Ham radio gets new life

ShawnCowden · #1 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 08:38 PM

By Nathan Ryder - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Jill Lyman - email

VANDERBURGH CO, IN (WFIE) - Ham radio operators already provide an invaluable communications link during disasters, like Hurricane Katrina and even right here at home after tornados ripped through the Tri State in 2005.
Ham radio gets new life - 14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-

azlooker · #2 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 09:35 PM

Now that some serious funding for ham radio!

kb9sxk · #3 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 09:19 AM

That is my agency. The concept started about 8 years ago with a series of remote receivers and crossbands that gave us a 5 county coverage.

This shows that a proven concept can get funding even in a poor economy.

I am so freaking proud of our hams.

kc2rgw · #4 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 12:11 PM

$350k is a huge pile of money...what are they spending all of that on?

Are they doing high speed data stations?

Just curious as you could probably go Motorola for just basic radio comms on that budget.

Just some fun, but that's 10 $5k or 5 $10k towers and 500 TMD-710 radios...enough for a state fleet of coverage.

I hope someone smart is managing the funds so hams don't get a black eye. The local groups would totally mismanage a budget like that. It would be a sea of shirts, jackets, hats, pants, likely shoes... Mismanagement of funds cripples us around here.

kb9sxk · #5 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 11:38 AM

The grant is being managed by the Homeland Security District and our County (Fiscal Agent) We are building a 12 county coverage 2m repeater system. We are also providing baseline capability to each county EOC of 2m/440 capibility and an HF radio / tuner and antennas. Packet capibility will also be included.

kc2rgw · #6 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 01:25 PM

Very cool.

I tried to get a proper QRO station going for NVIS on 40m and 75m and the local crew didn't even know it would be useful....I also tried to get NBEMS going....just couldn't 'get it'. Frustrating.

Truth be told the groups are only what the members make of them and I just don't have the time to dedicate to 'fix it' or I would make more of an effort.

Wyandotte · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb9sxk

The grant is being managed by the Homeland Security District and our County (Fiscal Agent) We are building a 12 county coverage 2m repeater system. We are also providing baseline capability to each county EOC of 2m/440 capibility and an HF radio / tuner and antennas. Packet capibility will also be included.

Glad to heat thar your Races group is going to spend the money on ham radio gear.
The first thing you NOT going to do is get all the RACES board members of your group each a Nextel and a pager.

kb9sxk · #8 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyandotte

Glad to heat thar your Races group is going to spend the money on ham radio gear.
The first thing you NOT going to do is get all the RACES board members of your group each a Nextel and a pager.

This is not a "RACES" project. What is a RACES board? Why the heck would we buy people phones and pagers with an emergency communications grant from DHS?

Troll much?

This mostly remote receive site and repeater infrastructure.

ffemt601 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 12:21 AM

Geez , why is a state agency funding the purchase of such gear? If you are trying to build a state communication network then you should buy commercial gear.

dz86 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 12:29 PM

Shawn,

Steer some of that money up to the north end of the state as soon as you can!

Dave W9DAZ
Elkhart County Indiana
ARES/RACES/SKYWARN

kb9sxk · #11 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffemt601

Geez , why is a state agency funding the purchase of such gear? If you are trying to build a state communication network then you should buy commercial gear.

Hoosier SAFE-T....

Got that too