Well he did a poor job, and an incomplete one so I fuss at how he
did.
> While hams have for the
> most part grown pretty much dependent on 2M repeaters lets remember things
> happen.
And we forget all over again and not be prepared. We all get far too
complacent!
In Cherokee County Georgia hurricane Opal roared through a few
> years back. When it came through a large amount of widespread damage
> occurred due to the eighty to ninety mph winds and torrential rainfall. As
> we all know repeaters are largely located atop mountains and access is
> difficult sometimes even in excellent weather.
Lets not forget winter snow. Can we say blizzards. The Dahlonega
repeater got knocked off when the tower fell in an ice storm and it's
back but not as good...tower not as tall....
As luck would have it
> electricity to both local repeaters was lost and backup power failed. We
> were able to accomplish our mission of relaying traffic from shelters to
> the E.M.A. in Canton Georgia and at times from F.E.M.A. to The Georgia
> Emergency Agency in Atlanta some thirty miles away. We carried out our
> mission by using simplex mode and relay through one operator to another. I
> admit one of the shortfalls of this was it took a few minutes to get the
> message to its destination. However, each message got through.
> One of the problems we had was not having a pre recognized frequency to go
> to when the repeater's source of power failed.
Well it's fine to set up your local plan, but for an individual
(basically unknown outside his local area) to make up a set frequency
for what they want without regard to band plans, the FCC and ARRL.
And no one else basically knew about this unless they read the
announcement and resulting flame on WX-CHASE.
Through chance a lot of
> operators went to the output frequency of the Cartersville, Ga repeater
> owned by Jim N4GIS, Glenda KB4GDS
> Smith and Dave W4UWH and operated simplex. Had we had a prerecognized
> simplex frequency in hand a lot of time and numerous telephone calls would
> have been saved.
Make your own plan now. It might not be a bad idea to have a spare
repeater (use some of the old Motorolas [we were just given some to
update our 30 year old repeaters to 20 year old technoloyg and some
batteries.. and if necessary a solar charger if you don't readily
have source)
> After 25 years in the field operating as an Emergency Medical Technician in
> Atlanta I learned a few lessons.
> #1. Equipment that is designed to never fail will.
> #2. Disasters planning is set up for the disaster to occur at 2:00 P.M. on
> Wednesday when all available resources are readily at hand. Rarely do these
> events occur during this time frame.
> The third and final: #3. You never,never, never ever waste a resource
> during a disaster.
I think first ...NEVER say NEVER....the second after it comes out of
your mouth FFFFT! it will!
> I think a lot of thought has gone into this idea by the persons who have
> created it.
Actually no. It appears this was not even run by anyone in the ARRL
and I never heard of it on Amateur Radio Newsline. I checked both
sites. Newsline is http://www.arnewsline.org. Text and real audio
> By not wasting a resource we would use the repeater if available to relay
> pertinent information to Emergency management authorities or the National
> Weather Service.
This is correct.
>If others need to communicate and are within simplex
> range, I feel the traffic should be handled here.
This is fine too. EXCEPT if you want to talk to ME at the NWS. And
there's no reason you can't pop in and ask net control to ask the
party you want to speak to someone on simplex or another available
unused repeater or simplex frequency But I don't think an "unknown"
and his chosen few should try to make and ram a supposedly "national
-set-in stone" policy. It's best to set up your own plan.
> By allowing a designated net control operator to be gateway or traffic light to radio traffic
>is imperative if available.
> I was not a developer of this nationwide simplex frequency, but I ask
> consideration for those who developed it. It may very well be an idea whose
> time has arrived. I feel it has strong merits.
Well, I'm saying it was not done properly and "they" and, I still
don't have any idea who "they" are .....chose the second most
commonly used simplex pair. The claim was also made that 146.520 was
the National Skywarn Simplex frequency. No, it's the US national
simplex frequency. I'd be more inclined to monitor that...and all you
hams reading this...how often do YOU monitor "52"....even here in
Columbia....mostly
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSilence.
I also checked the Skywarn home page and there was no mention of
this. There was NO national input. Sorry for this rant.
Emergencies do not give you advance warnings most of the time.
(Flooding , [not flash flooding] gives you some...and so do
hurricanes ) How are YOU (every one on the list now) prepared for a
short term emergency? A long term one? Remember essential services
most likely will not be working. Do you have a supply of drinking
water? Fuel? Radio and TV? Do you have battery power? If you have ham
equipment, or 2 way do you have battery backup. And do you have
spares and CAN YOU CHARGE BATTERIES when commercial power is off?
If you don't have a plan, start now!
Powell
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powell{at}conterra.com
http://www.qsl.net/w4opw
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