PCARC Emergency Preparedness Stations Initiative (aka "PEPSI"):

Dear Port City ARC member:

Please take a few moments now to consider this proposal.

At the November 6th 2002 meeting of the PCARC, a motion was made, and seconded, to allocate a maximum of $400 from the club treasury towards the development of two portable digital communications systems. These are to be used with the W1WQM repeater as part of an error-free record-copy emergency preparedness system.

For now, we'll call this effort the PCARC Emergency Preparedness Stations Initiative, or PEPSI.

It's unlikely that the club will need to spend the total amount requested, especially if we apply good old Amateur Radio ingenuity to the task at hand, and make some contributions when possible.

Okay, what's needed to implement PEPSI?

Overall, the goal is to create two identical (or nearly so) portable battery-powered packet radio stations. These will transmit and receive through our solar-powered repeater to ensure collision-proof operation.

Each PEPSI rig will be capable of generating hard-copy printouts that can be handed off to emergency preparedness personnel.

We will initially set up PEPSI systems to operate using slow-speed (1200 bit/s or 2400 bit/s) audio-based (AFSK) packet communications. Higher speed operation using G3RUH modems at 9600 bits/s may come later, but slow-speed RELIABLE operation is the goal.

As such, each PEPSI rig will need the following:

(1) a 2-meter FM transceiver
NOTE: the transceiver doesn't necessarily have to be synthesized. Older crystal-controlled rigs on the W1WQM 145.15-MHz pair are suitable, and may actually be advantageous for future higher-speed operation.

(2) a 2-meter portable antenna (no rubber duckies). Our experience in fox hunting (DFing) should come in handy here. AA1SB folding Yagis come to mind.

(3) appropriate coaxial cables and connectors

(4) appropriate power cables and connectors
NOTE: Let's standardize as per KA1GJU and employ Anderson Power-Pole connectorization throughout all club projects

(5) an MS-DOS or Windows notebook PC
NOTE: older 286 and 386 notebook computers are entirely suitable, as well as newer Pentium machines. Disk space is 20 Mbytes minimum.

(6) a rechargeable battery power source for the radio
NOTE: chargers are also required; these may operate from AC mains and/or DC sources

(7) rechargeable batteries for the notebook PC, and chargers

(8) an AX.25 TNC (terminal node controller)
NOTE: suitable controllers include any of the MFJ1270x Series, AEA PKx Series, Heathkit HDx Series, TAPR TNC2, and DRSI boxes
NOTE: AC power "bricks" may be helpful

(9) appropriate RS-232 cables and connectors

(10) software
NOTE: KA9Q TCP/IP NOS, or a terminal emulator such as Q-Modem or ProComm

(11) a battery-powered printer

(12) printer paper and ink cartridges/toners

(13) miscellaneous power sources
NOTE: such as a 12-V-to-117-Vac inverters

(14) an enclosure
NOTE: ideally this will be a totable carrying-case for the integrated package

(15) junkbox bits-and-pieces (fuse holders, LEDs, barrier-terminal strips, chassis boxes, toggle switches, etc.)

Let's get started!

I will serve as the systems coordinator, working with the PCARC members to assemble integrate these portable stations. I will also coordinate technical documentation, coordination of expenses and purchases when necessary, and subsequent public relations efforts to get the word out about the PEPSI project.

For initial deployment, various members of the club will be asked to use these systems to make tests through the W1WQM repeater.

Please give this your immediate consideration, and let's see what we can assemble as soon as possible. According to former NH Senator Warren Rudman, "the nation is as vulnerable today as it was a year ago."
(REF: "US Vulnerability to Terror Is Still High, Panel Concludes," NY Times, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002).

By the way, Rudman is calling for 24-hr. emergency operations centers in every state to link local and Federal law enforcement agencies. He is also calling for local governments to buy equipment and assist in training people. Who knows? Maybe funding will be forthcoming from new sources for such projects in the future. If we get any piece of the pie it may depend on how we conduct projects such as this. Even if we can't get outside funding, who cares? This is fundamentally what ham radio is all about.

As WA1WOK has demonstrated time and time again, the PCARC and other ham groups in NH are well along in the emergency preparedness effort, however we now have an opportunity to break new ground with portable digital emergency communications.

For now, I'll be the project's "point man," so please direct your replies, and CC the group as appropriate. Keep in mind that this is not a "rocket science" project. It's really a simple matter of assembling the pieces.

Thanks!

Vy 73, AI2Q, Alex in Kennebunk