Xastir—Open-Source Client for the Automatic Packet Reporting System

Example: Seattle Marathon

For the Seattle Marathon, I (Curt) sit in the net control vehicle with the “route” and “start/finish” radio guys. Xastir is running on a Linux laptop with Internet access, along with a remote LCD display for the radio operators to view the current event map. Bob Donnell, KD7NM, has a similar station several hundred feet away at the first-aid station. Trackers are assigned tactical call signs like SAG 1 prior to the event or at the beginning of their assignments.

I listen for runner pick-up or aid requests from the radio operators and send instant messages to Bob. Bob then dispatches vehicles (SAG wagons) via voice radios to pick up the runners. Positions of all SAG wagons appear on both of our maps.

SAG vehicles can't cross the course, so it's tricky getting them to the correct locations. The map display allows Bob to dispatch the vehicle that would be quickest to pick up the runners—you must know how to route vehicles when Seattle is bisected by this event.

We place trackers on the lead vehicles for both the full and half marathons—problematic due to the choice of electric vehicles, which so far haven't completed the mission. If these trackers become unavailable, we shift to monitoring voice reports on the route network and create objects to represent them on the map. The trailing vehicle is driven by a ham who usually can keep its tracker running, although we have the same fallback plan.

Event organizers use the trailing runner information to adjust support needs at the finish line, and we use the information to keep the volunteer hams up to date on the approach of the final runners. The volunteers then share this information with the rest of the marathon volunteers in their area. This helps ensure that we don't leave anyone behind on the course at the end of the day and lets us know when to open streets and when to pick up ham volunteers and equipment.

Glossary

Amateur Radio has been doing digital communications literally since there has been wireless communications. We first used CW (Continuous Wave) or On/Off keying with Morse code. Abbreviations quickly became commonplace. After WWII, surplus teletypes (the heavy, loud electromechanical monsters you see in old movies) became available at reasonable prices and ham radio RTTY (radio teletype) was born, and keyboard shortcuts and abbreviations became even more commonplace.

We use a lot of abbreviations—Q-codes during voice and especially CW conversations (CW or Continuous Wave means Morse code). Even the word conversation has an abbreviation: QSO.

Quite a few of our abbreviations have roots in the Morse code world, spilling over into our e-mail and instant messaging. If we type “hi hi” to you, that means laughter. “QTH” equals location. This is similar to instant-messaging abbreviations that many of you use with SMS messaging or e-mail.

Here are some other common terms: