QRZ! Ham Radio 4/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 4.iso/files/races/tecpket.txt

Text File | 1994-11-27 | 13KB | 235 lines

Page 1

            TECEPKET  Version 1. 3     3/1/92



Subject: PACKET [Category: TEC]

PACKET RECOMMENDED FOR EVERY  EOC
ATTENTION: All OES Agencies. Packet radio by Amateur radio has
proven its value and benefit to emergency operations at all
government levels. In response to frequent queries from local
governments, State OES does recommend that local governments
procure packet radio equipment for its EOC and offices.
Transportable packet has also proven its value in comm vans,
mobile, and briefcase units.
A basic packet station to support OES operations must include a
computer, a packet Terminal Node Controller, a two-way radio, a
printer and an appropriate antenna system. A disc drive accessory
is recommended but not mandatory.
Please direct any questions to your OES Region Communications
Coordinator. RB86 -41

EMERGENCY PACKET COMMUNICATIONS
When you are asked to set up a temporary packet station to
provide communications for an emergency or drill, two computers
should be used. If you don't, you will probably be caught in the
middle of a message flow log jam that can be almost as bad as no
communications at all. The reason is that you can't write
messages to disc and receive traffic at the same time.
Example: Amateur Radio station N6ZZZ-1 may be your regular packet
radio terminal at your EOC. When incident communications are
initiated, set up your second packet terminal as, say, N6ZZZ- 2.
In this manner N6ZZZ-1 is used only to receive traffic; it should
go to both the computer's log and its associated printer.
Meanwhile, terminal #2 is transmitting traffic from N6ZZZ-2.
Another computer should be used for writing the outgoing traffic
to discs "off line." This can be done by any employee or
volunteer with fast typing skills. No radio license is required.
The discs are then given to the Amateur radio operator for
transmission. All of the received messages have to go to a
printer, of course. The outgoing message discs are cycled back
and forth between the radio operators and the disc writer.
Never, please, never send messages from a keyboard in real time.
This can hold up the entire system by preventing other stations
from moving traffic in the shortest possible time. Accuracy and
speed are the attributes that elevated Amateur radio from a
nice-to-have emergency communications resource to must- have in
many jurisdictions. The goal in state level RACES, for example,
is to maintain an exchange of the maximum amount of letter
perfect traffic in the least transmission time per message. Until
the advent of packet in California, for example, no Amateur Radio
mode met this need. State and county emergency operating centers
everywhere should install one or more packet radio terminals.
It is recommended that a voice frequency be established between
the various packet radio terminals for use used as a coordination
or "order wire" channel. This can be most useful in solving
technical problems quickly and for giving quick replies to some
packet messages. Just because a message was received by packet
does not mean that it is chiseled in stone that a reply must also
be by packet. Whereas it may be deemed appropriate that a written
(packet) reply be made for the record, a voice radio reply will
be faster and more appreciated -- the written reply can follow
later. RB 75-89 & 76-89

RACES PACKET RADIO TERMINAL
by Keith Crandall, K6QIF HQ RACES Technical Advisor
We have been asked from time to time for a specification for
obtaining, adding or upgrading of packet radio stations for
government sites and civil defense/emergency services fixed
locations. This report is divided into a narrative and a minimum
specification in lay terms. No endorsement of any make or
manufacturer is intended; where such does appear it reflects that
with which we have had satisfactory experience.


NARRATIVE
The world tells us that Packet Radio is already two-thirds
complete when we have a two meter radio and a terminal or a
computer. That is true but it is not really the complete way to
go. It makes more sense to do it right the first time.
The RF part of the system should be a radio that will reject
extraneous signals and have good sensitivity on the frequencies
you are to use. A good example is the Kenwood TS-2550
transceiver. It has a clean receiver and transmitter and has a
fast switching time between transmit and receive.
Next would be a good TNC (Terminal Node Controller). The AEA
model PK-232 does this very well. It gives you all the modes (6)
and good basic operation. Another model is the KAM by Kantronics.
You must run the complete system with a good data terminal or
computer. (We call them what they are -- data communications
terminals --- particularly where jurisdictions have prohibitions
against or governing the procurement of computers for common
workplace applications.) We have had good experience with the
TDK-1000, an IBM clone, obtainable in the Sacramento area. The
unit is unique in that it has a special setup: two serial ports,
10 meg speed, 1 Meg RAM, 20 meg hard disc, and both 3-1/2 inch
and 5-1/4 inch floppy disc drives for data I/O. A good power
supply system should be chosen with a backup A.C. supply (UPS)
and battery good for a sufficient period of time until the
standby power can be on line. For this reason we use a Tripp-Lite
model SB-400 for the A.C. power and 4 each 40 Amp- Hour gel cell
batteries in parallel to obtain 160 Amp duty cycle.
MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS
The following are the minimum requirements for a data terminal
for Emergency Services/Civil Defense packet radio communications:
SYSTEM:Baby AT case, 200 watt power supply, mother board XT turbo
12 MHz with 8 slots, and 1 Meg memory installed.
DOS: Disc Operating System shall be 3.2 or later.
LED/SWITCHES: LED indicators for HD and other accessory switches
for keyboard and turbo.
I/O CARD: Mono-multi I/O board with the following: 2 ea. serial
ports marked COMM-1 and COMM-2. 1 ea. printer port marked
PRINTER. Floppy disc drive controller with the RT-clock on this
board.
DRIVES: Shall be capable of three drives; 5-1/4, 3-1/2, or HD. It
shall be delivered: (1) 5-1/4 inch, (2) 3-1/2 inch, and (3) 30
Meg HD marked "A", "B", and "C" respectively.
KEYBOARD: Model 5160 or equivalent.
MONITOR: Casper GM-1266 or better.
PRINTER:  Star NX-1000 or better.
CABLES:All cables required to make this an operating system.
RB 93-89 through 95-89
[Comments December 1991: Experience since this date indicates any
type computer will function well on Packet. Also, by this date it
is possible to take files from PC to other computers, such as the
MAC, so compatibility is no longer much of a problem. The
specified equipment may well be out of date. If it is important
to have uniformity in an EOC it may be well to purchase the same
type of computers unless you actually in person verify
translation ability and complexity. A compatible word processing
computer to match can be quite vital, in that it can handle
message preparation on disc and the disc provided the sending
operator to upload at intervals. This frees up the pressure on
the on-the-network operator.]

PACKET RADIO DEMONSTRATIONS
Synopsis: A guide for those demonstrating packet radio
communications to government agencies and others. State OES often
calls for local support in demonstrating packet to government
officials. These pointers can help achieve a flawless
demonstration.
The success or failure of any demonstration is determined in the
first few minutes. The interest and attention span of non-
technical observers is typically very short. Observers are
interested only in seeing the end product and benefits. We should
give these to them in the shortest possible time.
Limit the demonstration time to 5-10 minutes of productive
reception of packet traffic. Sending traffic from the
demonstration is of little dynamic interest -- receiving traffic
is!
Assure that everything works before demonstrating it -- or don't
demonstrate it at all. A successful demo can be made by
communicating from the demonstration site to (a) a nearby packet
station previously prepared for the demo or (b) a previously
prepared nearby (not more than one digi away) packet bulletin
board.
Previous preparation entails writing two or three messages in
advance. These messages must then be pre-positioned at the (a)
offsite packet station or (b) in the packet bulletin board or
mailbox.
Message content: Messages tailored to the specific event are
always more effective. At least one message should be at least 30
lines to more effectively demonstrate real time transmission
time. Use local place, agency and people's names in your demo
traffic. Including the name(s) of politicians and the person(s)
influential in the budget process can be quite effective if done
properly. Design disaster exercise messages to reflect a
plausible incident in your area, but be sure to preface and end
the message with the word "DRILL".
If your local OES, Fire or other agency uses a SITREP (situation
report) or status report form, obtain it in advance and draft
your demo message around it. It is very important to write the
message in their language and on topics they are familiar with --
not in unfamiliar terms. The same is true of forms and formats;
always use those of your agency and not those of ARRL or any
others if they conflict. The potential users of your packet will
be favorably impressed by reading messages with which they can
relate.
Use your own equipment and never equipment of others for the
first time, otherwise Murphy's Law is sure to strike.
Always use a printer. Tear off and hand hard copy to the
officials.
Pre-survey the site if possible. The most common oversight is
insufficient coaxial cable to enable you to place your antenna
where it will work best. A hundred feet is recommended.
Avoid planning to or offering to connect with State OES
Headquarters station W6HIR-1. Why? First, in a real incident you
may be communicating with a county or your State OES Regional
office but not the Sacramento Headquarters.
Second, State OES HQ will not be manned after-hours when most
demos are made.
A side comment is that we have heard a complaint or two from
packet operators unhappy with having to dismantle their home
packet station to relocate it to a demo site. They might be
reminded that the emergency need for packet communications is
seldom if ever at home, but rather in the field. This is true of
most RACES/ARES communications; the operators and their equipment
are invariably needed anywhere but at home.
A number of Amateurs think about the need for portable operation
and go so far as to put together a portable station, and the
forget a few basic items to include. We all think about VHF
operating with a small two meter rig, complete with batteries and
magnetic mount antenna. But what about the ground plane when you
do not have a metal surface to mount the antenna on or near?
Build 4 radials that are a quarter wavelength for the band
concerned out of coat hangers, welding rods or spare antenna
rods, and place them in an X pattern under the mag mount to
provide a minimal ground plane.
When planning portable HF stations, remember a ground rod and a
solid connection. Your tuner and your antenna wants to see a
counterpoise. Also remember to carry some warning tape for your
radials and guys that are located where people may walk into
them. A trip to your local lumber store will yield vinyl survey
tape in a number of colors including yellow and orange to warn
people of the hazard. Tie 6 to 8 inch pieces of the tape to your
radiator or guys at eye level and every 12 to 18 inches downward
from there. RB-022-025

MGT, ORGANIZATION PART 1B: GETTING EMERGENCY MANAGERS TOGETHER
contains additional information on Packet that will be of
interest.

FOOTNOTE TO BULLETINS-BY-TOPIC
This material is the result of the interest of people from many
areas around the country. Their ideas, questions and suggestions
were then put into these bulletin formats by Stanly Harter,
KH6GBX, State Races Coordinator, Office of Emergency Services,
2800 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, California 95832 between l985
and l992. Input and comments are welcomed by mail or packet radio
to W6HIR @ WA6NWE.#NOCAL.CA [Telephone [phone].]