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HP2DFA > HPNEWS 09.09.26 06:05l 70 Lines 6585 Bytes #289 (0) @ WW
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Subj: PANAMA WEEKLY RADIO NEWS
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Sent: 260909/0201Z 1715@HP2DFA.#COL.PAN.CEAM BPQ6.0.24
PANAMA RADIO NEWS AUG31-SEP6 2026
Over the past week, amateur radio clubs and associations in Panama maintained an agenda focused on national emergency preparedness, integration with government authorities and the maintenance of their digital infrastructure:
1. Preparation of Links for the III National Simulacre
Several radio amateur organizations were formally integrated into the technical working tables prior to the III National Evacuation Drill, coordinated by the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) and the Cabinet of Integral Disaster Risk Management.
Groups such as GREMPA (Panamaâ€Ös Group of Radio Amateurs and Emergencies) actively participated in the emergency brigade strengthening workshops. The main objective was to design and structure the alternative radio communications networks that will serve as a priority contingency support in case mobile telephone systems or commercial networks fail during the large-scale evacuation exercise.
2. Institutional Modernization of PCARA
The Panama Canal Amateur Radio Association (PCARA) focused its internal efforts on advancing the updating and modernization of its institutional statutes. These reforms seek to optimize the clubâ€Ös administration processes and to standardize the communication and radio response protocols of its members to events or disasters within the national territory much more efficiently.
3. Post-Examination of Licenses Class "B"
After the massive day of August 27, where 51 applicants showed up at the facilities of the Ministry of Government (Mingob) to take the theoretical and technical exams of the Class “B” License, the CEOs of the different radio clubs of the country collaborated closely during the past week with the Directorate of Social Media in the process of review, tabulation and validation of the results prior to the issuance of the new operating credentials.
4. Support and Surveillance in Digital Networks (APRS and Telemetry)
Coinciding with the continuous weather surveillance warnings issued in the region by low pressure and tropical wave systems, the digital and repeater network administrators of the Digital Group C4FM Panama (HP1GDP) and the Panamanian Union of Amateur Radio (UPRA) executed routine maintenance tasks in their critical infrastructures. This included the optimization of LoRa APRS gateways and traditional iGates in VHF (144,930 MHz), ensuring that automatic weather stations (WX) seamlessly transmitted environmental data to international servers.
Would you be interested in knowing the specific parameters and frequencies assigned for the emergency networks of the next National Drill or do you need details about the current requirements for amateur radio licenses?
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Parameters and Frequencies for the III National Evacuation Drill
For contingency exercises, emergency radiocommunications and coordination of brigades with the security establishments (SINAPROC, Firefighters and Red Cross), radio amateurs in Panama operate under a structured frequency plan to ensure local, interprovincial and digital coverage.
1. VHF (Local and Metropolitan Communications) Frequencies
The 2 meter segment is the main axis for fast message traffic and on-site brigade coordination:
146.520 MHz (Simple Meeting Frequency): National call channel and direct coordination between mobile and portable stations (HT) without relying on repeaters.
147.030 MHz ( ) / PL 100.0: Main repeater of the Panamanian Union of Radio Aficionados (UPRA) in the Dark Hill (Coclé), crucial to link traffic to the interior of the country.
146.940 MHz (-): Metropolitan repeater supporting the Panama City area and the Canal basin.
2. HF frequencies (Interprovincial Links and Long Distances)
In case of a total collapse of urban infrastructure, the HF gangs are activated to keep the central provinces, ChiriquĂ, Bocas del Toro and DariĂ©n connected:
Band of 40 meters (7,085 kHz to 7,100 kHz - LSB): Priority segment for National Emergency Networks during the day.
80-meter (3,750 kHz - LSB) band: Backing channel for regional night links due to ionospheric propagation conditions.
3. Digital Networks and Data Telemetry (APRS and LoRa)
For mobile rescue unit tracking, geographic camp positioning and weather data transmission:
144.930 MHz (VHF Packet/APRS): National standard frequency of the APRS Panama II Network. It is used to channel position beacons to iGates (such as the HP1CDW-3 in Cerro Ancon) using WIDE1-1, WIDE2-1 routes.
433.775 MHz and 434,855 MHz (UHF LoRa APRS): Frequencies of the low power digital ecosystem. Essential for the deployment of standalone portable trackers and autonomous weather stations (Solar WX as HP2DFA-20), routing packets through the HP2NIC-10 gate.
Current Requirements for Amateur Radio Licenses (Class B)
If you are planning to process or validate your credential after the latest calls from the Ministry of Government (Mingob) and the Directorate of Social Media, these are the essential requirements:
Official Application Form: Completed with your personal data, specifying the type of procedure (First time or Ascent).
Personal Documentation: Crisp Copy of the Personal Identity Card. If you are a minor, a letter of parental authorization is required along with the corresponding identity documents.
Certificate of Examination Approved: The official document validating the approval of theoretical and technical tests (made based on ASEP regulations and electronic/radio knowledge) supervised by the delegated examiners of local clubs.
Peace and Safe Institutional: Proof of not maintaining sanctions or pending administrative processes related to the use of radio spectrum.
Payment of Rights: The corresponding payment for the issuance of the card and the official assignment of your call sign (Callsign)
73 de Omar HP2DFA from Colon Panama.
PMAIL: HP2DFA@HP2DFA.COL.PAN.CEAM
EMAIL: HP2DFA@GMAIL.COM
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