[TowerTalk] Re: Importance of Amateur Radio Emergency Comms

[Tower (K8RI)]

Michael Tope wrote:

>Good points, Rick. That is probably why the ARRL
>came up with contests and the DXCC program. Both
>programs motivate vast numbers of hams to maintain
>  
>
Here in Midland County, the EOC has a multi-band ham station right in 
with the 911 operations.  We also have rigs in the mobile EOC and all 
were paid for by the EOC.  We also have packet in each installation and 
are working with portable repeaters along with ATV.  We depend on tall 
outlying towers for the digipeaters as well as long haul HF.

They take the back up as well as health and welfare communications 
seriously.
In an emergency they don't want the phone lines tied up with "are you 
OK" calls.  That is one of the things that ham radio can take care of  
without putting a load on local communications. 

We have "shadows" with important personel allowing them to contact 
people and agencies without having to tie up local lines which may not 
be available.

Yes, emergency repeaters do have back up, but some one still has to go 
out and make sure the generators are fueled and running.  Batteries do 
not last forever. 

In the case of natural disasters, power to the cell towers is quite 
likely to go and again their batteries won't last forever.

>top notch HF communications capability. DXers and
>contesters are probably not the best prepared (unless
>they are also active in RACES/ARES) in terms of
>interfacing with first responders and other government
>disaster recovery organizations (response protocol
>stuff), but they are probably best prepared in terms of
>being capable of deliverying good readable signals
>under adverse propagation conditions.
>  
>
It takes both trained operators and equipment suitable to the task to 
get the job done be it a series of digipeaters, or HF voice or CW.  Up 
here CW is considered and essential mode as well as the modern ones.  It 
may not get used often, but they want the capability.

Now, back to my 160 meter half sloper construction.

Roger (K8RI)

>73 de Mike, W4EF..........................
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Rick Karlquist" <richard at karlquist.com>
>To: "Jim Lux" <jimlux at earthlink.net>
>Cc: <towertalk at contesting.com>
>Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 10:49 AM
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Re: Importance of Amateur Radio Emergency Comms
>
>
>  
>
>>Jim Lux said:
>>    
>>
>>>Also, the "tower in backyard" has a very tenuous connection to "skilled
>>>communications operator", unless you're approaching as a sort of quid
>>>      
>>>
>pro
>  
>
>>>quo argument... I'll be available as an operator (something YOU want) in
>>>exchange for you letting me have an aesthetically undesirable tower
>>>(something I want).  One could make the argument that you'd be an even
>>>      
>>>
>>I've long thought we should advance the above argument.  Hams invest a lot
>>of their own time and money to provide a free-to-the-pubilc communications
>>infrastructure in time of emergency.  If ham radio were like the "War
>>Emergency Radio Service (WERS)" during WWII and solely consisted of
>>emergency drills, the amount of time and money invested would drop
>>precipitously.  It's similar to the duck hunters investing in duck
>>habitat to let ducks live so they can then kill the ducks.  Sounds
>>illogical, but it is perfectly logical.  Why can't they just be
>>conservationists and not hunt ducks? Answer:  because they are
>>motivated by hunting, and wouldn't spend their money otherwise.
>>That's why they belong to hunting clubs, not the audibon society.
>>A lot of seemingly non-emergency related ham radio activities
>>contribute to the general infrastructure that is needed in emergencies.
>>
>>Rick N6RK
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>
>>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>>    
>>
>Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
>questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>  
>
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>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
>>    
>>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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>  
>