|
FCC Announces use-based fee system for ARS
August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT
Gettysburg, Pa (API) In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd), is designed to raise funds to subsidize the deployment of BPL service throughout America, but especially in disadvantaged places like Franklin County, Tennessee." Details of the plan are not complete, but the fee structure will be based on actual on-the-air use of amateur radio, and will be sensitive to the value of the communications in progress, according to the Chariman. "As an example, emergency communications during a hurricane would be billed at a higher rate than less valuable usage like the North Carolina Lumbago Net." Powell remarked. "Contesters would get special high volume discounts, since their communications simply repeat the same old stuff over and over all weekend long" he stated. Fees will also vary based on the particular mode in use, with CW being charged a premium rate because "it get's through when nothing else can". Video modes like SSTV, however, would command super-premium rates "because a picture is worth a thousand words" the Chairman said. In a related family announcement, Chairman Powell's father, Secretary of State Colin Powell, stated that the IARU would be contacted to ensure that foreign DX operators communicating with US stations would be assessed fees based on their 'rarity' on the DXCC "Most Wanted" listing. Secretary Powell cited an alleged operation from "T5" which he expected would owe "several tens of thousands of dollars" retroactively based on claims on an internet newsgroup by an operator with the screen name "Billy Beeper". Stay tuned for further details. Movie at 10. ---30--- |
That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency
Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........ Something stinks there......... L. "KØHB" wrote in message link.net... August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT Gettysburg, Pa (API) In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd), is designed to raise funds to subsidize the deployment of BPL service throughout America, but especially in disadvantaged places like Franklin County, Tennessee." Details of the plan are not complete, but the fee structure will be based on actual on-the-air use of amateur radio, and will be sensitive to the value of the communications in progress, according to the Chariman. "As an example, emergency communications during a hurricane would be billed at a higher rate than less valuable usage like the North Carolina Lumbago Net." Powell remarked. "Contesters would get special high volume discounts, since their communications simply repeat the same old stuff over and over all weekend long" he stated. Fees will also vary based on the particular mode in use, with CW being charged a premium rate because "it get's through when nothing else can". Video modes like SSTV, however, would command super-premium rates "because a picture is worth a thousand words" the Chairman said. In a related family announcement, Chairman Powell's father, Secretary of State Colin Powell, stated that the IARU would be contacted to ensure that foreign DX operators communicating with US stations would be assessed fees based on their 'rarity' on the DXCC "Most Wanted" listing. Secretary Powell cited an alleged operation from "T5" which he expected would owe "several tens of thousands of dollars" retroactively based on claims on an internet newsgroup by an operator with the screen name "Billy Beeper". Stay tuned for further details. Movie at 10. ---30--- |
L. wrote:
That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........ Something stinks there......... You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and Hans is just being Hans. |
"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
... L. wrote: That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........ Something stinks there......... You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and Hans is just being Hans. I kinda wondered about that! The whole thing made no sense. L. |
Mike Coslo wrote:
L. wrote: That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........ Something stinks there......... You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and Hans is just being Hans. I think Hans is, as usual, being very funny. This scenario reminds me of the Japanese ham who wrote to Hugh Cassidy, editor of the West Coast DX Bulletin years back, saying that he had been told that there were jokes in the Bulletin. He wondered if Cass could possibly point out some of the jokes. Dave K8MN Dave K8MN |
"Dave Heil" wrote This scenario reminds me of the Japanese ham who wrote to Hugh Cassidy, editor of the West Coast DX Bulletin years back, saying that he had been told that there were jokes in the Bulletin. He wondered if Cass could possibly point out some of the jokes. No jokes, only Eternal Enigmas and the Inevitable TruthsT. 73, de Hans, K0HB/4ID |
Subject: FCC Announces use-based fee system for ARS
From: "L." Date: 8/12/2004 10:28 PM Central Standard Time Message-id: . net "Mike Coslo" wrote in message ... L. wrote: That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........ Something stinks there......... You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and Hans is just being Hans. I kinda wondered about that! The whole thing made no sense. There's a good reason for it NOT making any sense. It was generated by K0HB. Hans spent some time making a little fictional "news release" since he's unable to directly address the matter objectively. Since I've managed to derail his rant, he's taking a different approach. 73 Steve, K4YZ |
In article ,
(Steve Robeson K4CAP) wrote: Subject: FCC Announces use-based fee system for ARS From: "L." Date: 8/12/2004 10:28 PM Central Standard Time Message-id: . net "Mike Coslo" wrote in message ... L. wrote: That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........ Something stinks there......... You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and Hans is just being Hans. I kinda wondered about that! The whole thing made no sense. There's a good reason for it NOT making any sense. It was generated by K0HB. Hans spent some time making a little fictional "news release" since he's unable to directly address the matter objectively. Since I've managed to derail his rant, he's taking a different approach. 73 Steve, K4YZ I beg to differ, gents. I got three lines into Hans' message before I backed up, started again, and then had an uncontrollable giggling fit. That piece of wit, humor, and good fun is in no wise a 'rant'; and in fact, it makes a helluva lot more sense in its logic and structure than virtually anything the FCC sez these days. Considering what is happening lately to once-upon-a-time "public" facilities in this country (entry fees, user fees, lurking fees, etc.) I fully expect the Feds to propose exactly what Hans jests, but they would impose a more cumbersome and less logical fee assessment. Yet, maybe even the FCC would grant ARRL Field Day a "free ride" ... it serves no purpose as an emergency exercise, no information of any value whatsoever is exchanged, and sufficient equipment is knocked out of service to ensure less QRM in the weeks and months following. Gray K7VGW -- Reply to: allen/at/graybyrd/dot/com |
"KØHB" wrote in message link.net... August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT Gettysburg, Pa (API) In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur radio operators. [...snip...] Stay tuned for further details. Movie at 10. ---30--- Cute! Too sad about his daughter, though. -- Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's. |
"Steve Nosko" wrote Too sad about his daughter, though. Yes, we're not supposed to live long enough to bury our children. Gotta be a tough and heartbreaking thing to do. 73, de Hans, K0HB |
In .net (rec.radio.amateur.misc), "K?HB" wrote:
"Steve Nosko" wrote Too sad about his daughter, though. Yes, we're not supposed to live long enough to bury our children. Gotta be a tough and heartbreaking thing to do. Voice type="of experience" It is. /voice -- "Remember: every member of your 'target audience' also owns a broadcasting station. These 'targets' can shoot back." -- Michael Rathbun to advertisers, in nanae |
On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 04:53:44 -0600, Graybyrd wrote:
Yet, maybe even the FCC would grant ARRL Field Day a "free ride" ... it serves no purpose as an emergency exercise, no information of any value whatsoever is exchanged, and sufficient equipment is knocked out of service to ensure less QRM in the weeks and months following. On this last point in your post, it is now I who beg to differ. Field Day serves no useful purpose as an emergency exercise? Personal experience here would seem to indicate otherwise. No information of any value is exchanged? Maybe not between two distant stations on the air, but every year at Field Day the newer members of our club get the chance to come out and see how lots of things are done that they haven't seen done before. They see the equipment chosen by more experienced hams who are involved in the emergency communications aspect of amateur radio. They see how those hams pack up that equipment for safe transport. They see how it is set up and used, how it is powered, how antennas are erected and connected. That's all valuable information. of course, this assumes that the club in question makes an effort to get those new guys to come out and participate. ours does. Your mileage may vary. Finally, if your equipment gets knocked out at Field Day, that in itself is some valuable information gained, namely that someone needs to reconsider their choice of equipment for emergency use. If that equipment gets knocked out during an exercise, how well do you think it is going to stand up during a *real* emergency? John Kasupskim Tonawanda, New York Amateur Radio (KC2HMZ), SWL/Scanner Monitoring (KNY2VS) Member of ARES/RACES, ARATS, WUN, ARRL http://www.qsl.net/kc2fng E-Mails Ignored, Please Post Replies In This Newsgroup |
Must be a hoax. Powell has no idea about what is going on with ham radio.
Dan/W4NTI "KØHB" wrote in message link.net... August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT Gettysburg, Pa (API) In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd), is designed to raise funds to subsidize the deployment of BPL service throughout America, but especially in disadvantaged places like Franklin County, Tennessee." Details of the plan are not complete, but the fee structure will be based on actual on-the-air use of amateur radio, and will be sensitive to the value of the communications in progress, according to the Chariman. "As an example, emergency communications during a hurricane would be billed at a higher rate than less valuable usage like the North Carolina Lumbago Net." Powell remarked. "Contesters would get special high volume discounts, since their communications simply repeat the same old stuff over and over all weekend long" he stated. Fees will also vary based on the particular mode in use, with CW being charged a premium rate because "it get's through when nothing else can". Video modes like SSTV, however, would command super-premium rates "because a picture is worth a thousand words" the Chairman said. In a related family announcement, Chairman Powell's father, Secretary of State Colin Powell, stated that the IARU would be contacted to ensure that foreign DX operators communicating with US stations would be assessed fees based on their 'rarity' on the DXCC "Most Wanted" listing. Secretary Powell cited an alleged operation from "T5" which he expected would owe "several tens of thousands of dollars" retroactively based on claims on an internet newsgroup by an operator with the screen name "Billy Beeper". Stay tuned for further details. Movie at 10. ---30--- |
In article ,
John Kasupski wrote: On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 04:53:44 -0600, Graybyrd wrote: Yet, maybe even the FCC would grant ARRL Field Day a "free ride" ... it serves no purpose as an emergency exercise, no information of any value whatsoever is exchanged, and sufficient equipment is knocked out of service to ensure less QRM in the weeks and months following. On this last point in your post, it is now I who beg to differ. Field Day serves no useful purpose as an emergency exercise? Personal experience here would seem to indicate otherwise. [snip] If this were 1950, I would agree that ARRL Field Day is a relevant and valuable exercise. Today, I disagree. Sad truth is, the element least welcome at the Federal/State civil emergency authorities table is the amateur radio community. The federal/state power structure and self-perpetuating control structure are increasingly hostile to "amateur" intrusion as any truly significant part of the professional organization mission. Things have changed greatly in the last 40-50 years, and most catastrophically during the government's rush to "absolute security" following 09/11/01. The "involved citizen" is honored in lip service only nowadays. Perhaps this is why the old guard at the ARRL is frantically trying to find a new look for the old ARES .. hoping against hope to cloak it in digital, commercial, internet garb (WinLink 2000) to make it appear more attractive to the federally-dominated emergency structures. Field Day used to be fun, any maybe it still is .. but it sure is pointless for anything serious .. unless you're thinking we'll be tapping out CW on scavenged, converted transistor radios from our caves during the post-nuclear accident epoch. Gray K7VGW -- Reply to: allen/at/graybyrd/dot/com |
On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 16:52:28 -0600, Graybyrd wrote:
If this were 1950, I would agree that ARRL Field Day is a relevant and valuable exercise. Today, I disagree. Sad truth is, the element least welcome at the Federal/State civil emergency authorities table is the amateur radio community. Maybe where you are. Here it is a key part of both inter-agency and inter-hospital backup communications. -- Phil Kane From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon |
In rec.radio.amateur.policy "K?HB" wrote:
August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT Gettysburg, Pa (API) In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd), is designed to raise funds to subsidize the deployment of BPL service throughout America, but especially in disadvantaged places like Franklin County, Tennessee." snip for brevity Amazing how an obvious piece of satire has resulted in so much pontification. Or maybe not so amazing... -- Jim Pennino Remove -spam-sux to reply. |
Graybyrd wrote in message ...
In article , (Steve Robeson K4CAP) wrote: Subject: FCC Announces use-based fee system for ARS From: "L." Date: 8/12/2004 10:28 PM Central Standard Time Message-id: . net "Mike Coslo" wrote in message ... L. wrote: That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........ Something stinks there......... You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and Hans is just being Hans. I kinda wondered about that! The whole thing made no sense. There's a good reason for it NOT making any sense. It was generated by K0HB. Hans spent some time making a little fictional "news release" since he's unable to directly address the matter objectively. Since I've managed to derail his rant, he's taking a different approach. 73 Steve, K4YZ I beg to differ, gents. I got three lines into Hans' message before I backed up, started again, and then had an uncontrollable giggling fit. That piece of wit, humor, and good fun is in no wise a 'rant'; and in fact, it makes a helluva lot more sense in its logic and structure than virtually anything the FCC sez these days. Steve just yells alot. Always incensed about sumptin or even about nuthin. Doesn't matter. |
But do you know what the REALLY SAD part of this story is...? There are likely to be alot of hams that will believe it to be true. Only way better to stir up the hams beside's the issue of CW is the topic of money. (rotflmao - sheesh!) "KØHB" wrote in message link.net... August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT Gettysburg, Pa (API) In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd), is designed to raise funds to subsidize the deployment of BPL service throughout America, but especially in disadvantaged places like Franklin County, Tennessee." Details of the plan are not complete, but the fee structure will be based on actual on-the-air use of amateur radio, and will be sensitive to the value of the communications in progress, according to the Chariman. "As an example, emergency communications during a hurricane would be billed at a higher rate than less valuable usage like the North Carolina Lumbago Net." Powell remarked. "Contesters would get special high volume discounts, since their communications simply repeat the same old stuff over and over all weekend long" he stated. Fees will also vary based on the particular mode in use, with CW being charged a premium rate because "it get's through when nothing else can". Video modes like SSTV, however, would command super-premium rates "because a picture is worth a thousand words" the Chairman said. In a related family announcement, Chairman Powell's father, Secretary of State Colin Powell, stated that the IARU would be contacted to ensure that foreign DX operators communicating with US stations would be assessed fees based on their 'rarity' on the DXCC "Most Wanted" listing. Secretary Powell cited an alleged operation from "T5" which he expected would owe "several tens of thousands of dollars" retroactively based on claims on an internet newsgroup by an operator with the screen name "Billy Beeper". Stay tuned for further details. Movie at 10. ---30--- |
"Dan/W4NTI" w4nti@get rid of this mindspring.com wrote in message hlink.net...
Must be a hoax. Powell has no idea about what is going on with ham radio. It's another rather well done Brakob spoof/troll just to see how many would actually fall for it. I'm appalled! w3rv Dan/W4NTI "KØHB" wrote in message link.net... August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT Gettysburg, Pa (API) In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd), |
|
Dave Heil wrote in message ...
Mike Coslo wrote: L. wrote: That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........ Something stinks there......... You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and Hans is just being Hans. I think Hans is, as usual, being very funny. This scenario reminds me of the Japanese ham who wrote to Hugh Cassidy, editor of the West Coast DX Bulletin years back, saying that he had been told that there were jokes in the Bulletin. He wondered if Cass could possibly point out some of the jokes. Dave K8MN Dave K8MN When did David hold a JA call? |
On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 16:52:28 -0600, Graybyrd wrote:
If this were 1950, I would agree that ARRL Field Day is a relevant and valuable exercise. Today, I disagree. Sad truth is, the element least welcome at the Federal/State civil emergency authorities table is the amateur radio community. The federal/state power structure and self-perpetuating control structure are increasingly hostile to "amateur" intrusion as any truly significant part of the professional organization mission. Then explain why New York state - just two months ago - paid for Erie County ARES/RACES dualband antenna to be erected on the new communications tower at the county EOC/Training Center, using federal money obtained through DHS (a federal agency)? Things have changed greatly in the last 40-50 years, and most catastrophically during the government's rush to "absolute security" following 09/11/01. The "involved citizen" is honored in lip service only nowadays. Then explain why NYSEMO has been paying (again with federal money) for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training in an effort to *get* more "involved citizens" ready to help in an emergency/disaster? Perhaps this is why the old guard at the ARRL is frantically trying to find a new look for the old ARES .. hoping against hope to cloak it in digital, commercial, internet garb (WinLink 2000) to make it appear more attractive to the federally-dominated emergency structures. This statement strikes me as downright laughable. The WinLink 2000 system is designed to benefit *local* communities and the agencies that serve them. While ARRL has approved the inclusion of the Winlink 2000 Radio worldwide digital email network for ARES, they are certainly not forcing it down anyone's throats, it's simply a tool that is there to be used by those who might find it useful - like the ARES groups in Florida; in Harris County, Texas; in Riverside County, California, and in Wisconsin. That doesn't count the use of WinLink 2000 by the Virginia Department of Health, and International Heath Services (IHS) of Minnesota, which are medical organizations, not ARES or RACES organizations. Field Day used to be fun, any maybe it still is .. but it sure is pointless for anything serious .. It is still fun, and it is anything but pointless to hams who are serious about the public service and emergency communications aspect of amateur radio. unless you're thinking we'll be tapping out CW on scavenged, converted transistor radios from our caves during the post-nuclear accident epoch. If that's all you see at Field Day where you live, maybe that explains your attitude towards the whole thing. At this years Field Day, we operated not only CW but also phone, VHF/UHF, and PSK31, and we demonstrated SSTV, ATV, and APRS. All of this was done without commercial power, in a public place, and resulted in positive publicity for the hobby as two newspaper articles were published in response to our press releases and interviews conducted by a reporter who visited the Field Day site. Frankly, as an ARES/RACES member, CW is the *last* thing I'd expecting to be using in an emergency. VHF/UHF? Most definitely. SSTV? Possibly...our EOC is set up for it, and we do have members with digital cameras and the capability to use mobile or portable SSTV to take pictures at an emergency scene and transmit them back to the EOC for the emergency management officials to see. APRS? Also a high probability. You can run it with a PDA and a handheld with a simple interface, giving you some basic digital messaging capability along with the ability to glance at a map and see who is closest to a location where you need to send someone, thus keeping response times to a minimum. Of course, learning and preparing for this requires team members who have a positive attitude about what they are doing. If that is absent where you live, you and your community has my deepest sympathy, but fortunately for the rest of us, not every locality suffers from the same negativity that you seem to...and I do not mean that as an insult but rather as a constructive criticism - if this is how things are where you live, well, if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem, gray. Think about it... 73 de John, KC2HMZ Erie County (NY) ARES/RACES Member ARATS EOC Team Co-Coordinator |
In article , John Kasupski
writes: On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 16:52:28 -0600, Graybyrd wrote: If this were 1950, I would agree that ARRL Field Day is a relevant and valuable exercise. Today, I disagree. Sad truth is, the element least welcome at the Federal/State civil emergency authorities table is the amateur radio community. The federal/state power structure and self-perpetuating control structure are increasingly hostile to "amateur" intrusion as any truly significant part of the professional organization mission. Then explain why New York state - just two months ago - paid for Erie County ARES/RACES dualband antenna to be erected on the new communications tower at the county EOC/Training Center, using federal money obtained through DHS (a federal agency)? Ummmm.....because they know the value of amateur communications? Things have changed greatly in the last 40-50 years, and most catastrophically during the government's rush to "absolute security" following 09/11/01. The "involved citizen" is honored in lip service only nowadays. Then explain why NYSEMO has been paying (again with federal money) for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training in an effort to *get* more "involved citizens" ready to help in an emergency/disaster? One more tool in the toolbox. Not every communication needs absolute security. Perhaps this is why the old guard at the ARRL is frantically trying to find a new look for the old ARES .. hoping against hope to cloak it in digital, commercial, internet garb (WinLink 2000) to make it appear more attractive to the federally-dominated emergency structures. This statement strikes me as downright laughable. The WinLink 2000 system is designed to benefit *local* communities and the agencies that serve them. While ARRL has approved the inclusion of the Winlink 2000 Radio worldwide digital email network for ARES, they are certainly not forcing it down anyone's throats, it's simply a tool that is there to be used by those who might find it useful - like the ARES groups in Florida; in Harris County, Texas; in Riverside County, California, and in Wisconsin. That doesn't count the use of WinLink 2000 by the Virginia Department of Health, and International Heath Services (IHS) of Minnesota, which are medical organizations, not ARES or RACES organizations. Cool! Field Day used to be fun, any maybe it still is .. but it sure is pointless for anything serious .. It is still fun, and it is anything but pointless to hams who are serious about the public service and emergency communications aspect of amateur radio. FD isn't a "serious" emergency preparedness drill. But it does have an emergency component, and it serves as a recruiting and training tool. And it *is* fun. unless you're thinking we'll be tapping out CW on scavenged, converted transistor radios from our caves during the post-nuclear accident epoch. If that's all you see at Field Day where you live, maybe that explains your attitude towards the whole thing. At this years Field Day, we operated not only CW but also phone, VHF/UHF, and PSK31, and we demonstrated SSTV, ATV, and APRS. All of this was done without commercial power, in a public place, and resulted in positive publicity for the hobby as two newspaper articles were published in response to our press releases and interviews conducted by a reporter who visited the Field Day site. The Tonawanda folks have been at it for decades, too. Having that memorable call helps. I can remember FDs 30+ years ago when I worked that group. Frankly, as an ARES/RACES member, CW is the *last* thing I'd expecting to be using in an emergency. Perhaps you should consult with folks who have been there and done that: On the use of CW for emergency traffic during Hurricane Floyd: http://groups.google.com/groups?selm...9%40news2.mia& output=gplain On the use of CW during the ice storms of 1998 (right there in west/central New York State): http://groups.google.com/groups?selm...ny2v_fred%40ju no.com&output=gplain One more tool in the toolbox. VHF/UHF? Most definitely. SSTV? Possibly...our EOC is set up for it, and we do have members with digital cameras and the capability to use mobile or portable SSTV to take pictures at an emergency scene and transmit them back to the EOC for the emergency management officials to see. APRS? Also a high probability. You can run it with a PDA and a handheld with a simple interface, giving you some basic digital messaging capability along with the ability to glance at a map and see who is closest to a location where you need to send someone, thus keeping response times to a minimum. Of course, learning and preparing for this requires team members who have a positive attitude about what they are doing. If that is absent where you live, you and your community has my deepest sympathy, but fortunately for the rest of us, not every locality suffers from the same negativity that you seem to...and I do not mean that as an insult but rather as a constructive criticism - if this is how things are where you live, well, if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem, gray. Think about it... Well said! 73 de Jim, N2EY |
In a real disaster, you need all the help you can get.
"John Kasupski" wrote in message ... On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 16:52:28 -0600, Graybyrd wrote: If this were 1950, I would agree that ARRL Field Day is a relevant and valuable exercise. Today, I disagree. Sad truth is, the element least welcome at the Federal/State civil emergency authorities table is the amateur radio community. The federal/state power structure and self-perpetuating control structure are increasingly hostile to "amateur" intrusion as any truly significant part of the professional organization mission. Then explain why New York state - just two months ago - paid for Erie County ARES/RACES dualband antenna to be erected on the new communications tower at the county EOC/Training Center, using federal money obtained through DHS (a federal agency)? Things have changed greatly in the last 40-50 years, and most catastrophically during the government's rush to "absolute security" following 09/11/01. The "involved citizen" is honored in lip service only nowadays. Then explain why NYSEMO has been paying (again with federal money) for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training in an effort to *get* more "involved citizens" ready to help in an emergency/disaster? Perhaps this is why the old guard at the ARRL is frantically trying to find a new look for the old ARES .. hoping against hope to cloak it in digital, commercial, internet garb (WinLink 2000) to make it appear more attractive to the federally-dominated emergency structures. This statement strikes me as downright laughable. The WinLink 2000 system is designed to benefit *local* communities and the agencies that serve them. While ARRL has approved the inclusion of the Winlink 2000 Radio worldwide digital email network for ARES, they are certainly not forcing it down anyone's throats, it's simply a tool that is there to be used by those who might find it useful - like the ARES groups in Florida; in Harris County, Texas; in Riverside County, California, and in Wisconsin. That doesn't count the use of WinLink 2000 by the Virginia Department of Health, and International Heath Services (IHS) of Minnesota, which are medical organizations, not ARES or RACES organizations. Field Day used to be fun, any maybe it still is .. but it sure is pointless for anything serious .. It is still fun, and it is anything but pointless to hams who are serious about the public service and emergency communications aspect of amateur radio. unless you're thinking we'll be tapping out CW on scavenged, converted transistor radios from our caves during the post-nuclear accident epoch. If that's all you see at Field Day where you live, maybe that explains your attitude towards the whole thing. At this years Field Day, we operated not only CW but also phone, VHF/UHF, and PSK31, and we demonstrated SSTV, ATV, and APRS. All of this was done without commercial power, in a public place, and resulted in positive publicity for the hobby as two newspaper articles were published in response to our press releases and interviews conducted by a reporter who visited the Field Day site. Frankly, as an ARES/RACES member, CW is the *last* thing I'd expecting to be using in an emergency. VHF/UHF? Most definitely. SSTV? Possibly...our EOC is set up for it, and we do have members with digital cameras and the capability to use mobile or portable SSTV to take pictures at an emergency scene and transmit them back to the EOC for the emergency management officials to see. APRS? Also a high probability. You can run it with a PDA and a handheld with a simple interface, giving you some basic digital messaging capability along with the ability to glance at a map and see who is closest to a location where you need to send someone, thus keeping response times to a minimum. Of course, learning and preparing for this requires team members who have a positive attitude about what they are doing. If that is absent where you live, you and your community has my deepest sympathy, but fortunately for the rest of us, not every locality suffers from the same negativity that you seem to...and I do not mean that as an insult but rather as a constructive criticism - if this is how things are where you live, well, if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem, gray. Think about it... 73 de John, KC2HMZ Erie County (NY) ARES/RACES Member ARATS EOC Team Co-Coordinator |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:00 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
RadioBanter.com