Tuesday, November 17, 2020

HamShack Hotline the Ham Radio Operators Bat Phone for Emergency Communications

 HamShack Hotline is Free for Ham Operators 

Hamshack Hotline (HH) is a dedicated Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) network that is free to amateur radio operators around the world. The goal of the Hamshack Hotline is not to replace the traffic that is carried over RF, but rather augment it when conditions are diminished or otherwise busy. You’ll find phones in personal ham shacks, EOCs, club stations and mobile command posts. 

Communicate with other hams who operate in state and local Emergency Operations Centers EOC's....

I wonder if it would be possible to set up a Hotline like this for GMRS groups who emergency communications? 

Saturday, November 7, 2020

I Give Up, It's Been Two Months Since I Asked to Volunteer, Again...

Chief Winn obviously isn't interested in volunteers so I gave up and sent this email to the chief.

Jay Fleming leapspeaker@gmail.com

7:36 AM (2 hours ago)
to Chief
OK Chief I give up, you win. 
I'll wait until the next board member quits, should be soon. I'll serve my community by applying for the next board opening.

Jay Fleming

I contacted Chief Winn about volunteering on September 3rd 


I had a meeting with Chief Winn about coming back as a volunteer on September 15th. 


A week Later on September 22nd I sent the chief an email to see what was going on about volunteering. 

No Answer from the chief


Another week Later on September 29th I sent Chief Winn another email saying I hadn't received a reply from him. 

No Answer from the chief


October 4th I had not received any response from the chief.


On October 5th Chief Winn finally replied saying "I just got back from vacation and he hoped we would meet the week of October 5th BUT No Contact from the chief


12 days later on October 24th I sent Chief Winn an another email saying "It's been a month and a half since we met any decision yet?"


Today is November 7th it's been over two months since I first contacted Chief Winn about volunteering and still NOTHING from the chief. 


I sent the chief this email November 7th 2020

Jay Fleming leapspeaker@gmail.com

7:36 AM (2 hours ago)
to Chief
OK Chief I give up, you win. 
I'll wait until the next board member quits, should be soon. I'll serve my community by applying for the next board opening.

Jay Fleming

I haven't wanted on the fire board because then I can't use my knowledge and experience as a volunteer. So the next board opening I'll apply for the opening and use my training and experience in fire fighting and EMS to hire a fire chief who lives in the fire district and understands without communications and volunteers we have nothing in a major disaster. 

Monday, November 2, 2020

Emergency Communications 101

Emergency Communications 101 

This is from BearCom Communications a two-way radio dealer

If you use a two-way radio (walkie-talkie) on the job, you need to know what to do in an emergency. This is especially true if you’re far from a landline telephone and dialing 911 is out of the question. 

Public safety, police, firefighters, EMTs and emergency-response professionals know the essentials of two-way radio use because it’s so central to their work. Radio users in industries such as construction, hospitality, education, event planning, and other sectors deal with far fewer emergencies, so they need to set aside extra time to learn or refresh themselves on the right thing to do in a crisis.   

Five Two-Way Radio Best Practices for Emergencies

A lot of things have to be done right when using two-way radios in an emergency. Some of these tips may seem like common sense, but common sense often flies out the window amid the stress, anxiety and chaos of a crisis. Be sure you know these five points in advance:

1.    You must be prepared. If you are unfamiliar with two-way radios, take some time to learn how they function and what features your device offers (such as emergency alerts). When you’re getting trained on a new radio, insist on asking what you would do differently in an emergency.

2.    When talking, less is more. Be brief and efficient — know what you are going to say before talking into the microphone; otherwise you’ll tie up the channel while thinking of what to say. (Remember: When you use the push-to-talk button, you’re preventing other people from talking on the same frequency). NOTE: Many digital MOTOTRBO models from Motorola Solutions enable texting if Push-to-Talk is not practical or possible.

3.    Don’t mind your manners. While you must respect fellow users, you don’t have to be polite by saying “please” or “thank you.”

4.    Repetition rocks. Repeat back information you receive to confirm that you heard correctly.

5.    You have no privacy. Remember that group conversations are not private on open channels — any other radio user within range can hear what you’re saying by tuning to your frequency. Actually, this is a big plus in emergency broadcasts and SOS situations where the operator wants to relay a message to as many people as possible.

Cell Phones Aren’t the Answer in an Emergency

The Columbine school shooting in 1999 marked one of the first times where easy access to cell phones played a role in a major emergency. Unfortunately, students could call newscasters, but could not convey accurate information, creating conflicting reports that confused first responders. And 911 dispatchers were flooded with calls, which did more harm than good.

Fourteen years later at the Boston Marathon bombing, cellular networks either slowed dramatically or intermittently stopped working altogether. Runners and their loved ones could not connect, and victims had trouble communicating with emergency responders. That frustrating scene of over-strained cellular networks has become familiar in such disasters as the September 11 attacks and Hurricane Sandy.

For all the reliance we place on cell phones, they have failed repeatedly when needed most. In almost every instance, congestion is the problem. Too many people try to use their phones at the same time to get help or tell family and friends they are okay.

Two-way radios excel where cell phones fall short because they have dedicated bandwidth and a limited number of users. They’re also much easier to use — usually it’s not much more than pushing one button and talking. With the addition of bi-directional amplifiers, distributed antenna systems, and repeaters, reliable two-way radio coverage can be extended throughout a facility or across a campus in areas where cell phone signals cannot reach.

Two-Way Radio Groups Help People Prepare and Stay Informed

Organizations are putting a priority on two-way radios for emergency communications. For example, the Times of India reported that a monsoon flooding disaster in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand prompted officials in other flood-prone regions to establish amateur radio facilities to provide emergency communication. Also, the American Radio Relay League hosts its national Field Day so amateur radio clubs across the U.S. can get together to test their radio equipment and practice emergency communication strategies.

Communication is Essential During a Crisis

With a little planning and preparation, two-way radios can help manage an appropriate emergency response, interface with first responders and save lives.