Oct 4, 2024 | ARES, ARRL, Public Service, Winlink
From the ARRL
10/04/2024
ARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio® is tracking how amateur radio is proving critical in areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene, especially in North and South Carolina, portions of Tennessee, and beyond. In the hardest-hit Asheville, North Carolina, area, homes and entire towns have been swept away by flood waters and mudslides. Over 200 people have been killed, and many more are still missing.
Widespread devastation has damaged the power grid and roads, and many residents are without cell phone service and other utilities. For several days, radio communications were the only means of passing information. Ham radio continues to play a significant role in this situation.
In North Carolina, all official emergency radio communications are done through NC AUXCOMM. NC Division of Emergency Management Senior External Affairs Specialist Brian Haines says hams are deployed. “Amateur radio operators are working side by side with first responder communications personnel all over Western North Carolina. Needless to say, we are interested in highlighting all they are doing but at this point they are heavily involved in response efforts, which is where we need to focus,” he said.
Winlink, which provides email over amateur radio, has been used significantly in the recovery. ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, says the recent FCC removal of symbol rate restrictions has allowed a streamlined response using modern technology. “Winlink is an example of how modern tools work well within the Amateur Radio Service. Not having to petition the FCC for a waiver of the old rules allowed Winlink to be used immediately during this emergency,” he said. ARRL had advocated for the change, which was implemented in 2023.
Significant stories of the response from individual hams is emerging, particularly from those who have created pop-up nets to pass health and welfare traffic. Using mountaintop repeaters that have robust power backups, HF frequencies, and Winlink, ham radio operators are putting in their time, talents, and personal gear to good use.
Read the full article, and associated media coverage, here:
https://www.arrl.org/news/ham-radio-serving-southeast-us-recovery-efforts
See the map of Winlink coverage here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=947498630745785&set=a.626049679557350
ARRL is the National Association for Amateur Radio in the US
May 8, 2024 | EPA Section, News, Public Service
The Red Cross is inviting Pennsylvania ARES, PEMA ACES, radio clubs and unaffiliated hams to participate in a joint exercise on May 25th. We’ve been hard at work preparing for the May National Mass Care Exercise and would like to leverage that infrastructure for a cross state Emcomm drill. Red Cross Emcomm Stations will be accepting check-ins on VHF, HF, Digital and Phone. Participants will be encouraged to deploy and demonstrate their Emcomm skills. Full details will be provided on May 23rd.
https://epa-arrl.org/joint-emcomm-exercise-for-all-pennsylvania-amateurs-on-may-25/
Apr 13, 2023 | ARES, Public Service, Winlink
On April 1 the EPA and WPA participated in statewide Winlink exercise in cooperation with the American Red Cross. The drill, coordinated by Red Cross DCS Jay King, W2AFE and his team, was a resounding success with more than 112 operators sending 350 messages to various Red Cross chapters in Pennsylvania. The exercise was conducted exclusively via digital protocols using Winlink.
Of the 112 participants, 96 were ARES members, 28 were Red Cross members, 36 used emergency power, 17 operated mobile and 94 were able to deploy with a VHF station. Winlink messages were sent using a variety of digital protocols including VARA FM, VARA HF, PACKET, ARDOP, PACTOR and TELNET.
The exercise was designed to test the response and deployment availability of ARES units and members in a widespread emergency in which the American Red Cross needed to send a variety of formatted messages throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A big thank you to the following operators who participated in the drill (by county):
Allegheny
NU3Q-1 Bob Mente
KB3LYB Mark Earnest
Beaver
KB3VSP Dan Grazulis
KC3TFW Greg Borns
N3OJP Mick Pyzoha
Bedford
K3NQT John Hogenmiller
KE3ZT Steve Wurm
Berks
K3AJM Alan Melnyk
Blair
NZ3B Erik Clossen
KC3RHR Joe Petrulionis
W3XOX Kevin Lear
Bucks
KA3TSJ Bob Stengel
KC3SMW Greg Cheng
KC3HXF Jacek Ostrowski
K3KH Karl Harris
K3FKW Ken Marinoff
KB3GJT Michael Sabal
NY3J Ron Wenig
KC3SZB Tom Aiken
Cambria
ND3L Des Warzel
Centre
WX2DX Bill Smith
W3SWL Brett Saylor
K3CWP Carmine Prestia
K3CLM Chad McKissick
KB3ESJ Dan Tancibok
W3DLD Darren Dixon
Chester
K3JSE Andy Cooper
KC3QVF Chris Beggy
W3EOC EOC
N3FLL Frank Rocap
N3MEL Glenn
W2AFE Jay King
WA3NOA Jim Harris
W3JFS John Schell
KB3PCY Martin Odom
KE3HG Rich Kucharik
N3YLI Travis Lisk
Cumberland
N3EPY Richard Johnson
Dauphin
K3URT Curt Sanders
Delaware
W3BIG Bob Wilson
KB3RIJ David Horvath
KT3H Paul Keener
Lackawanna
NW3X Tom Davis
Lancaster
KB3ZBM Daniel Boone
W3COB Doug Rice
N3EJG Jim Williams
W3NHW Nathan Wolf
Lebanon
WA3GPM Dave Brandt
Lehigh
N3WGH Doug Mcnair
WA3PNY Jeff Bauer
KC3BLF Mike Mandell
K3TEG-1 Tim Gelvin
WW3TRG Tom Gyory
Luzerne
K3EAM Alex Mark
KB3VS Bob Fowler
WA2EXI Chris Keller
WA2BBS Doug Stevens
KC3NGF Jack Rose
AB3ZI John Diliberto
K2PG Phil Glasso
N3RN Robert Nygren
KC3MES Tim Chase
Lycoming
N3RPB Bob Brown
AC3EU Clifford Allen
N3ZIO Dale Brendle
WJ3OM John Mummert
Montgomery
W3ZQN Bob Lees
N3FKR Charles Pistilli
AA3E Chuck Farrell
W3AFV Chuck Farrell
K3ITH Dick Stewart
WA3JZN Guy Gibbs
KC3JUD Harris Pepper
KC3TYG Jason Lukridge
N3IIG Jim Linden
WX3ABC Joe Smith
WS3J Lee Erickson
NE3I R. Griffiths
KC3ONC Steve Thomas
W3EX T. Nolan
KB3JCW Tom Pleva
Northhampton
W3CE Al Weiman
N3QIM Chris Hogan
KC3MLI Chris Peters
N3EYT David Blankenship
N3SQD George Wieland
N3XG Rodney Wolf
Northhumberland
KB3AC Alan Cooke
KA3IRJ Fred Uebellhoer
KC3OXN James Heath
Philadelphia
KC3CEW John Bates
KC3UGC Mark Pricskett
N3PEG Peg Daly
K3FZT Steve Davidson
Pike
KD2OIO Linda Doering
KZ3SMW Mark Wheeler
AC2GI Richard Carter
KC3QPC Robert Wolff
Schuykill
KC3RWX Daniel Cook
W3DFX Timothy Farrell
KC3KFW Carl Keller
Washington
N3WS Tom Wright
Wayne
AC3IV Eric Fosse
KC3SAQ Greg Barra
N2KUO Jack Arnouts
WB2HJQ Ken Katzman
N2KJW Kevin Whitehead
KA3E Paul Coar
KC3POC Peter Marcano
KC3HSM Robert B Becker Sr.
Westmoreland
KC3ULG Jim Benner
K3JZD Jody Nellis
York
K3HQI Ralph Brandt
Information submitted by Bob Wilson, W3BIG, ARRL EPA Section Manager and Section Emergency Coordinator
April 12, 2023
Jan 16, 2022 | ARES, ARRL, News, Public Service
New Section Emergency Coordinator -Bob Wilson, W3BIG is the new ARRL ARES EPA Section Emergency Coordinator. He came on board Dec. 1, 2021. Bob lives in Upper Chichester Township, Delaware County. Bob has been a Ham since 1978, was previously the Emergency Coordinator for Delaware County from 2008 until 2015. View the ARES EC Map: https://epa-arrl.org/ares-ec-map/
Bob Wilson W3BIG
Jan 27, 2020 | Amateur Radio, ARES, News, Public Service
ARRL EPA Section Manager, George Miller, W3GWM, and Atlantic Division Vice-Director, Bob Famiglio, K3RF urge Pennsylvania amateurs to write to their PA State Senators about House Bill 37.
On HB 37, now in the Transportation Committee:
1. There is a serious flaw in the draft as it now stands. By omission, it prohibits the operation of VHF or HF amateur radios in Pennsylvania moving vehicles.
2. Amateur Radio, using ARES-RACES, has provided Disaster Communications to millions of citizens since the 1930s. Ham Operators have provided reliable communications out of the affected areas during Hurricane Agnes in 1972, the Johnstown Flood in 1977, Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant meltdown, 1999, Flight 93 Crash, Shanksville, 2001, Tropical Storm Henri, 2002, the Quecreek Mine Disaster in 2002, Campbelltown Tornado 2004, dozens of weather and natural disasters on I-80, I-376, I-81, I-95, I-476, I-99, I-76 and the 2017 PA Turnpike Snow event, where Ham Operators assisted PEMA in maintaining communications to WPA.
3. In order to perform this function, it is imperative that these trained and FCC-licensed radio operators are permitted to communicate by radio while operating their vehicles.
4. Oftentimes, during an incident, cars, and trucks provide the only power and antenna platforms available. These volunteers, who act as operators and repair technicians, can provide both voice and digital communications completely devoid of any commercial infrastructure such as cell phone towers or the Internet.
5. Amateur Radio has mutual aid agreements with dozens of Fire Companies, PA County Departments of Emergency Services as well as PEMA, CAP, FEMA, and the PA State Police, who rely on the back-up communications provided by amateur radio ARES-RACES operators.
6. For over 20 years, ARES-RACES operators have contributed to the bi-annual drills of the Peach Bottom and Limerick Nuclear Power Plants, plus the drills at the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia International Airports. These points should provide information for your State Senators. I can’t stress enough how important it is for us all to take action on this. As this bill is written you will be forced to remove all radio equipment from your vehicles, including handheld radios.
If you have any questions, please contact George, W3GWM. You may refer your State Senators to him.
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