Amateur Radio EOC

ShawnCowden · #1 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 10:24 PM

word is out that the new state of the art whitley county 911 center may get a amataur radio station with dispatchers and the head of the county EMA to get their ham radio licenses so stay tune
This is exciting news and lets hope other 911 centers follow suite

LouisvilleScanMan · #2 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 07:08 AM

If they want their dispatchers to operate the ham station they will have to do it off the clock as it's illegal to pay someone for using the amateur bands.

searchrescueff · #3 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 10:25 AM

Muhlenberg County is getting ready (when they decide to start... lol) to build a new EOC building. It will also house a room for the county's Amateur Operators. We have done been asked what will be needed to supply the room for our communication needs when an emergency arises. I reckon that the county is going to supply everything for it as well.

kycophpd · #4 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 10:26 AM

Hey Scanman, is there a way around this since they are technically being paid to dispatch, not to operate the ham band?

SlGlNT · #5 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 12:49 PM

I'm sure I will be inviting the "band cops" to jump all over this, but an emergency situation will always permit them to operate the radios while getting paid. That being said, I wouldn't think they would operate the amateur radios if their own system is working unless it were an emergency.

LouisvilleScanMan · #6 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kycophpd

Hey Scanman, is there a way around this since they are technically being paid to dispatch, not to operate the ham band?

That's a question for the FCC.

LouisvilleScanMan · #7 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by searchrescueff

Muhlenberg County is getting ready (when they decide to start... lol) to build a new EOC building. It will also house a room for the county's Amateur Operators. We have done been asked what will be needed to supply the room for our communication needs when an emergency arises. I reckon that the county is going to supply everything for it as well.

Must be nice to have that kind of cooperation and support from local government, we in Louisville wouldn't know what that's like.

searchrescueff · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisvilleScanMan

Must be nice to have that kind of cooperation and support from local government, we in Louisville wouldn't know what that's like.

Well, it hasn't been until the last 2 years that the county government has seen the potential of the amateur operators in the county. With having several major weather related disasters since Feb-2008, the county officials have seen that when all else fails, Amateur radio works. Even this years field day was frequented by county officials, law enforcement, and others. We have been so lucky this year as far as local support and hope for more as we continue to strive to show the community what we can do.

texasemt13 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisvilleScanMan

That's a question for the FCC.

Actually, if they are operating full-time (40 hrs) per week, they are allowed to get paid. At least that's what my tech manual told me.

gewecke · #10 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 07:09 PM

In my city,there are local EMA volunteers and a few hams which have access to the EOC here when severe weather is the case.
N9ZAS.

unitcharlie · #11 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 11:25 PM

Just an opinion or two here: I can't see Whitley's or any other Dispatchers doing a lot of HAM work while doing their other job, nor do I see a lot of "dispatching" over the HAM freqs (too much money has been granted to "fix" the radio system there). But, I can see the presence of HAM gear in their EOC as a real attempt to add another avenue of contact with the public and a route to receive credible information as needed. During the two Ice Storms earlier this year I used my little 2 Meter HT a number of times to report stuff because my cell fone was useless... I think this is another indication that the folks in KYEM Area 11 are trying to pave as many communications routes as possible and learn how to use them to keep people safe. Let's face it, there are more 2M rigs out there than Public Safety rigs and a fair number of HAMS know what they are talking about when they describe a scene.... and, unlike cell fones and CBs, there is a paper trail leading to the user.... seems like an awesome idea to me!