BCWARN, the BC Wireless Amateur Radio Network, was created as a result of discussions amongst the Coquitlam, Burnaby and New Westminster Amateur Radio Clubs with respect to providing a resilient and dependable communications capability for the provision of emergency communications in the event of major disaster. These clubs had already created a VHF/UHF/HF infrastructure around Winlink2000, a digital messaging system gaining wide acceptance in Canada and the US for use in emergency communications.

In 2003/2004, the clubs implemented BC’s first PMBO (located at SFU on Burnaby Mountain), essentially a fully functional digital message switching system, integrated into the existing Winlink2000 worldwide network via the Internet and HF radio. Numerous local Telpac nodes have sprung up throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island providing local VHF/UHF packet gateways to the PMBO via internet connectivity.

As a next step in providing a broader range of capabilities leveraging off of the existing WinLink2000 infrastructure, the clubs formed BCWARN to implement high speed Wi-Fi networking in a way that provides complete compatibility and integration with the existing PMBO infrastructure but also provides a resilient high speed digital backbone (supporting speeds of up to 11mb) supporting VOIP, telephone network integration, full motion video, internet access and data access to various EOC’s, reception centers and amateur radio clubs that implement BCWARN nodes.

BCWARN is designed around the principle that traditional infrastructure will not be available in times of need. As a result, all radios are powered via battery. The PBX (telephone) switch is also on battery power. There are currently two PBX switches, one at SFU and the other at the New Westminster EOC. If, for example, someone takes a BCWARN grab-n-go kit to an incident site, they will be able to pick up a regular phone (which is in the kit), and get a dial tone. From there, a regular 604/778 local call can be made, or an internal call may be made to another BCWARN node, such as New Westminster EOC or VECTOR.

This has been achieved using commercial strength Wi-Fi gear that has proven itself in numerous tests performed on various paths up to 84km in length over sea water, a worst case scenario. The following groups are active nodes in today’s BCWARN backbone network:

The following clubs have expressed interest and are currently investigating requirements or waiting for grant funding for equipment.

In addition, the Provincial Emergency Program has purchased and installed SCS Pactor3 modems at their EOC’s in the province to access and utilize the BCWARN PMBO via HF radio.

When D-Star technology was first announced, BCWARN immediately saw the possibilities it presented from a data and a voice integration standpoint. The potential for mobile and portable data access at reasonable speeds in addition to voice integration and position reporting were compelling capabilities that would dove tail nicely with the other capabilities (layers of communications) inherent within BCWARN today.

In addition to the benefits of digital data and voice, the ability to create applications within D-Star has some intriguing possibilities. BCWARN have had a number of discussions with Coquitlam SAR about providing high speed Internet access into some of their typical areas of operation. The Internet provides SAR with access to mapping, data and other resources in support of their operations.

Some of the initial discussions with SAR have also highlighted potential applications such as logging of voice traffic on SAR channels, something we manually assisted SAR with during the 2006 City of Coquitlam Wildfire exercise. BCWARN technical folks will be investigating if a D-Star application can be created to log calls, time and a digital voice record of the exchange creating a detailed record of the voice traffic during similar operations.

Through the cooperation and support of ICOM Canada, the British Columbia Frequency Modulation Communications Association (BCFMCA) and BCWARN, a full suite of D-Star digital VHf/UHF/1.2g voice and data repeaters including an internet gateway were installed during the first quarter of 2007 at the BCFMCA Mount Seymour repeater site. Testing has proven solid VHF DV communications in excess of 160km miles and 1.2g DD in excess of 55km.

In addition to providing outstanding D-Star digital coverage of the Lower Mainland, Southern Vancouver Island and NW Washington State from this site, the data side is seamlessly integrated as another communications layer within the existing BCWARN network. We anticipate placing additional D-Star digital voice and data repeaters at select other sites along with BCWARN nodes as funding became available.

In summary BCWARN is a continually expanding, resilient, multi-layered communications backbone consisting of a number of mountaintop Wi-Fi repeater sites as well as fixed club sites, portable nodes and grab and go kits all running at 11mbs and all integrated into the Winlink2000 PMBO. Full support is also provided for HF, VHF and UHF packet links. D-Star digital data integration is in place and has been operation since Q1 2007 at the Mt Seymour repeater site.

WhatIsBCWARN (last edited 2008-09-17 00:37:34 by va7dx)