# Presentation: 473203

## IMET Equipment and Communications

**Larry Van Bussum - National Fire Weather Operations Coordinator**
**Greg Murdoch - IMET**

- Computer
- Comms – BGAN(Broadband Global
-                 Area Network)/INMRSAT,
-                 etc
- FX NET
- Introductions

## Greg MurdochWFO Midland, TX - IMET

** ****IMET since 2000**
** ****Primarily work in TX, NM, AZ - but other places also**
** ****23 assignments – 3 non fire**
**	****Columbia Shuttle Recovery – Aviation, ground                        ****	****	****	****	****            troops**
**	****Katrina Recovery – Logistical Ops for PODs**
**	****Rodeo/Chediski - AZ largest Fire**
**	****Tx Forest Service Fire Season 05/06 - 69 days**
**	****Research with SR on HI-RISE Project**
**	****07’ AMS Student Conference**

## Complete IMET Equipment and Comms

- Laptop and accessories – purchased by NP
- Printer - NP
- Replaced ~ every 3yrs
- Travel Bag - NP

-   Cell Phone – SR

-   BGANS/INMARSAT (2 at MAF) – NP*
-   Verizon wireless card – NP
-   Wireless Adaptor – Local Office 
-   Thumb Drive – personal funds

## IMET Requirements

- System must be mobile (i.e. weigh less than 100 lbs, be smaller than 41”x24”x18” and able to be set up by 1 person in 1 hour or less)
- System must be fast enough to download data in a reasonable time
- System must have nationwide coverage with upgrades
- Provider must show sustainability (some assurance that the provider will be doing business 5 years down the road).
- IMET program is tasked with being able to respond anywhere, anytime to anything.
- Satisfies requirements for federal response from the National Response Plan (Emergency Support Functions (ESFs)) and the President’s “Lessons Learned” from Hurricane Katrina)

## Options

|  | Data Speed1 | Mobile2 | Coverage3 | Cost (Hardware) | Cost (Service) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Incident Comms Only | 2.4 kbps – T1 | N/A | Limited6 | $0 | $0 |
| Cell Phone – Verizon Card | 400 kbps – 2 mbps | Yes | Limited7 | $150 per unit | $60 per month unlimited use |
| INMARSAT BGAN | 492 kbps 1 | Yes | Entire US8 | ~$2900 per unit | ~$420 per IMET day10 |

- 6 = Incident may or may not have communications
- 7 = Dependent on cell phone coverage, which is sparse across much of the U.S.
- 8 = Contiguous U.S. coverage, AK and HI coverage.
- 10 = Billed per megabyte.  Based on 70 mb of data per day.

## Conclusions

- Cheapest solution is to depend on incident to provide communications but severely restricts where, when and what incidents an IMET can respond to.
- Only Verizon Card and BGAN/INMARSAT are mobile enough for IMET operations.
- Verizon Card and BGAN/INMARSAT can handle the data needs.
- Of those only BGAN/INMARSAT is capable of use anywhere in the United States (or the world).
- Not using BGAN/INMARSAT would result in NWS turning down 67% of all IMET requests

## Final Comms Plan

- Incident LAN or Comms - when available
- Verizon Wireless Card  - when available
- INMARSAT BGAN - last option

## Incident LAN or Comms

- Your First Choice
- Your Cheapest for Taxpayer and easy

## Verizon Wireless Card

- Your Second Choice
- Out of necessity
- Out of Convenience (with a “roaming” caveat)

## BGAN INMARSAT 

- BGAN - Broadband Global Area Network
- Your Last Resort
- Be Frugal

## BGAN Coverage

## Tips and Hints

- You will have to become comfortable working in the “guts” of Windows and the Network Connections...learning how this all works.
- If you can get along fine with the cheapest solution, use that, but don’t sacrifice your ability to do your job for a painfully slow connection.  Ask Plans Chief/IC first before hooking BGAN up if other avenues available.

## Broadband Global Area Network Set-up

- DoD equipment
- Installing the launch pad software most difficult part
- Emits RF energy...do not stand or place objects in front of unit
- Speech capable – telephone
- Multi-user for sharing unit
- Always on but only charged for data sent and received
- Contains integrated GPS receiver for registration
- Point to the sky to see 3 satellites
- Best to have clear view
- Load speed affected by signal strength
- Once GPS is obtained location is stored

## BGAN Set-up continued

- Terminal then can be moved to convenient place facing BGAN satellite
- Extensive BGAN Users Manual is available?
- WFOs should have one – part of comms back-up
- Can be permanently fixed outdoors for extended time
- Note...Field Service Bulletin has been released...GPS antenna not contacting circuit. Easy fix with star wrench to tighten screws...careful torque wrench needed

## Once we have comms

- Forecaster’s favorite thing  - look at data
- Internet stuff personal favorites, etc
- However primarily use AWIPS emulator – FX NET
- Regional versions - SR, WR, AK, PR
- Work in progress – annual updates
- If used AWIPS- Program is very intuitive

## FX NET

- Zoom functions
- Build procedures
- Images - RH, etc
- Soundings
- Text browser
- Satellite
- Load speed depends on connection
- No auto updates on frames – radar, sat

## Regional Versions	

- Served by regional HQ
- SRH serves SR FX NET version, etc
- Sometimes server has problems and must call SRH to resolve
- Initially was sort of secret...now is proliferating
- Not for use at home though
- Otherwise I’ve found it to be very reliable
- Nice archive feature – onsite accidents/studies
- We’ll now spend sometime using it - Groups
- Then go hook up to BGANS