Introduction

1. Introduction • Meteorological communications in the SW Pacific • AFTN for many years – then it became a charged service in many countries • Countries switched to email – now a problem in most places • Over subscribed for the available capacity • Technical problems within ISPs and connections • Not timely enough for meteorological communications • Huge bills when staff forget to disconnect from dial-up systems • Internet surfing means exposure to viruses • Anti-virus software not kept up to date • Messages dropped • We are now moving to RANET • HF radio digital email • Satellite digital email • Base station established at Melbourne, Australia Woleai, Yap RANET

2. RANET • RANET is an “Originator to End User” System • Designed to provide information to remote communities • Information received via WorldSpace, HF or commercial satellite receivers • Uses small Community FM Radio Stations to rebroadcast (not strictly RANET but included in the concept) • Projects include a number of FM solar/hand cranked radios for community Information rebroadcast by local Community FM Radio Station…Liku Village, Niue. Testing at MetService

3. 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

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

5. WorldSpace RANET Product Delivery WorldSpace AsiaStar Product Delivery

6. 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)

7. Internet Communications to and from Pacific Country ISPs • Often no Backup System Available • In the event of ISP equipment failure • In the event of Satellite failure eg Intelsat 804 • In the event that main satellite has to be “parked” in strong winds; eg tropical cyclones • There are cost-effective solutions… Typical ISP satellite coms equipment.

8. HF Radio Email • What is HF Email? (two way communications) • Email 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 email system, quickly installed after TC Heta Funded by Met Office, UK

9. 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 Email system set-up

10. Pacific communications projects(Completed or in progress) • Vanuatu – Siviri Village RANET project Funding agency: NOAA • Vanuatu - HF/VHF radio systems (three locations) Funding agency: Met Office, UK HF/VHF radio system for Vanuatu (under test in NZ)

11. EMWIN and RANET Systems Woleai Atoll, Yap Tarawa Nanumea Vaitupu Funafuti Niulakita Kiribati Papua New Guinea Tokelau Is. Solomon Islands Tuvalu KEY EMWIN systems all countries RANET WorldSpace satellite receiver installed or pending RANET HF Email / FM radio installed RANET HF Email / FM radio installations in progress Iridium Satellite / HF Email systems installed or pending Samoa Vanuatu Cook Is Fiji Tonga Siviri Village, Port Vila, Bauerfield Efate Liku & Hakupu Villages Hanan Airport Niue

12. Pacific RANET Network Design Pacific RANET Network Design