Q:
Into what ARCT classification would the following fall? (Or is it
a new class?)
Hardware: Trailer, 30' tent, propane heaters and burners, 6 cots,
porta-potty, 2 hf radios, repeater, antennas for same, 4 12v wet
cells, generator, work areas and lights, broadcast radios and tv, atv
capability, possible digital capability.
Personnel: 4 generals or extras, 8 techs.
Supplies: Gasoline, food and water, vitamins for 7 days of
self-sustaining operation.
What should be added?
A: Based up the personnel
you listed (12 operators) it would be a TYPE I ARCT. However,
the ARCT resource typing system does not specify or list what equipment
a team may deploy. Basic communication, safety and survival gear should
always be deployed; but other gear will vary from place-to-place and
season-to-season. This is based upon the assumption that the team
leaders/members will have the knowledge and experience to know what to
bring (also "what not bring") to get the job done. See:
GEAR AND EQUIPMENT LIST: www.emcomm.org
(Click on GEAR LIST) for a master list. - Editor
Q:
Does
the WRRL have county, district, or state “units” or “chapters”.
A: NO.
WRRL believes that a lot of time and energy has been wasted on the
“political” side of amateur radio and that all the organizational
posturing and rhetoric is…simply stated…an unnecessary
“evil”! WRRL is for amateur radio operators who love
radio; and, who enjoy providing public service radio
communications. WRRL is not a “you scratch my back and I’ll
scratch your back” social club; nor, is it a side-show for inflated
egos. Hopefully this will eliminate power struggles and “turf wars”
and WRRL members will therefore have no reason to “butt heads” over
who is in control of what. Every member is control of one thing: Their
own amateur radio station(s) and how well they are maintained
and operated! We intend to recruit as many skilled operators as
possible with fixed, portable and/or mobile stations that have emergency
capability with one primary focus: “getting the message delivered“!
∙-∙-∙
Q: Quick question on the
WINCOM net. I've not been following it because my HF antenna was
"down for repairs." Also, I now have a conflict on
Wednesday evenings. But I still want to keep track of you all, and
will check in every chance I get, if the WINCOM net is still running.
My question: I see that the WINCOM net frequency (3987kHz) is now
the designated watch/calling frequency for 75 M. I am now using
3987 as my "home" frequency. Are you going to continue
using that for WINCOM, or are you moving it? Or is WINCOM no more?
I don't see it mentioned in the last couple issues of EMCOMM Monthly.
Also, please pass on to Jerry Boyd, N7WR my appreciation of his
articles re: ICS. Also to all of you for establishing ARCTs,
etc. As a former park ranger/EMT/Army National Guard
medic/fire fighter/law enforcement officer, I'm the local ICS fanatic.
I was "there" when USFS switched from LFO to ICS, and I've
been an advocate since my transition class (on the Klamath NF, BTW),
which must have been about 1980. Keep up the good work! - Dave
Wallace, KA6GJN - Turlock, CA
A:
3987 KHz ± is still the (nominal) frequency for the WINCOMA
("A" has been added for Arizona) Net on the 1st and 3rd
Wednesdays at 1930 Pacific Time. It is also used for other
EmComm nets. Last July we received a similar query
regarding the 80M Morse "watch" frequency. Below is
that query and the reply. The same holds true for
all watch/monitor frequencies. Please do not hesitate to use
3987 kHz as your "home" frequency. -- Editor
∙-∙-∙
Q: 3711 is popular with
CW ops like myself and many others. If we promote 3711 as a
GUARD • MONITOR • CALLING • EMCOMM calling frequency
it won't be long before people start to tell operators that the
frequency is for emergency use. A mind set will develop and
casual use of the 3711 will be discouraged. I am about to buy a
few 3711 crystals for my novice transmitters. At some point 3711
will probably be reallocated to HF SSB not CW anyway. Maybe it
would be better to have the monitor frequency down the band where CW
will most likely still be accepted. (below 3.600 Mhz). Any
thoughts on that?" - Monte Allen, W9BMW/7
A:
When we originally listed 3711 kHz "and up" as GUARD
• MONITOR • CALLING • EMCOMM frequency, we were aware
that 3710 kHz was the "old" QRP calling frequency in
the "old" novice sub-band. The idea was to be able to
hear a station on 3710 if one was monitoring 3711 (without a narrow
filter) and move up a few kHz. The idea also was that anyone
calling for assistance on 3711 might be heard (and helped) by a
station monitoring 3710. We have monitored 3710 - 3711 kHz and
hear very little activity. The use of "911" and/or
"711" for monitoring frequencies (example) 1911,
3711, 7111, 10119 (9-1-1 backwards) is intended to help us all
remember these RADIO WATCH) frequencies (as in "call
9-1-1"). If it ever 3711 ever gets so busy that we
have to move up the band...we would be ecstatic! If 3710 /
3711 ever is approved for SSB...we will NOT be ecstatic! I would
suggest that you go ahead and order those 3711 crystals...with that
"channel" being promoted, you may have many more contacts!
The idea is NOT to limit 3711 to emergency use only...it was
hoped that it would be more of a monitoring / calling
"channel". I'm sure that you'll agree that an active
channel ... is the first place we'd go to call for help. (See
below for other GUARD • MONITOR • CALLING • EMCOMM
frequencies.)
∙-∙-∙
Q: "Why do you refuse to promote "WinLink
2000®"? One common thread we all share during an
emergency is getting the job done in the fastest, most efficient manner we
can. If I have Internet working and available, and I have a
"customer / client") willing to send his / her own message via that
mode of communication, so much the better. Also, if the telephone
and fax are immediately available, I'll use it (or refer the
"customer" to it if more in tune to their needs). I perceive my
job as an EmComm operator to coordinate all modes of communications /
resources, and have as many "back-up" plans as
possible (or financially feasible). - Name withheld
A: I have
heard, "Shouldn't we have as many "tools" at our disposal
as possible?" A better way to say this might be:
"Shouldn't we have as many appropriate tools available as
possible?" If I were to be called to a neighbor's house to
repair a faucet, I wouldn't bring an arc welder. When I
made house calls as a community health nurse, I didn't lug
around an electric oral suction machine. But, I always carried a
$2.98 plastic "turkey baster" in my bag.
These potentially life saving "tools" are compact, lightweight,
cheap, and always work as an emergency oral suction device. (No
batteries required.)
As far as delivering emergency or disaster message
traffic emergency or disaster in "...the fastest, most efficient
manner..." is concerned, In agree. (I also would add
"As long as the method is 100% reliable and accurate". I
am sure that you would agree with me, that in all message traffic
(radio or otherwise)...whether it is a 9-1-1 call, tactical comm., or a
RADIOGRAM...that: "Accuracy trumps speed!" It
must...or we might as well go home. In my former profession
Registered Nurse (retired), accuracy and "follow through" was not
an option. A misplaced decimal point in a doctor's order for
medicine could mean the difference between life and death.
Now back to emergency communications. I
have yet to see why radio emcomm (specifically amateur radio emcomm)
is needed if the normal "infrastructure" (Telephone,
email, Internet, etc.) are still intact and functioning. It
seems to me that radio emcomm is only needed when the normal
means of communication(s) has failed (or are overloaded).
If the phone lines and other commercial circuits, etc. are working, why
tie up the airwaves, fight poor propagation, QRM, QRN,
(and...the lids) to deliver a message? I agree with you that those
who want to send a message should use the telephone, fax, email. or
whatever!
One argument we hear promoting the
radio-infrastructure "hybrid" auto-linked systems*, is that
message traffic can originate within a devastated area, travel via
amateur radio out to a area where the infrastructure is still working and then
be automatically forwarded to an addressee.
The main reason I do not recommend
this is because no one knows for sure if a message got delivered. I
do not argue, however, that message traffic should necessarily go all
the way to its final destination via radio. Once it is
picked up by an operator in an area in an area where the telephone
system is working,
a real live traffic operator can then call the addressee in person
and deliver the message. Traffic handlers should never leave
a message on an answering machine or voice mail. That is not
delivering the message anymore than leaving a note on someone's
windshield in a rain storm is and saying that it was delivered!
Nor do I say that "delivering" record message
traffic to an email address is properly delivering a message.
Since ancient times "the message is
sacred". We are simply messengers and we have a solemn
responsibly to ensure that all messages entrusted to us are delivered to
the addressee...accurately and completely.
I do not trust automated hybrid systems.
Especially during a disaster incident when the infrastructure may already
be compromised or may fail at any time.
As far as I am concerned a RADIOGRAM
(record message traffic) is the equivalent of first class mail.
And it has not "delivered" until it has been:
a) Read to the addressee (or to some
responsible agent for that person) over the telephone and
acknowledged.
(The Western Union
required a signature when a telegram was delivered!)
b) Delivered in person. Even if by
special courier on motor scooter, bicycle, horse, boat...or on foot!
c) Mailed via first class mail in a
sealed envelope...with a return address in the upper left corner.
(The only exception might be
for a RADIOGRAM with handling instructions of HXB or maybe HXG.)
On Oct. 29 I gave a RADIOGRAM class in
Redding, CA . It was videotaped and if and when we get
some copies made they will be made available (for a nominal fee)...if
anybody wants to order one. Watch EM for
an announcement I have watched it a few times and have
spotted several things I said that are a little unclear...plus some
omissions. Viewers will probably get a kick out of it...and
maybe a chuckle or two! So take it all with a "grain of
salt." (1 grain = 65 mg).
* Do not confuse these systems with digital
modes via radio (only). Which, if independent from any
commercial systems, have a legitimate purpose in emcomm.
