[FADCA] STATUS OF ARESCOM/WL2K IN FLORIDA

[bud thompson]

Deltona
Tuesday June 29 0650E

I was asked by the WL2K Development Team to proved a status of ARESCOM/WL2K
in Florida for the ARESCOM meeting with the Programs and Services Committee
of the ARRL BOD early this week.  The following is what I provided.


STATUS OF ARESCOM/WL2K IN FLORIDA
June 27, 2004

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Three full-time WL2K HF PMBOs and a combination of 21
packet Telpac nodes and PMBO packet ports are presently operational in the
state.  All packet ports are on local area networks (LAN) of the Florida
Layered Packet network.  Through WL2K the internet is now a viable (as well
as the fastest) layer on the Florida Layered Packet Network.  Ham clubs,
especially ARES groups, are being introduced to the new ARESCOM/WL2K system
as quickly as meeting programs can be scheduled. Forums on digital
communications have been provided at three major Hamfests each year since
1999.

After several years of declining activity, in 1998 members of the Florida
Amateur Digital Communications Association (FADCA www.fadca.org ) began
refurbishing and expanding the existing packet network
http://www.fadca.org/map/index.html.  Today LAN-to-LAN connectivity is
assured along the eastern coast south from Jacksonville, and much of the
Gulf coast south from Tampa.  Most LANs are 1200 baud, but some, along with
many backbones, are at 9.6kb.  There are two cross-state routes in the south
and a Central Florida cross-state link (Melbourne/Orlando to Tampa/St.
Petersburg) will be complete before the end of summer.  All promotional,
planning, installation and maintenance activities are provided by
individuals with some financial help and sponsorship through a few clubs and
other donors.  Several MS Power Point presentations, along with on-the air
demonstrations on HF and vhf have been given to interested groups throughout
the state.  Current Power Point presentations are available for viewing at
http://www.fadca.org/index.html.

Driven by funding (or more appropriately the lack thereof) and a 100% chance
of lightening, for the most part old, tough, and reliable boat-anchor
crystal-controlled commercial FM "mobile" radios circa 1980s are employed
along with used (hamfests / e-bay) firmware-based TNCs and old MS DOS
computers. A typical packet FPAC switch (http://www.qsl.net/fpac/ )
installation consists of one VHF and two UHF Motorola Mitrek radios ($50 -
$85 each including new crystals), three used PacComm, MFJ or any TNC2 clone
TNCs, (typically one 1200 baud at $25 - $50 and two 9.6kb for $150 or less
each), and a throwaway DOS 386 or newer computer of any speed.  A hard drive
is not absolutely necessary and any memory over 640K is wasted.  Monitor and
keyboard are not required except during site visits!  All packet frequencies
are coordinated simplex and antenna sharing requiring duplexers is not the
rule.  Installing and maintaining such a packet switch is similar to a voice
repeater, but much less expensive.

Here in flat country with absorptive high density vegetation between sites -
A 2M radio need only run 30-60 watts output to give needed Local Area
Network coverage (25-30 miles radius) using an omni gain antenna in the
clear at 100-150 ft agl.  Backbone (trunk) UHF radios running 30-40 watts
feeding six-element beams easily cover 30-45 miles with 9.6kb packet to
neighbor sites.  It may be necessary to run 60-100 watts and/or use larger
beams at higher elevation agl on point-to-point backbones up to 60 miles.
Due to the volatility of VHF and UHF propagation over this large peninsula,
single frequency Wide Area Networks (such as APRS) are avoided for
ARESCOM/WL2K purposes to effect 24/7 reliability with minimum interference
through frequency coordination.  (Placing antennas at the highest point
possible is not always a good idea)!

Current holes in the network include in the north from the Panhandle
eastward through to Jacksonville, and in the south from Miami northward to
Boca Raton. It is anticipated the network will include Miami before the end
of 2004, and that connectivity from Tallahassee eastward through to
Jacksonville will be available early next year.  Meanwhile, ham communities
not within reach of the packet network are being encouraged to establish
LANs and Telpac nodes in order to tie into the ARES/WL2K system while
awaiting RF connectivity with the network.

Several county and city Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) are on the packet
network 24/7 and along with all EOCs are being encouraged to establish
EMCOMMs PMBOs.  A group of six hospitals in E. Central Florida has requested
a technical proposal to establish Paclink capability on the network.

Digital operators of the Seminole County ARES/RACES group have been active
in promoting these activities as well as in-depth beta testing of Telpac and
Paclink releases.  An EMCOMMs PMBO has been on line at the county EOC for
two months. ARESCOM/WL2K enthusiast in Seminole County and Volusia County
(N. FL ARRL Section) are planning a one-day workshop in August or September
to inform ARES ECs, DECs, and served agencies of the merits and whys and
wherefores of Digital Messaging in Support of EMCOMMs.  The workshop will
feature presentations by WL2K Development Team members (who are Florida
residents), details on establishing PMBOs, Paclink, and Telpac nodes, and
will be open to anyone throughout the state.

Growth is slow as there is little interest in digital operations among the
ham community, so, while club meeting programs have been eye openers, there
has not been a rush to "get on digital".  Consequently acceptance of adding
high-tech digital e-mail over ham radio to the ARES arsenal has not been
quickly forthcoming.  To date there has been little involvement by ARRL
Section leadership in supporting these processes, and that involvement not
wide-spread throughout the three Florida sections.

The greatest need in Florida is more interest in digital modes by individual
hams which, in turn, should spark a greater interest by Emergency
Coordinators to embrace Digital Messaging in Support of EMCOMMs, and thus
attract the attention of Section leadership to help spread the word.

No matter - the Seminole County ARES/RACES group will soon become a model
for local ARESCOM/WL2K applications and the state-wide Layered Packet
Network a model for Mutual Aid Communications capability.

What does the future hold?  We are looking forward to updated and more
appropriate switching software program(s) and implementation of less
expensive and less hardware-intensive data controllers such as computer
sound cards.  We foresee a new VHF/UHF protocol/mode to replace AX.25 packet
on our network, one that will use existing voice band radios and equal or
better the present AX.25 9.6kb throughput rates.


L. E. 'bud' Thompson, N0IA