CAP Talk

Operations => Emergency Services & Operations => Topic started by: Dixie on December 15, 2009, 06:24:48 AM

Title: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: Dixie on December 15, 2009, 06:24:48 AM
Does anyone know if CAP is interconnecting any of our repeaters so as to bring the coverage area of multiple repeaters onto the same "net?" HAMs are able to do this and it's quite effective for connecting two stations that cannot both hit the same repeater.

If we are doing this, how is it done? 2m VHF link between the two repeaters? UHF link? Microwave? Internet?  If we're not doing it, why not? Technological, administrative, or regulatory reason(s)? 
Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: arajca on December 15, 2009, 06:31:15 AM
CAP in general does not. COWG and a couple others do. COWG piggy-backs on the state system as most of our repeaters are located on state towers.

Why? Probably financial.
Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: SarDragon on December 15, 2009, 06:31:52 AM
I know that it can be done, and has been done on a limited basis here in CAWG, but i don't know the details.
Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: Major Lord on December 15, 2009, 02:42:54 PM
Nevada had a couple of linked (or linkable) repeaters. Our CAP VHF system seems pretty primitive when compared to very common Ham features. cross-linking, Internet  interconnection ( A licensed ham can talk over a repeater on the other side of the world via his PC) On the other hand, it is self supporting without requiring an internet backbone, and generally works. Our repeaters do sometimes seem a little prone to crashing from forest fires and major storms, but we don't own many of the places where the machines live, we just rent a vault.

Major Lord
Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: EMT-83 on December 16, 2009, 03:19:49 AM
CTWG has six repeaters linked, I believe by microwave. You can reach each one individually, or all together, based on access tones.
Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: Dixie on December 16, 2009, 07:32:37 AM
Quote from: EMT-83 on December 16, 2009, 03:19:49 AMCTWG has six repeaters linked, I believe by microwave. You can reach each one individually, or all together, based on access tones.

Are they the new P25 NTIA complient repeaters?

Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: EMT-83 on December 16, 2009, 04:08:51 PM
Yes
Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: Johnny Yuma on December 23, 2009, 05:08:07 AM
Give me a DSL connection and enough Raytheon NXU units and I can interlink every repeater in CAP as well as give every IC, CUL and Commander the ability to use any rpeater through their internet connection and sound card.


Botom Line: $$$$
Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: Capt Rivera on December 23, 2009, 05:49:42 PM
I'm following the conversation and imagining some scenarios, however I am not as well versed in Communications as I would like to be.

Can anyone sell such a effort to me/everyone?

Not saying that this is not worth it... But if the money was available, How would  the benefit/necessity be shown to a non communications person standing in the way of approval?

Real world or fictional examples are fine....  Thanks
Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: RADIOMAN015 on December 23, 2009, 06:07:06 PM
Quote from: RiveraJ on December 23, 2009, 05:49:42 PM

Can anyone sell such a effort to me/everyone?

Not saying that this is not worth it... But if the money was available, How would  the benefit/necessity be shown to a non communications person standing in the way of approval?

Basically, by linking all repeaters you don't have to depend upon HF/SSB/ALe, which due to current propagation conditions, might not work, and yet have state wide coverage.  I believe there's two wings currently having this capability which is provided by their appropriate state governments.
HOWEVER,  to do it right it is going to be very expensive and depending upon the way the links are planned it is possible IF a key link goes down you will loose the interlink capability to some or many of your repeaters.
Unles the appropriate state government is willing to assist, it's doubtful that CAP would do this on its' own.
RM
Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: Dixie on December 24, 2009, 08:02:10 AM
@ RiveraJ. What I want is the ability to talk on my EF Johnson handheld to a guy or a plane on the other side of the state who's talking on his EF Johnson handheld (or any 2m radio). HF is a great low tech way to talk long distances, but there are only a few rigs in the state and they are far from being small and portable.  If I had a way to interconnect our repeaters, then my transmission could hopscotch across the state (or country) to talk to someone that's not within range of the repeater I'm talking on.  It would also enable wing-wide radio nets to be stood up with it would be advantageous to do so.

@Johnny Yuma. Would interconnecting our repeaters through the internet ever be allowed due to DoD encryption/security requirements? Would doing it via VHF or microwave links be more secure? 
Title: Re: Interconnecting Repeaters
Post by: SarMaster on December 24, 2009, 10:00:48 PM
There are many federal agencies , FBI, CBP, DHS, and military interlinked via Voice Over Internet  Protocol (VOIP).    The State of Florida uses a Motorola product (MotoBridge) to link over 275+ Local, State, Federal, and Military agencies on a regular basis.  Its not cheap ($4700 per software license plus Several thousand for the hardware).    There are several low cost alternatives, look at Echolink for amateur use.  There are several options for CAP....basically you need an internet connection and a simple interface at each repeater site(or a radio in the repeater coverage area)  and POOF....all you repeaters can be linked via console software with ease.   the software (open Source) supports AES/DES crypto so its secure.  So if an IC was in one part of the State and he mission was 300 miles away, all they would have to do is initiate a patch of the two repeaters and your on the air.  If you want more detailed info Ill PM you...you can builld an interface for less than $25 and the software and server applications are free.