2. Core RANET principles and philosophies. Overview of Technologies
Presentation Outline
Who and what is RANET?
What does RANET do?
Core RANET principles and philosophies.
Overview of Technologies
Satellite
Community FM
Other
Where does RANET work?

3. “Just tell me where it has rained, and I will know what to do.”
Who are we?
“Just tell me where it has rained, and I will know what to do.”
- A nomad from Niger

4. Who are we?
The RANET program began in Africa in 1998/9, following the experience of Seasonal Outlook Forums. It was recognized that benefits from advances in science and applications could only be realized if populations outside central cities could be reached.
Africa: 1998/99/00 -> present
Pacific: > present
Asia, Indian Ocean: 2005

5. Who are we?
RANET is a cooperative effort of various national, regional, and international partners, who seek to:

6. Who are we?
RANET is a cooperative effort of various national, regional, and international partners, who seek to:
Make weather and related environmental information more accessible and useful to rural and resource poor populations in order to aid day-to-day resource decisions and prepare against natural hazards.

7. Who are we?
RANET is a cooperative effort of various national, regional, and international partners, who seek to:
Make weather and related environmental information more accessible and useful to rural and resource poor populations in order to aid day-to-day resource decisions and prepare against natural hazards.
Improve the dissemination capacities of national hydro-meteorological and related national services, NGOs, and other information producers, thereby increasing the profile of and active value of these organizations to local populations.

8. What we do? RANET INCLUDES: Web and Internet Community FM Radio
HF Radio
SMS (Cellular Text) Messaging
Other Equipment Use and Maintenance
RANET Community Building: Newsletters, etc
Web Hosting
Network Development and Management
Maintain Satellite and Associated Server Systems
Pilot and Training Activities
Test and Identify Communication Solutions

9. Core principles? RANET IS A CONCEPT
All activities are done in collaboration with, and with the approval of, the communities and national meteorological and associated services.

10. Core principles? RANET IS A CONCEPT
Ensuring sustainability and maintenance of systems is a priority of all RANET activities, therefore we encourage local ownership and use of communication systems for multiple purposes such as education, health campaigns, community discussions, etc.

11. Core principles? RANET IS A CONCEPT
RANET also works to build upon and augment existing networks and means of communication.

12. RANET Product Delivery - application

13. Wantok Community FM Radio Station
A Professional Quality FM Radio Station
A complete broadcast station in a suitcase
Ideal for a Community FM Radio Station
Readily accepts any audio source
Can be solar/wind powered for remote communities
The Wantok Suitcase FM Radio Broadcast System.
Hakupu Village, Niue FM station on the air…
Funded by NOAA, and NZAID

14. Wantok Community FM Radio Station
Applications for the Wantok SBS-1
Low cost, low power community radio station
Education and training
A tool for Socio-Economic Development
Ideal for Disaster Alerting and Response
Gets important information to the end user
Owned by the Community - for the Community
The Wantok Suitcase FM Radio Broadcast System

15. HF Radio Email What is HF Email? (two way communications)
received and sent via a HF Radio Transceiver
Requires a special radio modem
Modem interfaces to PC or laptop
Software can interface with many applications, e.g. Outlook Express, our mSTAR automatic weather station
Niue HF system, quickly installed after TC Heta
Funded by Met Office, UK

16. HF Radio Email Why HF Radio Email?
Cost effective two-way remote communications system
Easy to install and operate
Some Pacific NMS already have suitable HF Radios
Many staff already have HF radio experience
Typical HF radio system set-up

17. Commercial satellite - Iridium
A Reliable Portable Internet Backup Solution
(two way communications)
Constellation of 66 LEO satellites
Small Cellular phone type handset - SMS capable
Can access Iridium Direct Internet Gateway
Built in Modem
Rugged external marine antenna
All weather capability
Can use any Internet or Browser Client
Iridium atomic nr. Is 77 – original intent was for 77 satellites – hence name but found 66 was sufficient. LEO = low earth orbit. SMS = Small Message Service.
Niue Iridium Backup Coms System – installed April 2005

18. EMWIN Emergency Manager’s Weather Info Network
The Emergency Managers Information Network is a wireless, priority-driven computer weather data broadcast system.
EMWIN provides rapid dissemination of:
Warnings < 2 minutes
Forecasts ~ 5 minutes
Graphics ~ 10 – 15 minutes
Imagery ~ 10 – 15 minutes
Other (as time permits)
Typical EMWIN setup - Bonriki Airport Met Office Tarawa

19. EMWIN Data are collected from a variety of sources
NOAA NWS Gateway, Weather Wire
FTP, Internet
They are assembled at the EMWIN servers and:
Prioritized
Split into packets
Assembled into a data stream
The data stream is then sent to Wallops CDA (NESDIS) where it is:
Up-linked to satellite (GOES 10 & 12 => Worldspace ASIA-STAR)
The data stream is then available to be received by user stations
From here EMWIN products
FM Radio, HF
Commercial satellite
Monitoring unit is to be able to ascertain system and products status when PI NMS contact us re problems. New satellite will only be “enabled” when present satellite fails.
EMWIN C-Band Dish Antenna at Met Office, Port Vila, Vanuatu

20. Sample Warning WEHW40 PHEB 012158 TSUHWX
TEST TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 003
TEST PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER
TEST 11:58 AM HST 01 APR 2003
TEST
TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST
TEST THIS FOLLOWING BULLETIN IS FOR A CIVIL DEFENSE EXERCISE.
TEST TO: CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII
TEST SUBJECT: LOCAL TSUNAMI WARNING CANCELLATION BULLETIN TEST
TEST EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE URGENT TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED
TEST FOR ALL COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF HAWAII IS CANCELLED.
TEST AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THE FOLLOWING PRELIMINARY
TEST PARAMETERS:
TEST ORIGIN TIME - 11:40 AM HST, 01 APR 2003
TEST COORDINATES NORTH, WEST
TEST LOCATION - NEAR SOUTH KONA, BIG ISLAND
TEST MAGNITUDE

21. Sample Graphic

22. WorldSpace satellite broadcast
WorldSpace satellite broadcast (receive only)
Latest Satellite Digital Audio Broadcast Technology
Uses low-cost radio receivers and antennas
Data Interface available for PC or Laptop
Able to send HTML and images at 128 Kps
Data easily viewed using Internet Browser eg. IE6
Will carry the Pacific component of the EMWIN broadcast in the Asia-Pacific region on AsiaStar satellite
Issues
AsiaStar broadcast not received east
of about 180 degree meridian
Typical WorldSpace outdoors antenna and receiver

23. WorldSpace AsiaStar Coverage
AsiaStar Footprint and West Pacific Reception Area

24. WorldSpace Equipment Requirements
USD 160 In Footprint Costs
USD 160 Out of Footprint Costs
USD 500
AsiaStar Footprint and Out of Footprint Costs (excluding PC)

25. EMWIN and RANET Systems
Woleai Atoll, Yap
Tarawa
Nanumea Vaitupu Funafuti Niulakita
Kiribati
Papua New Guinea
Tokelau Is.
Solomon Islands
Tuvalu
KEY
Samoa
EMWIN systems all countries
RANET WorldSpace satellite receiver installed or pending
RANET HF / FM radio installed
RANET HF / FM radio installations in progress
Iridium Satellite / HF systems installed or pending
BoM is supplying/installing WorldSpace receivers at Tarawa, Funafuti; and with MetService help with installation, has completed Bauerfield site. BoM also supplying HF modems upgrades for sites in this note plus Niue.
Vanuatu
Cook Is
Fiji
Tonga
Siviri Village, Port Vila, Bauerfield Efate
Liku & Hakupu Villages
Hanan Airport
Niue

26. WorldSpace RANET Product Delivery

27. Tuvalu RANET Project Project deliverables
At three atolls – RANET systems at Met Offices
WorldSpace satellite receivers
HF Radio digital systems
Community FM Radio stations
FM solar/hand cranked radios for community
At a further atoll (Met Office)
HF Radio digital system
In-country assistance
Training
This project will provide HF radio digital for all Tuvalu met offices.
Main atoll -Funafuti from the air
Funded by: Met Office, UK

28. Meteorological & Disaster Mitigation Communications: “Blueprint” (Pacific)
Primary communications
EMWIN for warnings to “selected locations” or
WorldSpace satellite (where reception possible)
A coms link between “selected locations” and secondary (FM)
FM Community radio for redistribution plus some civil defence type siren for villages
FM solar/hand cranked radios for community
Local ISP for outbound coms
Back up communications
HF Radio and/or
Commercial satellite
FM solar/hand cranked radio

29. RANET
THANK YOU AND RANET WELCOMES YOUR PARTNERSHIP!
IOC ITIC
Web Site & Contact Information