[FADCA] FAQ#1 on ARESCOM/WL2K E-mail system

[bud thompson]

Deltona
Sunday August 1

On Sunday July 25th I received a note from Sherri W4STB, Section Manager for
S. FL ARRL section in which she posed a series of questions on the new
ARESCOM/WL2K
system being evaluated by the ARRL.

The following is from the MS WORD file I prepared and sent this morning.

73,
bud N0IA
386 574 4124


FAQS - E-mail over Ham Radio to support EMCOMMs (Florida)

Laying some groundwork -

With almost any new development there are often reports of how something
works, what it costs, what it will or will not do, etc. that are more based
on what 'someone said", or interpreted from a document, rather than actual
experience or fact.  It is hoped that this "FAQ" document will dispel some
of the inaccuracies and help better explain how the E-mail over Ham Radio
system works and will support EMCOMMs.

Basics
A digital ham radio station generally consists of an antenna, feed line,
radio, data controller, and computer. A data controller is a radio modem and
may come in several forms, including firmware-based TNCs.  The system we are
proposing supports the use of computer sound cards on vhf packet as the data
controller, eliminating the need for a TNC.  However, we have not yet
extensively tested the sound card approach and are not ready to say all
sound cards in all computers will work.  (We will work on learning that and
report.)  Also, it is likely that a radio-to-sound card interface will be
required once all that is working.

Packet nodes/switches vs. repeaters.
A packet switch, including a 2 meter LAN serving a local area, typically
consists of three packet radio stations controlled with a single computer.
(We do not yet use sound cards at switches so TNCs are required.)  A packet
switch is no more, and perhaps less complicated than a repeater, and is
usually sited, often remotely, at a reasonable elevation to cover the local
area on 2M packet and reach neighbor switches using UHF beams.  From an
installation, operation, and maintenance standpoint, a packet switch is much
the same as a voice repeater except no complex controller is required and
duplexers are not often employed.

Concerns voiced over expenses and on-going maintenance of a packet switch
should be no more than with repeaters.  Like repeaters, some packet switches
are sponsored by individuals, some by clubs.  Unlike repeaters, there are no
off-the shelf packet switches to be purchased as a package and plugged in,
so local hams build switches by wiring radios/TNCs and computer together.
Older, commercial mobile radios (Motorola Mitreks for example) are often
used.  These radios, much better suited for this service than the typical FM
mobile for ham use, typically cost $50 to $100 including new crystals on the
proper frequency.  They do require some technical expertise to re-tune/align
for the amateur bands.  FADCA members have in-depth experience with this and
can be of assistance.

We are hoping to obtain some grant funds for increasing data rates on the
UHF backbones between switches on the Florida Layered Packet Network. These
funds would be used to purchase commercial wide-band radios and high speed
TNCs (typically $700 per radio port).  The grant request will be based on
local ham groups having established the basic switch components at an
appropriate site (antennas, feed lines, lightning protection, computer,
etc.) and applying to FADCA for the new radios and TNCs for UHF backbones
and for the LANS where appropriate.  It is our intention that there would be
no cost to the local group for these radios or TNCs.   There is likely no
mechanism for grant money from this source without either (1) local matching
funds or (2) in-kind expenditure such as having a site in place ready for
radios and TNCs.

NOTE: At this time there is no guarantee that this grant will be requested,
nor if so granted!  We still have not heard yet!

Forget everything you know about the old ham radio BBS system of personal
messages and Bulletins.  It was exciting in the 80s before Internet E-mail.
You can forget (almost) everything you knew about packet radio.  As you
study this new system of E-mail over Ham Radio, remember first and
foremost - It is only e-mail - nothing more!

FAQS - E-mail over Ham Radio to support EMCOMMs (Florida)
Questions supplied by
Sherri Brower, Section Manager, W4STB. FL ARRL Section.

Q:        Where would these additional units be located?
A:         A Local Area Network (LAN) is an area covered by the two meter
port of a packet switch consisting of one or more packet stations controlled
by a computer.  A switch is located much as a repeater is located - to cover
a specific local ham radio community.

Q:        Who will repair and maintain them?
A:         Local technical hams, the same as repeaters are maintained.  The
hardware at a LAN site is much the same as a repeater: antennas, feed lines,
lightning protection, and radios - but with the addition of TNCs and a
computer.  The good news is that there is no expensive controller, and
seldom a need for duplexers.

Q         Is there any money for TNCs that can be used in the field?
A:         I would expect few grants would support purchasing gear such as
radios, TNCs, power supplies, antennas, computer, etc. for individuals.
However, it would not be unreasonable for a grant to support such hardware
to be located at shelters, EOCs, communications vans, etc.  One of our
hospital groups here indicated it would work on a grant for radios and
perhaps other hardware (i.e. TNCs) for the hospitals.)  The present grant
I'm asking ARRL Section Managers in Florida to support does not include
hardware for individuals, only for the network switches.

Q:        Or computers since I doubt the served agency are going to give us
a password for their computer?
A:         There are two categories of computers in the basic concept of
ARESCOM/WL2K model for E-mail over Ham Radio:  (1) a 'ham' computer with the
necessary software making it a local e-mail server, and controlling the
local packet station (power supply, data controller, radio, feed line and
antenna), and (2) served agency computer(s) linked to a 'ham' computer on a
wired or wireless LAN.
Picture this at a shelter, incident command, EOC or similar event setting:
A six-foot table with a 'ham' laptop at one end and three served agencies'
laptops all on a computer LAN along the table. The ham computer may be used
for e-mail, and each of the served agency computers may be used by whoever
each agency assigns.  No one needs a ham radio license to do e-mail on any
of these four computers, but the single license ham is required as the
control operator (Part 97).  (This relieves the ham at the site for voice
work when needed.)  In a slightly different picture where a served agency
has its own hardware, including the ham software on its own computer, all
that is required is for the licensed ham to show up at the agency site
during the event and oversee the e-mailing process or do the actual
e-mailing if needed.


Q:        Many counties don't have the money in their groups to keep a
packet system up and running now. [Not posed as a question, but a comment.]
A:         The basic problem is lack of interest in packet among hams since
the advent of cheap e-mail.  If there were interest at the local level, the
hams would find/supply, and maintain the necessary resources, just as is
done with repeaters.  We have 20 or so LANs on the Florida Layered Network
(and there are as many or more nodes on the SEDAN network) and so far as I
know all that has been provided through individual effort and funding (some
through clubs.)

Q:        Much of the equipment in use is donated by individuals and then
taken away when they need it for something else. [Not posed as a question,
but a comment.]
A:         I'm not aware of this with the Florida Layered Packet Network.
This may have happened where the equipment remained dark due to lack of use
after e-mail became so cheap.  When there is a genuine interest in this
activity, hams will maintain the resources.

Q:        The LANs are fine but what about the remainder of the system - the
link from the served agencies to the LAN node?  And then there's the
question of the computer needed....
A:         Rhetorical: How do served agencies utilize ham radio repeaters?
Is there a similar concern for the link from served agencies to repeaters?
A:         Packet users (which include individuals, served agencies, EOCs,
shelters, incident command, tactical / mobile stations, etc.) reach the LAN
node using a packet station. For e-mail over ham radio at least one of the
computers at each site must be a 'ham' computer configured as described
above.

Q:        How will this interface with the "broken" SEDAN system?
A:         The e-mail over Ham Radio system will not interface with the
existing SEDAN system in Florida. This is primarily a matter of SEDAN rules,
to wit: "There are no BBS, DX spotters, or forwarding enabled on the SEDAN
as agreed to within States where the SEDAN is coordinated." There are also
some technical and propagation concerns which may be reviewed at
http://www.fadca.org/n0ia_5.html .

Comment:  I do not agree that the SEDAN system is "broken"; no more so than
the Florida Layered Packet Network.  Both networks have 'holes' where
nodes/switches are needed to service more ham communities and enhance the
networks, and either network may have some incidental node outages from time
to time, not unlike repeaters. The shame of the matter is that if we had a
single network in the state using the existing sites of both networks we
would have nearly 100 percent coverage of the state.

Q:        Is there money for training?
A:         Rhetorical: How much money is currently being spent to train
local hams how to operate radios, format and relay NTS type messages, what
to pack in kit bags, etc.?  We have local hams who give club meeting
programs on this type of information.  At the national level the ARRL has a
grant for the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses and  perhaps
other on-line training courses, but I'm not aware that any of that money has
filtered down to actually be spent in the Field Organization. (If so, I'd
like to apply for some assistance for gasoline expenses over the past four
years!)
A:         First, I see no reason to not go for grants specifically for or
including training if the cost of training is beyond the capacity of the
local group. With the many facets of the various grants there may be some
that are specific to training.
A:         That said, there is not much training, per se, involved in this
system of E-mail over Ham radio to support ARES®.  I see little need for
special funds for training.

Comment:  If you are a served agency user (i.e. non licensed employee or
community volunteer for a served agency) and if you know how use Outlook
Express or any of the several e-mail clients (Outlook, Eudora, Netscape,
etc., whatever is on your computer), you will not need any special training.
What you do during an exercise/event is send and receive e-mail.  You may
need to use an event-specific e-mail address book for an event, but that
should not be insurmountable as the ham in charge at your site will provide
that and can load it on your computer if you don't know how. (Watch once,
and learn.)  The licensed ham who manages the 'ham' computer may need some
training beyond using Outlook express.  He may have to learn how to connect
his radio to the data controller and a little about setting up a three- or
four- computer LAN (on that six foot table), but that can be handled at club
meetings without spending any money for training.  This is what hams do.  I
would expect the local ARES groups would offer served agency
workers/volunteers some initial introduction/training sessions with the ham
system, but I don't see the need for funding as this is what hams do.

Comment:  As for the local packet network switch, some local ham(s) will
have to learn how to set that up.  Much of this is installing antennas, feed
lines, radios and Data Controllers - the stuff hams know or learn how to do
w/o much formal training.  The computer at the network switch could be
another matter. That will require someone (likely a ham) who is familiar
with the generalities of setting up a computer with several comports and
configuring a computer program specifically for that site. (It may require
some soldering of cables, though such are available for purchase on the
internet.)  At the present time, we use old computers with MS DOS operating
system which some hams have never experienced!  Experienced FADCA members
can supply all the 'training' for establishing, installing, configuring, and
maintaining a local multi port network switch providing there are local
technically-oriented hams who want to get involved.  FADCA members do not
charge for any of this as it is what hams do.



Q:        What NTS regional support do you have?
A:         What we are promoting is an e-mail system that supports users
sending and receiving conventional e-mail end-to-end between two compliant
digital radio stations anyplace in the world.  A compliant station may
support NTS messaging using e-mail to exchange NTS messages in the text if
the user elects to do so.  NTS or any other message type format may be sent
as text or as an attachment. NTS messages may be sent one at a time or as a
group in one attachment.  Such digital radio stations may also exchange
conventional e-mail with any internet e-mail addressee anyplace in the world
who has an internet connection, which includes a ham who supports NTS
messaging but may not be using ham radio to access the e-mail over ham radio
system.  It is important to note that this system does not provide specific
support for addressing or routing of the older ham radio packet system using
SP (Send Personal) or ST (NTS) messaging.  It is just end-to-end e-mail.
A:         Rhetorical:  To support EMCOMMs, what is the place for record
traffic using short (30 word) NTS-type messages that need to be transferred
using digital means?  While the NTS format may be used and embedded in an
e-mail, from the standpoint of a served agency what value would that be over
a free-form text e-mail message?

Comment:         From recent reports, I suggest the likelihood that more and
more NTSers use conventional e-mail as a mode for some of the traffic
exchanges as fewer and fewer conventional NTS routings/outlets exist.

Comment:         We may have to revisit the method in which Amateur Radio
provides typical Health and Welfare messages during emergencies.  That
investigation is likely on-going with the ARESCOM committee.

Comment:         Lest I be accused of NTS bashing - I am no stranger to the
National Traffic System.  The original CW-based NTS messaging and network
system that was developing in the early 50's was my main on-the-air ham
activity from 1952 through 1989 at which time I moved from Denver to Las
Vegas.  Over that nearly 40 years I participated at all levels of NCS and
TCC, primarily on CW nets.  In part of that time I promoted RTTY on HF and
vhf for NTS messaging.   In the 90's I was an active leader and promoter of
the use of digital modes (AMTOR, PacTOR, vhf packet) for NTS messaging
transfers.  Moving around the country over nearly 50 years (WV, OH, OK, CO,
NV) I held field appointments in three NTS Areas, and as net manager of a
region net.  I was the first Digital Coordinator for the Pacific NTS Area,
circa 1992, leaving that appointment when retirement brought me to Florida
in 1997.  The Classic Winlink MBO I ran from 1989 through 2002 was
specifically configured as an NTS addressing switch to facilitate automatic
routing of NTS messages.

L. E. 'bud' Thompson N0IA

NOTE: ARES® is a Registered Trademark of the ARRL.