As I’ve mentioned here there is a new set of software available for digital modes. It is commonly called NBEMS for Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System. I’ve installed the software on one of my PCs and find that it works very well and covers all of the available digital modes that I can see. I would like to see other amateur radio operators in Centre County using the software. Click below to see more information:

The programs are:

FLDIGI – the workhorse digital modem program that lets you select the mode you want to use
FLARQ – the Automatic Repeat ReQuest software for error correcting
WRAP – the verification program that checks for the accuracy of received files

The developers are beta testing a companion piece of software that will format and display messages in the IC-213 message format. That format is the messaging format approved for ALL disaster messaging under NIMS and ICS.

Considerable experimentation and training nets are being conducted on a number of frequencies. Although you can connect your radio to the computer through whatever sound card interface you have these programs work quite well through microphones and speakers being in proximity. I’ve seen this demonstrated twice and although it isn’t the best method, in an emergency it requires nothing but a radio and a PC.

I would encourage other amateurs to experiment with this software and if possible I would like to have some messages passed during the SET over the NBEMS systems. You can find information about the NBEMS systems at:

http://wpanbems.org/

And the software at:

http://www.w1hkj.com/

Let me know if you install it and are interested in using it during the SET.

Thank you.
73, Carmine, K3CWP