JO CO ARES

1
Welcome!

• JO CO ARES
• Digital Mode Training Day

2
Introductions

• Name, Call, Current Capabilities

3
Why We Are Here

• Introduction to Digital Modes
• APRS
• Echolink
• PSK
• MMSSTV
• HamPal

4
What is APRS

• Automatic Position Reporting System (previoulsy
  Automatic Packet Reporting System)
• Packet communication protocol for sharing live
  data on a network in real time
• Real time tactical communications and display
  system for emergencies and public service
  applications (APRS Spec)

5
History

• Invented by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR in 1992
• Devised to facilitate short haul, short duration
  data transfer conventional packet was not
  suitable
• GPS input came later
• War Room in the Field

6
History

• APRS for DOS was the first program
• MacAPRS WinAPRS 1994 by Sproule brothers
• UI-Viewbest support popularity
• Many other APRS apps since runs on Windows 3.x,
  9x, NT and XP, Mac, Linux, Palm, CE and DOS

7
Packet Radio

• History
• AX.25 protocol was approved by ARRL in 1984
• Came from X.25 protocol (the A is for Amateur)
• Primary difference from X.25 is allowance for
  call signs and for unconnected packets

8
Packet Radio

• In packet radio, qsos are always between
  connected stations
• Several qsos can take place simultaneously on
  the same frequency
• Packet qsos may be digipeated by specific
  stations

9
How is APRS different from Packet Radio?

• Communication is one to many
• Uses generic digipeating with standard aliases
• Supports intelligent digipeating to reduce
  network flooding
• Uses UI frames for messaging, bulletins and
  announcements
• Provides maps and other features

10
How APRS uses Packets

• Uses the same AX.25 protocol but only a part of
  it
• Uses Unnumbered Information (UI) frames
  exclusively
• Always runs in unconnected mode
• Frames are transmitted without expecting any
  response
• Reception is not guaranteed

11
Frequencies

• VHF 144.39
• 1200 baud
• HF 30M 10.15151 LSB
• 300 baud
• Satellite
• ISS Downlink 145.800, uplink 145.990
• PCsat simplex 145.828
• 1200 baud

12
APRS Primary Uses

• Weather Spotting
• Balloon Chasing
• Emergency Operations
• Special Events
• Every Day fun

13
Weather Spotting

• What do you need 2B a good spotter?
• Detailed Map
• May be deployed to unfamiliar territory.
• List of Spotting Locations
• Latest WX info from the NWS
• Need to see Watches Warnings
• Radar
• Field Observations
• Need to see temperature wind all around
• See other spotters
• To confirm reports, u need exact location
• Automated Objects
• Create a vectored Tornado object with that others
  can see

14
Balloon Chasing

• What do you need 2B a good Balloon Chaser?
• Detailed Map
• You WILL be in unfamiliar territory.
• Visibility of balloon location height
• Auto display of your station balloon
• Needs to display in one place, so you can
  concentrate on keeping up with the balloon!
• Field Observations
• Need to see temperature wind all around
• See other chasers
• Keep the convoy from getting lost

15
Emergency Operations

• What do you need 2B a good Emergency Operator?
• INCLUDING SAR
• Detailed Map
• May be deployed to unfamiliar territory.
• Latest WX info from the NWS
• Need to see Watches Warnings
• Radar
• Field Observations
• Need to see temperature wind all around
• See other spotters
• Need to know where all field units are deployed
• Objects
• Indicate damage or roadblocks on a map for all to
  see
• List of Shelter Locations
• Short Messaging
• Communicate more confidential info to EOC or
  field units
• Email capability
• Need to be able to send short messages to
  internet users

16
Special Events

• What do you need 2B a good Event Specialist?
• Detailed Map
• May be deployed to unfamiliar territory
• Aid Stations need to be on the map
• Event Route needs to be shown
• Hazards or Medical support locations need to be
  displayed
• Latest WX info from the NWS
• Need to see Watches Warnings
• Radar
• Field Observations
• Need to see temperature wind all around
• See other specialists
• Need to know where all field units are deployed
• Objects
• Show first Last Runner
• Show event officials
• Show Safety units
• Show medical units rovers

17
Every Day Fun

• Passive Fun
• Watch the display of many stations
• Watch the ISS or PCsat fly by
• Tracking Mapping
• Never be lost again! Drive to any address.
• Track your buddies
• Set alarms-movement or proximity
• Track your family or vice versa
• Make new friends spontaneously while driving

18
UI-View 32 Solution

• Detailed Map
• Show world Map
• Zoom full in
• Show Search capability
• Address, County, State, Phone, Mile Marker,
  Call
• Show Overlays (Spotter Locations)
• Show Underlays (Aerial Photos)
• Show UI-Terra

19
UI-View 32 Solution

• Latest WX info Observations
• Show UI-NWS
• Show active colored counties
• Click for details
• Show finger wx_srv
• Show Field Wx Station observations

20
UI-View 32 Solution

• Messaging
• Show sending a message direct
• Show sending a message via digi
• Show sending a message via internet
• Show sending an email message

21
UI-View 32 Solution

• Tracking Zooming
• Show Auto Track (Cross Hairs and Track zoom)
• Show UI-Height Track
• With Height based color
• Show movement alarm
• Show UI-History
• Show FindU Log Converter
• Show FCC server

22
UI-View 32 Solution

• Objects
• Show moving object
• Show UI-Signpost
• Show inactive object
• Difference between objects overlays
• Show Objects list

23
Hardware
Getting on the Air with APRS What to
Buy/Scrounge

• Home station requirements
• 2 meter radio and antenna
• Desktop computer
• TNC or soundcard/interface
• Mobile station requirements
• 2 meter radio and antenna
• Variables

24
Mobile/Portable Variables

• Mobile-Track View
• GPS
• Laptop
• TNC
• Mobile-Tracking Only
• GPS
• Tiny Track, or Tracking TNC
• Portable-Tracking Only
• GPS
• Tracker interface device
• Power source for portability

25
Hardware

• Computers for UI-View
• Pentium II, 128mb 3gb avail, minimum
• Faster PCFaster Map refresh
• Consideration for a TNC with GPS
• 2 serial ports are needed (Unless KPC3)
• If only 1 serial port is available, can use a
  Port sharing device
• Any TNC will do with fixed location and a PC
  attached.

26
Hardware

• Kantronics KPC-3
• Supports single PC Serial Port Tracker
• Supports UI Flood Protocol
• Current Version is 9.0
• Simple Mobile Operation
• Cost 189

27
Hardware

• Kantronics KPC-3
• Good for Home use
• Version 8.2 Supports UI Flood Protocol
• Average cost used 80

28
Hardware

• KPC-2, KAM, MFJ, others
• Good for Home use
• Low cost
• Check http//swap.qth.com/ for deals

29
Hardware
Transmit Only
Tiny Track III SMT (48) http//www.byonics.com/
tinytrak/ttsmt.php

• Tiny Trak III kit (38)
• http//www.byonics.com/tinytrak/index.html

A self-contained tracking/telemetry module
30
Hardware
Self Contained

• Kenwood TM-D700 (489)
• Just add a GPS

Kenwood TH-D7 (339) Just add a GPS
31
APRS Radios Available

• GE Phoenix Freq Agile
• 40 Watts, .35microvolt
• Includes APRS Primary Secondary All packet
  freqs.
• 100 wired to plug in to Kantronics Std
• kc0bs_at_arrl.net

32
GPS Hardware

• GPS Receivers
• Must have PC interface port
• Must output NMEA (National Marine Electronics
  Association) messages on the PC port (default)
• External antenna a plus
• RS-232 or TTL

33
The APRS Network-Digis

• Digipeaters only repeat if their call sign, their
  unique alias, or a generic alias is in the digi
  path
• WIDE3-3 (called a ui-flood)

• RELAY
• NO LONGER USED!
• Use Wide1-1
• Home stations set MYALIAS to wide1-1

34
Mobile Path

• Metro Example
• APRS V WIDE2-2 or
• APRS V WIDE1-1, WIDE2-1
• Non-Metro Example (More than 100 miles from an
  Igate)
• APRS V WIDE3-3 or
• APRS V WIDE1-1, WIDE2-2

Home (Fixed) Path

• Metro Example
• APRS V WIDE2-1
• Non-Metro Example
• APRS V WIDE2-2 or
• APRS VIA K0XYZ, WIDE2-2

35
Another way to view APRS

• FINDU
• http//www.findu.com
• APRSWorld
• http//www.aprsworld.net

36
Important Links

• KC APRS Organization kcaprs.org
• NEKSUN APRS k0ham.com
• tapr.org
• ui-view.org
• nwaprs.org
• web.usna.navy.mil/bruninga/aprs/fix14439.html
• http//www.w0ipl.com/ECom/aprs-imp.htm
• http//www.byonics.com

37
SSTV Wx Radar Update

• Overlays for UI-View via SSTV
• http//www.ks0jc.com/sstv

38
JOCO ARES SAR review

• Used 3 D7as for March Night Drill
• http//www.ks0jc.com/drill

39
UI-View Installation

• 1) Copy CD 1 onto your harddrive (folder 7cd1 is
  fine for the name)
• 2) Copy the contents in the folder C\7cd2\States
  onto your hard drive
• (Put it in the C\7cd1\program files\Precision
  Mapping Streets and Traveler 7.0\states)
• 3) Double click on Setup.exe in the c\7cd1
  folder to install Precision Mapping 7
• 4) Double click on 32full203.exe to install
  ui-view
• 5) Double click on PMapServer7.zip USING
  WINZIP(included on this disk-don't use the WINXP
  zip viewer)
• 5a) Select the INSTALL option in Winzip (top
  buttons)
• 5b) Once installed, click on START, Programs,
  PMAPSERVER7, INITPMAPSERVER7
• 5c) Unzip UIV.zip into the c\Program Files\Peak
  Systems\UI-View32 folder
• 5d) Unzip shapefiles.zip into the c\Program
  Files\Peak Systems\UI-View32\NWS\Shapefiles
  folder
• 5e) Unzip MAPS.zip into the c\Program
  Files\Peak Systems\UI-View32\MAPS folder
• 5f) Double click on fccsv160.exe to install it
• 5g) Unzip overlays.zip into the c\Program
  Files\Peak Systems\UI-View32\OVERLAYS folder
• 5h) Unzip FCCsrv.zip into the c\Program
  Files\Peak Systems\UI-View32\FCCSrv folder
• 6) N/A
• 7) Run the programs (from the start menu)

40
UI-View Feature Walkthrough

• Zooming
• Setting Your location
• Tracking YOU
• Tracking others
• Finding someones address driving there
• Creating objects moving them (alt)
• Messaging digi, tcpip, email
• FCC Callsign Server-now with auto update!
• Movement Alarm
• UI-Traffic
• UI-Height Tracker
• UI-NWS
• History/Telemetry
• Favorite Views
• Terminal, Stations, Messages windows
• ButtonsPgUp, PgDwn, Ctrl-A, Fkeys
• Loading Overlays Underlays with UI-Terra NWS
  Get
• Playing log

41
Communications Methods

• www.kcaprs.org
• kcaprs_at_yahoogroups.com
• APRS Bulletins

42
Intro to Echo LinkBrian Short-KCØBS
43
What is Echolink?

• A Remote Head for a transceiver, that can be
  put anywhere and shared
• Consisting of
• A Software package
• An centralized array of network servers
• Widely distributed Computers directly interfaced
  to radios or repeaters

44
How to get the Software

• Free!
• http//www.echolink.org/
• Authentication Step
• 24-48 Hour Turn around
• Human intervention checking of user info to
  discourage bootlegging

45
User to User Mode
46
User to Machine (L or R)
Repeater
Link
47
User to User to User (Conference)
48
User to User to Machine (Conference)
49
Machine to Machine
50
Main Screen
51
Explorer View
52
Getting StartedEnd User

• Computer Requirements
• Speakers
• Microphone
• Use mouse or Keyboard for PTT, or use VOX

53
Getting StartedSysop Mode

• Interface your PC to your Radio/Rpter
• Uses Soundcard Line input Output
• Uses Serial Port to key PTT
• (Some interfaces also sense COR)

54
Beginners Interfacepacketradio.com/RASCAL
.htm
39
55
Intermediate AMI
52
56
Advanced ULI Board
89
57
Brew your Own!
RTS Pin 7 Gnd Pin 5
5 (or less)
58
Keep it legal! Control Op via the web
59
Echolink on the Road

• Use Echolink to talk to friends as they travel

• www.echolinkmap.org

60
Echolink for Emergencies

• Link 2 repeaters with no additional hardware,
  regardless of Geographical location
• Requires active Echolink node within repeater
  range or
• Repeaters with existing Echolink Interfaces
• Passing Traffic
• Search for the destination city and call for
  locals to pass traffic
• Limitations Must have power I-net connection

61
The Future of Echolink

• AVRS Amateur Cellular
• Marriage of APRS I-Link/Echolink
• Ham Dials another hams callsign (or CQ)
• Central server compares locations assigns a
  local repeater to each Ham
• Server Automatically links the 2 repeaters

62
Additional Web Resources

• http//www.echolinker.com
• http//www.echolinkmap.org
• http//www.astrosurf.com/lombry/Radio/echolink-k1r
  fd.pdf
• http//www.eham.net/articles/4989
• AVRS
• http//web.usna.navy.mil/bruninga/avrs.html

63
Upcoming Activities

• 5/30 KCAPRS Summit
• National Weather Service Training Center near KCI
• 6/3 Ensor Special Event
• 8am-Noon
• 6/18 Wheels to Weston
• serainey_at_juno.com Steve Rainey
• 6/24 Field Day