Policy / Procedures
MI District 7 ARES® / RACES Digital Ecom Network
SUBJECT: Digital Ecom Network Standards / Protocol.
PURPOSE: To establish minimum standards in developing / interfacing digital station(s) into District Digital Ecom Network.
Whereas, it is recognized that in order for any communication system to be efficiently utilized, it must have and maintain a minimum set of standards, which all users need to adhere to. To this end, it is hoped that the following promulgated rules, as amended, will provide a basis for, not only developing those minimums for the District Ecom Network, but also assist local Groups in developing their local Network(s).
To accomplish this, the following minimums shall be established for District;
1.) DEC / DRM to appoint / maintain a District Digital committee, which shall work actively w/ the DEC / DRM to develop / maintain / enhance the Network. Such committee members duties shall include, but not be limited to;
1a.) Meet at least quarterly during the year to review any applications; activities
or standards promulgated / reported by EC’s of Local Group(s) and / or Section and file a written report on same to DEC / DRM w/ recommendations, if any.
1b.) Maintain a resource location list / mapping of the District Digital Ecom Network and a separate location list / mapping of other digital resources and their frequencies, in District / Section. Such list(s) shall be posted on District group site.
1c.) Be available as a resource, to assist a Local Group(s) in setting up their Local Digital Ecom Network, when an EC / RO makes such a request to the DEC / DRM.
1d.)Although not necessarily a requisite for appointment to Digital committee, preference may be given to applicants who have experience in the Digital field.
2.) Whereas, because of random / personal individual choice of Aliases / Node names, basic and other SSID’s, making it a long established problem of making a quick determination as to where a particular Node or Station’s relative location was, the following standard format for Aliases / Node names, and SSID’s used in District shall be established. This will, at least, allow for knowing at a glance, which County the Station is operating in;
2a.) The basis for the Alias / Node name format, will originate from the list of State of Michigan’s 4-letter abbreviation of the Counties. (Examples [IE: ALPE] given shall be applicable to all stations). [APPENDIX ONE]
2b.) The second part of Alias / Node name will contain a letter / number code based on the following format;
Main County high profile node: Four letter county designation, followed by two (2) zeros. (IE: ALPE00). If more than one high profile (IE: high power) Node(s) are established in a county, then the Alias / Node name shall be assigned from the block of special assignment numbers, reserved for the EC /RO (11 thru 30)
County EOC: Four letter County Designation followed by letters EO [Emergency Operations] (IE: ALPEEO). Any other secondary EOC stations shall have the –n appended (IE: secondary EOC ALPEEO-2, etc.). An Incident Command Center would be... (IE: ALPEIC, ALPEIC-n), etc.
.
District Leadership;
DEC / DRM: (IE: DEC07) for main digital station of the DEC / DRM. (This allows for instant recognition of the District EC’s station) Other stations maintained on the Network by the DEC / DRM would append -n (IE: DEC07-n). A Mobil (MODAT) station maintained on the Network by District Leadership shall append the basic and other SSID -n of 9. (IE: DEC07-9) (ALPEEC-9)
NWS Stations: NWS Gaylord (IE: NWSAPX) Others would be (IE: NWSAPX-n)
County ARES® / RACES Leadership:
EC:(IE: ALPEEC) for the main digital station of the EC / RO. If other stations are maintained by the EC / RO then he would append the –n (IE: ALPEEC-1).
Executive AEC: (IE: ALPE02) w/ -n appended to other stations maintained by him on the Network. (Number two in Group Leadership Role)
Administrative Assistant AEC:(IE: ALPE03) w/ -n appended to other stations maintained by him on the Network. (Number three in Group Leadership Role)
Digital AEC:(IE: ALPE04) w/ -n appended to other stations maintained by him on the Network.
SKYWARN AEC:(IE: ALPE05) w/ -n appended to other stations maintained by him on the Network.
Other AEC / Special Assignments: The block of numbers,[01, 06 thru 10] shall be reserved for future specific AEC designations, by District. The block of numbers from [11 thru 30] shall be reserved for the EC / RO to use for special assignments within his Local Group. The block from [31 thru 99] shall be reserved for EC / RO issued aliases to approved, individual (non-member) applicant station(s), joining the Network.
Basic SSID’s appended to Callsign(s):
Whereas, it has been recognized that certain Basic SSID’s, appended to callsign(s), have been accepted as a standard assignment, the following Basic SSID’s shall be adopted for District:
-1 for Mailboxes
-2 for Gateways
-7 for Node
-9 for Mobil /Modats
-10 for Telpac / Winlink Nodes
-11 for secondary Mailboxes (IE: EO(C), DEC, EC, etc)
3.) The latest revised guidelines of the Michigan Net QMN Packet Network are hereby adopted, by reference, and shall also become policy of the District Ecom Packet Network. However, if there should be any conflict between policies outlined by QMN and that of District, that conflict shall be resolved in favor of District Policy. If such conflict causes a problem in either Network(s) efficiency / passing of traffic, during an event, then the policy that allows for such efficient use of the Network(s) shall prevail. This conflict shall then be logged and immediately passed onto the District Digital Committee, after the event, to be rectified so as to alleviate any such future conflict(s).
3a.)The establishment of at least one high profile QMN Network Digis / Node(s) in each County is encouraged. The profile of a station shall be determined jointly, by QMN and District, to assure efficient Network development / use. In order to assure that there will be sufficient future Alias / Node names, the District standard shall be followed. The main County high profile Digi / Node shall have an Alias / Node name of; (IE: ALPEQM). Other such QMN digi’s, regardless of profile, shall be assigned an Alias / Node name w/ a SSID-n (IE: ALPEQM-n)
4.) Network Operating Guidelines.
Power of Stations / Nodes and Operating systems:
Whereas it has been determined that Power of stations in a Network has a lot to do with limiting the thru-put of data on that Network, and in order to attempt to maintain the greatest of efficiency with-in the Network, the following, with respect to power / operating systems is hereby adopted;
4a.) High Profile (power) Stations / Nodes... Xmit 50w to 60w range, with receivers commensurate with the station ERP. Operating systems shall be such system, officially adopted by District, for the Network. When considering the adoption of such operating system, care shall be taken to make sure it meets the necessary requisites to assure the District Network will be able to interface with future Network(s) / system(s)
4b.) Low Profile (power) stations... Xmit 5w to 10w range with receivers commensurate with the station ERP. Operating systems shall be chosen so as to be completely compatible with the Network
4c.) Profile of Digital stations in the Network shall be determined by the Digital committee, based on what is determined “Best” for Network
4d.) District System / Network shall be kept simple overall and the baud rate shall be 1200 so as to allow for any / all older resources (TNC’s, Radio’s, etc.) to be used.
4e.) HF Gateway station(s) [SSID-2] shall be developed to assist in augmenting VHF Network coverage to SEOC and other Districts and / or Section(s)
f.) In order to get approved as a District Network High profile Node / Digi, the station shall be equipped w/ a working, automatic battery back-up on their system(s)
5.) Assignment of Aliases, Other SSID’s, and Requirements for individual Digital stations wishing to join District Ecom Network
It shall be the responsibility of the EC / RO of each County to administer the assignment of Aliases / Node name(s), SSID’s to ALL Digital systems wishing to be part of the District Digital Ecom Network, physically located within their County, after those stations applications have been approved. He shall also maintain a map & locations list of ALL Aliases / Node name(s), Other SSID’s issued in his County. This list shall be posted on the County’s main high profile BBS, as a bulletin, for all to have access to.
Any Amateur (non ARES® / RACES member), with a Digital station wishing to join the District Digital Ecom Network shall file the latest revised District application with the EC / RO of the County where such a Digital station will be physically located. After EC / RO review, the application shall be forwarded, with any recommendations, to the DEC / DRM for review by the District Digital committee. The District Digital committee shall make such effort, as needed, to assure the station applying will meet the minimum needs / requirements of the District Digital Ecom Network. They shall then approve or deny the application and forward their actions to; the DEC/ DRM, the EC / RO of County where application was made, and also to the applicant. If the application was approved, the EC / RO in County where station is to be physically located, shall issue an Alias / Node name from his County’s block of numbers designated for that use.
APPENDIX ONE... List of Michigan County Four letter abbreviations.
APPENDIX TWO... Application/MOU of assignment to District Digital Ecom Network.
APPENDIX THREE... Guidelines of Michigan Net, QMN Packet Radio Network
Signed: Thomas M. (Red) Duggan WA8RLI Policy Adopted: 25 January, 2005
DEC / DRM District 7 v.rli0105-5
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