This is the Narrow Band Emergency Message System (NBEMS) page for Highland Lakes ARES.

(This page is written by Gil, KA5GIL, and will be a major re-write with step-by-step instructions in installation, configuration and operation.  It can be edited by any HLARES member with knowledge to contribute.  Please "sign" your work with a "/signature" appended to it as in:   /gil  or /riley etc.   Anything not separately signed or where the reference is to "I" or "me" is probably written by ... me   ;-)  )

WORK IN PROGRESS

Related pages:  NBEMS_resources   NBEMS_usage 

Table of Contents 

Equipment needs

Radio

VHF

VHF rig is preferred. The NBEMS system will be used mainly for local written message traffic as an alternative to Winlink or plain vanilla psk31.  Anything from a 5watt HT to a basic VHF rig like a Yaesu FT1900R, an Icom ICV8000, Kenwood TM281A will do. (links to Austin Amateur Radio Supply for quick reference.)  For maximum utility, a dual band radio that will allow you to have the digital on one side and voice on the other is preferred.  Some examples are the IC208H, TMV71A and (my current rig) FTM350AR.

HF

There is also a case for an HF capability and we have use 10m (28120.15) to exercise the capability after Sunday nite nets.

Computer

The digital world in which NBEMS lives requires a computer. It can be anything from a netbook with 1mb of ram to a larger notebook, to a gaming laptop, to a desktop (anyone still have one of those?) computer. You need at least one USB port (can be USB 1.0), two if you are doing rig control.  The software will run on a Windows XP operating system or up. There is also a Linux version of the software but I don't speak Linux so this page will cover only Windows installations.  At least Windows 7 is recommended.  Win XP is all but dead as far as support and there are complications in using it with the external sound card.

External sound card

OK, here's where some of the controversy begins. Some folks will want to use an alternative sound device, but do yourself (and those of us who will support you) a favor:  Get a SignaLink. Most of us use the SignaLink USB version. The device with cable for your radio, shipped, will run around $110. It works.

Software

That is what the rest of this page is about. It is the "NBEMS" or Narrow Band Emergency Message System by W1HKJ, David Freese.  Here is an excellent introduction.  Also the Western Pennsylvania section appears to the the leader in usage and training on NBEMS and has excellent training materials.

Software Installation

Downloading and information

Some outside resources

Find some info and links to articles at http://uspacket.org/network/index.php/topic,44.0.html 

How to slideshows at www.arrl.org/nbems

Downloading

Download the software at www.w1hkj.com/download.html

You need some of the programs listed -- find the windows column if that is what your operating system is:

fldigi/flarq

flwrap

flmsg

flrig (if your radio is supported -- check the list)

Download all of those. They are all executable files for the automated Windows setup routine.

I have all of my ham programs under a "KA5GIL" subdirectory but you can just use the default "programs" or wherever you normally add programs in your operating system.

First install the FLdigi program -- click on the setup program

It's quick with almost no options

Then install the others

Next, FLwrap -- again, quick and simple

Then FLmsg

And finally FLrig (if you have your computer doing rig control and if your rig is listed as supported) 

NOTE:  The setup programs install each program into its own sub-directory with the version appended. I don't like that myself, and modify the installation.

The install will go to, for example,  ../FLdigi 1.2.3

When the program prompts for a possible different directory, I just change it to read   ../FLdigi

and so forth for FLmsg and FLrig.

Configuration

NBEMS Resources

Before you go much further, you may want to check out the NBEMS_resources page.  There is an excellent powerpoint, both basic and advanced, about the system.

FLdigi

Start up FLdigi and you see a configuration screen

There are many settings for your info, your computer sound card (SignaLink USB in my case), rig control, etc.

FLdigi is the central program and there is configuration needed on most of the tabs under Configuration. Most is intuitive.

FLdigi menu

Only the menu items of interest or that need configuration in order to get started are mentioned here.

As you get a section configured, you might think about clicking SAVE.

File

Just note what's there for future reference. In particular, see that you can navigate to critical folders from there.

Op Mode

Use the dropdown box and select PSK-31 for starters.

Configure

Again, only the tabs and portions needing initial attention are mentioned here.

Operator

fill in all the info. Much of it is used in the packages macros during operation. 

Rig Control

Of course, the idea of rig control assumes that you have an already function rig control cable from computer to rig.

There is a separate FLrig program, but I did the rig setup via the tab in FLdigi.

In the rig control portion there are several options for how the program talks to the radio. If your radio is listed, use the "Hamlib" function.

If your rig is not listed, there may be one close to it. Try that.

If none of the Hamlib configurations work, you will need to use Hardware PTT or RigCAT. 

NOTE: Somewhat obscure is a little checkbox, centered, to activate the use of a particular control method: "Use Hamlib" in my case. If you don't check the box, the program won't use the rig control method.

You can guess at most of it, hit Finish, and have a waterfall and rig control.

Did I mention clicking SAVE occasionally?

Sound card

Critical. Select your sound card. Mine is easy, it's a TigerTronics USB SignaLink (highly recommended)

If you are on the Windows XP operating system, there may be some additional computer setup you need to do.

• Disable the computer audio
• Adjust your mixer levels
• Master -- all the way up
• Wave -- 50%
• Others -- not used (like CD player)

Misc

• CPU - check the "slow" box if applicable
• NBEMS - critical: see section below on How to make FLmsg automatically open received messages 
• WX - Put in a nearby station. Burnet is KBMQ. I left all boxes checked

QRZ/eQSL

Complete those as applicable. If you don't intend to use FLdigi as your main digital program then you likely don't care about the lookups or logging. But it's a pretty nice program all around so go ahead and configure this stuff while you're there.

FLmsg

FLmsg -- here you will see some real power. A lot to look at here.

(these notes relate to version 1.1.15 or later. 1.1.14 had a different menu scheme)

An excellent outside resource

Good YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ3OXL8hrgQ&feature=youtu.be -- in addition to configuration, there is a good description of some workflow procedures in creating a message and sending it. More training and videos at http://panbems.org/. Pennsylvania is a large user of the software.

Menu

Config

Personal data -- fill it out

Date/time -- take the default

Files & formatting

• Wrap - check the box
• Naming files -- I checked all. That will give you a file in the ICS213 and other forms with a name of your callsign followed by a date/time group; and in other templates, you get a serial number. You can start the serial number at 1.
• MARS roster, find the file if that is applicable.
• HTML message text -- word wrap at 72
• Radiogram -- accept the defaults

File

Folders

This takes you to the main folder/file storage areas. Just remember this link is there.

HINT: when operating, I keep that Windows explorer open and off to the side all the time. You will want access to the WRAP folder you see there.

View

Take note of those choices. After a message is received those choices allow you to view it in those different formats.

HINT: the html version is the one you will print out for your served agency.

Q-forms

Dunno yet 

Wrap

• Import/Export -- intuitive
• You will use Export in particular if you want to create a message and queue it for later transmission. More about that in the operations section. 
• Autosend:  when you complete your message and want to transmit it immediately, click Autosend and the system automagically does it. 

Form

This is simply where you choose the pertinent form. (need to flesh out some of the usage here)

Template

Hmmm, studying on this

Config

How to make FLmsg automatically open received messages

(Gil 5/2/12) I found this hard to locate when troubleshooting with another station. The configuration is in FLdigi to cause a message received by it in Wrap format to popup in FLmsg and/or your web browser. Here is the screen and the settings:

NOTE WHEN UPDATING PROGRAM FILE:  If you update to a new version of FLmsg, be sure to go back to FLdigi and update the location of FLmsg. The NBEMS suite appears to want each version in a separate sub-directory so you will lose the link if you don't update it here.

Operation

(this section not yet re-written)

4/6/2012 (Gil) Initial tests

Increasingly impressed with this program. Made a couple of contacts quickly on psk31 -- Japan and Chili on 10 meters-- and found it easy to use the macros, easy to log the contact. There are 4 sets of macros available (two blank sets for your customization). 

There is a comprehensive online user guide at http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/Logbook.html and a beginner's guide will be on your computer when you install the program.

4/8/2012 (Gil)

Last night Riley and I successfully sent and acknowledged an ICS 213 formatted test message on 145.550 FM -- point-to-point. I will outline the details later.

Sending a message

4/15/2012 (Gil) Actually sending the message (Autosend mode)

(see (5/4/12) How to Manually send msg for more detailed MANUAL send mode)

Totally different understanding tonight about how to send that msg once it is created in FLmsg. Here is what I think I now understand:

 I have NBEMS.files directory (under my user in Win 7) with this structure

\NBEMS.files

\ARC

\ICS

\WRAP

\auto

\recv

\send

and in  http://www.w1hkj.com/flmsg-help/index.html  it says:

Wrap (Import / Export / AutoSend)

Import the data fields from a Wrapped data file.  If the data file is corrupt you will be given the opportunity to either allow flmsg to recover as many fields as possible or to view the file using the default text editor.

Export the data fields to a Wrapped data file

Create a wrapped datafile and save in the NBEMS.files/WRAP/auto directory.  If running, fldigi will find and automatically transmit the file.

So the flow goes like this:

1. Have FLdigi running
2. Create the msg in FLmsg
3. Click Autosend -- in which case it transmits immediately (saves it first, accept the default), OR
4. Do File|Wrap|Export and save it in the Wrap/Send directory for later insertion into FLdigi and sending.

I think the FLwrap program is for wrapping other files, like a jpeg.

Resulting output:

The transmitted msg comes across looking something like this:

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:crlf][WRAP:fn Test_213.213]<flmsg>1.1.13

<ics213>

:to:6 KA5GIL

:fm:5 W5RLY

:d1:10 2012-04-1

:t1:5 1937

:sb:12 TEST MESSAGE

:s1:5 Riley

:mg:4 TEST

[WRAP:chksum 08FB][WRAP:end]

And it automatically ends up in TWO places:  In the FLmsg message form AND in a browser window ready to print out and hand to your served agency.

Here is what the resulting HTML file looks like for printing: Test_213.html. Pretty impressive. 

And here is what the FLmsg form looks like which is where the message was authored: 

--- end ---

(5/4/12) How to Manually send msg

In prowling the internet I came upon a suggested methodology that solves a problem I had wondered about -- sending a msg designated for a specific station with more than just dumping the wrapped msg via autosend.

Workflow 

1. Create the msg in FLmsg.
2. Do File|Wrap|Export (instead of autosend)
3. When the file is saved (I have mine set to use date/time group), append some additional identifier to the file name, e.g. _ws_rpt_1
4. In FLdigi
1. Enter, e.g., W5RLY de KA5GIL QTC 1
2. Drag the wrapped msg to the transmit window
3. Enter  de KA5GIL k
4. Add ^r (to go back to receive mode at the end)
5. F10 to transmit when the channel is clear.

This has the advantages of

1. Setting up more than one msg to be transmitted
2. Having a more complete transmission (to and from and signoff at the end) -- other stations on the channel know to ignore although the msg will popup on every station
3. Better planning for timing of the transmission
4. Clear beginning and ending of the transmission

Additionally, it should be easy to QSY off to the side and especially important if it's a large msg.

How to forward a msg:

In the FLdigi transmit window, put something like this ...

de KA5GIL ... 

then follow these steps:

Here is how to FORWARD a message, or even a message with a reply.

Open the received files folder, it will be ../NBEMS.files/WRAP/recv

Find the wrapped file in question (it will have a name of something.wrap) , then drag and drop it into the transmit window. Here is an earlier msg and it will show with the "wrapping" and ready to be sent:

[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn KA5GIL-20120504-002923Z.213]<flmsg>1.1.13

<ics213>

:to:3 Jim

:fm:3 Gil

:d1:10 2012-05-03

:t1:5 1929L

:sb:5 popup

:s1:4 /gil

:d2:10 05/03/2012

:t2:5 1932L

:mg:4 Test

:rp:4 test

[WRAP:chksum EED0][WRAP:end]

de ka5gil

^r

(the ^r puts the radio back in receive mode (assuming you have rig control working))

----------------- 30 ---------------

Testing, practice and exercising

Highland Lakes ARES digital net

Every Sunday night, 2050hrs local, or immediately following the net on the local repeater (146.66, tone 88.5).

NBEMS nets for possible practice purposes:

Note: I do not know if any of these are open for outside participation or not. My impression is that at least the paNBEMS net is.

You now