By George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU
The Adventure Radio Protocol provides a common radio frequency and signaling standard to make it easier for radio operators in the field to find and communicate with each other. The signaling protocol that uses CTCSS sub audible tones allows operators to signal the type of traffic on the adventure radio frequency and enable 24/7 monitoring without the need to listen to all traffic on the channel.
ADVENTURE RADIO FREQUENCY - 146.580 MHz
We propose to use 146.580 MHz FM for the nationwide US adventure radio frequency. This frequency is chosen because it is already in use in various regions of the US for hiking, backpacking, SOTA, overlanding and other outdoors activities. We also want to avoid using 146.520 to remove outdoor activity traffic from the national calling frequency.
CTCSS TONES
CTCSS sub-audible tones are used to signal the type of traffic on the adventure radio frequency. The following CTCSS tones are assigned for various types of traffic. The Adventure Radio Protocol reserves all CTCSS tones between 67.0 Hz and 151.4 Hz to be assigned over time for various purposes. Radio operators can use any CTCSS frequency above 151.4 Hz for any purpose and are not governed by the AR protocol.
MODES OF OPERATION - PERSONAL RADIO TO RADIO
Any radio operator can use the Adventure Radio signaling protocol by simply operating on the adventure frequency (146.580) and selecting the appropriate CTCSS tone for the type of traffic signaling you want. For example, for emergency traffic calling and monitoring all you need to do is to program your radio to encode and decode 67.0 Hz and you are good to go. We recommend programming multiple channels in your radio all on the same RF frequency (146.580) and each channel would have one of the assigned CTCSS tones. You may have channel 1 for backcountry traffic (PL 100.0, Channel 2 for SOTA/POTA operations (PL 88.5) and Channel 3 for emergency calling with CTCSS tone 67.0 Hz.
MODES OF OPERATION - INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT
High radio sites are ideal for building out ARC infrastructure. ARC remote sites can be a port on an existing analog repeater system, a remote radio connected to a VOIP system like AllStar or even a base station monitoring for AR traffic.
The Adventure Radio Protocol provides a common radio frequency and signaling standard to make it easier for radio operators in the field to find and communicate with each other. The signaling protocol that uses CTCSS sub audible tones allows operators to signal the type of traffic on the adventure radio frequency and enable 24/7 monitoring without the need to listen to all traffic on the channel.
ADVENTURE RADIO FREQUENCY - 146.580 MHz
We propose to use 146.580 MHz FM for the nationwide US adventure radio frequency. This frequency is chosen because it is already in use in various regions of the US for hiking, backpacking, SOTA, overlanding and other outdoors activities. We also want to avoid using 146.520 to remove outdoor activity traffic from the national calling frequency.
CTCSS TONES
CTCSS sub-audible tones are used to signal the type of traffic on the adventure radio frequency. The following CTCSS tones are assigned for various types of traffic. The Adventure Radio Protocol reserves all CTCSS tones between 67.0 Hz and 151.4 Hz to be assigned over time for various purposes. Radio operators can use any CTCSS frequency above 151.4 Hz for any purpose and are not governed by the AR protocol.
- 67.0 Hz Emergency calling.
- 77.0 Hz Ping - Keying up will cause any automated monitoring station to respond to let you know there is a system on the air.
- 88.5 Hz SOTA/POTA and other operating events.
- 100.0 HZ General backcountry conversations.
- 123.0 Hz Trigger automated messaging from local repeaters.
MODES OF OPERATION - PERSONAL RADIO TO RADIO
Any radio operator can use the Adventure Radio signaling protocol by simply operating on the adventure frequency (146.580) and selecting the appropriate CTCSS tone for the type of traffic signaling you want. For example, for emergency traffic calling and monitoring all you need to do is to program your radio to encode and decode 67.0 Hz and you are good to go. We recommend programming multiple channels in your radio all on the same RF frequency (146.580) and each channel would have one of the assigned CTCSS tones. You may have channel 1 for backcountry traffic (PL 100.0, Channel 2 for SOTA/POTA operations (PL 88.5) and Channel 3 for emergency calling with CTCSS tone 67.0 Hz.
MODES OF OPERATION - INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT
High radio sites are ideal for building out ARC infrastructure. ARC remote sites can be a port on an existing analog repeater system, a remote radio connected to a VOIP system like AllStar or even a base station monitoring for AR traffic.
To support the build out of radio sites monitoring the Adventure Radio Frequency and signaling protocol, Sierra Radio has developed a prototype controller that supports all the features of the Adventure Radio Protocol. The picture above is the prototype of the controller. This version is a full featured board intended for use with remote radio or repeater system.
FEATURES
OPTIONAL EXPANSION BOARDS IN DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT STATUS
FEATURES
- Audio routing / muting / PTT control
- Scanning CTCSS decoder that can search and identify the incoming tone (67.0 Hz to 151.4 Hz)
- DTMF decoder for system management
- CW ID generation to identify the remote base station
- Dry contact relay controlled by select CTCSS tone decoding
- Stand alone mode with optional LCD display and repeater mode to pass through audio / COR / PTT to a repeater controller
- Status LEDs
- Operates on 8-16 VDC
OPTIONAL EXPANSION BOARDS IN DEVELOPMENT
- Raspberry Pi host adapter
- Mini UPS (3x 18650) battery board
- LCD / button board
- Device Control Network (DCN) I/O expansion port board
- Base plate board
PROJECT STATUS
- Build hardware prototype - DONE
- Write CTCSS scanning firmware - DONE
- Write core control system firmware - In process
- Rev 2 PCB - DONE
67.0 Emergency calling / working
69.3 Reserved
71.9 Reserved
74.4 Reserved
77.0 Ping - Check to see if infrastructure systems are monitoring
79.7 Reserved
82.5 Reserved
85.4 Reserved
88.5 SOTA / POTA / and other on-air events
91.5 Reserved
94.8 Reserved
97.4 Reserved
100.0 General / casual QSOs and chat
103.5 Reserved
107.2 Reserved
110.9 Reserved
114.8 Reserved
118.8 Reserved
123.0 Automated information messaging
127.3 Reserved
131.8 Reserved
136.5 Reserved
141.3 Reserved
146.2 Reserved
151.4 Reserved
156.7 Unassigned - Available for any use
159.8 Unassigned - Available for any use
162.2 Unassigned - Available for any use
165.5 Unassigned - Available for any use
167.9 Unassigned - Available for any use
171.3 Unassigned - Available for any use
173.8 Unassigned - Available for any use
177.3 Unassigned - Available for any use
179.9 Unassigned - Available for any use
183.5 Unassigned - Available for any use
186.2 Unassigned - Available for any use
189.9 Unassigned - Available for any use
192.8 Unassigned - Available for any use
196.6 Unassigned - Available for any use
199.5 Unassigned - Available for any use
203.5 Unassigned - Available for any use
206.5 Unassigned - Available for any use
210.7 Unassigned - Available for any use
218.1 Unassigned - Available for any use
225.7 Unassigned - Available for any use
229.1 Unassigned - Available for any use
233.6 Unassigned - Available for any use
241.8 Unassigned - Available for any use
250.3 Unassigned - Available for any use
254.1 Unassigned - Available for any use
69.3 Reserved
71.9 Reserved
74.4 Reserved
77.0 Ping - Check to see if infrastructure systems are monitoring
79.7 Reserved
82.5 Reserved
85.4 Reserved
88.5 SOTA / POTA / and other on-air events
91.5 Reserved
94.8 Reserved
97.4 Reserved
100.0 General / casual QSOs and chat
103.5 Reserved
107.2 Reserved
110.9 Reserved
114.8 Reserved
118.8 Reserved
123.0 Automated information messaging
127.3 Reserved
131.8 Reserved
136.5 Reserved
141.3 Reserved
146.2 Reserved
151.4 Reserved
156.7 Unassigned - Available for any use
159.8 Unassigned - Available for any use
162.2 Unassigned - Available for any use
165.5 Unassigned - Available for any use
167.9 Unassigned - Available for any use
171.3 Unassigned - Available for any use
173.8 Unassigned - Available for any use
177.3 Unassigned - Available for any use
179.9 Unassigned - Available for any use
183.5 Unassigned - Available for any use
186.2 Unassigned - Available for any use
189.9 Unassigned - Available for any use
192.8 Unassigned - Available for any use
196.6 Unassigned - Available for any use
199.5 Unassigned - Available for any use
203.5 Unassigned - Available for any use
206.5 Unassigned - Available for any use
210.7 Unassigned - Available for any use
218.1 Unassigned - Available for any use
225.7 Unassigned - Available for any use
229.1 Unassigned - Available for any use
233.6 Unassigned - Available for any use
241.8 Unassigned - Available for any use
250.3 Unassigned - Available for any use
254.1 Unassigned - Available for any use
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