Adventure Radio Protocol
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.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADVENTURE RADIO PROTOCOL
George talks about the Adventure Radio Protocol and its use on the Ham Radio Workbench Podcast episode 192.
This is a segment of the show.
This is a segment of the show.
Here is a full episode all about SOTA and a discussion of the Adventure Radio Protocol with Rex KE6MT the manager of the SOTA program in California.
Josh from the Ham Radio Crash Course interviewed me about the Adventure Radio Protocol. Check it out here.
Adventure Radio Controller
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
TONE ASSIGNMENTS - FREQUENCY IN HZ
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 |