On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 21:52:17 GMT, "Dan/W4NTI"
wrote:


"TOM" wrote in message
...

Dan/W4NTI wrote in message
.net...

cut

It is NOT Amateur radios fault that the Red Cross apparently chose to sit
on
their hands and NOT UTILIZE the system.

Dan/W4NTI

You make valid points... Why is amateur radio so dependent upon the Red
Cross? Heck, looking back over my ham experience seemingly all the Red
Cross provided was a place to put a repeater and have emergency power. To
be honest... the Red Cross screwed us in NO---perhaps we had an image that
was lacking. \

I don't know what the problem is with the Red Cross. But I remember about
20 years
ago that the local club and the Red Cross seperated. Also about that time,
I believe
Birmingham Al club did also. We ended affiliating with the Salvation Army.
At that
point I moved out of the area and lost track of clubs and such.

I talked with the ARRL on the subject. And there IS a memorandum of
understanding.
Apparantly most to all at RC don't read or are unable to comprehend. OR are
just
plain ignorant. Take your pick. Bottom line is THEY dropped the ball.

taking about the Red Croos in such terms as you use above as of course
sure to endear the ARS to them,

even if the words were valid

guess you missed any lession concerning the word "Tact"


In that case we ought to provide a service to some other
organization/s. I don't know where the future lies for the amateur
service.
The numbers (of hams) just don't stack up against the numbers that can be
equipped with license free radios or radios that require a simple
operating
permit. You can be sure if non-hams can get organized and provide a
needed
service an important part of what justifies the amateur service will no
longer exist with the consequence that any leadership roles provided by
the
amateur service will evaporate.

A lot of hams are doing just that. SATERN seems to be the choice. And of
course
the ARRL ARES setup.


Perhaps this will happen anyway. We've watched the amateur service slowly
being de-regulated. A time may come where present day Amateur, FRS, MURS,
GMRS... will all become part of, say, the 'citizens communications
service'.

You mention HF allocations as being a strong point for the amateur
service;
however, I don't think that long haul communications are necessary for the
bulk of emergency communications---these disasters are local in scope.

Katrina changed that mind set Tom. HF provided a very important role in
establishing
workable commo. I spent a good week either being directly involved or
monitoring
HF networks on various bands. I will elaborate on the Alabama connection to
it all.

We operated mainly on our normal net frequency of 3965. Also on 40 meters
individual
operators helped out on various 40 meter frequencies. Not immediatly but
very soon
after the magnitude was determined on the massive damage the Red Cross
established
via AMATEUR RADIO operators, under the ARRL Section Manager, Greg W4OZK
a network linking the shelters in the disaster area with Red Cross
Headquarters in
Montgomery. HF Ham stations were co-located in shelters and Red Cross areas
in the
disaster area. Most of the intercommunication was done on 75 and 40 meters.

I think you will see a change of the attitude that keeps communications
needs to a local
area. It may NOT be needed too often. But it does need to be planned and
TRAINED
for. That is what the National Traffic System should be oriented towards
now a days.

Just my opinion there Tom.



To
my way of thinking if anyone needs to communicate over long distances it
will be primary relief organizations and they can do that over satellite
or
their own HF networks, besides, landlines generally remain
intact---providing an access point somewhere.

But Tom there WAS nothing that worked. As Hams like to keep reminding
everyone....We are the backup system. When everything else fails, ham
radio
will be able to communicate. Not because it is so structured. But just the
opposite...because it is NOT so structured, restricted or controlled.

could you make up you mind?


The FCC had to issue blanket approvals for the commercial folks to even
attempt to inter-link and communicate.

of course because the copertypes are afraid to move without premission
a mistsep could cost the abilty to legaly use the stuff they have
spent such capital on


All the hams needed was to know where they were needed. And thats the
facts.


I find the Australian VKS-737
an interesting example of what non-hams (CB) can do with five HF channels
http://www.vks737.on.net/ . Additionally, my experiences in the Caribbean
have made me become aware of how non-hams, who are boaters, can create
highly organized and effective communications networks using the HF
maritime
allocations.

Discussion on the topic can hurt.



I'll read about that Australian thing. I had not heard of it till now. And
tell us of the
Caribbean experiences. I am open to any and all good thought on how to make
EMCOM
work better. Except from that nitwit Markie that is.

will prehaps I should not chide for being inconsistant Dan

Dan/W4NTI


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