Transcript D-RATS - Duval County ARES

D-RATS
Not Just for D-STAR radios
Based on a presentation by
Debbie Fligor, N9DN
TCARC meeting 3/9/2010
Presented at 2011 Orlando Hamcation by:
John Davis, WB4QDX
Georgia D-STAR
Morphed by:
Cary Beuershausen
Duval County Emergency Coordinator
Overview
• What is D-RATS?
• Why use D-RATS?
• What can D-RATS do?
• How do I setup D-RATS?
• Where do I get more info?
What is D-RATS?
• Awritten
multi-platform communications package
by Dan Smith, KK7DS, in python/GTK
• Windows (2000 or later)
• Mac OS X
• Linux
• Emergency Communications tool
• distribute data reliably
• Internet to RF gateway (and back again)
• Mapping program/position reporting system
Why use D-RATS?
• Works on multiple interfaces
• D-STAR radio
• Internet reflector
• KISS-mode TNC
• DV-Dongle
• Traffic routing
• Manual
• Automatic
• WinLink2000 interface
Why use D-RATS?
• Simple familiar interface
• Large number of features available
• Email (internet and RF)
• Memos
• ICS, radiogram and custom forms
• Chat window
• File transfer
Data In An Emergency
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Fast, error-free transfer of electronic records
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Resource requests
Patient manifests
Pictures of damage
Quiet operation
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Situation status reports
Put radio operators directly in an EOC
Field stations in noisy environments
Integrated logging of messages with times and dates
What can D-RATS
do?
• Messages
• Chat
• Files
• Forms
• Email
• Event Log
• Map View
Messages
• Forms
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Common forms included
Custom forms can be developed
Includes printable versions
Layouts can be shared (XML files)
• Attachments
• Automatic and manual forwarding
• Familiar inbox/outbox/sent/trash
• File broadcast (to all stations)
Messages
Chat
• Mostly like IM/texting/IRC
• “Ping” function to see who is online
• Station heard list, with mouse-over info
• Can see multiple interfaces at the same
time
• This is where to find the NCS station
Chat
Files
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See your local files that others can connect
and access
Connect to other stations
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Upload
Download
Uses the integrated data subchannel
Send any arbitrary file
Files
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Instead of reading a document over voice,
send it exactly in its natural form
Interactive image resize and resample
Compresses files where possible for speed
Resume interrupted transfers
Files
Forms
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Quick fillable forms that can be sent to other stations
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Smaller than an equivalent office document
Printable view that mimics paper form format
Recreate any agency form with integrated builder
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Fillable for quick access
Use the form that the served agency is used to
Create event-specific forms for efficiency
Pass forms easily from station to station tracked with
a transfer record
Forms
Email
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Send and receive email from D-RATS station
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Any station with internet access can be a
gateway
Provide gateway access to RF stations with
no other infrastructure
Easy to setup in an event
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Requires only an internet connection and
email account
Contact served agencies or out-of-area
stations through the nearest internet node
Email
Event Log
• Provides log of activities
• See ping responses
• Monitor file transfers
• Monitor form transfers
Event Log
Map View
• Position tracking
• Moving stations updated in real-time
• Captures
and sends ICOM GPS
strings
• Can add fixed points to the map
• Distance and direction calculation
• Internet based free map data included
• Can use external GPS while on radio
Map View
Positional Awareness
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Integrated position reporting
Integrated mapping
Distance/bearing calculation to any station
External GPS support for moving stations
Use a D-STAR radio with an integrated or
external GPS
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IC-2820H, IC-92AD have integrated GPS
options
Other ICOM radios can use any serial
NMEA GPS
How do I setup DRATS?
• Preferences panel has all configuration
• Allows use “radio-less” or configure for
multiple radios
• “Connected to Internet” separate
checkbox in the menu options
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Tells D-RATS you can fetch and send
internet email (if configured)
How do I setup DRATS?
How do I setup DRATS?
Choosing your
connection method
• Three methods can inter connect
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D-STAR radio (plug and play)
DV Dongle (to other Dongle or D-STAR)
Internet (needs a RF to internet reflector to
interconnect)
• TNC can talk to another D-RATS TNC
user (AX.25 protocol to be added for digipeating)
Choosing your
connection method
Where do I get more
info?
• http://www.d-rats.com
• drats_users email list link found there
• Beta download site has later versions
• FAQ, instructions, and help files
available
It’s Demo Time!