Action Plan (as of 2025-07-14)
Intent: To establish an emergency communications network (ECN) of like-minded people by helping to organize, train, support and integrate Local Networks across Canada and beyond.
The overall network will be two-tiered (see image below). The first tier consists of Local Networks using local comms devices (eg VHF/UHF, CB and LoRa). In the second tier, these Local Networks are connected to each other using HF devices employing a digital platform protocol in order to ensure greater connection reliability over long distances.
The overall network is standardized around preferred technology and protocol options, which each group can adapt as they see fit:
Lines of Effort (LoE):
Requirements:
• Hams / Volunteers / Teams / Systems / Resources
Next Steps:
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Current State:
2024-04-08: First Emergency Drill.
The overall network will be two-tiered (see image below). The first tier consists of Local Networks using local comms devices (eg VHF/UHF, CB and LoRa). In the second tier, these Local Networks are connected to each other using HF devices employing a digital platform protocol in order to ensure greater connection reliability over long distances.
The overall network is standardized around preferred technology and protocol options, which each group can adapt as they see fit:
- Local Comms Technology (Baofeng Option - LoRa? CB?)
- Long Distance Technology (SDR/JS8/truSDX Option - aka SDR Option)
- Messaging Protocol
- Local Network Protocol
Lines of Effort (LoE):
- Recruiting
- connecting with established like-minded groups
- Research
- investigating relevant technologies and protocols in order to identify preferred options
- Training
- providing groups with the training necessary to properly organize their network and become familiar with the preferred technology and protocol options
- Procurement
- assisting groups in the acquisition of preferred device options
- Testing Drills
- conducting regular (quarterly) emergency drills so that groups will be ready if and when the need arises
- Support
- providing the relevant resources and capabilities to facilitate each LoE including website, Telegram, email, etc.
Requirements:
• Hams / Volunteers / Teams / Systems / Resources
Next Steps:
- prepare for the next Emergency Drill (EmDrill#4 - Sep 18 2025
- standardize SDR Option
- develop Local Network Protocol
- develop Messaging Protocol
- pursue LoRa test network
- pursue CB test network
- improve the Procurement process
===========
Current State:
2024-04-08: First Emergency Drill.
============
NOTES:
• mapping
◦ to document the network in order to facilitate the relaying of messages
• protocols
◦ to address how comms should be undertaken, security etc.
• emergency drills
◦ to plan and conduct SHTF drills
organization
• member communication
◦ website / Telegram / email / events
• recruitment
◦ to recruit and onboard groups and individuals into the network
• admin
◦ to address the back office needs of the network, meetings, etc
services
• learning
◦ to make climbing the emcomms learning curve easier
• purchasing
◦ to facilitate the purchasing and resale of products to members
• programming
◦ to establish the capability to program devices as needed
• manufacturing
◦ to develop and produce goods for the members (antenna kits, LoRa units, etc.)
• research
◦ to identify and pursue technological opportunities
NOTES:
• mapping
◦ to document the network in order to facilitate the relaying of messages
• protocols
◦ to address how comms should be undertaken, security etc.
• emergency drills
◦ to plan and conduct SHTF drills
organization
• member communication
◦ website / Telegram / email / events
• recruitment
◦ to recruit and onboard groups and individuals into the network
• admin
◦ to address the back office needs of the network, meetings, etc
services
• learning
◦ to make climbing the emcomms learning curve easier
• purchasing
◦ to facilitate the purchasing and resale of products to members
• programming
◦ to establish the capability to program devices as needed
• manufacturing
◦ to develop and produce goods for the members (antenna kits, LoRa units, etc.)
• research
◦ to identify and pursue technological opportunities