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Packet Radio: For those unfamiliar
with the term "Packet Radio", a brief
description is "a digital radio technique that allows text
messages to pass from one computer to another, using
Amateur radio". In practice,
this is very much like sending and receiving email, however the
connection is made using Amateur radio, rather than conventional
wired or wireless Internet connections. Most packet activity
is on VHF, but there is significant activity on UHF
and even HF. The range can therefore be
anything from a few miles to several thousand miles, making it
popular with "Hams" who enjoy "RV-ing" or
cruising on boats, where a normal Internet connection may be
scarce. Packet Radio uses virtual "connections", which
may pass through a number of "Node" stations
along the way.
Although the Packet Radio network can, and does,
interface with the
Internet at a few locations,
the radio portion is itself independent of the Internet.
Packet Radio can move messages without any outside
infrastructure. It can also move messages from
an area that is without Internet service to an area
where Internet service is available.
Packet Radio is an important technique
for those involved in
EmComm.
District Three: Western Washington ARES/RACES District/Region
Three comprises Pacific, Grays
Harbor, Lewis, Mason and Thurston
Counties. For geographical reasons,
the Emergency
Communication (EmComm) "EOC" Packet
Radio Network also includes
Wahkiakum County and the Washington State Emergency Coordination
Center at Camp Murray. The primary frequency for the network is
145.630 MHz. This is simplex, of course, and does not use
any CTCSS (PL) tones.
The packet network is not part of
BeachNet,
however since many of the packet resources
are co-located at our sites, and
owned and/or maintained by Principles, Associates or Friends
of this project, it seems
appropriate to list a modicum of information on this website.
Maps: The following map shows the locations of the public resources that
comprise the infrastructure available for "Packeteers"
in our area. For more information, or to monitor or join the
Yahoo discussion group devoted to this Packet Network, click here.
This page is a quick summary intended for those who are either newcomers
needing a few tips to get started exploring packet radio in our
region, or old-timers who only need to look up a callsign or two. There
is much more detailed material on the Yahoo Group site.
Maps are important, and the "Packeteer" who is serious
about being able to operate in an EmComm situation would be well
advised to keep paper copies up to date in the shack. During a
disaster or emergency, some of the normal resources may not be
available. One of the strengths of packet radio is that nearly
any station in the network may be used as a digipeater or node,
allowing the skilled (and informed) operator to work around
"holes" in the network.
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Station Type:
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Station Alias or Call:
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Other Callsign:
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Notes:
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RMS
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KD7X-10
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KD7X-10
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Oak Harbor in northern Puget Sound
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RMS
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K7WG-10
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K7WG-10
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Shelton, WA, Mason County
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RMS
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K7GA-10
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K7GA-10
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Cathlamet, WA, Wahkiakum County
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RMS
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AA7ZV-10
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AA7ZV-10
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Puyallup, WA
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RMS
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AC7YY-10
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AC7YY-10
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Centralia, WA, Lewis County
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RMS
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KF7DJC-10
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KF7DJC-10
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Centralia, WA, Lewis County
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RMS
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K7IEU-10
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K7IEU-10
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Raymond, WA, Pacific County
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RMS
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N7DRD-10
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N7DRD-10
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Ocean Park, WA, Pacific County
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RMS
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W7EMD-10
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W7EMD-10
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Camp Murray, RMS only intermittently when necessary.
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RMS
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IQICMS
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K7IQI
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RMS station in Portland West Hills, usually accessible from NICOLI Node.
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Node
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ELYSSA
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K7IDX
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Covers Puget Sound from Mt. Jupiter at 3250-feet in the Olympic Mtns. over Hood Canal.
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Node
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NEILTN
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W7EOC-8
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Overlooks NW Grays Harbor County from 2100-feet near Lake Quinault
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Node
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SMTN
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N7SK-7
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South Mountain, Olympic foothills near Shelton in Mason County
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Node
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HOLYX
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WA7PC-6
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Near South Bend at 1200-feet on Holy Cross Mtn. in Pacific County
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Node
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MINOT
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W7EOC-9
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SE Grays Harbor County from 1800-feet near Elma
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Node
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NICOLI
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K7GA-8
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On Nicolai Mtn in Clatsop County, OR, 3000-feet 9-miles south of Westport, OR
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Node
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VICTOR
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N7YGE-3
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Mason County, multi-port node
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Node
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BCFD
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W7TAI-1
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Bay Center Fire Dept., Pacific Coun
ty, K-Node at 100-feet. W7TAI-1=BBS
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Bridge
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N7UJK-8
N7UJK-9
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N7UJK-10
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Bridge between 145.630 & 145.050; -8 digi on 145.63; -9 digi on 145.05; -10 digi
bridge between the two frequencies, either direction. Capitol Peak, 3000-feet.
(see below)
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Bridge
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NM7R-8
NM7R-9
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NM7R-10
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Bridge between 145.630 & 144.960; -8 digi on 145.63; -9 digi on 144.96; -10 digi
bridge between the two frequencies, either direction. Nahcotta, WA, 100-feet.
(see below)
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EOC
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W7EMD
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W7EMD
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Camp Murray, WA State ECC, station may be an Airmail Mailbox or Keyboard station
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EOC
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MCDEM
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AA7CG
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Mason County EOC, MCDEM=BBS, AA7CG=keyboard
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EOC
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WA7OLY
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WA7OLY
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Thurston County EOC
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EOC
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W7EOC
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W7EOC-1
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Grays Harbor County EOC, W7EOC-1=BBS, W7EOC=keyboard
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EOC
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COCEOC
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COCBBS
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City of Centralia EOC, COCBBS=BBS, AC7YY-4=keyboard
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EOC
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AC7SR-3
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AC7SR-4
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Lewis County EOC, AC7SR-4=BBS, AC7SR-3=keyboard
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EOC
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WA7PC
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WA7PC-1
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Pacific County EOC (South Bend), WA7PC-1=BBS, WA7PC=keyboard (main EOC)
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EOC
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W7RDR
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W7RDR-1
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Pacific County AEOC (Long Beach), W7RDR-1=BBS, W7RDR=keyboard (Auxiliary EOC)
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BBS
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COCBBS
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COCBBS
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A full-service, forwarding Bulletin Board System, hosted by City of Centralia ARES
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The stations in
green on the map
are Winlink2000 (WL2K) Remote
Message Server (RMS) stations, which allow the sending of
messages using Internet email for delivery at the other end.
The reverse path is also available, from the Internet to packet radio.
From an EmComm standpoint, this is a tremendous resource, especially
out here at the "end of the extension cord", where we
frequently loose power, telephone and Internet during winter
storms, sometimes for days at a time. Being able to access an RMS station
that still has Internet connectivity can allow message traffic to
flow into and out of the affected area, quickly and efficiently.
The stations in
blue on the map
are Nodes. Most are simple
K-Nodes. These allow access to the network from nearly anywhere
in the region. There are usually several paths possible from
one point to another, allowing recovery from the loss of one
or
more stations. This network is simple, but effective. Using the Nodes
as necessary, any packet station in the Region should be able
to connect with an RMS station to work traffic.
The stations in
violet on the map
are "Bridges".
These two stations operate as digipeaters (not Nodes). You don't
connect TO them, but THROUGH them,
using the "via" command. In each case, the "-8"
callsign works as a digipeater on the 145.63 network frequency, and the
"-9" callsign operates as a digipeater on another frequency,
used in an adjacent area. The "-10" callsign allows packets
to flow between the two frequencies, still as a digipeater,
in either direction. In the case of the N7UJK Bridge
on Capitol Peak, near Olympia,
the alternate frequency is 145.05, used by Puget Sound stations. To
work these stations, all that is necessary from the 145.63 side is to
issue the command, "C NOTAC
V N7UJK-10", from a suitable location. Depending upon your
station location, this may require first connecting to a Node
close enough to access the Bridge.
"NOTAC" is part of the Pierce County
Hospital Services Net
of Puget Sound, operating on 145.050.
Similarly, the NM7R Bridge works between 145.63 and 144.96, the
frequency used in the Astoria, Oregon area. Sending the command,
"C JAY V NM7R-10" from a suitable location will connect
to the "JAY" Node on Wickiup Mtn., near Astoria. From there
it is possible to work into the Western Oregon packet network.
The stations in
gold on the map
are Emergency Operating Center packet stations in the Region. Being
able to contact these stations is of obvious value in EmComm situations.
It is our hope that this material is of some use. If you are involved in,
or would like to be involved in, packet radio within this Region, you are
invited to check out the Yahoo Group. We hope to see you on the air!
Pictures below, left to right: (1) NEILTN packet station; (2) Bandpass
filter at Neilton; (3) MINOT Node; (4) HOLYX Node.
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2002-2007.
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This Page Last Updated: 01/06/13.
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