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CX2SA > ARES 21.01.10 01:15l 420 Lines 23756 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: ARES E-Letter January 20, 2010
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The ARES E-Letter January 20, 2010
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE
The View from Flagler County
----------------------------
The almost-incomprehensible Haitian earthquake destruction is among the
worst I've seen in my three decades of association with ARRL and disaster
management/Amateur Radio communications. I monitored the SATERN Net on
14.265 MHz, and the Maritime Mobile Service Net on 14.300 MHz, where a
Flagler County amateur Bill Sturridge, KI4MMZ, was performing a fine job
relaying communications with Jean-Robert Gaillard, HH2JR, and others. I
heard HH2JR, who had a good signal, say he was OK and didn't need anything
at the moment, but had no power and no phone. The 14.300 MHz frequency is
one of the three global "center of activity" disaster frequencies set aside
by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). (For more on this plan, see
the lead story below).
I also followed developments on the ARRL Web site, and the IARU Region 2 Web
site. The IARU Region 2 Area C (which includes Haiti) Emergency Coordinator
is long-time friend and emcomm veteran expert Arnie Coro, CO2KK, who
requested amateurs to keep 3720 kHz and 7045 kHz frequencies clear for
emergency communication until further notice. The overall IARU Region 2
Emergency Communications Coordinator (EMCOR) is Dr. Cesar Pio Santos, HR2P.
I also found SITREPs on the VoIP SKYWARN/Hurricane Net Support Site.
A post to the Region 2 Web site reported this: "After arriving to Port au
Prince an HI8RCD/HH team had to abort their mission due to the present
insecurity. The eight member team arrived safely back to Jimani, Dominican
Republic. The team installed a VHF repeater that covers both Port au Prince
and Santo Domingo (DR) and is in use for the Red Cross and the Civil Defense.
"Victor Baez, HI8VB, Secretary of the Radio Club Dominicano (RCD) reported
that the RCD with UDRA, the Uni¢n Dominicana de Radio Aficionados, had
prepared to go to Port au Prince last Friday to install the emergency
station HI8RCD/HH and a mobile station. Victor has a blog [in Spanish],
which hopefully he will update with more news from Haiti. The IARU Web site
also suggested hams follow the news of the support radio amateurs are
providing in Haiti on Twitter here."
The ARRL encouraged US amateurs to be aware of emergency operations on the
following frequencies: 7.045 and 3.720 MHz (IARU Region 2 nets), 14.265,
7.265 and 3.977 MHz (SATERN nets), and 14.300 MHz (Intercontinental
Assistance and Traffic Net); the International Radio Emergency Support
Coalition (IRESC) is also active on EchoLink node 278173.
ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, stated "The ARRL
has been in contact with communications leaders of the American Red Cross
and Salvation Army, as well as other key Amateur Radio operators throughout
the region. As teams from the hundreds of responding agencies worldwide are
formed for deployment, many will have Amateur Radio components. ARRL is
committed to providing communications aid to our served agencies and working
with the international community in this time of crisis. At this time there
are no known requests from agencies for amateurs to travel to Haiti, but
this can change. If it develops that there are ARES assignments for a
deployment in Haiti, these will be vetted and processed through each
Section's Section Emergency Coordinators."
I wanted to be involved, but listened only, and did not transmit on any of
the emergency frequencies as there was nothing I could contribute. Actually,
when you think about it, not transmitting is a de facto contribution. I did
make a donation to Doctors Without Borders, and that made me feel part of
the relief effort.
_________
In other news, congratulations go to veteran ARRL leadership official Kay
Craigie, N3KN, who was just elected President of the organization. Craigie
was chairman of the ARRL National Emergency Response Planning Committee,
which released a landmark report and recommendations on major disaster
communication issues in January, 2007. Her selection bodes well for the ARES
and Amateur Radio disaster communications communities as I'm sure they will
remain priorities for her new administration.
Outgoing ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, who did not seek re-election,
was also a proponent of Amateur Radio emcomm programs and oversaw the
significant surge of interest in ARES and emergency communications by
Amateur Radio over the past decade. Craigie, like Harrison, came up through
the ranks of ARES and the ARRL Field Organization to rise to the top elected
position in the organization.
_________
In This Issue:
* The View from Flagler County
* "Center of Activity" Frequencies for Disaster Communications
* NHC to Provide Greater Lead Time for Watches, Warnings
* Michigan EmComm Group Recognizes One of its Own
* North Florida Digital Group To Present D-STAR Academy
* Letters
* Ohio's Tenth District Forms EmComm Promotion Task Force
* Job Opening at HQ
* MARS Name Changes
* K1CE For a Final
__________
"Center of Activity" Frequencies for Disaster Communications
------------------------------------------------------------
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative Council (AC)
held its annual meeting in mid-October, 2009, in Christchurch, New Zealand.
There has been a movement in the last several years to try to identify
"centers of activity" frequencies across all three IARU regions that can be
used in disaster relief operations. It has at times been difficult to arrive
at a consensus on what frequencies should be used. The IARU Administrative
Council noted that all three regions have now reached consensus on three
global Center of Activity (CoA) frequencies for use in the event of
emergencies: 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz. When no emergency operations are
being conducted, these frequencies are open for normal amateur usage.
However, GAREC-09 calls upon IARU member-societies, among others, "whenever
emergency communications are being conducted on frequencies that propagate
internationally, to use any available real-time communications channels,
including but not limited to e-mail bulletins, web-sites, social networking
and DX-clusters to draw the attention of the largest possible number of
Amateur Radio operators to on-going emergency communications, in order to
avoid interference with emergency traffic." Member-societies are being
encouraged to develop an effective method of notifying amateurs within their
own country of any such emergency traffic being handled on the CoA
frequencies, or elsewhere in the amateur bands. - IARU Electronic
Newsletter, November 2009
NHC to Provide Greater Lead Time for Watches, Warnings
------------------------------------------------------
Beginning with the 2010 hurricane season, NOAA's National Hurricane Center
in Miami will issue watches and warnings for tropical storms and hurricanes
along threatened coastal areas 12 hours earlier than in previous years.
According to NHC experts, advancements in track forecasts are making it
possible for forecasters to provide greater lead time. Tropical storm
watches will be issued when tropical storm conditions are possible along the
coast within 48 hours. Tropical storm warnings will be issued when those
conditions are expected within 36 hours. This is an increase of 12 hours
from those issued in previous years.
Similar increases in lead-time will apply to hurricane watches and warnings.
The hurricane watches and warnings will generally be timed to provide 48 and
36 hours notice, respectively, before the onset of tropical storm force
winds. That additional time will also allow people preparing for the storm
-- securing oil rig platforms, getting food and water stockpiled, boarding
windows and such -- enough time to finish preparations and get to safe
shelter.
According to WX4NHC Coordinator John McHugh, K4AG, the NHC has improved the
track accuracy in their forecasts over the past few seasons, cutting the
error rate to roughly one-third its level in 1970 and half the level of 15
years ago, thanks to advances in computer models and increased satellite
measurements of atmospheric conditions. (WX4NHC is the Amateur Radio station
at the NHC). "The extra 12 hours that has been added to both the tropical
watches and warnings will be of benefit to the Amateur Radio volunteers of
WX4NHC who have for the past 30 years supported NHC in their mission,"
McHugh told the ARRL. "This increase in time will allow us to better
schedule their operating time along with those of our supporting groups of
the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) and the VoIP Hurricane Net (VoIPWXNet) and
allow people to better plan the release from their day jobs."
Hurricane season runs from May 15-November 30 in the Eastern Pacific and on
June 1-November 30 for the Atlantic Basin. - ARRL Letter
Michigan EmComm Group Recognizes One of its Own
-----------------------------------------------
Muskegon, MI, December 27, 2009 -- The Muskegon County Emergency
Communication Services, a local non-profit Amateur Radio group involved in
providing emergency communications, has awarded James Wolffis, KD8DLQ, the
"Al Ronning Outstanding Service Award." The award is given each December to
a member of the group that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in
service to this organization. Recognition is given in memory of Al Ronning,
K8AER, who was a member of the group who died in an automobile crash in
2006. "Ronning was an inspiration to other members of the group in his
tireless effort towards public service," said James Duram, K8COP, Muskegon
County EC. Duram presented the plaque at the group's December meeting.
MCECS is a volunteer group of Amateur Radio operators that provides
non-commercial communication services for public service events, walk-a-
thons, and emergency communications to public safety agencies. - MCECS press
release
North Florida Digital Group To Present D-STAR Academy
-----------------------------------------------------
The North Florida Digital Group will present a D-STAR Introduction and
Training Academy on February 6, 2010, from 8:30 AM until 5 PM EDT, in
Tallahassee, Florida.
The training academy is designed to inform amateurs on everything they need
to know about D-STAR from its concept to operating equipment proficiently.
From the amateur who doesn't know what D-STAR is to one who wants to become
expert in its operation and the amateur who wants to understand the system
first before jumping into this aspect of communication technology, this is
the Academy to attend.
Ray Novak, N9JA, Division Manager of Icom Amateur and Receiver Products, is
the featured speaker. Other notable speakers and instructors are also
expected.
This is an information and training academy only. There will be no equipment
sales. The goal is to inform and teach everyone interested in understanding
and using D-STAR. Attendees will be provided training sessions along with
hands on instruction on how to use and operate the D-STAR radio of their
choice.
Areas of instruction will include: descriptions of the modes of operation;
programming D-STAR radios using a computer program; field programming while
on the go; using call sign routing and its programming; setting up repeater
linking; using reflectors and their usage protocols; low speed data
communication using the UHF and VHF radios; using 1296 MHz high speed data
and internet access; using the D-Rats data program; using the DVDongle on a
computer to access the D-STAR gateway; introducing the new DVDongle with its
own transceiver to provide short range hand-held coverage; and setting up
and configuring a D-STAR repeater system for internet operation.
There will be a social get together on Friday evening. Contact Donna Barker,
WQ4M, for updates, questions or additional information.
Letters
-------
Power versus Volt Amps
I read the ARRL ARES E-Letter on a regular basis and appreciate your hard
work. I was disappointed in the technical aspects of the emergency power
article in the last issue; specifically in the discussion of the available
"power" from the generator and the "power" needed by a load. Simply put,
when dealing with AC, the voltage times the current is only loosely related
to the power the device needs.
In any AC equipment that yields the total Volt Amps needed by the equipment,
the importance is that it sets the wire size needed to connect the device,
but does not tell you how much real power is going to be consumed by the
device. The power (expressed in Watts) needed can vary from 0 to the VA
number. It can never be higher than the VA rating. Unless one knows the
power factor of the equipment you have no way of knowing the power
requirement. Power factors run from a low of about 0.55 up to 1 and can be
leading or lagging. The VA rating is only equal to the power rating if the
load has a unity power factor. Incandescent light bulbs have a unity power
factor. Typical power supplies have a power factor of around 0.6 unless they
are power factor corrected.
Running leading and lagging power factor loads in parallel lets the two
power factors offset each other, raising the resulting power factor towards
one. A unity power factor results in the lowest input current possible at a
given voltage for a given power load. That is why the electric utility will
periodically hang large capacitors on their lines: the capacitive reactance
power factor offsets the inductive power factor of motors in the system.
Reducing the system current draw makes it more efficient since the line
distribution losses go up as the square of the current.
Generators also have two ratings: the power they can deliver as well as the
total VA rating. The power is a function of motor size driving the
generator. The amperage rating is a function of the wire size and magnetics
used in the generator itself. Generator manufacturers often don't
distinguish between the VA rating and power rating in Watts, so you aren't
alone in this thinking. In some cases the manufacturer only gives a single
rating which means the rated load must have a unity power factor to avoid
overloading the generator. My Generac 4000, for example, has a rating of
4000 watts and a VA rating of 4000 as well. I suspect that the current
rating would be the real limiting factor and the maximum power for a
non-unity PF load should be derated.
Your conclusions are generally correct, but it misleads the reader in
thinking you are talking power when in fact you are talking volt amps. In
other circumstances (such as determining what size wire is needed for a
given power level) the difference can be vital. I am also of the opinion
that technical information ought to be technically correct. -- Jim Russell,
NQ5L, Georgetown, Texas
More 220 MHz Rigs Needed
I have been looking for dual band 144/220 radios for several months now. I
can't find them, even on eBay. I think we should start a nationwide ham
uprising to get the various manufacturers to make dual band and tri-band
mobile radios again. Without these we are using only 2/3 of the capability.
My TM-742 had to go back for repairs because the 2 meter section quit. We
use 220 MHz here in New Mexico as sort of a "private" frequency to send
critical messages that the news media cannot hear: They don't have the 220
MHz frequencies programmed into their scanners. - Bob Skaggs, KB5RX, Santa
Fe, New Mexico
WXSpots
In re last month's lead item on the Blacksburg, Virginia, SRD activity, I
get reports on 2 meters, and especially on WXSpots. The WXSpots program has
worked out to be a supreme system for us here in the Blacksburg CWA. I get
all the reports, and then telephone them into the NWS Forecast office. The
forecasters are very appreciative, and have actually changed their messages
they send out to the media, based on what our people have reported in. When
things are serious, and I can't get down my steep driveway, and therefore,
can't get into the SKYWARN Desk itself at the NWS, I make periodic telephone
calls into the office. And that system has been working well for us. --
Carter Craigie, N3AO, Blacksburg, Virginia SKYWARN
[WXSpots is free software and can be found here. It has seen significant
enhancements since its original release. I have been a user. From its Web
site: "WXSpots is free software that all responsible weather enthusiasts are
welcome and encouraged to use. The software runs on your PC and connects to
a server so that you can join our weather community. All observed reports of
severe (and routine) weather are relayed to everyone connected. WXSpots will
also connect to your home weather station and automatically report when you
are experiencing strong winds. Reports can be screened by State, County or a
list of Counties. The WXSpots community includes weather hobbyists, SKYWARN
observers, meteorologists, meteorology students, and those interested in
severe weather observations.
"In addition to observed reports, WXSpots includes messaging features so
that everyone can talk about the weather they are seeing, share links and
information on forecasts and thoughts on future weather developments." - ed.]
Ohio's Tenth District Forms EmComm Promotion Task Force
-------------------------------------------------------
Effective January 23, a new committee in the Ohio ARES Tenth District will
work to promote emergency communications. The mission of the task force will
be to promote ARES, public service communications, and disaster
communications by Amateur Radio. The task force will be headed up by a new
Assistant DEC to be announced at a January 23 training session. The goal is
to reach out to new licensees and educate seasoned veterans. Anyone
interested in learning more about the EMCOMM Promotion Task Force should
contact the new ADEC, but can also contact the DEC for more information. -
Matthew Welch, W8DEC, DEC; District Sound Off, January issue
Job Opening at HQ
-----------------
The ARRL currently has an opening for an Emergency Preparedness and Response
Manager to be based at ARRL HQ. The successful applicant will represent the
League with governmental and non-governmental emergency and disaster
response organizations and partners -- primarily at the national level - for
planning, continuity and operational purposes.
Job requirements include developing plans, protocols and procedures to
address Amateur Radio's role in emergency communications operations at the
multi-section, regional, and national level, as well as leading and training
the ARRL Headquarters Incident Management Team to provide support and
coordination for multi-section, regional or national incidents in the
planning, mitigation and response phases. The position requires maintaining
and reporting situational awareness through disaster intelligence collection
during large disaster and emergency circumstances that require a
multi-section, regional or national response.
The Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager will also create and improve
operational solutions and processes for ARES, including training and
operational standards consistent with NIMS/ICS response protocols in
conjunction with ARRL staff and members of the Field Organization.
The successful applicant will represent the ARRL at national (and regional,
when requested) Amateur Radio organizations, served agency partner meetings,
conventions and exercises, and provide assistance and guidance to Section
Managers and Section Emergency Coordinators regarding emergency preparedness
and response.
Applicants interested in this position should hold a General class license
or higher and have a Bachelor's degree, at least five years experience with
Amateur Radio emergency communications in ARES (or equivalent) and have
successfully completed the ARRL EmComm Level I course. Experience as
emergency communications professional and/or first responder desired,
including knowledge of and experience with ICS and NIMS. Completion of FEMA
Courses IC-100, IC-200, IC-700, IC- 800 and IC- 802 is highly recommended.
MARS Name Changes
-----------------
On Wednesday, December 23, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued an
Instruction concerning MARS, effective immediately. This Instruction gives
the three MARS services -- Army, Air Force and Navy/Marine Corps -- a new
focus on homeland security and a new name: Military Auxiliary Radio System.
The Instruction is the first major revision to MARS since January 26, 1988
-- as such, the first revision since the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina,
two major events that changed the way Amateur Radio dealt with emergency
communications. In the past, MARS had focused primarily on emergency
communications and health and welfare support. The DoD's Instruction now
directs the three MARS services to provide "contingency radio
communications" to support US government operations, DoD components and
"civil authorities at all levels," providing for national security and
emergency preparedness events. MARS units will still continue to provide
health and welfare communications support "to military members, civilian
employees and contractors of DoD Components, and civil agency employees and
contractors, when in remote or isolated areas, in contingencies or whenever
appropriate." MARS must also be capable of operation in "radio only" modes
-- without landlines or the Internet -- and sustainable on emergency power
(when public utility power has failed); some MARS stations must be
transportable for timely deployment. - ARRL Letter
K1CE For a Final
----------------
The ARRL is culminating its massive two-year effort to completely re-design
its very popular Web site with a launch date of February 3. The site has
been completely re-done from the ground up. With the ARRL staff working with
Fathom, a Web site development company in Hartford, Connecticut, it has
taken over two years to revise it. The new Web site will feature more than
20,000 pages of content. The navigation and architecture has been vastly
improved, and the content has been completely updated. I can't wait to see it!
______
I've always been a Cushcraft fan, but recently when I called to order
another in a long line of 2-meter FM Ringo Rangers I've owned over the
years, Ham Radio Outlet was out of stock, and the sales rep recommended a
Diamond antenna instead. I ended up purchasing a Diamond X30 144/440MHz
ground plane antenna. The height is about 4 feet. The three radials are 7"
long. Its rated wind velocity is 134 miles/hour. The antenna is encased in a
fiberglass outer shell. It works as a « wavelength at 2-meters and 5/8
wavelength at 40 cm.
I really like this antenna! It took about 5 minutes to put together, and
another couple of minutes to install it on top of a pipe mast. It works
great, is well-built and simple, and is also inexpensive at about $65. These
antennas would be perfect for field deployment in disaster situations. And
no, I am not paid to endorse Diamond or any other brand of amateur equipment.
I'm also working on drafting QST Product Reviews of two Yaesu radios: the
FT-250 and the FT-270. I haven't tried them yet, but when I do, I'll pass
along some thoughts on their suitability for rigorous disaster use. The
hand-held 2-meter walkie-talkie is the mainstay of emergency communications,
of course.
See you next month! 73's from Flagler County, Florida - Rick, K1CE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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