On Sat, 01 Oct 2005 18:20:03 GMT, "TOM" wrote:

I thought I might share a couple of observations I've made regarding the
Amateur Service; the situation in other locations may differ.

Based upon my adventures last year in Florida when we got pounded by three
hurricanes I was interested in finding out the utility of my Ham two meter
transceiver by taking advantage of Field Day (simulated emergency test) in
June.

Problem #1. The event in June (Field Day) is not a simutlated
emergency test. It is an emergency preparedness exercise. I believe
there are a couple of SETs (actual title) during the year, and at
least one is in the winter, if I recall.

Operating on the 'National Simplex Calling Frequency' 146.52 MHz

Problem #2. I didn't check the FD rules specifically, but the rules
for ARRL contests generally (and don't think that FD isn't a contest)
prohibit contacts on the calling frequencies.

From my numerous calls I was able to contact NO ONE! Not one person
responded to my Field Day calls throughout the day and I heard NO ONE
calling Field Day! Not one Ham could I find operating Field Day on the two
meter National Simplex Calling Frequency!

Based on my previous paragraph, I'm not at all surprised by that.

Yet to my surprise, I was able to consistently 'key-up' repeaters from
Jacksonville to Palm Bay---approximately 2/3's the length of the state of
Florida.

Problem #3. Did you ID every time you kerchunked those repeaters?

And to consider, this is an amateur service simulated emergency
test in Florida occurring only 10 months after the destruction of Charley,
Frances, and Jeanne.

Problem #1A. Field Day still isn't a simulated emergency test.

It made me wonder just how interested Hams are in emergency communications.

Problem #4. I wonder how interested you are in emergency
communications. Why didn't you get together with any local groups and
participate in their Field Day operation? After all, if it was a
simulated emergency test, as you insist on calling it, and you are all
in a lather about hams' interest in emergency communications why
weren't you actively involved in it instead of kerchunking 2M
repeaters?

I did have a nice conversation with a fellow 100 miles away via his repeater.

Instead of participating in the emergency preparedness exercise? Why
didn't you get on HF and work some of the tens of thousands of FD
staions that are on from Saturday through Sunday? If you think wide
area disasters such as hurricanes are going to be well served by 2M FM
communications through repeaters you are as naive as those who think
cell phones are going to be their salvation in the same event.

Ideally, the 60 meter amateur band might become an important part of an
emergency response provided by the amateur service. But, I just don't
see any interest by the ARRL and those frequencies, every time I check
them, remain unused.

What does the allocation say? I haven't looked at it, but when we got
the 10 MHz allocation several years ago it was on a secondary basis
with a fairly serious proscription regarding interference. That and
the narrow bandwidth of the allocation is why 10 MHz is excluded from
both contests and operating awards. Any chance 60M is similar? It
would seem so based on the FD rules segment you quoted: "2. Object: To
work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands
(excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12-meter bands)..."

After nearly forty years as an amateur radio operator, these are some of the
issues that make me reconsider the utility of the amateur service as an
emergency communications provider .

After more than forty years as an amateur radio operator, I see the
emphasis on emergency communications the one consistent thread from
the League all these years. In the local club I was involved with in
Illiniois for several years and the one local club here in Florida it
actually got tiresome as more and more of the 2M ops were more
interested in shiny badges and flashing lights than actual
communications preparedness.

Although the amateur service has played a significant role in handling
emergency communications in the past, the changing face of technology
has relegated the amateur service to a position of little consequence---
possibility, with better leadership, the amateur service can regain its former
stature.

Leadership begins from within. Instead of kerchunking repeaters and
trying to make "contest" contacts on the calling frequency, you should
be participating in FD--if not with an organized group, then by
yourself, on HF, not whining on usenet three months after the event.

I sincerely think, that with the devastation of Charley, Frances and Jeanne
last year, and Katrina this year, the ARRL really needs to get off their ass
and come up with a serious emergency communications plan. I suspect that
the ARRL is a 'has been' organization and a new vision for amateur radio
(emergency communications) needs to take their place.

You said, "based upon my adventures last year in Florida when we got
pounded by three hurricanes..." Did you get off your ass and provide
any emergency communications assistance? Or did you spend your time
kerchunking repeaters in 2/3 of the state?


--
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997