Introducing a New Product - American Radio Relay League

Benchmarks

How long to send 2kb a
Effect of compression?
Differences between mo
Effect of Flarq block siz
Benchmark files are bul
Look closely...big surpr

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

and 6kb text bulletin?
odes?
ze
lletins with plain text
rise is lurking!

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Benchmark Result

Mode/Method 2

MT63-2000
MT63-2000 compressed data
8/500 Olivia
16/500 Olivia
PSK 125R
PSK 125R compressed data
PSK 250R
PSK 250R compressed data
PSK 500R
PSK 500R compressed data
PSK 500
PSK 500 compressed data
PSK 125R Flarq 256 block
PSK 125R Flarq 64 block
PSK 125R Flarq 16 block
PSK 500 Flarq 256 block
PSK 500 Flarq 64 block
PSK 500 Flarq 16 block

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

ts

2kb Bulletin (sec) 6kb Bulletin (sec)

115 320
95 215
715 N/A
1070 N/A
190 615
215 520
95 310
110 265
45 155
55 130
25
30 85
235 80
315 710
652 980
40 1970
60 115
145 175
440

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Benchmarks Discu

Compression and PSK d
For 2K file, compressed
transfer with PSK mode
6K file transfer is not ap
Reason is varicode
Varicode is optimized fo
Example – “e” = 11, “q”
Compressed data no lon
of characters

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

ussion

don't play well together!
d file takes longer to
es
ppreciably faster with PSK
or “normal” text
” = 110111111
nger has normal distribution

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Benchmarks Discu

Compression is effective
Our 2kb benchmark =>
Our 6kb benchmark =>
Most of our files will be
bandwidth
Big problem: dropping a
compressed file, everyth
With plain text, can usu
May be important depen

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

ussion

e only on large files
1.68 kb, 16% compressed
4.09 kb, 31% compressed
e small because of limited
a single bit in a
hing is lost!
ually recover something
nding upon circumstances

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Compression Con

At first glance, compres
idea but...
Doesn't work well with
Can't compress a small f
Potential to lose entire tr
dropped
Conclusion: Compressio
most of the time

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

nclusions

ssion sounded like a good
PSK
file very much
ransmission if single bit is
on not worth the trouble

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Compression use

Three simple and easy to
1) Never compress any
2) Never compress any
3) Compress CSV file
50% or more
CSV files should comp
may be largely number
Cannot tolerate any err
compression is no draw

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

guidelines

o remember rules:
y plain text file
y file less than 2kb in size
only if compression is by

press better because they
rs
ror in CSV file, so
wback.

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp – Amateur M
Protocol

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

Multicast

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp

Send large amount of da
Can send any kind of fil
Excel, other binary form
Uses Fldigi to send and
Multiple files can be sen
Files sent in blocks...eac
Transmitting station can

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

ata to multiple stations.
le...Flmsg files, text, CSV,
mats.
receive data.
nt at a time.
ch block has a checksum.
n auto repeat transmission.

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp

Blocks missed in 1st tran
Receiving stations repor
missed after retransmiss
Or missing blocks auto f
transmissions.
Only necessary for miss
retransmitted.
Help at http://www.w1h
help/index.html

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

nsmission are filled in.
rt which blocks were
sion...
filled on subsequent
sed blocks to be
hkj.com/flamp-

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp – initial con

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

nfiguration

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp – initial con

Fill in callsign and text i
Info shows up at bottom
Flamp window.
Can configure Fldigi an
other transmission mode
Can also configure so th
keyboard-friendly mode
speed mode.
May be useful for net op
Consult with Net Contro
configuration.

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

nfiguration

info.
m of receiving station's
nd Flamp to control each
es
hat Fldigi is set to slow
e and Flamp set to high-
peration.
ol on preferred

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp – Transmit

Use small block size und
Use large block size und
Smaller block size, more
blocks will be smaller.
Use compression on larg
Receiving station does n
size or compression.

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

Configuration

der poor conditions...
der good conditions.
e overhead, but missed
ge files.
not need to configure block

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp – transmitti

Build list of files to tran
Can use Add button...
Or can use DnD oval...ju
When done, push Xmt o

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

ing workflow

nsmit.
ust drag-and-drop.
or Xmt All.

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp – receiving

Will see graphic showin
When all files received,

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

workflow

ng each block as it arrives.
select file and press Save.

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp – missing b

Flamp will show missin
Push Report button...

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

block workflow

ng received block(s).

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp – report mis

Transmit report in Fldig

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

ssing blocks

gi.

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Flamp – transmit m

Push Fetch button to loa
Push Xmt to send missin

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

missing blocks

ad missing blocks.
ng blocks.

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

File Transfer Reco

Rules of thumb for file t
VHF/UHF FM based up
Up to 2KB, use MT63
Consider breaking file in
Consider PSK and multi

Large file
Hardwired interface bu
Some multi-carrier mod
Decision is more comple
conditions...fading, noise
New Flamp shows prom
That's why we have so m

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

ommendations

transfer method for
pon file size...

nto smaller parts if > 2KB
i-carrier modes:

ut...
des will work without i/f.
ex on HF because of band
e, static, interference.
mise for large files.
many tools available!

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

RSID

Reed Solomon id (RSID
Tones at begin and end
identify mode
Each mode has a unique
Fldigi can be configured
mode upon receiving RS
Useful in unattended sta
bulletins
Set up a scanner, connec
and capture everything!

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

D)
of transmission to help
e RSID
d to automatically change
SID in passband
ation for monitoring
ct to machine with Fldigi,

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Configuration for R

Go to Configure->IDs m
In RSID section, select c

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

RSID

menu
checkboxes as below

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Select RSID mode

Press Receive Modes bu

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

es

utton and select modes

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Enable use of RSID

On fldigi screen, push R
Fldigi will automatically
tone is recognized!

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

D

RSID control
y change mode when RSID

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

What's next?

Get on the air and make
Join ARES...http://wpaa
NBEMS is not hard to m
practice
So...start organizing pra
VHF/UHF

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

e some noise!
ares.org
master, but does require
actice nets on HF and

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org

Acknowledgments

We'd like to thank the following:
W1HKJ, Dave Freese, lead NBEMS
KH6TY, Howard Teller, NBEMS de
W3HRK (sk), Dr. G. Alec Stewart, U
NA0B, Dr. Juan Manfredi, Universi
KB3JXG, James Farringer, Superint

Current and former ARRL Leadership:
N3LLR, Bill Edgar, Atlantic Divisio
N3MSE, John Rodgers, Western PA
AB3ER, Larry Keller, Western PA S
N3SPW, John Szwarc, former West

© 2013 Harry Bloomberg W3YJ 2

s

S developer
eveloper
University of Pittsburgh
ity of Pittsburgh
tendent of Police, O'Hara Twp, PA

on Director
A SM
SEC
tern PA SEC

26 March 2013 http://wpaares.org