CAP Talk

Operations => Tools of the trade => Topic started by: CAP.is.1337 on April 26, 2009, 10:05:35 PM

Title: P25 / Project-25
Post by: CAP.is.1337 on April 26, 2009, 10:05:35 PM
I tried it out for the first time last night on the Ham band, and it was extremely cool! ;D

How many of y'all use P25 for CAP? I remember it as one of the big things a few years ago, but now it seems like there's been no new emphasis to work with it for a while. Is it just that the effort to move to the new freqs is taking up more headlines, so to speak?
Title: Re: P25 / Project-25
Post by: maverik on April 26, 2009, 10:16:04 PM
please tell people what the P-25 is. Also I know it is extremely cool that's why all the expensive radios have them. :clap:
Title: Re: P25 / Project-25
Post by: CAP.is.1337 on April 26, 2009, 10:34:01 PM
Quote from: SARADDICT on April 26, 2009, 10:16:04 PM
please tell people what the P-25 is. Also I know it is extremely cool that's why all the expensive radios have them. :clap:

I'm helping teach an ACUT class at my squadron, and I'm definatly going to be demonstrating P25 there!  ;D
Title: Re: P25 / Project-25
Post by: wuzafuzz on April 26, 2009, 10:56:52 PM
Quote from: SARADDICT on April 26, 2009, 10:16:04 PM
please tell people what the P-25 is. Also I know it is extremely cool that's why all the expensive radios have them. :clap:

All you ever wanted to know about P25:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_25 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_25)

All it really means for CAP so far is that we'll have the option of digital modulation in addition to narrowband analog.  That's assuming I have good info and understood it correctly.  I've also heard the Air Force has directed we eventually go all digital and encrypted.  How long that might take, if true, is anyone's guess.
Title: Re: P25 / Project-25
Post by: BTCS1* on April 27, 2009, 08:01:11 AM
On the subject of digital Ham, CAP should adopt APRS sor those who are licensed to use, it would help in keeping track of ground recources, getting text status reports, and having all that info be available at longer range than the average CAP HT.
Title: Re: P25 / Project-25
Post by: ♠SARKID♠ on April 27, 2009, 08:07:12 AM
Problem one kiddo, Ham is off limits to CAP*.  Problem two kiddo, APRS is a digital mode, and digital modes aren't authorized (P-25 exempt).

*speaking in the general sense, and as pertinent to the topic
Title: Re: P25 / Project-25
Post by: CAP.is.1337 on April 27, 2009, 08:47:10 AM
Quote from: ♠SARKID♠ on April 27, 2009, 08:07:12 AM
Problem one kiddo, Ham is off limits to CAP*.  Problem two kiddo, APRS is a digital mode, and digital modes aren't authorized (P-25 exempt).

*speaking in the general sense, and as pertinent to the topic

IIRC, any non-P25 digital mode must have prior approval from National before they can be used. I can't check my manual right now, but thats what I remember.

Its a real shame, too. APRS would be a great tool in our comms/ES arsenal.
Title: APRS
Post by: tribalelder on April 27, 2009, 12:28:56 PM
was used by at least 2 wings in early 90's-Arizona and Illinois.  Illinois had 5 watt vhf HT's with the GPS and the interface box in a small plastic toolbox in the cargo area of C-172's.  A base station could track and display where the planes were on a computer screen. At the time, cost, including the toolbox, was about $300/plane. 

I have it on good authority this prevented at least one episode of 'bumper planes'.
Title: Re: P25 / Project-25
Post by: BTCS1* on April 27, 2009, 06:20:14 PM
Quote from: CAP.is.1337 on April 27, 2009, 08:47:10 AM
Quote from: ♠SARKID♠ on April 27, 2009, 08:07:12 AM
Problem one kiddo, Ham is off limits to CAP*.  Problem two kiddo, APRS is a digital mode, and digital modes aren't authorized (P-25 exempt).

*speaking in the general sense, and as pertinent to the topic

IIRC, any non-P25 digital mode must have prior approval from National before they can be used. I can't check my manual right now, but thats what I remember.

Its a real shame, too. APRS would be a great tool in our comms/ES arsenal.
I recently saw an ARES demonstration regarding APRS in NY, it pointed out situations that would perfectly suit CAP, and has been tested in ARES functions. Keep in mind that ARES sets up its organization with NIMS.
-KC2ULR-
Title: Re: P25 / Project-25
Post by: BTCS1* on April 27, 2009, 06:34:42 PM
It was also used during katrina