applications of echolink and irlp in emergency communications presented by: dennis dura – k2dcd,...
TRANSCRIPT
Applications of EchoLink and IRLP in Emergency Communications
Presented by: Dennis Dura – K2DCD, Assistant Director of VoIP Hurricane Net Operations [email protected] by: Richard Long – KF6BKA, Net Control for the VoIP Hurricane NetWritten by: Rob Macedo – KD1CY,Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net [email protected]
Agenda High-level Technical Overview of EchoLink
and IRLP as a technology and its benefits for Emergency Communications
Overview of the VoIP Hurricane Net and how this technology is used for Emergency Communications
2005/2006 Years in Review Highlights of the 2005 Season Highlights of the 2006 Season Lessons Learned from the 2005 and 2006
Seasons 2006 Review---The VoIP Hurricane Net
Improvement Project
EchoLink
EchoLink is a very popular VoIP linking option
Developed by Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD
Based on the original iLINK softwareby Graeme Barnes, M0CSH
Pictured:Jonathan, K1RFD founder of the EchoLink software
EchoLink General Info
Allows amateurs to communicate using VoIP via Windows based software
Users can operate viaone of three methods: Personal Computer
Simplex RF Link
Linked Repeater
IRLP IRLP is an acronym forInternet Radio Linking Project
Developed by Dave Cameron, VE7LTD from Vancouver, Canada
Pictured:Dave, VE7LTD founder of IRLP with Dave, K9DC owner of the Indiana Reflector 9200
IRLP Background
Started in November of 1997 as an attempt to use the internet to link radio systems across Canada
The first full time link that was established ran from Vancouver, BC to Saint John, NB
IRLP’s motto is “Keeping the Radio in Amateur Radio” by only allowing RF links
IRLP and EchoLink Differences IRLP is an RF only system. EchoLink permits direct PC access. IRLP uses PGP for authentication. IRLP nodes owners have to contact installation
team to receive their PGP keys. EchoLink uses validation against online
databases, with some applicants being hand validated.
EchoLink uses encrypted password login.
EchoIRLP - The Integrated Dual Node
Uses one machine and interface to allow connectivity to both systems.
Lockouts between IRLP and EchoLink to prevent unintentional cross links.
Uses tbd as a local gateway between IRLP controlling the hardware and the EchoLink network.
The VoIP Hurricane Net Example of Putting It All Together
VoIP Hurricane Net on EchoLink *WX-TALK* Conference
Node: 7203 and IRLP reflector 9219
Integrated Conference system
EcholinkRepeater,
linked repeater system or
Simplex Link
Echolink PC User
IRLP Repeater.
linked system or simplex
node
Handheld/mobile/
base radio
Handheld/mobile/base radio
Net Control Operator-
Using Echolink as PC user or Link/IRLP
Anywhere in the world
The Digital EchoLink/IRLP Link
EchoLink conference capable of making an outbound Speak Freely connection.
Digital Link Characteristics
Audio is not decoded and recoded as it passes the gateway.
Less audio degradation. Lower latency. Extremely difficult to tell whether originating
station is on IRLP or EchoLink. IRLP stations must use GSM CODEC for digital
link to work. Traffic passes directly between IRLP and
EchoLink.
The Integrated Conference Modified IRLP reflector – Developed March-
April 2005. Copy of sfreflect is replaced by tbd. One system – very reliable. All stations appear in EchoLink station list.
IRLP nodes are labelled “stnXXXX”. Conference to be administered using both
EchoLink and IRLP admin tools. Allows IRLP nodes to be muted – not normally
supported.
Current Systems Utilizing the Integrated Conference
The Raleigh IRLP Reflector/*WX-TALK* system, the New England IRLP/EchoLink Reflector system and the Australia VKEMCOMM IRLP/EchoLink systems switched over to the integrated conference system in July 2005.
Transfer from the analog gateway to the digital integrated conference was completed through the efforts of Tony Langdon-VK3JED.
The EchoLink conference server resides at the reflector location on the same system.
Has Echo-IRLP nodes connect using the IRLP side only. Enhancements were made to automatically kick systems
with conferencing enabled to prevent unintentional interference.
Waivers can be exempted for systems that have a need to keep conferencing enabled.
EchoLink Node Setup Recommendations for Use on Integrated Conference Systems
Many folks have concerns about EchoLink nodes due to interference with courtesy tones, hang times, and repeater ID’s.
This is not a limitation in EchoLink technology. EchoLink node owners and developers of the system, at
first, did not see the need to follow the stricter rules of IRLP in not letting these things pass through the system.
As multiple EchoLink nodes that passed through courtesy tones, hang times, and repeater ID’s were linked together in a conference, it caused major issues.
These issues can be avoided by simply following the rules established on IRLP nodes by setting an EchoLink node up to not pass through Courtesy tones, repeater ID’s etc.
EchoLink Node Setup Recommendations for Use on Integrated Conference Systems
The VoIP Hurricane Net Management team recommends the following for EchoLink nodes:
Have the repeater or link transmit a PL tone so that the link radio will only open when a station is transmitting.
This will cut out repeater ID’s, courtesy tones, squelch tails and hang times.
This can be done relatively easily and is inexpensive. Allows for better and smoother use of pure EchoLink
nodes on the system. If one or two repeaters have this issue, it can be
tolerated but if multiple linked repeaters pass repeater ID’s and courtesy tones, it can cause major issues on the linked system.
The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team would be happy to help EchoLink node owners overcome these issues so their node would be a greater help when connected to an integrated conference system.
How this Technology Is Utilized for Emergency Communication Applications
Technology is utilized in Emergency Communication Applications today.
Examples: The New England Reflector is utilized for New
England regional SKYWARN and Emergency Communication work along with HF and VHF/UHF.
Information and past events on how its been utilized can be obtained at: http://new-eng.com
The VoIP Hurricane Net, Info can be obtained at: http://www.voipwx.net
Lets take a more in depth look at how the VoIP Hurricane Net utilizes this technology.
VoIP Hurricane Net Mission The VoIP Hurricane Net mission is as follows:
Provide real-time or near real-time measured weather data and damage reports to WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Provide a means of interoperability for Emergency Operation Centers (EOC), Red Cross/Salvation Army agencies/shelters and National Weather Service (NWS) forecast offices to communicate between each other and send appropriate data up to WX4NHC as required.
Liaison to other net operations that may be on EchoLink and IRLP and pass that information to WX4NHC as required.
Disseminate National Hurricane Center advisories and updates as needed for stations in the affected area.
The VoIP Hurricane Net meets on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203, IRLP Reflector 9219 system.
The backup system is IRLP reflector 9508 with EchoLink Conference server *VKEMCOMM* Node: 270177. This system is also used for listen-only capability for net activations.
The *WX-TALK* Node:7203 conference server can be aliased to the backup system when required.
VoIP Hurricane Net Activation Policy
The VoIP Hurricane Net has the following activation policy: The VoIP Hurricane Net will activate upon activation of
WX4NHC provided there are EchoLink stations/nodes and IRLP nodes in the affected area of the hurricane.
The VoIP Hurricane Net will self-activate if the net manager and/or director of operations see a threat from a hurricane over an area and there are EchoLink station/nodes and IRLP nodes in the affected area.
The VoIP Hurricane Net will self-activate if support is requested by a NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), government organization or Amateur radio group affected by a hurricane.
That support could be net controls to support the requesting group’s local operations for a hurricane or other disaster related incident or an actual net activation on the *WX-TALK*/IRLP reflector 9219 or backup IRLP 9508/*VKEMCOMM* system.
Weekly VoIP Hurricane Preparation Net There is a weekly VoIP Hurricane Preparation
Net on Sundays at 0000 UTC (Saturday Evening across most of North America)
The net provides a forum to ask technical questions, give presentations and for net controls to practice basic net control skills.
Nets for actual activations can run quite differently but basic net control protocols can be practiced through the weekly net.
Web site is http://www.voipwx.net
2005 Year In Review Experienced several hurricane events where critical reports from
Amateur Radio Operators and SKYWARN Spotters at EOCs, shelters, hospitals, police and fire departments made a huge difference.
Hurricane Emily’s Impact on the Caribbean The VoIP Hurricane Net self-activated and provided critical
reports from Grenada, the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago as Emily intensified rapidly passing over Grenada and the Grenadines.
Hurricane Rita Efforts of a contact in Key West, Florida to provide critical data
from that region with that data delivered via Amateur Radio. Efforts from WM6V-Flo from Livingston Memorial Hospital, another
Amateur Operator at the Lufkin, Texas Fire Department and Kevin Anderson-KD5WX from the Nacogdoches, TX EOC.
Hurricane Wilma and Katrina’s landfall in South Florida Efforts of the Oakland Park, Boca Raton, Florida EOC’s and Lu
Vencl-KA4EPS providing data to the Hurricane Net. Hurricane Katrina
Made contact with the NWS Slidell, Louisiana office through the IRLP contact in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and had several key reports from Southern Mississippi and Southern Alabama.
2005 Lessons Learned Lack of critical reports from the affected area.
While we had EOCs, NWS offices, and other official stations on the air from the affected area, reports were few and far between.
While one or two quality reports sometimes makes a huge difference, it is difficult to sustain the effort for a low number of reports.
Need to add and improve Net Controls for the net. Need additional and well trained net controls.
Need to improve the web site and make it more easily maintainable and improve the reporting form on the web site for NHC forecasters.
Other areas needed improvement as well and are outlined in the improvement project plan.
2006 Year in Review and Lessons Learned Much less activity as far as hurricanes than in 2004 and
2005. Only 4 notable net activations. (Arlene, Ernesto (2 net
activations), and Florence.) Had contact with a couple of EOCs during Tropical Storm
Arlene but the system never became a hurricane. Most active nets were for Ernesto affecting the Carolinas
and Florence affecting Bermuda. Had contact with Bermuda through help from the WX4NHC
Coordinators Julio Ripoll-WD4R and John McHugh-K4AG. Had contact with NWS Wilmington, NC as well as spotters in
Southeast North Carolina and Northeast South Carolina. Received a reasonable level of reporting for Ernesto as
well as Florence through these contacts but room for improvement for reporting is still there.
Net control support was better due to training for net controls and their conscientious support.
Standardized Listen-only capability for non-affected areas.
Work Completed on VoIP Hurricane Net Improvement Project in 2006 Completed slide set and conducted Net Control training
through the efforts of Matt Hoppes-KB3MSE. Net Control recruiting effort was done in 2006 and is
ongoing today. Revamped the voipwx.net web site. Revamped the voipwx.net reporting webform. Standardized EchoLink and IRLP listen-only capability as
well as backup VoIP systems. Defined technical VoIP configuration specifications/tips and
have that information listed on the VoIPWXNet web site. Worked to obtain more contacts along the US and
Caribbean coastal areas of hurricanes through the PR efforts of Public Information Coordinator Lloyd Colston-KC5FM.
VoIP Hurricane Net weekly improvements completed including periodic net presentations during the net and better net control support.
Work to Be Completed on the VoIP Hurricane Net Improvement Project Net Control Training for
2007 Availability of Proxies
and Temporary EchoLink/IRLP nodes via Simplex or under utilized repeaters for access
Contacts in Bermuda, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Northern South America
Contacts in the East Coast, Gulf Coast of the US
Hurricane-Type NWS SKYWARN Training Session for Contacts within 50 miles of the coast
Weather Station Support for Improved Surface Observations
Backup Power and Backup Internet Capability for EchoLink/IRLP and Echo-IRLP nodes and EchoLink PC users
Net Control and Spanish Translator Recruitment
More Information Technology Resources for EchoLink and IRLP:
IRLP Web Site: http://www.irlp.net IRLP node Status Web Site: http://status.irlp.net EchoLink Web Site: http://www.echolink.org
For more information on the VoIP Hurricane Net, again, visit us on the web at http://www.voipwx.net/
Join the VoIP-WXNet email list using links provided via the web site.
The New England Reflector system also serves as an example of how this technology is utilized and information can be found at http://new-eng.com/