Title: The Last Mile
1The Last Mile
- Bridging the Gap
- By
- KS4JU
2What is the Last Mile ?
- The last mile is the path across an area where
conventional communications have been disrupted
or overloaded by an incident.
3Why Digital Radio?
- More Robust
- Can work better in noisy RF environments
- Built in filtering or data redundancy improve
communications - Can be more efficient with less power and smaller
antennas. - Greater Connectivity
- Some modes can be linked over the Internet to
reach more potential users - Communicate More Efficiently
- Greater bandwidth capability for more information
- Potential for sending documents, photos and
other attachments. - Provides more accurate communications
4Digital Radio Tools
- PSK31
- HF
- APRS
- VHF
- HF
- Internet
- Echolink
- VHF
- Internet
- Winlink
- HF
- VHF
- Internet
5Radio
- HF or VHF Radio
- Most radios will work
- Computer control interface can be useful, but not
necessary - Compact low power capable radios can be used for
field work or ran more efficiently on emergency
power supplies.
6Computer
- Most digital amateur radio software have very
modest computer hardware requirements - Laptops are more useful in emergency operations.
- Portable
- Self contained power supply
- Low power requirements for emergency power.
- Be sure to look into battery efficient laptops
for emergency use
7Computer / Radio Interface
- Interface needs to be made between the computer
sound card and radio for PSK31, APRS (AGW packet
engine), Winlink (AGW Packet Engine), and
Echolink server. - Sound card out to Radio mike input
- Sound card input to Radio speaker / headphone
output - Computer serial or usb port to Radio PTT
- Interfaces can be made or purchased
- Vendors
- Rigblaster - West Mountain Radio
www.westmountainradio.com - MFJ www.mfjenterprises.com
- Saratoga Amateur Radio Parts - www.saratogaham.com
/ezpsk/
- Note
- APRS can be used with a standalone 9600 baud
hardware TNC - Winlink HF requires a dedicated Pactor 3 modem.
8Software
9PSK-31
- Advantages
- Very easy to deploy in an emergency
- Modest equipment requirements
- Laptop, Radio Interface, HF Transceiver, Antenna,
and Power Supply - This can include a low power HF transceiver,
portable power supply, and portable antenna. - Very Robust
- Can provide long range communications using HF in
noisy conditions. - Can provide keyboard contact over long distances
as well as short bulletins. - Does not rely on other technologies to work.
- Possibly the best (only choice) during a
widespread communications outage. - Disadvantages
- Transfer of information slow (low bandwidth)
- Can be affected by HF conditions (Propagation)
- Not as useful for local or short-range
communications - No redundancy
- Limited connectivity
Official PSk-31 Website http//aintel.bi.ehu.es/ps
k31.html
10PSK-31 Frequencies
- PSK-31 activity is concentrated around the
following frequencies - 1.83815 MHz
- 3.580
- 7.035 MHz
- 14.07 MHz (Most Popular)
- 18.100 MHz
- 21.070 MHz
- 24.920 MHz
- 28.120 MHz
- 50.290 MHz
11PSK-31 Basics
- PSK-31 uses Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK)
- The keying rate is 31.25 bits/sec
- The effective speed for plain English text is
approximately 50 words/minute
12PSK-63
- PSK-63 offers
- 100 wpm character transmission speed for contest
exchanges and macro transmission versus RTTY at
60 wpm - Only 1/5 the bandwidth of RTTY - capable of
displaying 25 signals simultaneously on a
waterfall or spectrum display - Fast, easy, point-and-click tuning using the
mouse or keyboard arrowkey tuning - Capable of color thumbnail portrait transmission
in less than 2 minutes - Faster sync recovery than RTTY, resulting in
fewer errors - Requires much less power than RTTY for the same
communications performance - Identical to PSK31 except for a wider bandwidth
of 63 Hz - Improved polar path performance compared to PSK31
- Works with any soundcard-equipped Windows
computer and SSB transceiver - Initial testing on 20 meters between 14072.5 and
14080.0 KHz - Lots of software for PSK63 is available now!
PSK 63 Resource Page www.qsl.net/kh6ty/psk63
13PSK-31 Performance
- Real World Performance
- The power in a PSK-31 signal is concentrated in a
31 Hz bandwidth, versus 250 Hz for RTTY and 3300
Hz for SSB the PSK-31 signal is brighter (3.2
W/Hz vs 30 mW/Hz for SSB) - If a 100 W PEP ( 11 15 W rms) signal provides
a 20 dB S/N ratio at the receiver using SSB, the
same S/N ratio is achieved with 8W using RTTY and
only 1W using PSK-31! - Transcontinental QSOs using PSK-31 are possible
using less than 50 W under any conditions and
when conditions are good, QRP (lt 5W) PSK-31
contacts are possible to any point on the planet. - Unlike AMTOR, PACTOR, and packet, PSK-31 supports
net operation (no handshaking required between
stations)
14Bandwidth Utilization
- Waterfall display on the left shows several RTTY
signals - Waterfall display on the right shows several
PSK-31 signals - For the nearly the same character rate ( 50 wpm)
PSK uses 1/5 the bandwidth - A 3 kHz SSB channel can support 10 or more PSK
QSOs
15Tuning in a PSK-31 signal
- Turn on the equipment
- Run the PSK software
- Select the waterfall display mode
- Use the mouse to place the cursor on a signal
- Adjust the squelch until text appears in receive
window
Receive Window
16Recommended Software for PSK
- Ham Radio Deluxe
- hrd.ham-radio.ch
17APRS
- Advantages
- Modest Equipment Requirements VHF Radio,
Computer, Interface or TNC, and Software - Can be used for
- Map based asset management.
- Tracking people or objects.
- Weather reporting
- Short messages
- Large radio based network with internet
connectivity - Can be deployed quickly and portable / mobile
- Still heavily used
- Disadvantages
- Need to be in range of an APRS node to
participate in the network or internet
connectivity. - Not a strong VHF network in the Athens Area
APRS Wiki info.aprs.net/wikka.php?wakkaAPRS
18APRS Frequencies
- USA National Frequency 144.39 MHz
- Low Powered Trackers 144.99 MHz
- Satellites
- ISS 145.990- MHz UP 145.800 MHz- Down 1200
Baud AFSK - PCSAT-2 145.825- MHz UP 435.275 MHz- Down
1200 Baud AFSK - PCSAT-1 145.825MHz UP 145.825 MHz Down - 1200
Baud AFSK - AO-51 145.860- MHz UP 435.150 MHz Down 9600
Baud FSK - Web Access
- www.findu.com
- Open APRS
- Based on Google Maps www.openaprs.net/
19RecommendedAPRS Software
- AGW Packet Engine Pro
- Replaces the need for a hardware TNC
- Requires PC with Soundcard
- 50 License
- Supports many TNC based Applications
- AGW Tracker APRS Software
- Very sophisticated mapping features using online
maps - Very good weather displays
- Supports standalone Kenwood APRS radios
- Only program that is currently being updated
20Athens APRS Activity 8/30/06
21Coverage
22Messages
23Weather Data
24Tracking
25Satellite
26Hurricane Tracking
27Emergency Planning
28Echo LinkVOIP / Protocol
- Advantages
- Can only require a computer, microphone, and
Internet Connection - Allows monitoring or communicating on VHF
repeaters world wide - Can be used to access distant repeaters for
message handling during emergencies - Can be used to extend the range of local
repeaters - Conferencing supported
- Mobile transmitters can access remote repeaters
via DTMF codes - Transmit automated messages with 3rd party
software - Easy to use
- Must validate Amateur Radio license before using
- Disadvantages
- Requires a live internet connection or a VHF
vocie link to a radio connected to an Echo link
server with a working internet connection.
Echolink www.echolink.org
29PC as a Base Station
Home PC
VHF Repeater (Anywhere in the World)
Internet
VHF Radio
Base Microphone
Echolink Sysop Server
30Mobile Link
Echolink / PC
VHF Repeater (Anywhere in the World)
Internet
VHF Radio
Mobile
Echolink Sysop Server
31Echolink Overview
32Advanced Controllers
- Advanced controllers allow
- Shutting down or rebooting the computer remotely
- Remote access to controller functions from a
mobile radio - Time out timer to unlatch PTT in case program
hangs up - More suited for Echolink Sysop mode.
- Priced from 75 to 135 (will work with other
modes discussed here) - From VA3TO www.ilinkca.com and iLinkboards
www.ilinkboards.com
33SoftwareMain Page
34Echolink Status09/31/06
35Echolink Connect Screen
36www.voipwx.net
37WXTALKNode 7203
38Winlink
- Advantages
- Modest equipment requirements for VHF access
VHF radio, computer, interface, MS Outlook
Express, AGW Packet Engine, and Paclink Post
Office - Based on SMTP E-mail
- Most emergency agencies rely on email for
information transfer - Can send attachments for photos and documents
- Redundant network utilizing radio and internet
connectivity - Was proven very effective for Last Mile
Communications in the hurricane Katrina
aftermath - Disadvantages
- HF links can be costly because of the requirement
for a proprietary Pactor 3 modem - VHF access is fairly limited in Athens area
(however, it would be easy to set up a local
Telpac station) - Can be more complex to set up
Winlink - www.winlink.org
39Why Winlink
- Our traditional methods fail for complex message
handling in todays agency environment! - Need for delivering written procedures, lists,
graphics, images, and Pre-defined, formatted,
documents to multiple recipients! - Multiple recipient e-mail with binary attachments
is the de facto standard to carry written
information. - Hand-written message forms are seldom used, and
are not transparent to normal operations! - For complex messages, voice, Morse code,
Radiograms, and traditional Packet radio wont
do - way too slow, translation required, inflexible,
prone to error, no permanent record, not
self-originating, not point-to-multipoint. - doesnt go end-to-end from user-to-user on their
own computers in their own offices no
attachments and no automatic distribution..
40E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO using Winlink 2000
This is a Winlink 2000 PACLINK station.
A typical ham radio last mile e-mail station is
composed of simple components, even for an Agency
with multiple computers.
A VHF or UHF Radio and a Good Antenna
A D-Star or Packet Radio Modem (TNC.)
- Laptop for a Portable Station. Desktop for an
agency. - Paclink AGW Paclink Postoffice mini e-mail
server software with - AGW Packet Engine Pro and
- Outlook Express or Outlook
- Win2000 or WinXP
Laptop Computer
41E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
To send or receive e-mail, this station makes a
connection with a Winlink radio node or PMBO.
Computer
42E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
For the last mile, use VHF radios and the
Packet mode as a pathway to carry e-mail.
Computer
43E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
For longer distances or in difficult terrain,
most PMBOs are outfitted with multi-band HF
radios and the Pactor II III modes to serve
stations with no other e-mail outlet.
Airmail client Program
Users on HF have a special e-mail program called
Airmail.
44E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
The PMBO is connected to the internet at all
times.
Computer
The Internet
45E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
PMBOs may have remote gateways called TELPAC
stations. They are connected to the PMBO via any
TCP/IP link and duplicate its VHF radio port in
another location.
TELPAC stations may communicate to the PMBO via
any TCP/IP link, including ICOMs D-Star or
WiFi 802-11b.
Computer
802-11b
The Internet
46E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
Other computers, or CMBOs, organize and manage
the network traffic.
CMBOs are transparent to users. They are
redundant, and you never know they are there.
Computer
The Internet
CMBO
CMBO
CMBO
47E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
You can send radio e-mail directly to internet
e-mail users.
Computer
The Internet
48E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
And you can send radio e-mail to other Paclink or
Airmail stations like yours.
The Internet
49E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
Adding a LAN on the PACLINK computer permits
individuals to send and receive radio e-mail.
PACLINK is now an e-mail server.
PACLINK may be placed in the DMZ zone in front
of the firewall.
The Internet
Served Agency LAN
50E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
The PMBO forwards radio e-mail between its radio
users, even if its internet connection is gone.
Computer
The Internet
51E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
If the local PMBO has an outage, you can make a
connection with a local TELPAC station which will
automatically shift to a distant host PMBO with
connectivity. Or
The Internet
52E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
Or you can traverse the packet network using
nodes to get to a connected TELPAC or PMBO. Or
The Internet
53E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
Or you can use an HF station to get to a distant
connected PMBO using Airmail.
The Internet
54E-MAIL VIA HAM RADIO
Besides radio channels, PACLINK stations also may
have telnet channels to the internet. This is
handy for fixed stations because it is fast.
PACLINK stations automatically switch between
preset radio destinations and telnet channels to
find a connection to a PMBO.
My E-mail server is down
The Internet
55PMBO Locations
56US Telpac Nodes
57Nearby Telpac Stations Overview
58Nearby Telpac Stations Detail
59Devise a Plan!
- Insure that there is no duplication of efforts in
your last mile coverage area. - Set up an strategy for implementation with your
local ARRL ARES or RACES organization. Set up a
time-line for each task. - Coordinate efforts with the Winlink 2000
Development Team, ECs,SECs,DECs/SM, etc. - Ask other ARES communities for assistance.
- Set up personnel responsibilities with
Time-lines! - Handle the finances. How much will it actually
cost? Who should pay? - Involve and commit the end-user. They are the
ones to benefit! - Implement the plan in stages.
- Test it, and Test it again.
- Provide a presentation and demo for your served
agencies. - Continue to promote your capabilities.
60Questions?