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Dedicated Solely to
Emergency Communications by RADIO
EMCOMM MONTHLY
“PREPAREDNESS is our most important PRODUCT”
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NUMBER THREE AUGUST
2004
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EM ONLINE: www.emcomm.org/em/ INTERNET: www.emcomm.org
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IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome...
to issue Number Three of EMCOMM MONTHLY.
Following SHORT CIRCUITS
this month has some provocative comments
about WinLink2000® from Bill Frazier, W7ARC.
RETRO REVIEW
we look back at the problem of not being able to clearly answer
the question:
August 2004.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• DATE CHANGE ... EMCOMMWEST 2005 ...
RENO, NEVADA ... MAY 14-15, 2005
WATCH FOR UPDATES AT: www.emcommwest.org
• EMCOMMWEST 2004 is reviewed
(and “plugged”) very nicely by Jerry Wellman, W7SAR
in the August issue of WorldRadio.
• ROAD RALLIES AND EMCOMM
The SOJOURNERS ARC recently provided EMCOMM for “Goldenwest
2004” a 27 hour
off-highway road rally. This type of event provides
excellent EMCOMM experience in a very
“realistic setting”. A brief informal summary of the event,
including some tips and
observations (from an EMCOMM perspective), is available upon request
from k6soj@arrl.net
Some years ago it was
reported that the military was attempting to develop the ultimate
off-road vehicle. Without wheels or tracks, it would “walk”
over obstacles supported by six
mechanical legs. Assisted by onboard computers which were
supposed to keep it upright, its
two man crew would start, stop and steer it at speeds up to 5 mph.
Several years and
millions of (tax-payer) dollars later a prototype was finally ready
for field testing. After a few
“flops” the project was aborted. The contraption just
didn’t work. And it was pointed out that
a horse soldier on a trusty steed could do everything the mechanical
behemoth was supposed
to do; and could do it quicker, easier, faster, better and...cheaper!
Then there was the legendary “Space Pen”
which was developed at great expense.
It could write in the weightlessness of outer space as well as upside
down on earth! It worked
OK, but it wasn’t necessary. The Russian Cosmonauts did the
same thing using ten-cent
pencils!
There is a schism developing with the ranks
of amateur radio. One faction is promoting
complicated and expensive computer controlled radio-landline linked
hybrid systems for
handling traffic. Currently it is receiving a lot of publicity.
Whether you choose to invest time
and money in these systems is up to you. Maybe they will work
and maybe they won’t. Time
will tell.
EM's philosophy is: ANY
EMERGENCY OR AUXILIARY SYSTEM (for anything) MUST NOT
DEPEND UPON THE SYSTEM IT IS SUPPOSED TO
SUBSTITUTE, REPLACE OR RESCUE.
Would you board a ship if you were told that
the lifeboats were tied to the ship?
Would you board an oversea airliner if you
knew the life rafts’ inflation devices depended
upon the aircraft’s onboard compressor... instead
of a CO2 cylinder? Would you allow yourself
to have surgery in a hospital where the emergency
generator’s starter electrical power source
was the mains? Would you take your family
boating without a rope-pull started back-up outboard
motor and some oars? Do we want an emergency
communication system that is dependent upon
commercial power sources and/or commercial landline (email and/or
Internet) services?
If not, then all EMCOMM operators must be trained
and practiced in the basics of message traffic
communications using only simple radio gear on
battery power.
EM believes that instead of spending
time, energy, and money on these landline systems, we
would be better off developing a corps of trained and skilled traffic
handlers. (Like we used to
have in the country.)
EM further believes that emergency and
auxiliary communications should be able to “stand
alone” and will continue to publish articles pointing out the
pitfalls of putting our EmComm
eggs in any basket that is dependent upon the infrastructure.
EM will continue to promote developing and
maintaining the skills necessary for effective
traffic handling via the time-tested and proven modes of FM, SSB,
a CW, and yes...even
digital, providing the signals are 100% wireless, reliable, and
do not rely upon commercial
landline or satellite services.
EM would like to see a corps of 60,000
skilled EMCOMM operators (10% of U.S. hams), all
of who are capable of proficiently handling record message traffic,
using only stations capable
of operating without any dependence whatsoever upon
"the infrastructure."
In other words...we promote the concept of:
“K.I.S.S.” - EM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: “I am told that
I should check into ARES® nets as “often as possible”.
Why should I
check into a net when I don’t have any traffic?”
A: 1. It just may be that there is
actually some traffic for your area.
2. It is
possible that you may be needed as a relay.
3. It
will prevent you from missing an important announcement.
4. It
promotes the team concept and helps make a network more
effective.
5. It
shows others that you care.
6. It
gives knowledge of current band conditions.
7. It
provides a regular radio and antenna check.
8. It
will help keep your net operating discipline and skills in proper
tune.
9. It
demonstrates your commitment to “service to the public”.
10. It is rewarding
...and enjoyable. - EM
-...-
An OM writes: “I am
wondering about how I might serve in the ARES®. I am an
asthmatic, and couldn't serve on the 'front lines' of a fire.”
A YL writes: “EMCOMM courses are
great. But the local area ARES®/RACES people
need to start accepting the help and willingness of the disabled ham
community when asking
for volunteers for events, NCS, drills etc.! They complain no
one is willing to help etc., yet
there are many out there who want to help...but since their disability
limits their ability to get
around (e.g. - visually impaired hams) some leaders think they are not
good enough. I want
to participate; but I cannot get a valid Drivers License...due to
vision...and no one seems to
want to offer a ride to public service events, meetings etc.; even
though I reside very near two
ARRL appointees. I am capable in my communication skills and am
upgrading my EMCOMM
knowledge by taking courses. Aren't the ARRL " higher ups
" supposed to help and
encourage others??? I'm not asking for a free handout...I
can give gas $$$...but they are
already going to the same event anyhow. I just don't understand
why some hams THINK they
are better than others...I thought that was one thing that's
discouraged ...but never seems to
end.
-.-
EM maintains that “there is
something for everyone to do in EmComm!” The only
disqualifying factors are when someone is unwilling to learn and/or
follow standard operating
procedures, is unwilling to be a team player, is disruptive to the
group, or causes other
problems that can not be resolved. It is disturbing to hear
about the narrow minded policies of
some leaders. We hope it is uncommon and suggest that you
complain in writing (politely) to
that leader’s superior.
A significant portion of EmComm work can be
done from a home station whether it's during
actual incidents or drills, exercises, and regular
nets.
ARES® leaders often have trouble finding
someone who is willing to stay home and serve
as a relay station, and/or monitor radio activity on ARES® nets
and/or public service
frequencies. (Note: It is NOT illegal to report what is
monitored on PS radio if you are part of
an bona-fide emergency organization, but it's probably better to
refrain from transmitting what
you heard over the air.)
So-called routine tasks are important
and are just as necessary as any other job.
EmComm is a team effort! Examples:
keeping an event traffic log, or serving as a relay,
or monitoring the weather reports and forecast, and
so much more!
Perhaps you can help in field
operations within a shelter or an ECC. Fires are only one
type
of incident that may need EmComm support. There are
floods, earthquakes, transportation accidents,
weather caused events, power and telephone system
failures...just to name a few.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FEEDBACK,
MUSINGS... and SPURIOUS EMISSIONS
“Here is some insight
into the Winlink 2000® "boondoggle" from where I sit both
as a
traffic handler and a computer literate person.
First, Winlink 2000(R) only operates on
computers that are very fast, 500 MHz. and faster.
It takes a lot of memory and was written as a 32-bit program. With
that said you need an
operating system that can handle this type of coding, which means that
the older operating
systems, earlier than Windows 98 Second Edition, will not be able to
be used. It MUST run
under a Windows® (Microsoft) operating system because of proprietary
coding in their .NET
shell that also must be in place. This leaves out anyone using MAC or
Linux or any other OS.
If you are the "gateway"
station to make the "system" work properly you need one
station
that can access VHF/UHF PACKET, HF PACTOR and the Internet with a
full-time connection
(DSL, Cable, etc.). You will also need a copy of Airmail for your
interface to Winlink.
You will need an HF radio that is
frequency agile as well as an antenna system that will
allow scanning over a myriad of frequencies to send and receive the
messages over the air.
Plus you will have to "poll" the winlink.org email server to
pickup incoming messages for the
agencies that you are serving. This will include attachments. Be
prepared to use a lot of hard
drive space to store this information until it can be picked up by a
field station.
If you are a "field" station,
you will need a PACKET set-up with PACKLINK and WINPACK
on your computer, again these are 32-bit programs so all the above
applies. And you will need
access to the LAN/WAN of the organization that you are supporting. You
will have to mimic
the organization email server and accept all outgoing messages with
attachments to be sent
via your radio to the gateway station. Unless you are lucky enough to
HF PACTOR
capabilities from your work site. Then you will need most of the
equipment needed for the
gateway stations. Can you see an EOC giving you access to their LAN
system and access to
"confidential" information?
I don't know about other areas but here
in Western Washington there are very few
agencies that will allow the Hams to "tap" into their local
network. And even fewer with
computers that can handle the software needed. (Can you believe it,
the EOC in Kirkland,
next door to Microsoft has a computer older than the one I'm using?)
To send the amount and size of messages that
they are expecting, it will take an exception
to the to the bandwidth rule to allow for more bandwidth for the
PACTOR traffic therefore
giving the rest of us fewer frequencies to use in that portion of the
band. I would expect that
they would want at least twice the bandwidth that they are allowed now
or more. And
everyone thinks that BPL will kill ham radio.
If a PACTOR station comes on with messages
and there is a CW QSO going on a
frequency close it doesn't take much imagination to know who will kill
which QSO. Most
PACTOR stations "poll" automatically for "traffic"
and usually run unattended so if they
happen to come on in the middle of a CW QSO they will wipe out the CW
station - no matter
how much power you are running.
As most of us who handle traffic on a daily
basis know, a lot of the traffic that is taken to
voice nets comes in digital nets, PACTOR or PACKET. There has already
been complaints
about the numbers of messages that are being passed via this method.
What is going to
happen in a real emergency when there may be even more traffic to
handle and the system is
being taxed? Are they going to complain then?
Can you imagine the number of messages
that will be generated by the "served"
agencies? And who will determine the precedence of these messages?
How can we be sure that Priority
message will take precedence over Routine or Health &
Welfare? These are all in the hands of message originator and the
operator, but if the
originator is a clerk or secretary in an office who hasn't the
foggiest idea of what we mean by
precedence, they may think every message is Priority.
These are all questions no one has
wanted to answer or address and they are very
pertinent to what we do in an emergency or disaster communications
situation.
Before they spend a ton of money trying
to fix something that isn't broken, they need to
spend more on training traffic handlers and certifying people in ARES
and NTS functions.
Which brings me to the question, why
are we differentiating between NTS and NTSD it's
all traffic and should fall under NTS period. No matter the mode. We
don't separate phone
from CW so why do we separate PACTOR and PACKET from the rest. It
seems to me that it
all starts or ends up on voice nets and therefore it is all the same.
The format for each message is the same. If
they wish to have these messages delivered
in another form then they should recognize traffic that is delivered
via email. In that case the
message could start out on phone, CW, PACKET, PACTOR or whatever with
an email
address instead of a phone number in the address line and any
receiving station that has
email capabilities could "deliver" the message no matter
what the distance.
Same could be said for VoIP like ECHOLINK.
But doesn't that bastardize the whole idea of
ham radio? Can you imagine a DXCC or WAS over ECHOLINK. All you need
is a computer
and an Internet connection (telephone line), no radio involved.
Well these are my thoughts on this and from
where I sit I think it will make matters worse
not better for EMCOMM traffic.” - Bill Frazier, W7ARC, ARRL
Official Emergency Station and
WWA Section Traffic Manager
----------------------------
COMMENT: Thanks Bill for your scholarly and in-depth comments.
I admit that this whole
scheme is beyond my mental capabilities. I have heard that this
proposed system will allow
non-hams to originate email traffic which will then be automatically
transmitted over amateur
frequencies. If this is correct and if there is no control operator
present and monitoring/policing
the traffic on whatever amateur nodes or links in use, then it is a
violation of FCC Part
97.3(a)(11), 97.103 (a)(b), 97.105(a), 97.109. A “SYSOP” is
not (necessarily) the on-duty
control operator. If the traffic is for government (RACES), who
is going to ensure that it is
authorized by a civil defense official and that it could not have been
sent over another
service? Anyone interested in reading the “pro” argument for
Winlink 2000(R) may read it in
the Public Service columns of the August and September issues of QST.
- Editor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This article may prove a
bit controversial since I know many readers of this journal are
dedicated to traffic handling, practice religiously, and are committed
to the long-standing
ARRL message format. Having said that, as a strong proponent of
ICS, let me make a case
for using the ICS message format/forms and only that format when
working emergencies or
special events in conjunction with government agencies.
At present we are blessed/cursed with a
plethora of message formats and forms. There is
the ARRL/NTS version. The Red Cross has its own. Many of
the clients our EmComm
groups serve have, historically, developed their own.
Which to use?
The federal government mandate that the
Incident Command System (called National
Incident Management System) be used by all government emergency
responders will, I
believe, drive message form/format consolidation. The ICS
message form and format is de
facto the one that will be used. When serving government
agencies I predict it is only a
matter of time before other forms/formats fall by the wayside and that
includes the ARRL/NTS
and Red Cross examples.
I’ve heard the argument that the ICS
form/at is too "open ended", that there are no "checks
and balances" (letter/word counts etc.) and, thus, there will be
numerous errors in copy and
delivery. I disagree. If trained (and that’s critical!)
operators handle those messages the
content will be accurate even without word counts and other
"Checks". In nearly 37 years of
public safety (police/Fire and EMS) service, at all operational levels
from first responder to
Incident Commander I have never had a safety related message bungled
to the point where
harm or delay resulted. Plain language messages work well as
long as the senders and
receivers are committed to accuracy regardless of the form being used.
While I believe that the ICS message form/at
will rise to the top for administrative,
operational/tactical and perhaps even logistics traffic I believe that
the ARRL/NTS format will
continue to be used for health and welfare traffic on behalf of
non-government entities. So, in
conclusion, in addition to a sincere "thank you" to all
dedicated traffic handlers out there the
suggestion that while we focus on enhancing our ability to
send/receive "good" traffic in the
ICS form/at we not neglect our skills using the historic ARRL/NTS
approach either.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RADIO WATCH • MONITOR • CALLING •
TRAFFIC • EMCOMM • GUARD
• 7111 kHz DAYTIME / 3711 kHz NIGHTTIME / 146.52 MHz
• ALASKA WATCH - 3534 / 7042 kHz / 14.050 MHz
• NEVADA ARES® MONITOR/CALLING SSB: 3965 ± kHz SSB
• NATIONAL RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK: 7068 / 10122 / 14050 kHz •
• WEST COAST NET (WCN) Slow Speed Traffic/Training Daily 1900
Pacific 3702 kHz
• Alaska-Pacific Emergency Preparedness Net 1630Z 14.292 MHz
• IMRA TRAFFIC NET (INTERNATIONAL MISSION RADIO ASSOCIATION)
14.280 MHz USB M-F 1800Z (summer) 1900Z (winter)
• ARES(R) 146.55 MHz
• ARES(R)/Red Cross 147.42 MHz
• NATIONAL CALLING (and Wilderness Protocol) 146.52 MHz
• WILDERNESS PROTOCOL (ref. June 1996 QST, page 85).
Primary frequency: 146.52 MHz (FM simplex). Secondary frequencies:
446.0, 223.5, 52.525
and 1294.5 MHz. All stations (both fixed, portable or mobile)
monitor the primary (and
secondary if possible) frequency(s) every three hours starting at 7:00
am local time, for five
minutes (7:00-7:05 AM, 10:00-10:05 AM, etc.) Additionally,
stations that have sufficient
power resources monitor for five minutes starting at the top of every
hour, or continuously."
WINCOM NETWORK
WINCOM is for EmComm stations in
Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon,
Montana and anywhere within range. Scheduled nets are on the 1st
and 3rd Wednesdays
at 1930 Pacific time zone on 3987 kHz (down) SSB.
The WINCOM NETWORK may be activated during
disasters, communications system
failures, and other emergency incidents as a regional SSB
network for tactical and/or formal
EMCOMM traffic. WINCOM is not intended to replace local or
section ARES or RACES nets,
but rather to supplement and provide regional support by skilled
operators who know each
other and work together on a regular basis.
EMCOMM stations are encouraged to monitor
and/or use these frequencies for routine
calling and for a RADIO WATCH during actual or potential incidents.
(During actual events
move message traffic at least 5 kHz up or down.)
Nighttime: 3987 kHz (down) 1982 kHz (down) alternate). Daytime:
7232 kHz (up)
NOTE: These frequencies may be in use for other scheduled state or
regional nets.
Always yield for scheduled nets. E.g. - JNN is daily at 1200
Pacific on 7232 kHz SSB.
“For want of a letter, a word was lost.
For want of a word, the message was lost.
For want of a message, a life was lost.”
CW NIGHTLY SLOW SPEED (10 WPM)
TRAINING-TRAFFIC WEST COAST NET (WCN)
• NIGHTLY 3702 kHz ± 1900 Pacific Time
SSB ON-THE-AIR RADIOGRAM TRAINING-PRACTICE NET (WEST COAST)
• WEDNESDAYS 3987 kHz ± 2000 Pacific Time
(approx.)
• BEGINS shortly after WINCOM and/or SV Section ARRL/ARES® NET.
• NON-HF HAMS AND SWLS ARE INVITED TO LISTEN AND COPY.
• A SPECIAL CERTIFICATE IS AVAILABLE to anyone who submits a correct
copy of at least one of the transmitted RADIOGRAMS postmarked
within
three (3) days of the practice session.
• Use standard ARRL RADIOGRAM format and send to: EMCOMM, PO Box 99,
Macdoel, CA 96058. (Enclose a #10 self-addressed
stamped envelope.)
NOTE: When band conditions are poor or there is thunderstorm activity
in the area,
the SSB training-practice net may be canceled. Listen
the following Wednesday.
TRY A "LOOP
RADIOGRAM EXERCISE"
EmComm operators in northern
California and southern Oregon conducted a
“LOOP RADIOGRAM EXERCISE” on the evening of
July 28 at 2000PDT.
The purpose was to illustrate the importance and
value of using the standard RADIOGRAM
procedures and format on all modes.
The group meet on 3987 SSB before the
exercise re-grouped later for a critique
and discussion. Band conditions were fair at best. EmComm
stations everywhere were
invited to monitor the exercise on as many
frequencies/modes as possible.
The goal was to test our ability to accurately
relay a RADIOGRAM around a "loop" while
changing modes and frequencies between each station. Below are
the instructions that were
provided prior to the exercise. The first "leg" was in
CW (80M), then SSB (75 M), Pactor (80M),
FM voice (2M), with the home stretch being CW
on 160M!
"LOOP CIRCUIT" RADIOGRAM TEST STATIONS
AND FREQS:
K6SOJ originates message and sends to W7IB on 3711 CW
W7IB relays to W6DHN on 3987 SSB
W6DHN relays to WD6BXN on 3600 PACTOR
WD6BXN relays to N2RSN on 3600 PACTOR
N2RSN relays to K7DXV on 145.27- FM repeater
K7DXV relays to K6SOJ on 1916 CW
“LOOP” completed.
RADIOGRAM as originally sent:
--------------------------------------------------
43 R K6SOJ 8 MACDOEL CA JUL 14
NANNETTE THORNE
P O BOX 16
MACDOEL CA 96058
WE SUPPORT THE BAN ON
CAT WHISKER RADIOS
SAMSON AND GIDEON
----------------------------------
CRITIQUE:
The message as received at K6SOJ:
----------------------------------
43 R K6SOJ 8 MACDOEL CA JUL 14
NANNETTE THORNE
P O BOX 15
MACDOEL CA 96058
WE SUPPORT THE BAN ON
CAT WHISKER RADIOS
SAMSON AND GEDEON
----------------------------------
Two errors were noted after the message completed "the loop"
1 - P O Box 16 got changed to P O Box 15. During the critique it
was determined that it was
due to operator error and blamed on a keyboard operator who had a
Band-Aid® on his finger that
caused the 5 key to be hit instead of the 6 key. LESSON:
Double check keyboard messages
before transmitting...especially if you have a Band-Aid® on your
typing finger!
2 - Gideon got changed to Gedeon. (Samson and Gideon are two kittens.
) During the critique
it was determined that a static crash removed a “dit” and
therefore the it was copied as E.
LESSON: AB6UE (who had been monitoring) suggested that the
“words twice” procedure be used
when bands conditions are marginal.
Other comments:
1 - The elapsed time to complete the “loop” was 48 minutes.
A delay of 32 minutes occurred
when one of the digital stations had a computer crash, and the
computer had to be re-booted
and the message had to be re-transmitted. Minus the 32 minutes,
the elapsed time was 16 minutes.
2 - 160 meters is not (usually) a good band during summer months.
However, there is little QRM with which to contend.The static crashes
were severe, but using NVIS antennas. the signal was readable over the
35 mile distance.
3 - Digital EMCOMM operators are few and far
between (they’re scarcer than CW operators).
Also the equipment is complex, vulnerable to dust and other
environmental factors
and generally not as portable as CW, SSB or FM gear. But
since HF digital stations are capable of
handling a high volume of message traffic, they are probably best
utilized as base
“hub stations” for point-to-point relay work to other hub
stations within an EMCOMM network.
EMCOMM TEAM LEADERS everywhere may want to borrow this
type of exercise for their area.
Among other things it will:
1 - Spark interest in message traffic handling.
2 - Promote accuracy and standardization in message
traffic handling.
2 - Diffuse some of the rivalry that exists between proponents of one
mode over another.
Each mode has its own advantages and
disadvantages, but all modes need to be integrated into
an EMCOMM system if we ever expect to operate
EMCOMM traffic nets with the highest possible
degree of efficiency.
-...-
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO USE ON-THE-AIR RADIOGRAM TRAINING AND
PRACTICE SESSIONS
1) Organize small “study groups” to meet at a HF capable
ham’s shack, an
EOC or club station, or the home of anyone with a short-wave receiver.
Pass out blank forms and have your members copy the RADIOGRAMS.
Follow the on-the-air
session with a discussion period and refreshments. Have printed
reference material, such as
the ARRL Net Directory on hand.
2) Tape record the on-the-air sessions and play them back at
your local
meetings. Provide blank forms and have your team’s members copy the
RADIOGRAMS. Follow with a critique and discussion period (and
refreshments)! Have
printed reference material, such as the ARRL Net Directory on hand.
3) A few ARES® units around the country have been using the
RADIOGRAMS published in
the ECWB in training sessions...both on-the-air and/or in classroom
settings.
Feel free to use any or all if it will be of help!
--.- - -.-.
------------------------------------------------------
TRAINING RADIOGRAMS SENT DURING JULY 2004 ON 3987 (SSB)
SENDING STATION -- K6SOJ
RECEIVING STATIONS -- W6DHN W7IB
-------------------------------------------------
121 TEST P W6DHN 25 GEORGETOWN CA 1815PDT JUL 7
GEORGE CUSACK AMADOR EC
4261 LAKE VIEW DR
IONE CA 95640
209 763 5821
916 717 9079
TEST MESSAGE X NEED TWO
ARCT TYPE 5 AT POLK
SCHOOL COMMAND POST IN PLUMAS
COUNTY 0600 TOMORROW X REPLY
ASAP VIA ARES NET 3987
FRANK DEC
---------------------------------------------
122 TEST P W7IB 18 LOOMIS CA 1830PDT JUL 7
DARRIN OGLETREE KG6FGL
PO BOX 613
WINTERS CA 95694
530 400 6077
530 406 1144
TEST MESSAGE X COUPLER ON
GENERATOR TRAILER BROKE NEAR ALTA
SIERRA X NEED WELDER X
ADVISE AVAILABILITY ASAP
CASEY MONITORING 3987 AND 146085
--------------------------------
NOTE: In NR 122 (above) the name of the town in the
address was (incorrectly) sent by the originating station
as “Winter”. The receiving station recognized the error
and changed it to the (correct) “Winters”. It IS acceptable
to make a change in an address or telephone number if the
operator is ABSOLUTELY sure. (It is never acceptable
to make any changes in the TEXT of a message.)
----------------------------------
123 TEST W HXE W6SOJ 11 EAGLE ROCK CA JUL 12
JESSICA SHROCK
394 OKEECHOBEE DR
PAHOKEE FL 34974
561 555 3199
TEST MESSAGE X WE HEARD
ABOUT HURRICANE X PLEASE CALL
US
BOB AND AGNES
--------------------------------------------
124 TEST W W6SOJ ARL9 JACKSONVILLE FL JUL 13
AGNES SHROCK
4199 SHERMAN WAY
EAGLE ROCK CA 90041
213 555 4855
TEST MESSAGE X ARL FOUR
ARL SIX X LOVE
JESSICA
.- .-.
--------------------------------------------------------------
“MESSAGE SERVICE CROSS” RUBBER STAMP AVAILABLE FOR TRAFFIC
HANDLERS:
• Makes the “record” part of record message
traffic easy and efficient.
• Use on any message form or on plain paper.
• A message received and forwarded should be stamped twice (L lower
/ R lower).
• Check TOR (Time Received) or TOD (Time Delivered / Forwarded).
• Available in two styles:
Order: SIRS - Self inking
rubber stamp - $15.00 each postpaid.
Order: WHRS - Wood handle (traditional)
rubber stamp - $12.00 each postpaid.
• Advance orders being accepted. Order yours today!
• Specify style, quantity, and shipping address, and send check or
money order to:
EMCOMM Rubber Stamp Offer
P O Box 99
Macdoel, CA 96058
• Allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery
_
TOR
|_|
TOD |_|
TIME
DATE
|
|
--------------------------|-----------------------
|
|
FREQUENCY |
STATION
Drawing not to scale. Actual size:
1”(h) x 2¼”(w)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“TRAFFIC HANDLER’S MANTRA”
(Recite to help remember the eight parts in preamble):
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority •
Traffic • Delayed”
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority •
Traffic • Delayed”
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority •
Traffic • Delayed”
(NUMBER-PRECEDENCE-HX-STATION OF ORIGIN-CHECK-PLACE OF
ORIGIN-TIME-DATE)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RETRO
REVIEW - “EMCOMM viewed through the Retrospect-O-Scope”
From EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN #154 - 15 April 2003:
When you hear: “What is
your location” or “Say your location” (on phone)
or, QTH? (on CW); how do you reply?
The correct answer will vary considerably and
is relative to the time, place, and situation.
To effectively and appropriately “state your location” takes
knowledge and experience in
proper operating procedures, plus “common sense”. (Which,
incidentally, doesn’t seem to be
very common!)
Suppose you are in DX Contest or you finally
break a pile-up working a DXpediton Station.
“You are 59 in northern California”, is usually all that is needed
(or desired). If you say much
more, you will probably be ignored (or worse), and you run the risk of
being labeled “a lid”.
Armchair operators in other countries may be
interested in knowing what county or city you
live in, or some other geographical or historic information about the
area in which you live.
E.g. - “I’m just north of Carlsbad Caverns National Park in
southeast New Mexico.”
VHF and UHF operators are often interested in
knowing from what grid square your signal
is originating. E.g. - (On phone) “I am in Siskiyou County,
California, Charlie November Niner
Wun.”
Most REGIONAL stations in a NET want to know
a station’s location said in a way that
allows them to know ABOUT where a station is, without them having to
ask additional
questions. Say your location in a manner that most people will
easily recognize.
When working DX or stations around the U.S.,
I usually say my location as: “I am located
in northern California, 15 miles south of the Oregon border”.
(The reason I add the second
clause is because many people think of Sacramento and San Francisco as
“northern
California”, and I am 300 miles north of them!) I may also
add: “200 miles inland from the
Pacific Coast”, and/or add “Siskiyou County”, or the name of my
nearest town...“Macdoel”. It
all depends upon the type of contact I am enjoying.
I have found, that when I do not say the name
of my town, most hams will ask, “What is
the name of your town?” When I say “Macdoel” (and I
usually end up spelling it); I usually
hear...”I never heard of it!” Really?...
In EMCOMM work, whether it is local VHF, or
in wider area HF nets and contacts...the
guidelines change. Things MUST get more specific!
If reporting an EMERGENCY incident (e.g.-a
automobile accident, or some lost hikers just
found in the woods and urgent help is needed) all of the examples
given above are useless.
Once contact with another station is
established, and a location is being sent, it must be
VERY SPECIFIC. It must be stated in such a way that rescuers can
find it and in such a way
that the location stated CANNOT be mistaken for ANY OTHER PLACE!
It must also be sent
in a way that the receiving station and/or agency will recognize the
landmark references you
are giving. (The sending operator must of course know where
he/she is located!)
When reporting to a relay station who will be
contacting local authorities (who are familiar
with local roads, landmarks, and other topographical features. Here
are some examples of:
How to "say your location”
• “I am reporting a house fire at 811 North Flame street,
Belltown. Cross street 8th Ave.”
• “The accident is on HWY 97, approximately 14 miles south of
Midland.”
• “I am on HWY 39 one quarter mile north of mile marker 14 in
Cormorant County.”
• “The smoke is on the west side of Sheep Mt. at about 5500 ft.
elev.”
• “I am broke down east of Interstate 5 approximately 20 miles in,
on forest service road
46N32W in the Goosenest Ranger District.”
Suppose you are enjoying a boating vacation
and are called upon to make a distress call
from somewhere on the shores of Lake Powell. You are not
familiar with the area. After
calling MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY on 10M, you establish contact with a
capable station in
Palm Beach, Florida, you say:
• “I am reporting an EMERGENCY on Lake Powell in Utah.
Houseboat explosion with 14
injured persons.” <pause> “Notify Utah State
Police.” <pause> “We are six miles northeast
of the fuel dock at north end of lake.” <pause> “I am
standing by for your reply.” The
receiving station then confirms that the information has been received
and understood.
As long as the signals are sufficiently
readable, the receiving station MUST maintain
control of the frequency. If other stations “break”, he/she
should say: “I am handling
EMERGENCY traffic. All stations please stand by and monitor
unless called.” I was once in
the process of handling an actual emergency situation and had to ask
five stations, all of whom
"wanted to help”, to please stand-by. Good intentions and
a willingness to help...MAY delay a
rescue. If you hear actual emergency traffic in progress:
LISTEN CAREFULLY, WRITE DOWN
EVERYTHING YOU HEAR, AND STAND BY IN CASE YOU ARE NEEDED.
The receiving station would then call the
Utah State Police direct, or call their own local or
state police, or even the Coast Guard. Always confirm that the
incident has been reported to
competent authority!
Maintain contact with the receiving station
until help has arrived.
If you are low on battery power, minimize your transmissions, ask the
receiving station to
maintain a radio watch (and keep the frequency clear) and make a
schedule as to when you
will call again. E.g. - “I will call every ten minutes”; or,
“I will call you at the top and bottom of
each hour.”
Other traffic from the reporting station
might include: “We will signal with smoke when
rescue craft are spotted.” And, if they have a GPS receiver:
“Our position is 37 degrees 30.3
minutes North by 110 degrees 28.7 minutes West.” (ECWB #176
covers how to send geographical
depending upon the time, place, and situation.
To effectively and appropriately “say your location”
takes knowledge, experience, and (most
important)..being able to THINK clearly under pressure!
How NOT to “say your location”
Below are a few actual voice replies to the query:
“What is your location?”...actually heard at one time or another.
Sadly, some of these were during actual emergencies.
“I’m at home.” (I guess this person
believes that he is so famous that everyone must know
where he lives!)
“I’m on the highway...just past the SPEED LIMIT
55 sign.”
“I’m near the big green gate.”
“I don’t know. Honey, where are we?”
“I’m in bed.” (Probably better if you
just let that one go.)
“I’m on Interstate 5.” (That’s a long
road. At least that narrows it down to within about 2000
miles.)
“I’m at the college.” (Too bad you
never attended.)
One day as I was serving
as net control for a regional net. A new (to me) station checked
in, and identified (properly) as being within a northern California
county. I was interested in
knowing a little more about his location and asked, “Can you be more
specific as to your
location?” He replied by saying the name of a mountain peak
(with which I was not familiar). I
queried the operator again who replied by giving his “lat/long”.
Well, I guess I got what I
deserved! But, without having a map of his area handy (with
latitude and longitude lines), a
ruler, and maybe a divider...I still had no clue as to his location.
So...be careful what you ask
for...you might just get it!.
________________________________________________________________________
QSH !
EM’s Quiz, Satire ;-) , and [attempt at] Humor :-) Section
IN JULY EM ASKED: “Considering
all factors, features and qualities, if you could
have only ONE XCVR for EMCOMM work, what make and model would YOU
choose?
Discriminating EMCOMM Operators say:
MAKE / MODEL
NAME / CALL SIGN
CITY / STATE
Kenwood B2000
Lloyd Colston KC5FM
Pryor OK
Kenwood TS-50
Alex Alexander KR6G
Quincy CA
Kenwood TS-2000 Rich McCane K8IG
Cincinnati OH
Icom 706-MKIIG
Jim Blaine WD4JZO Hollis
NH
Icom 706-MKIIG
Ryan Oler KC7HES
Mesa AZ
Kenwood TS-2000 Mike D’Antonio KC2GMH
Alma NY
Icom 706-MKIIG Ken
Reynoldson KE6WC Gualala CA
Yaseu FT-100D
Bill Frazier W7ARC
Silverdale, WA
Ten Tec Scout 555 D W Thorne K6SOJ
Macdoel, CA
EM’S AUGUST SURVEY:
What is the make, model, and year of your
primary EMCOMM MOBILE VEHICLE?
[One answer per individual. No group, club, or agency
owned rigs please.)
In the June issue of
EM we asked our readers this hypothetical question:
"Suppose it is the year 2020 and you are
asked you to give a one word answer to the question,
'What killed amateur radio?'”
In the July issue the answers
submitted were listed. They included: disuse,
lack of use, interest and discipline, infighting,
laziness, mediocrity, hazing, inaction, BPL (twice),
and...apathy and apathy and more apathy.
Sadly none of these answers are incorrect.
Part 1 of "What
Killed Amateur Radio" was concluded with the question:
Is there still a need
for amateur radio EMCOMM operators? Is
there any niché that we call fill and thereby fulfill the
“Basis and Purpose” of the amateur service as
defined in FCC Part 97.1? Can amateur radio
EMCOMM still serve a valuable public purpose?
Is there anything that we can provide...that others can’t?
Consider these qualities that are unique to the Amateur Radio
Service:
• All operators have passed an FCC exam and are licensed.
• All operators have knowledge of technical skills,
regulations, and procedures.
• Very wide range of frequency bands, privileges and modes.
(1.8 MHz to above 300GHz)
• May / build / repair / modify amateur radio transmitters.
• Can tune infinite frequencies to avoid QRM, and is not
channelized (except for 60M).
• Is “infrastructure free” and is not dependent upon
landline services, satellite, or Internet.
• Can be ON-THE-AIR within minutes just about anytime,
anywhere. All that's needed is a XCVR,
battery, simple antenna, key or mic, pencil and pad
of paper.
• There is NO COST to government, private
organizations, or the general public.
Where properly utilized and coordinated, this can potentially
result millions of dollars of
savings to taxpayers and persons who contribute to non-profit
organizations.
• Never forget to tell our “customers”: “WE
DO IT FOR FREE!”
And now...Part 2 of: "What
Killed Amateur Radio"; or... What Just Might Save It?
While not unique to the amateur service,
there are some additional qualities we offer
that are not all that common.
• Amateur radio nets can talk to many stations at one
time...and thereby rapidly
disseminate information or help locate someone rapidly. Cell
phone and “trunked systems”
users do NOT have this “broadcast” capability.
• Government and commercial stations are more and more
shifting to SATCOMM,
UHF, microwave, and automated systems. These systems can be
quite vulnerable
to natural disasters, sabotage, computer virus and "worms".
And if and when they “go down”
the restoration process may be very complicated and
lengthy.
• Except for a few military, maritime, and
aeronautic communications specialists and short-wave
broadcast (SWBC) engineers, hams are about
the only remaining group of communicators
who understand and utilize propagation patterns to
advantage. Hams can rapidly change bands
and match an antenna quickly to accommodate for
changing conditions. For short range regional
communications we use NVIS (high angle
radiation) antennas and for long range hams know
about DX antennas (low angle) radiation. This
factor alone may make the difference between
getting a message delivered...or not.
“SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC” - FCC RULES
Part 97.1
Have you ever noticed what this oft quoted
portion from the FCC’s “Basis and Purpose” of
the amateur service does NOT say? Nowhere does it mention
“served agencies” or
“service to government” (Part 97.407 addresses that).
While we often provide emergency
communications indirectly, through a
private or government agency; that is not the only way
we can provide service to the public.
Suppose an incident occurs in your area
Your team is well-trained, ready and wants to assist.
There is a widespread power outage and all
commercial landline services are out. But all private
and government agency emergency communications
systems are still functioning.
Your team leader has been politely told by local
officials “you won’t be needed” and that
“there is no need for amateur radio EMCOMM”. Is there still
a useful role for your EMCOMM
team? You can bet your battery charger!
Suppose you are on your way home after being
told "you won't be needed". It is now after
dark, and as you drive by a location (outside
the barricaded area) and you observe a group of
people congregating. It could be a city
park or at a community center, in a church hall, or even a
parking lot. You stop to investigate.
They are evacuees and are somewhat
dazed and are milling around. A man walks over to
your car and sees your EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
placard (or other signage) or the decal
you have on the windshield. He tells you that
the cell phone cells are all overloaded and asks if
you can get a message to his family 100 miles away.
You have recently received training in
message traffic handling. You reply, “I’ll sure give it
a try!” You contact your local net control operator
and advise her that you may have
traffic for Sweetwater, a town about 100 miles away. While
talking you notice that a line has
begun to form by your car. You tell the NCO that you need
some help, and are requesting the EC
to send at least one more operator. Within
a few minutes another operator arrives and parks his
mobile unit nearby.
The NCS then directs you to move to a
(pre-designated) local VHF simplex traffic frequency
where your team’s VHF/HF relay is standing by to accept message
traffic. Solid contact is
easily established via simplex with the relay station.
You pick up your clip board and pen and using
your head lamp, you ask the stranger to tell
you the name, address, and phone number of the intended recipient.
Then you ask what he wants
to tell them. You format the message and read
it back to him. He replies with, “that’s correct”.
You ask him his name and where he might be if
there is a return message.
Your mind fails you and you cannot remember
the RADIOGRAM preamble.
Then you remember the “Traffic Handler’s
Mantra”:
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy
• Priority • Traffic • Delayed”
(NUMBER-PRECEDENCE-HX-STATION OF ORIGIN-CHECK-PLACE OF
ORIGIN-TIME-DATE)
Bing-go! The message is soon formatted and sent to the VHF-HF
relay station.
You look up and you now see 30-40
people...all wanting to send a message!
You take a deep breath...and notice that another team member,
Joe, is just parking
his truck/camper/VHF/HF mobile. Soon two more skilled operators
arrive. A local
businesswoman provides a table and some folding chairs. Two operators
begin to serve
as counter persons. Since rain is still
in the forecast, you request net control to contact
your
group's logistics coordinator and to send a
sunshade-dining fly.
The next day, an amateur radio club in the
next county, sends its recently refurbished
communications trailer. The Red Cross opens a shelter in a
recreation hall at a nearby
church.
Your portable field station remains “on the
air” for six days and handles hundreds of messages.
But, not just for “the public”. Over the course of the
event, the “served agencies” realize that
they need amateur radio EMCOMM after all, and the station handles
several hundred “agency”
messages.
Oh yes, later you learn that one of the
messages your station handled was from a relative
of a member of your County Board of Supervisors. A month later,
you and your team's leader is
invited to a Regional Disaster Preparedness
Committee, to give a presentation the value of
amateur radio during emergencies!
Aren’t you glad that you didn’t “turn
tail” and go home when you were told you weren’t
needed that first night? This is “service to the public”
...as it was meant to be!
GUIDELINES for “self-activated” field EMCOMM stations:
1. Always set up in a safe location outside the
perimeter of an incident.
2. Do not violate any laws.
3. Don’t enter any hazardous areas or anywhere where you do
not have permission to go.
4. If you set up on private property get the permission of the
owner if at all possible.
5. Appropriate signage, flyers, and word of mouth, will probably
bring plenty of “customers”.
6. Your local Red Cross, Salvation Army, or other community unit
may be interested in
setting up a canteen near your station.
7. If anyone asks why you are there, politely explain that you
are there as a public service
booth to provide communications for anyone that needs it. This
is no different that a
public service/demonstration booth at the county
fair or any other public event.
8. The one exception to all this (of course) is that RACES
units may only be activated by an
authorized civil defense government official.
9. Never forget: As Americans we do not need
a "permission slip" before we can provide a
valuable service to the public.
10. And as Americans we have the right to
"...go where we wanna go, do what we wanna do..."
(With credit to John Phillips and the Mamas
and the Papas.)
