Radio W4OTN

Mission
To establish a message handling server that can accept and route traditional packet messages, NTS messages, and e-mail and provide connectivity over VHF/UHF, HF, and the Internet.

The Project
I want to setup a gateway station that connects to multiple networks over HF with the Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN). Networks of interest would be the National Traffic System Digital (NTSD), US Packet Network, EastNet, and a connection to North Carolina. Connections across Virginia would also be of interest to offer a backup path for VHF/UHF links. JNOS was originally selected but due to incompatibility issues I’m now using XFBB.

Connections
At this time the following connections have been established or are planned:

• 441.050 MHz @ 9600 baud – Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN) WAN
• 145.730 MHz @ 1200 baud – Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN) LAN
  
• 3.5879 MHz – User access – Proposed
• 3.5919 MHz – National Traffic System Digital (NTSD) – Nighttime Operations
  
• 3.5939 MHz – National Traffic System Digital (NTSD) – Proposed
• 7.1004 MHz – National Traffic System Digital (NTSD) – Daytime Operations
  
• 7.1009 MHz – User access – Proposed
• 10.1409 MHz – National Traffic System Digital (NTSD) – Proposed
• 10.1439 MHz – User access – Proposed
• 14.0979 MHz – National Traffic System Digital (NTSD) – Proposed
• 14.1032 MHz – User access – Proposed
• 18.1079 MHz – User access – Proposed
• 21.0934 MHz – National Traffic System Digital (NTSD) – Proposed
• 24.xxx MHz – User access – Proposed
• 28.xxx MHz – User access – Proposed

BBS Forward Partners

W4TLM.VA.USA.NOAM – Smith Mountain Lake, VA
KR4MA.#TIDE.VA.USA.NOAM – Yorktown, VA
KE4FYV.#TIDE.VA.USA.NOAM – Newport News, VA
N9VT.#FRED.VA.USA.NOAM – Fredericksburg, VA
N4VEM.#RIC.VA.USA.NOAM – Richmond, VA (State EOC)
AF4CD.#TIDE.VA.USA.NOAM – Virginia Beach, VA
N0ARY.#NCA.CA.USA.NOAM – San Jose, CA

H-Address
W4OTN.#TIDE.VA.USA.NOAM

Goals
1. Stable software, connection to the VDEN. Completed
2. Ability to scan multiple frequencies and utilize Pactor I and II to make connections over HF.
3. Establish connection to NTSD to provide a backup for KR4MA’s connection. Completed
4. Establish connections to North Carolina and to New England’s FlexNet.
5. Establish connection to US Packet network.

Current Progress

• 16 Oct 2011 – HF PACTOR-III connectivity established.
• 30 Sep 2011 – HF PACTOR/PACTOR-II connectivity established.  Currently guarding one frequency at a time until I can establish a means of controlling the transceiver frequency.
• 27 Dec 2010 – XFBB up and running and stable. The LAN and WAN ports on the Kantronics KPC-9612+ are controllable from XFBB and forwarding to KR4MA (YORKTO) and KE4FYV (LPEN) have been established on the WAN side. Next step is to get the HF side functioning.
• 22 Dec 2010 – XFBB up and running and talking to the VDENacross a VHF link to YORKTO. Still need to make sure that the system won’t crash in the middle of the night like I’ve experienced the past couple of days. Not sure exactly what’s going on with that but I can speculate it has something to do with the housekeeping scripts that are being run. Forwarding to KR4MA near Yorktown and KE4FYV on the south side of Newport News has been established. Still need to get the second port on the KPC-9612 up and functioning. Also need to work on the HF side.
• 20 Dec 2010 – XFBB up and running. Just need to get the interface working to the modems.
• 19 Dec 2010 – After many failures with JNOS I’m now working with the latest version of FBB, version 7.04r14.
• 07 Nov 2010 – Hooked up my SCS PTC-II modem. The HFDD portion of JNOS recognizes the modem and puts it into standby mode. I cannot, however, get it to transmit.
• 06 Nov 2010 – At this time I’ve completed the first goal. I’m having problems with BIDs being transmitted with messages being forwarded. Still looking for a solution.