The next step for HSMM

The next step for the HSMM testing will be using a VHF bridge for email. This will be accomplished with WINLINK2000. Winlink is a worldwide radio messaging system that uses the Internet where possible. I will build a RMS Packet Gateway and a mobile unit. The mobile unit will be connected to the 802.11 system which then could connect to several remote linked 802.11 nodes. I will show the build here.

www.winlink.org/

HSMM First Test a Success!!!!!

Today we tested the first two HSMM Radios in Henderson County. The people involved in this Historic Day were KI4GWN Kimber, the EC for Henderson county, KI4IYS Chris, and myself KC4BQK. This has been a fun and a very good learning experience. Of course we had our problems getting everything setup. There was to much glare on the laptop screens and a few other small problems that always happen in the Mark 1 prototype equipment. One unit was on house power and the other was powered from the truck. We did get everything working at close range and then we went long range, about 3/4 mile. At that distance we had no problems communicating with the equipment. This was done with only 200mW.

Here are a couple of pictures of the test:

VOIP for HSMM

Speak Freely looks like a very good VoIP program for HSMM. IRLP uses a Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) streaming software called Speak Freely. VoIP is the technology that allows you to send your voice over the Internet. Speak Freely is Open Source under the GNU General Public License. There are two versions of this program Release 7.2 for Windows with Crypto. This is the version that you could have encrypted or private conversations. As Hams, we would need to use the Non-Cryptographic version which has all encryption capability removed. In initial testing this program works very good. It is easy to use and will act just like a push-to-talk radio. This will make it very familiar to Hams.


http://www.speakfreely.org/

HSMM Radio Completed

The first radio is mounted and operational. Now it is time to build more and start setting up the system. My ultimate plan is to have these radios run to a mobile Winlink node and then sent to a RMS. The 802.11 radios would probably work beter at providing infrastructure for the served agency's. We would then use the Winlink RF and Internet for the backbone. Here are a couple of pictures of the radio.