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Amateur Radio Braces for Hurricane Isabel
TaxSlave writes "Amateur Radio operators in North Carolina and elsewhere in the projected track of Hurricane Isabel are getting ready for action. ARES has been activated in many areas, and hams are recommended to be ready. NC ARES has an information page for the storm and Hurricane Watch Net has a good info page as well. Even outside the major storm area, hams are posted at shelters which are filling up with storm refugees."
Mmmm... Ham.
hams are posted at shelters which are filling up with storm refugees
Good thing too. All this evacuating is making me hungry!
Good luck to those in the hurricane zone. We are in tropical storm warning
73 de KC2IXE
Queens County (NY) ARES EC
Queens County Radio Officer - RACES
-- 73 de KG2V For the Children - RKBA! "You are what you do when it counts" - the Masso
My boyfriend is in his 20s and is a ham. People might think hams are a bunch of old farts, but that's not entirely true. When the grid is down, you can always count on hams to be there to help!
It's good to see that the Hams are in action and all, but do you think it's very responsible to be slashdotting the servers of organizations providing emergency services in a disaster?
Eh?
That's all very well, but what about vegetarians? Are we going to just let them starve to death?
If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets
Even though we have had so many advances in technology over the years, its the good ole HAMs that come to our rescue during times of trouble or disaster. Even during the recent blackouts in NYC, they kept in touch & relayed messages back & forth. Often there's just one link who keeps the messages going up & down.
Hats off to you people & thanks for the wonderful job you do!
How likely is it that their monsterous huge aerials will survive the winds ?
... unless you really need to. The last thing the HAM radio folks in NC need is the slashdot effect.
get real time reports on condition in the affected area. Net control is actually in Austin TX.
try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
Ha. Can you hear me now? Nope? HOw about now? NOpe... da-dit-da-da-etc... Yep, heard that.
-- Liberalism is a mental disorder.
Great stuff, I can just see Tony hancock doing the Radio ham sketch.. If you have never heard it, tune into BBC7 on a tues and you may catch the original radio broadcast.. :-)
"You lied to me! There is a Swansea!"
around the rest of the country, to relay Health & Welfare traffic during the aftermath.
./ effect!
Some other frequencies of interest:
14.265 MHz [USB] Salvation Army SATERN net.
7.232 MHz [LSB] Tarheel net [daytime]
3.923 MHz [LSB] Tarheel net [after 7:30 pm]
3.907 MHz [LSB] Coastal Carolina net.
The nice thing about radio is, as long as you're only listening, it doesn't suffer from the
Atleast they're the amateur model..When I was young I always wished my braces could play the radio. Now a stinkin hurricane gets radio braces. Feh!
It will be interesting to see if any building-to-building WiFi links or other wireless networking tech can operate in a hurricane. I'd bet that high rain, very wet vegitation, and the odd flying bit of sheet metal will kill reception or reduce reliability. Also, external high gain antennas will be prone to wind-induced misaligment and damage.
Isabel should be an interesting test of any mesh networks in the area -- assuming that they have independent power sources, of course.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
--
We've got cellphones! Everyone knows how great cellphones work in an emergency. Viva la cellphone!
Ham radio is antiquated. I can buy 2 FRS radios at Wal-Mart for 30 dollars and will be able to talk a whopping 1/2 mile.
--
And when Isabel destroys many of the cell towers, where will you be then? Unless you have a satphone your Aunt Tilly in Burbank won't know what's become of you. She could get a message relayed via ham radio, with a response to find out that you are ok, although maniacally clutching your cell phone.
Also, FRS radios and Ham Radio are not the same thing, by a long shot.
Cellphones relly on infrastructure....
A shortwave radio can communicate with somebody litterally on the other side of the globe without any additional infrastructure.
Jeroen
Secure messaging: http://quickmsg.vreeken.net/
First, here is some background info.
Second, study up for the 35 question multiple choice exam using the Now You're Talking book.
Third, take your test.
Then get some gear - you'll be the one helping out in the next disaster in your area!
K9JRW
and 50 million people won't be shafted again when Isabel knocks out power across the eastern seaboard, tripping power grids thousands of miles away?
because i'm in detroit, and I don't exactly have the utmost faith that they've corrected the problem already. particularly since they haven't even identified it yet.
at least i'm all stocked up again.
unfortunately my generator hasn't arrived yet.
// "Can't clowns and pirates just -try- to get along?"
Depends on what kind of aerial you're talking about... if you mean 2meter, 440, etc, then yes... a tall tower (typically for a repeater, and that might not survive the hurricaine) facilitates communications, since these bands tend to be line-of-sight.
However, if you read the article, you'll notice they are using the 80-meter band, which is NOT line-of-sight. Tall antennas are not as critical... you can rig up a dipole with some wire after the storm passes, and get passable reception.
aerials, schmaerials... a true ham is a master at jury-rigging stuff, including antennas.
Even if a man chops off your hand with a sword, you still have two nice, sharp bones to stick in his eyes.
Does anyone (apart from truckers naturally) use CB radio anymore? Is it ever used in these sorts of scenarios?
Scientists restrict study to entire physical universe; creationist
I'm a vegetarian you insensitive clod!!!
I agree that current casual applications of wireless networking mean that few will care about the reliability of these networks. Yet proponents of the technology would have us use wireless in more intensive and all-encompassing ways.
Today, nobody really cares if the laptop in an empty and dark executive office becomes disconnected during a hurricane. Tomorrow, we may care a great deal if our phone/data networks or municipal services control systems are knocked offline because an underlying wireless network failed.
Personally, I suspect that wireless is more robust than wireline because physical wires are so prone to flooding or downed trees. But I would like to see examples, like those provided by Isabel, on how these systems operate during and survive natural disasters.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
Should have been modded Insightful, not merely Funny.
CW (Morse code) is often the only way to get a message through when all other methods fail. All you need to be able to do is switch a carrier on and off. And it can be done with very low power.
And to think the ITU now allows countries to do away with the Morse requirement for operation under 30 MHz. (There are petitions before the FCC to do this in the US.)
As far as your main point goes, though, right on! It is even better made than before, as you don't need any code whatever to get started.
73 de KG4WWN
Little Brother, watching the watchers
You ever notice when disaster strikes(weather, blackouts, etc), those ham radio people are always there? Hmmm..
"Marge, prepare the emergency ham!"
</HOMER>
"A microprocessor... is a terrible thing to waste." --
GeneralEmergency
The Novice license is no longer available. Existing Novices can continue to operate.
The Technician license grants nearly all privileges above 50 MHz, but Techs are only allowed to operate HF (below 30 MHz) if they've passed the Morse Code test, and then only Morse Code at low power (and one phone allocation on 10 meters) in a few small slices of spectrum.
General class licensees have some privileges on all amateur bands, including voice, data, and video where it's allowed. Extra Class operators have full privileges.
Here is a good summary of the license classes and operating privileges.
And don't let the test scare you off. Any self respecting geek ought to be able to learn the test material in a couple afternoons.
I got my Novice license at about age 11. I'd stayed with Technician class for years, then they dropped the 20 wpm code requirement for Extra. It took me about 8 hours of studying to prepare for the test and I passed with a 96%.
If you're reading slashdot, and you already use things like FRS radios, there's no excuse for not getting a license and earning the ability to use REAL equipment.
Plus, you can run higher power 802.11b. =]
N1VG
Here is some quick general info I normally hand out.
t ml
m l
/ /www.arrl.org/arrlvec/2003Technician_graphic s.pdf
There are 4 current classes you could get. To get one, you need to one
before it, ie if you want general, you need to have tech and tech + morse
first.
Technician
Technician + Plus morse code
General
Extra
The test is only $10 and lasts for 10 years. to renew, you just have
to fill in some paper work and send it into the FCC.
The test is 35 multiple choice questions.
The Technician class Syllabus is here
http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/tech-syllabus.h
To find a testing center in your area.
http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.pht
Question pool for Technician class (I printed these out and read over them twice and was able to pass the test)
http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/tech2003.txt
http:
Online Practice test
http://www.qrz.com/testing.html
Even a light bulb can be used to make contacts around the world.
Please, oh please, let's not damage ham radio's image this way. Some folks here on ./ still think we are okay.
I would like to point out that getting the gear needn't be expensive. These people have handheld 2-meter sets that cost less than most gamer-grade video cards. My 2-meter handheld, a Yaesu VX-5R, retails for $250 and Yaesu often has it on sale for around $200. It puts out 5 watts (sufficient for all the local repeaters), will do 6 meters and 440 as well, has a wide-ranging receiver, and isn't all that much bigger or heavier than my cell phone.
That will be sufficient for you to get into your local ARES net to prepare for emergencies in your area.
Someone you trust is one of us.
I've never done an extended or widespread Skywarn activation before. All of the auxillary nets are coming up along with the main net out of LWX. It's kind of exciting to see everyone lining up to go down to NWS and getting their systems on backup power--it's really the kind of thing that we do all this tinkering for.
In space, no one can hear you moo.
The last thing we need in Ohio is more rain (we're already over 9 inches above normal for the year), and Isabel threatens to add more precipitation to our area. Since we're so over saturated, nearly every time it rains, our areas go into automatic flood watch. As amateur radio operators, my wife and I provided communications for the American Red Cross for flood victims in the Stark County area in late July. Looks like we might be called to action again.
73 de KC8WVJ (and KC8WVK - my wife)
> Who said it was a woman?
:-)
My BF and I actually met on Slashdot three years ago...we're engaged. I had a Slashdot account, but lost the password and the email address associated with the account was long gone...so I haven't bothered to re-register. I suppose I could provide you with some proof of my gender, but as they say on the Internet, those could be anyone's breasts
Why use Ham radio when you can have SPAM radio! It's the radio that comes in a can to protect from the worst weather conditions.
Not only will Spam Radio keep you updated on the latest conditions in Nigeria, you will also learn how you can take advantage of offers that will let you achieve, erm, "personal growth", (wink wink, nudge nudge)
By reading this sig, you agree to the terms of my sig license.
Depends on your definition of pr0n I suppose. If you mean nekkid wimmin, well, yeah. If you mean images so vile that they go against the morals of a decent and civil society, then Pictures from the Dayton hamfest surely qualify.
Think 22,000 sweaty, smelly, unbathed, short, fat, old, bald white guys.
On second though, Don't.
Still one of my guilty pleasures even though it's become a real dive in the past 10 years or so.
Cheers, Peter, W2IRT
Check out the hams at work on the east coast. They are currently reporting weather and assisting FEMA; Live shoutcast broadcast is available here: http://live.irlp.net:8080/
I was down in the Homestead area about 8 hours after Andrew blew through... My cellphone stopped working somewhere just south of lake Okechobee and didn't start to work again for over 10 days. I worked with the Red Cross, SATERN, and other groups for close to 3 weeks.
As I have said before, to many "cellphones are the answer" kinda people, cellphones do not work when their towers are laying on their sides.
On the other hand, last June, during Field Day, we got hit with a particularly violent thunderstorm that knocked one of the local clubs completely off the air (http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/07/02/1/?nc =1). We were a few miles south of that group, but also lost an antenna, a tower, and half-way submerged a generator in the storm. However, we were back on the air with batteries and wire antennas in about an hour.
Amateur radio may not be "modern", it may not be fast, but one thing it is, is RELIABLE. Any time, any where, "When all else fails".
73 de Paul, KC4YDY
The number 1 problem of working in a cubicle - 23 power cords, 1 outlet...
Actually you cannot transmit offensive messages over ham bands, that is the realm of CB'ers, who tend to be loathed by hams. Ham radio requires a licence for operators, CB bands do not.
:-) Posted too many AC comments :-)
Finally I was bothered to find an old nick...didn't realize I had one at my current email address
Why did you rtfa? You shouldn't have rtfa!!!!
Everything seemed to be going so nice
'till the end of all beings punched right through the ice
Even cheaper: buy a used radio on EBay, or visit a local ham store or ham swap meet. The gear you find may not be the latest and fanciest, but there is a lot of good, serviceable gear out there. My 2m handheld is a Radio Shack HTX-202 - big (by modern standards), heavy (ditto) and ugly (in the eye of the beholder... :-),
but it's built like a tank and it works very well.
Unlike other radio services, we hams can build our own radios. Hardly anybody does anymore. Sad.
...laura VE7LDH
Well the written rule is that you're never supposed to use more power than you need to get the intended communication through.
That said, I believe the 2ghz range limits are 1500w. Its been a while since I had to memorize those charts, though, so it might be less than that. Most frequencies seem to be 1500w, though.
Thats twice the power and nearly the same frequency as your microwave oven, though. You probably don't really want to be doing that.
My girlfriend and 11 year old daughter passed their novice/tech tests without effort.
.
.you're telling us that you live in Arkansas?
Ewww. .
Soooo. . .
But Grandpa is still in diapers!