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A favorable writeup of hams in the latest disaster:<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.outlook4mobility.com/commentary2005/sept1205.htm">http://www.outlook4mobility.com/commentary2005/sept1205.htm</a><br>
<br>
"<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="2">Meanwhile, as happens in every
disaster in recent times, the amateur radio community was immediately
on the scene and ready. The Red Cross has, for a long time, worked with
the ham radio community to provide communications to and from shelters
and other locations where its personnel were deployed. The Amateur
Radio Emergency Services (ARES) was also deploying hams with their
personal communications equipment and controlled network communications
into and out of the affected areas were on the air in short order.<br>
<br>
As a side note but of importance, at least one wireless network
operator, Verizon, has long recognized the emergency communications
capabilities of ham radio. A number of its cell site technicians, radio
engineers and other employees are ham radio operators who want to
provide communications in times of disasters. Verizon's management
realizes the benefit of ham radio and has promoted its use in
emergencies by providing radio equipment and license training for its
employees who are interested.<br>
<br>
One reason hams can respond so quickly is that they can set up
"infrastructure-less" communications. They hit the ground with their
own equipment and can quickly and easily set up local, regional,
national and even international communications."<br>
<br>
<br>
"</font><font face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"> One of the stories I heard
but cannot verify is that some of the people on the ground during the
rescue operations "acquired" a number FRS radios in order to be able to
communicate with each other. Some of them even started telling people
to contact them on FRS channel 9, code 11 (911). If this is true, it
shows how inventive people are when they have to be. (Note: I am told
that many ski patrols have adopted the 9-11 family radio channel, just
like CB channel 9 was monitored by some public safety agencies in the
old days). I have several pairs of these radios and extra batteries
ready to go in our emergency kits."<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com <br>
EchoLink Node: 14400 [Think bottom of the 2M band]<br>
Home Page: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.com">http://wa8lmf.com</a><br>
<br>
"APRS 101" Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/DigiPaths">http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/DigiPaths</a> <br>
<br>
Updated APRS Symbol Chart <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/miscinfo/APRS_Symbol_Chart.pdf">http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/miscinfo/APRS_Symbol_Chart.pdf</a> <br>
<br>
New/Updated "Rev G" APRS <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/aprs">http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/aprs</a><br>
Symbols Set for UI-View, <br>
UIpoint and APRSplus:<br>
<br>
<br>
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