..... But then each place is different........
Absolutely! I've experienced both ends of the spectrum.
..... But then each place is different........
Instead of offensively pushing Ecomm/Emcomm to recruit people, they should be trying to get younger individuals interested in amateur radio.
I believe the Emcomm push has resulted in an initial numbers boost, but after 6mo-1yr most members lose interest and drop out or are put off by the fanatical fringe in Emcomm that cast a shadow:[/QUOTE
Not sure what that picture proves as all SUVS have brake lights.
System owners and users may find it insulting, but I think that is because they are sold a bill of goods from Harris, Motorola, Tait et-all that these wiz bang networks will never fail, or get over loaded.
They feel insulted, until that network fails, and they have no way to effectively communicate. They are stuck with Sat phones, and runners.
Been there done that. Our local group has had to provide the conduit for EM officials communicate with a disaster zone 300km away from where provincial emergency managers were.
Does it happen every time? Nope. But everything can fail, and failing to plan is planning to fail.
Being fair, the PS systems have been made more robust, at least since Katrina. That lowers the chances of needing backup comms.
The systems do busy out. During a tornado event, a few years ago, the network managers were actively kicking TGs off towers in the affected area, if the TG had no use in that area. Just a few weeks ago, we had a major wind event, and it took over about two minutes to get a channel grant, so I could give my brief initial report, at a commercial structure fire.
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We do a lot of that. The VHF side of the system averages 5 channels per site, 3 sites per county. The 800 MHz sites have between 15 and 28 channels per site. So TG are always being optimized for affiliation.
I think we have 5 classes right now. Site wide, county wide, region wide, band wide (VHF and 800) and then system wide.
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Kayn - Sounds like you're in the business, that's awesome and would like to get an idea of possibilities. Possibilities that they have "planned" for or not. . Not to get into OpSec for where you know this information from, hypothetically speaking of course. What do you think will or can happen in a time of need?Our P25 phase 1 network is mostly 700MHz with a splattering of single channel VHF sites. It will/is used by first responders and non first responder government users(transit, power companies ectera)
Rural sites are 4 RF channels. Only the urban sites, or sites near urban centres are more than 4 channels. I have a feeling that the first major disaster is going to be an eye opener. It will be a major eye opener if the disaster happens in an area that only has a single channel VHF site for coverage.
...Rural sites are 4 RF channels. Only the urban sites, or sites near urban centres are more than 4 channels. I have a feeling that the first major disaster is going to be an eye opener. It will be a major eye opener if the disaster happens in an area that only has a single channel VHF site for coverage.
...Not trying to offend anyone, but this whole ARES/RACES/Emcomm gig is out of control.
Left unchecked, their reputation and the public's view of all amateur radio operators as a whole will be affected. The regular amateur radio operator will be lumped in the same category as the whacker by the public.
I'm sure others share this opinion.
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...I prefer to think of amateur radio as just another tool in the toolbox for when the shtf. I've seen ARES/RACES organizations train their members to think of themselves as a replacement for the public safety system if a disaster takes it out. That's seriously misguided. For the most part, public safety is redundant, protected, and fairly robust.
What is needed is to sell amateur radio as an additional tool for auxiliary functions that are not necessarily life saving (although it can be) but are more a means of handling communications that are not important enough for a safety of life system and personnel, but are too important to just ignore. Ordering up 100 sandwiches and cases of water for the firemen saving actual lives, and the lives they just saved, comes to mind... that sort of thing.
There's a lot to ham radio to attract people, and there really is something for everyone. Emergency communications is just one small part of it. We're doing ourselves a disservice if we look down our noses at people who come into the hobby with that in mind. We should be showing them what else they can do with that license, and gently leaning them away from the mindset that locks us all in some negative stereotype.
Being fair, the PS systems have been made more robust, at least since Katrina. That lowers the chances of needing backup comms.
The systems do busy out. During a tornado event, a few years ago, the network managers were actively kicking TGs off towers in the affected area, if the TG had no use in that area. Just a few weeks ago, we had a major wind event, and it took over about two minutes to get a channel grant, so I could give my brief initial report, at a commercial structure fire.
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Kayn - Sounds like you're in the business, that's awesome and would like to get an idea of possibilities. Possibilities that they have "planned" for or not. . Not to get into OpSec for where you know this information from, hypothetically speaking of course. What do you think will or can happen in a time of need?
You've run into one of the fiscal realities that the political entities that fund these systems has to deal with... What gets built is somewhere in the middle of what's needed, and what's affordable.
Hopefully, it's at least a calculated risk, and those single channel sites won't be co-located with the next headlining disaster. You pays your money, and you takes your chances.
I will only regard amateur radio as a hobby.
I think if the whacker culture was willing to tone it down a bit, take their respective seats and be open to trying new things (P25, VOIP, etc.) instead of doing the same old (and often inefficient and pointless) crap...
I am surprised that no one has mentioned the times when commercial comms were down, and hams provided comms for PD and FD sites. I could see someone wanting to be a part of that aspect getting their ham license, but might lose interest, and/or let their license lapse, due to the infrequent activation. (Routine comms loss drills might help, and would be good practice.)
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I think if the whacker culture was willing to tone it down a bit, take their respective seats and be open to trying new things (P25, VOIP, etc.) instead of doing the same old (and often inefficient and pointless) crap, people would take amateur communications much more seriously and start to see them as more of an asset rather than a liability.
Just my $.02 cents
I am surprised that no one has mentioned the times when commercial comms were down, and hams provided comms for PD and FD sites. I could see someone wanting to be a part of that aspect getting their ham license, but might lose interest, and/or let their license lapse, due to the infrequent activation. (Routine comms loss drills might help, and would be good practice.)
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