[drats_users] drats_users Digest, Vol 24, Issue 9

[David Swartz]

This is a reply to Mike's suggestion about a separate mobile radio to enable the Ratflector on the repeater. 

We decided to run a separate mobile radio connected to the ratflector on the repeaters frequency to accomplish what he proposed. However we do not run the mobile collocated with the repeater to reduce the potential of RF interference to the repeaters receiver.

<new paradigm>
The obvious architecture for D-Rats/Ratflectors is to have a number of nodes in the field consisting of a simple mobile radio with attached computer connected to the Internet. This network of Ratflectors are then connected to a central regional aggregating Ratflector that has a static known IP address. Internet connected users connect to this central ratflector. The field stations (nodes) announce their availability and frequency by beaconing their presence as a position report. As you travel through an area you connect to this self advertising network of participating stations. If all of these nodes are interconnected then it doesn't matter which node you enter the system at, your transmission will be repeated by all. 

If the node changes IP address it doesn't matter since the Internet connected stations don't connect to it directly. It is the node owners responsibility to maintain the connection to the aggregating ratflector with the static address. Since the nodes all self announce their presence administration is minimal. Unlike existing packet digipeating performance is maintained since each station has only one rf hop with the Internet providing the backbone.

Contention with voice users can be minimal because the nodes do not have to operate using the local repeater. The deployment cost is significantly less than building a full repeater system just to transfer data. 

If five hams get together they can build a node with a minimal individual financial outlay and bring D-Rats coverage to their area.

</new paradigm> 


- Dave Swartz
 Repeater Operations
 Federal Way Amateur Radio Club.



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