This is a long post. If you do not want to read the whole thing jump to the recommendations at the end, and then come back and read the rest when you have a few minutes.
EmComm, the concept of being ready to communicate when significant disruption causes havoc with day-to-day communications methods. Critical infrastructure failure, armed conflict, civil strife and disaster are all scenarios where some aspect of EmComm apply. Today we have no shortage of ways to communicate: landline telephone, cellphone, Internet, satellite phone, satellite data, VHF/UHF commercial and public safety radios, GMRS/FRS, Amateur Radio (multiple bands and modes), and now LoRa based digital radios. The use of radio has evolved as the technology and nuanced use cases have shifted rapidly.
As a young 'ham" I mentored under an old WW2 veteran, a former naval ‘sparker’. The stories he shared of manning a radio while out escorting convoys of merchant ships, never knowing if today was the day it would all end. He taught me the basics of how to take procedure words and turn them into a highly effective, accurate and rapid way of sending ‘traffic’. It is an art form that few on today’s Amateur Radio nets have full skill in.
During that time, I was introduced to emergency communications, with Amateur Radio being at the centre of that story. I learned voice comms on VHF, UHF and HF bands, learned about how antennas are almost everything, and played around in 1200 baud packet radio. A highlight of that time was making contact with the Mir space station and later receiving a QSL card for that contact. I learned what packet collisions sound like, how a busy network could slow traffic, and how dedicated people worked hard to remedy these issues. At that time most hams behaved by a set of basic rules: respect for one another, avoid politics or religion on the airways, avoid conflict on air, create community as a goal, and strive to find a consensus. It did not always work, but most people tried. The two primary reasons for Amateur Radio being allowed to exist were:
- Experimentation with radio equipment
- Public service / emergency communications.
This interest in emergency communications launched me into a career in emergency management, a career I am still involved in. I have visited disaster zones affected by earthquake, catastrophic weather events, wildland and urban interface fires, and war. I have dedicated the majority of my adult life to the service of others. I have witnessed first hand how integral good communications is (both technology and people). With that I have strived to celebrate the different ideas people have, find ways to incorporate and engage with different ways of doing things, and to form strong bonds that hold together when times are hard.
Community forms through doing things together, by communicating, and by building trust. It is also shattered when we do not do these things.
Mesh, whether it be Meshtastic, Meshcore or some other method, is a lot like a modern-day equivalent of CB radio. CB radio, back in the day, became the relatively low barrier ‘everyman’ communication method. At times it served a community need in public events, emergency communications, disaster communications, and traveler help. Remember, it pre-dated cellphones and small VHF handheld now used in Amateur Radio. It was largely unregulated and at times very awkward. Hams back then (and some today) had a kind of judgement on those who used CB radio. Ironically, it was also a massive recruitment tool for people to get into Amateur Radio and by extension into emergency communications. A sense of camaraderie and community evolved for many, both in CB and then Amateur Radio. These past communication phases may offer us some lessons today as mesh takes off.
FRS and GMRS radios never really created the same level of community that CB did, at least in Canada. These radios have been available to all for many years now. The fact they never gained traction in the same way CB did may be because of a set of restrictions on power, antennas, and largely being restricted to low power handhelds with poor antennas.
In the very short history of mesh, people have become excited again about using technology to experiment, to share ideas on builds and software, to communicate about emergencies, to talk in communities of common interest, and to create wonky, yet real communities. The Public channel is wacky, interesting, sad, humorous, fun, and maddening. This is what brings participants and lurkers alike. People will both participate and roll their eyes. Yet, oddly, it and other channels, have started to create community. Some have equated the Public channel to the early ICQ of the mid-90’s.
The beauty of mesh is that anyone that has a bit of cash, some basic technical skills (or who can watch a YouTube video or two) and some patience can get into it. Motivations vary as to what people want out of it. I have talked or heard from people who love the technical aspects: building nodes, printing 3D cases, building antennas, trying out new software/firmware, pouring over GitHub for the latest, and so on. For others it is about an off-grid communications method and not being reliant on government or big companies to create a network. For many it is a way to create a communications network to link friends, families, fellow protesters, or hams.
My motivation is many of those things: tinkering and experimenting, disaster resilience, connecting neighbours, family and friends, meeting new people and being part of a community. I have learned by witnessing first hand what it looks like when a community is struck by disaster or war and how important human connectedness is. We fracture at our peril. It is hard to create and keep community, but the dividends are there.
Mesh is not Amateur Radio. Sorry my fellow hams for calling you out. Mesh includes you, yes, but you are not the only valid, technically minded, conscientious people building out the network. The mesh network in the PNW and SWBC regions is made up of a variety of interesting people, all of whom would like to see a network that works. Some of these people are curious about what being an Amateur Radio operator entails, how you get into it, and next steps to that. They are paying attention to those with callsigns as companion node names.
A stated reason for the recent shift to an alternate frequency is to create a more reliable network for use in EmComm. This is a fantastic goal. What does that mean, though? What is EmComm in this situation? Amateur Radio operators have access to 80 meter, 40 metre, 20 meter, 10 meter, 6 meter, 2 meter, 70 cm and so on – all amazing frequency blocks that are each suitable for different things. They relay on trained and semi-trained Amateur Radio operators to interact in a disciplined way, set up nets, and pass messages on behalf of local governments, some regional districts and counties, the Province or state, and in some cases for NGO’s. Established frequency band plans have been created and largely coordinated. Some emergency communications groups also have access to their regional trunked public safety radio system (e.g., CREST in the CRD), local SAR frequencies, or commercial frequencies. A few use packet and the loved/hated WinLink. That’s a lot of bandwidth and much redundancy. All of this can be used to communicate EOC to EOC, EOC to Reception Centre or Group Lodging (shelter), Incident Command Post to operators in the field, and so on. There are many off-grid options available to the ham. Most of these emergency communications groups also have Internet, cellphone and some have satellite phone.
Along comes publicly available radio – radio for the ‘everyone’. FRS/GMRS is very restrictive and really only useful if in close line of sight (Canadian context using handhelds). It is not great for connecting with my kid’s school or my wife’s workplace unless we are almost walking distance from one another. Mesh radios changed this equation. Suddenly, a bunch of similarly enthused people, working together in a weird decentralized organic way can mutually benefit one another and help make an “almost viable” communications method. Suddenly, I can give a node to my wife, show her some basics, and if the Cascadia Subduction earthquake occurs we have a better chance of sending each other status messages and coordinating next steps. The school where my kid attends might be able to communicate with parents and pass critical information that will help me make the best decision possible in that moment.
Radio networks that are not novel and precious, but instead used often by their users are the best in times of need. They are tested, practiced and understood by their users. This is why a wacky Public channel is ok. It is passing traffic, testing the network, forcing innovation, keeping people in practice, and the building community.
Based on the recent conversations the last couple of weeks, here are my suggestions at this juncture in time:
- Continue to seek ways to unite the mesh under common goals, even if they are super high-level goals. This is happening in many ways already. Thank you to those working tirelessly behind the scenes on this.
- Respect where people come from and who they are. Not everyone has a technical background and most are not part of your specific neighbourhood or regional group.
- Communicate as a priority. Find ways to communicate at a commonly understood location where people can get the right information, contribute to the ideas, and collaborate. Right now, there are at least a dozen online places in SWBC / PNW where the conversation is occurring and the important conversations are fractured across these chat rooms, channels, and media. Unfortunately, language that has been used in these spaces has created ‘camps’ and a perception of use/them. We are us, the mesh. (trademark that, quick).
- Help one another. Keep giving out information, web links, advice based on your mistakes or learning. I say thank you to those who have been patient with me as I am learning.
- Experiment. Make stuff, break stuff, see what happens. Share the results and do not keep the information embargoed. Help all learn from your cool thing, process, software, hardware, mistake, etc.
- When you experiment be mindful it can have a negative effect on others and how they interact in the mesh. Seek ways to minimize that. Yes, I am thinking about shifting a bunch of repeaters unexpectedly, but this applies to many future scenarios as well.
- Seek ways to build community. Bring people together, virtually or in person.
- Celebrate the innovation, creativity and contributions many people are making. As a project it is unbelievable to see the level of work people have put into this, internationally and in the Cascadia region. Thank these folks at all opportunity!
- Embrace the shifts that are needed (e.g., the new regional plan, multi-byte, etc.) and quickly adopt these. This will help the network stay strong and functional. Keep your repeater and companions up-to-date.
- Look at mesh as more for the ‘everyperson’ and less for connecting EOC’s. EOC’s have many, many other ways of connecting. Help the average person, the Charlie Brown and Lucy, on how to connect, especially with the mega quake coming one day. The communications needs of Peppermint Patty and Linus will be huge. This need will actually help alleviate other kinds of office traffic as it builds individual and group resilience, thereby reducing the need for government and NGO assistance.
- Look for ways to allow the mesh to serve local first (you connecting with your family, neighbours, and friends) during times of disaster. Regional scoping, when done well, will go a long way to doing that. Encourage all to adopt these and chat with those who are lagging – maybe they need help getting up on a roof. Being part of a community will help with this “herd the cats” challenge that exists.
- Recognize that there are dependencies in the mesh that may surprise you. Port Angeles repeaters may help Victoria reach Sooke. Saanich Peninsula repeaters may help Anacortes reach Seattle, Vancouver, or Sedro- Woolley. These cross border and cross region connections are important to your own backyard, the people you might know, and it can give them connectivity.
- Figure out a better way to coordinate, so that big decisions that must eventually be made can happen in a way that is the best outcome. This takes work, especially in a decentralized mesh, but the benefits are huge!
- Move on, soon. If you are using .425, that’s great. For those talking badly about people who are using .525 that did not move with you, or those who use .525, let’s commit to shift the dialogue. People can see what is written in the various places on the Internet. There is enough mesh to go around. Keep having fun, experiment, and build out your area in a positive, good way on whichever frequency you end up on. It will work out.
Thanks for engaging and reading. I look forward to comments and your ideas on how we can continue to grow this powerful, interesting and novel communications tool.
In the spirit of community, I am game to go for coffee with anyone who happens to be in or visiting #southisland Vancouver Island. Just reach out.
Ciao,
Rob
VA7RJ