In a previous post, I talked about the experience of being on a comms support team for the Orange PD in the 2025 Baker-To-Vegas (B2V) Challenge Cup Relay. In this post, let’s take a look at how we implemented a new comms methodology.
A B2V support team provides the following functions:
1) Communications command center – Usually a hotel room in Pahrump or Las Vegas.
2) Follow vehicle (FV) – This vehicle follows the runners across the desert.
3) Leap-Frog (LF) vehicle – This vehicle supports the runner transition at each checkpoint.
4) Catcher – This is an individual in the LF vehicle that manages the runner transition at each checkpoint.
5) Shuttle vehicles (SV) – Vehicles that move support personnel around the race course.
One of the great challenges in the B2V race is meeting the communications requirements of each support function. There are seven comm requirements:
1) Communications base to all support personnel.
2) FV to LF and command center.
3) LF to FV and catcher.
4) Catcher to LF.
5) SV to FV, LF, and command center.
6) Internet access for everyone.
7) Mobile phone comms for everyone.
Comms is a challenge because there is incomplete wireless coverage in the Mojave desert. Verizon does a good job of deploying mobile cell towers along the course, but its use is limited to race officials and emergency teams.
Traditionally, Ham radio operators provided most of the comms for race teams. Portable 2M/70cm cross-band repeaters were deployed in strategic locations along the course. Mobile transceivers were placed in the support vehicles, and H/T’s were used by the Catchers to talk to the FV.
The drawbacks of using Ham gear include the costs and complexity, along with specialized expertise and Ham license requirements.
This year, Scott MacGillivray (KM6RTE), Manager of the Orange PD, CA (OPD) comms support team, designed and implemented a new comms model. Using Starlink satellite devices along with mobile phone GPS and messaging apps, Scott revolutionized the way the support team communicates.
The comms model included the following components:
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- All support vehicles were provided a Starlink device with a magnetic mount for roof mounting.
- The FV had an APRS app that connected to APRS.fi via Starlink.
- The FV had a mobile phone running Glympse that transmitted the FV GPS location to the Internet via Starlink.
- The FV and LF vehicles had a 2M mobile Ham radio.
- The Catchers had a 2M Ham H/T for comms with the LF and FV.
- All support personnel were members of a WhatsApp group for centralized text messaging.
- All support personnel enabled WiFi calling on their mobile phones for voice calls via Starlink.
This model provided all the required comms, across the entire race course.
You can see in the above image how it all fits together.
The critical success factor was – Starlink.
All of the moving support vehicles in the desert had a Starlink device mounted on the roof. This provided a WiFi access point that all support personnel could connect to with their mobile phone.
Starlink routed all of the comms traffic to/from the Internet. This eliminated the need to have a connection to a mobile carrier. In other words, Starlink eliminated the reliance on the major phone companies.
Through the coordinated use of mobile phone apps that provided GPS locations, maps, texting, and voice communications, all of the support comms needs were met.
Ham radio was used in two instances. First, a command center was deployed in a hotel room in Pharump, NV. A 2M antenna was deployed on the patio deck. This provided 2M comms whenever a support vehicle was within radio range.
2M comms was also used by the Catcher’s. This was needed because the Catchers operate their function outside the range of the LF vehicles Starlink WiFi. If a Catcher did not have a Ham license, then a GMRS radio was used instead.
The new comms operating model designed by Scott MacGillivray worked great. There were a few minor glitches, but they were remediated very quickly.
This comms model performed better than the traditional Ham radio model:
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- It reduced the size and complexity of required equipment.
- It required fewer personnel to implement.
- It provided WiFi Internet access across the entire race route.
- It allowed personnel to communicate regardless of location.
- It provided precise and timely GPS location positions.
I look forward to next years race. We will do some fine-tuning to the comms model. We are also considering adding a live video feed of the runner.
Congratulation to Scott for being fearless in his quest for a better comms model. Certainly a job well done.
73,
N1SPW