RCARES Conventional packet protocol
From Megawiki
The typical conventional packet protocols for emergency communications situations in Racine County Radio operators, Emergency managers, Digital net controls can use this as a template / guide when running exercises, drills and deploying communications in disasters.
Contents |
Resources
This document is developed from several sources, including the following thanks to contributions from:
- James Markstrom Digital A.E.C.
- Racine County ARES /RACES Digital Group
- Midwest BBS Sysops
- Lake County Digital Group, and (N9NMR and W9GWP).
- Others thanked if we forgot to mention you..
- Some portions of this document may look familiar to these groups.
- Some Portions, may not, this document can be utilized, or portions as footnoted by those personnel.
- Some times good Ideas don't need to be changed! List is in not any order of importance.
- Just wanted to give credit to any input from those sources.
Why do we need digital communications
This question is thrown around a lot in many arenas. The point is that A.R.E.S. / R.A.C.E.S is often activated to provide communications in emergency and non - emergency situations. One way to move complicated, and potentially massive amounts of data between needed agencies and hams is to use conventional packet radio. There are others Like PSK31, Winlink 2000, etc... The Racine County solution is to embrace and train as many solutions for diverse flexible deployment.
This mode is 100% error free in transmission because of designs in the AX.25 protocol One point commonly brought up in this type of mode is that it can be run with very little to no existing While packet is not the speediest thing around, it still has a local purpose, and can be utilized for many uses. It has the potential, properly utilized to move needed information in a relatively timely manner to fill in holes to replacing entire networks wiped out by disasters. This is ONE tool in the amateur radios arsenal for providing digital communications when needed. Incident commanders and ECs should choose the type of digital and voice modes depending on the situation, and need at the time of activation, and adjust these tools as needed to those common situations. This provides an overall grab bag of diversely trained people and equipment solutions for almost any situation.
A common agreed to solution for every served agency and disaster should be and engaged discussion between hams and their served agencies. This document will NOT cover every little detail, it is meant to augment other Racine county Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) and documents to help provide infrastructure solutions in times of need.
Conventional packet can be deployed in a variably, such as a "hotline circuit" from two points like an EOC to EOC and/or field office. Larger deployments to an area can utilize a PBBS (KPC-3 TNC 512k memory) or full service BBS.
References
- OUTPOST TNC Message Manager (see http://www.CupertinoARES.org/projects/outpost ).
- WinPack packet radio software (see http://www.peaksys.co.uk ).
- F6FBB - Multi user, Multi-port TCP/IP BBS, http://www.f6fbb.org
- MSYS - Multi-User, Multi-Port, Multi-Function Amateur Packet Radio BBS
Introduction to the National Traffic System (see the OUTPOST website for an excellent tutorial), also on this CD.
- (from Lake county Digital group.)
Conventional Packet Mode Hardware / Software requirements.
Refer to: Hardware requirements for Racine County Digital A.R.E.S. Group Standard Software used , Revision levels CD locations for Racine County Digital A.R.E.S Group
Some basic guidelines:
- Setup a BBS ID and make sure your software is properly configured, per training and net controls instructions, it is good to have these logins and IDs setup PRIOR to an event or use well in advance. A working knowledge of NOTEPAD, current Outpost version, Microsoft Office, and of packet operation is pretty much required. All of this can be learned, but use of a computer is for most.
- Practice, Tabletops, Drills, Exercises, Frequent use will guarantee your newly learned skills don't turn rusty. Try and use these modes as often as possible with other hams and ones in the Group to hone, and grow your knowledge. That is part of what ham radio services is all about!
You're activated, NOW What
What go Grab or put in your Jump kit!
- Racine County ARES Packet LAN FREQ document
This has detailed TNC settings, Frequency plan etc.
- Developed Racine County Agency OUTPOST reports residing on the PC.
- A copy of the OUTPOST Users Guide. (Refer to Racine County A.R.E.S. digital group CD)
- A summary of BBS commands.
(Refer to Racine County A.R.E.S. digital group CD for F6FBB command PDF document )
- This Document
- A copy Local bulletin TO categories for Emergency communications document Racine county.
- Basic Operating
During packet operation, a basic set of operating conventions should be kept in mind.
As in voice nets, digital net is Directed, NET control is "the person" to ask. Procedure across most or ALL digital modes will be very similar to keep things simple. If a Procedure is NOT simple It is NOT useful in a disaster. Having too many categories, confusing protocols, etc should be avoided.
This will make newcomers, and old hat's know what to expect as much as possible. Remember you may be working with or alongside an unaffiliated Volunteer Ham's or Served agency person's. These are people not directly involved in this "group".
- Message acknowledgment: All messages (waiting and upon receipt) should be acknowledged via the tactical packet ADMIN voice channel 146.450, or could be folded into the tactical frequency If traffic is low. If requested, outpost automatic message delivery acknowledgment function utilized if digital net control directs you to do so.
- Tactical call abbreviation assignment: (see Racine County Served Agency Matrix).
- Example RDA: in red cross shelter A.
- Message numbering: A message number should be used in all messages. OUTPOST will automatically add a message number and Tactical abbreviation to the subject line. Go to the Message Settings screen and select the "Add Message Number to Subject Line" option.
- Message priority: To facilitate timely handling of messages, a priority indicator should be used in the subject line. Priorities are as follows as per NTS standard.
"E" - emergency "P" - priority (e.g. supply request) "R" - routine "W" - health & welfare
- Subject: A clear and concise purpose for the message. For example - "Supply Request".
- Bulletins ("SB") should be used for generic forms or if you don't care who reads the message. Remember to use a TO category for all bulletins - example SB ARES @ RACINE.
- Ham to ham or direct messaging - Private ("SP") messages must be used for sensitive or specific messages. Remember to use the receiving station's callsign for all private messages - SP callsign.
Example SB ARES@RACINE Subject: RDA001: R- Supply Request Then body /ex to close your message
- (portions from Lake county digital group protocol)
Activation & Deployment
Upon activation, all Racine County ARES/RACES packet operators are to check into the Logistics voice NET and announce their availability for assignment to the net control. The Net Control Operator (NCO) will then start getting assignments and locations as follows:
The incident commander will usually request a digital net to be setup or Voice Net control may setup one First step is to assigning a Digital Net Control (DNC) / and Liaison (DNL), and Digital Backup Net Control (DBC)
The DNC will then request the NC needed for Operators, and relief, as needed per the scope of the situation probably via the liaison.
DNC, DBC - Their Job is to regulate Digital location assignments, and should have NO filters enabled, to monitor all activity in bulletins. If applicable, on a high speed packet channel, or alternative means.
They should also be monitoring the tactical frequency /or voice net they are liaison with. Scanner or monitor radio is good for this.
DNL - Scope is to pass traffic from Voice net into the digital net back and forth. Hint: Simple digital interaction support can just be a Digital Liaison, to a digital mode. DNTSL - This is a liaison to NTS nets on HF or Digital mode
Initial Setup
Packet Operators:
Packet operators will deploy and setup a station at their assigned location. Startup OUTPOST and make sure the following items are correct:
- TNC configuration
- Comm port settings
- BBS configuration and "digi" station (if needed)
- Remove all Filters except ARES
Digital Net Control Operator:
The DNC begins to create a list of "message categories". A message category is a maximum of 6 characters in length. See Local bulletin TO categories for Emergency communications document Racine county.
- START
- Should not be deleted during an operation.
- Used to disseminate information at the beginning of an event.
- QST
- Should not be deleted during an operation.
- Used by net control to make periodic announcements / updates such as shift change, operator relief, etc.
- Other bulletin categories will be setup as needed depending upon the situation.
- Easy three letter tactical - assignments
This should be entered in Outpost settings. Tactical prefixes can be used to identify the originating station automatically Outpost allows a 3 char tactical ID in the subject. The first two are identifier, last one allows 26 combinations of the first A through Z Refer to served agency matrix. Tactical prefix is what is also used in Voice equivalent on a voice tactical net!
The DNC sends an event bulletin to the KB9MMA BBS (SB ARES @RACINE) with a start subject. This bulletin may contain request information about operators, check in procedure, update procedure, and possible location assignments.
Overall net to categories, tactical names, tactical IDs, callsign of the DNC, Send/Receive time settings, any other instructions can be included in this or in the QST channel.
Date / Time of message sent.. /ex
Check-In
Packet Operators:
After downloading the start bulletin, each packet station responds with a check-in bulletin to the DNC.
Typical response format: SB RCDNC@RACINE Subject: check in
Include requested necessary check in criterion in the body
Date Time of message sent.
/ex
This will be the "standard" format for all digital check-ins so people out of area make sure to note this. Racine Net controls or Back-up net controls are involved in the Digital group. They should be checking the digital mode just in case people check in this way. or net control will assign / request a liaison to check this information during the net. (Winlink 2000 will have a Tactical setup for this purpose as well.)
Setup Verification Protocol
Digital Net control will respond to your check in with assignment, SB QST @ RACINE SUBJECT : ( callsign) -(assignment) Example W9UDU - RDA (Red cross location A) Body Describe filters to enable for that station. Other settings and location specific such information for that station. QST can be used to send out general information with a subject description Insert Date Time of message sent..
The reason for using a bulletin is that information will be there for relief.
The packet station operator will also enter appropriate settings in the OUTPOST Send/Receive Settings screen:
- Send/Receive every "X" minutes (as indicated by the DNC).
- Filter Masks (e.g. "ARES", "QST", RDA, RDALL, etc.)
- Note: Do NOT check the "Keep Messages on BBS" option!
The operator after verifying settings, sends an acknowledgment to DNC. That station is ready
Typical Response:
SB RCDNC@RACINE Subject: update - RDA On line Station is on line and ready. Date / Time of message sent.. /ex
The Digital Net control Is Required to send a update list on QST@Racine Summarizing who is on line, and what filters they are using This can be done in a table format and or on line report. This is recommended every hour to half hour, or as needed.
DNC can request at any time by sending another update via SB QST@RACINE. On line forms will be utilized to format a lot of this protocol.
Direct requests to another station:
Direct messaging to any other station can be done on One of Two ways
Utilization of SP callsign function on the BBS or personal message .
Or preferred method , once protocol setup by net control
SB RDA@RACINE SUBJECT : BLANKETS NEED 5 blankets
Since red cross location A is "filtering" this they will receive the message and acknowledge it.
(Since this digital mode is being monitored, by Digital Net control They will know about request.
Default Route for message
- If you don't know what to do ASK NET control
- Note protocol being used in first part of section
- Response / Message sent
o SB RCDNC@RACINE Subject: EOC987: Flooding - Washington and Taylor intersection Put message in /ex
Net control should acknowledge message And route it to appropriate channels per protocol Usually QST@RACINE or appropriate served agency subcategory.
Processing External Information
Because of the possibility of embedded control characters, HTML tags, etc., always pre-process external information through NOTEPAD before pasting in OUTPOST. Use the following sequence:
- Select the desired information and copy it into a NOTEPAD session. Save the text file.
- In OUTPOST, open a message. Fill in the appropriate header fields and then open the NOTEPAD text file. Contents of the text file will appear in the body of the OUTPOST message.
- Process the OUTPOST message as usual.
( Lake county Digital Group)
- Outpost On line Reports For Agencies.
OUTPOST Reports (still in development)
Form Title File Name Generic Status Report Status Report1.txt Net control Request
Check in Form
NTS Message Form Use NTS message maker (NTS liaison) General QST update Form
Verification on line Form
Racine County Packet Protocol
