Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Domains

Domain: ares.org

Stories and comments across the archive that link to ares.org.

Comments · 7

  1. Re:But will we? by michaelwigle · · Score: 4, Informative · on King Wants To Sell Out Ham Radio

    Not necessarily. See this Wiki article for some recent examples http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_emergency_communications. The main thing is that even in the U.S. it's possible to lose cell phone and land line communications over large swaths of territory quickly depending on the emergency. Amateur radio operators have groups who intentionally train to step up with equipment and their own expertise to fill the communication void that can be created when the main forms of communication go down. You can also check out ARES at http://ares.org/ for more information. Emergency trained ham operators also often have training in severe weather spotting (tornado, etc) and basic first aid training. Those interested often participate in training on how to coordinate large amounts of communication and large numbers of different groups effectively with the ability to pass priority information faster than updates. All in all, when things are rough, these folks quickly and quietly step up, help get the job done, and then go back to their own (not their parents' :P) basement.

  2. Re:Thanks, guys! by vhfer · · Score: 1 · on Ham Radio Operators Are Heroes In Oregon
    I'm pretty sure that among the long list of "served agencies" FEMA appears. I'm pretty also impressed by other agencies embrace of amateur radio- the elaborate radio room set up both at the National Weather Service office here in S.E. Wisconsin and at the downtown Red Cross building. In both cases, the staff of the served agency can't use the equipment. It just sits there until an emergency net is activated and the hams come a-runnin'. Of course there's drills, training, and other activity to keep any dust from settling on the gear.

    Local ARES and RACES groups are often the core of the volunteer organizations locally/regionally. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
    Home page: http://www.ares.org/
    Nice summary: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/sec1-ch1.html

    RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) is less active in my area and I think I heard that they were combining some activities with the local ARES folks. Administered by local, county and state emergency management agencies, and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
    http://www.races.net/

    And as I say whenever I get the chance, it has never been easier to be a ham. All morse code requirements have been removed from the licensing process, and anyone that can study for a test can pass the exam. Once that's done, there's a huge core of groups out there to help you get started. There's also groups that meet for training for the exams, if you like that idea better than studying on your own.

    Tom, N9QQB, member of the Milwaukee 145.130 repeater, 1000 watts of RF goodness at your fingertips. IRLP node number 5590 - call us from anywhere in the world via internet link.

    73 de N9QQB

  3. Re:Thanks, guys! by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1 · on Ham Radio Operators Are Heroes In Oregon

    I have never heard of it, and I realize it may be a false assumption that one does not exist, but I am wondering if FEMA has an official process for calling up Ham Radio Opers to help as part of their disaster plan....
    In the States, you have something called Amateur Radio Disaster Services, the UK's equivalent is called the Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network.
  4. Amateur radio IN YOUR FACE :P by celerityfm · · Score: 2, Funny · on Amateur Rocket Reaches Space

    Every time theres an amateur radio story posted to /., either about morse code or BPL, all these haters show up and start saying ham radio is dead and that its a waste to give all these airwaves to these "hams".

    Where are the haters in this thread? Oh OHHH its because we launched a ROCKET INTO SPACE. Has your hobby done that? HMM!? What about dozens of satellites, space station experiments and space shuttle experiments? What about being a vital part of our nation's emergency communications network?

    I didn't think so. To all the rest, thank you for the resepect. I'm not trying to say ham radio is the best hobby, I'm just saying the haters need to recognize. :P

  5. Re:Christ, WE KNOW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Broadband Over Power Lines: Coming Soon?
    Amateur radio is what is used during and after disasters to support disaster recovery efforts. It isn't for rag chewing while the disaster is going on. It is the only reliable civilian mode of communication for disasters, and the military also uses it. Amateur radios (ARES) basically show up when the Red Cross does.

    Ham isn't a good no-power replacement for phones anyway, as not everyone can have one. A much better alternative is the CB I mentioned, which, notably, also run off cars and generators. No, they don't have distance, but if your argument is disasters, well, you can call Fiji later when the phones are back up.
    This makes it absurdly clear that you have no idea what the hell you are talking about.

    If you need a hobby, get a CB or something, but the rest of us want our internet.
    And this earlier statement shows you are a completely ignorant of BPL and the issues surrounding it. BPL is polluting the airwaves where it is not supposed to be, just like factories pollute streams and high-decibel sources pollute the audibal airwaves. These frequencies are not holding back your precious internet; it is the responsibility of BPL not to pollute the RF spectrum. Your extremely narrow-minded argument only make sense if the FCC is going to take away that part of the spectrum and give it to BPL.

    Just wait for the BPL harmonics to start ruining your TV reception. Then you can blame TV for holding back the internet.

  6. Re:My experience with a Ham Group by ChuckleBug · · Score: 1 · on Hams Complain about Powerline Broadband

    My message to Hams: get over it, you are a TINY minority whose hobby does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for anyone but yourself.

    Oh. Like these guys, or this here, or when my repeater group goes to Children's Hospital in December to let some terminally ill kids talk to "Santa Claus," or when we help coordinate the March of Dimes Walk-a-thon, or provide communications for parades...

    You have two problems with what you wrote: First is, you extrapolated from one experience to pass judgment on all hams. Second, you don't know what the hell you're talking about, yet that didn't stop you from posting a snotty, insulting rant.

  7. Mall of American = BioCentral? by scoove · · Score: 1 · on Living Terrors

    Funny you should mention Minneapolis being a plausible ground-zero -

    Many of us hams in my part of the Midwest participated in an Air Force bioterrorism exercise a few months ago that was based on a ficticious biological-based terrorist attack in Minneapolis. They sent plane-loads of people to places throughout the midwest to receive treatment since in the scenario, the local hospitals were overloaded. They relied upon local ARES amateur radio groups to provide for the communications logistics.

    If you read about the US's FEMA and related NBC-related civil defense programs, you'll be surprised to see how much of a role volunteer geeks get to play.

    I'd suggest for anyone interested in the topic to check out their local ham group and if in the US, learn about their area's ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) or RACES programs.

    Building a backup voice and data infrastructure through spare parts on spare time for fun can be a heck of a challenge!

    *scoove*