We're building a great system of communications here in Sumter County, Florida. Check us out here. 73, Ed Crowell, W5TWR, E.C.
To everyone, The Villages, Florida 32162
ARES Links Sites
THE VILLAGES PACKET SYSTEM
THE VILLAGES RADIO CLUB is part of the build-out of the Winlink 2000 packet system. We have put up Telpac Nodes and Digital Repeaters in the local area to support this new Emcomm system of E-mail delivery World-wide. The system will enable us in the Sumter County ARES group to provide Amateur Radio support to the EOC in Bushnell during Hurricanes, and other civil emergency events. We still maintain FM voice channels while providing robust, secure multi-level packet communication to the Three County Area.
There will be three command posts in the system: The EOC at Bushnell, the Alternate EOC at Fire House Five on Bonita Blvd., and the new Mobile Command Center. All of these should be ready for the 2008 Hurricane Season. Paclink stations at the Villages Regional Hospital, The Hurricane Shelters, and mobile units will provide E-mail messaging to the Emergency Manager Judd Wright, in Bushnell, and those impacted by civil emergency events.
The Paclink stations will be able to connect by radio links to Telpac Nodes in The Villages, Dunnellon, Bushnell, and Grand Island using Packet Nodes at The Villages Regional Hospital, Tavares, Clermont, and Ocala. All of this foundation already exists now. Those inclined to do so may use the system at this time for testing, training and ham radio e-mail. In addition to these parts of the system, we will install long path HF links direct to Participating Mail Box Offices using Airmail/Pactor III. PMBO's now exist in 41
Switch which operates under Call Sign W4VLG-8 allows users to connect with the North Florida Packet Loop by using Rose addressing. These addresses are available to users at www.fadca.org listed under X-121 addressing. This provides simple addressing of any Rose Node in the Loop without listing the relay Nodes in the Link. This Switch is located at my QTH (W5TWR) but will be moved to the Villages Hospital in early March. At the time of the migration, the frequency will be changed to 145.050 mhz as coordinated by FADCA and FRC. A map will be provided on the website to include all the Switch locations, calls and Rose addresses.
The Villages Amateur Radio Club, and Sumter County ARES (under the guidance of Judd Wright, and Ed Crowell, W5TWR) are proud to be able to provide this system to the Citizens of our Three County area. This is done under the aegis of our Amateur Radio Charter from the Federal Communications Commission. The Winlink 2000 System has been promoted by the American Radio Relay League and the National Amateur Radio Emergency Service as the system of the future for secure, robust, emergency digital messaging in the United States.
