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Spring 2003 Issue |
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Using Internet
Radio Links Once again amateur radio provides a “transference of technology” opportunity. VE6RJZ describes how his hobby and the concept of the new Internet Radio Linking Project were used commercially in an area in Canada that is a radio propagation challenge.
By Randy Zaleschuk, VE6RJZ |
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Early in 2001 the Town of Canmore, Alberta began searching for a solution to providing full 911 dispatching services to its Emergency Services department. The geographical location of Canmore, with its mountainous terrain, posed some initial limitations to linking its existing radio system to other centers offering communities full 911 dispatch services. Brent Pedersen, the town’s Emergency Services Manager, researched possible linking solutions and found them to be cost prohibitive, as well as inefficient for his needs. I am the Town of Canmore’s Information Systems Manager. I also am an avid amateur radio operator. I had just set up a link in Canmore using the new, innovative technology in amateur radio called the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP). This system enables VHF radios, UHF radios, or repeaters to link via the internet, uninhibited by terrain or geography. At present, this Global Communications Network provides amateur radio operators the ability to communicate seamlessly in over 589 locations around the world. While I was demonstrating my link to Brent, he asked me (in my capacity as the Information Systems Manager) if the technology could be modified and used in a commercial radio system to link other centers. This question initiated a project to secure a reliable means of linking Canmore’s radio system through the internet for the purpose of providing 911 dispatch services. Working with David Cameron, VE7LTD, founder and designer of the IRLP system, a link was established between Canmore and Okotoks with the idea of using the Foothills 911 center in Black Diamond for dispatching services. In August 2001 the the configuration shown in Figure 1 was established. After some changes to the software, David was successful in permitting paging to occur through the link, and programming changes were made to the Zetron Console (<http://www.zetron.com/>) at the Foothills 911 Center. These programming changes were designed to allow links to be established and terminated, as well as paging to be activated directly from the console. September saw daily testing of the new link and its paging capability, as well as some operational traffic being handled by the Foothills 911 Center. October 1st saw the system in full operation, with all 911 calls for fire and ambulance being dispatched by the Foothills 911 Center. Based on the success of the initial phase of this project, in 2002 phase two was installed, which established the configuration shown in figure 2. The system permits communications between paramedics in the field and the dispatch center throughout their entire area of operation. The final result is a seamless push-to-talk communications system.
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