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Old January 22nd 20, 02:51 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Tom BravoMike
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Default Questions/Comments about OGN

On Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 4:04:12 PM UTC-6, wrote:
On Monday, January 20, 2020 at 11:10:39 AM UTC-6, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
I am interested in the Open Glider Network (OGN) work with a possible implementation around the Chicago area. See http://wiki.glidernet.org/ for details. You can see tracked objects at http://live.glidernet.org. As you can imagine not much going on right now on January 20th - except around Santiago Chile where 10 gliders are lining up with 3 tow planes (including two ASW-29's from Germany!).

A couple of comments and questions;

- The US lags far behind in OGN implementation with only 6 sites (Albuquerque, Williams, Minden, Moriarty, Edgewood and Lake Placid). We are tied with Namibia (!) and are behind Canada (8 sites). For comparison Germany has 281 and UK has 166 sites.

- Region 11 PASCO (Pacific Soaring Council) mentioned in March of 2019 that they were implementing OGN in the region (see their Yahoo Group thread below). Looks like Williams has been implemented. What other sites are in the works?

- Has OGN been used at some contests/regattas/events? If so, which?

- On http://wiki.glidernet.org/ there is this comment, "At the moment you already can see beacons from PilotAware, SPOT, Garmin InReach, Skymaster, FANET (paragliders) and Spidertracks circulating through our network." (plus FLARM of course). Does this mean that **ALL** the heavily used soaring SPOT and InReach trackers are showing up on all the OGN tracking sites?

- What is the typical cost to implement an OGN site?

- What is the typical range of an OGN site? Assumming flat terrain and an antenna on top of a typical hangar.

- What is the primary motivation for OGN? Watching contests in "real" time? Safety? In cockpit use?

Thanks,
John OHM Ω

==================================================

From: PASCO - Pacific Soaring Council, Inc
Date: Fri, Mar 29, 2019 at 8:58 AM
Subject: Morgan, Region 11 OGN Fund Announcement

OGN Fund Announcement

To PASCO SSA Region 11,

PASCO is pleased to announce the creation of a fund to support the
installation of Open Glider Network (OGN) receiver stations throughout our
soaring region (SSA Region 11). The approved budget for this enterprise is
$2,000 over two years. The funds are expressly for the purpose of covering
material expenses required to build the receiver stations for the creation
of a Region 11 OGN network. The initial target coverage areas for the OGN
network are the most commonly used soaring cross country routes.

Creation of this OGN network will enhance the visibility and safety of
soaring in Region 11. OGN receiver stations provide not only real time
position reports and flight tracks of FLARM equipped gliders to computers
and mobile devices with internet connections, but also provide real time
data that could support search and retrieve/rescue operations. If you are
not familiar with the OGN network log into glidertracker.org and you will
see all aircraft that have registered and transmitting FLARM devices. You
will note heavy application of this technology in Europe and PASCO is
actively supporting its introduction in our region.

Project Coordinator: PASCO member Philip Lee has
volunteered to lead the project of planning, building and installation of
OGN receivers at key locations throughout Region 11. Philip designed,
constructed and installed the first OGN receiver station in our region at Williams, CA and will coordinate the initial rollout of OGN receivers in Region 11, prioritizing heavily-trafficked glider airspace. He is your best resource
for starting your own build project and suggesting additional station
locations.

PASCO requests that all individuals contact Philip Lee prior to
construction of a new OGN receiver station to avoid duplication of station
locations or significant overlapping coverage areas. Please coordinate your
projects with Philip or volunteer to take on a receiver build and
installation for a specific location. Any help will be greatly appreciated
by the entire soaring community as the benefit is great.

To Request Reimbursement for OGN receiver station material costs: Submit
copies of receipts and the intended location for the OGN receiver
station(s) that you built via email to .

Regards,
Dan Colton
President, Pacific Soaring Council


John, as you well know, I'm flying on every day of the season around N. IL when the weather is decent and I can get a towpilot. On any given day, there may be 3-5 gliders between our 3 clubs here on a x-country. Often I'm the only one. I can see no purpose for an OGN network to be implemented at probably considerable cost. Let's focus instead on promoting x-country flying. If you are looking for me, I'll let you have my InReach page address and you get a trace in 10' intervall. This hole subject is a total non-starter for me.

Herb


Herb, count me as well, beginning this coming season. So there will be two of us. And seeing us two soaring (thanks to the OGN), there will be more pilots joining us, including x-country flying. I fully support building-up the OGN network in the Chicagoland area (and willing to help setting it up). Sorry (regret) couldn't attend the presentation last Monday at the Schaumburg Airport.