AussieWinlink on Planning for
Disaster and Emergency Relief Support.
When
AussieWinlink was established in 2002 it was immediate apparent to this new
organization that: (1) amateur radio was on the decline in many countries in the
world; (2) that the amateur radio service was not always recognized as a
valuable national resource by governments; and (3) that there were exciting
developments in amateur radio that augured well for a better future.
The
decline in amateur radio participation can, we think, for a large part be
attributed to the explosion in communication and information technology. The
personal computer, computer programming, email, web design and the Internet were
activities that attracted the interest of the bright and young entrepreneurs.
Previously, amateur radio had played a significant role in drawing talent into
electronics.
Probably
because the leadership in amateur radio was “graying”, major conflicts developed
between the “fundamentalists" and the new guard. In particular, the acceptance
of the convergence of new technologies had great difficulty getting a foothold.
This applied especially to the interconnection of amateur radio and the
Internet.
The
lack of innovation was apparent in mobile communication applications. For
example, recreational cruisers, sailing their own yachts to often very remote
locations, still relied on fickle voice communications to stay in touch with
others. Progress was significantly hindered by the archaic restrictions on what
amateurs call “Third Party Traffic”, that is, passing on messages via amateur
radio from and to persons who are not radio amateurs.
However,
as in the past, leading radio amateurs continued with invention and innovation.
What’s happened there, might well signal a resurgence in interest in amateur
radio – world wide. For example, a small team of American radio amateurs worked
on the development, establishment and operation of a global amateur digital
communications network. The group, now known as the Winlink Development Team (WDT)
comprises Vic (W5SMM); Hans(N8PGR); Rick (KN6KB) and Steve (K4CJX) (See Note: A)
grew from strength to strength, first by supporting mobile operations and of
late in facilitating disaster and emergency relief operations (See
www.winlink.org),
Winlink
was and still is underpinned by an equally dedicated group of amateurs; namely,
Jim (KE6RK) and Stan (WA6IVA) who not only developed AirMail, the computer
program, that serves as the End-User software but also established SailMail, a
system virtually identical to Winlink but that supports people who do hot hold
amateur radio licenses or who have a need for commercial content in their
communications – prohibited on amateur radio,
German
radio amateurs, with Hans-Peter (DL5MAA) as the leader invented a digital
communications protocol that they named Pactor. This system is packed into a
modem that interfaces the amateur radio with a personal computer to translate
radio signals into digital information, such as, e-mail, charts and photographs.
Pactor is regarded as the world’s most advanced digital protocol.
The
interconnection of amateur radio with the Internet was tackled also by radio
amateurs. They initiated the Internet Radio Linking Project. A notable
Australian contributor, we were informed, was Peter (VK2YX) who invested
considerable energy to bring that system into Australia.
Technological
advancement, driven by radio amateurs, was evolving faster than regulatory
bodies around the world could adjust their national regulations. This gave rise
to conflicts between the “fundamentalists” and “progressives.” The former were
able to dissect the ancient regulations and use this as a tool to “force”
sometimes reluctant Regulators to enforce outdated regulations.
Along
came the World Radio Conference (WRC) of 2003. This swept away the cobwebs of
the regulatory frameworks that had provisions dating back to the early 1900’s
with many hangovers of restrictions imposed during the Second World War. WRC
advocated extensive deregulation of amateur radio. Progressive national
regulators ceased upon that opportunity to reform existing regulations. The
Australian Communications Authority (ACA), Australia’s Regulator, despite its
heavy work schedule, in 2004 carried out an exhaustive review giving each and
every Australia radio amateur an opportunity to be heard. It has since announced
substantive reforms and its very favorable decisions will all be promulgated in
early-2005.
The
South Asian tsunami reinforced the need for expanding the Winlink network. QNews,
the organization that since the reformation of the Wireless Institute of
Australia (WIA) arranges the amateur radio news broadcast for WIA, reported on 2
January 2005 that Australian amateur radio stations have been successful in
establishing contact with amateurs in several tsunami affected areas. These
personal voice contacts are an extremely useful and humanitarian response.
However, it probably goes without saying that this should have been backed up by
facilities for complementary digital communications to transmit the vast volume
of data, like missing persons or vessels in distress, that are best prepared,
transmitted and disseminated in digital format.
The
shortage of digital amateur radio communication facilities in Asia and the
Pacific areas was already recognized by AussieWinlink in 2002. In an attempt to
remedy the situation it embarked upon a wholesale approach to solicit support
from the 27 active national amateur radio clubs affiliated with the
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) within these areas. (The list of the
IARU members contacted can be found here > IARU.)
The
initial AussieWinlink email communication dated 14 December 2002, that was
followed up with a formal letter sent via postal service, reads:
QUOTE
Fellow Radio
Amateurs:
We are seeking your
support for the establishment of a Winlink amateur radio station in your
country. Winlink is a worldwide amateur digital communications network
established and operated by and for radio amateurs. The principal beneficiaries
are those amateurs who are, or have families and friends, in extremely remote
locations that do not have other easily accessible communication facilities.
This applies particularly to recreational cruisers at sea, travelers in the
interior of countries or on remote islands.
Features of Winlink
are the following:
(1) It operates
in real-time, that is, communications can be almost instantaneous;
(2) It operates
for 24 hours per day every day of the year;
(3) Radio
stations are all linked to each other via the Internet;
(4) Traffic
includes email, weather charts, position reports, and emergency alerts;
(Bolding added later.)
(5) Digital
communications will outperform any other system available today;
(6) At present
about 4,500 Users send or receive about 155,000 messages per month; and
(7) Already
there are 34 Winlink radio stations located on four Continents.
The Pacific and
Indian Oceans are huge, have many archipelago nations with hundreds of islands,
and long distances between all of them. Thousands of recreational cruisers
travel these areas on their boats. Many stay in the region for long periods of
time. It is because they enjoy the hospitality offered. In return these people
buy their food and other requirements or have their boats serviced and repaired.
Setting up a
station requires a transceiver, a modem and an antenna. Software for both the
station and users is provided for free. All information that your members might
need can be accessed on the Internet or be answered by email by the Winlink
Development Team.
Your club and
others in several Indian Ocean and Pacific and Pacific Rim nations have been
invited to join this public service. Australian amateurs have also been invited.
Please, bring this
proposal to the attention of your members. Those who would like to establish
personal contact can reach me by email.
UNQUOTE
Responses
received were a mixed bag. Quite a few IARU members did not respond to the
emailed or even the postal communications. This, in part, could perhaps be
attributed to the language barrier. Others, perhaps, didn’t see any urgency.
Another
possible error was that AussieWinlink’s communication focused on mobile marine
communications (the primary reason for AussieWinlink’s existence) and than
touched only briefly upon Winlink’s potential role during local and
international disasters and emergency relief operations.
Yet
others were very much influenced by, what at the time was seen as the attitude
exhibited by WIA. This had been evident from several communications sent by WIA
to its members warning against accessing the Winlink radio network.
Particularly, countries that have close historic links with Australia, like
Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong, preferred to wait until this apparent conflict
was resolved. This has now been achieved.
Aso,
quite a few
archipelago nations in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans would be
prevented from participating as a Winlink PMBO because they are unable, either technically or
financially, to sustain continuous Direct Subscriber Line (DSL) or better
Internet connectivity between amateur radios and the Internet. (Fortunately,
this does not prevent Users in these areas to connect to more distant
PMBOs,)
However,
what appeared to be the main constraint for many countries was the, to them,
prohibitive cost of establishing and operating a
digital amateur radio
station, as a free public service, non-stop
for 365 days per year .
The
calamity that is now upon the many in the tsunami-affected areas, and the sure
knowledge that such disasters can strike just about any nation that borders the
world’s major oceans, serves as a reminder for addressing this question again.
AussieWinlink proposes the following:
- That as soon as radio amateurs in the
tsunami-afflicted areas no longer have to be concerned just about day to day
survival and can start thinking again about planning, their national
organizations be approached again to seek their support for participating in
the establishment of one or more Winlink-capable amateur digital communication
radio stations in their countries;
- That if such enquiry shows adequate
interest, that a sponsor be identified, like IARU, Winlink, WIA or notables
with a particular interest in South Asia and the South Pacific to accept the
role of Patron and Facilitator;
- That a priority list be established
identifying countries with the greatest need and physically capable and with
amateur organizations or individual amateurs prepared to manage implementation
and subsequent operation;
- That cost estimates be prepared of
the establishment and operation of digital amateur radio stations, including
the development of specifications of appropriate equipment;
- That assurances be sought from local
amateur radio organizations that they will support, and from national
governments that they will allow, digital amateur radio operations;
- That given this needs assessment and
willingness to cooperate, a fundraising effort be organized. Starting with a
rather modest program of, say, 10 Winlink-capable station at a maximum cost of
US$10,000 per station the fundraising target could be as little as a modest
US$100,000. Donations in kind by manufacturers, such as radio equipment,
should be particularly welcome;
- That independent honorary accountants
and auditors be recruited to account, in a truly transparent manner, for
donations and other funds received and expenditures incurred;
- That local skilled radio amateurs be
appraised of Winlink operation procedures to establish and operate amateur
station without requiring any subsequent foreign assistance:
- That building on the pattern
developed, for example, by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) using
Winlink as the network, emergency drills be designed and practiced; and
- That in keeping with general
international development principles, long term sustainability will be a
primary consideration for participation.
These
ideas are offered by AussieWinlink as the basis for consideration and discussion
by those in the amateur radio community and others with an interest in disaster
and emergency relief operations.
AussieWinlink
6 January 2005
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