Direct Communications Ink

cBridge Fleetmap and Implementation

How to bridge IPSC networks and not get lost...a concept

A "fleetmap" is a table generally of what channel is in what position in the subscriber radio.  So zones are are rows and channels or modes are the columns.  Some map design takes advantage of the channel knob detent so that the user can quickly go to either mode 1 or 16 and count back as needed from memory without looking at the radio.  So maps tend to list common modes across the zones in the same position in the zone where possible.  I've added a custom user zone that is more common, just stick what you want there.

This is page attempts to demonstrate the concept and help visually with organizing the desired goals.  Excel would likely be a better approach for design and display of a fleetmap but I wanted to demonstrate the visual relationship directly for discussion.

I think one could make a case for this being more appropriate for the cBridge administrator or possibly for the network owners/sysops.  The owners/sysops would then distill this further so to be specific for his local users.  Obviously Owner's TG and Super All-Net could or should be withheld or very tightly managed.  More on Talkgroup details.

Zone 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
NorCal All Net NorCal to DCI NorCal to TRBO-6 NorCal to Port 4 NorCal to Port 5 NorCal,
DCI & T6
              Norcal 1Only Repeater Owners TG  Only Super
All-Net
DCI All Net DCI to NorCal DCI to TRBO-6 DCI to Port 4 DCI to Port 5 NorCal,
DCI & T6
              DCI 2 Only Repeater Owners TG  Only Super
All-Net
TRBO-6 All Net TRBO-6 to NorCal TRBO-6 to DCI TRBO-6 to Port 4 TRBO-6 to Port 5 NorCal,
DCI & T6
              TRBO-6 Only Repeater Owners TG  Only Super
All-Net
Port 4 All Net Port 4 to NorCal Port 4 to DCI Port 4 to TRBO-6 Port 4 to Port 5 N/A               Port 4 Main TG Only Repeater Owners TG  Only Super
All-Net
Port 5 All Net Port 5 to NorCal Port 5 to DCI Port 5 to Port 4 Port 5 to Port 4 N/A               Port 5 Main TG Only Repeater Owners TG  Only Super
All-Net
WB6WUI
Subscriber
Favorites
All Net DCI to
NorCal
DCI
Comm2
DCI to
TRBO-6
  NorCal,
DCI & T6
              TRBO-6 Repeater Owners TG  Only Super
All-Net

NOTES: 

Columns 6-13 would be for future build-out for 3 or 4 network connects rather then none or 2.  This is where it gets fairly complex as the network interconnect combinations would grow (5 squared minus 5 just for 5 networks with only 2 network combinations, 3 and 4 network connects creates a vary large matrix).  The idea is to develop a systematic scheme now before loading cBridge, so that it's easier to manage and visualize and would reduce the likelihood of needing to rework cBridge routes and IPSC network talkgroups.

Mode names are currently descriptive for clarity in concept rather than shortened and permanent.

Zone's 1-5/Mode 1 would be dedicated to a new and unique TG ID on each repeater on all IPSC Networks to ease phase in of the cBridge.  Ultimately it could be any TG on each network as desired including the main (mode 14).

Zone's 1-5/Mode 14 would be local only default TG on each IPSC Network (as if no cBridge)

All-Net is a unique TG ID number on all networks but not tied to any existing network TG.  Super-All-Net would be the normal or main TG used by each network and tied together by the cBridge (emergency, hailing, nets, etc.)

The actual CPS codeplug will be different as the TG number and local RF info will vary, so the mode labels in the above chart are only for the purpose intended and not what may actually be coded in your plug.

The map would be published to all users, radios would be programmed the same for the 5 networks on the ports at least the first 5-10 modes in each zone to show the routing common to all port.

A network manager or local subscriber could create additional personal zones and fill them as desired, using the local network cBridge mapped TG's as a building block but custom for the user.

Common modes through the rows will help the user memorize the purpose and ease the zoning change. 

Mode 16 might be the Super All-Net (Main TG on all IPSC networks), tying all networks together for net, emergencies, etc.

This map is designed for the 5x16 limitation of 5 ports on cBridge and 16 modes max in a zone.  Mobiles have unlimited modes in each zone and unlimited zones but for the limit of memory in the radios (approx 1k modes)


Actual Talkgroup ID numbers could follow a similar pattern to keep it simple for the cBridge and network admins.  For example, 3106 is the state location for the NorCal cBridge (3106), then1-5 through 5 for the ports, then 01 through 99 for a total of a 7 digit unique world-wide TG ID's.  Example: NorCal is on port 1, so All-Net could be 3101101, DCI All-net would be 3106201, NorCal's Owners TG would be 3106115 for the 15th position on the fleetmap.  These numbers would be unique across all networks so no conflicts in the cBridge routing maps and admins decode the ID's simply without the need of a look-up chart or table.   I might get around to a table of TG ID's to aid in visualizing the concept but the point is to create a system sooner than later so that was more bridges bridge there is no chance of duplicate ID's gumming up the bridges.

This is a work in progress only.  Input desired over the air or in Email...

Not ready to print but will be sized for a landscape print...

 

Revised: 03/18/2012 09:59

Webmaster