WORLDWIDE
eDISPATCH
- 1 JUN 2009 - 0300Z
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Dedicated to Emergency Communications by RADIO
EMCOMM
MONTHLY
Official
Journal of the World Radio Relay League
www.wrrl.org
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VOL. 5 -- No. 11
www.emcomm.org June 2009
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The EM PHILOSOPHY
- GENERIC EMCOMM
SHORT CIRCUITS - News and Announcements
FEEDBACK, MUSINGS and SPURIOUS EMISSIONS
The EM
ADVISOR - "Q and A"
WRRL
NEWS and NETS
TRAFFIC HANDLING
NETWORK
NEWS - "N.E.T.S."
SHOW US YOUR SHACK
FEATURE
- UNDERGROUND COMMUNICATIONS - Part II
EMCOMM SPECIALTY ITEMS - Stuff for
NEW SUBSCRIBERS and CONTRIBUTORS
REFERENCE and RESOURCE SECTION
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The EM PHILOSOPHY
GENERIC EMCOMM
There are many emcomm groups and organizations. Some are well organized
and prepared and are staffed with trained and skilled volunteer operators.
Others are not so well organized, are ill prepared, and include untrained
operators. Many fail to weed out incompetent operators and even the "lids."
In the U.S. and Canada the oldest and largest private group is the ARRL's ARES®.
Local and state government RACES and ACS units are active in many places. Add
the Salvation Army's SATERN, ARMS (Amateur Radio Missionary Service),
MARS (although not considered to be an amateur radio group, and the WRRL.
Everyone seems to want to identify with, and belong to, their favorite
organization(s). Some join every organization they can find.
EM believes that no matter what hat
you wear...standardized operating procedures are always in order. And
emcomm radio traffic must be able to flow freely between any and all EMCOMM
operators and/or groups, and our primary mission has always been to promote
proficient operating, standardized traffic handling and operating procedures,
thereby producing effective radio communications
ANOTHER MILESTONE
This issue marks the end of EM - Vol. 5.
We are taking the summer off and there will be NO July and August issues of
EMCOMM
MONTHLY. New subscriptions will still be processed and new
subscribers will receive this (June) issue.
When not out hiking or fishing or camping or exploring on your horse or in
your 4WD this summer (winter for our southern hemisphere readers), keeping cool
by
spelunking (see article below), or just simply relaxing...we
encourage our readers to review back issues of
EM
at: www.emcomm.org/em You
will find a wealth of useful and entertaining information not available anywhere
else. See our REFERENCE and
RESOURCE SECTION (below) for some suggestions, or use our
handy "site search" function at www.emcomm.org to look
for topics that have appeared in previous issues.
While we must not let our guard down, we hope that each of you will find time
this summer for family, friends and community. And be sure to find time
for some relaxation and enjoyment for yourself. And...as always...SAFETY
FIRST!
Your Editor-Publisher will also be spending some time reflecting upon what
direction
EMCOMM
MONTHLY will take in the future. Barring any national or
international emergencies, or personal calamities, we will see you again in
September.
In the meantime: "Keep your batteries charged, your hubs locked, and your powder
dry!"
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SHORT CIRCUITS
SwissFlash
Now we've heard everything. A DIGITAL
SWISS ARMY KNIFE! It comes with a swing out USB flash drive (up to 16 GB),
PLUS a laser pointer, a ball point pen (for when the computer fails), and even a
key ring!
http://www.swissarmy.com/multitools/Pages/Category.aspx?category=swissflash
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FIRE SEASON IS NOW!
MAINTAIN YOUR FIRE AWARENESS AND READINESS
• Know and obey all fire rules and regulations.
• Monitor for “Red Flag Watches/Warnings”.
• Survey your location's perimeter/horizon hourly (or more
often).
• Report all suspicious smoke immediately.
• Carry a shovel, rake, water hose, bucket, radio, and
personal safety gear when traveling in rural or remote areas.
• Keep a dedicated hose of sufficient length ALWAYS ready at
home.
• Tell your family, friends and neighbors to do the same.
•
REMEMBER...EARLY REPORTING MAY PREVENT A MAJOR DISASTER!
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SPECIAL
FIRE,
HURRICANE
and
TORNADO
SEASON
EMCOMM "LICENSE PLATE" OFFER
For your vehicle, shack or mobile emcomm unit.
Special prices (Orders must be postmarked by June 30)
1 for $9.00 - postpaid (regular price $10.00)
2 for $16.00 - postpaid (regular price $18.00)
Or, outfit your emcomm team by ordering:
10 for $65.00 - postpaid (when shipped to one address)
View at: http://www.emcomm.org:80/products/
Mail check or money order to: EMCOMM, PO BOX 99, Macdoel, CA 96058
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EMCOMM EAST
October 3, 2009 - St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY www.emcommeast.org/
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FEEDBACK, MUSINGS and SPURIOUS EMISSIONS
BOLD TYPE
"I find that reading unbolded text is difficult.
Could you bold the text so that senior eyes wouldn't have to strain or convert
type?
Keep up the great, important work." - Zahra Anise, W7ZMA, Reno, NV
COMMENT: Sure Zahra. And we'll BOLD the entire bulletin for
any EM subscriber upon request. - Editor
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THE EM ADVISOR
The staff of
EMCOMM
MONTHLY is happy to answer your questions to the best of our
ability. Some are
"FAQs" (Frequently Asked Questions) and others are of a specific nature.
Each month, we will answer questions that may have value to other emcomm radio
operators. Technical questions are forwarded to our Technical Advisor, Ed
Ewell, K7DXV. Questions about our ARCT program or NIMS/ICS are forwarded to
Before submitting a question, we ask our readers to check the FAQ page
first...your question may have been asked before. Also, please consider
checking our site search page at:
http://www.emcomm.org/search.htm to
see if your question may have been previously addressed in
EMCOMM
MONTHLY. Thank you.
Q:
(No
questions received this month)
A:
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WRRL NEWS and NETS
∙ REGIONAL
EMCOMM NETS
(ALL SERIOUS EMCOMM STATIONS WELCOME):
Pacific (and Mountain) Time Zones: PTZNN (aka Jefferson Noon Net/JNN)
daily at 1200 PTZ on 7214/± kHz (7204 and 3911± kHz alternate)
Central (and Eastern) Time Zones: CTZNN Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at
1200 CTZ
on
7214± kHz
∙ WRRL NET
on MONDAYS on 14.280 MHz USB (listen up or down the band as much as 20 kHz)
2000Z (When on Daylight Saving Time) and 2100Z (When on Standard Time)
∙ WRRL
STATION MAP UPDATE
Map showing the location of WRRL stations can be viewed at: http://www.wrrl.org/map
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TRAFFIC
HANDLING
“For want of a letter, a word was lost.
For want of a word, a message was lost.
For want of a message, a life was lost.”
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"Record Message Traffic, by skilled operators, and by RADIO (only)!"
It's all about Dependability, Accuracy and Accountability!
NOTE:
"Record Message Traffic" means that a record is kept of all traffic you handle,
(for at least a period of one year), in the event a question comes up later.
It also
documents
that YOU did your job properly and correctly! (Assuming that you
did...of course.)
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EMCOMM and TRAFFIC HANDLING NETS
LINCOLN NOON NET - LNN (CTZNN) M-W-F
MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, and FRIDAYS at 1200 CTZ on 7214 kHz ± LSB.
All emcomm stations in the Central (U.S.) Time Zone, PLUS the Eastern and
Mountain Time Zones are invited to check in.
JEFFERSON NOON NET - JNN (PTZNN) DAILY
DAILY at 1200 PTZ on 7214 kHz ± LSB. (7204 and 3911 kHz alternate)
Stations in the MTZ (and CTZ, if the band is very long) are also welcome!
The LNN and the JNN are for operators who want to learn and/or practice proper
net operating procedures and standardized traffic handling skills.
Stations in the MTZ (band conditions permitting) can potentially participate in
both of these nets, and thereby provide a relay circuit between the east coast
and the west coast on 40 meters three times a week! It is
anticipated that the LNN will eventually become a daily circuit.
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THE “TRAFFIC HANDLER’S MANTRA”
(Recite often to help remember the eight parts in preamble):
“No
• Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority • Traffic • Delayed”
NUMBER • PRECEDENCE
•
HX
(Handling Instructions) •
STATION OF
ORIGIN •
CHECK
•
PLACE OF
ORIGIN •
TIME
•
DATE
To help you to memorize the eight parts of the preamble,
RECITE
the
"Traffic Handlers Mantra" often:
“No
• Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority • Traffic • Delayed”
ASSESS your current traffic handling skill. Take the
"TRAFFIC HANDLER’S CHALLENGE" at:
www.emcomm.org (main page)
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NATIONAL EMCOMM TRAFFIC SERVICE (N.E.T.S.)
The NATIONAL EMCOMM TRAFFIC SERVICE
uses designated watch and calling frequencies. Public service
amateur radio operators everywhere are invited to monitor these frequencies
whenever possible. But when disasters or other incidents occur, emcomm
operators are asked to warm up their radios and "light up" the NATIONAL EMCOMM
TRAFFIC SERVICE..."24/7". Active operators know which bands are most
likely to be "open" depending upon the time of day, season, etc.
During disasters and for other emergencies, the frequencies are "open nets".
When traffic becomes heavy, they will become "command and control"
frequencies with a net control station "triaging traffic" and directing stations
with traffic to another (traffic) frequency. (At least 5 kHz away.)
Proper net procedures are essential.
NETS
does not maintain regular schedules and does not handle routine "make work"
messages such as birthday greetings, "your license is about to expire", "book
messages", etc. NETS
is intended to
supplement
and
fortify other networks by providing a vehicle for emcomm
operators to originate, relay and deliver legal radio message traffic (I.e. -
"first class mail") of any precedence, at any time, from and to anyone and
anywhere--especially during disasters or other crises. NETS
stations will cooperate and use other networks that are known to be capable of
accurately and efficiently handling RADIOGRAMS.
NATIONAL EMCOMM TRAFFIC SERVICE (NETS) WATCH • MONITOR • CALLING • TRAFFIC
FREQUENCIES
All
listed frequencies (except 60 meters) are nominal. Actual nets may be up or
down as much as 20 kHz
SSB:
• 1982 kHz
• 3911 kHz RADIO RESCUE (SSB and CW)
• 5332 kHz "Up" to other 60M channels as necessary. 50W maximum ERP.
(Activated during actual incidents.)
• 7214 kHz
• 14280 kHz
•
CW:
• 1911 kHz
• 3540 kHz
• 3911 kHz RADIO RESCUE (SSB and CW)
• 7111 kHz
• 10119 kHz
• 14050 kHz
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•
GULF STATES (LA, MS, TX, AL)
- 7111
kHz 1100Z-2300Z / 3570 kHz 2300Z-1100Z
During EMERGENCIES: 7111 kHz daytime, 3570 kHz nighttime.
(Times approximate depending on band conditions and changes in sunrise/sunset.)
VHF/UHF FM
• LOCAL EMCOMM SIMPLEX - 146.55 MHz
• RED CROSS EMCOMM SIMPLEX - 147.42 MHz
• NATIONAL CALLING SIMPLEX - 146.52 MHz
Frequencies listed may be on or near other established net frequencies.
As a matter of operating courtesy, always move up or down a few kHz to avoid QRM
when a frequency is in use.
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"SHOW US YOUR SHACK"
•
"SHOW US YOUR SHACK"
is at: http://www.emcomm.org/em/shacks
• Send a picture of you
AND
your shack (all in one frame and in JPG or JPEG format) to:
k6soj@wrrl.org
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FEATURE SECTION
UNDERGROUND COMMUNICATIONS - Part II
Last month EM featured an article on UNDERGROUND EMCOMM. This month
we proudly present PART II which originally was published in March 2005.
The article contains
three illustrations. If for some reason your computer doesn't display them
they, may be viewed at:
www.emcomm.org/cavecomm
or
http://www.emcomm.org/em/2005/march2005.htm
"It's not RADIO, it's not INDUCTION, it's not a TWISTED PAIR. So...WHAT IS
IT ???"
More about UNDERGROUND EMCOMM -- by Don Cantrell, ND6T
For underground communications, radio may not be the answer. The rock and earth
surrounding caves, tunnels, and drifts act as a very effective shield
restricting even low frequency radiation to a few hundred feet. I would suggest
that we take advantage of a technique commonly used by geophysical surveyors
called "field conduction".
Instead of trying to transmit radio signals or magnetic fields through the ground we simply treat the area as a huge tapped resistor and send an audio frequency AC signal through it. On the surface over the cave two ground rods are driven in line with the cave and a considerable distance apart. A small diameter wire is then strung between them and an audio transceiver is connected. Down in the cave the rescuer strings another wire connecting contacts to the earth there through a pocket-sized audio transceiver.
To envision how this works, let's try a simplified example of field conduction.
Solder together a handful of resistors as shown in the diagram. These can all be
the same value in order to simplify the calculation but in the real world there
will be some variation. Connect a battery as shown and, when you connect a
voltmeter as in the diagram, you will read a voltage. Sure, smaller than the
battery voltage, but a definite reasonable voltage. If you connect an audio
generator in place of the battery then you could replace that voltmeter with a
pair of headphones and hear the generated tone.
For a more accurate representation you could use a pickup load of resistors and
make a bigger array on the floor somewhere. Attach the audio generator just
about anywhere and you should be able to hear that tone across just about any
resistor. Since this is only 2-dimensional, a more accurate representation yet
could be obtained by using a truckload of resistors in a big 3-dimensional grid.
Same results.
You would find that best results would be obtained by connecting the transmitter
(generator) and receiver (headphones) across as many resistors as practical.
Likewise, placing the surface electrodes far apart will allow the underground
station's electrodes to be relatively close together and still get a useable
signal. Analysis seems to show that a spacing of the surface electrodes at twice
the depth (distance to the underground receiver) is the optimum spacing.
Perhaps the largest source of interference to such an arrangement is the 60 Hz.
power transmission lines in the area. Not only do they produce 60 Hz. hum but
also harmonic interference at multiples of 60 Hz. throughout the audio spectrum.
To diminish this interference we could utilize sharp active filters on receive
and stable tone oscillators as CW transmitters. Receiver design becomes trivial
by using inexpensive operational amplifiers. Their amazing gain and low noise,
combined with minuscule power drain make them the ideal tool. Filter bandwidth
is only constrained by the code speed. With that much selectivity sub-microvolt
sensitivity should be possible.
Past experiments have shown that range in the order of miles (rather than
hundreds of feet) should be possible. Moreover, equipment prices should be very
minor. Surface equipment would not be power constrained, high power audio
amplifiers are common and cheap. Going to an extreme, one might even modify a
kilowatt inverter for 800 Hz.! Simultaneous cave communication and earthworm
harvesting.
For caves with unknown topology I would suggest two surface runs crossing at right angles to each other. The portable cave unit would simply by a hundred feet (or so) of hookup wire with alligator clips. The electrodes would be a few feet of aluminum foil which would fold into small squares to fit in a pocket for transport but could be stuffed into a crevice, buried in a little dirt, held in contact to the floor with a rock or two, or even sat upon. The portable transceiver could operate from a pack of penlight batteries and still be able to transmit with several watts of power.
Even though this cannot be considered radio, no license is required, we amateur
radio operators would still provide a key service in a subterranean rescue: Who
else is code proficient?
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NEW RESOURCE REFERENCE:
Paul Jorgenson, KE7HR, is a nationally-recognized expert on cave radio
communications. Visit: http://members.cox.net/caveradioat/
======================================================
EMCOMM SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
View at:
http://www.emcomm.org:80/products/
$10.00 each or 2 for $18.00 - postpaid
Or, outfit your emcomm team by ordering:
10 for $70.00 - postpaid (shipped to one address)
Mail check or money order to:
EMCOMM, P.O.
BOX 99, Macdoel, CA 96058
RADIOGRAM TRAINING DVD
Features D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, as the instructor. The session was taped
live at the U.S.F.S. facility at
Send check payable to:
EMCOMM,
MORE EMCOMM SPECIALTY PRODUCTS AT:
http://www.emcomm.org:80/products
=====================================================
NEW SUBSCRIBERS - WELCOME!
• Brad Pioveson,
W9FX, Benton, IL - ARES®, MARS
• Ron Glass, WN7Y, Billings, MT - ARES®, RACES
• Carol Katz, KCØZDA, Lead, SD - ARES®
• Brian Verhalen, KG6YUV, Clio, CA - ARES®, RACES
• Charles Sellers, KBØYIC, Littleton, CO
• Craig Long, KCØYNN, West Des Moines, IA - ARES®
• Jose R. Cuevas, KF4LED, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• William Maat, WØWKM, Wannaska, MN - U.S.Coast Guard Auxiliary
Communications
• Richard Manlove, W1WFE, Harrah, OK - ARES®
• Gene Purdum, N8DKA, Williamston, MI
• Leonard C. Thompson, Jr., KDØHOE, Urbandale, IA - ARES®
• Juan Marquez, K6IRF, Claremont, CA
• Randy McCray, KE4UCM, Durham, NC - ARES®
RECENT CONTRIBUTOR$
- Thank you for your support!
The individuals listed below have recently made monetary contributions to help EMCOMM MONTHLY
and
EMCOMM.ORG survive.
•
Martin A. Woll, N6VI - Chatsworth, CA
•
Wm. M. Smith, W7GHT - Boise, ID
EMCOMM MONTHLY and EMCOMM.ORG are
private (non-government, non-commercial) endeavors and are funded by
donations from 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.
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.
Mail to: EMCOMM,
SORRY: We have no PayPal®, credit card, or other methods to accept the
electronic transfer of funds. "We do it the old fashioned way!"
REFERENCE and RESOURCE SECTION
• ICS-ARCT GUIDE:
www.emcomm.org/ARCT/
• WRRL ARCT Page
www.wrrl.org/arct_program/
• TRAFFIC HANDLER’S CHALLENGE:
http://www.emcomm.org/thc
• OPERATING PROCEDURES: www.wrrl.org/operating
• PHONETICS:
www.wrrl.org/operating/itu_phonetics.htm
• RADIOTELEPHONE PROCEDURES:
www.wrrl.org/operating/icao_radiotelephony.htm
• GEAR AND EQUIPMENT LIST:
www.emcomm.org (Click on GEAR CHECK LIST)
• FEMA TRAINING COURSES:
http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/crslist.asp
• FEMA TRAINING COURSE IS-700 (NIMS):
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700a.asp
• ARRL FSD-218. The famous “pink card” that contains (almost) “everything
you ever needed to know about RADIOGRAMS”.
An electronic version of FSD-218 is at:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/#fsd-218
• NTS page by W7ARC:
http://www.w7arc.com/nts
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM (NTS) Methods and Practices Guidelines:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/nts-mpg/
• PACIFIC AREA TRAFFIC NETS:
http://home.earthlink.net/~k7bfl/nwnets.html
• MARITIME MOBILE SERVICE NETWORK:
http://mmsn.org/
• BEAUFORT WINDSPEED SCALE: http://www.zetnet.co.uk/sigs/weather/Met_Codes/beaufort.htm
• NOAA/NWS WINDCHILL CHART:
http://www.weather.gov/os/windchill/index.shtm
• STANDARD TIME ZONE SCALE: http://www.travel.com.hk/region/timezone.htm
• HOSPITAL DISASTER SUPPORT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (HDSCS): http://www.hdscs.org
• U. S. AIR FORCE Search and Rescue SURVIVAL MANUAL MIRROR SIGNALING (AFM 64-5
Aug. 1969)
http://www.emcomm.org/drawings/Mirror_Signaling_mid.jpg
SUBSCRIBE TO
EMCOMM
MONTHLY
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MONTHLY both inbound or outbound (if you try to forward it to
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and
SPECIAL BULLETINS add: @cot.net, @wrrl.org, and @emcomm.org to
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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 forgets to notify us. Also, if a subscriber installs a "spam
filter" or a "parental control device" and neglects to tell the filter 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: www.emcomm.org/subscription.htm ...
that is, if you want to continue to receive
EM.
EMCOMM
MONTHLY is originated in
10, 12, 14,
and 18 point Arial font and transmitted in
HTML
format. Occasionally, selected portions are set up in the
Lucida
Console font. HOWEVER...we have received a few reports that on
some computer screens...EM
appears unformatted in
Plain Text
or
FUBAR. ("Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition.") If this
happens to you, you can always view
EM,
as it is intended to appear, at:
www.emcomm.org/em
Upon request
EMCOMM MONTHLY will
be transmitted in
plain text
format to visually impaired subscribers who use an email-to-audio conversion
program, and/or other subscribers whose computers do not process email in HTML
format.
EMCOMM MONTHLY archives:
www.emcomm.org/em
SEARCH FEATURE AT EMCOMM.ORG
www.emcomm.org
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 with permission.
For
permission to reproduce material in EMCOMM MONTHLY
contact: D. W. Thorne at: k6soj@wrrl.org or write:
EMCOMM MONTHLY,
EM STAFF:
D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ - Editor and Publisher - k6soj@wrrl.org
Bill Frazier, W7ARC - Associate Editor and Webmaster -
w7arc@wrrl.org
Ed Ewell, K7DXV - Technical Advisor -
k7dxv@wrrl.org
Ed "FB" Trump, AL7N - Traffic Editor and Alaska Correspondent -
l.trump@att.net
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EMCOMM MONTHLY -- The Official Journal of the World Radio Relay League - WRRL®
EM
is published 10 times a year (September through June) and is copyrighted (c)
2009 - All rights reserved.
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