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Special Contest Call Signs Now Available From IC (Nov.19 2005) On the recommendation of RAC, in October 2005, IC made changes to it's policy on Amateur Radio call signs, RIC-9. One of the changes was to permit Canadian Amateurs to apply for and use special call signs, in the format CF1A, specifically and exclusively for certain contests. The policy explicitly requested RAC to recommend the contests to which this policy should apply. After a consultation with Canadian contesters, RAC has recommended to IC the following nine contests:
RAC has further consulted with IC and developed a template letter which applicants can use to request a call sign. It is absolutely essential to review Table 1 of RIC-9 and choose call signs that correspond to the province, territory or area where you intend to operate. You may use one letter to make multiple applications for an entire year. Please use this letter for your applications (RTF format). Please be warned that there is no guarantee that a special call sign authorised for one period will not be issued to a different person or group for another period. If you have questions about how this works, please contact RAC Atlantic Director Dave Goodwin VO1AU at VO1AU@rac.ca . (RAC News Service)
Note to Accredited Examiners (Nov. 18 2005) Check your expiry date! The authority for many examiners expires on Dec. 31, 2005. Industry Canada does not remind you to renew. To renew, complete the form provided in RIC-1, obtain the sponsorship of your amateur radio club, and mail to the Amateur Radio Service Centre. (Thanks to Ed Frazer, VE7EF) (RAC News Service)
RAC Prepares draft letter for use in response to IC's BPL consultation (Nov. 11 2005) Some time ago, Industry Canada posted a Gazette notice seeking comments from spectrum users on a proposed Canadian policy on Broadband over power lines (BPL). For clubs and individual amateurs
wishing to comment on Industry Canada's proposal, RAC has prepared a draft
letter you may wish to use as a template.
The template can be found at:www.rac.ca/downloads/2005_11_BPLResponse.doc (RAC News Service)
Canadian Amateur Radio Advisory Board (CARAB) meets to discuss regulatory issues (Nov. 4 2005) Per the formal agreement between Industry Canada and Radio Amateurs of Canada, the twenty-fifth semi-annual CARAB meeting was held in Ottawa, ON, Nov. 3, 2005. This is a brief summary of this consultative meeting. Discussions on several ongoing regulatory subjects on the agenda included the following:
Industry Canada was represented by: Earl Hoeg, Director Spectrum Management Operations; Guy Roy, Manager Operations, Director Eastern Ontario District Office ; Tom Jones, Chief, Authorizations, Spectrum Management Operations, Gary Steckly, Technical Policy Analyst, Spectrum Management Operations, Hughes Nappert, Manager of EMC Analysis, and Harold Carmichael, Program Manager Examinations and Certificates, Spectrum Information Technologies and Telecommunications, Québec, QC. (RAC News Service)
Radio Amateurs of Canada introduces New RAC Forum (Oct. 18 2005) The new RAC forum is dedicated to the hobby of Amateur Radio and it's many activities. It's RAC's hope that this new and improved forum setup will be a great success. Full Details can be found online by visiting: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RAC_Forum/ (VE4RRB RAC Forum Moderator)
RAC Night at Delta Amateur Radio Society with Ed Frazer (Nov. 24 2005) Ed Fraser will be speaking on the BPL issue and also a slide presentation on how local clubs handled their field day operations this year. Please e mail if you plan to attend for head count purposes only. Time: Thursday, November 24, 2005. Opens at 7:00pm Free Admission Location: North Delta Public Safety Building on 84th Ave in North Delta, Greater Vancouver BC Talkin: 444.425 For more info visit: www.deltaamateurradio.com
Manitoba Amateur
Radio Repeater Council.
October 23, 2005 at approx 11:10 am the Manitoba Amateur Repeater Coordination Council (MARCC) was formed. Those in attendance were, VE4ALW - Portage ARC and the VE4PTG repeater, VE4WR - the VE4EDU repeater and speaking for the Dauphin ARC, VA4GD - Pinawa Repeater group and the VE4PIN, VE4INT repeaters, VE4KQ - Manitoba Amateur Radio Museum, Brandon ARC and the VE4AGA, VE4KIL, VE4VHF, VE4BDN, VE4INF,VE4TED,VE4HS, VE4MTR repeaters , VE4ACX - the VE4TWO repeater , VE4HK - Winnipeg ARES and the VE4ARS repeater , VE4SBS - Pathfinders ARC and the VE4FIL repeater, VE4ALP - Pathfinders ARC and the VE4FIL repeater, VE4RRB - the VE4UHF repeater, VE4EAR - Manitoba Repeater Society and the VE4CDN, VE4MAN, VE4PLP, VE4NEP, VE4GIM, VE4MIL, VE4EMB, VE4WPG, VE4VJ, VE4WRS repeaters. The meeting was chaired by VE4HAY representing Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC). VE4HAY talked about the passing of the previous Frequency Coordinator, Tom, VE4MJ/VE4TOM. As such there was no one to coordinate repeaters in VE4 area. It was expressed that RAC would like to see councils formed which can be maintained well into the future. Such a council has been up and running in British Columbia for many years. At the RAC Annual General Meeting, VE4HAY talked to a representative from the BC council and it was agreed that if VE4's wanted to form a council they could borrow the format, bylaws, policies etc... from the BC council, so that they did not have to re-invent the wheel. VE4HAY did this and over the summer worked on the documents and converted them to a model that VE4's should be able to work with. VE4HAY conferred with the Manitoba Repeater Society on how VE4's may want to have their council set up. It was suggested that the VE4 model will be a no fee model with one representative from any repeater or club being part of the group. 99% of the work involved would be done via e-mail to eliminate the need to collect fees and hold meetings. While this process is a little slower, it is still very efficient. VE4HAY then asked for a simple vote by those in attendance if they felt such a council should be formed, and everyone agreed.
Some technical items where brought up like Will beacons be included in the council
function - YES all fixed frequencies (repeaters & Beacons, etc.. )
should be under the council
The meeting ended at about 11:30 - with no date set for any future meetings (all communication to be done by e-mail) Derek Hay, VE4HAY
Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club Big Event 28 (Feb. 4 2006) Location: CAW (Canadian Auto
Workers) Hall 124 Bunting Rd St.Catharines
For more information visit:http://nparc.on.ca/www/index.jsp/event28
Burnaby ARC Amateur Radio Flea Market (Feb. 12 2006) Location: Cameron Recreation
Centre 9523 Cameron Street Burnaby, B.C. ( behind Lougheed Mall )
Notes: Western Canada's Largest Amateur Radio Flea Market. Door prizes, major equipment raffles, commercial exhibits, QSL Bureau, 50/50 Draw, food and refreshments.More than 60 tables of amateur radio and electronic equipment bargains. Free parking in Cameron Rec. Centre Parking Lot For more information visit: www.ve7bar.org
Section Manager for the Maritime Section (Nov. 18 2005) Hugh D. Clark, VE9HC was recently re-elected Section Manager in the Maritimes Section (N.B. N.S. & P.E.I.) for a two-year term that will begin on March 1, 2006. Hugh ran unopposed eliminating the need for a balloted election. (RAC News Service)
New Emergency Management Act introduced (Nov. 17 2005) Ottawa, November 17, 2005 -- Today, in the House of Commons, the Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, introduced the new Emergency Management Act. “By introducing the new Emergency Management Act, the Government of Canada is providing a solid legislative foundation for emergency management in the 21st century,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. “The recent bombings in London and the hurricanes in the United States Gulf Coast have reinforced that leadership, coordination, and seamless emergency management are all essential to Canada’s readiness for dealing with emergencies and saving lives.” The new Act provides for a comprehensive, all-hazards approach to emergency management by:
The new Emergency Management Act is about putting the “federal house in order” by providing the necessary authorities for the Government of Canada to meet the challenges of its own emergency management activities; and, about addressing the need for a well coordinated federal response that is complementary to those of other jurisdictions and key stakeholders. Strong leadership at the national level for emergency management is necessary to coordinate the federal response to emergencies. The new legislation clarifies the roles of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and other federal ministers and, provides for the establishment of standardized elements for emergency management plans in the Government of Canada. “The Government of Canada is doing everything it can to protect Canadians to ensure that their safety and security remains a priority,” added Minister McLellan. “The creation of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, the release of Canada’s National Security Policy and the introduction of the new Emergency Management Act are important steps in the Government of Canada’s efforts in confronting the threats in today’s world.” An on-line version of the proposed legislation is available at www.parl.gc.ca. (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada)
Provincial Emergeny Operations Centre, ARES Ontario Activation (Nov. 17 2005) On Thursday November 17 2005 at 10:00 hrs ARES was activated in conjunction with The Nuclear Emergency Operations Centre exercise, Region of Durham Headquarters. Attending ARES operations at the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, Duty Officer Steven Knapp, Officer Clayton Misener, Supervisor of Operations Paul Beverley and VE3EMO Chief Station Operator Jim Taylor. Attending ARES Operations at the Toronto Emergency Operations Centre, Toronto Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator Gary Symonds and VA3EOT Chief Station Operator Joe Cusimano Operational Frequencies 7.153 Mhz Net operations under the control of the Communications Ontario Net (Don Rowed, VE3KII NCS) from 10:00 hrs to 11:00 hrs. 7.153 Mhz Net operations under the control of the Ontario Phone Net, NTS (Glenn Killam, VE3GNA NCS). from 11:00 hrs to 13:20 hrs. 147.060 (VE3RPT) Net operations under the control of the Open Line Net, NTS (Ted Grocott, VE3SHM NCS) for mobile communications with Durham Region ARES 147.120 (VE3OSH) Net operations under the control of Durham Region ARES, Gord Hewit VE3GIH, Scugog District Emergency Coordinator and Peter Henry VA3PWH Durham Region Emergency Coordinator. 147.375 (VE3SPA) operated by the South Pickering Amateur Radio Club, secondary test frequency. 147.195 (VE3LNZ) Lindsay Ontario, was used for communications with Peterborough ARES Net Operations Report HF Operations 10:00 hrs: VE3EMO (PEOC Radio Station) reported into the Communications Ontario Net to establish contact with ARES stations. VE3EMO established and confirmed contact with the following stations;
VE3EMO established and confirmed contact with the following stations;
VE3EMO established and confirmed contact with the following stations; 147.060:
Total VHF contacts with the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre: 12 Exercise duration: 4 hours. The exercise proved successful in testing established ARES communications networks in southern Ontario and was officially closed at 14:00 hrs. One formal NTS message was passed between VE3GNA Ontario Phone Net Manager and the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre. Note: A media release covering the Durham Region Nuclear Emergency Operations Centre Exercise can be found on the Regional Municipality of Durham's website: http://www.region.durham.on.ca/news.asp?nr=dnews/2005/nov1705.htm Report filed November 17 2005 19:30
hrs
Living Near Ontario's Nuclear Facilities While it is unlikely that a nuclear emergency will occur in Ontario - being prepared in advance and knowing what actions to take can better protect your personal safety. If you live or work within 10km of either nuclear generating facility - the following safety information applies to you.
Prepare Now - Learn How! SKYWARN 7th AnnualRecognition
Day 2005 (Dec. 3 2005)
SKYWARN Recognition Day special event will take place December 3rd. SKYWARN Recognition Day is an event co-sponsored by the National Weather Service and the ARRL and is the NWS's way of saying thank you to Amateur Radio operators for their commitment to helping keep their communities safe. During the 24-hour special event,
amateur radio operators visit their local NWS office and work as a team
to contact other hams across the world. To
When Environment Canada's weather centres issue severe weather watches or warnings, they alert the CANWARN volunteers at the organization's regional stations in the affected areas. The volunteers contact other CANWARN members on the ham radio, tell them a watch or warning has been issued and ask them to report signs of approaching severe weather. These include lightning, hail, cumulonimbus clouds or as they are known in the trade CBs, and funnel clouds, which if they touch down are then called tornadoes. CANWARN is organised in local networks. When CANWARN members spot severe weather, they send their reports to the CANWARN network controller who forwards them to Environment Canada's severe weather office in Toronto using either a special telephone line or the CANWARN web page. At the weather office, the severe weather meteorologist combines the data from the satellites and radar with the information from the ground to refine the forecast or prepare a severe weather watch or warning. In Ontario, CANWARN stations are equipped with computers, printers, and ham radio equipment, and are located in community centres such as airports, police stations and senior citizens complexes. Expanding their community service Ham or amateur radio operators have long played important roles in their communities, particularly during emergencies. These men and women run very high frequency, VHF, or ultra high frequency, UHF, radios from their homes, offices, cars or trucks and so are in a good position to help when normal lines of communication have been knocked out by a tornado, fire or explosion. Their roles expanded after the Edmonton tornado on July 31, 1987. The tornado which had winds of more than 400 kilometres an hour ploughed through the Alberta city in the mid afternoon killing 27 people, injuring 253 others and causing more than $250 million in damage. The report on the Edmonton tornado and the weather warning system, known informally as the Hage report, said Environment Canada should solicit the help of amateur radio operators in the severe weather watch and warning program. Within a week of the report's publication, Environment Canada had trained more than 120 ham radio operators in the Windsor area to detect severe weather. At first CANWARN operated primarily in southwestern Ontario. Today, there are CANWARN stations in towns and cities from Windsor through to eastern Ontario and Parry Sound on Georgian Bay. There are also CANWARN stations in Northwestern Ontario, including places like Thunder Bay, Fort Frances, Dryden, and Kenora. CANWARN volunteers cover most of the areas of Ontario that are likely to have severe weather. CANWARN is active (to varying degrees) in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. For more information about how you can become involved in CANWARN visit: www.on.ec.gc.ca/severe-weather/canwarn-e.html
CQ....CQ...Canada Winter is soon approaching and along with it many Hams will be sitting in front of their radios looking so some action on the ham bands. You don't have to wait for those contest weekends to have some fun, you can contest every day of the week! Every Saturday for the rest of the winter have some fun working on the 'Towns and Cities Award'. Key frequency every Saturday 7.065Mhz. , so drop by and give a call....log a Canuck and earn the beautiful Towns and Cities Award sponsored by 'The Trans Provincial Net'. Full details can be found online by visiting: www.tpn7055.ca/tpnaward.html Eric VE3GGO
RAC CANADA WINTER CONTEST
In December each year, the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) sponsors the Canada Winter Contest. Amateurs all over the world are invited to participate. Contest Period: 0000 UTC to 2359 UTC on December 17, 2005 Bands and Modes: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6 and 2 metres, CW and phone (SSB, FM, AM, etc.) Suggested frequencies: CW - 25 kHz up from the band edge; SSB - 1850, 3775, 7075, 7225, 14175, 21250, 28500 kHz. Check for CW activity on the half-hour. Exchange: Stations in Canada send RS(T) and province or territory. VEØs and stations outside Canada send RS(T) and a serial number. QSOs: Contacts with stations in Canada or VEØs are worth 10 points. Contacts with stations outside Canada are worth 2 points. Contacts with RAC official stations are worth 20 points. RAC official stations are: VA2RAC, VA3RAC, VE1RAC, VE4RAC, VE5RAC, VE6RAC, VE7RAC, VE8RAC, VE9RAC, VO1RAC, VO2RAC, VY0RAC, VY1RAC and VY2RAC. You may work any station once on each of the two modes, on each of the eight contest bands. It is prohibited to make CW contacts in the conventional phone sub-bands, phone contacts in the conventional CW sub-bands, or to make or solicit QSOs through a repeater during the contest period. Multipliers: Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories, and may be counted once on each mode on each of the eight contest bands. The multipliers, with their postal abbreviations and prefixes are: Nova Scotia [NS] (VE1, VA1, CY9, CYØ); Quebec [QC] (VE2, VA2); Ontario [ON] (VE3, VA3); Manitoba [MB] (VE4, VA4); Saskatchewan [SK] (VE5, VA5); Alberta [AB] (VE6, VA6); British Columbia [BC] (VE7, VA7); Northwest Territories [NT] (VE8); New Brunswick [NB] (VE9); Newfoundland and Labrador [NL] (VO1, VO2); Nunavut [NU] (VY0); Yukon [YT] (VY1); and Prince Edward Island [PE] (VY2). Final Score: Total your QSO points from all bands, and multiply by the total number of multipliers from all bands. Categories and Awards: The following 7 categories are eligible for a certificate or award. Plaques will be awarded to the top-scoring entrants in each category. Thanks to the following for their
sponsorship:
Special trophy for the highest Single Operator, no power classification, Foreign Entrant - Jorge Bozzo LU8DQ Memorial by Alan Goodacre VE3HX Note: where the categories have a power class and the submitted log does not clearly identify the power class entered then the log will be treated as if the highest power class for that category was entered. There are no single-mode categories. * In the Multi-Single category only one transmitter and one band permitted during the same time period (defined as 10 minutes.) Exception: One, and only one other band may be used during any 10-minute period, if and only if the station worked is a new multiplier. In other words the Multi-Single Transmitter class allows a second station to "hunt" for multipliers only on a separate band. Multi-Multi category stations may operate on several bands simultaneously. Single operators who receive assistance from a DX spotting system or Packet Cluster network during the contest must classify themselves as Multi-ops. ** Although there is only one QRP category, it is intended that the published results would show All Bands or the Single Band of operation. *** Although there is only one Single Operator Single Band category that qualifies for a certificate or award, it is intended that the published results would show High Power or Low Power. To facilitate this break out of the listings, your entry should indicate the power class you used. Certificates will be awarded to the top-scoring entrant in each category in each province, territory, US call district, and DXCC country. To facilitate the proper allocation of certificates all US stations should indicate their actual US call district if different than indicated by their call prefix. DX stations should indicate the actual country of operation if different than indicated by their call prefix. Results: Will be published
in The Canadian Amateur and shown on the RAC web site.
Send paper logs to:
Paper mail entries must contain a summary sheet showing score calculation, a dupe sheet listing calls worked on each mode on each band, a multiplier check sheet and log sheets. Logs sheets must show time, band, mode, call of station worked, exchanges sent and received and points claimed for each QSO. New multipliers must be clearly marked in the log. Contest entry forms are also available
on the RAC web site.
Any entry with over 200 contacts should be submitted in digital form, either submitted by e-mail or mailed in via 3.5 MS-DOS formatted diskette. The preferred format is RAC Cabrillo in plain ASCII/TEXT format. For an interim period of time, while the commercial logging programs are updated, you may submit that logging program’s log file for contest submission, but your file must be in ASCII/TEXT format. The RAC Cabrillo format is described and its detailed layout is shown on the RAC web at http://www.rac.ca/downloads/raccabrillo1.pdf. Please check to make sure your logging software is compliant with this format and layout. Electronic logs must contain a summary
sheet with the same information as shown for the paper log entries. The
standard summary sheet provided by the typical logging program is generally
acceptable, but you should confirm that it contains the same information
as shown for paper log entries. Ensure that you completely fill out the
header information in the Cabrillo file. Name your file with your CALLSIGN
and the extension .LOG (e.g. yourcall.LOG. If you email your log, please
send the file(s) as attachments. Do NOT paste the log file into the text
of your message. This is often impossible to extract correctly.
(Radio Amateurs of Canada)
MARITIME CONTEST (Jan. 29 2006 + Feb. 12 2006) The MARITIME CONTEST is on again, so get your old key hooked up, dust off your mike... Many Hams in the Maritimes will be glad to hear that the Maritime Contest (known in pre-VE9 days as the VE1 contest) is happening again this coming winter. The Fundy Club is sponsor, and here are the details. January 29th, 2006 - CW section (VE1BBL Memorial Contest) February 12th, 2006 - SSB section (VE1ALB Memorial Contest) Both sections are on 80m, open to hams in the 3 Maritime provinces only. Times 7-11am and 2-6pm local time. Exchange is: call, name, RST, county, province, serial#. Scoring is 6 points/QSO (1 point per correct exchange item), and the counties are multipliers. Also, the Memorial Stations will be a multiplier. A plaque will be awarded for first place in each section, and certificates will be awarded for 20+ CW contacts and 40+ SSB contacts. Entries within 30 days to:
'FOR THE LOVE OF
HAM RADIO'
Hi, fellow Ham Radio Operator, I have created this alternative Smart
Group, 'FOR THE LOVE OF HAM RADIO', which I think you will
also be interested in. Its purpose is not to be in
If you would like to join 'FOR THE LOVE OF HAM RADIO' send an e-mail to Eldon and he will send you an invitiation with instructions on how to join. or visit the website at: www.smartgroups.com/groups/FTLOHR Regards
Special Event Station VC3O...Celebrating Oil Wells (Nov. 11 2005) On the air, VE3AT is operating special event station VC3O until 28th of November. Ron is on-the-air to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the beginning of oil wells in Canada. This event is included in the Ministry of Heritage's list of significant Canadian anniversaries. (ARNewsLine)
Maritime Swap Shop The Maritime Swap Shop is held every Monday at 7:30pm local time on 3.750 MHz. All station are invited to checkin and post their wants and items for sale. The Maritime Swap Shop list can be found on many places on the internet, here are just a few: The Loyalist City Amateur Radio Club , hfradio.net , VE1AIC's Home Page and Truro Amateur Radio Club Please Note: The Maritime (on-air) Swap Shop, which was formerly held on Tuesday evenings, will now take place on Monday evenings at 1930 local time on 3750.
Well the place to visit is the 'Ontario Swap Shop' held every Sunday at 12 noon on 7055 kHz and 7:00pm on 3755 kHz. Nick VE3NJG and Ken VE3YK host the hour long program and all amateurs are invited. The Swap Shop list is posted every Monday on the Trans Provincial Net website, Ontario Swap Shop Listings , the swap shop list can also be found on packet by calling up VE3DID Introducing the "Ontario Swap Shop Club" a place where you can record your e-mail address or phone number where it will always be available even if you have nothing currently listed on the swap shop.
The Manitoba Repeater Society
Swap & Shop
My
thoughts following the recent Simulated Emergency Test
Let me start with a real disaster that will happen in our neighbourhood one day. In 1935 a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck just south of Cornwall. We live in a seismically active zone. Another 5 and change earthquake will hit the region, maybe tomorrow, maybe not for a hundred years, but one day. If a 6 magnitude earthquake struck Brockville what would be the aftermath? A shallow 6 magnitude earthquake can do a lot of damage and strikes without warning. One minute everything is normal, 5 minutes later there will be widespread structural damage in the affected area and perhaps up to 100 kms from the epicentre. Fortunately our building codes mean that few structures will actually collapse so there will be few direct fatalities, probably no more than ten, maybe up to fifty. There will be thousands of minor trauma injuries. (The vase on top of the bookshelf fell on me) and perhaps a thousand serious injuries (the bookshelf fell on me). Thousands of houses will be damaged, and will need to be checked before they can be lived in, and the local infrastructure will be badly damaged. Water, sewer and gas pipes will be unreliable. Electricity will be disrupted. Tens of thousands of people will be homeless. Telephone services will be damaged and will immediately saturate as everyone calls everyone else to find out what is going on. Just to help matters this will all happen at night in the middle of the winter! I see ARES participation unfolding in a series of timed phases. Initial Phase: First 24 to 48 hours. The emergency services have their own robust communications systems, and they will handle life and death traffic, and that traffic only. The role of ARES will be to establish reliable communications in the disaster area and to provide situation reports to local (municipal, county, provincial authorities) and to shelters and hospitals and the like in the disaster area as they are set up. An earthquake is very much a come as you are party, so the immediate task will be to contact ARES members, not using the telephones if at all possible. Set up a net and deploy stations within the disaster zone. Ares members should be deployed locally as the roads may be blocked and certainly must be kept clear for emergency traffic. Speed will be vital. Most stations will be equipped with
VHF/UHF FM transceivers in their cars. This means that communications will
be by voice. The radiogram is not obsolete. It developed to pass the most
information over a communications system with a limited capacity and point
to point range and consequently traffic had to be routed through many stations.
What applied to the telegraph also applies to our FM nets. Traffic
can be written down in upper case letters at a
In this first phase no one knows what is going on, and all communications will be overloaded. Emergency traffic must be handed to the emergency services as quickly as possible. Our job will be to let the authorities know accurately, what is the local situation, what resources are available and what help is required. Better an accurate and confirmed message of 25 words, than a thousand words of rumour. The limited format of the message form will concentrate the minds of those involved most wonderfully. Stations that can deploy HF systems should use at least 25 W. The experience of Katrina shows that QRP rigs like the FT817 can not be relied upon. Second phase 48 hours to 2 weeks. By now the situation will have stabilized. The authorities should have a good overall picture of the situation in the disaster zone. Telephone service will be returning, but fragile. Shelters will be in operation and hopefully refugees will be in transit from the disaster zone. The work of ARES will shift from sitrep to support. Everything will be in short supply:
Vehicles, gasoline, food, shelter and above all volunteers. The first wave
of operators will be exhausted after two days of too much stress, work
and coffee. Many volunteers will be worried about their own families and
property, and their moral must be sustained. If they believe they are handling
bureaucratic fodder for its own sake, they will quit. Ares will by now
be handing logistic communications for the shelters and support services.
A less formal, but still disciplined traffic structure may be required
to handle requests for blankets, food and other needs. A packet or other
data protocol could well handle this traffic. However, a data station will
need not only an FM transceiver, but also a computer, a tnc, and most importantly
a hard
I do not believe that amateur radio can handle the private traffic discussed at the meeting after SET. Our protocols must be open and therefore any traffic we handle must violate privacy rules. AX25 is an open protocol and can be monitored by anyone with a computer with a soundcard and the appropriate software. ARES will also be able to pass personal
messages from the shelters to friends and relatives outside the disaster
zone. The telephone service will be overloaded, but people will want to
know their loved ones are safe. Once again the 25 word format of the radiogram
scores. It will minimize the amount of traffic being handled while maximizing
the comfort to those concerned. If operators and equipment are available,
HF stations participating in province wide
Third phase. The return: 2 to 6 weeks after the disaster. By now the disaster is no longer headline news. Telephone service has been more or less restored. The other utilities are functional. Ares may have been stood down, but may still be required to remain on active stand by as the refugees return to their homes. The traffic will by now be largely informal, and be low priority logistical traffic and personal messages to areas where the telephones are not reliable. The role of ARES will be to be available at a moment?s notice in case communications fail. The services want to be sure they will not loose a bus full of senior citizens on their way home. Data systems for ARES: I think this scenario suggests that a data communications system would be a major asset after a major disaster. AX25 is robust, and easy and cheap to set up and use. It is slow, but if the traffic it handles is carefully sorted this should not be a problem. All ARES stations will have a VHF transceiver does not need to be modified to pass the 1200 baud protocols of AX25. The two problems that have to be addressed are:
Dave Stephenson, VE3PYG (Reproduced in the CARB with author's permission)
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