.

Airmail programAirMail is a radio mail program for sending and receiving messages via Pactor over HF radio, either via the ham radio system or participating marine and commercial services.

Airmail is a messaging program (similar to Outlook) specifically designed for connection to a HF radio mailbox station. Once connected to a compatible station, message transfer is completely automatic. On the ham bands, Airmail can transfer messages automatically with any station supporting the BBS or F6FBB protocols, such as Winlink-2000 (www.winlink.org), Winlink, F6FBB and MSYS and other Airmail stations. Airmail is also used as the client program by the SailMail marine system and other participating systems. A "dumb terminal" mode is also provided but ordinary QSO's are not the program's forte.

Airmail is a 32-bit program which runs under Windows-95, 98, NT, 2000 or XP. Airmail supports the SCS PTC-II and PTC-IIe Pactor-2 modems as well as the original PTC Pactor modem, the Kantronics KAM+ and KAM-98, AEA/Timewave PK-232, PK-900, DSP-1232 and 2232, the MFJ 1276 and 1278B, and the HAL DXP-38 Clover/Pactor modem. (Sound cards are not supported).

Airmail is a program developed specifically for sending messages via HF radio and optimized for low-speed links, not an adaptation of an ordinary email. Airmail is written and supported by Jim Corenman, a cruising sailor who developed the program in an environment that rewarded efficient wireless communications- far from wired Internet connections.

AirMail is licensed without charge to the amateur radio community and is dedicated to the many sysops who have donated generously of their time and equipment to make the digital ham radio network a reality. Airmail can also be used with other participating systems. Airmail is not “freeware” and may not be used for other applications without permission; send an email to Airmail Support (Subject:“Airmail”) for more information.

Winlink 2000 is a concept and available to all licensed amateurs for personal and public service use.  It can be a fairly complex and expensive system to use with all its possibilities, but is also simple, inexpensive, and straight forward to begin.  This is a step by step plan to make your life easy and to begin to use the world wide communications foundation.  The Winlink 2000 web site is http://www.winlink.org.

BPQ32 softwareBPQ32 now supports WINMOR. WINMOR is a soundcard-based protocol, and is implemeted as standalone program, the WINMOR Virtual TNC, supplied by The Amateur Radio Safety Foundation. It operates in two modes, ARQ which is an error free connected mode, and FEC which is a datagram mode with some error correction, but is not error-free. ARQ is optimised for message transfer on HF, I see it's main use to be mail forwarding on HF between BBS systems, or from a user PMS to the BBS. It can be used for interactive access to the network, but isn't optimised for this use. BPQ32 supports using FEC as a simple unconnected realtime QSO mode. 

WINMOR (Winlink Messaging Over Radio) is a radio transmission protocol intended to be used in the Winlink 2000 Global Radio E-mail System by amateur radio operators, marine radio stations, and radio stations in isolated areas. WINMOR will complement the PACTOR modes in the high frequency portion of the Winlink system. WINMOR debuted at the 2008 ARRL / TAPR Digital Communications Conference. Unlike PACTOR II & III, only a simple computer soundcard-to-radio

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interface is required, as compared to PACTOR's relatively expensive external terminal node controller. It has two modes, either 500 or 1600 hertz in bandwidth, and provides ARQ speeds ranging from 67 to at least 1300 bits per second, similar to PACTOR's various modes. It is fully documented and without restrictions or license issues preventing anyone from using the protocol in other software. WINMOR supports both connected (ARQ) and FEC (broadcast) modes.Operational peer-to-peer (on-air) beta testing of WINMOR began on September 17, 2009. Deployment of RMS WINMOR servers for the Winlink system began in January 2010.Using email is universal. Minimum training required. Large amounts of data/information may be exchanged, accurately. Every transfer is permanently recorded.To access your Winlink account using any Web browser. Can also access via radio, D-Star, PACTOR, WIMOR, etc.

WINMOR will work on VHF/UHF. You can limit the size of messages received and to import the message to other email accounts.

Airmail will ride on a thumbdrive. Will work on Windows 95. PaclinkPaclink is WL2K software developed by Victor Poor, W5SMM, and Rick Muething, KN6KB, of the Winlink Development Team (WDT). Paclink is a new implementation of a streamlined radio e-mail client that interfaces with most popular e-mail client programs, like Microsoft Outlook Express and Mozilla Thunderbird. It is exceptionally easy to install and use. Paclink supports telnet, VHF/UHF packet radio, and HF Pactor radio connections to WL2K servers and the user interface is through any common e-mail client program. Paclink is intended for use with the Winlink 2000 system and uses the B2F protocol that supports attachments, multiple addresses and tactical addresses. Paclink is licensed for amateur use only by the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation. Commercial application of Paclink is not licensed and not permitted. For commercial use contact the authors. It is supported by the WDT and by the Winlink community.

Outpost packet message managerOutpost is a Windows-based packet message client that lets you send and receive packet messages with almost any Amateur Radio Bulletin Board System (BBS) or TNC Personal Mail Box.Outpost was designed for the ARES/RACES packet user community.  The thinking behind it was to create an intuitive, easy-to-use program that lets ARES/RACES organizations focus on the "message," not the "medium," as they pass digital message traffic to and from an Operational Area BBS.  So, what are the overall design goals?

Hide the complexity of the native packet environment and shorten the learning curve Provide an MS Windows-based packet messaging client Automate the packet message handling environment Create a program that behaves like your email client that you have at work or home… 

…create, send, receive, read, delete, reply to, or forward messages Support the response efforts and requirements of our local municipalities and served agencies

Outpost has a similar look and feel to other contemporary mail clients.  It features Windows-driven forms and screens that handle creating, sending, receiving, storing, and printing packet messages from your PC.  It also can run automatically where it periodically checks for out-going and in-coming messages.Outpost does not yet support any packet message forwarding protocol or SMTP.  Instead, it interprets the information  sent from the TNC and BBS, then generates the TNC and BBS commands needed to send, list, and retrieve messages from the BBS.  It essentially automates the keyboard entry and interpretation performed by the user.  Outpost uses BBSs and PBBSs as mail drops where a user can leave a packet message for someone without the other person needing to be on line at that point in time.  Support for many BBS and PBBSs has been built into Outpost with new ones being added as they are identified.

Speed of sending 4k message Winmor 3-10 minutes.

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Home.earthlink.net/~k7bfl/WL2Ksimp.pdf

Groups.yahoo.com/group/WINMOR/

APRS (Automatic Packet reporting System)Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. In addition, all such data is ingested into the APRS Internet system (APRS-IS) and distributed globally for ubiquitous and immediate access. Along with messages, alerts, announcements and bulletins, the most visible aspect of APRS is its map display. Anyone may place any object or information on his or her map, and it is distributed to all maps of all users in the local RF network or monitoring the area via the Internet. Any station, radio or object that has an attached GPS is automatically tracked. Other prominent map features are weather stations, alerts and objects and other map-related amateur radio volunteer activities including Search and Rescue and signal direction finding.APRS has been developed since the late 1980s by Bob Bruninga, callsign WB4APR, currently a senior research engineer at the United States Naval Academy. He still maintains the main APRS website. The acronym "APRS" was derived from his callsign.

It is simply a digital chanelfor everyone to use. iPhone app for APRS.

APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) is a digital communications protocol for exchanging information between a large number of stations covering a large (local) area. As a multi-user data network, it is quite different from conventional packet radio. Rather than using connected data streams where stations connect to each other and packets are acknowledged and retransmitted if lost, APRS operates entirely in an unconnected broadcast fashion, using unnumbered AX.25 frames. APRS packets are transmitted for all other stations to hear and use. Packet repeaters, called digipeaters, form the backbone of the APRS system, and use store and forward technology to retransmit packets. All stations operate on the same radio channel, and packets move through the network from digipeater to digipeater, propagating outward from their point of origin. All stations within radio range of each digipeater receive the packet. At each digipeater, the packet path is changed. The packet will only be repeated through a certain number of digipeaters -or hops- depending upon the all important "PATH" setting. Digipeaters keep track of the packets they forward for a period of time, thus preventing duplicate packets from being retransmitted. This keeps packets from circulating in endless loops inside the ad-hoc network. Eventually most packets are heard by an APRS Internet Gateway, called an IGate, and the packets are routed on to the Internet APRS backbone (where duplicate packets heard by other IGates are discarded) for display or analysis by other users connected to an APRS-IS server, or on a website designed for the purpose. While it would seem that using unconnected and unnumbered packets without acknowledgment and retransmission on a shared and sometimes congested channel would result in poor reliability due to a packet being lost, this is not the case due to the fact that the packets are transmitted (broadcast) to everyone, and multiplied many times over by each digipeater. This means that all digipeaters and stations in range get a copy, and then proceed to broadcast it to all other digipeaters and stations within their range. The end result is that packets are multiplied more than they are lost. Therefore, packets can sometimes be heard some distance from the originating station. Packets can be digipeated tens of kilometers or even hundreds of kilometers depending on the height and range of the digipeaters in the area.When a packet is transmitted, it is duplicated many times as it radiates out, taking all available paths simultaneously, until the number of "hops" allowed by the path setting is consumed.APRS contains only four packet types: Position/objects, Status, Messages and Queries. The Position/object packets contain the latitude and longitude, and a symbol to be displayed on the map, and have many optional fields for altitude, course, speed, radiated power, antenna height above average terrain, antenna gain, and voice operating frequency. Positions of fixed stations are configured in the APRS software. Moving stations (portable or mobile) automatically derive their position information from a GPS receiver connected to the APRS equipment.

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The map display uses these fields to plot communication range of all participants and facilitate the ability to contact users during both routine and emergency situations. Each position/object packet can use any of several hundred different symbols. Position/objects can also contain weather information or can be any number of dozens of standardized weather symbols. Each symbol on an APRS map can display many attributes discriminated either by color or other technique. These attributes are:

Moving or fixed Dead-Reckoned  or old Message capable or not Station or object Own object or other station object Emergency, priority, or special

In its simplest implementation, APRS is used to transmit real-time data, information and reports of the exact location of a person or object via a data signal sent over amateur radio frequencies. In addition to real-time position reporting capabilities using attached Global Positioning System receivers, APRS is also capable of transmitting a wide variety of data, including weather reports, short text messages, radio direction finding bearings, telemetry data, short e-mail messages (send only) and storm forecasts. Once transmitted, these reports can be combined with a computer and mapping software to show the transmitted data superimposed with great precision upon a map display.While the map plotting is the most visible feature of APRS, the text messaging capabilities and local information distribution capabilities combined with the robust network should not be overlooked; the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management has an extensive network of APRS stations to allow text messaging between all of the county Emergency Operating Centers in the event of the failure of conventional communications.An APRS infrastructure comprises a variety of Terminal Node Controller (TNC) equipment put in place by individual Amateur Radio operators. This includes soundcards interfacing a radio to a computer, simple TNCs, and "smart" TNCs. The "smart" TNCs are capable of determining what has already happened with the packet (unit of information) and can prevent redundant packet repeating within the network.Reporting stations use a method of routing called a "path" to broadcast the information through a network. In a typical packet network, a station would use a path of known stations such as "via n8xxx,n8ary." This causes the packet to be repeated through the two stations before it stops. In APRS, generic callsigns are assigned to repeater stations to allow a more automatic operation.

Map.findu.com/callsign

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Sunday, 09:30Sunday Keynote Presentation: “Interoperability in the state of Washington and the Importance of Amateur Radio Process”Alan Komenski, AC2K, State Interoperability Executive Committee, Washington State Patrol Bellevue (WSP Division Commander)Alan Komenski is an Extra Class ham and has been licensed for 50 years. His call is AC2K. He currently serves as the State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) Project Manager with the Washington State Patrol, the lead agency for interoperability in Washington State.  In that capacity he functions as the Interoperability Coordinator for Washington State. Mr. Komenski has been employed in the emergency communications field for 38 years, most of which was in the capacity of director of regional 9-1-1 communications centers in Rochester, New York, Ramsey County (St. Paul), Minnesota, and in Bellevue, Washington.  He has been in his current position with the Washington State Patrol since January 2008.  From 1993 until 2008 he also served also served as Operations Manager for the Eastside Public Safety Communications Agency, a regional provider of 800 MHz. radio system services to public safety and local governments in the suburban areas of King County, Washington.Mr. Komenski is a graduate of Oklahoma City University. His professional accomplishments include having served as chairman of National APCO’s Automation Committee and, APCO’s Data Transfer Committee, as a member of the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC) Cyber Security Sub-committee, and as past chairman of the King County (WA) Radio Communications Board.  He is a current member of the SAFCOM Emergency Response Council, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) RoIP Workgroup, the F.C.C.’s ERIC Broadband Technical Advisory Committee, and the Executive Committee of the National Association of State Wireless Coordinators. 

The State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) was formed by legislative mandate  in 2003and works to ensure:

all emergency responders across all levels of government and across all jurisdictions can talk to each other and share data:

o on demando in real-timeo as needed

In addition to major disasters, there are a number of emergencies that can happen in any community on any day requiring seamless radio connections and data sharing including school shootings, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, fires and crimes.

The SIEC aids all levels of government to achieve interoperability by functioning as a subcommittee of the Information Services Board (ISB ).

SIEC members  represent a number of agencies divided nearly evenly between state and local jurisdictions.

We encourage you to Attend SIEC Meetings  and Get Involved .  The SIEC is also available to help with local and regional planning efforts .

SIEC MembersSIEC membership is divided roughly in half between local and state representatives. The 2003 Legislation  limits the number of voting members to fifteen.

Jim Broman  (jbroman@laceyfire.com), SIEC Co-Chair - Lacey Fire ChiefRepresenting the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs

Lowell Porter  (lporter@wtsc.wa.gov), SIEC Co-Chair - WTSC DirectorRepresenting the Washington Traffic Safety Commission

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John Batiste  (john.batiste@wsp.wa.gov) - ChiefRepresenting the Washington State Patrol

Bill Benedict  (bbenedict@co.clallam.wa.us) - SheriffRepresenting the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs

Al Compaan  (al.compaan@ci.edmonds.wa.us) - Edmonds Police ChiefRepresenting the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs

Mike Doherty  (mdoherty@co.clallam.wa.us) - Clallam County CommissionerRepresenting the Washington State Association of Counties

Jim Fernando  (jimfernando2004@yahoo.com) - Law EnforcementRepresenting the Northwest Tribal Emergency Management Council and Washington Tribes

Bill Frare  (bill.frare@dnr.wa.gov) - Division ManagerRepresenting the Washington State Department of Natural Resources

Stephanie Fritts  (sfritts@co.pacific.wa.us) - Pacific County Emergency Management Representing the Washington State Emergency Managers Association

Timothy Lowenberg  (timothy.lowenberg@wa.ngb.army.mil) - Major GeneralRepresenting the Washington State Military Department

Chuck Duffy  (chuck.duffy@wsp.wa.gov) - State Fire MarshalRepresenting the Washington State Office of the Fire Marshal

Jim Mullen  (J.Mullen@emd.wa.gov) - DirectorRepresenting the Washington State Emergency Management Division

Bob Stewart  (bstewart@ci.yakima.wa.us) - City of Yakima Assistant Fire ChiefRepresenting the Association of Washington Cities

Mike Ricchio  (Mike.Ricchio@dis.wa.gov) - Acting DirectorRepresenting the Washington State Department of Information Services

Jon Nisbet  (nisbetj@wsdot.wa.gov) - Director of Traffic OperationsRepresenting the Washington State Department of Transportation

Alan H. KomenskiSIEC Project Manager/State Interoperability CoordinatorWashington State Patrol360-561-2109 or alan.komenski@wsp.wa.gov

Laura Kingman Special Deputy -Washington State PatrolSIEC Outreach and Public Affairs

7 steps to achieve interoperability1. Talk –get to know your neighbors2. Overview-define interop for your region3. Get protocols- adopt existing national standards 4. Engage-sign agreements5. Technology-coordinate technology6. Help learn – provide training on protocols7. Exercise –provide testing protocols & technology

Ready

Challenges: example of 9-11 incident where fire & Police did not talk. Police were notified to evacuate when one of the towers collapsed, but Fire personnel were not notified, so 300 Firemen perished. Freq. incompatibility: trunked systems, VHS, etcEquipment incompatibility: digital, analog, data systemsProcedural differences: talking the same languageLack if effective planningNo formal agreements

These can all be overcome in the region & state. You can always buy technology, but you can’t change longstanding relationships or barriers, overnight.

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The roll of SEIC formed in 2003 by Washington state legislature. 15 members representingMilitary, WSP, DOT, Dept of Natural Resource, County, Municipal, tribal. SIEC has taken a comprehensive & methodical approach

Designated the state Patrol as the Lead Agency Recognized that interoperability starts from the ground up (local/region level Promote adoption of high-tech & low-tech solutions In line with National standards & mandates (NIMS, NECP, SAFECOM, OEC) System of systems approach Secured over 430 million in Federal funds (grant program) –with yearly ~$1million grants of

continued improvement (working of governance & planning). Nearing end of the grant process and will need to continue and sustain this effort on our own.

Building cooperative efforts between state, federal, local & tribal systems through promoting “best practices” for interoperability as part of Out Reach program.

Regional Interoperability Committees (RIC) Communication Assets and Systems Mapping Tool (CASM) Statewide procedures and protocols development (draft out for review now, should be ready in 2-

3 months) RoIP (Radio over Internet Provider) protocols and standards adoption Promote the adoption of “standards” based technology (this has been a controversial issue non–

P25 radios are inexpensive), there I a P-25 requirement on the radios for interoperabilityNational Emergency Communication Plan (released 2008, update in 2010)1st national strategic plan3 performance-based goals (example: Seattle used Seafair to test this: Navy & Blue angels, Urban resources, goal 2: show can work in every county of the State, the county must select an event (planned or a training drill, must be completed by mid-Sept 2011)7 objectives that set priorities92 milestones to track progress

Interoperability Continuum provides a number of lanes

Washington State Communication interoperability PlanGoals & objectives to achieve state wide interoperabilityOutline the technical approach for Washington State

Systems of system Interoperability channel deployment

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o Encourage the use of identified National & Styate interoperability channels OSCCR – statewide coordination channel REDNET LERN ICALL, ITAV, VTAV and others Interoperable interface to other support voice & data systems (window gateways)

Common P25 technology platforms for state agencies (WSDOT is piloting some equipment, WSP is working on narrow banding while working to P25)

Operability, sustainability, contingency planning

New SCIP incorporates a discussion on Public Safety Broadband efforts in Washington State (for the next generation of Public Safety communication: Wide Band use- cellular, video, voice, data, etc.)

Re-adjust priorities based on the progress that has been made over the past four yearsIt is more strategically oriented across the state

Out-Reach is the key to success: assists and empowers local agency efforts.

Outreach & educationEstablishing technical path for migration to future interoperability technologiesRoIP –working with NIST on the development of bridging standards (BSI) to legacy systems, P25 and Broadband. RoIP and ViOP there is no difference.

Critical monitoring of statewide narrowbanding progress required by FCC

Roll of Amateur RadioAt all levels of government, amateur radio is now being incorporated into emergency operations systemsAmateur radio capabilities continue to perform in emergency situations that affect and degrade many public safety systems.

Many agencies supplemented their emergency communications systems through the use of cellular telephones

Unfettered cross-border communications capabilities for Amateur Radio, (Public safety does not- working on this)

Willing volunteers, with their own equipment (need for depth in knowledge and skill)Significant Federal dollars have been spent over the past decade to enhance amateur radio capabilities in the nation’s states & local emergency operations centers (these grant dollars are going away)

There have been “bumps” in this relationship: Use by unlicensed operators Restricted use by licensed government employees Fading on-going volunteer interests Credential issues (sensitive information being handled)

Continuum & amateur radio Good planning leads to good results Sustainability of systems & resource personnel

o Self-sustained operationo Compatibility planning

Training ( and more training) Understand interoperability “best practices” & willing to adopt them

The future technology:

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Example 9-1-1 call centers needs to be able to receive picture & video, authenticity of the data from cell phones.

Communication Hubs: A Grassroots ConceptSunday, 10:45This presentation will discuss the history of the communication hubs from inception to activation, and end with a report on the present state. This is for any and all community volunteers who want to help out their neighborhood.

Ron Zuber has been with FEMA since 2004 and has worked 26 major disasters in Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, California and Louisiana.  He has held the positions of Emergency Services Branch Director, Operations Section Chief, Chief of Staff and Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer. His most recent assignment was as a Division Supervisor for four parishes in Louisiana for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike (2008), and as the Air Operations Branch Chief for a flooding disaster in Alaska (2009).  Currently Ron is a Telecommunications Specialist in the Disaster Emergency Communications Branch as part of the Response Division.  His daily responsibilities include the FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) as the program manager for Region X.  He also assists the Regional Emergency Communications Coordinator (RECC) as the Amateur Radio Liaison.  Ron has also attained certification with FEMA and The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a Contracting Officers Technical Representative (COTR) and as Communications Unit Leader (COML) for FEMA, Region X.

Ron worked with the King County Office of Emergency Management for two years. He was also a volunteer with the office for more than five years.  This follows a successful 20+ year career in the US Army as a Communications Maintenance Supervisor and Broadcast Journalist.

In his spare time Ron assists the communities of West Seattle, Magnolia, Interbay and Queen Anne as well as Wallingford, Green Lake, Freemont, View Ridge and Capitol Hill in developing a network of emergency radio communication hubs to keep the individual neighborhoods connected during an emergency.

Groundwork for establishing the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs began several years ago as a truly grassroots effort. The first major milestone was an event held in mid-2007, the West Seattle Emergency Preparedness Seminar. 

Momentum from that event led to the creation of the first eight hubs, and an outreach effort to let people know about them which kicked off in the spring of 2008. You may remember the rollout of the “Be a Master of Disaster” plans in the West Seattle media. Informational tables were set up at each of the 8 hub locations, in conjunction with announcements on the West Seattle Blog.  

The key focus of the 2008 effort was for each community to decide if they could help in an emergency by establishing a central area for neighbors to get information. That central area also serves as the place that emergency responders know they can go to if they need to get the word out about something (assuming communication systems are down).

Ham Radio operators and citizen teams will play a major role in a simulated 8.6 earthquake training exercise this weekend. This event brings together neighborhood volunteer responders who are part of a new neighborhood based Emergency Communication Hub program organized in communities across the city and Amateur Radio Operators trained to relay emergency messages to the City’s Emergency Operations Center . The drill, called “Rattle in Seattle ” involves a simulated earthquake featuring an epicenter 70 miles west of Seattle . During the drill, the earthquake disrupts the City’s municipal radio system that provides communications for Police, Fire, City agencies and rendering cell phones and wired telephones unusable for reporting 911 calls.Ham Radio members of the Seattle Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) and King County Medical Services Teams (MST) that serve the Seattle Office of Emergency Management and Seattle area

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hospitals will use the exercise as a classroom training event. During the exercise scenario, operators will have to deal with major bridges destroyed, neighborhoods badly damaged and high casualty rates. Additional ham radio teams supporting the Seattle-King County Health Department and the Seattle Chapter of the American Red Cross will also participate.“The purpose of the exercise is to afford communications volunteers from the community the opportunity to practice emergency communications in a simulated disaster environment” according to ACS Director, Mark Sheppard.“Participating in a large scale city wide simulated disaster exercise like this is a valuable training tool, keeping our members prepared”, added King County Region Six MST Emergency Coordinator, Brian Daly,The Seattle Office of Emergency Management conducts emergency communications training exercises on a regular basis with the purpose of developing strong relationships with neighborhoods to build partnerships in preparation for surviving disasters.

West Seattle emergency Preparedness & communications Hubs Background & Evolution Outreach & Citizen involvement Where we’re at Where we want to go

BackgroundStarted with 9 core members originally added several more. Need a core group to get things started. When will the roads be open? Metro articulated buses don’t do well. The drive is in the trailer. The 1st & 2nd set of axels have no drive, also vehicles with drivers who don’t know better or how to drive in the snow and ice. Small concept started because of these weather hazards and power outages, etc. SW District Council in 2008, decided preparedness would be their focus. So this core group reached out to other neighborhoods (13 neighborhood associations). Try to figure out a central location to exchange information and why not resources. Wet Seattle has unique concerns, few major roads to get in or out of the peninsula in an emergency.Multiple neighborhood groups, but our neighbors are not “joiners”System to help others help themselves, rather than assume role of first responder. Current status is organized

Multiple levels to preparednessCity PreparednessNeighborhood & CommunitySNAP/Block Watch/CERT programPersonal & Family Preparedness

Feel they see their group fit in the neighborhood level, currently no way to integrate the SNAP/block Watch level.

9 hubs and now 11 recently (North Delridge & Highland area)

Connecting the Dots (Hubs) across west Seattle (use of neighborhood survey/mapping of resources)1st priority & role is to assist local neighborhood2nd role is to reach out & see what conditions, resources & hazards are in other parts of West Seattle3rd role is to get that information into & out of the city & county emergency response system

Set up of GRMS repeaters with battery backup (5-7 hours) until a generator can be brought and set up.

To have a low tech way of connecting neighbors in the event of an emergency or disasterShare information within and between individual west Seattle neighborhoodsAid people in sharing resourcesCollect information to help police & fire respond where needed.

They have done 3 summits, where a professional (police/fire) speaks, and have them know of their existence.

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Idea to conduct a Windshield survey (Red Cross) to bring information to Hubs.

Each participating neighborhood hasa neighborhood communications bag and a Hub location.

In the event of an emergency, pre-signed people will take the bag to their location and set up to stat collecting and sharing information. Just being an information source for the neighborhood

Seattle police & fire departments should know of these locations and can use them to pass collect city related information.

What have done:Received $7000 from city to equip Hubs, establish a radio system & do outreach9 locations equippedGMRS radio repeater system installedEstablished website (expandable)Did outreach at 11 events & on the WS Blog Met with King County Public HealthConducted 2 radio tests and 1 full drill

GMRS LicensingAny individual in the United States who is at least 18 years of age and not a representative of a foreign government may apply for a GMRS license by completing the application form (either on paper or through the FCC's Universal Licensing System) and paying the license fee (currently $85.00). No exam is required. A license for a GMRS system is usually issued for a 5-year term. Prior to July 31, 1987, the FCC issued GMRS licenses to non-individuals (corporations, partnerships, government entities, etc). These licensees are grandfathered and may renew their existing licenses. No new GMRS licenses are being issued to non-individuals, nor may existing non-individual licensees make major modifications to their licenses.The license extends privileges of the primary licensee to include communications with the licensee's immediate family members, and authorizes immediate family members to use the licensee's station(s) to conduct the activities of the licensee. Additionally, the FCC rules allow GMRS licensees to communicate with other GMRS licensees. GMRS licensees are allowed to communicate with FRS users on those frequencies that are shared between the two services. The rules require each GMRS user family to have a license, rather than (as in the case of commercial and public safety land mobile license) authorizing a licensee's employees to use the same license.

Frequency chart

The "Friendly Name" of a frequency is the portion of the frequency to the right of the decimal (the kHz portion).This first set of frequencies shows the split frequency pairs used in duplex operational mode, often used with repeaters. Simplex (same frequency for receiving and transmitting) mode only utilizes the lower set of frequencies.All channels are used with narrow-band frequency modulation.

NameLower frequency (repeater output)

(MHz)

Upper frequency (repeater input)

(MHz)

Motorola convention

Icom F21-GM convention

Notes

"550" 462.550 467.550 Ch. 15 Ch. 1

"575" 462.575 467.575 Ch. 16 Ch. 2

"600" 462.600 467.600 Ch. 17 Ch. 3

"625" 462.625 467.625 Ch. 18 Ch. 4

"650" 462.650 467.650 Ch. 19 Ch. 5 Use not permitted near the Canadian border.

"675" 462.675 467.675 Ch. 20 Ch. 6 Suggested nationwide emergency and road information calling. Nationally recognized coded squelch for 675 emergency repeater operation is

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141.3 Hz.

"700" 462.700 467.700 Ch. 21 Ch. 7 Use not permitted near the Canadian border.

"725" 462.725 467.725 Ch. 22 Ch. 8

This second set of frequencies shows the interstitial ranges shared with the Family Radio Service services. These frequencies can only be used for simplex operations.

Name Frequency (MHz) Motorola convention Icom F21-GM convention

"5625" or "FRS 1"

462.5625 Ch. 1 Ch. 9

"5875" or "FRS 2"

462.5875 Ch. 2 Ch. 10

"6125" or "FRS 3"

462.6125 Ch. 3 Ch. 11

"6375" or "FRS 4"

462.6375 Ch. 4 Ch. 12

"6625" or "FRS 5"

462.6625 Ch. 5 Ch. 13

"6875" or "FRS 6"

462.6875 Ch. 6 Ch. 14

"7125" or "FRS 7"

462.7125 Ch. 7 Ch. 15

What done in 20102 more GMRS radio repeater systems installed (Magnolia & Roosevelt)Continue website developmentConduct outreach at community events & street fairsHeld 2 summits to discuss, at city level direction & ideas doe sustainment of the HubsConducted Weekly radio test on Monday night, 18 at 2100 moves to 15 then to 20 and at least 1 full drill with Hub set-up and signage.

Illegal to link GMRS to HAM, must be a person. So GMRS operators are trained on the standard messaging forms.

May 7th 2011 setting up for a full drill.

Members Build or buy a kit, make a planThen get involved: Learn skills: First aid, CERT or SNAP, know how to shut off natural gas and water.Know your neighbors: where the elderly are near you, check on them after a disaster. Volunteer your time.

Other notes:GMRS Repeater Basics- GUMMERS-101, by Paul Shinn, KAF8333

You can ask Paul technical questions about building repeaters by emailing him at gummers@gmrsweb.comWhat sets GMRS apart from FRS the most is the ability to install and use a repeater station to increase the range of communications. Without a repeater, two full power mobiles might be good for 5-10 miles, then you pick up the cell phone. With a repeater, two mobiles can be, say, 50 miles apart or more and still communicate with nary a 'what??'.This month, I'm going to talk a little about the etiquette of repeater use on GMRS. In the months to come, I'll dive in to the technical side of repeaters and some things every business band repeater owner already knows, and GMRS repeater owners are assumed to know, but usually find out the hard way. Also in coming articles, we'll discuss antennas and different applications of commercial practices to your GMRS gear.

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If you have done a lot of listening to GMRS repeaters in your area, you will probably already have a good idea of what the normal activity is for each frequency. Keep in mind, some GMRS repeaters are still owned and operated by businesses like towing companies or plumbers and construction companies that were 'grandfathered' on the GMRS band before it was made into the personal band it is today. You are better off staying away from systems used commercially. Nobody from 'Joe's Security Company' wants to hear someone asking for local information on their system.Those repeaters that are owned and operated by individuals for personal communications are sometimes willing to let others use them. Remember: it is a violation of FCC rules to charge someone to use a GMRS repeater. Since there is cost involved to build and maintain a repeater, not everyone is willing to give you a free ride. Most repeater owners will allow others to use their equipment at no charge. The truth is, if a repeater never gets used, chances are good that someone wanting to put their own repeater on the air will choose that frequency since it is so quiet all the time!! GMRS systems are not subject to the commercial practice of coordination. Anybody can put a repeater up anywhere with very few exceptions.If you want to use a repeater, contacting the repeater owner OFF the air is desirable. You can locate the phone numbers, addresses, and repeater locations of repeater owners easily online through the FCC database, or preferably by using the repeater guide that the PRSG publishes.Since GMRS is not ham radio, and it is not business radio, repeaters tend to have a code of conduct that varies from one to the next. For example, some repeater owners prefer that users identify by a unit number. You might hear 'Unit one to unit four'. Some prefer the code name method, like 'Gummer one to Gummer two'. On my repeater, I prefer that people just use names and no codes at all. I would call Doug Smith by saying 'Paul to Doug', or maybe 'Hey, Doug'. It is entirely up to the owner of the repeater or the club that runs it in some cases. Also, some repeaters need to be ID'ed verbally on the air by the users.One thing that makes me cringe is when I hear people use CB or ham lingo on the air. You hear 'So, what's your QTH?'. I really hate the old 'How bout it, you got your rig on?'. This next point may sound stupid, but it really does bug me when someone refers to my repeater as a 'machine' (ham lingo for a repeater). I can assure you that my repeater has no moving parts, it is not a 'machine'. Ham or CB lingo should be left on those respective bands. Plain simple English is the preferred method of communication on almost every GMRS system. In my opinion, the GMRS radio service is a step way above ham radio, and just barely a notch below full blown commercial UHF service.You will upset a repeater owner really quick if you discuss the PL or DPL tones required to access it on the air! You should never give out any technical information about or the location of the repeater! In fact, discussing radios or radio accessories on the air is undesirable anyway. Ham and CB users typically use those services because they want to use a radio period. They don't care so much about who's on the other end, just that they are using a radio. GMRS stands alone, in that it is a professional service for individuals that need to communicate reliably. When you are actually on the air, make it a conversation, not just a hobbyist's excuse to press a transmit button, and the repeater owner will appreciate it.Don't forget that anyone with another GMRS radio or even a simple scanner can hear you all over the place!! A repeater can cover a lot of real estate! Just imagine how many possible ways there are to hear you in the repeater's coverage area! Don't give phone numbers or addresses over the air for your own protection. Things like birthdays and license plate numbers are touchy too. Remember when all that fuss about a recorded cell phone call involving Newt Gingrich hit the news?? It's a lot easier to hear GMRS than cellular, even with the best of gear, and you could very well be on tape.Using a repeater to communicate on GMRS is fun too. I like the ability to talk myself in to hilltop locations that somebody is already in. You can say 'O.K., I'm at the painted rock, which way do I turn now?'. You can get a reply like 'I see your headlights, start slowing down, the turn is the next one on your left'. You can't beat the coverage boost the repeater gives your hand held radio either! Without the repeater, portable radios would be almost 'toys'. With the repeater, your portable becomes a reliable communications tool that goes with you wherever.Next month, get ready to dive in to building a repeater station! We'll talk about setting up the equipment and selecting the perfect location. Later on, get ready for everything you ever wanted to know about your antenna. Repeater antennas are the critical link in your system for many reasons. We'll look at a few different types, and what works best for repeaters.

For the sake of this column, let’s say that you are putting the repeater at your home. There are a lot of GMRS repeaters in service matching this description that offer fantastic coverage and reliability, so this is

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a good example to use. In the months ahead, we’ll look at hilltops and large buildings as possible sites for your repeater, and what to expect from a professional site management landlord.

There is just no substitute for a real repeater unit. There are some people using two mobiles (one solely for transmit, the other for receive) with a controller as a repeater, but I have never seen one of these systems perform as well as a true repeater. Some of the older Motorola MSY and Micor repeaters can be bought for less that a thousand dollars at swaps and on the commercial used market, which puts them well within the financial ball park of a similar wimpy two-mobile setup.

The biggest problem with the mobiles posing as repeaters is that the heat sink on the transmitter is too small. Keep in mind that the repeater is continuously transmitting during the entire two-way conversation. The mobiles and portables using the repeater are only transmitting about half that time, so they can handle it. Transmitters get hot real quick when used continuously. True repeater transmitting radios are designed for continuous operation with little effort.

Since you want to transmit and receive at the same time (that is what a repeater does), you need to somehow keep the transmitter and the receiver isolated from each other. Two antennas do a poor job of this for GMRS. Since your transmitter is going to be on 462.575, that means your receiver will be only five MHz away at 467.575. That’s close! The duplexer is the most common method of providing isolation. The isolation that a duplexer provides is so great that the transmitter and the receiver can use the same antenna at the same time!

One type of duplexer is called a pass duplexer. This is usually two filters for each frequency that are in series which pass the tuned frequency with only minor loss, but the higher and lower you go from the tuned frequency, the more loss there is. For example: A 5 watt signal on the tuned frequency will still be almost five watts at the output of the filters, but a 5 watt signal on a frequency five MHz away would be almost undetectable with your watt meter!

The other type of duplexer is called a notch duplexer. This type passes all frequencies with little loss except for the frequency it is tuned to reject. The notch gets wider and deeper as you add filters in series. This type of duplexer is not appropriate for popular transmitter sites. It offers no protection for the receiver from other transmitters at the site other than your own. Also, it allows spurious signal from your transmitter to make it out the antenna, which could interfere with other receivers at the site. A notch duplexer is OK. for your home located repeater as long as you don't need to use a receiver pre-amplifier. We will talk about pre-amps below.

The most desirable type of duplexer uses both methods of isolation and is call a pass/reject duplexer. Some hilltop radio sites only allow pass/reject duplexers on the two-way equipment.

Since we are taking such careful measures to filter the transmitter output and the receiver input, we continue the practice with the cables that connect everything together. Radio Shack coax should never be used on a repeater installation. Cables that are double shielded must be used. Some of the smaller cables like RG-142 are OK. for shorter runs between the radios and the duplexer. My favorite is Andrew 1/4 inch Superflex (TM) for this use. Another good cable, that is perfect for longer runs is LMR-400. It has less loss than the Superflex (TM) cables, and is about the size of the RG-8 you're familiar with from the ‘Shack’. I just wish the connectors were compatible, they're not.

The run to the antenna is the most important run to use low loss cable on. Since the typical run will be several wavelengths long, over half of the transmitter power could be lost on its way to the antenna. The same goes for the signal the antenna captured destined for the receiver. At the very least, for runs up to 100 feet, you should use 1/2 inch Andrew or Cablewave coax. Anything longer than 100 feet should be at least 7/8 inch cable.

Make sure to use the proper connectors on the ends of the cables, since adapters add unnecessary loss and the increased chance of interference.

You may be surprised, but the power output from the repeater transmitter has very little to do with the range you can expect. At 462 MHz, the radio waves do not follow the curvature of the earth hardly at all, and signal refraction is less productive than at lower frequencies. The antenna elevation makes the most difference in coverage. The communicating antennas need to ‘see’ each other.

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By doing some quick mental calculations, if you mount almost any gain antenna at an elevation of 40 feet above ground and using a radiated transmitter power of 10 watts, the 20dbu contour will be about 15 miles over flat terrain. 20dbu translates into a field strength of 0.01 millivolts, or about where you start to hear a little scratch in the audio. If you could use the same transmitted power and the same antenna on top of a 200 foot tower, the 20dbu coverage extends to 26 miles. Changing just the transmitter power from 10 to 50 watts (the maximum allowable power on GMRS) only extends the coverage 1.8%!

When I removed the tube power amplifier from my repeater once for maintenance, I ran the 12- watt exciter straight into the duplexer though an adapter cable. When I was using the repeater without the power amplifier, I could not tell the difference at all. The coverage did not change. The only noticeable change was that when using a portable inside of a car, hearing the repeater was a little scratchy at times.

Adding a power amplifier to boost a GMRS repeater output to the maximum allowed power is, in my opinion, unnecessary. As long as you can get at least 10 watts from your repeater transmitter, your will receive predicted coverage, for a given antenna height. In mountainous terrain, or in large city areas, a higher output power may help you hear the repeater better in low spots due to the refraction of the signal radiated. However, this still does not help you get into the repeater from your mobile!

One item that is a must for any repeater you will use portables with, is a receive preamplifier. A pre-amp, as it is called, amplifies the signal that makes it through your duplexer receiver port before it gets to the receiver itself. Since a pre-amp will amplify anything sent to it, including noise and other frequencies other than your own, the use of a pass or pass/reject duplexer is mandatory. Amplified noise and off frequency signals can overload the front end of your receiver and cause it to become less sensitive to your desired frequency.

In future columns, we’ll talk about the setup and optimization of your repeater, including the tuning of your duplexer. Next month, get ready for the first installment on repeater antennas. We’ll look at some different types and according to my extensive hilltop and low-level experiments, what works best for GMRS repeaters

First, what is antenna gain? Picture a donut sitting on the counter. Pretend that the antenna is in the center of the donut vertically. The donut represents the transmitted radiation coming off of the antenna. The donut shaped radiation is similar to that of a half wave dipole antenna. The half wave dipole is used as a reference antenna in almost all commercial antenna comparisons, and its pattern does in fact look like the donut. Now, if you were to smash the donut down on the counter, as you did, the donut would expand further away from the center as it became thinner. Exactly the same thing happens with a gain antenna. The more gain, the flatter the donut, or signal, and the further it will go on the horizon

A half wave dipole antenna will work as a repeater antenna, but it will be deaf! In order for an antenna to have good ‘ears’, it must have multiple elements, and gain. In order for you to use the repeater correctly, it needs to be able to not only get to you with its transmitter, but it needs to hear you with its receiver too. This is why you can’t cut corners on your repeater antenna.

Gain is measured in decibels, or db. Each 3 db of gain doubles the signal on the horizon. An antenna with gain has strong signal at the horizon, then as you go higher above and below the horizon, the signal strength slowly drops too. At the point which the signal is half the

A stacked element array has separate elements, with centers spaced about a wavelength apart, each fed with its own feedline which is at a resonant point, connected with the others. (See figure 3).

The more elements you stack vertically, the higher the antenna gain.

During transmit, the stacked element array in figure 3 acts like very separate antennas, all fed in phase (meaning at the same exact time), which gives the antenna gain on the horizon. During receive, each element acts separate as well, each catching its share of signal and then adding it to the feedpoint. In other words, if you presented a signal strength of 1 microvolt at the

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strength of the signal on the horizon, this is called the ‘half power point’. (See figure 1) 

The reason we care about the half power point is, with very high gain antennas, such as a 10 db gain antenna, the half power point is at 6 degrees above and below the horizon. If you used a 10 db gain antenna on a very high mountain, until you got far enough away from the antenna site, the signal would sort of go right over your head and miss you! 10 db gain antennas work great from low level sites, or high elevation sites far away from the targeted use area. For high sites near the targeted use area, we use a slightly lower gain antenna, with a 6 or 3 db gain.

Gain antennas fall under two categories: those with stacked element arrays and those with stacked collinear elements (also called a collinear array). A collinear array antenna has resonant length elements separated by resonant coils in between. (See figure 2). 

antenna with an eight separate element array, each element picks up the I microvolt and sends it down its coax to the feedpoint. At the feedpoint (minus some cable and combining loss) you would have eight microvolts! This is why I always suggest stacked element array type antennas for repeaters, they have good ‘ears’.

During transmit, the collinear antenna has enough current over its elements and phasing coils that the array acts like distinctly different elements, much like the stacked element array does. However, on receive the collinear acts more like a resonant ‘long wire’ type antenna that one with several elements all adding to the signal at the receiver. Elements closer to the feedpoint lose a lot of the signal coming from the elements above them also, which can result in a signal at the feedpoint, using our 1 microvolt test above, of about four microvolts from an eight element collinear antenna (minus similar losses).

Here’s the actual results from my last test: I used an IFR 1500 service monitor to generate a signal on 460 MHz using a half wave antenna and enough power output to give me approximately 1 microvolt with another half wave antenna on an IFR 1200 service monitor at 100 feet away. I connected the Antenna Specialists ASP-700 collinear 7db gain fiberglass antenna (See figure 4) to the receiving service monitor in place of the half wave and had a signal level of approximately 4 microvolts. Next, I substituted the Decibel 408 stacked dipole 6.6db gain antenna configured for omnidirectional pattern (See figure 5). The signal strength at the receiver was now just over 6 microvolts!

FIGURE 4

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Here’s the short of it: for repeaters, the open, multi element, multi fed antennas work best. The more stacked elements, the better the ‘ears’, and also the higher the transmit gain. This was not a very scientific or difficult test to conduct, and is only a reference.

I have really over simplified the math and design that goes into antennas, but for the sake of this forum, I threw enough at you to get the general picture. In the future, get ready for the second antenna installment when we will dig into antenna theory a little deeper as we discuss installing your repeater system at a populated radio site. There’s even more to know when you have lots of neighbors to worry about!

Next month, landing a good site for your repeater, and what a professional radio site landlord expects form tenants.

FIGURE 5

Sunday, Lunch (12:00)The Willie Wonka Factory of Communications Pascal Schuback Geek@schuback is currently the Technical Operations Program Coordinator King County Office of Emergency Management.  His work focuses on developing and implementing collaborative methods using social media, cloud computing, and existing and future technologies in emergency management.

He was previously employed with Washington County Public Health and Multnomah County Emergency Management, in Portland, Oregon, as the County Response Coordinator.  During that time he developed and implemented the County Emergency Management Team training project, managed the redesign of the county emergency operations center and introduced the county management team to WebEOC. In 2007, Multnomah County was a primary player in the DHS Federal Top Officials “TOPOFF-4” exercise, and Mr. Schuback was the County Planning Section Chief.

He continues to participate with several regional organizations dedicated to building resilient emergency management and public/private programs throughout the Northwest.  Working as OREN Co-Director, an emergency management innovation lab, he assists with the development of social media tools and collaborative software systems to increase the communications and proof-of-concept testing on public/private governance and technology initiatives.  He also works with local area emergency management grant programs such as Portland UASI, the Emergency Management Working Group, and the regional emergency management technical and governance committees

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Mr. Wonka ….. Had a vision, actually multiple visions Out of the box thinker Had a true passion Believed in himself Loved chocolate. Remember the River of Chocolate in the edible room? Wanted to make people happy, make kids smile.

We participated in a relay of information. Remember we provide a service to make others “happy” to receive the information. What Chocolate is to Mr. Wonka = Open data to us

Crisis Commons (formed prior to Haiti) example: Satellite mapped of Haiti open to all volunteers.

Connecting people & organization to innovate technology for crisis management & global development

3000+ people have participated globally to the volunteer technical communities Partnership/participants with organizations such as the World Bank, UN, USAID, American Red

Cross, Homeland Security, MIT Media Labs, GWU, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, DoD, Geocommons, CrisisMappers, Open Street Map & many others

Crisis Camps – supported events that connect a global network of volunteers who use creative problem solving and open technologies to help people and communities in times and places of crisis.

USA today Cover- April 12th, 2011

Example: Honshu Quake –Wiki page http://wiki.crisiscommons.org/wiki/Honshu_Quake

Who is providing this data? Not just remote electronic data sensors It is people, who are the ones reporting what is happening in their surroundings Our community these could be employee, family, friends and neighbors

Example New Zealand quakeChristchurch recovery mapPosted in Texas site, by community support http://eq.org.nz/ Using a SMS short code, txt your report. Also use of hash tags via Twitter. Or via the website. How to Report

1. By sending a message to 56272. By sending an email to eqnzfeb@gmail.com3. By sending a tweet with the hashtag#christchurch or #ChristchurchQuake or #nzeq or#eqnz4. By filling this form

CNN is using Twitter to gather information.

Example of Honshu QuakeSite established within 5 the hours of EQ & fully Functional within 5 hours24/7 Skype Chat session for 2+ weeks24/7 Volunteer technical COMMUNITY r New Zealand Media Channels plled our map support (300+) 7000 Direct conections from 4 initial Tweets180000+ Hits in less than 40 hours2 major networks embed the map into their broadcast

JapanBiggest Challenge – Japanese!

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Biggest Advantage – data format is the same (Chocolate is still chocolate)

Tradui application (4 languages: english) four language translation application (Spanish, Haitian, French, English)

Oil Report Mobile application (Gulf Oil Spill) –Citizens could report by taking a picture and send. Wind Shield and damage assessment, Increase the effort and decrease the effort.

Long distance Wifi - up to 9km (yah, 9 kilometers!). Medical shelters can communicate spread over 9 km, you can bounce a bigger pass through, using off the shelf components.

Let’s Talk Collaboration with open data standards Development of a Washington State Crowd Sourced Map? Preparedness and reporting mobile application? Above all …. Communities like you!

How to reach the next generation, the people who use internet TV, listen to MP3 (not Radio), no land-base phone only cellular, not connected to reserve 9-1-1 or EAS.

Over half a million twitter accounts were created after the Honshu Quake. Get a Twitter account just for emergency/disaster information/response.Are you aware of Usteam.

Sunday, 13:30 - Antennas for Emergency Communications"A poor antenna system can make a $1000 radio worthless". The proper choice and design of an antenna system for emergency communications can make or break the effectiveness of your EmComm mission. This session will provide the basics on how to select the type of antenna based on the communications required in an emergency or disaster - mobile? portability?  hitting a local repeater? distant repeater? HF within 200 miles? HF across country? This session will explore the basics of radio propagation in order to understand how our choice of antennas is important for effective emergency communications, and provide examples of effective antenna designs for the most common EmComm and public service situations.

Brian Daly, WB7OML, is a Director of Core Network and Government/Regulatory Standards at AT&T, in Redmond. He is deeply involved in developing new wireless technologies and standards for the industry, and holds over 20 patents for wireless technologies. Brian is a member of the FCC's Technological Advisory Council and the FCC's Emergency Accessibility Advisory Committee. He is actively involved in LTE and the public safety broadband network. He has participated on several Advisory Committees of the FCC, including the Communication Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council which developed recommendations for the Common Alerting Protocol Introduction, Location Accuracy for 9-1-1, and the Transition to Next Generation 9-1-1, and the Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee where he led the Communications Technology Group. He is the Emergency Coordinator for Medical Services Communications in King Co. He was first licensed in 1977 and holds an Extra class license. Brian has a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering.

AntennaA metallic device for radiating or receiving radio waves

How do we create radiation?There must be a time-varying currentReciprocity TheoremParameters include gain, radiation pattern, radiation intensity, directivity, radiation efficiency, relative gain, input impedance. Antenna is a piece of metal wire or tubingGain means focusing the energy in one direction.

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Omnidirectional – maybe weakly directional antennas, receive or radiate more or less in all directionsDirectional or beam antennas

Antenna patterns –plot of relative field strength of the radio waves emittedTypes E-plane – axis of antennaH-plane – perpendicular to axis of antennaAzimuth patternElevation pattern

Understanding dBi and dBd0dB – unity gain what goes in comes out the other endNegative gain –dB Positive gain +dB

Isotropic radiation dbiStandard ½ wave dipole dBd

Effective radiated powerPolarization –which way do I orient the antennaIdeally the transmit and receive antennas are aligned exactly in the same orientationMisalignment degrades in received signalLine of sight (LOS) signal polarization tends to stay relatively constantSky-wave propagation usually changes the polarization

Basic questionsWho I want totalk to?On what frequencies?

Any conductor can act as an antenna for a radio How to improve a rubber duck, add a tiger tail, 19 ¼” wire attached to the base of the antenna for 2 meters 9#14 through #20 stranded wire, crimped & soldered to a battery clip. 6 1/2” for 440Move Tiger tail around for directionality

Better than the rubber duck antennas. Flexible or telescoping antennasLarger size – work best when out in the open, stationaryFlexible antennas safer and better for dense vegetation in SAR operations¼ wave antennas better choice for HT operation¼ wave at shoulder height with a tiger tail “unity” gain 5db improvement

½ wave antennas without a grond plan same as a ¼ wave when used with a ground plane 5/8 wave has a 1.85 dbd gain

Portable mag mount antennas uses car as a ground planeRoll up J poleMade of 300 Ohm TV twin – leadSeveral dB gain over a rubber duckSingle or dual band design

Portable Yagi antennasModel 146/437-10WBP

Back pack portablesHandheld portable

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Dual band VHF/UHF antennas, convenient for multiband HT radios. But usually designed to be optimal for one band.

Size of vehicle has an impact on antenna performance and placementBest is top center of the roof, not on the bumperGlass monts, watch for embedded metal in the glass to block heat, Soft-RayEZE-Cool, Solar-Coat, Solar-Coolm Insta-Clear your glass is probably passivated and won’t work on glass antennasLong lasting V/U mount is the NMO (new Motorola series)SO239 mounts, - not water proofMag mounts will scratch surface Larsen NMOHFGPS mount – combines GPS antennas with NMO mount

Urban areasWant higher angles of radiation, choose a lower gain antenna

Suburban or ruralHigher gain antennas might be bestDepends on the HAAT

Don’t fall into “Gain Game”

Basic Antenna types¼ waveLoaded ¼ wave½ wave5/8 waveCollinear – 2 or 3 radiating elements separated by phasing coils for increased gain.

DisconeWideband, compact & lightweight designDirectional YagiFolded loop

HF antenna choiceVerticals have low takeoff anglesHorizontal ant at relatively high dictance

NVIS near vertical incidence SkywaveBest for 40 meter during the day switch to 80 meters at sunsetDesign is a dipole positioned from 0.1 to 0.25 wavelengths or lower above ground

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Heights of 5 to 10 feet above ground are not unusual for NVIS setupsThe inverted V is another good NVIS antennaCritical frequency between 2 to 20 Mhz – 40 for day , 70/80 for night timehttp://www.ips.gov.au/HF_Systems/6/5http://www.ips.gov.au/HF_Systems/1/4

Spacew.com

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MatchingTransmitter wants to see 50 ohmsAntenna tuner is used to make your antenna look like 50 ohmsTransmission lines have losses

Sunday, 15:00 Low-Cost Portable E-mail Gateways

Learn how to assemble and deploy a VHF/UHF Radio Mail System, including hardware and software.Bryan Hoyer, KG6GEU is President and Asst. Emergency Coordinator of the San Juan Co. Amateur Radio Society.  He is an inventor and entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in electronic design.30 yr in Silicon valley, now in San Juan County, Lic in 2001WWAR Board member

Emcomm experience 4 fixed in one mobile white box: 706 for HF 2 for Practor 3 with Winmor; kenwood 2m/440; Alinco 220; TNC for 1200 packet using Airmail

Why email?Provides a Written Record, it looks a lot like a radiogram. We speak at 160 words a minute but only copy (write) at 35 -50 typically. Provides better use of bandwidth in an emergency.

Winlink RMS GatewaysValuable interface interface to non-hams, served agencies, goods &services, welfare, more than 750 RMS gateways worldwide.

Winkink. Org to see where they are.

Typical RMS Gateway PC –Windows- Rs-232- TNC (1200 baud modem $250) – audio – XCVT2m ($150-$350, -100W)

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Low Cost gateway<$300, low power ~15W standby, easy to Deploy, simple to use.

$99 Sheeva plug 1.2 GHz Processor, The SheevaPlug is one of the first "Plug computers" on the market. It features a 1.2 GHz Marvell Kirkwood 6281 ARM-compatible CPU (aka Feroceon). The device has already been called an "NSLU2 killer" due to its low price (and the discontinued status of the NSLU2).The SheevaPlug comes supplied with Ubuntu 9.04 ARM build. The SheevaPlug has been supported since Linux Kernel version 2.6.27 and is currently shipping with 2.6.30-rc5 Marvell offers a development kit to assist in the development of software for the platform. The kit includes the GCC cross-compiler for ARM. The device includes a mini USB connector wired to an FTDI FT2232 chip which provides the developer's computer with access to two ports, a JTAG port connected to the internal JTAG bus, and an RS232 port connected to the Kirkwood processor's serial port through which the bootstrap and kernel console can be accessed. This debug console can be accessed from any computer with support for the FTDI bus translator (FreeBSD, Linux, Mac OS X, Windows).specs:OS tested Ubuntu 9.04.1 ARMELProcessor Feroceon 88FR131 1.2GHzMemory 512MB DDR2Storage 512MB NAND FlashExpansion SDHC-compatible SD card slotNetwork Gigabit EthernetAdditional ports USB 2.0, eSATADebugging Serial console, JTAG over mini-USBActual size 110 x 69.5 x 48.5mmWeight 200g (excluding cables)Price: approx $129

12VDC converterAmcor card running Linux USB soundcardLaptopsofwareL Debian Linux 2.6Etherne stackAx.25 stackRMS GatewayPaclink-Unix

User interfaceLAMP setupWebserver Apache

PHP and Brower on the Amcor

Typical fixed location gatewayRapid deployment of a server to handle mail locally (no internet available) for an area (think repeater locations)Single Setup in an EOC handles mail for multiple users via wired/wireless network

Proto type in the fall. Nradio.comConsolidate all this to one package: couple a radio with software and computerHeadless radio – powered by 12VDC, with Ethernet connection.XCVR 440MHz $395

Platform Radio with RMS GatewayIRLP/EcholinkD-star?

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DV AMBE (voicing code, you can’t use this, it is propriety and on a chip) vs. CODEC 2 (this is open)DD at 100+Kbps

D-Star why? An Emcomm thing.D-Star is not proprietary. That is a myth. D-Rats – software for data works without a radio (open source)Pactor 3 in proprietary, Winmor is not an open source, but an open programNistar website, non icomm dstar

Radio specificationsWhy 440? Because 2 meter is the most popular but crowded, limited bandwidth, need to retain Voice capability.