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Amateur Radio Braces for Hurricane Isabel

Posted by michael on from the get-a-snorkel dept.

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."

8 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Go hams go! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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!

  2. Attention Michael by illsorted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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?

  3. These ppl do a nice job... by fox2mike · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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!

    1. Re:These ppl do a nice job... by DF5JT · · Score: 5, Informative

      "Hats off to you people & thanks for the wonderful job you do!"

      Do it as long as you can, because the very existence of ham radio is endangered. Powerline communication uses the entire shortwave spectrum and is being hailed as the only way to ensure a nationwide coverage of internet access. The telco and energy industry pushes the issue with the FCC right now and as things stand, the entire shortwave spectrum will be completely useless for any wireless service, be it ham radio, shortwave broadcast or other emergency service that need the shortwave frequency range.

      Take a look at:

      http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/08/08/2/?n c= 1//

      Same, by the way, in Europe:

      http://europa.eu.int/information_society/topics/ te lecoms/regulatory/publiconsult/powerline_communica tions/text_en.htm

      It's been a nice hobby for me during the last 25 years, but as things stand it won't last another 25 years.

      You might want to inform your congressman about the issue and tell him that in a couple of years hams might be unwilling to provide emergency services when ham radio as a hobby has systematically been sacrificed for the industry's greed for a useless technology.

  4. They'll also be standing by. . . by bplipschitz · · Score: 5, Informative

    around the rest of the country, to relay Health & Welfare traffic during the aftermath.

    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 ./ effect!

  5. Re:Who needs ham radio? by bplipschitz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    --
    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.

  6. Get into amateur radio yourself - here's how ... by wherley · · Score: 5, Informative

    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

  7. Re:Get into amateur radio yourself - here's how .. by kc9biw · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here is some quick general info I normally hand out.

    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.ht ml

    To find a testing center in your area.
    http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtm l

    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:/ /www.arrl.org/arrlvec/2003Technician_graphic s.pdf

    Online Practice test
    http://www.qrz.com/testing.html