WIRES-X & C4FM

LPCARC 441.950 (131.9PL) / NODE# 21421

WIRES (Wide-coverage Internet Repeater Enhancement System) is an Internet communication system which expands the range of amateur radio communication. For WIRES-X, an amateur node station connecting to the Internet is used as the access point and connects the wireless communication to the Internet. Users' stations can communicate with other amateur stations all over the world using a node within the radio wave range via WIRES-X. Amateurs can also communicate radio to radio or using a repeater using C4FM digital communications.

Digital vs Analog (FM)

Everyone is familar with Analog transmissions. Every mobile radio and HT uses Analog to transmit voice over the airwaves. While Analog is still considered that standard, and digital cummincations has come into Amatuer radio. Whyyou may ask? If you have talked on the radio or even just listened, most of the time transmissions are clear, but sometimes we hear picket fences, or weak signals that we just can't make out what is said. Analog is also effected by QRM, weak signals and band openings. Because of this all TV broadcast in United States switched from Analog to Digital because it is clearer with a crisper picture and audio. Like Morse Code, Digital uses tones to send data back and forth. If you use CW on HF, tones are easier to hear even when the QRM is high, or the signal is weak. The same for Amateur Radio. With digital modes, it all or nothing. If your signal makes it, your audio is crisp and clear.

There are a number of digital modes that has come to the Amateur Radio service. D-STAR, NXDN, M17, APRS, APCO P25, DMR, FreeDV, FT8, PSK31,RTTY and FUSION (C4FM). The oldest is APRS, PSK31 and RTTY still widely used . While APRS, PSK31 and RTTY doesn't handle audio, it can send text msg around the world. The down side is for audio or voice, a Fusion radio can't be used with DMR, D-STAR or other services and vice a verse a. Yes there are bridegs that allow different modes to communicate to each other, but to talk on DMR, D-Star or Fusion, you need to a radio for those modes. It should be noted that ALLSTAR is analog and not digital. The advantage is that any radio can connect to ALLSTAR so purchasing a new radio is not needed.

The LaPorte County Amatuer Radio Club has a Fusion Repeater 441.950 connected to the WIRES-X network. This repeater can be used for Analog or Digital Transmissions. When it is not connected to other node, it can handle analog just like any other repeater. So a analog radio could talk to another analog radio. For analog, it has PL 131.8. Digital users can not hear the analog stations and the analog can't hear the digital stations on the repeater. If you are analog and are not using the PL to decode, you can hear the digital transmissions that sound like white noise. It is recommended that before you transmit that you look at your S-Meter. If a carrier is used by any mode, the S-Meter will show actvity. Basicly is the same as asking, "Is the Freq. in use."

For digital mode, a Fusion radio use the repeater just like any other repeater. In other words a Fusion radio can talk to another Fusion radio with out being on the Network. A fusion radio can also link up to our node (21421). This gives them access to the Fusion network. From there, they can download all the active nodes, on the network. They can save nodes to their favorites. Once they know the number of the node they wish to connect too, they enter that room number and the repeater has switched from it's local mode to the node selected. There are nodes all over the U.S. and around the world. This allows a Amateur with a Tech. license to work DX, for their tranmission orginated in the 70cm band. There is something for everyone on the WIRES-X network. There are nodes that run different nets basicly all day long. There are nodes known for making contacts and ragchew.You can even connect to others repeaters accross the world.