From July 15th to 18th, 2025, the Volunteer Radio Association (HS1AB), in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, successfully conducted a field deployment and training program centered on New Packet Radio (NPR) technology during the Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise hosted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. The exercise took place at the Air and Coastal Defense Command (ACDC) in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, Thailand.
This engagement marked a significant milestone in integrating amateur radio-based data communication technology into real-world emergency response simulation. NPR, a modern digital communication system that operates in the UHF spectrum and allows IP-based data transmission over long distances without dependency on cellular infrastructure, played a pivotal role in supporting tactical internet connectivity in the exercise area. Figure 1 : Group Photo of Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise
Scope of NPR Deployment:
NPR nodes were deployed strategically across the exercise zone to provide decentralized and resilient digital communication coverage. These deployments ensured stable internet access and inter-network communication between all participating agencies, especially in environments where commercial cellular networks were either congested or unavailable.
The system served 15 organizations in total:
5 governmental agencies, including civil defense and military logistics units
10 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) specializing in humanitarian response, search and rescue, and medical aid
In total, 309 personnel from diverse institutions and disciplines directly utilized the communication backbone enabled by NPR. The exercise scenario simulated post-disaster conditions where internet-based coordination tools, particularly mobile situational awareness platforms, are essential. Figure 2 : E25FGL Guiding NPR Installation During Field Training In this photo, E25FGL (wearing a brown shirt) is providing direct guidance to a group of trainees on how to properly install and configure a New Packet Radio (NPR) Go-Box. The session is part of the hands-on component of the HADR 2025 training exercise, emphasizing knowledge transfer and real-world deployment readiness for emergency communication systems.
Figure 3 : Participant Deploying NPR Equipment Under Trainer Supervision A trainee is seen setting up a New Packet Radio (NPR) Go-Box as part of a hands-on field training session during the HADR 2025 exercise. The activity was conducted under the guidance of the trainer team, aiming to build participant competency in establishing resilient communication links using amateur radio-based digital infrastructure.
Key Implementation Highlight:
A notable success of the deployment was the installation of NPR at the Water Rescue Simulation Zone, which enabled field responders to operate the Android Tactical Awareness Kit (ATAK) system effectively. This integration allowed seamless real-time location sharing, team coordination, and sensor data reporting via secure IP-based channels powered by NPR infrastructure. Figure 4 : TAK Operational Network over NPR Infrastructure This image shows the operational map interface from TAK (Tactical Awareness Kit) displaying multiple checkpoints (CP1–CP6) and communication units (COMU-Q, T, U, V, Z) during the HADR 2025 exercise. The data link between units was established using New Packet Radio (NPR) over UHF, enabling real-time coordination and geospatial awareness without reliance on cellular infrastructure. This integration supports decentralized situational awareness, enhancing field decision-making and operational efficiency.
The NPR links were configured to work with tactical Go-Boxes — portable communication units designed for rapid deployment and easy configuration in austere environments. This demonstrated NPR’s capability to function as a reliable last-mile internet delivery platform in mission-critical HADR scenarios.
Capacity Building and Training:
As part of the deployment, hands-on training sessions were conducted for operational personnel, including government officials, volunteer technicians, and humanitarian workers. These sessions covered:
Basic understanding of New Packet Radio protocol and architecture
Practical configuration and antenna deployment
Integration with tactical tools such as ATAK
Best practices in spectrum management and link optimization
The knowledge transfer component ensured that participants gained the technical know-how to operate and maintain NPR systems in real-world emergencies, especially in regions with limited telecommunications infrastructure.
Figure 5 : NPR Gobox and Antenna Deployment for NPR at Water Rescue Station This photo shows the field team in the process of installing an NPR (New Packet Radio) unit at the Water Rescue station. In the background, an omnidirectional UHF antenna is being erected to establish a reliable radio link with the master node. This setup ensures stable digital communication coverage for tactical operations during the HADR exercise. Figure 6 : Trainer Team Preparing NPR Equipment for Water Rescue Station Deployment This image captures the trainer team from the Volunteer Radio Association (HS1AQS) in the process of assembling and configuring New Packet Radio (NPR) equipment. The setup was prepared for deployment at the Water Rescue training station as part of the HADR exercise, supporting hands-on training and field testing in real operational conditions. Figure 7 : Operational Display of WinTAK during HADR Exercise 2025 This image shows the real-time situational map on WinTAK (Windows Tactical Awareness Kit), used during the joint HADR exercise. All spatial and coordination data displayed were transmitted through the New Packet Radio (NPR) network, enabling decentralized tactical data sharing in the field.
Conclusion:
This successful deployment under real-world HADR simulation conditions exemplifies the transformative potential of community-driven digital communication technologies like New Packet Radio. The ability to deliver tactical internet services via amateur radio spectrum aligns with Thailand’s broader resilience-building strategy, especially in disaster-prone regions where traditional networks are often insufficient.
This initiative was made possible by the ongoing support from partners and the open-source communication community, with contributions documented on our Open Collective platform. The project continues to develop field-ready NPR Go-Boxes and training programs to strengthen Thailand’s emergency communication capabilities.
Figure 8 : New Packet Radio (NPR) Master Node Deployment Unit
This image shows a fully assembled New Packet Radio (NPR) Master Node, deployed by COMU THAILAND as part of the “New Packet Radio and Go Box Deployment in Thailand” project. The unit integrates multiple communication components into a ruggedized, field-ready enclosure:
4G Router: Provides internet backhaul via LTE networks, serving as the primary gateway for routing IP traffic into the NPR system.
NPR Modem: Acts as the central node in the NPR communication topology, modulating and transmitting digital data over UHF frequencies using IP-based protocols.
RF Amplifier: Boosts the transmitted signal power from the NPR modem to ensure long-range UHF communication between distributed nodes.
The system is engineered to serve as a master node, enabling tactical internet connectivity in disconnected or infrastructure-limited environments. It plays a critical role in linking remote NPR clients back to a centralized network, supporting applications such as the Android Tactical Awareness Kit (ATAK) during emergency response operations.
Figure 9 : New Packet Radio (NPR) Slave Node with 2.4 GHz Wireless Access Point
This image depicts a New Packet Radio (NPR) Slave Node deployed as part of COMU THAILAND’s tactical communication infrastructure during emergency and HADR operations. The unit functions as a field terminal that receives digital data over UHF from a remote NPR Master Node and redistributes the connection via local wireless access.
The components integrated in this Go-Box include:
Wireless Access Point (2.4 GHz): Provides WiFi connectivity for end-user devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It enables field personnel to access mission-critical applications like Android Tactical Awareness Kit (ATAK) or online coordination tools in disconnected environments.
NPR Modem: Receives IP data via UHF from the master node. This modem enables long-range, infrastructure-independent network links using amateur radio frequencies.
RF Amplifier: Ensures strong and stable reception/transmission of UHF signals between the slave and master nodes, enhancing overall network coverage and performance.
This slave node setup transforms UHF packet data into a usable 802.11 WiFi network, thereby bridging the digital divide in austere or post-disaster environments. During the 2025 Joint HADR Exercise in Thailand, this configuration was effectively used in field areas such as the Water Rescue Zone, supporting operational teams with real-time data access over a fully decentralized mesh of NPR-connected Go-Boxes.
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