NPR 3.0 & ARDC Funding Application
This page was written when we applied for funding and summarises our ask and case for NPR 3.0 - left here for context
Background
Whilst interest in NPR has been high and NPR can boast many live deployments internationally, usage in the UK has been constrained by:
- NPR does not support Listen Before Transmit / Polite Spectrum Access, which conflicts with UK licensing restrictions on 70cms due to our secondary user status
- The spectral purity of the radio module in the original 70cms NPR hardware
- No formal, tested, hardware available for on 2m
These constraints have ultimately impacted adoption, where interest is very quickly met with obstacles that have either severely constrained usage or prevented it completely. This in turn has become self fulfilling - usage is limited, which means interest is limited, which means innovation is limited.
Building NPR-H 3.0
In February 2024, a partnership between the Online Amateur Radio Community (OARC), Localino (design and manufacturer of NPR-H), with support, input and consultancy from the NPR inventor F4HDK, submitted a funding application to the ARDC to design, build, and test the next generation of New Packet Radio (NPR) hardware and software, then seed usage and adoption of NPR in the UK and Ireland.
The project will:
- In Phase 1: Commission Localino to design and build upgraded New Packet Radio hardware, moving to a modular architecture, building upgraded capabilities for 70cms and new capabilities for 2m and 23cms. Upgraded firmware will support new capabilities to achieve a license compliant Polite Spectrum Access / Listen Before Transmit
- In Phase 2: Procure 26 x New Packet Radio units to seed usage and adoption of NPR in the UK and Ireland – building activity hubs and creating interest, innovation and feedback
- In Phase 3: Make the resultant NPR devices internationally available for use in Amateur data networks and Emergency communications
With this approach, we’re seeking to
- Remove the current technical and license constraints with spectrally compliant and upgraded hardware and software
- Increase NPR frequency coverage to support 2m and 23cms, then
- Provide the foundations of a network on which to innovate in the UK and Ireland.
We know how such an approach can be so effective – through open access and with a freedom to innovate, the community engages, the network grows, users innovate and build services, which means the network has value and further grows. Whilst seeded in the UK, networks are fully interoperable with international 44/8 and Packet Radio networks, both for Amateur and Emergency networks