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Old March 5th 12, 04:17 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.moderated
John Davis[_2_] John Davis[_2_] is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Mar 2012
Posts: 9
Default Auxiliary Communications System (ACS)

On 3/4/2012 2:11 PM, Dave Platt wrote:
I've just found out about a major change within the Emergency
Communications network of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency,
and that this new system is being implemented nationwide as an
alternative to RACES in disaster communications.

I'm writing about the Auxiliary Communications System (ACS), and I have
a whole lot of questions about it and about RACES and ARES and how they
fit - or don't - in the new system.

First, though, I need information about the new system, and where I can
find out about it. I haven't seen any mention of it prior to the March
ARRL Section Newsletter I read this morning.


California has had an ACS program in place for some years now.
There's some overview information available at

http://w3.calema.ca.gov/WebPage/oesw...0?OpenDocument

As I understand it, ACS is intended to be a broad-scale incorporation
of volunteer communicators and communication technology, into a
state's emergency communications infrastructure. It can incorporate
CERT groups using FRS and GMRS, volunteers using the internet or fax
machines, satellite radio systems, etc. - not just amateur radio, as
RACES does. ACS communicators need not have amateur radio licenses,
unless they are actually using amateur radio for communications during
an ACS drill or event activation.

In my city and county, the same people who manage RACES are also in
charge of ACS (they wear multiple hats, as it were). We sometimes do
our drills under the aegis of a RACES activation, but if we're
incorporating non-hams into the exercise or if we're doing more than
two county drills per year we will do an ACS activation instead (ACS
is not constrained to the "two drills per year" rule which applies to
RACES training exercises).


Having spent 25 years + as a Police dispatcher, And in one case
resolving a situation entirely via Ham Radio (A disable ham who I happen
to know personally was broke down on the road and needed a tow truck,
Normally we would just transfer the call but in his case..
Communications impaired,, I had the ability to understand him so had to
translate for the tow truck. Got him all towed away)

I know the value of good communications.. Often the BEST comm is via ham
radio.. However for short range stuff.. Other services work well too.

I can imagine a situtation (Imagine,,, Heck, been there done that) where
there would not be enough hams or police either, and the need to enlist
"Civilian" help could be handy.. With FRS and GMRS types, one ham can be
in say 20 places at one time... Provided they are close enough.

But than that is why my motor home is part porcupine.

2mtr, 70 cm and CB (2 of each, though the CB antennas are hidden, short
range) FRS (hand held) GMRS when I next renew the license (not likely
soon) Cellular, including a cell "Extender" type repeater, and then
there is the long wire for the main box when parked.


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