an old friend wrote:
wrote:
wrote:
You may have to watch an online ad, but it's worth the wait.

http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/A...164/11164.html

73 de Jim, N2EY

Given the millions and millions and millions spent on communications
infrastructure...

cut

" " "Meanwhile, ham radio operators proved that older technology can be
the most reliable technology. Our EDA Editor (and ham) David Maliniak
wrote an online column on the subject, pointing out that sometimes "old
works when new doesn't." (Read it and add your comments at ED Online
11136.) During and after Katrina, hams running on generators (sometimes
with makeshift antennas) worked throughout the hurricane zone to put
emergency stations on the air. They guided rescuers to stranded victims
and updated weather services via the Hurricane Watch Net." " "

Wait a minute. The Guard says their equipment is antiquated and needs
replaced, but the ARS service says that older technology may be what is
needed.

Obviously, they can -both- be right. When wide area vhf+ comm systems
go down, they have to switch to simplex where they can, and HF/NVIS
networks for the rest of the area.

in point of fact they both can be right

the virtue of Ham radio is we can forge links as we need to the
downside is by and large we have to every time, the abilty to use use
the resource is of value when "something that got overlooked shows up"

problems with that senario are the ARS lack much abilty to forge stable
conections and must invent them continously this is hard for your govt
and other first responders to use so they gtry to go higher and higher
tech trying to not to need us

The problem, Markie, is that "higher and higher tech" is EXACTLY
why they have problems that DO need us!

The current circumstances in southern Louisiana are clear proof.
Once again the cellphone net, trunked and interlinked Public Service
communications systems CRASHED under the weight of Katrina.

ham ego's also get in the way as witness the reaction saying that the
response of ham radio was less than it could have been while much
better then the Govt own response

Oh yeah...Our ego's got in the way...yeah. Right. Uh huh. Sure.
OK.

Yes I am dispointed in the response I saw and heard to Katrina and Rita
I am apaled by the response of LA and NO not thrilled with FEMA either
but as can be send they are dependant on the locals for infrastructure

There is no way that any one state can truly "gear up" for the kind
of disaster response that Katrina and Rita mandated...Not even
California with it's sixth or eighth place GNP could withstand this
kind of impact without calling in federal assistance.

Amateur Radio's BIGGEST contribution in this scenario is it's
decentralized locating of assets. With thousands of licessees and
stations spead out over the entire nation, there's no way that anything
short of complete nuclear annihalation, pandemic disease or
apoctolyptic act of God could obliterate it.

Steve, K4YZ