Applications of EchoLink and IRLP in Emergency Communications

							       Applications of EchoLink
       and IRLP in Emergency
       Communications
Presented by: Dennis Dura – K2DCD, Assistant Director of
VoIP Hurricane Net Operations k2dcd@voipwx.net
Assisted by: Richard Long – KF6BKA, Net Control for the
VoIP Hurricane Net
Written by: Rob Macedo – KD1CY,
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
kd1cy@voipwx.net
Agenda
   High-level Technical Overview of EchoLink
    and IRLP as a technology and its benefits for
    Emergency Communications
   Overview of the VoIP Hurricane Net and how
    this technology is used for Emergency
    Communications
   2005/2006 Years in Review
       Highlights of the 2005 Season
       Highlights of the 2006 Season
       Lessons Learned from the 2005 and 2006 Seasons
   2006 Review---The VoIP Hurricane Net
    Improvement Project
High-Level Technical Overview of
EchoLink/IRLP Technology
           EchoLink

   EchoLink is a very popular VoIP linking option
   Developed by Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD
   Based on the original iLINK software
    by Graeme Barnes, M0CSH




                    Pictured:
                       Jonathan, K1RFD founder
                       of the EchoLink software
EchoLink General Info

    Allows amateurs to communicate using
     VoIP via Windows based software
    Users can operate via
     one of three methods:
        Personal Computer
        Simplex RF Link
        Linked Repeater
                  IRLP
   IRLP is an acronym for
    Internet Radio Linking Project
   Developed by Dave Cameron, VE7LTD from
    Vancouver, Canada




                                 Pictured:
                                    Dave, VE7LTD founder of IRLP
                                    with Dave, K9DC owner of the
                                    Indiana Reflector 9200
IRLP Background

   Started in November of 1997 as an attempt
    to use the internet to link radio systems
    across Canada
   The first full time link that was established
    ran from Vancouver, BC to Saint John, NB
   IRLP’s motto is “Keeping the Radio in
    Amateur Radio” by only allowing RF links
IRLP and EchoLink
Differences
   IRLP is an RF only system.
   EchoLink permits direct PC access.
   IRLP uses PGP for authentication.
   IRLP nodes owners have to contact installation team
    to receive their PGP keys.
   EchoLink uses validation against online databases,
    with some applicants being hand validated.
   EchoLink uses encrypted password login.
EchoIRLP - The Integrated Dual
Node
   Uses one machine and interface to allow
    connectivity to both systems.
   Lockouts between IRLP and EchoLink to
    prevent unintentional cross links.
   Uses tbd as a local gateway between
    IRLP controlling the hardware and the
    EchoLink network.
VoIP & Amateur Radio –
Station to Station Overview
VoIP & Amateur Radio –
Conference (Reflector)
Overview
      The VoIP Hurricane Net Example
      of Putting It All Together
                                                              Handheld/
                                                               mobile/
     Echolink                                   IRLP
                                                              base radio
     PC User                                 Repeater.
                                               linked
                VoIP Hurricane Net           system or
                 on EchoLink *WX-             simplex
                 TALK* Conference               node
                Node: 7203 and IRLP
                    reflector 9219
                      Integrated                         Net Control
                 Conference system                        Operator-
  Echolink                                                  Using
  Repeater,                                              Echolink as
    linked                                                PC user or
   repeater                                               Link/IRLP
  system or
                          Handheld/mobile/               Anywhere in
Simplex Link
                             base radio                   the world
EchoIRLP Block Diagram
      The Digital EchoLink/IRLP
      Link
   EchoLink conference capable of making an outbound Speak
    Freely connection.
Digital Link Characteristics
   Audio is not decoded and recoded as it passes the
    gateway.
   Less audio degradation.
   Lower latency.
   Extremely difficult to tell whether originating station
    is on IRLP or EchoLink.
   IRLP stations must use GSM CODEC for digital link to
    work.
   Traffic passes directly between IRLP and EchoLink.
The Integrated Conference
   Modified IRLP reflector – Developed March-April
    2005.
   Copy of sfreflect is replaced by tbd.
   One system – very reliable.
   All stations appear in EchoLink station list. IRLP
    nodes are labelled “stnXXXX”.
   Conference to be administered using both EchoLink
    and IRLP admin tools.
   Allows IRLP nodes to be muted – not normally
    supported.
Current Systems Utilizing the
Integrated Conference
   The Raleigh IRLP Reflector/*WX-TALK* system, the New
    England IRLP/EchoLink Reflector system and the Australia
    VKEMCOMM IRLP/EchoLink systems switched over to the
    integrated conference system in July 2005.
   Transfer from the analog gateway to the digital integrated
    conference was completed through the efforts of Tony
    Langdon-VK3JED.
   The EchoLink conference server resides at the reflector location
    on the same system.
   Has Echo-IRLP nodes connect using the IRLP side only.
   Enhancements were made to automatically kick systems with
    conferencing enabled to prevent unintentional interference.
        Waivers can be exempted for systems that have a need to keep
         conferencing enabled.
Integrated Conference as
Seen on EchoLink
EchoLink Node Setup Recommendations for Use
on Integrated Conference Systems
   Many folks have concerns about EchoLink nodes due
    to interference with courtesy tones, hang times, and
    repeater ID’s.
       This is not a limitation in EchoLink technology.
       EchoLink node owners and developers of the system, at
        first, did not see the need to follow the stricter rules of IRLP
        in not letting these things pass through the system.
       As multiple EchoLink nodes that passed through courtesy
        tones, hang times, and repeater ID’s were linked together in
        a conference, it caused major issues.
       These issues can be avoided by simply following the rules
        established on IRLP nodes by setting an EchoLink node up
        to not pass through Courtesy tones, repeater ID’s etc.
EchoLink Node Setup Recommendations for Use
on Integrated Conference Systems
   The VoIP Hurricane Net Management team recommends the
    following for EchoLink nodes:
        Have the repeater or link transmit a PL tone so that the link radio
         will only open when a station is transmitting.
        This will cut out repeater ID’s, courtesy tones, squelch tails and
         hang times.
   This can be done relatively easily and is inexpensive.
   Allows for better and smoother use of pure EchoLink nodes on
    the system.
   If one or two repeaters have this issue, it can be tolerated but if
    multiple linked repeaters pass repeater ID’s and courtesy tones,
    it can cause major issues on the linked system.
   The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team would be happy to
    help EchoLink node owners overcome these issues so their node
    would be a greater help when connected to an integrated
    conference system.
How this Technology Is Utilized for Emergency
Communication Applications

   Technology is utilized in Emergency
    Communication Applications today.
   Examples:
       The New England Reflector is utilized for New
        England regional SKYWARN and Emergency
        Communication work along with HF and VHF/UHF.
            Information and past events on how its been utilized can
             be obtained at: http://new-eng.com
       The VoIP Hurricane Net, Info can be obtained at:
        http://www.voipwx.net
   Lets take a more in depth look at how the
    VoIP Hurricane Net utilizes this technology.
         VoIP Hurricane Net Mission
   The VoIP Hurricane Net mission is as follows:
        Provide real-time or near real-time measured weather data and damage
         reports to WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane
         Center (NHC).
        Provide a means of interoperability for Emergency Operation Centers
         (EOC), Red Cross/Salvation Army agencies/shelters and National Weather
         Service (NWS) forecast offices to communicate between each other and
         send appropriate data up to WX4NHC as required.
        Liaison to other net operations that may be on EchoLink and IRLP and
         pass that information to WX4NHC as required.
        Disseminate National Hurricane Center advisories and updates as needed
         for stations in the affected area.
   The VoIP Hurricane Net meets on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203, IRLP
    Reflector 9219 system.
        The backup system is IRLP reflector 9508 with EchoLink Conference
         server *VKEMCOMM* Node: 270177. This system is also used for listen-
         only capability for net activations.
        The *WX-TALK* Node:7203 conference server can be aliased to the
         backup system when required.
       VoIP Hurricane Net Activation
       Policy
   The VoIP Hurricane Net has the following activation policy:
      The VoIP Hurricane Net will activate upon activation of WX4NHC
       provided there are EchoLink stations/nodes and IRLP nodes in the
       affected area of the hurricane.
      The VoIP Hurricane Net will self-activate if the net manager and/or
       director of operations see a threat from a hurricane over an area
       and there are EchoLink station/nodes and IRLP nodes in the
       affected area.
      The VoIP Hurricane Net will self-activate if support is requested by
       a NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), government organization
       or Amateur radio group affected by a hurricane.
            That support could be net controls to support the requesting group’s
             local operations for a hurricane or other disaster related incident or an
             actual net activation on the *WX-TALK*/IRLP reflector 9219 or backup
             IRLP 9508/*VKEMCOMM* system.
Weekly VoIP Hurricane
Preparation Net
   There is a weekly VoIP Hurricane Preparation Net on
    Sundays at 0000 UTC (Saturday Evening across most
    of North America)
   The net provides a forum to ask technical questions,
    give presentations and for net controls to practice
    basic net control skills.
   Nets for actual activations can run quite differently
    but basic net control protocols can be practiced
    through the weekly net.
   Web site is http://www.voipwx.net
     2005 Year In Review
   Experienced several hurricane events where critical reports from
    Amateur Radio Operators and SKYWARN Spotters at EOCs, shelters,
    hospitals, police and fire departments made a huge difference.
      Hurricane Emily’s Impact on the Caribbean
             The VoIP Hurricane Net self-activated and provided critical reports from
              Grenada, the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago as Emily intensified
              rapidly passing over Grenada and the Grenadines.
        Hurricane Rita
             Efforts of a contact in Key West, Florida to provide critical data from
              that region with that data delivered via Amateur Radio.
             Efforts from WM6V-Flo from Livingston Memorial Hospital, another
              Amateur Operator at the Lufkin, Texas Fire Department and Kevin
              Anderson-KD5WX from the Nacogdoches, TX EOC.
        Hurricane Wilma and Katrina’s landfall in South Florida
             Efforts of the Oakland Park, Boca Raton, Florida EOC’s and Lu Vencl-
              KA4EPS providing data to the Hurricane Net.
        Hurricane Katrina
             Made contact with the NWS Slidell, Louisiana office through the IRLP
              contact in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and had several key reports from
              Southern Mississippi and Southern Alabama.
    2005 Lessons Learned
   Lack of critical reports from the affected area.
        While we had EOCs, NWS offices, and other official stations on the air
         from the affected area, reports were few and far between.
        While one or two quality reports sometimes makes a huge difference,
         it is difficult to sustain the effort for a low number of reports.
   Need to add and improve Net Controls for the net.
        Need additional and well trained net controls.
   Need to improve the web site and make it more easily maintainable
    and improve the reporting form on the web site for NHC
    forecasters.
   Other areas needed improvement as well and are outlined in the
    improvement project plan.
2006 Year in Review and Lessons
Learned
   Much less activity as far as hurricanes than in 2004 and 2005.
   Only 4 notable net activations. (Arlene, Ernesto (2 net
    activations), and Florence.)
   Had contact with a couple of EOCs during Tropical Storm Arlene
    but the system never became a hurricane.
   Most active nets were for Ernesto affecting the Carolinas and
    Florence affecting Bermuda.
        Had contact with Bermuda through help from the WX4NHC
         Coordinators Julio Ripoll-WD4R and John McHugh-K4AG.
        Had contact with NWS Wilmington, NC as well as spotters in
         Southeast North Carolina and Northeast South Carolina.
   Received a reasonable level of reporting for Ernesto as well as
    Florence through these contacts but room for improvement for
    reporting is still there.
   Net control support was better due to training for net controls
    and their conscientious support.
   Standardized Listen-only capability for non-affected areas.
Work Completed on VoIP Hurricane
Net Improvement Project in 2006
   Completed slide set and conducted Net Control training through
    the efforts of Matt Hoppes-KB3MSE.
   Net Control recruiting effort was done in 2006 and is ongoing
    today.
   Revamped the voipwx.net web site.
   Revamped the voipwx.net reporting webform.
   Standardized EchoLink and IRLP listen-only capability as well as
    backup VoIP systems.
   Defined technical VoIP configuration specifications/tips and
    have that information listed on the VoIPWXNet web site.
   Worked to obtain more contacts along the US and Caribbean
    coastal areas of hurricanes through the PR efforts of Public
    Information Coordinator Lloyd Colston-KC5FM.
   VoIP Hurricane Net weekly improvements completed including
    periodic net presentations during the net and better net control
    support.
Work to Be Completed on the VoIP
Hurricane Net Improvement Project
   Net Control Training for         Hurricane-Type NWS
    2007                              SKYWARN Training Session
   Availability of Proxies and       for Contacts within 50 miles
    Temporary EchoLink/IRLP           of the coast
    nodes via Simplex or under       Weather Station Support for
    utilized repeaters for            Improved Surface
    access                            Observations
   Contacts in Bermuda,             Backup Power and Backup
    Mexico, Caribbean, Central        Internet Capability for
    America, Northern South           EchoLink/IRLP and Echo-
    America                           IRLP nodes and EchoLink PC
   Contacts in the East Coast,       users
    Gulf Coast of the US             Net Control and Spanish
                                      Translator Recruitment
More Information
   Technology Resources for EchoLink and IRLP:
       IRLP Web Site: http://www.irlp.net
       IRLP node Status Web Site: http://status.irlp.net
       EchoLink Web Site: http://www.echolink.org
   For more information on the VoIP Hurricane Net,
    again, visit us on the web at http://www.voipwx.net/
       Join the VoIP-WXNet email list using links provided via the
        web site.
   The New England Reflector system also serves as an
    example of how this technology is utilized and
    information can be found at http://new-eng.com/
Questions???