_______________________________________________________________________
Dedicated Solely to Emergency Communications by RADIO
EMCOMM MONTHLY
“PREPAREDNESS is our most important PRODUCT”
________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER FOUR
SEPTEMBER 2004
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IN THIS ISSUE...
Welcome to the September issue of EMCOMM
MONTHLY. Following SHORT
CIRCUITS,
EM PHILOSOPHY, and EM
ADVISOR; be sure to read our readers'
FEEDBACK. In ICS PERSPECTIVES
Jerry Boyd, KW7J: Who Should Be
The Ham IC? NETWORK NEWS is followed by EMCOMM
TRAFFIC.
RETRO REVIEW
/ QSH introduces a new "hobby
group", has last month's survey results,
plus a new
QUIK QUIZ.
Next is Part 3 of the series "WHAT
KILLED AMATEUR RADIO?" It will no doubt
stir up
considerable interest. Be sure to check
out EMCOMM SPECIALTY ITEMS. This month
we introduce an
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS LICENSE PLATE.
As usual, NEW SUBSCRIBERS, CONTRIBUTORS,
SUPPORT OUR SUPPORTERS plus our
handy REFERENCE SECTION completes EM
for September.
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SHORT CIRCUITS
• 2004 NATIONAL ARRL SIMULATED
EMERGENCY TEST - October 2-3
• DATE CHANGE ... EMCOMMWEST 2005 ... RENO, NEVADA ... MAY
14-15, 2005
WATCH FOR UPDATES AT: www.emcommwest.org
• IF you ever fail to receive your
EMCOMM MONTHLY, the reason probably is:
A - You changed
your email address and did not notify us. (Most common reason.)
B - You have a SPAM
filter...that is blocking EMCOMM luncheon-loaf meat products.
C - The editor’s
computer died...or was beat to death. (Could happen.)
D - The publisher died. (Hasn’t happened yet,
and hopefully won't for awhile.)
The EM PHILOSOPHY - “The
Doctrine of Self-Containment”
During the recent fires in
Northern California some old, but not recently identified, needs
became evident.
The necessity provide lodging or a safe parking place
for Mutual Assistance EMCOMM operators who have
responded from many miles away.
Sometimes it is possible for visiting
volunteers to sleep in a Red Cross Shelter. But even if they
choose to
endure that (I need peace and quiet), what happens
when the shelters are closed? Some operator’s prefer to
“get a room”. But that may
be too expensive for many of us....and rooms may not be available.
I've been on disaster operations where there
were NO motel rooms available. At one flood disaster I
was on,
we could not even find rooms for the victims!
Of the two motels in town, one was open...but the state highway
department had reserved ALL rooms for their workers. The other
motel had been flooded...but was habitable!
The displaced victims didn't mind that the carpet was
wet...but the county building and health officials said NO.
Not habitable!" So the flood victims
suffered, sleeping on wet beds in freezing weather, in their own damaged
homes without heat! (I could say
more...but that is another story.)
For the emergency volunteer, it is wise to
travel 100% “self-contained”. In other words, don't expect
ANY
amenities to be provided or available. As
far as lodging is concerned, this translates into bring your own
camper,
RV, trailer, or whatever. Even if your mode of
transportation is a motorcycle, you can pack a pup-tent. I know
a person who sleeps in his VW “bug” by removing
the front passenger and rear seat. Roomy!
Ham Hostels?
Have you ever heard someone say,
“I work full time, or I am not physically able, and can’t respond to
an incident.
Is their some other way I can help?”
YES...there is!
Maybe you have a spare room, a cot in your
garage, a camp trailer, or a space in your driveway or in your
back yard for a RV or provide a safe place to pitch a
tent. Why not consider being a “host” to an EmComm operator
or two that is far from home. You might even
provide a meal or two.
I suggest that EmComm leaders make
and maintain a list of “Ham Hostels” in their area.
(If you have a designated Logistics
Coordinator...this is part of their job!)
A data base (a stack of 3x5 index
cards will suffice) should list the host/contact person(s), and how
many
guests they can “host”. Also, list whether
it’s a spare room or just free parking or camping space. What better way
to help...and get to know some other
EmComm Operators!
Why not get started on
this....NOW? - EM
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The EM ADVISOR
“I do not consider myself
to be competent, but I am willing to learn. I am involved in
Disaster Preparedness and Management for the island of Abaco, in the
Bahamas. The use of Amateur Radio as an alternative form of
communication is one of my concerns. I have had theory - propagation,
radiation, OHM's law, etc. but no practical experience. I don't know
what to do. Having said that one of my friends gave me a 2 meter hand
held because I got the license (and referred me to ARRL and EMCOMM) and
I want to learn the basics. I have several manuals for the Tech test but
it is too full of technical stuff that I would need someone to teach me.
There are three HAM clubs that I am aware of in
the Bahamas. One here in Abaco (about 30 miles from my home) and two in
Nassau (the capital). Can you direct me to and easy site
where I can learn the broadcast basics as well as the
type of equipment and how to operate it. Of course, I would like to get
some equipment that is portable enough for me to set up in the EOC, if
the need arises.
Thank you for the newsletter, I will
print it and study it and when I have time I will look at
past issues. - Elder S. A. Kennedy, Sr., C6ASK - Abaco, Bahamas
Thanks Sarone,
The first line of your letter tells me a lot
about your attitude. Trust me...we all have more to learn...every
day.
As far as which equipment is better is
concerned, if you ask 100 hams, you’ll probably get 100 different
answers!
I suggest you start with simple basic gear.
Later if you wish to “move up” to more elaborate gear, I recommend
you retain the basic gear for back-up, portable or mobile work.
One of my favorite HF rigs in the Ten-Tec 555
Scout. They aren’t made any longer, but they are available at ham swap
meets and on e-Bay, etc. for around $350 or so. I like its low current
draw, the built-in Jones filter, and the built-in keyer. It also
works well on SSB. Compact transceivers like the Icom 706, Yaesu
FT-100, and Kenwood TS-50 are also good
choices.
I have an Icom 706 and it has both
HF and VHF (all modes), plus good AM general coverage and audio for
listening to short-wave broadcast stations. The drawback is the high
current draw and its menu programming which can be tricky.
Older 706’s are floating around for about (U.S.) $400-500.
If my geographic calculations are
anywhere near correct, the distance from Abaco to the other islands in
the Bahamas and the U.S. mainland is less than 200 miles. A simple
wire horizontal NVIS antenna about 20-30 ft. above surface level should
provide adequate coverage on 40 or 80 meters (depending on the time of
day and atmospheric conditions) for inter-island work. For DX a
simple vertical antenna should be excellent from your island location.
If there are some VHF repeaters in the Bahamas...all the better.
If not, VHF FM, SSB, or CW simplex may be just what is needed.
I am referring you to Roy Hill, W6QCM, on
Merritt Island in Florida. Roy is involved in emergency
communications and has offered to “elmer” you (from much closer than
I.) He also is knowledgeable about the maritime nets in the
Caribbean area and will either help you direct or may you to someone
else.
Also, the ARRL has many excellent books many of
which are aimed towards the beginning ham.
They are online at www.arrl.org or you can write to: ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT,
06111 USA
Please feel free to contact me again any time I
may be service, and drop a line every now and then and let us all know
how you are doing. - Editor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FEEDBACK, MUSINGS... and SPURIOUS
EMISSIONS
To the editor:
“Why are you so backwards and anti-technology? You
claim to a great backwoodsman, but
I’ll bet a hundred bucks that you carry
commercially made matches when you go backpacking.
And I’d bet you don’t make your own soap
either!” - A. Nonymous.
Well, Mr. Nonymous:
I don’t backpack much anymore since I live in
the wilderness. However, when I do go on "walk-about",
I do not include any matches in my possibles kit.
I carry only "flint and buffalo gas". (A pocket butane
lighter.)
Please send the U.S. Treasury note with the engraving
of Benjamin Franklin to the address below.
Oh, by the way, what is soap? - DW
Comments re. the August issue of
EM:
“Excellent issue! I
completely agree with your philosophy. The ARRL has it all
wrong!!” -
John Moriarity, K6QQ, California Pines, California
“Just a short note to say
this months issue is your finest yet! AMATEUR RADIO: The
only fail-safe
communications system in the world!” - George Brand
III, WA8SCO/AAT5BC EC, Montmorency County, Michigan
“WINLINK® is another
attempt to promote communications mediocrity like doing away with CW.
You don't have to train or practice to be a traffic handler because
you use the Internet every day. Participation in the National
Traffic System seems to be declining ergo we have fewer and fewer
traffic handlers. Can we replace individual skill with
technology? It happens all the time. Technology can do
a skilled technicians job ALMOST as well as the man. All
the bean counters will tell you that. But what about that 10%?
Are we prepared to pay that price in a very large emergency?
We should expect more from EMCOMM workers.” - Roy Hill, W6QCM -
Merritt Island, Florida.
“I was recently introduced
to the online version of Emcomm Monthly and I must say, I was
extremely
impressed by the amount of information you have
in a relatively short and readable newsletter. Thanks very much.
However, I was really dismayed by the
article on WinLink 2000. I am a new user of WinLink, but I
pride myself on doing a thorough job of investigation before
investing time and money on a "new" communications
system. The author of this article has not done his research - it
contains many factual errors - so many in fact that the tone of the
article has
become personally vindictive against WinLink. I think you have
done your readers a great disservice.
I was tempted to write a rebuttal - it
would not take an expert - but there are so many half-truths and
misleading statements that I don't want to spend the time. I'll
leave that to others more qualified than me.
Even when an article is
presented as opinion, there is some responsibility to tell the
truth. This one should have been reviewed by others on your staff
before publication.
In any case, thanks for taking the time to get
the Emcomm message out on the Web and (other than that article)
doing such a great job. - Bud Semon, N7CW - San Diego, CA
Thank you for your
"feedback" Bud. We are interested in knowing
the opinions of our readers, and always take into consideration any of their
suggestions. One of our goals is to present provocative ideas and opinions that are new or different, but that may
not be the current or most popular viewpoint. (The mission of EM, howver, is not to
become just another debate forum. )
I am certainly not qualified to
critique anything about WinLink® or computers. I must say,
however, that the author of that article IS our resident
staff “expert” on computers and computerized systems.
These high tech systems may eventually prove to
be of value in EmComm and I salute the pioneers who are exploring these fields.
Nearly a week after Hurricane Charley wiped out
central Florida, I was watching a report on NBC Nightly News. They reported that lack of information and poor
communications was a major problem. Electrical power was still out
to as many as 500,000 homes and businesses; and that telephones, cell
phones, email...”were virtually useless”.
But, amateur radio was operational and the
U.S.P.S. was beginning to deliver mail! They even showed a
biplane with a banner flying over the stricken area advising
people to tune to IKX - FM 92.9 MHz that was broadcasting public
service messages and announcements!
Personally, I do not want to be dependent upon
complex and fragile systems for emergency and disaster communications.
But, then, I also still prefer manual transmissions and manual 4WD hubs,
single-shot rifles, straight key telegraphy, and ice cream made in a
hand-crank freezer.
I hope you will continue to read EM.
I'm sure that you will find much additional "food for thought"
and helpful information in the months ahead. - Editor
“I have been in Amateur Radio
for over 50 years and with the ARES for 20. I still find a lot of
good information in your news letter. Thanks for keeping us up
to date.”
- Al Rich, W6WYN - Red Cross Communications Coordinator San Diego
Chapter
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ICS PERSPECTIVES - Jerry Boyd, KW7J
Who Should Be The Ham IC?
A previous article on the
subject of the Incident Command System and its application to amateur
radio Emcomm prompted some interest and a few questions. Over the months
to come I’ll try to provide some brief answers to those queries.
One reader, supporting the concept that amateur
radio groups for purposes of internal control and coordination ought to
have its own Incident Commander (IC), asked: "Who should be the
amateur radio IC at a major event?" First, a reminder that the
Emcomm IC is not the overall IC for the entire incident. The ham radio
IC is "in charge" of the amateur radio
response and reports to the communications group leader. In response to
the question, many would contend that the designated Emergency
Coordinator (EC) should be the IC. Ultimately that is probably a good
approach, assuming that the EC is properly trained and competent to
perform those duties. However, the EC may not be the IC particularly at
the beginning of the incident. BR
Borrowing
from the fire service, I would suggest that the first amateur EmComm
operator on scene (the staging area or other place where the requesting
entity wishes the amateurs to report) become the amateur radio IC until
relieved by "higher authority". He/she is the one who
needs to be able to coordinate resources, receive mission assignments,
etc. until the EC or an AEC arrives. Like the Fire Service, that initial
IC remains in place until someone "above" him or her arrives
and officially assumes the duties of IC. To do the later requires an
affirmative, positive action. The EC or AEC when s/he arrives must make
it clear that s/he is taking over the IC responsibilities. If that does
not occur, the IC position remains with the one who initially assumed
those duties.
What is the lesson here? It is that every
Emcomm amateur needs to be well trained. Trained well enough not just to
depress the push to talk switch, pound a key, or send packet via
keyboard----but to coordinate events at least on a short term basis.
NOTE: The term ARCT IC ( Incident Coordinator )
is now in use in some areas and is descriptive of the role - Editor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NETWORK NEWS
NETWORK NEWS, provides schedules and updates on regional, national, and
international
specialty EMCOMM and TRAFFIC nets. NN is not intended to duplicate
other resources such
as:
ARRL Net Directory: (ISBN: 0-87259-835-7) #8357 $5.00
ARRL Net Search: www.arrl.org/FandES/field/nets/client/update.html
EMCOMM.ORG NET DIRECTORY PAGE: www.emcomm.org/netdirectory/
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.
HELPFUL URLS
• NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AMATEUR RADIO STATION
http://www.fiu.edu/orgs/w4ehw/
• HURRICANE FREQUENCY LISTINGS
http://www.qsl.net/g3yrc/hurricane.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EMCOMM TRAFFIC
“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.
-...-
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 AUGUST 2004 ON 3987 (SSB)
SENDING STATION -- K6SOJ
RECEIVING STATIONS -- W6DHN KD7MXR
--------------------------------------------
124 TEST W K6SOJ ARL5 MACDOEL CA AUG 2
JON SMYTHE
41 RED FIR LN
REDWOOD VILLAGE CA
TEST MESSAGE X ARL TWELVE
MERRY JOHNS 714 555 6992
--------------------------------------------
125 TEST W W6SOJ 20 REDWOOD VILLAGE CA AUG 4
MERRY JOHNS
674 BAYSIDE DR
BAY HARBOR CA 97401
714 555 6992
TEST MESSAGE X EVERYTHING OK
X HAVE BEEN BUSY WORKING
ON CABIN X WILL CALL
WHEN WE ARE NEAR TELEPHONE
JON
---------------------------------------------
.- .-. -.
“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”
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“TRAUMA ALERT!” - by D. W.
Thorne, K6SOJ
(From EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN # 179 http://www.emcomm.org/svares/archives/number179.htm)
Imagine that you and your family are on a motor
trip far from home. Suddenly, you are involved in a traffic accident.
While you escape serious injury, your loved ones are seriously injured.
They receive emergency treatment “on scene” by EMT’s and
paramedics. The ambulance driver asks if you have a preference as
to which hospital you wish to have them transported. He states
that there are two hospitals available, each is about five miles away,
but in opposite directions.
The ambulance driver tells you that when
Community Hospital is notified that they are about to receive several
multiple-trauma patients, they page for “any available doctors and
nurses” to respond to the emergency department. They believe
that since doctors, nurses, and technicians are all licensed; having an
emergency team that works and trains together on a regular basis, really
isn’t necessary.
The driver also mentions that at University
Hospital, they have a “trauma team” on stand-by that is composed of
emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, trauma nurses, and technicians
that work and train together on a regular basis. They all
regularly take up-to-date continuing education courses and several have
post graduate certification in various specialties. They know each
other’s abilities, strengths and weaknesses; and are familiar with
their equipment and know how to use it even under adverse conditions.
Which hospital would YOU choose?
Now let’s take another scenario and apply it
to emergency communications. Suppose that you are an emergency manager
for a county emergency service agency. A major incident has
occurred affecting your entire region or state. Commercial power,
telephones and computers are all down. The hospital has a critical
patient that urgently needs two units of B Neg.” (Whole blood.)
An emergency radio message must be sent to the blood center at the state
capitol, 300 miles away to request two units of B Neg. to be sent by
emergency airlift. The message must be sent “letter perfect”.
There is NO room for error. You have two choices:
1. - You call a ham radio friend and ask him for help. He gets on a
local repeater and says that all available hams are to report to the
county EOC. Within minutes three licensed hams arrive. When
you ask to send the emergency traffic, all you get is three blank
stares. One of them starts calling for help on the
repeater. Several hams answer and ask what is happening. But
none of them know how to format and forward formal (message) traffic.
2. - A trained and skilled EMCOMM operator is already at the EOC.
She carries a HT, and has a VHF mobile transceiver in the parking lot.
She tells you that a local and ARRL Section Net has already been
activated. The ARES operator quickly formats a formal message and within
minutes transmits it to a local ARRL Official Emergency Station for
relay. Within 30 minutes the blood is aboard a State Police helicopter
and it arrives in about 2 hours.
Which EMCOMM team would YOU choose?
Read Part II of TRAUMA ALERT! at:
http://www.emcomm.org/svares/archives/number179.htm)
________________________________________________________________________
QSH ! EM’s Quiz, Satire ;-) ,
and [attempt at] Humor :-) Section
NEW HOBBY GROUP FORMING
The Vintage Computer Collector’s
Association will be accepting membership applications soon.
Qualifications for membership are:
1 - Must own and operate one or more 1999 or earlier
computer.
2 - No flat screen monitors.
3 - Must own one operating dot-matrix printer.
4 - At least one hard drive must have a virus or worm
hopelessly imbedded.
5 - Member’s using a vacuum tube computer are
eligible for life membership.
AUGUST SURVEY RESULTS
Last month EM asked:
“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.) Our readers say:
Chevrolet Silverado 4WD 2003 - Jerry Boyd, KW7J,
Baker City, Oregon
Chevy Suburban 4WD 1990 - Neil McKie, WA6KLA, near Bend, Oregon
Chrysler 300C 2005 - Frank Reshke III, N6SNO, Sacramento, California
Dodge Ram 1500 Sport 1998 - Clay Ford, KF6SNF, Davis, CA
Ford F-350 4WD Centurion Wagon 1993 - Nannette Thorne, KE6MZT, Macdoel,
CA
Ford XLS pickup, expanded cab, 1987 - Al Walker, KD7MXR, Minden, NV
Ford F-150 1986 - Dick Flangan, K7VC, Minden, Nevada
GMC Savana 1996 - Gary Oaks, KB9VGD, Burlington, Wisconsin
GMC Jimmy 4X4 1971 - Gary Bonebrake, W5BI, Rio Rancho, NM
Jeep Grand Cherokee 2003 - Luis Martinez, KD7GMK, Casa Grande, AZ
Nissan King Cab 4x4 Pick-up Truck 1995 - Eric
Stephenson, KK7UE, Portland, OR
Toyota 4Runner 1990 - Paul Lufkin, K6PML, Palo Alto, CA
Toyota FJ60 4WD Landcruiser 1985 - D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, Macdoel,
CA
EM’S SEPTEMBER SURVEY....IS A:
“QUIK QUIZ”
IN YOUR OPINION...
Which of the professions below is the closest in it
“mission” to that of an EMCOMM Operator?
Broadcast Engineer
Computer Technician
Disc Jockey
EMT - Paramedic
Fire Fighter
Gossip Columnist
Law Enforcement Officer
News Broadcaster
Political Commentator
Postal Worker
Public Service Dispatcher
Stand Up Comic
Weather Forecaster
A tally of the results will be published in the
October EM
(Individual answers will not be published.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT KILLED AMATEUR RADIO?
Part 3 - by D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ
Part 2 of "What Killed Amateur Radio;
or...What Just Might Save It?", said: "While not entirely
unique to the amateur radio service, there are some
qualities we offer that are not too common."
Some of these are:
• Amateur radio nets can talk to many stations at one time...and
thereby can 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". When they crash the restoration process is usually 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.
• Another problem has arisen that must be factored
into the preparedness equation. It could severely impact emergency and/or auxiliary
communications. In one state, all of their emergency communications satellite units
were recently rendered inoperable for several weeks due to “contract issues” that
delayed repairs. It makes no difference what the specific contract issues were, but this
could significantly increase the need for amateur radio emergency communications support if a
wide-spread disaster should occur. This is just one more reason for maintaining private,
voluntary, non-profit amateur emergency communication teams; and thereby an uninterrupted
high level of preparedness. Sadly, most hams are asleep and the amateur radio community
is drastically under staffed and ill prepared.
And now...Part 3 of “What Killed
Amateur Radio”?
Or more aptly...“What Killed Amateur Radio EMCOMM?”
When Should Government
Agencies be Using the Amateur Bands??
(For the purpose of this article, “government” is
defined as any federal, state, local, or special district jurisdiction.)
Way back when “the
government” realized that radio was more than a mere novelty and that
it had real value as a communications medium, authorities began to
regulate and divide up the frequency spectrum “pie”. The
experts of that period were of the opinion that frequencies higher
than 1500 kHz were of no practical value. The amateurs who had
pioneered radio were therefore banned to a "radio
wasteland" with wavelengths shorter than 200 meters.
However, it wasn’t very long before radio
amateurs were “talking” (in the Morse language) across the country,
and around the world on these "short-waves".
Hmmm...the government bureaucrats surmised...maybe we were too generous!
Towards the end of World War I, the
(infamous) Padgett Bill, H.R. 2753, was introduced in the U.S. House Of
Representatives. It proposed that all radio communications in the
United States, including amateur, commercial, and extra-Naval
governmental stations, were to be turned over to the Navy.
Hiram Percy Maxim, representing the ARRL, went to Washington and secured
an exception from its provisions for amateur stations. (Read the
whole story at: www.emcomm.org/svares/archives/number144.htm)
Over the decades the short-wave (and all the
higher frequencies) spectrum-pie have been “re-distributed” again
(and again); and divided into government bands,
commercial, aeronautical and maritime bands, military bands, business
bands...and broadcast bands. Radio amateurs who once had it
all...were relegated and squeezed down to roughly the bands we have
today. 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6 and 2 meters. 11 meters
which was originally an amateur band, was later taken to create the
so-called Citizens Band. 30, 17 and 12 meters (the WARC bands),
GMRS and FRS have been created over the past few years.
Hams are told "the hams bands
are yours. But during emergencies or disasters your
purpose is to provide emergency radio service to the public”.
Nothing much said, however, about “government agencies” having
access to the amateur bands.
We all know that it is illegal for a plumbing
or taxi-cab company to use the amateur bands for dispatch.
By the same token “government” may not use the
amateur frequencies to dispatch fire engines or for law
enforcement...except for emergency situations and when no other options
are available.
When the “cold war” began to heat up
government began to “eye” the amateur bands and ham operators as a
resource for civil (homeland) defense. The FCC added part 97.407
in 1952 and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) was
created. Although there were (and still are) very stringent
restrictions on the use of the amateur bands by “government”, they
now had their “foot in the door”. RACES has a legitimate
purpose. Read it for yourself in FCC Part 97.407.
During ”the fifties” amateurs were often
attracted to the RACES by Civil Defense organizations who provided
funds, meeting rooms, (often in “bomb shelters”) and public
funds were used to buy nifty bright yellow 2 and 6 Meter
Gonset AM and CW CD transceivers (I have one of these classics in my
collection) and other communications equipment. Repeater
sites (with the power bill paid for by the tax payers) were provided,
plus all manner of other goodies including uniforms, helmets, badges,
mobile communications vans, government provided EOCs, 20 lb. tins
of high-protein sea biscuits, etc. Many amateurs were
infatuated and thought to themselves..."now 'they' appreciate
us!" So far...so good.
But RACES is very limited in it’s scope, and
regular RACES nets are limited to one hour a week. However,
since most local officials seemed to lack interest in, or
understand, amateur radio; and since RACES was rarely ever
activated, this all began to loose its appeal to hams. Many
local officials began to see it as a liability instead of an asset.
It was (and is) viewed by many as a cold war relic. So how
else might government tap into the amateur resource and the amateur
bands?
Various schemes and creative wording were (and
still are) used in attempts to get around the restrictions of Part
97.407. One reason often stated is that using amateurs for
regular government public service communications would save tax-dollars.
Under the euphemism “served agency”, governments
at many levels and in multiple services now have hundreds
(maybe thousands) of amateur radio support units around the country.
They provide much useful service from time-to-time and place-to-place,
mostly with tactical communications.
Many of these auxiliary units eventually
furnish hams with public service band radios and move them to a category
of “unpaid workers” mostly handling short-range tactical traffic on non-amateur
frequencies. Skilled amateur operators are capable of so very much
more, but they are being siphoned off to perform communications duties
that just about anyone with a high school education and a few hours of
special training can perform. That is NOT amateur radio!
In some jurisdictions, in addition to the ARES®
EC, there is often a “ham coordinator” for the local state
forestry ranger unit, a sheriff’s department auxiliary
communications “EC”, a weather service ham radio coordinator, a Red
Cross Communications Chairperson, a SATERN "EC", a county
RACES Officer, one or more city RACES Officers, and a state regional
ACS/RACES Officer. And some “clubs” have even been known to
appoint their own “emergency coordinator”. This “top
heavy” leadership has been known to exist in areas where there may be
as few as a dozen capable and active EmComm operators! Where this
occurs it usually results in:
• Poor utilization of the volunteer
amateur radio resource.
• Ineffective or NO coordination
between “competing” units.
• No “Standardized Operating
Procedures”.
• Volunteers are completely baffled as
to what to do, how to do it, or who to do it for.
• Delayed, inaccurate, duplicated, or
lost traffic.
THIS IS CONTRARY TO THE ICS CONCEPT WHERE
ALL COMMUNICATIONS ARE PLACED UNDER ONE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT LEADER
WHO IS UNDER ONE LOGISTICS CHIEF. (NOTE: Under the ICS the
ARCT IC
(Amateur Radio Communications Team Incident
Coordinator) is "under" the Communications Unit
Leader.)
Hams are free to serve who
and wherever and whenever they choose...but when they decide to identify
with ”this or that agency” as opposed to simply COMMUNICATIONS, this
segments serious EMCOMM operators into splinter groups, and the result
is poor utilization of the amateur resource. The ICS-ARCT
system eliminates this problem.
It is interesting to note that in 1956 the
ARRL promoted the idea of: “ONE STRONG FACILITY FOR HAM
SERVICE TO ALL AGENCIES IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST”.
You can view a cartoon that appeared in the 1956 Amateur Radio Handbook
at: http://www.emcomm.org/creed.htm
THIS SUPPORTS THE ICS
CONCEPT WHERE ALL COMMUNICATIONS ARE IN ONE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT.
There is only one
organization which is the obvious and logical choice as to who can
even begin to provide the overall coordination of amateur radio EMCOMM:
the ARRL/ARES®. Some of the inarguable reasons being:
• It is national in scope
and national in it's standards of operating procedures.
(Communications
emergencies, disasters, radio signals and radio traffic do NOT stop at
political boundaries.)
• It is administered by, managed
by, funded by, and is composed solely of amateur
radio operators.
(Who else knows its
capabilities and limitations better?)
• It is NOT linked to or
controlled by any one particular branch or level of government.
• It is NOT linked to or
controlled by any one particular non-profit agency or organization.
In many areas of the our
country, the ARES® is strong and well-organized. In other areas (far
too many) it is weak, disorganized, or is non-existent.
It is a tragedy is that
hundreds of skilled EMCOMM operators have become disillusioned and discouraged as
a result of this hodge-podge, and often feel like they were
only one of a very few in their county or section that actually
care about effective EMCOMM.
In case you haven't
figured this out yet: I AM SOUNDING THE ALARM! THIS IS A
DISTRESS CALL!
As we approach to the third
anniversary of the most vicious attack on the United States in sixty
years, and as hurricanes and fires and tornadoes and other calamities
continue to occur...ask yourself...what am I doing to help?
Is it just "lip service", or are you
willing to do some actual work? And, if you can't
lead, or follow, please get out of the way!
The ARECC courses are a
great foundation to build upon. NOW, it is time for all
ARRL Directors, Section Managers, SECs, DECs, ECs all
other ARES members (and potential members), and all other EmComm
leaders and operators to rise up out of their lethargy and
apathy, and build a strong national reserve of qualified
EMCOMM leaders and thousands of trained, qualified,
disciplined, organized and capable amateur radio operators and
traffic handlers! There is NOT any hardware or
software in the world, that can substitute for this!
If we don't do this ourselves... it won't be done!
The quickest way to bring about the demise of any private institution
or organization is to “get in bed” with government. On the
other hand, there is no reason why “government” at any level
cannot “contract” with private, non-government, organizations for
services. They contract with private vendors every day of the
year, for literally thousands of products and
services...including emergency services! The only difference
with amateur radio, whether it
be the ARES or some other highly qualified group, is that no
“cost bids” or budgeting is needed.
EM believes that
"radio traffic is radio traffic is radio traffic". It
does not matter on whose behalf, or what agency, or what person, the
third party radio traffic is “serving”. EM is
calling for one strong, capable, effective EMCOMM structure.
Lead and composed of trained, skilled, experienced,
and disciplined volunteer civilian radio operators will get the
job done! This concept fits perfectly into the Incident
Command System concept.
So there you have it.
In the year 2020 the answer to the question “What Killed Amateur
Radio” and “What Killed Amateur Radio EmComm” might well be:
“technology, government usurping the amateur radio frequencies,
and non-radio persons managing amateur radio
communications".
Whether this dismal forecast actually
happens...is up to us. We can either stand up for ourselves,
educate ourselves, pitch in and begin to pull together; or choose
to continue to be divided into hundreds of splinter groups, continue to
loose our focus, and continue to move further away from our historic
ability to provide service to the public via amateur radio. If
we wake up from our lethargy, rise above mediocrity, rid
ourselves of selfishness, proudly stand up and proclaim our
value...and get to work. The question asked in 2020 could then be:
“What Saved Amateur Radio?” - EM
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"We have met the enemy... and he is us" -
Pogo (Walt Kelly)
_____________________________________________________________
EMCOMM SPECIALTY ITEMS
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NEW! --
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS “License Plate”
___________________________
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• Mount on vehicle
• Place on visor or in window
• Use at fixed or field EMCOMM stations
• MADE IN U.S.A!
SPECIAL PRE-PRODUCTION PRICE: $8.00 each or
two for $15.00
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Pre-production orders...please allow 4-6 weeks for
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Price after September 30, 2004 $10.00 each or two
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Send check or money order and shipping address to:
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P O Box 99
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• Allow 2 weeks for delivery
“MESSAGE SERVICE CROSS”
RUBBER STAMP FOR SERIOUS 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
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rubber stamp - $12.00 each postpaid.
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• Specify style, quantity, and shipping address, and send check or
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• Allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery
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DATE
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FREQUENCY
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Drawing not to scale. Actual size: 1”(h) x 2¼”(w)
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NEW EM SUBSCRIBERS
• Ron Tamburello, K6RG, Magalia, CA
• Bryan Jackson, WJ6H, Elk Grove, CA - Sacramento City RACES;
Sacramento Co. ARES
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• Carl Novak, WA6AOB, Grass Valley CA - ARES
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NTS
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Dakota - ARES, Rec Cross, FEMA
RECENT CONTRIBUTORS (THANK YOU!)
• Al Rich, W6WYN - San Diego, California
SOS - SUPPORT OUR
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When contacting these fine vendors tell them that EMCOMM
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Books, etc.
Jack (AC6FU) and Margaret (KE7AWA) Ruckman, Owners
www.hamradiobooks.com
ac6fu@arrl.net
(775) 577-2639
P.O. Box 309
Silver Springs, NV 89429
(Amateur Radio Books, ARRL patches, decals and other supplies)
EmComm-Products LLC - (New Address)
Robin Faulkner, N7GSU
Kathy Faulkner, KD7OTY
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Sales@emcomm-products.com
(775) 521-6153
(775) 307-7101 (Fax)
PO Box 383
703 Sixth Street
Fossil, OR 97830-0383
(Manufacturer of the RADS 9-11 Rapid Antenna Deployment System)
Q. R. Zed Engraving
Gordon Yee, KI6UH
www.qrzed.8k.com
(415) 467-2235
P.O. Box 651
Brisbane, CA 94005
(Name badges, desk plates, signs, and more. Custom work.)
The Wireless Store
Manufacturer Distributor Niljon Antennas
Jerry Gosnell, Owner
1599 Faye Road
Akron, Ohio 44306-4115
(330) 701-9280 Toll free: 1 (877) 751-8125
http://www.niljon.com/
Authorized Dealer: WiFi-PLUS, Inc.
http://www.wifi-plus.com/
REFERENCE and RESOURCE SECTION
• ICS-ARCT GUIDE: www.emcomm.org/ARCT/
• TRAFFIC HANDLER’S CHALLENGE: www.emcomm.org (click bar on main page).
• TRAINING ARCHIVES: www.emcomm.org/svares/training/index.html
• PHONETICS: www.emcomm.org/svares/training/itu_phonetics_10_30_2001.htm
• NVIS PROPAGATION MAPS - http://www.w0ipl.com/ECom/NVIS/NVISprop.htm
• GEAR AND EQUIPMENT LIST: www.emcomm.org (Click on GEAR LIST)
• ARRL FSD-218. The famous “pink card” that contains
(almost) “everything you ever needed
to know about RADIOGRAMS”. An electronic version of the FSD-218
is available at:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/#fsd-218
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM (NTS) Methods and
Practices Guidelines:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/nts-mpg/
• NTS page by W7ARC: http://www.w7arc.com/nts/
• NATIONAL RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK (NREN)
www.aa8vs.org/nren/ (or) http://68.43.101.244:81/nren/
• PACIFIC AREA TRAFFIC NETS: http://home.earthlink.net/~k7bfl/nwnets.html
• NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SKYWARN www.emcomm.org (click on NWS or links) or
Contact your EC or local SKYWARN coordinator for local net information.
• U. S. AIR FORCE Search and Rescue SURVIVAL MANUAL (AFM 64-5 Aug.
1969) -
Reference Charts - (Print and Save)
• GROUND-TO-AIR (close-in) VISUAL SIGNALS:
http://www.emcomm.org/drawings/Ground_to_Air_Signaling_mid.jpg
• GROUND-TO-AIR EMERGENCY CODE:
http://www.emcomm.org/drawings/Ground_to_Air_Emergency_Code_mid.jpg
• MIRROR (and other) SIGNALING:
http://www.emcomm.org/drawings/Mirror_Signaling_mid.jpg
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EMCOMM MONTHLY - Copyright (c) 2004 - All rights
reserved
Published on the Tuesday before the first Wednesday of every
month.
STAFF:
D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ - Editor and Publisher
Bill Frazier, W7ARC - Associate Editor and Webmaster
Ed Trump, AL7N - Associate Editor and Alaska Correspondent
Jerry Boyd, KW7J - Associate Editor and ICS Advisor
John Moriarity, K6QQ - Associate Editor and Technical Advisor
Dave Nicholson, KB6PNT - Associate Editor and SAR Advisor
For permission to reproduce material in EMCOMM MONTHLY
contact: D. W. Thorne at: k6soj@arrl.net or write:
EMCOMM MONTHLY, P.O. Box 99, Macdoel, CA 96058 U.S.A.
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