[Xastir] Thanks for helping us have a successful event!

[William McKeehan]

Peter, Thanks for sharing this story; I love hearing how other people use APRS
as a tool in their event management toolbox.

Do you plan to make either the VM or the scripts available for others to use?
-- 
William McKeehan
KI4HDU
http://mckeehan.homeip.net


On Tue, June 16, 2009 8:20 am, peter+aprs at duonet.net wrote:
> Hello, this is KC0TFB, Peter Gamache.  I coordinated APRS operations for the
> Minnesota Multiple Sclerosis Society's MS-150 fundraising bicycle tour this
> year, last Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  As part of the safety team (dozens
> of dedicated and skilled ham operators), we ensured the safety of thousands
> of event participants during their 150-mile ride from Duluth, Minnesota to
> the Twin Cities.  It was an exciting event and I'm glad that Xastir helped
> make it happen.  Here's how it worked:
>
> Planning and preparation for APRS use during the event started about 5-6
> weeks ago. In Sun VirtualBox (http://virtualbox.org/), I installed Xubuntu
> GNU/Linux 9.04, then stripped out the non-essential packages.  I then added
> the Xastir package and the TigerLine 2006 maps (from ftp://aprs.tamu.edu)
> for all the MN counties that the event passed through.  This laid the
> foundation for our APRS operations.
>
> Since this VM image would be used by all the Rest Stop operators on whatever
> laptop they provided, I wanted an easy-to-use interface.  On the desktop, I
> added a icon for my "Get Updates" script.  This script "phoned home" to a
> server that could run commands on each system to cover my tracks, had I
> forgot anything.
>
> Jason, N0RPM (also our Net Control APRS op), contributed an excellent tool,
> in the form of the other desktop script.  It configured Xastir for each
> station, inserting the appropriate callsign, coordinates, comment and symbol
> for each rest stop in the configuration file, then launched Xastir.
>
> Prior to the event, we distributed the VM image to all the Rest Stop radio
> operators.  In VirtualBox, you can "Export" a VM.  This compresses the
> filesystem and gives you two files as output: one that describes the VM
> settings and another that represents the disk image.  For us, this totalled
> about 600Mb, which fit perfectly on a CD-R.
>
> Several revisions occurred after the CD-Rs were distributed, however the
> "Get Update" script took care of this.  Various updates added the GNIS file
> for MN (ftp://aprs.tamu.edu) to support street address location searches,
> re-configured the map selector and removed the .xastir/config/object.log, so
> all our stations wouldn't try to beacon the same objects.
>
> Most importantly, we had a training meeting for all the Rest Stop APRS
> operators.  In training, we discussed the important features we'd need to
> use: Messaging, locating map features, the basics of zooming, panning and
> how to configure Xastir for whatever TNC each operator had available.
>
> At the event, cyclists had each been issued a wristband which identified
> their rider number, as well as listed a "Rider Helpline" telephone number.
> That number went to our net control telephone op, the person responsible for
> providing the "end-user interface" to our support radio network.
>
> If a rider needed assistance, the telephone op would pass the message to our
> APRS operator, who would place an object (using the rider number as an
> object name) on the map.  The Net Control voice operator would then contact
> the nearest rest stop, "Rest Stop X, pick up rider #1234 at Fourth Ave and
> Main Street."
>
> The voice operator at the specified rest stop would confirm receipt of the
> request, and the rest stop APRS operator would adopt the rider object on the
> map.  The rest stop communicators would then dispatch the nearest SAG
> (support and gear) van to pick up the rider along the route.  The SAGs all
> had tracking beacons installed (see http://map.findu.com/mssag*) prior to
> the event, so finding the nearest one was easy.
>
> When the SAG reported back via 2m simplex to the rest stop, informing them
> that the rider was picked up, the rest stop would then delete the object for
> the rider, removing it from everyone's map.  The rest stop would then inform
> Net Control via either our 70cm repeater or APRS messaging that "Rider #1234
> was picked up".
>
> The event ended with all the thousands (around 4000, if my estimates are
> correct) of riders making it safely home.  Once again, Xastir helped make
> this possible.  Thanks to all the developers and users who make up the
> Xastir community - we couldn't have done this without you!
>
> 73,
> Peter / KC0TFB
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