Digipeating
- SafecomLink
- Dec 12, 2025
- 1 min read
Updated: Dec 29, 2025
The Digipeating feature in SafecomLink is a crucial element for extending the operational reach of communications, especially within Emergency Communications (EmComm) networks.
Key Value Proposition
Digipeating allows radio signals to be relayed over longer distances when a direct link between two stations is unavailable. This capability is essential in EmComm scenarios where messages need to reach inaccessible locations or stations beyond normal range.
Operational Details and Benefits
Technology Foundation: Digipeating capabilities are specifically utilized with the VaraFM protocol.
Extended Reach: It enables:
Live Chat: Chatting between stations is possible through VaraFM digipeaters, allowing for a live chat over up to two hops (using up to two digipeaters).
Broadcasts: Broadcast messages can be extended via digipeater chains for broader coverage. Using a pre-defined alert tag combined with broadcasts propagating through VaraFM digipeaters is an effective method for rapidly distributing critical messages through an entire EmComm network.
Beacons and Call-outs: Digipeaters can be employed to extend the reach of beacons (keepalive signals) and Call-outs, confirming the presence of team members and assessing propagation over a wider area.
Digipeating acts as a communication bridge, transforming a single-hop network into a multi-hop relay system, critical for maintaining connectivity in environments where direct radio contact is unreliable.
