[Troop139] Fair Lawn Fireworks Amateur Radio Voice and Mesh Data Support Summary with Nodes & Weather

Mon Jul 8 01:09:21 EDT 2013

Hi Folks!

GREAT JOB THIS EVENING!

We achieved the following elements of deployed technology and event
deployment:

1.	An autonomous "Mesh" network across the park run from portable DC
power -  Clearly this capability along with the functional capabilities of
autonomous video and texting or other multimedia are assets that we as
Amateur Radio operators can bring to events.  I want to single out Garry,
KD2DDK for endlessly building and testing over the last several months, but
also note that Dave, N3UXK, Randy, WU2S and many others put together many
creatively designed nodes in a several interesting configurations.

2.	Camera video - I have a still and a bunch of streaming video clips.
You'll love the IR video taken after dark!  Our camera video was shown to
the lead officer on site from the Bergen County Police who was very
impressed.  He suggested that we might want to exchange video feeds at
future events.  Karl, W2KBF initiated this concept and spearheaded the
effort with his "helmet-cam" and the camera that I incorporated into the
"SuperNode".

3.	Internet Relay Chat Servers on TWO Raspberry Pi systems - this
allowed for text communications to avoid the noise issue of voice radio
communications.  In the future, IRC and other servers can be used to handle
other forms of media distribution including status information screens and
streaming content.  This was not even on our planning horizon until a week
ago last Friday and due to Zach's (KC2RSS) initiative and leadership, got
done.  

4.	Internet Gateway - this allowed for access to some outside resources
for weather-related situational awareness.  This came in handy as we were
able to make adjustments in our deployment and keep the Fireworks Committee
informed of the pending lightning and rain.

5.	Kudos to each of you who helped out with making this possible!  Can
someone please send me a roster (name & callsign) of those who attended
tonight?  It was a great team effort that integrated traditional voice
communications with a whole bunch of new and effective technology!  What was
particularly noteworthy, was that the core team of Fair Lawn Radio Emergency
Service was effectively augmented and integrated other operators from Bergen
County RACES, Passaic County RACES/ARES, the Bergen Amateur Radio
Association, the American Red Cross Amateur Radio Club (ARC Squared), and
Boy Scout Troop 139/Venture Crew 7373.  While technical leadership and
coordination came from several sources, operational leadership tonight came
from Zach, KC2RSS. 

6.	I also want to thank three Scouts, two Mom's from Troop 139 and a
Scouter for helping out with the fireworks tonight Dino (no call.yet),
Sergio (KD2DHU), Sean (KC2ZPS), Diana (Sergio's Mom) and Sandy, (Sean's Mom)
and my friend  from Troop 53 in Fair Lawn, Ralph for their help tonight.  

7.	One special note:  Please thank your families and friends for
putting up with all of this over the last couple of weeks.   Many
contributed to this effort by enabling us to make the commitment in time and
funds, while others obtained equipment and parts that were needed to make
things really run smoothly - the result was an amazing success!   

8.	Over the next couple of days, please jot down things that you would
like to see improved as part of our "lessons learned" and we can discuss
them via email and in person.  I hope to see some of you at the Fair Lawn
Radio Club next Friday evening!

I have included some screen shots from this evening and will follow up with
other things, some of which I sent to Karl and Paul earlier just to quickly
get them sent off my laptop.  You will get those other things shortly!  The
videos may be too big to send, but I will figure out a place where they can
be seen over the next couple of days.

Thanks & 73,

Gordon Beattie, W2TTT

201.314.6964

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