Transcript NBEMS for Emergency Communications

NBEMS for
Emergency Communications
Dan N0PI, Scott ARES Asst. EC
Bob W0NFE, Scott ARES Asst EC
Accurate, Rapid
Communications
Agenda
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Why Digital ECOMS
What is NBEMS
What NBEMS can and cannot do for you
Components of a NBEMS system
How to set up a NBEMS system
How to use NBEMS
Practice time
Why Digital ECOMS
• Think back to your last public service event,
drill, or deployment.
• You probably passed a lot of traffic best suited
for voice communications but...
– What if you had been asked to pass
• Roster of evacuees
• Required prescription medications
• Directions to a disaster scene
Why Digital ECOMS
• The needs of our Served Agencies have
changed.
• They still need voice communications but...
– There's an increasing need for data
communications.
– We need to be able to provide more than just
voice communications from a ham with an HT.
Agenda
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Why Digital ECOMS
What is NBEMS
What NBEMS can and cannot do for you
Components of a NBEMS system
How to set up a NBEMS system
How to use NBEMS
Practice time
What is NBEMS
• Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System
• Consists of four programs:
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Fldigi – Fast Light Digital modem application
Flmsg – easily send ICS forms and Radiogram
Flwrap – Wrap a file with a checksum
Flarq – Fast Light Automatic Repeat Request
• Can download from www.w1hkj.com
– Runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac.
– Released under GNU Public License, so it
is completely FREE.
NBEMS Homepage
NBEMS Download Page
NBEMS philosophy
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Keep it cheap.
Keep it simple.
Use Open Source software.
Don't depend upon infrastructure.
Make it fun to use between drills and
disasters.
• Any computer, any radio.
Using NBEMS in your net.
• Auxiliary method to handle formal traffic.
– Voice used for basic check-in’s etc
– Traffic passed by digital – Same or different channel
• Much faster than Voice.
• Number / letter sequences are 100% accurate.
• All message are save to hard drive.
– Bulletins broadcast to all station
• All Digital net
– Mix of keyboard to keyboard and formal
traffic sent via forms.
Agenda
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Why Digital ECOMS
What is NBEMS
What NBEMS can and cannot do for you
Components of a NBEMS system
How to set up you NBEMS system
How to Use NBEMS
Practice time
What NBEMS can do for you
• Fast accurate method to provide
– Keyboard to Keyboard communications
– Send, save, and print standard ARRL, ICS, Red Cross,
and generic forms (new forms added regularly)
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Typical ARRL radiogram takes ~40 seconds to send
Data is verified via checksum
Can broadcast messages, one to many
Supports unattended reception of messages
– Not encrypted, but general scanning public will hear
noise.
– Will work when voice is marginal.
What NBEMS will not do for you
• It is not a store and forward system like e-mail
– Each station in the system must have an operator
• Receive message will be stored on local hard drive.
– No built in connection to the internet
• It will not move large amounts of data
– 2 K bytes, or 1 type written page is a practical limit.
• Over this size and likelihood of an error increases, causing a
checksum failure. Have to resend message.
• Flarq could handle larger files, up to 8K or more, but
requires practice and more training to use.
Agenda
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Why Digital ECOMS
What is NBEMS
What NBEMS can and cannot do for you
Components of a NBEMS system
How to set up you NBEMS system
How to Use NBEMS
Practice time
Components of NBEMS system
Flwrap
Flmsg
Software on
Computer
Fldigi
Hardware
connection
Computer to
Radio
Sound Card Interface
Radio and Antenna
Flarq
Components of NBEMS system
Bottom Up - Radio
Any voice capable radio will work
FM, SSB, even AM if you want.
Components of NBEMS system
Bottom Up – Radio Interface
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Signal Link USB – Just needs USB Port
Rig Blaster – USB and audio ports
March 2011 QST, Page 34 - Audio Ports Only
Anything hardwired is better, but
– Audio coupling (Caveman) does work, and can be
used.
Components of NBEMS system
Bottom Up - Fldigi
Components of NBEMS system
Bottom Up - Fldigi
• Provides the basic digital communications for
the NBEMS system
• Supports keyboard to keyboard
communication like many sound card
programs.
• Has special hooks to connect to the other
components.
• Supports many modes of communications
• We will focus on two, MT63-2K and Olivia 16/500
Components of NBEMS system
Bottom Up - Flmsg
• Rapidly and Accurately
formats and transmits
information.
• 8 Formats
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ICS Forms
HICS
MARS
IARU
Radiogram
Red Cross
Generic
– Blank
Agenda
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Why Digital ECOMS
What is NBEMS
What NBEMS can and cannot do for you
Components of a NBEMS system
How to set up a NBEMS system
How to use NBEMS
Practice time
Basic Fldigi Set-up
• Operating Mode
– MT63 – 2000
– Olivia 16/500
• If you have a decent FM
voice channel start with
MT63-2000
• When MT63-2000 fails,
switch to Olivia 16/500
• When Olivia fails, no
communications.
Configuration Options
• Basic Set-up
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Operator
Waterfall
Modems
Rig Control
Sound Card
IDs
Operator
• Callsign
• Tactical Callsign
• Location
As determined by the
situation.
Always
SAVE!
Waterfall
• Check the three ‘cursor’
options
• Check “Always show
audio frequencies”
Always
SAVE!
Modems - MT63
• Check interleave and
tone
• All stations in the net
need to have the top
two button the same
for this mode to work.
Always
SAVE!
Sound Card
• Select the correct audio
port for your computer.
• Volume control on
computer, recording
controls
Always
SAVE!
– Select Mic option
– Adjust for a ‘speckled’
waterfall
– Speaker – adjust for
transmit signal
Rig Control
• If using hardwire PTT
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Initialize and Save
after changing
Check Use Serial Port
Select COM port
Configure RTS or DTS
Initialize to test
operation
IDs
• Reed-Solomon ID
– DO NOT select
“Reception disables
detector”
– Pre-Signal Tone may vary
depending on specific
delay time in your
equipment
Always
SAVE!
Text Capture
• Under configuration ,
Misc, NBEMS.
• Make sure “Enable,”
“Open Message Folder”
and “Open with flmsg”
is selected.
• Verify flmsg file location
Always
SAVE!
Flmsg
• Rapidly and Accurately
formats and transmits
information.
• 8 Formats
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ICS Forms
HICS
MARS
Radiogram
Red Cross
Generic
DnD
Blank
Flmsg set-up
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Personal Data
Date/Time format
Files format
Radiogram
 Words per line (5)
 Serial Number
Agenda
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Why Digital ECOMS
What is NBEMS
What NBEMS can and cannot do for you
Components of a NBEMS system
How to set up a NBEMS system
How to use NBEMS
Practice time
Fldigi
Verify communications
with
keyboard to keyboard
Ctrl-T to Transmit
Ctrl-R to Receive
Or
Use the T/R
button
Flmsg
• Rapidly and Accurately
formats and transmits
information.
• 8 Formats
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ICS Forms
HICS
MARS
Radiogram
Red Cross
Generic (e-mail)
DnD
Blank
ICS 213 Form
Time
Date
ARRL Radiogram
Calculate
Check
Today
Pick ARRL
Message
WRAP your message
• Sending your message
is easy as selecting:
– File
– Wrap
– AutoSend
• The message immediately
moves to FLDIGI and is
transmitted
Received Traffic
• Received messages are
stored within the
NBEMS.files folder
• WRAP files are
associated with flmsg
for viewing
• Messages sorted by
date/time stamp
IC 213 HTML Delivery
ARRL Radiogram Delivery
Agenda
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Why Digital ECOMS
What is NBEMS
What NBEMS can and cannot do for you
Components of a NBEMS system
How to use a NBEMS
How to set up a NBEMS system
Practice time
Things to Watch
• Tx & Rx IDs
• Op Mode
• Squelch - off
Sound Card Calibration
Additional Information
• This presentation is available at
www.ScottARES.org from the Member
Resources page.
• Questions?