[600MRG] A better explanation of the need for emcomm fallback modes.

[Edward R Cole]

Steve,

I'm certain CW will be acceptable if you find capable hams to 
operate.  Most of the CERT folks who are getting ham licenses will not know CW.

Unless you are ready to work with your local emergency services and 
make prior arrangements and take the training so you can fit in as 
effective member of the response, you will find them rejecting your 
offer of assistance.

So your alternative is to set up totally independent disaster relief 
by yourself.  Good luck!

The days of showing up with a HT and a mobile radio and stating "I am 
a ham" are over.  You need Homeland Security ID to get past the Nat'l 
Guardman holding the M16.  I'm not spouting guesswork on this....this 
IS what it WAS during the Exxon Valdez event.  The fact I had Alyeska 
Pipeline photo ID got me thru security and sometimes not without 
prior contact that I was coming to a facility so I was on the entry list.

I was one of about 5-6 contractor employees that was allowed to drive 
past the gate at the pipeline facility onto the grounds to get to my 
workplace.  EVERYONE else had to take a special shuttle bus after 
security check (just like boarding an airplane).

What you say about ham radio's decentralized network is fine, but if 
you do not join the response team, in advance, it will not 
matter.  You can handle a few health&welfare messages for the public 
on your own.  Any serious relief comms will be done by the response team.

I should say that a lot has been learned by officials from the 
Katrina debacle.  A lot more portable systems are now available and 
more satellite-based radios are included.  Complete stand-alone 
cellular units can be slung into an area by helicopter.  Comm go-kits 
are more available in emergency groups.  Most of this is deployable 
in 18-72 hours so the role for hams is short duration.  Unlike the 
1964 Alaska Earthquake that knocked out all other comms, including 
military radio.  Hams are still recognized by officials up here for 
that service to provide the only communications outside the state for 
days.  But times have changed.  Now Alaska has over 250 earth 
stations connecting us with the world in addition to the marine cables.

The ham radio role has changed.

73, Ed - KL7UW


At 05:28 AM 3/6/2014, sbjohnston at aol.com wrote:
>I would suggest that the practices of "Homeland Security" and 
>industry teams are not a parallel for amateur radio emergency 
>techniques.  Hams offer a ready-to-use system of widely dispersed 
>home and portable stations owned by men and women ready to use and 
>maintain them.  We are the "generalists" of emergency 
>communications, and that's our value.  Unlike the professionals - 
>who tend to put their bets on highly specialized systems to meet the 
>currently popular threats and usually fail to employ adequate 
>technicians to maintain their systems - our operators, gear, and 
>techniques are more flexible and can adapt to unforeseen situations.
>
>630 meters has a role in this - but it should not be limited only to 
>the fancy modes currently in vogue.  And thus my support of CW in the band.
>
>
>Steve WD8DAS
>
>sbjohnston at aol.com
>http://www.wd8das.net/
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>Radio is your best entertainment value.
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>600MRG mailing list
>600MRG at w7ekb.com
>http://w7ekb.com/mailman/listinfo/600mrg_w7ekb.com

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
     "Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
     dubususa at gmail.com