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Dedicated to Emergency Communications by RADIO
EMCOMM MONTHLY
“PREPAREDNESS is our most important
PRODUCT”
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IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome to the "Ground
Hog Day Edition" of EMCOMM MONTHLY
(northern hemisphere readers are about half-way through winter), another
"jam packed" edition with useful and interesting
information for radio operators who are serious about emergency
communications. This month we begin SHORT CIRCUITS,
followed by EM INTERNATIONAL - a new
section we will offer periodically covering EmComm activities from beyond
the borders of the United States of America. FROM THE
EDITOR'S DESK presents more discussion about our
proposed INTERNATIONAL REGISTRY of EMCOMM OPERATORS...and
how the IREO might provide and dispatch ARCTS to provide
radio communications for international relief agencies responding to
major disasters worldwide. Next is The EM
PHILOSOPHY (with a few words from a former President
of the United States) and FEEDBACK. In ICS
PERSPECTIVES, Jerry Boyd, KW7J, offers some
thought provoking comments about NIMS.
In
our FEATURE ARTICLE, April Moell,
M.A., WA6OPS, discusses "HIPPA" and the right
of privacy of victims of disaster as it pertains to THIRD PARTY
TRAFFIC . (Essential reading
for all EmComm operators!) NETWORK NEWS
followed by EMCOMM TRAFFIC. RETRO REVIEW, QSH,
EMCOMM SPECIALTY ITEMS (for sale), NEW
SUBSCRIBERS, CONTRIBUTORS, SUPPORT OUR SUPPORTERS, and
our handy REFERENCE SECTION completes this
issue of EM.
SHORT CIRCUITS
• REGIONAL NET REMINDER -
TONIGHT (First Wednesday of Month):
WINCOM (Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon,
Montana) 1930PST on 3987 LSB.
All EmComm stations welcome! (Next scheduled WINCOM NET: 16
February 05 at 1930PST on 3987 LSB.)
The Georgia Training Net is a Morse code training net
and meets to train traffic handlers and to pass traffic as part of the
ARRL National Traffic System.
The net offers training in Basic, Advanced, NCS,
Liaison and Instructor training. (TNX to K7DXV for this item.)
• WEST COAST CW TRAINING and
TRAFFIC NET (WCN) - 1900 PST (0300Z) Nightly on
3702 kHz ± http://home.comcast.net/~west-coast-net/
The West Coast Net (WCN) provides
training in the proper handling of messages in Morse code.
WCN's slow speed operation provides both a training
ground and a bridge to operating on regular CW traffic nets.
• EMCOMMWEST 2005 -
RENO, NEVADA - MAY 14-15, 2005 -- UPDATE
- The EMCOMMWEST 2005 web site now
has on-line convention registration as well as hotel reservations.
The convention is at the Reno Holiday Inn, just a few blocks
from all the gaming action in the Biggest Little City In The West.
- Additional information is to be found on their web
site http://www.emcommwest.org/ including a list of speakers led by Gordon West, WB6NOA as
our banquet speaker and Mark Spencer, WA8SME from ARRL HQ as our keynote
speaker.
- We are encouraging Section leaders from all Western
Sections to join us for the conference and especially for the ARRL Forum
which wraps up the event
on Sunday. Everyone can bring their families and have a grand
weekend in Reno.
- The on-line registration procedures allow you to
select basic convention attendance as well as handling banquet
reservations and T-shirt orders. Payments by credit card are
encouraged as they are easiest for us to track all the way around.
- The hotel reservation process allows you to select
nice rooms at the convention hotel at a very special rate of only $59
per night double occupancy.
- Pets are accepted with a $15 room-rate premium.
- Please go to http://www.emcommwest.org to get yourself a front-row seat! Check back
periodically for updates and more information as the event gets closer.
- ECW-05 is developing a
mailing list of groups or individuals (ARES® teams, private and
government agencies, clubs, etc. that maintain EmComm mobile units to
invite them to ECW 05 Reno for display. CONTACT: Zahra
Anise, W7ZMA W7ZMA@wadg.org
EMCOMM INTERNATIONAL
Trinidad & Tobago
Amateur Radio League President, Michael Brown, 9Z4GB, has
announced that EMs Caribbean Correspondent:
Irvine Niffikeer, 9Y4IBN, has been named an Honorary Member of
the TTARL for his many contributions over the years. -
Congratulations Irvine! EM readers can view some
great photos of Irvine and the TTARL
Headquarters' station at: http://www.ttarl.org/photo2.html and http://www.ttarl.org/photo.html -- EM
(NOTE: EM
welcomes articles and other items of interest about EmComm activities from
around the globe.)
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
In the December issue
of EM we introduced the concept of an "INTERNATIONAL
REGISTRY of EMCOMM OPERATORS". In the January issue we
expanded upon the idea and continued our reader's survey.
Survey replies are still filtering in and as of time of this publication exactly
50 of our readers have completed the questionnaire. The online
survey/questionnaire is still available at: http://www.emcomm.org/em/survey/december.htm
Of the 50 EmComm
Operators that replied, 48 (96%) indicated that they thought that the
IREO is a worthwhile idea and that they would register. A few said
that they were not interested in an official certificate and a few
said that there should not be a "qualifying test".
While this is encouraging (percentage wise)...numerically
it is a proverbial "drop in the bucket". This
whole idea is still just an acorn...but with some more
"watering"...it could become a seedling, then maybe a small
oak, then possibly...a mighty oak! It will depend solely upon
whether or not there are enough EmComm operators serious enough to
register and devote some time and effort towards making it work.
Considering that EM
is not yet widely known, but about 20 new subscribers are being
added every month and our readership is now about 1000. Each month
we receive letters such as you can read below in FEEDBACK.
There seems to be a very real hunger for our specialized
publication that is offering solid, hard-core, information on public and
emergency service radio communications! We think that
EM is filling a much needed niche in the
emergency communications field.
The recent catastrophic events in
SOUTH ASIA and numerous other incidents in the U.S.
(and other countries) over the past year have only served to underscore
the need for such a "one-stop-resource-pool" of highly
trained, skilled, experienced, equipped, and disciplined radio
operators. Volunteers...that are able and willing and to deploy and
serve when called upon and able to work in a team setting. Humanitarian
volunteers dispatched to wherever field radio communications are
needed, and that can travel without excessive bureaucratic
and political baggage. Others, who are unable to travel, but that
can meet the same skill requirements, can serve at home, either as ARRL
Official Emergency Stations, Official Relay Stations or in some other
capacity. The (proposed) IREO is more than filling
out a form, receiving another certificate, and fading out or disappearing
completely.
The
IREO will not be for everyone. It is
about action and actually making a real contribution to disaster
relief efforts. It is only for
operators who are serious about emergency communications. If you are
one of the good ol' boys who see the purpose of amateur radio as
being a hobby for those who just want is to rag chew ad nauseum...then
you need not apply.
One large private medical
relief organization recently said that "lack of communications"
was a serious problem in their SE Asia relief efforts.
Satellite phone service is expensive, and even when they are
available and work, they function much like cellular telephones which
cannot provide "broadcast" (QST) messages. Amateur
radio could provide some very effective communication and help alleviate
some human suffering. In countries where there is little or no
existing amateur radio service this leaves them very vulnerable.
In actual incidents,
Registered EmComm Operators (REOs) would be contacted, and ARCT
TYPE I www.emcomm.org/ARCT/ teams
would be assembled at some staging area, or point of departure, and
dispatched to where ever the need was most apparent. ARCT Types
would then be assigned to work under the command and control of the
requesting agency, but would ALWAYS remain available to handle message
traffic for other agencies and/or individuals.
In addition, Hugh
"Ed" Empey, WA7ETH, of Marysville, Washington,
has offered a suggestion that could greatly expand the value of
the proposed IREO. (Ref. FEEDBACK below.)
If we at EMCOMM.ORG and EMCOMM
MONTHLY decide to move ahead with the IREO
it will be a major undertaking! It will first require
recruiting, screening and selecting one or two dedicated experienced
EmComm operators to help with the administration of the program.
These volunteers will have strong leadership, organizational, and
"people" skills. They will also be capable of following
directions. They will not be afraid of hard work and long
hours, will not be "spread to thin", and take responsibility for
an assigned task and follow it through to completion.
EM
readers who believe they have something to offer, whether an idea, a
positive suggestion, or an offer to do some hard and possibly mundane work
(in the administrative department), are welcome to write. (All
messages will be read, but due to a high volume of email traffic at EM HQ,
only those who submit something of interest or value, or have a
specific question, will receive a personal reply.) -- EM
The EM PHILOSOPHY
“It is not the critic who
counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where
the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man
who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with dust and sweat;
who strives valiantly; who errs and may fall again and again, because
there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who does actually
strive to do the deeds; who does know the great enthusiasm, the great
devotion; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who knows, at best, in the
end that triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at
least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with
those cold or timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” --
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States
FEEDBACK, MUSINGS... and
SPURIOUS EMISSIONS
About the SOUTH ASIA DISASTER:
I read with interest your editorial article in the January issue of EM.
I actually spend more time reading your publication than I do QST.
It gets to where "the rubber meets the road" and I like that
approach.
I rarely respond to articles but thought I
might weigh in on this item. I have been a licensed ham since
1965. I cut my teeth on the Alaskan earthquake even before I
had my ticket. The mayor of the town I lived in was a ham and
I was his "beam rotator" out in the yard with lines
attached to the boom. Most of my ham career has been devoted
to public service and I firmly believe we have an obligation to
provide that service. But enough about me.
I appreciate your analysis of licensed hams
vs population in the south Asia region. This vividly points
out the need for an international team of amateur radio
communicators that can assist in times of disasters such as the
earthquake and tsunami that hit the area.
Over the several decades I have been a ham
I watched as disasters occurred and medical service teams would
automatically be dispatched to the disaster area. I often
wondered why there could not be an "amateur radio communication
team" dispatched as well. Your point about the concern of
third party traffic is well taken, but I think that problem could be
solved fairly easily. Certainly the medical services teams
have resolved the issues of doctors practicing medicine in foreign
countries where they are not licensed. I am sure a
"legitimate" disaster communications team could be granted
permission to operate in a disaster area to handle health and
welfare traffic as well as any other traffic.
I envision this team as being composed of
competent licensed hams that meet the criteria you set forth in your
article. Certainly the ability to copy Morse code at a
reasonable speed ( 15 - 20 wpm ? ) would be necessary, as well as a
sufficient amount of technical knowledge to be able to overcome
antenna challenges presented by the physical environment or any
other mishap that Murphy may present. Also, the ability to
handle message traffic in the basic ARRL message format would be
required. I would like to emphasize here that message traffic
would be other than what has been referred to as "book"
traffic. I have another name for that type of traffic, but
that is a topic for another time. There are more skill sets
that can be developed for this team, but I think you get the idea.
So, the next question would be "How to
fund / resource such a team." I actually think that a
well developed business plan ( we would have to approach this
in a business like manner ) could be drafted, and I am fairly
confident a major manufacturer of amateur radio equipment just might
step up to the plate and provide the
necessary equipment to make this a possibility. Perhaps more
than one manufacturer.
In any case, I think we need to look into
the possibility of an "International Amateur Radio Rapid
Response Team" and see what happens. I keep reading
articles about the decline of ham radio and I have to agree we need
to do something to bring it back into the forefront of
communications. What better way than to have EmComm teams that
could carry the banner of ham radio around the world.
I suggest we contact someone on the Medical
Response Team and see how they are organized and what hurdles they
had to go through to get in the position they are. Like my
dear departed mother always told me; "Son, unless you ask, you
will never know. And all they can say is no."
If this idea is approached in the proper manner, I don't think any
country who may have the possibility of benefiting from such a
resource would turn down this kind of assistance. Just some
thoughts from an old brass pounder. -- Ed Empey,
WA7ETH, Marysville, Washington
COMMENT: Thanks for your comments and suggestions
Ed. What one is interested in the most will determine
where they spend their available reading time. The ARRL and
QST covers all the hobby aspects of amateur radio, but they
do devote space to public service each month. And let us
never forget, that for nearly 90 years, the ARRL has done more for
amateur radio that all other ham radio organizations combined!
EM agrees
that having ARCTs available for international response would
be excellent! Right after the SE Asia disaster stuck, I
day-dreamed about how nice it would be to have a maritime mobile
station aboard a ship in the Bay of Bengal to coordinate and
facilitate amateur radio EmComm (and possibly other services) in
contact with shore/inland stations. Possibly staffed by radio
operators dispatched from the ship. Something similar
to The Cousteau Society "Calypso"... complete with
helipad! The problem with a ship (of course) is the time
it would take to respond.
Airborne Auxiliary Rapidly
Deployed Volunteer Amateur Radio Communication Teams
"AARDVARCTs" (Pronounced: AARDVARKs)
would probably be much more realistic and effective. They
could possibly hitch-hike on donated space by commercial carriers
such as FedEx or DHL or even transport aboard Military Airlift
Command flights.
Finding qualified amateur radio operators
that are capable, willing, and available will be the
hardest part. One special interest group (SIG) that may be
a potential source are those DXers who plan, finance, and execute
foreign DXpeditions. Members of these groups have
experience in the logistics of international operations and the
nuances of obtaining clearance and/or obtaining guest permits in
foreign countries. While their missions have
traditionally been to put some exotic location on the air to
provide a new "country" for DXers, there just may be some
of these teams who are experienced in setting up portable
stations in remote corners of the world who would rise to the
challenge. Two purposes could possibly be combined.
After an EmComm mission was completed, a team could potentially
stay "in country" and do a DXpedition Operation. (If
they weren't too exhausted!)
If all this gels, the "AARDVARCTS",
would be an elite team of highly trained EmComm Operators who are
pre-registered, maintain valid passports, have met a health and
physical standard, would be immunized (or willing to be
immunized) for international travel, and would be able to assume
some expenses on their own. With 600,000+ licensed amateurs in
the U.S., it seems that the U.S. should be able to
maintain a cadre of at least 100 "AARDVARCTS".
(0.017%)
EM readers who are involved in any of these
DXpedition groups...please give this some serious thought. -- EM
BBC ARTICLE
COMMENT: Or phone vs. digital signals. Verrr-ry
in-ther-esting! Thanks George. -- EM
FEEDBACK ON
OTHER TOPICS:
"I saw some traffic
that the fellow was asking how to find your survey. I also saw
where you were saying that the survey responses were low. So I
went to see what they were talking about. I found the survey but I
really had to look. What about putting a link on the main page
called Survey? I think a national registry would be great". --
Tom Gagen, WB7NXH - Tucson, AZ
COMMENT:
Good Idea Tom. We did. -- EM
"I have been reading EM
for awhile and find the information very useful. As
a result I have been posting it to our local ARES egroupmail.
Do you have any problem with this? Keep up the great work."
-- Merlin Willis, N6OFY, ARES® DEC, San Francisco, CA
REPLY: No
problem Merlin. EM is copyrighted and
permission is granted per your request above. Please mention:
Reproduced courtesy of EMCOMM MONTHLY www.emcomm.org/em/ Thank you for asking. -- EM
"We have had several
new ECs (like the one in the EM) here in Colorado that needed
information on what was expected of them. In my opinion, the ARRL
material is less than adequate. While it does eventually get you where you
need to be (after reviewing many many documents), most new ECs
prefer a "check list" of those items they need to handle.
Upon the request of an out-going EC, I created an overview of tasks
for Colorado ECs. If you think it would be of use to anyone
else, please point them at it." -- Pat Lambert, WØIPL, Colorado
Section ARES® Training Coordinator
COMMENT:
The URL for the pages mentioned above is: http://www.w0ipl.com/ECom/ECom-ECT.htm -- EM
"I have spent three hours reviewing
the EMCOMM.ORG web site. It has been a long time since I have
found so much useful information in one place that seems like it must be
written by someone who has my goals and desires at heart. I kind
of feel like saying, "Where have you been all my life? I will
be sending in a small contribution to the organization." -- Cris
McBride, KB7QXQ, Pinetop, Arizona
COMMENT: Thanks for the
kind words. It's always nice to know our efforts are of
value. Cris is a retired M.D. (Family Medicine and
Pediatrics), and as a new EC (Navaho County) his "baptism by
fire" into EmComm was the 466,000 acre fire near Show
Low, Arizona in June 2002. He took all
three ARECC course shortly thereafter and is now a mentor for all
ARECC levels. -- EM
About the book: Tom Brown's Field
Guide To City and Suburban Survival mentioned in the January
issue. "There are 5 copies available at: www.abebooks.com "
(Received 5 January) -- Jane English, KD6PCE - Calais, VT
COMMENT:
I see that they have quite a few of the others of Tom's
excellent books. -- EM
ICS PERSPECTIVES - by Jerry
Boyd, KW7J
Here’s something to think
about. Since the Federal
Government created NIMS, it
has continued to refine (and some would say “complicate”) the
system. Its most recent
“refinement” seems to have some real ramifications for amateur radio
EmComm. Recently DHS
created the national mutual aid system.
Even more recently it has developed the “National Response
Plan” (NRP) . There is
now an on-line course (IS-800) which covers the National Response Plan
in depth. It is not so much
a course for responders as for emergency managers who must understand
how the overall system works. An editorial comment is that the
emergency management/response system now has many more bureaucratic
layers than ever before…but that’s another story for another day!
Part of the NRP consists of
a series of annexes. The
annexes discuss, in detail, the emergency support functions which are
part of the NRP. Annex #2
is the communications annex. In
all of its 12 pages I could find absolutely no mention of amateur radio
(not ARES, RACES….not anything) as being a part of the National
Response System. The
private sector (telecommunications industry) is mentioned along with a
host of government communications resources---which may not be
functional after the big one---but not amateur radio. Makes me wonder about the worth,
if any, of the “agreements” the League has entered into with federal
agencies over the past several years.
In short, what the NRP does is remove some ( not all, but some )
local control over certain types of incidents. When that happens, the local use
of amateurs may be significantly reduced or eliminated altogether. With amateur radio not being
included in the National Response Plan our role in future “incidents
of national significance” (which is what the NRP applies to) may be
non-existent.
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FEATURE ARTICLE
"HIPPA" - (HEALTH
INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996)
"What does HIPPA
have to do with EmComm?" Respect for privacy and our
litigious society dictate what personal information may, or may NOT,
be disclosed about an individual whether it is transmitted in a TACTICAL
or FORMAL third party message. All EmComm Operators need to become
knowledgeable about HIPPA. http://www.hrsa.gov/website.htm The essay below is by April Moell, M.A., WA6OPS, Emergency Coordinator of
the Hospital Disaster Support Communications System in Orange
County, CA (an specialized ARES® unit). She could not
have covered this issue any more clearly. This should be mandatory
reading for all EmComm operators! - EM
In reference to HIPPA
and privacy issues, I have numerous comments based on our 25 years of
experience now with 34 hospitals.
First, the issue of patient confidentiality is
not new. Hospitals have always been expected to protect patient privacy
and confidentiality of
records. As a former hospital department head I often dealt with this
issue.
As an Amateur Radio group supporting hospitals
we don't operate in a vacuum. Anything we transmit via Amateur Radio
referencing any patient care is at the request of and authorization of
the hospital. Learning about the hospital environment helps our
communicators to be advisors as well as communicators. We alert the
staff that we cannot guarantee absolute privacy when transmitting over
the air if we are asked to give a patient name. We have had to do that
over the years
and did so recently again during a phone outage at a local hospital. (we
use the lowest power necessary and use 220 a lot so we minimize people
knowing
what we are doing.) The hospital staff make the decision. It
is an issue of urgency versus the need for confidentiality. We are only
the providers of a communications system when a telephone or other
normal means of communication is not available.
Hams need to avoid observational reporting
during an event unless specifically asked to do so. And hams also
need to be very careful around the media during and after an event.
It is not up to us to give out any information about what we saw
or heard to anyone outside the hospital. That means hams need to be
careful about talking to the media etc. Hams must always refer
media to the hospital PIO for specific info.
We also need to be careful about writing about
what we did. I know hams want to get positive press about public service
but we must always be cautious not only about the names of patients, but
our reporting of hospital staff responses, or even "how bad"
things were at a hospital. Hospitals are very sensitive about their
images.
Now on to HIPPA.
1) The big push for this legislation was concern about patient
information on computers and people getting access to sensitive
information such as diagnosis, social security numbers etc. Hospitals
are mandated to protect this information. Our hospitals in Orange County
started reviewing this in the fall of 2002 in preparation for the
implementation of the act in April 2003. One hospital looked extensively
at this along with their Risk Management managers and their HIPPA
managers. Their conclusion was, "HDSCS would be exempt from HIPPA
for disaster purposes. As long as there is no post incident publishing
of patient identifiable information, which has never been an issue, our
folks don't see any reason to do anything special." Not one of our
34 supported hospitals has been concerned about our communications
support. But do understand we have spent a long time working with these
hospitals, doing in-services for safety/disaster committees, being in
drills, responding in real incidents, and being integrated into the
county's mass casualty plan.
2) All of our Orange County Hospitals utilize a software product
knows as ReddiNet®, as an emergency medical communications system. It
is provided by
the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC) and was initially
purchased by the county for the paramedic receiving hospitals. It is
essentially a commercial packet system. It does have a victim search
function that can be activated in a major incident that would include
patient name, location, age and diagnosis. In their response to
inquiries about HIPPA in May of 2003 they made the following statements:
"The HIPPA Privacy Rule governs conduct of health plans, health
care clearing houses, and health care providers who transmit any health
information in electronic form in connection with certain standard
transactions. HASC is a non-profit corporation whose memberships
includes hospitals throughout Southern California but HASC does not
directly provide medical or health services to patients and does not
wish to furnish, bill or pay for health care in the normal course of
business." Because of that they are not an entity covered by HIPPA.
They also are not considered a business
associate either because they don't receive protected information for
the purpose of carrying out their regular activities. (The same can be
said about Amateur Radio groups) Now what about the search function of
their ReddiNet® product? This function is provided so hospitals might
help answer questions from anxious relatives as to the location of a
patient. The data is considered Protected Health Information (PHI) for
HIPPA purposes. The exchange of this information between hospitals and
counties in a disaster would be permitted under HIPPA without express
patient authorization. There is a responsibility on the part of the
hospital to provide individuals with the opportunity to agree or object
to disclosure unless trying to do so would interfere with its ability to
respond to the emergency. Also note that the ReddiNet® product is a
private network and not subject to the security requirements of an
Internet product.
3) Probably all of you by now have had a doctor's visit or been in
the hospital and been given information on the office or hospital's
privacy practices. Read through them and you'll find some information
that will be helpful. Here are some quotes from one used by the St.
Joseph Health System that would be relevant to our communications when
normal hospital communications are disrupted/failed. "We (the
hospital) may use and disclose medical information about you for your
TREATMENT." When HDSCS has had to communicate about a
patient, guess what, it had to do with treatment. "Unless you(the
patient) tell us otherwise, we will list your name, location, general
condition, and religious affiliation with the hospital directory. The
information may be provided to members of the clergy, to others who ask
for you by name, including the media. We may release medical information
about you to a family member, friend, or any other person involved with
your medical care." (An emergency Amateur Radio operator
using a name on the radio at the request of hospital staff to inform a
physician or assist in getting a family member notified doesn't violate
HIPPA/Privacy concerns here).
And speaking of notification the hospital
handout states, "We may use or disclose information to notify or
assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or another
person responsible for your care of your location and general condition.
Hospitals also are expected to keep an "Accounting of Disclosures
Log" so if they feel there might be an inadvertent disclosure they
can and should list it.
So here is the bottom line. Don't
mess with packet radio or try to use ATV at hospitals. First of all they
distract from the communications that hospitals need the most in
emergencies: tactical voice communications. Secondly, they will make
hospitals more concerned about protecting privacy and image. Most
of all, get local Amateur Radio groups trained and educated about the
hospitals, attend the drill planning meetings, drill with the hospitals
and make sure every hams has good portable gear that he/she can bring to
the hospital in an emergency.
April Moell, M.A. (WA6OPS) Emergency Coordinator
Hospital Disaster Support Communications System
Orange County, California
emcom4hosp@aol.com
COMMENT: The
HDSCS web address is: www.hdscs.org
(Well worth the time to visit...tons of very well presented information.)
EM is
of the opinion that EmComm operators should forget trying to make
encryption legal. Instead, focus on solid radio operation
and proficient traffic handling procedures whether it is
tactical or formal message traffic. In the case of the latter, the
use of ARRL Numbered RADIOGRAMS http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/fsd3.html will expedite message traffic, ensure accuracy and
provide a measure of (legal) confidentiality.
NETWORK NEWS
Schedules and updates on regional,
national, and international 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 - 3540 / 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® 146.55 MHz
• ARES®/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 - 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 1930 Pacific Time
on 3987 kHz (down).
WINCOM is for EmComm stations in
Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon,
Montana and anywhere else within range. Scheduled nets are on the 1st
and 3rd Wednesdays
at 1930 Pacific Time on 3987 kHz (down).
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.
REGIONAL EMCOMM NET LIST AVAILABLE
EM maintains
a roster of REGIONAL EMCOMM NETS. These are active
ARES and other EMCOMM nets (RACES nets are not listed).
It includes primarily VHF and HF local, district, state and
regional nets in Washington, California, Oregon, Nevada, and Alaska.
A few international nets are listed. The list is NOT
routinely dispatched, but anytime you would like a current list by
email, simply request a copy at: lazyt@cot.net
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)
• 1st and 3rd 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 EM
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!
THE “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”
A PLAN FOR ARES® TEAMS DURING POWER OUTAGES
It’s that time of year. Winter storms can
suddenly cripple the power grid and landline communications.
In Northern California we have had several power widespread power
outages in the past few weeks lasting from a few hours to several
days. If your ARES® team doesn’t have an appendix in your
local plan that is specific to power outages, here is a “ready to
go” plan that you can adopt and adapt as needed and add to your
plan.
GUIDELINES
AND A “GENERIC” PLAN FOR ARES TEAMS DURING AND/OR EXTENDED POWER
OUTAGES AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM FAILURES.
BEFORE THE POWER OUTAGE:
1 - MAINTAIN your radios, accessories,
lighting, and other gear in a “state of readiness”.
Keep your batteries charged, your generator serviced,
and a enough fresh fuel (safely stored) to keep it running at least 24
hours.
Always keep the fuel tank in your vehicle(s) at least
1/2 full. (When the power is out...service stations cannot pump fuel.)
2 - PARTICIPATE in daily and weekly
nets, drills, and training.
Get to know your EC, AEC, and other members on your
ARES® team. Remain familiar with your local and regional emergency
plan.
3 - CULTIVATE good public relations on
a daily basis.
Let your friends, neighbors, and local community
leaders know what amateur radio is and what it is capable (and not
capable) of doing.
DURING A POWER OUTAGE AND/OR TELEPHONE SYSTEM
FAILURE:
1 - CHECK ON your family and
neighbors. Especially any elderly, disabled, or infirm persons
you know.
If assistance is needed summon help as appropriate.
2 - ACTIVATE your station by
connecting to your auxiliary power source.
Monitor designated local and section EMCOMM
frequencies. Keep an accurate log of pertinent information and
traffic.
3 - CONSERVE battery power and help
keep the frequencies clear by not transmitting unless you have
traffic, useful information or checking in on schedule.
4 - AS SOON AS a net has been
activated, check in when your area is called. Advise the NCS of your
availability for assignment(s).
5 - YOU MAY BE asked to stay at home
and serve as a relief NCS or a relay station.
ARES stations (fixed or mobile) with both VHF and HF
are especially valuable.
6 - IF YOU GO MOBILE, travel
self-contained. Appropriate clothing, food and drink.
First Aid Kit. Tool Kit. Shovel. Two
strap. Tire chains.
A good quality (heavy duty) flashlight or two; plus
extra batteries is essential.
Clipboard, notepad, pens and pencils, and local maps.
Carry an adequate supply of blank RADIOGRAMS.
7 - RESPOND as directed by your NCS or
go to the nearest location where people congregate during an
emergency.
This may be a local fire station, community hall,
school, church, general store, or even an intersection.
When surveying an affected area, be alert for people who may have an
immediate need for communications or other special needs.
Obey all laws, stay out of the way of emergency
vehicles, and periodically keep the NCS station informed of your
location.
8 - IDENTIFY yourself as an emergency
communications unit. Wear your ARES® cap, jacket, or other ID
materials.
On vehicles, magnetic signs are nice, or you can make
placards and place them on your dashboard or sun visor.
9 - INTRODUCE yourself to local
officials. Briefly tell them who you are, what you can do,
where you will be located, and that they may refer
persons with emergency, priority, or health and welfare messages to
you.
Remain polite, cooperative and helpful.
10 - KEEP IN CONTACT with the NCS.
Check in every half-hour or as directed.
The EC or acting EC may need you to move to another
location (such as a hospital, utility office or city hall).
11 - IF YOU MUST leave your post or
assignment notify the NCS. Allow enough time for him/her to find
a replacement.
12 - KNOW your own limitations.
Do not try to be a “marathon operator”.
When your relief arrives, give him/her a brief report, turn over your
log and/or notes, and go get some rest. You may be needed
tomorrow!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Recognition and enhancement of the amateur service to
the public as a voluntary non-commercial communications
service,
particularly with respect to providing emergency
communications”. - FCC Part 97.1(a)
=========================================================================
QSH ! EM’s Quiz,
Survey, and [attempt at] Humor Section...
EM'S JANUARY
SURVEY
This month EM continues its
SURVEY regarding our proposed "International Registry of
EmComm Operators" (see: FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK above)
(All questions must be answered or survey
answers will not be accepted.)
EMCOMM
SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
“License Plate”:
-----------O-------------------------------------------------O----------
EMERGENCY
COMMUNICATIONS
-----------O-------------------------------------------------O-----------
• View this item at: http://www.emcomm.org/products/
• Raised BLACK letters on WHITE background
• Durable Metal
• 6” x 12” with usual holes for mounting
• Mount on vehicle
• Place on visor or in window
• Space to "customize" with your
county or city's name, or your call sign using one inch vinyl letters
(available at hardware stores)
• Use at fixed or field EMCOMM stations
• MADE IN U.S.A!
• $10.00 each or two for $18.00 [Postpaid to one address
includes all applicable taxes]
Send check or money order and shipping address to:
EMCOMM
P O Box 99
Macdoel, CA 96058
• Allow 2 weeks for delivery
TRAFFIC
HANDLERS SUPPLIES:
RADIOGRAM
RUBBER STAMP
• Use on plain paper
• Use on front of envelope
• 3/4” x 3” wood handle stamp
Order: WRGS - Wood handle (traditional) rubber stamp
$10.00 each postpaid
($8.00 if ordered with Message Service Cross stamp (below)
• Send check or money order to:
EMCOMM
P O Box 99
Macdoel, CA 96058
• Please allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery
"MESSAGE SERVICE
CROSS" RUBBER STAMP
• Makes the “record” part of record message
traffic handling 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.
• Order yours today!
• Specify style, quantity, and shipping address, and send check or
money order to:
EMCOMM
P O Box 99
Macdoel, CA 96058
• Please allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery
NEW SUBSCRIBERS
Acil Couch, K9JSH, Wyoming, Michigan - Kent County
RACES, ARES®
Chris Jones, N7ZW, Seattle, Washington - ARES®
Bob Reid, NØBHC, Savage, Minnesota - ARES® Scott
County EC
Dana Nelson, KD7VMM, Chiloquin, Oregon - ARES®,
RACES
Dave Gomberg, NE5EE, San Francisco, California
Martin Hochman, N6UB, San Pedro, California - LAFD ACS, Navy MARS
John Burch, WB6GHA, Lead, South Dakota - Communications Officer, Lead
Volunteer Fire Department
MIke MIller, ACØBD, Waukee, Iowa
Cris McBride, KB7QXQ, Pinetop, Arizona - ARES®,
RACES
Scott Miller, W7SLM, Bellevue, Washington
Duane Jones, KA3CUR, Union City, Pennsylvania -
ARES®, RACES, SKYWARN
Nick Anzano, KC2NIL, Milton, New Jersey - RACES
Duane Braford, WB7ROZ, Olympia, Washington - ARES,
RACES, American Red Cross
John Cleveland, W3RJC, Elk Grove, California - ARES®,
RACES
Vernon Ferris, W4NEK, Orange Park, Florida - ARES® EC,
Clay County, Florida
Chuck Sardoch, KN6FM, Burney, Californias - ARES®
April Moell, WA6OPS, Fullerton, California - ARES® EC, HDSCS
Orange County, California
Jeff Mayfield, KE7ACE, Chelalis, Washington - ARES®
Frank Gagliardi, W2FPG, Schenectady, New York - ARRL
Official Emergency Station and Official Relay Station, ARES®, RACES
John Olson, KG6MAR, Bayside, California - ARES®
Paul Brigaerts, KQ6GQ, Lake Shastina, California
Thomas Miller, AC5TM, New Orleans, Louisiana - New
Orleans Office Of Emergency Management, CERT, former ARES® SEC, ARC
RECENT CONTRIBUTORS -...-
Thank you for your support!
Cris McBride, KB7QXQ - Pinetop, Arizona
SOS - SUPPORT OUR
SUPPORTERS
When contacting these fine vendors... tell them EMCOMM
MONTHLY sent you!
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
Robin (N7GSU) and Kathy
(KD7OTY) Faulkner
ABOUT ADDRESS CHANGES: Every month a varying number of EM
are returned as "undeliverable addressee unknown" or
"rejected due to containing possible objectionable
material". Our very limited all-volunteer staff does
not have the time, energy, or desire to track down everyone who
changes their email address and forget to notify us. Also,
if a subscriber installs a "spam filter" or a
"parental control device" and neglects to tell the filter it
that it's "OK to let EM
pass through", we do not have time or patience to jump through secret
hoops, or solve puzzles, to allow us to send email to you.
If you change your email address be
sure to notify us at: k6soj@arrl.net ...
that is, if you want to continue to receive EM.
EMCOMM MONTHLY and EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN archives:
www.emcomm.org/svares/archives/
SEARCH FEATURE AT EMCOMM.ORG
www.emcomm.org
EMCOMM MONTHLY and EMCOMM.ORG are funded
solely by the voluntary donations of EMCOMM operators who are
concerned about preserving the ability of amateur radio operators to be
prepared to provide skilled, accurate and efficient emergency
communications during times of disaster or other events where normal
channels of communication may be interrupted or overloaded. WWW.EMCOMM.ORG is “pop up free”. If you have benefited from our
efforts, and would like to support this work in a tangible way; you may
do so by sending a check or money order payable to: EMCOMM.
Send to: EMCOMM, PO Box 99, Macdoel, CA
96058. -- Your donation is an outright gift and is NOT tax-deductible.
The opinions expressed by individual contributors do
not necessarily reflect the EM philosophy, the
editorial position of EM or its staff.
ARES® and Amateur
Radio Emergency Service® are registered service marks of
the
American Radio Relay League,
Inc. and are used by permission."
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.
EMCOMM MONTHLY - Copyright (c) 2005 - All
rights reserved.
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
IN THE MARCH ISSUE
OF EMCOMM MONTHLY :
Watch for IREO updates plus
more about... "AARDVARCTS"
Coming soon....more about UNDERGROUND
COMMUNICATIONS
Plus...NEWS...
FEATURES... FEEDBACK.... QSH... and MORE!
____________________________________________
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