[FADCA] Updating Digital Network Support for EMCOMMs

Tue Jul 20 15:19:54 EDT 2004

I can't crack them and I'm a Field Support Manager for one of the
largest tower companies!

Dave
n4zkf

-----Original Message-----
From: fadca-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:fadca-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rich Garcia
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 6:12 PM
To: 'Florida Amateur Digital Communication Association'
Subject: RE: [FADCA] Updating Digital Network Support for EMCOMMs

Another thing that must be thought of (and I am sure many of you have)
is
the rapid decline of suitable digi and switch locations. With every
passing
day many of the mom and pop radio shop towers and even county towers are
sold to large national corporations that can care less of who we are or
what
we do. In other cases towers are going away (as torn down and not
rebuilt).

We can have all the equipment and technology in the world but without a
suitable location for it with proper emergency power, grounding, and
hurricane survivability what will it do for us during and after an
emergency
?

Money and technology is one thing but more important than that and much
more
difficult and time consuming is the negotiation and working relationship
with suitable site owners. I have yet to see anyone be able to crack one
of
the large national tower corporations for space on their sites.

Rich K4GPS

-----Original Message-----
From: fadca-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:fadca-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of bud thompson
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 8:13 AM
To: Florida Amateur Digital Communication Association
Subject: Re: [FADCA] Updating Digital Network Support for EMCOMMs

Thanks, Paul!

This is indeed great news and ultimately will enhance not only our
service
for EMCOMMs, but grant applications as well!

73,
bud N0IA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul J. Toth-NA4AR" <ptoth1 at tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Florida Amateur Digital Communication Association"
<fadca at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 07:55
Subject: Re: [FADCA] Updating Digital Network Support for EMCOMMs

> Bud....
>
> In addition to the actions that you have noted below, the ARRL Board
also
> accepted a proposal put forth by the High Speed Multimedia and
Networking
> Task Force (HSMM) on legalizing the use of encryption to secure
digital
> transmissions and systems operating above 50 MHz.  The Board, on a
motion
> put forth by ARRL Southeastern Division Director Frank Butler-W4RH,
directed
> that a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by developed and submitted
to
> the FCC for their consideration.
>
> As the main author of the Security and Encryption White Paper that was
> presented to the Board, I am elated with the Board's action and am
hopeful
> this will allow Part 97 operations, on bands populated with unlicensed
Part
> 15 operations, to navigate the waters successfully and enable
meaningful,
> "Last Mile" emergency communications.
>
> This is, indeed, a banner day for digital communications here in
Florida!
>
> 73 de Paul-NA4AR
> Assistant Director - ARRL SE Division
> ARRL HSMM WG Member
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "bud thompson" <budt at cfl.rr.com>
> To: <fadca at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 7:39 AM
> Subject: [FADCA] Updating Digital Network Support for EMCOMMs
>
>
> > Updating Digital Network Support for EMCOMMs
> >
> > This note is intended to inform you of what is going on regarding
digital
> > communications that will affect us here in Florida (or should)!
> >
> > As you know, several of us in FADCA have been promoting the ARRL
Amateur
> > Radio Emergency Service Communications (ARESCOM) committee's
> recommendation
> > to use the Winlink 2000 (WL2K) model for supporting Emergency
> Communications
> > (EMCOMMs) with E-mail over Ham Radio. This weekend the ARRL BOD of
> directors
> > provided further support for implementation (see my FADCA note "ARRL
BOD
> > Sanctions ARESCOM/WL2K)
> >
> > I am in contact with ARES groups all over the country; no matter how
many
> > holes we have in our Florida Layered Packet Network - it has the
greatest
> > coverage of a state anywhere!  The problem, as with here, is that
the
> older
> > existing packet networks have deteriorated since the mid 90s and now
must
> be
> > repaired and upgraded.  The greatest obstacle is operational and
packet
> > network expertise within local ham communities.  I am on two e-mail
> > reflectors and one weekly Echolink net regarding these matters and
receive
> > phone calls weekly from various places around the country.  Were it
all
to
> > surface, such expertise in Florida would far overshadow that
anywhere in
> the
> > country.
> >
> > Here in Florida we have an unequaled opportunity to literally lead
the
way
> > and set the nationwide network model for statewide coverage through
at
> least
> > the rest of this decade.  This will require (1) establishing new
> > LANS/switches to fill in holes for local ham radio communities, (2)
> > increasing throughput speeds on backbones and LANS, (3) training of
hams
> to
> > use the network, and (4) training of non-licensed volunteers to use
e-mail
> > over Ham Radio for EMCOMMs.
> >
> > To assist in growing Florida's nationwide leadership position are
two of
> the
> > four WL2K Development team members who live in the Melbourne area
and
> > utilize the network for development work.  That results in our
working
> very
> > closely with the WL2K Development Team, including beta testing
end-user
> > programs.
> >
> > Several FADCA members are looking to secure grants from Home Land
Security
> > funds to upgrade and grow the Florida Layered Packet Network.  While
these
> > grant applications are not unified, they are generally focused on
purchase
> > of new commercial wideband radios and TNCs for use throughout the
network.
> > Upgrading backbones to at least 19.2KB and all LANS to 9.6KB is
> technically
> > feasible and can happen within a year or less given sufficient grant
> > funding.  Ideally, establishing the switch and data ports with the
> > grant-funded radios and TNCs would literally be 'plug 'n play', with
> > securing a good site, installing antennas, feed lines, grounding,
and
> > lightning protection being the hard part!
> >
> > To my knowledge there is no single grant source for the total amount
of
> > money needed, but two or three grants totaling $50K or so would
likely
do
> > the job.  The grant I may be able to apply for would be for $25K.
If
the
> > grant writers decide to use the FADCA case for the grant, the draft
> > application will be available for others who have a place to make
such
> > applications.
> >
> > What can you do? (1) If you are in an area of nominal population
density
> and
> > there is no 2 meter Local Area Network, set one up.  That is the
initial
> > building block toward getting network connectivity.  It only takes
two
> > people on a single packet frequency to start a LAN!  (2) Get more
hams
in
> > your community on the LAN, and (3) work with your local ARRL
Emergency
> > Coordinator on a plan to implement Digital Messaging in Support of
> EMCOMMs.
> >
> > You can learn about e-mail over Ham Radio on the FADCA website
> > (www.fadca.org) and www.winlink.org.
> >
> > If you need help, just ask any questions on the fadca at mailman.org
group.
> >
> > More later as information becomes available.
> >
> > 73,
> > bud Thompson N0IA
> > 386 574 4124
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > FADCA mailing list
> > FADCA at mailman.qth.net
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/fadca
>
> _______________________________________________
> FADCA mailing list
> FADCA at mailman.qth.net
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>

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