Many are excluded form current disaster communications planning

[clint]

[Chuck]

Being neophyte and enjoying it,  isn't it better to have focus like we have for the 2 meter (repeaters and simplex)?  Our Sunday net has great participation from people all over the place.  Participation is very impressive.  Does someone have a better system?

What are the issues with our 2 meter and HF programs.  Going outside, adding areas that not all can participate, seems to dilute rather than enhance.  I am proud to be part of the communications group, we all have the best interest of our communities at heart.

I'm interested in hearing if something is better than what we have.  Where does one go to participate?

How are people excluded, other than if they do not have the proper level license?

I'm glad you posted the comments because I have wondered why I don't hear you & Artology.   

[clint]

Chuck,

see PMs

[kew]

By your definition CBer are also being excluded. This subject should be take up with the FCC, not with a working disaster communications group.

[clint]

huh  

Maybe you're not aware of this but CB radio owners are not trained or licensed ham radio operators. My post was about trained and licensed amateur radio operators.

[SkierBob]

By your definition CBer are also being excluded. This subject should be take up with the FCC, not with a working disaster communications group.

ha! Good luck...  You obviously don't know the FCC. Your advise is bad.   It's much easier to pass the ham no code test, and toss the cb in the trash. 

[ForestGal]

Well, now I'm more confused than I already was.  I know from my new (new enough to still be considered a newbie) Technician Class license, that I'm allowed to talk on 2 meter, 220, and 440.  Am I allowed to talk on 1.25 meter?  How would I do that?  My radio is a tribander, including the 3 frequencies I already mentioned, it doesn't have 1.25 meter on it.  I remember hearing about it in class, and in the exam that I crammed for, but that's about it.  Oh dear, I've still got so much to learn.  I know the FCC doesn't issue Novice licenses any more.

[clint]

1.25 Meters is 220

[clint]

Let me try this again.

Every licensed amateur radio operator in the US can use the 1.25 Meter/222-225 MHz band.

Not all licensed amateurs can use the 2 Meter/144-148 MHz band.

[ForestGal]

Thanks, Clint.  I'm sorry, my brain doesn't process a lot of stuff that I really wish it would.  I'm sure you taught us that in class, but I was so focused on passing the dang exam, that I don't remember a lot of the important things.  OK, tomorrow is another day.....      

[RennMan]

1.25 Meters is 220

220 Mhz/1.25 meter band is great alternative band!  I finally got two 220 HTs for MakGirl's and my use.  Now I just have to remember to use them.

Consider this scenario, some emergency happens, and all operators try to get into the Table Mountain 2M repeater.  It would add chaos to the existing chaos.  Having the ability to use, or even monitor another band, whether it is 220 or 440 could be helpful.

Using CB would be OK, if it weren't for two things:

1) the band is fairly short distance, typically line-of-sight, which wouldn't work well in our canyon.
2) No licencing required, which unfortunately means that some people don't follow the rules.  Some CB channels are beyond an "R" rating.  I don't need to listen to that...

I think I'll stay on the ham bands.

[Chuck]

220 Mhz/1.25 meter band is great alternative band!  I finally got two 220 HTs for MakGirl's and my use.  Now I just have to remember to use them.all operators try to get into the Table Mountain 2M repeater.  It would add chaos to the existing chaos. 

I don't see chaos at all.  I see current updated information.  If you want to speak to others off the repeater you will be able to identify other Bands/frequencies to use.  Do that before an emergency/disaster.

I think the glass is half full, not half empty.  If there is a better system we need to communicate with each other and expand knowledge of it.  So far I see us having a good system people know how to use.   

[clint]

Don't take this personally Chuck, but...
Of course YOU don't see chaos. You have never actually communicated in a disaster or emergency, or even a large scale planned event. I have. Many times. You could not be more wrong.
And it's not YOU, it's anybody, everybody new to something. With no experience or historical perspective.

Emergency planning has to include redundancy. The question always has to be what happens if...

During the Northridge quake (pretty big one), Whittier quake, (pretty small one) and Sierra Madre quake (medium sized one) many repeaters were maliciously jammed. Repeaters simply become overloaded with non critical traffic. People jam EMCOMM nets all the time. A guy is in jail right now for jamming a coast guard rescue.

The Wrightwood net has been jammed!

I could go on and on.

But this is getting way off topic.