On Saturday September 18th, 2021 at 11:30 (AM) Pacific (tentative schedule at the time I post this), my coauthor Andy Sayler KF7VOL and I will be doing a presentation at the 2021 ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) on Multipurpose Remote Nodes.
As part of the DCC, we published a detailed paper about the Multipurpose Remote Nodes in the Proceedings of the 2021 Digital Communications Conference - TAPR DCC 2021 - Multipurpose Remote Nodes (PDF). Abstract:
In Whatcom County, Washington, in the far Northwest corner of the continental US, a group of Amateur Radio operators that are enthusiastic about data communications have created a number of Multipurpose Remote Nodes (MRNs) in key locations within the county for Amateur Radio data communications nodes that can reconfigured as needed by remote control via Internet.
Most Amateur Radio Operators are familiar with single purpose data communications nodes such as APRS digipeaters / IGates, or Winlink Radio Mail Servers (RMS), or fldigi (fsq) relay nodes.
Typically, such nodes are placed in “practical” locations. For example, APRS digipeaters are typically placed on high locations such as mountaintops or towers. APRS IGates are placed in locations that have reliable Internet access. Winlink RMS stations are usually at an individual’s home where a Winlink RMS station will have Internet access.
A Multipurpose Remote Node (MRN) effectively combines all of the above. Because MRNs are multipurpose, and fully remotely configurable (via Internet), they can be placed opportunistically at locations that offer good coverage of a specific area, Internet access, and provide services in a specific area. When the need arises, such as an Winlink RMS is needed in a communications emergency, an MRN can be reconfigured remotely to provide a new service
The MRNs in Whatcom County can also be remotely reconfigured to different frequencies either in the 2-meter band (144-148 MHz) or the 70-centimeter (440-450 MHz) band.
Here is a link to our presentation - Whatcom County WA Multipurpose Remote Nodes FINAL (PDF).
In the (prerecorded) presentation, Andy and I discuss the Multipurpose Remote Nodes, and interview Holly Woll-Salkeld of Western Washington University about being a host of one of the Multipurpose Remote Nodes. The presentation runs 20 minutes, and then we'll be taking questions for ten minutes.
For more information about the DCC, including registration, please see https://tapr.org/digital-communications-conference-dcc/.
Andy and I offer our profound Thanks to Budd Churchward WB7FHC for his great video editing work (and fast turnaround) for our prerecorded video!
Thanks for reading!
Steve Stroh N8GNJ
Bellingham, Washington, USA
Copyright © 2021 by Steven K. Stroh