ham radio

[WA2ZDY]

at 1735 Z today, Fox News had a few seconds of comments and footage of hams in action. They mentioned ham radio being the only means of comms in and out of the area and several rigs were shown, at least one on 14265.

Bravo for the hams who are there working ahrd in crummy conditions and to Fox for doing it.

[n8yx]

Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Aug. 31 2005,09:46)]at 1735 Z today, Fox News had a few seconds of comments and footage of hams in action. #They mentioned ham radio being the only means of comms in and out of the area and several rigs were shown, at least one on 14265.

Bravo for the hams who are there working ahrd in crummy conditions and to Fox for doing it.
This was stated on at least one national news website:

"...cell phone service was down, e-mail wasn't working and most of their radio systems had dead batteries..."

The last one doesn't bother me. The first two DO, especially when there are those who would have us place all of Amateur Radio's eggs into the EchoLink/Internet basket.

If anything, this tragedy should serve as a reminder that ham radio IS needed as a communications tool...and MUST be capable of operating in stand-alone mode if required.

[KI6ABZ]

Quote[/b] (n8yx @ Aug. 31 2005,10:18)]The last one doesn't bother me. The first two DO, especially when there are those who would have us place all of Amateur Radio's eggs into the EchoLink/Internet basket.
Is there anybody out there really doing that?

I know that Echolink and IRLP are valuable, but all the linked systems around here still rely primarily on RF links.

And I doubt even the most die-hard Echolink DX'er really thinks that Echolink should replace HF modes

[kj5t]

Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Aug. 31 2005,16:46)]at 1735 Z today, Fox News had a few seconds of comments and footage of hams in action. They mentioned ham radio being the only means of comms in and out of the area and several rigs were shown, at least one on 14265.

Bravo for the hams who are there working ahrd in crummy conditions and to Fox for doing it.
We have to thank anyone to spend any amount of time showing amateur radio. It is horrible that it takes something like this for them to believe we are useful. Well, I gues we all know were were prepared. I have not been needed for relays/information, but I have monitored the SATERN net and the HWN.

[K0RGR]

Quote[/b] (n8yx @ Aug. 31 2005,10:18)]Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Aug. 31 2005,09:46)]at 1735 Z today, Fox News had a few seconds of comments and footage of hams in action. #They mentioned ham radio being the only means of comms in and out of the area and several rigs were shown, at least one on 14265.

Bravo for the hams who are there working ahrd in crummy conditions and to Fox for doing it.
This was stated on at least one national news website:

"...cell phone service was down, e-mail wasn't working and most of their radio systems had dead batteries..."

The last one doesn't bother me. The first two DO, especially when there are those who would have us place all of Amateur Radio's eggs into the EchoLink/Internet basket.

If anything, this tragedy should serve as a reminder that ham radio IS needed as a communications tool...and MUST be capable of operating in stand-alone mode if required.
Nobody I know of is doing that! Echolink has its place, and it can even be helpful in some disasters, but it's not the end all or be all. You shouldn't count on repeaters being available, let alone Echolink.

However, as of last night, the Internet was still available in downtown New Orleans, even though cell phone service was spotty at best, and according to CNN, the police radio system was becoming useless. In areas that are subject to disasters of Biblical proportions, like the Gulf Coast, dependence on any technology is probably a fairly silly idea.

If you're thinking about WINLINK, which is dependent on the Internet - you've got a point. However, it's designed to access the Internet through a gateway that could be thousands of miles away from the disaster area.

I think there will always be a need for the most basic forms of radio communication in disasters. Unfortunately, many of the people who matter - the professionals responsible for managing disaster response - don't agree. They don't see amateurs contributing much to their efforts, and in fact, they get concerned when they see a bunch of hams hanging around a shelter. WINLINK is supposed to overcome those problems. A small number of hams can set up a WINLINK network and run it remotely, without needing to hang around. Or, they can go on to other duties once the WINLINK is in place. For most disasters, it fits into the first 24 hours of the disaster, after which, commercial communications will be restored.

Perhaps, if there are more Katrina-scale events, and more people running around complaining that they have no communications, these decision makers will adopt a different attitude toward hams. Meanwhile, we need to make what we have to offer more attractive, in order to stay in the game. And, we need to make sure that those groups who can use our help get it.

Three cheers for the hams who are able to help now.

[W7DJM]

Well, one thing's for sure---there won't be any BPL interferance down in the disaster area.

[K0RGR]

Yep, it's probably very quiet, electrically, in New Orleans right now.

In past trips to the area, I've had pretty good luck finding people on 2 meters, though the activity seemed a bit low for such a large city. I spent a week there back in the 80's and I don't think I found any life on 2 meters at that time. There is an EchoLinked repeater there that I've connected to several times, and I'm sorry to say that for a while, I had that system locked out of mine, because there were some anti-EchoLink miscreants on that system that were beyond obnoxious, and if that repeater connected to ours, we'd get treated to some choice conversation with no-ID yahoos making fun of EchoLink.

On my most recent trip there, though, everybody was courteous, helpful, and friendly on the air.

I don't know if anyone is sending traffic on HF via WINLINK from the disaster area - that would be nice to know. However, as of this morning, there did not appear to be any WINLINK gateways operating in any of the disasater areas.
I don't know how many, if any, had been established prior to the disaster, or if any will be established once more relief agencies, including hams, are allowed into the areas.

[WZ4I]

According to the Echolink Yahoo Group.....

"The Lake Charles Louisiana echolink is on. KC5JBJ-R node 187881 New Orleans echo still off. Doubt they will be on for a good while due to storm damage. Any true Emergency traffic can be relayed via HF to authorities in the effected area. Please , no incoming health and welfare at this time.
73
Alan wa5lqz"


"At 09:52 AM 08/31/2005, you wrote:
What can we do with Echolink to help out?? It
appears that the nearest echolink node is about 169 miles from New Orleans in Alexandria,LA. Is there something we can do as echolink sysops to help out??

Those of us with VHF only privleges want to help
out but there doesn't seem to be much talk as to what we can do.

73
KE5ELU"


"kx7id@a...> wrote:
This is our time to shine. Many dead, no power
for up to 2 months, thousands in shelters. CO's in water, T1's and DS3's to cell sites down and cell sites under water and/or without power.

What is our plan to shine during this event? I don't see much conference server activity after this devastating storm and local folks even out here in Idaho are looking for family members in Mississipi.

What are we doing?

Thanks,
Chuck
KX7ID"

[WA3KYY]

We are now at day 4 into the disaster and commercial comms are still out. #In many cases it is impossible for the restoration crews to get to the places needed to restore comms. #Various wireless carriers are bringing portable cell sites in but they can't get close enough to the hard hit areas to be of any use. #Even if they do, the batteries on the cell phones of folks in the area are going to be depleted with no way to recharge them. #

Amateurs are going to be needed for a while even after some commercial comms are restored. #They may not even try to do much for New Orleans since the entire city is being evacuated and any significant reoccupancy is not likely for a month or more according to statements made by the Mayor and Governor.

Mike WA3KYY

[kb1ils]

All of this (excellent) discussion reminds me of one thing that I've quietly observed yet never asked about...

...why are so many helpful emergency publications available on CD/DVD??? If I am ever in a situation like a flood or fire, I am certainly not going to prioritize saving a computer-- but I'd need it to read the manuals!!!

Maybe my priorities are screwed up, but I can think of a zillion things that would be saved from damage before I even thought of grabbing a computer........

[WA2ZDY]

ILS, ummmmm, you're supposed to read them ahead of time.

[KD7WHQ]

Uh, yeah.

Time to crack the books, as you have no idea as to when you may need the information.

Learning the NTS message format is a plus as well. That is how things are passed normally, and are being passed in the current situation..

[AG3Y]

DirecTV is featuring a channel with all kinds of Rescue Operation information , including a crawl across the bottom of the screen , " Sue A. . . . , call Janice C . . . . and let her know you are alright; " as if Sue is going to have a television set hooked up and ready to receive satellite television ! !

I just don't understand where the people's minds are that make these kinds of decisions? Why aren't we hearing more about ham radio's efforts to forward "health and welfare" traffic?

I'm sorry, but the chance of "Sue" seeing "Janice's" plead for information is extremely likely to fall on deaf ears, and blind eyes!

Jim

[KI4LZK]

Maybe Sue Has a Metal Plate in her head. Seams about the most logical way of her seeing it.

[kb1ils]

ZDY yes I understand that, but even with manuals I use every day and have for over ten years, there are very few that I know by heart enough to trust my memory in a stressful situation. I will take hard copies of anything, any day!

Mainly I guess I am referring to Army FMs, because that's what I am suddenly seeing available on CD/DVD, and those are everyday

Just had to throw my $.02 in...

[WA2ZDY]

Ok, point taken.