Getting Started with NBEMS Narrow-Band Emergency Messaging System 18 th Annual MI Section Family Outing July 9, 2016 Dave Wallick, N8LBF MI District 3 ARES/RACES EC/RO
Why Digital EmComm? as described in Introduction to NBEMS, 2012, by Harry Bloomberg, W3YJ, WPA ASEC 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. By 2016, NC ARES described Digital as their primary comms mode, with Voice as secondary/back-up mode! Source: video of EmComm Forum at the 2016 Charlotte, NC Hamfest 7/6/2016 2
Why Digital EmComm? Characterize the emergency communications environment. 7/6/2016 3
Why Digital EmComm? Digital communications offer: Supplementary emergency response and recovery comms On frequencies away from first responder traffic Utilizing variety of digital voice and data technologies D-Star, DMR, Fusion, PACTOR, Packet, WinLink, RTTY, PSK31, MT63, Olivia Allowing transmission of messages, data files, and agencyrecognizable forms ICS, Red Cross, MARS, Hospital (HICS) forms With increased message content security (vs ham FM/SSB voice) With high transmission/reception fidelity employing error checking and error correcting (FEC) capabilities For agency-generated messages * And at high message traffic throughput 7/6/2016 4
Voice vs Data Transmission? Which mode would you choose to use? Hypothetical Drug Requisition List Pharmaceutical Name Common Drug Name Dosage Amt # Doses Needed Synthroid levothyroxine 10 mg 50 Crestor rosuvastatin 35 mg 50 Ventolin HFA albuterol 100 mg 100 Nexium esomeprazole 40 mcg 25 Advair Diskus fluticasone 15 mg 50 Lantus Solostar insulin glargine 475 mcg 50 Vyvanse lisdexamfetamine 45 mg 25 Lyrica pregabalin 2 x 15 mg 100 Spiriva Handihaler tiotropium 0.7 g 25 Januvia sitagliptin 1 mg 50 Hypothetical Shelter Residency List Name Residence Shelter Bed # Michael Jordan 110 Hoops Drive Maple Hill 12 Bill Lambeer 63 Retirement Cove Maple Hill 7 & 8 Barry Sanders 17 Running Back Ridge Maple Hill 19 Billy Sims 28 Running Back Ridge Maple Hill 6 Bo Schembechler 3 GoBlue Drive Maple Hill 9 Johnny Doe 17 Oak St, Apt 8 Maple Hill 22 Lil Miss Muffet 2 Tuffet Way Maple Hill 64 Louie Louie 4 SoundStudio Way Maple Hill 3 Roscoe P. Coltrane 17 Southside Ave Maple Hill 15 7/6/2016 5
What is NBEMS? NBEMS Narrow-Band Emergency Messaging System Messaging software package for facilitating Digital EmComm Utilizing Fldigi suite of software, by David Freese, Jr., W1HKJ Fast Light Digital modem application Suite of about 450 digital communication options ie, PSK31, RTTY, MT63-2KL, Olivia-8/500, CW Also encompassing Flmsg, Flwrap, Flarq, Flamp, Flrig Fldigi is FREE, open sourced, under GNU Public License (GPL), and unencumbered by patents or restrictive licenses Providing rapid, point-to-many communication protocol A full page formatted ICS-213 message form can be transmitted in under 40 seconds with no errors Source: Joe Reinemann, K0JCR, MN ARES South Central DEC Nobody else can do that not CERTs, not 911 dispatchers, not the police reserve nobody can do that except good hams with FLDIGI. K0JCR e- mail to N8LBF, Dec. 20, 2015 7/6/2016 6
Why NBEMS? Rapid, accurate, secure, simple, economical Supplementary communications on Amateur Radio bands using fixed, mobile, or portable radio stations Independent Operation, not requiring Internet networks or Cell Phone/Public Safety towers Versatile communication range from across the street to across the State Digital message traffic automatically saved and stored in computer file directories or as HTML web browser files on portable memory devices for ready recall later 7/6/2016 7
Why NBEMS? continued Simple message preparation by non-computer experts and non-ham Use Flmsg off-line to draft messages or forms for transmission Printed copies of messages, forms, or files readily available on demand close the communication loop * Very good weak signal sensitivity, allowing low power operation About 5 25 watts power for HF and VHF digital comms Facilitated home practice builds skills and proficiency 19 NBEMS State and regional 80 & 40m HF Nets each week RTTY and PSK31 dig modes commonly used for rag chewing 7/6/2016 8
Example of Information Content on Fldigi Control Computer Screen 7/6/2016 9
Example of NBEMS Station Configuration Computer Optional Optional HF, VHF, or UHF Txcvr Sound Card Modem See next slide for wide variety of applicable equipment 7/6/2016 10
Equipment Flexibility Sound Card Modem Options Internal PC sound card (SC) External SC - SignaLink USB (TigerTronics) External SC - RigBlaster (West Mountain Radio) External SC - Homebrew interface No external SC - Acoustic Coupling Computer PC using Windows XP, Win2000, Vista, 7, 8, (10) OS s Apple computer series using Mac OS Raspberry Pi series using Linux OS Ham Radio 2m HT, mobile txcvr HF rig ie, ICOM IC-7000 HF/VHF/UHF in Go-Box ie, Yaesu FT-817ND HF/VHF/UHF QRP in Go-Box Antenna High selection flexibility; use what is needed; choice of coax not critical ie, HF 80m sloper; VHF vertical, dipole, dummy load 7/6/2016 11
NBEMS Operating Recommendations mostly sourced from: WPA ARES Section Standards for Digital EmComm, Harry Bloomberg, W3YJ Preferred digital modes: HF: Olivia (8/500) Very sensitive to weak signals; often receives signals not seen in the waterfall Has very robust error correction, and is resistant to fading and static crashes while being tolerant of mistuned stations VHF/UHF: MT63 (2KL) 8x faster than Olivia 8/500, but not as sensitive to weak signals Very good signal fidelity using Flwrap; don t need Flarq Flmsg is preferred for transmission of data files and forms Automatically integrated with Fldigi and Flwrap; easy to print message products Convert Word document files to.txt format and Excel spreadsheet files to.csv (Comma Separated Values) files for faster transmission Review available digital file message formats and forms with Served Agencies to set expectations in advance of an emergency response Update your 217A to include digital HF/VHF/UHF comms freqs PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE 7/6/2016 12
A View of the NBEMS Future Advanced concepts: MN ARES report good results with PSK125RC10 10-carrier mode very fast and very reliable They are also experimenting with newer 8PSK modes, Faster yet, but more sensitive to over-driving and precise frequency tuning among Net participants Flamp settings can be arranged to allow NBEMS messaging through local repeaters to extend range of VHF/UHF digital comms set transmission block lengths at two minutes or less, with a pause for repeater reset. Newer Fldigi modes can receive up to 8-12 messages simultaneously may be good for very busy Nets 7/6/2016 13
How Pervasive is NBEMS Digital EmComm? Pennsylvania ARES (EPA and WPA) use NBEMS WPA birthed NBEMS; Harry Bloomberg, W3YJ, ASEC-WPA Michigan ARES is relatively new into using NBEMS digital communications NBEMS shares the digital EmComm space with Packet, others All other Region V Section ARES organizations use NBEMS for digital communications Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin Written into their Section ARES Comms Plans 7/6/2016 14
NBEMS - Getting Started Resources YouTube video: Stanislaus County ARES NBEMS 01, Installation and Basic Configuration www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ca13e0no70 Fldigi software suite Fldigi, Flmsg, Flwrap, help files www.w1hkj.com http://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/ Introduction to NBEMS www.wpares.org/html/nbems.html SignaLink USB resources Installation and Operation: http://www.tigertronics.com/files/slusbman.pdf OS-specific Instructions (Google NBEMS and your favorite OS) Mac OS Windows XP, Win2000, Vista, 7, 8, (10) OS s Linux OS 7/6/2016 15