Project Details 2019

This is meant to include both high level descriptions and enough detail to help with implementation.

High Speed Internet Service

We have an order in with Spectrum (Charter), for a high speed internet connection. We've been struggling along with several DSL lines all duct taped together. This has gotten us about 20 Mbs into the fair site and about 4Mbs out. This is clearly not enough for 10,000 people! The new service would be a giant leap for us. We know we can complete that project for $3,101.03, though in the week of Feb 4th we will probably have another hopefully lower quote. Pros:

• All the BW we can use
  • 400 Mbs down and 20Mbs up
  • Additionally, any portion of that would be usable by one connection, in contrast to now where one connection can only max out one DSL line, or up to about 8 Mbs.
• Higher reliability than DSL
  • Cable service is generally much more reliable than DSL lines.
  • We can still keep a couple of DSL lines for a very fault tolerant system.
  • Since the cable comes in on power polls and the DSL is underground, they probably won't be taken out simultaneously.
• We can easily lower the speed for winter usage
• With higher reliability, we can start using more VoIP phone lines, which are much cheaper.

New Main Router

One of our routers seems to have some bad ports. Also the software we use will eventually stop supporting the older processors that we have. So we need to start looking for a newer model router.

CMTS Expansion

As you may recall, last year we did a CMTS pilot project that Jay Henningan built for us to test this way of getting power and data to remote areas of the path without using batteries. This pilot built upon the previous 5.8Ghz access point pilot projects. All these were successful and we are ready to start a steady roll out to cover new areas each year until the whole fair is covered. It will probably take from 15 to 20 nodes to cover all the public space, which includes three or four 5,8Ghz radios per node. At the current rate of two nodes per year, this could take about ten years.

The CMTS head end would be moved to the NOC at the Hub which is roughly the center of our network. We would purchase up to 5000 feet of 1/2 inch 75 ohm hard line to run from there into the eight. Of course, we will have to maintain service to last years pilot project in Xavanadu, which will take 1356 feet from the NOC to main camp, and another 1000 or so to get past WB little wing, and back to that location. So apparently, we are talking about one whole spool of cable to get back down to Xavanadu.

From the NOC to where the run joins Snivel-Smile is about 420 feet, then down to the staff entrance to the new kids loop is 345 feet, from there I have a table:

Booth	Distance From SS junction	Distance from last Booth
Main Stage Side
Kids Loop	115
41	400	285
77	587	187
103	700	113
125	800	100
Junction	925	125
Long Tom Side
907	720
814	1178	458
Junction	1305	127

Table 1. Some booths and distances from the kids loop path at Snivel-Smile.

Booth	Distance From MC	Distance from last Booth
43	275
109	539	264
386	2202	485
596	1717	661
760	1056	122
814	803	533
930	270
EP	607	68
Junction	934	131
Long Tom Side
Main Stage Side
Tree Peter	1020	413

Table 2. Some booths and distances, later we can get the GPS coordinates.

Live Map Asset Tracking System

We've been talking about this for a while now, and this year could be a good time to get started on it. QM also had this idea independently, and call it the Marauder Map! Radio trackers would be installed on important equipment, and people, that would show up on a large monitor at QM. This technology is routinely used by search and rescue (SAR) teams, it is also used at Burning Man by the participants. Here is an example live map of the Eugene area: aprs.fi

Our suggested list of items to track in roughly decreasing priority is:

• Power Carts (9 + 3 on dollies)
  • Also send battery charge level
• Gators (2-4) initially, priority to the White Bird Gator
• Pre-Fair Path Rove (2-6)
• Fire Trucks (2)

I've talked to QM and they are very excited about this, as it will reduce logistical radio traffic searching for items and finding gators to move them. We envision the QM radio position using this monitor as a valuable tool in planing and executing of pre-far logistics. During fair it will also help with keeping tabs on when stages need their power carts replaced and what order to most effectively do that.

Basically we are expecting to use the same technology used in the Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) that amateur radio operators (Hams) use, though on a different non ham frequency. There are other possibilities like LoRaWAN, or even just using cell phones, though then there would be no way to get the battery charge levels. The other problem with using the cellular network is that during fair, it gets so slow that it can take hours to get updates through, which would make the data useless for our purposes. Though cell phones can be a useful component of a tracker without relying on the cellular network.

We are looking at several alternatives for buying or building the radio trackers with varying cost / labor trade offs. This year would be the pilot project phase, and we could have the project more or less finished in one or two additional years of funding.

Features that I would like to see in the trackers:

• Sturdy box that is easy to mount on power carts and gators.
  • Possibly 3D printed, with drywall screw mounting tabs, or day pack strap slots.
  • Ideally be slim like a cell phone with the connectors on the top or bottom edges.
• Runs off a wide range of input voltages as some of our power carts are 12V and others are 24V.
  • Uses a low cost and efficient DC-DC converter for this.
  • Has an Anderson connector charging port.
• Self contained battery.
  • This allows it to run for a while even if the unit is accidentally disconnected.
  • Simple charge circuit so it is not overcharged.
• Should work in the hot sun or in an engine compartment in the summer.
• Robust non-breakable antennas.
  • Use a popular connector so we have access to many low cost antennas.
  • Option to screw the antennas to the box, or mount them up to 6 feet away.
• Low cost!

Map Server Features

• Can serve a web page for cell phone use.
  • Should be able to center the map on a given call sign.

Power Cart Battery Monitoring

Some of the power carts are pretty old now, and have broken battery monitoring units (Fuel Gauges). What we have been using for these is some version of a Xantrex Link 10, because way back then, that was the only product on the market. Nowadays, there are many more choices. One of the least expensive ones that has most of the features we would like is the Victron BMV-700 series. It's important to standardize on one, to make them easy to hook up to the trackers.

Manufacture	Model	Cost
Xantrex	LinkPRO	$195.08
Victron	BMV-700 Series	$127.59

VoIP PBX Project

No cost for this one, just finding the time to finish it

-- ClifCox - 24 Jan 2019