Amateur Radio Provides Critical Communication in Colorado Flooding Response

ZCZC AG21
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 21 ARLB021
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT September 16, 2013
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB021
ARLB021 Amateur Radio Provides Critical Communication in Colorado Flooding Response
More than five dozen Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers have deployed in and around flood-stricken counties of Colorado, providing critical communication for Red Cross shelters and state and local emergency operation centers. Recent heavy rains have caused veritable mountainside tsunamis that have caused rivers and streams to overflow their banks, ravaged roads and property and displaced an undetermined number of residents. At least three people are known to have died. ARRL Colorado Section Manager Jack Ciaccia, WM0G, says that with power cut off to affected communities and many cell telephone towers along the Big Thompson River toppled by the flooding, ham radio is providing medical and health-and-welfare traffic between evacuation centers and the EOCs.
"Every EOC is being staffed by ARES people," Ciaccia told ARRL. "Almost every evacuation center has an ARES communicator, doing either voice or packet communications between EOCs and shelters."
The isolated towns of Estes Park, Lyons, and Jamestown were or still are relying solely on ham radio for contact with the outside. Jamestown has since been evacuated. "Everybody was huddled into the high school there," Ciaccia told ARRL. He was in contact with the mayor there and trying to get the community needed resources as soon as possible. Hams in Estes Park have been working out of the EOC in the Town Hall, which is on high ground. "There's no place to go. Everything's flooded," Ciaccia said. "The only ham in Lyons was working out of an evacuation center at the local elementary school." He said the National Guard has been relocating some evacuees, as the shelter has become overcrowded.
On Saturday, September 14, US Congressman Cory Gardner (R-4) visited the state emergency operation center to express his appreciation to the Amateur Radio operators responding to the historic flooding disaster. Rep Gardner asked Colorado Section Emergency Coordinator Robert Wareham, N0ESQ, to extend his thanks to all ARES members staffing positions in the field as well.
Boulder County has deployed miniature drone aircraft carrying Amateur TV cameras to survey the affected, more remote regions, for now to spot individuals who may need to be rescued. "We're still in a search-and-rescue mode," Ciaccia said, "not really in a damage-assessment mode."
Ciaccia said the drones - a fixed-wing aircraft and a hybrid gas/electric-powered helicopter - have been transmitting ATV video via UHF to the ground and simultaneously recording the video on a memory stick. The helicopter can remain in the air for more than 5 hours at a clip, recording images for officials at the EOC to evaluate. Ciaccia said Boulder County Emergency Coordinator Al Bishop, K0ARK, owns Reference Technology, the company providing the drones.
Ciaccia said that during the past year the Boulder County ARES team created the Mountain Emergency Radio Network (MERN) on its own time and money and put up two repeaters - one at Allenspark and another in Gold Hill. "The intent was to start educating people in the mountain regions to become hams," Ciaccia said. Some 65 individuals have gotten their licenses, and the team provided each with a radio. "Those radios and those people - they became the eyes and ears for their communities," Ciaccia explained.
As power was lost, the only remaining means of communication were the two repeaters operating on propane-powered generators. "The system worked," Ciaccia added, "and we were able to utilize it for emergency communication purposes." Those communities have since been evacuated.
News media accounts citing the state Office of Emergency Management say 19 Colorado counties remain under a high threat of flooding. These include Boulder, Arapahoe, Weld, Park, Jefferson, Larimer, Clear Creek, Adams, Douglas, Broomfield, Gilpin, Denver, Logan, Morgan, Washington, El Paso, Teller, Pueblo and Elbert.
State authorities are warning residents in the hard-hit counties to stay off the road. Interstate 25 from the Wyoming line to Denver has been closed, along with part of Interstate 70.
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/EX
Source: W1AW Bulletin via the ARRL.

Michigan Simulated Emergency Test (SET)

The annual Simulated Emergency Test will take place on Saturday, October 5. The details of the exercise are being closely held at this time, but will be revealed as the exercise unfolds. A few things that will be tested will be message handling capabilities via various modes, including VHF and HF digital as well as interaction with the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) via various methods. This is an excellent time to contact your county Emergency Coordinator (EC) to find out how you can assist and participate in this event which is designed to identify strengths and weaknesses of our communication systems. You can locate your county EC and his or her contact information here: http://ares-mi.org/ECcontact.php 

QScope.org : Free online statistics and charts application for logs

I am glad to introduce you to QScope.org.

http://www.qscope.org/

QScope.org is an online application that provides statistics and charts from HAM Radio logs.
Registration and access to the website are free.
While some features are designed with contesting in mind, most of the statistics will be useful for DXers and DXpeditions.
You just import your ADIF 2 or Cabrillo logs into QScope database and then browse the statistic and charts pages. The application allows for exporting your results in PDF and to share the web links to the charts you produced with your friends.
QScope permit you to create as many containers as you want and import as many logs as you need into them, so you can classified or aggregate the data the way you want.

QScope offers informations like* :
- Number of QSOs, Operating Time
- Unique callsigns worked, unique DXCCs entities, CQ and ITU Zones
- Average and Maximum QSO Rates over periods of 10, 30 and 60 minutes
- Activity Map showing which band, mode, operating position was more productive during a contest
- Charts with number of QSOs per unique callsign, band, mode or operator
- Charts with number of Points per unique callsign, band, mode or operator
- Charts with number of QSOs per CQ and ITU Zones
- Charts showing hour by hour, the Number of QSOs and Points, Number of new CQ and new ITU Zones worked, Number of new DXCC entities and new Prefixes worked
- Charts with Operating Time per band, mode or operator with parameter for pause duration
- Charts showing minute by minute how much was your QSO Rate for your whole log, per operator or per band, with parameter for the sample duration from 5 minutes to 60 minutes
- Charts with Maximum QSO Rates per band, mode or operator with parameter for the sample duration from 5 minutes to 60 minutes
* Note that the informations you can display depend on the data available in your logfile. ADIF logs containing more details than Cabrillo.

The beauty of a web application (have I said cloud computing?) is that more features and statistics can be easily added on the go and will benefit all users without need to download and install any new software. Of course improvements suggestions are welcome.

73,
Yan - XV4Y.
---
Yannick DEVOS - XV4Y
http://xv4y.radioclub.asia/

EmComm East Conference to Feature ARRL COO WJ1B

ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, a Boston Marathon finish-line volunteer at the time the bombs exploded, will discuss his experience at EmComm East, an ARRL-sanctioned Amateur Radio emergency communication conference, September 29 in Rochester, New York.
The conference is aimed at radio amateurs involved in emergency, disaster response and recovery communications. Participants can attend training sessions on technical topics, learn from served agencies, and interact with other operators from around the region.
Most presentation slots have been filled, but a few openings remain. If interested, contactinfo@emcommeast.org EmComm East or visit the conference websitehttp://www.emcommeast.org. -- Thanks to Jeff Wigal, WY7Q, via The ARES-E Letter

US & Canada Agree on New Border Spectrum Sharing Measure

The United States Federal Communications Commission and telecommunications regulator Industry Canada have agreed on three interim spectrum-sharing arrangements covering three types of wireless communications operations along the U.S.-Canada border. The arrangements govern various bands involving air-to-ground communications, fixed operations and specialized mobile radio services.
In the way of fixed services, the FCC, the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Industry Canada struck a sharing agreement governing 71 to 76, 81to 86 and 94.1 to 95 GHz. This is intended to facilitate deployment of fixed services within the border area. Such services include backhaul for mobile broadband networks, high-speed wireless local area networks and broadband Internet access over high bandwidth point-to-point links.
At 454.6625 to 454.9875 MHz and 459.6625 to 459.9875 MHz a Statement of Intent allows for creation of a nationwide digital system covering the sharing and coordination of spectrum for general aviation air-to-ground services. It provides for sharing of spectrum when operations are located within distances ranging from roughly 300 to 360 miles of the common border.
With regard to specialized mobile radio services at 896 to 901 and 935 to 940 MHz, the new arrangement governs the sharing and coordination of within roughly 60 miles of the common border and simplifies the criteria for permitting secondary users in the band. This is intended to enable more efficient use of the spectrum while protecting primary users. This particular agreement called Arrangement U may become part of a larger treaty or replacement agreement governing services operating above 30 MHz. The operational provisions of this arrangement will be applied on an interim basis pending further review. (RW, FCC, Industry Canada)

Louisiana Adopts Alert FM Statewide

If there’s ever another disaster like Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana will be in a far better position to advise its residents than back in August of 2005. This with the announcement by Louisiana’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness that it has adopted the Alert FM system as a way of notifying the state’s emergency managers in 64 parishes and 42 institutions of higher learning of an imminent threat to life or property.
According to the release, Louisiana’s Senator Mary Landrieu was an early supporter of the broadcast-based emergency alert systems. She is quoted as saying that with Alert FM, Louisiana has implemented a reliable method of distributing life-saving information to the citizens. She added that the dependability of broadcast transmissions can make the difference between life and death during an emergency.
As previously reported here on Newsline, Alert FM is an emergency notification system that delivers messages from state, local, and private sector officials to citizens, schools, businesses, and first responders using the Radio Data System or R-D-S sub- carrier of local FM radio stations. Messages are originated by designated officials and are then transported from a secure web-based portal to the data sub-carrier via GSS Net which is a secure satellite data delivery system. These alerts and messages are then received by FM stations and re-transmitted to Alert FM equipped receivers or to cell phones that have both active FM chips and properly installed software.
More about the Alert FM system is on line at alertfm.com. (Radio Weekly)

CHANCE OF STORMS

NOAA forecastesrs estimate a 65% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on August 10th when one and perhaps two CMEs are expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. The incoming clouds were propelled from the sun by a flurry of erupting magnetic filaments on Aug. 6-7. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. 

Source: SpaceWeather.com

MAGNETIC FIELD REVERSAL ON THE SUN:

 It hasn't happened yet, but it's about to. Data from NASA-supported observatories show that the sun's global magnetic field will flip before the end of 2013. The reversal, which signals the arrival of Solar Maximum, will have ripple effects felt throughout the solar system. Get the full story and a video from Science@NASA.

Articles of Interest

*40 Meter Glowbug and Power Supply
*6-Band Windom Antenna
*Attic Coaxial-Cable Trap Dipole Antenna
*Linear Loaded Vertical Antenna for 40m and 80m by PA3HBB
*J-Poles with Wireman-cable
*India's Telegraph, Once Gandhi's E-Mail, Stutters to an End:
*Communications 150 Years Ago and Now:

ARRL says no to Encrypted Amateur Radio Communications

The ARRL is calling on the FCC to deny a Petition for Rule Making in RM-11699. This is a request that seeks to permit the encryption of certain amateur communications during emergency operations or related training exercises. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Norm Seeley, KI7UP, is here with the details:

As we previously reported, earlier this year the FCC accepted for filing a Petition for Rulemaking from Don Rolph, AB1PH, designated as RM-11699 and put it on public notice. In it Rolph suggested that an additional exception to Part 97.113 be made to permit encrypted communications when hams are participating in emergency services operations or related training exercises which may involve information covered by medical privacy requirements or other sensitive data. This could include logistical information concerning medical supplies, personnel movement or any other data designated by Federal authorities managing relief or training efforts.
But on July 8^th the ARRL filed to oppose the AB1PH rules change request. The ARRL says that in its view there is no factual or legal basis for the assumption that encryption of transmissions is necessary in order to continue and enhance the utility of amateur radio emergency and disaster relief communication. The ARRL also characterized as erroneous the assumption that encryption of certain information may be required under the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability or HIPPA Act.
The ARRL is not alone in this view. Several other commenters on RM-11699 have also pointed out that the restrictions imposed by HIPPA can be overlooked in time of a dire emergency. 

source; Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

North Hills Amateur Radio Club

What is Ham Radio Night? North Hills Amateur Radio Club:

The Sacramento area North Hills Amateur Radio Club hosts an annual What Is Ham Radio Night event. The members setup demonstrations and the evening is open to the public. This is to show future amateur radio operators different aspects of the hobby.

There were some other demonstrations that I did not cover. Satellite operation was tried, but no luck. I didn't get a chance to video the military radios either.

IRLP
http://www.irlp.net/

North Hills Amateur Radio Club
http://www.k6is.org/

ESpotter
http://espotter.weather.gov/

Wilderness Radio
http://www.fix.net/~jparker/wild.html

http://t.co/icUCsV5eOC 

Lost Ham?

Field Day 2013; Articles of Interest

I did not participate in Field Day this year, so I will just have to share some articles of interest in regards to Field Day Activities.

Ham radio day has locals connecting in La Quinta http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130622/NEWS01/306220032/Ham-radio-day-has-locals-connecting-La-Quinta …

Louisville amateur radio enthusiasts hold emergency preparedness 'field day' http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20130623/NEWS01/306230054/Louisville-amateur-radio-enthusiasts-hold-emergency-preparedness-field-day- … 

Ham radio has a field day at MCLB (Marine Corps Logistics Base) ALBANY, Ga. http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2013/jun/22/ham-radio-has-a-field-day-at-mclb/ … 

Amateur radio operators train for the worst-case scenario- http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_23519219/amateur-radio-operators-train-worst-case-scenario … 

Ham radio operators having a field day- http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/555921/Ham-radio-operators-having-a-field-day.html?nav=5005 … 

Radio operators demonstrate skills during 'Field Day'-http://www.reviewonline.com/page/content.detail/id/567521/Radio-operators-demonstrate-skills-during--Field-Day-.html?nav=5008 … 

HAM radios key to emergency communication-http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130623/GJNEWS_01/130629612/-1/FOSNEWS … 

Ham radio group tuned into hobby- http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/621608/Ham-radio-group-tuned-into-hobby … 

Amateur radio enthusiasts have a field day- http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=912958#.Ucecg9jhfFE … 

Field Day highlights emergency preparedness role of ham radio buffs- http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/23/5517282/field-day-highlights-emergency.html … 

 

5 Watts QRP

Burj Khalifa, Dubai

This is amazing.