Oahu Board of Water Supply Realizes the Merits in Amateur Radio

Puerto Rico had something like 175 repeaters licensed before Maria and four survived. Much traffic for days and weeks was handled by a ham-on-a-hill using simplex. An early served agency was the electric utility which had to coordinate restoration of service.

 

You are absolutely correct. If you know something about P25-P2, then you should know just how expensive it really is, and the cost do not end after you have a network up and running. As for where the funds come from you might find interesting. The electric utility I am working with one state particular across 3 counties are sharing a P25 P2 system. The three counties are part of a city and between the 3 counties are 7 tower sites and a 911 Dispatch Center. Instead of 9 RX/TX frequency pairs, will run 13 frequency pairs. The funding for the Public Safety (Police, Sheriff, Water, Fire, and EMT) are coming from the three counties and the lion's share from Homeland Security. Those 7 tower sites price tag comes in at $19 million, and that is before the radios are turned on.

 

I can see it. In case of an emergency where LMR repeaters are down, you'd be limited to simplex comms between people who have an LMR radio. By using ham radio frequencies and gear, you suddenly expand your communication "network" with a large group of hams who are also capable of communicating. So effectively you expand your communication range, which you lost by loosing repeaters, with a lot of stations "in between" to relay information.

 

Now this is comical. By your logic all commercial communications including cellular service are the only towers the storm hits and amateur is untouched.

 

This is indeed comical: I did not mention towers at all! But many hams have handhelds and many have the means and knowledge to erect an antenna after disaster struck.

 

How many hams can hike up a hill or mountain with an HT and not die of a heart attack? And what about all of the fallen trees in the way?

 

Unfortunately, that's an issue not confined to hams.

"... the popular image of firemen-themed calendars may portray them as toned, heroic hunks, the reality seems to be many are busy fighting the flab. ... "

"Previous research in the US has found nearly half of all on-duty deaths among firefighters are caused by heart disease ... "

"The researchers carried out their study after it emerged obesity rates among firemen in the US were soaring, with 80 per cent classed as overweight or obese."

 

guys, keep up to date. The rule about employees and ham radio was updated.

This is a summary of the Commission's Report and Order (R&O) in WP Docket No. 10-72; WP Docket No. 10-54; FCC 10-124, adopted July 14, 2010, and released July 14, 2010.

10. As the Commission noted in the NPRM, experience has shown that amateur operations can and have played an essential role in protecting the safety of life and property during emergency situations and disaster situations. Moreover, the current amateur radio service rules, which permit participation in such drills and tests by volunteers (i.e., non-employees of participating entities), reflect the critical role amateur radio serves in such situations. However, as evidenced by recent waiver requests, state and local government public safety agencies, hospitals, and other entities concerned with the health and safety of citizens appear to be limited in their ability to conduct disaster and emergency preparedness drills, because of the employee status of amateur radio licensees involved in the training exercises. The Commission therefore amends its rules to permit amateur radio operators to participate in government-sponsored emergency and disaster preparedness drills and tests, regardless of whether the operators are employees of the entities participating in the drill or test. The Commission finds that extending authority to operate amateur stations during such drills will enhance emergency preparedness and response and thus serve the public interest.

 

That's good and bad too.

 

Yes exactly agreeing with you.