Digital Frontiers

In the 1800s there was the frontier of West. Today we have digital frontiers to explore. The digital frontiers may not always be digital voice or data that appears within this new frontier.

Some may remember the days of 1200 baud packet that was quite popular in the 1990s. This technology is now present in APRS, with even a hint of low-speed data showing up within the VHF and UHF bands via D-STAR enabled radios as well as telemetry.

For those that have radios such as the Icom ID-1 it is possible to have 100kbps data from the Internet available in your vehicle. In order to do this a base station with a ID-1 or a D-STAR 1.2GHz data repeater is required.

Most of us have some form of a wireless network in our home or business that operates via the 802.11 standards. Did you know that this same equipment can be used in Amateur Radio with higher RF power and higher gain antennas? Within Amateur Radio this technology is known as High Speed Multi Media or HSMM. The primary bands for HSMM are 2400, 3300 and 5800 MHz. The 902 MHz band can also be used for high speed data. One of the key advantages to HSMM is in its nature of being able to take a off-the-shelf wireless network adapter and access point add a higher gain antenna to them, and for longer range RF amplifiers can be added under FCC Part 97 rules.

Imagine having access to high speed video, IP-phone and Data Connectivity in your vehicle,or during special events and emergency incidents being able to provide data, video and voice to the agencies served. As well as providing last mile coverage into a disaster area.

Did we mention telephone service? With the development of Internet telephone services as well as telephone servers such as Asterisk which provide flexible interoperability between PSTN, Internet Phone and Radio dial tone can be presented along with the last mile capabilities of High Speed Multi Media create a resource that can be highly beneficial to the community and the nation.

What is next in the Digital Frontiers? As it was in the 1800s with the migration West the same is occurring with the digital migration. With networks such as Asterisk the migration is made easier as analog and digital technology is made one. On the Internet you can find more information about Asterisk and HSMM at http://www.asteriskradio.net and http://www.hsmm.info

ARMAD 2012

The Challenge

The Challenge that is on everyone’s mind tends to end up dealing with financial requirements to maintain focus on the ideas and goals that a group and individual needs to accomplish. We are in that same situation as well, we need to have financial support in order to maintain the web site as well as necessary broadband connectivity.

Through the years there have been many that have asked how to hook up Asterisk PBX and RF Gateway servers and then tie these resources in with DARPA and DSTAR along with other technology resources. We are happy that we are able to assist in getting resources online and operational. Yet the cost to do the research and provide fixed infrastructure has a price tag to it that a single individual or just a couple of people shouldn’t have to cover the cost for everyone else. Yes, funds are indeed tight and they may end up being tighter from the way things are going in the “halls of leadership.”

When many come together and share the cost the overall burden is lighten, as it has been proven in the past when many work together for a common good (via cooperative efforts) the cost do indeed go down for everyone. And quality of service can improve to the point that technology development and training can progress too.

So the challenge that I present to you is to consider donating to ALERTradio ERC and Asterisk Radio Networks. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Mars – N0PCO

2011

In development news we picked up five more nodes for connectivity to the Allstar Link Network.   These five nodes will be used in the Communications Transportable Systems (CoTS).  Also they are beneficial in understanding the proper procedures for setting up multiple node servers both for the Asterisk Radio Network – ARN and Asterisk Amateur Radio Network – AARN.

Already have CoTS-1 configured and interfaced into the PBX, still need to configure up some HSMM wireless links that can be used for point-to-point and point-to-multiple point applications.

Dialing 711via PBX

Do you know what 711 TRS is?

711 is the nationwide telephone number for accessing Telephone Relay Service (TRS).    TRS permits persons with a hearing or speech disability to use the telephone system via a text telephone (TTY) or other device to call persons with or without such disabilities.

Making TRS Calls Read the rest of this entry »

Digital Integration to PSTN

A new digital project is coming up that will provide a method to push digital radio traffic to SIP / IAX2 phones as well as PSTN. Testing is in progress now, more details coming soon.

DARN is near

The Digital Analog Radio Network is near.

DARN defined as “to mend by weaving thread across a gap” that is what is being done. Those that want to see flexibility will go with the DARN approach, as a improvement while there will be others that find it to be just annoyance. DARN definitely fits the new Digital Analog Radio Networks.

Sometimes logic can indeed be simple (send in most potentially linkable exchange).

The Digital Analog Radio Network web site is located at http://darnsimple.net