[FARC] Questions & Answers about Wires

[Kirk Talbott]

Questions and Answers about Wires.


What is Wires?

WIRES - Wide Coverage Internet Repeater Enhancement System.
A proprietary system by Vertex Standard (Yaesu).

Ok, what is Wires really?  

Wires is a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) 
system similar in concept to Echolink and IRLP. 
Using your VHF radio gear connected to your
computer and the Internet, you can work the world.  

What does it do for you?  2 major things.  

Wires gives you the capability for setting up a Wires
repeater.  It also gives you the capability for walking
anywhere on your property or in your house with an HT
and being able to use the Wires system without being 
tethered to your computer; this is probably the most 
popular use.    

Why should you use Wires?  

Putting aside the negative PR being floated
around about Wires by local Hams with personal
preferences for other VOIP systems, you should
use Wires for no other reason than because it's 
there, which should be ample justification for using 
any Ham radio mode or for climbing mountains. 

What do I need to set up Wires?

- Any VHF mobile rig with data jack will work but
  you may have to make your own cables.  On the Yaesu 
  FT-8800R, FT-8900R, and FT-897D radios it is plug and play
  with the cables supplied with the HRI-100 Wires II Interface
  box.  

- The Yaesu HRI-100 Wires II Interface box.  Comes complete
   with all necessary cables for connecting a Yaesu radio.  
   Wires II Interface box instructions tells you how to apply
   for a Wires II node number and gives you the application
   form for it.  Node number application took me about 3
   weeks because I followed instructions and sent it by
   USPS mail.  I've been told E-mail will work fine too.  There
   is only one guy who processes these applications, Jerry
   Darby, and he is a worldwide consultant for Wires and
   is frequently out of the country.   

- A DTMF tone capable HT. 

- Computer with Internet access, serial port or USB/Serial adapter, 
   sound card, and the free Wires II Server software.  I've been
   told dial-up Internet will work with Wires, but it seems to work
   better on broadband Internet.  I know users whom use both.  

- Another Wires II user to assist you with Wires II Server software
  configuration and audio settings set up.  There are 2 of these in
  Frederick County, KB3ONM Kirk and N3HEV Chris, one in Arkansas 
  KE5SQC Randy and one in California KC7NP Rob and we are happy 
  to help.    

How much does it Cost?

I'll assume you already have a DTMF tone capable HT and a VHF
mobile rig so you already know how much they cost.  The Wires HRI-100
interface box costs around $200.  This may vary somewhat store
to store.  You may find one used on Ebay for less.  

Can I communicate with an Echolink user or IRLP user from Wires?

Yes, there is an IRLP-ECHOLINK-WIRESII gateway system in 
Minnesota N0BVE.   All three VOIP system users can converse
simultaneously over this gateway.  Each user must be connected
to the N0BVE gateway, a Wires user cannot directly connect to
an Echolink or IRLP node.  

How do I operate Wires?

You take your HT, punch in a Wires node number with the 
HT DTMF keys while holding down PTT, and you're connected to 
that node.  If you've already got an Echolink Link station in your
house, Wires operates exactly like that.  You can also use the
WiresII Server computer software to connect to nodes. 

Do I need sophisticated VHF antenna systems to run Wires?

If you're going to set up a Wires repeater then maybe so, 
if not then you don't.  I use a dummy load and I can reach
my Wires system with my HT from anywhere in the house or
on the property.  

What are Wires roundtable QSO rooms ?

On Echolink, you connect to the node number of a person you want
to converse with, you have your QSO, and then you disconnect
when you are finished and it is generally not good practice to connect
to a node and then sit there for hours either listening or waiting for a call.  

On Wires they have roundtable QSO rooms set up whereby you can connect to
a specific room and stay connected pretty much all day and evening.   
You can stay in the room and talk with just one person, or talk to
everybody that is there and wishes to participate, or talk to nobody
and just listen.  Any Wires user can set up his own roundtable QSO room
by requesting a node number for it from Vertex Standard.  Example, I
could set up a roundtable QSO room for the Frederick area, or for just
FARC etc..

Winter is coming and snow will soon be piling up past the windows so
get your winter Ham radio projects planned and give Wires a try.

73
KB3ONM
Kirk