[CQ-Contest] Summary: Disruption of Emergency Communication during CQWW SSB contest

[Andreas Kretzschmar]

Folks,

thank you all for your numerous contributions, and allow me to give a brief
summary as well as some more personal comments.

- Some comments i got dealt with the mismatch between "official" (publicised) emergency frequencies as opposed to the frequencies actually used for emergency traffic.

Quote 9Y4NED: " the centre of activity frequencies was an initiative from GAREC and Region 1 to facilitate International disaster coordination and are not for local disaster operations, the present frequencies 3.815 7.162 and local TTARS 7.159 has been used in the Caribbean for emergency communications in the region for over 50 years and are well documented on emergency communications listings."

My comment:
Certain frequencies publicised as emergency frequencies have proved useless in certain areas of a whole ITU region for different reasons, some of them being permanent interferences from broadcast or unlicensed transmissions.
Furthermore, in times of disaster ANY frequency whatsoever where traffic
is possible in good quality should be used.
Initial traffic has, naturally, to start on a known "net" frequency, but
further point to point traffic should be moved outside crowded frequency ranges.

- It was suggested to use WARC bands.
Given the radio propagations on 24, 18 and 10 MHz, those bands are not suitable for short range communication.

- It was also suggested to use the 5 MHz band.

This is a viable aspect which should be considered in the future.
Unfortunately, many of the radios in use and owned by radio amateurs in
our region may not be able to transmit on 5 MHz.
5 MHz is also not open for amateur radio use in all countries.
IARU should work towards opening 5 MHz world wide.

- Use of digital modes

It is undisputed that emergency traffic, especially when established as
longer lasting health and welfare traffic, should be performed in a digital mode, on HF preferrably PACTOR.
The first responser's mode of choice, especially for initial communication on net frequencies, will always be voice (SSB) though.
This makes it important to keep those net frequency free of contesting
activities in times of disaster.

- Alarm messages in the DX Cluster Network


Very good idea! Can be implemented immediately for no cost, as such an alert can be initiated by any operator with internet access and it is supposedly effectively alerting at least all multi-op and assisted op participants in a contest.


I want to thank you all again for your contributions.  The discussion produced some good ideas to avoid future clashes between contest activities and emergency operation, and, i am glad to say, showed wide spread interest and openness of contesters for emergency communication.
Please spread the word and keep up the good work and intentions !

vy 73

Andreas "Andy" Kretzschmar 9Y4W, AF4DQ
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