Digital Comm

The digital communications project is an effort to investigate and construct new WCARA digital systems which will complement the existing analog voice repeater system. The project first will investigate the following:

• • Information and data expected to be communicated during emergency ops and contesting: A list of senders and receivers along with information needs will be created. Bandwidth and communication durations will be calculated and listed. Operating limitations will also be noted. The list will capture the information need that corresponds to each mode of data communication. The Projects Discussion group is set up to collaborate on digital comm.

  • Once the data needs are refined, the radio, interface and computer components will be determined. Subsets of the digital comm system may need to be built and exercised to minimize re-work when the final system is built.

  • Significant work may be needed to construct interfaces.

  • It is expected that most digital modes will be provided by open source software.

  • The stationary comm boxes currently under construction will form the basis of equipment used for digital comm. When the digital comm system is completed, each mode and component will be exercised to make sure everything works.

  • Operating procedures instruction sheets will be created for reference.

  • Training will be developed and presented to members. Each member will have hands on training to gain experience with digital modes.

  • It is expected that both VHF/UHF local and HF beyond local data communications will be a part of the system.

• A project status subpage below will inform members of progress in various parts of the project.