"RESCUE RADIO: GEORGIA HAMS GIVEN $165,000 TO BUILD D-STAR RESCUE RADIO NETWORK
Its one of the largest government grants ever given to ham radio emergency communications. This as $165,000 in Federal funding has been secured by Georgia Emergency Management Agency to complete a statewide D-Star based ham radio emergency communications network.. Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, has the story of the grant and the all digital rescue radio network that it will create: "
Another travesty. Here we have a sort of repeat of what happened in Oregon. Spending 165k to install ham equipment to supplement commercial gear. This would put hams in the position of handling a type of traffic that they have no business handling. That life and death sort of traffic that is best left to professionals. Why not spend this money on bolstering existing commercial systems? Commercial systems can be made to do far more than amateur systems and would be operated and maintained by professional technicians and communicators. Hams are not qualified to handle this type of communications. Our service is NOT and emergency communications service.
The story is incorrect in that this is not the largest grant given to install ham equipment. Oregon, I believe was given 250k for its ridiculous project.
"RESCUE RADIO: GEORGIA HAMS GIVEN $165,000 TO BUILD D-STAR RESCUE RADIO NETWORK
Its one of the largest government grants ever given to ham radio emergency communications. This as $165,000 in Federal funding has been secured by Georgia Emergency Management Agency to complete a statewide D-Star based ham radio emergency communications network.. Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, has the story of the grant and the all digital rescue radio network that it will create: "
Another travesty. Here we have a sort of repeat of what happened in Oregon. Spending 165k to install ham equipment to supplement commercial gear. This would put hams in the position of handling a type of traffic that they have no business handling. That life and death sort of traffic that is best left to professionals. Why not spend this money on bolstering existing commercial systems? Commercial systems can be made to do far more than amateur systems and would be operated and maintained by professional technicians and communicators. Hams are not qualified to handle this type of communications. Our service is NOT and emergency communications service.
The story is incorrect in that this is not the largest grant given to install ham equipment. Oregon, I believe was given 250k for its ridiculous project.
NI7I
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The story does not say its the largest, it says it's one of the largest. Part of the story you left out clearly references Oregon and Winklink as being the largest project at $250K
Both are a waste of money.
__________________ Jogging is for people who wear velour track suits and look like a Soprano. I, am a runner. If you tried to catch up to me or keep up with me, you would never get jogging and running confused - ever again.
Guess they saw Alabama's D-STAR network and got a case of radio envy.
I can't pass judgment as my county just put up a new D-STAR repeater on the same tower as the analog repeater owned by my club. They own it, the local clubs attend to its care and feeding.
The neighboring county did the same thing, and they are holding a training session for all local hams interested.
I know, we all should have been principled amateurs and said "no" to this travesty of spending taxpayer money. Right, I'll believe you when you show me you sent back your stimulus checks.
__________________
73 de
W4RLR
Richard L. Ray, SSgt. USAF (Ret.)
Crestview-Garden City Community, Okaloosa County FL EM60ru "A veteran of U.S. military service took an oath to protect and defend the United States, and in doing so wrote a blank check made payable to 'The Government of the United States of America' for an amount up to and including their life."
USAF 1983-1996 - Life Member DAV
Member ARRL, SATERN A Southern sweet tea drinking, crew-cab diesel pickup driving, politically incorrect high tech redneck...and proud of it.
I have issues with both a D-Star network and Oregon's Winlink.
D-Star requires an ICOM D-Star equipped radio. I understand that Kenwood is about or has just come out with D-Star radio. I'm sure both cost more.
WinLink probably will work ok for small events. But it's going to fall on it's face if the internet is lost over a large area. There's not enough people that know how to handle the quirks of WinLink for another thing. Certainly not enough hams that have the right TNC to use WinLink.
Both systems need to wait until the majority of hams are using the systems.
The story does not say its the largest, it says it's one of the largest. Part of the story you left out clearly references Oregon and Winklink as being the largest project at $250K
Both are a waste of money.
OOps.. As I often do, I talk before I listen. The point is the same however. A huge waste and more infringement on our bands.
I have issues with both a D-Star network and Oregon's Winlink.
D-Star requires an ICOM D-Star equipped radio. I understand that Kenwood is about or has just come out with D-Star radio. I'm sure both cost more.
WinLink probably will work ok for small events. But it's going to fall on it's face if the internet is lost over a large area. There's not enough people that know how to handle the quirks of WinLink for another thing. Certainly not enough hams that have the right TNC to use WinLink.
Both systems need to wait until the majority of hams are using the systems.
No, both systems need to stay out of genuine emergency comms. Let the professionals handle it on commercial systems that are already up and running.
The recent panic over the FCC folks having to remind us about PART97 was a direct result of the DHS grants.
Now we are seeing the grants being used to promote huge buys of products that most hams would otherwise never bother with; Thousand dollar SCS modems, D-Star junk, and so on.
The grants have got to go. Every day they remain available, a little bit more of amateur radio gets sold out.
__________________
73 DE Charles, N5PVL
Do you prefer to use amateur radio for your amateur radio communications?
The recent panic over the FCC folks having to remind us about PART97 was a direct result of the DHS grants.
Now we are seeing the grants being used to promote huge buys of products that most hams would otherwise never bother with; Thousand dollar SCS modems, D-Star junk, and so on.
The grants have got to go. Every day they remain available, a little bit more of amateur radio gets sold out.
What is irksome is that it is hams that are selling us out. People that should know better are selling this bill of goods to state agencies.
We appreciate your support.
Bill of Goods?
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