[OpenRelief Developer] Amature Radio . Ham Radio operators

[al Hart]

Andrew,
 
Add me in.
 
To get your license now is so simple NO MORSE CODE needed :)
 
Sample exam http://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/trialexam/
 
 
In Oz we have WICEN and also Emergency Communications Training accredited courses
 
WICEN is the emergency service arm of Amateur Radio, providing communications support during times of civil emergency (eg fire, flood and storms) to primary emergency services such as the Police and SES, as well as providing safety communications to public events (eg car rallies, bike rides etc.).
What is WICEN?
WICEN's full name is Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network
In each state WICEN is composed of volunteer operators from the Amateur Radio service who are trained in communications and message handling techniques.
WICEN can rapidly establish communication networks within a State or territory, and has the capability to extend these communications throughout Australia and overseas through the use of various equipment and operating frequencies.
In most states, WICEN is run by a sub-committee of the Wireless Institute of Australia. In NSW and Victoria, WICEN are separately incorporated organisations. 
The trained WICEN operator core is available to the appropriate authorities and, in a larger emergency, would act as a nucleus allowing the total Amateur Radio population to be put to use in a coordinated manner.
 
We also now have Emergency Communications Training accredited courses that end up with a 

Certificate  in Public Safety (SES Operations) 
WIA Emergency Communications Training
Emergency Communications Training
The WIA has commenced training of amateurs for activities associated with emergency communications preparedness. 

In the July and September 2009 issues of Amateur Radio 
magazine, the WIA Comment focussed on issues surrounding amateur operator emergency communications, training and general preparedness.
 
When All Else Fails... Amateur Radio
Introduction
In times of crisis and natural disasters, amateur radio is often used as a means of emergency communication when landline phone, mobile phones and other conventional means of communications fail. Unlike commercial systems, Amateur radio is dispersed throughout the community and is not dependent on terrestrial facilities that can fail or be overloaded, such as mobile phone base sites or satellite communications links. 

Radio Amateurs worldwide provide a valuable resource to Emergency Services and Aid Organisations in times of need, either by providing the extra manpower required to cope with extended operations at emergency communications centres, or by providing facilities in the field (equipment and infrastructure including amateur VHF and UHF repeater systems etc.) when all else fails. 

The range of frequencies and equipment available to licenced Radio Amateurs is vast, and Radio Amateurs have specific skills in getting things to work in the most difficult circumstances, keeping them working, and getting the message through. 

Radio Amateurs can quickly establish networks tying disparate agencies together to enhance interoperability. Annual "Field Days" are held in many countries to practice these emergency improvisational skills.


 

> Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:42:15 +0100
> From: andrew at carrierdetect.com
> To: developer at openrelief.org
> Subject: Re: [OpenRelief Developer] Amature Radio . Ham Radio operators
> 
> On 28 June 2012 10:18, al Hart <kandalgil at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Do we have any other Amature Radio operators on this list or even any that
> > are thinking of becoming one.
> 
> I passed the UK RAE ~18 years ago but never got licensed (I worked on
> microwave and PMR at the time). I keep meaning to get a licence and
> then get stuck when it comes to thinking of what callsign to ask for.
> 
> > Just thinking out aloud what we may be able to do with comms and repeaters
> > later on.
> 
> It would be great to have radio amateurs involved in this, but as I've
> said before, my guess is that any such effort might need to operate
> sort of autonomously. E.g. with licensed amateur radio operators
> providing a human bridge between OpenRelief systems and amateur band
> usage. Or else at least with a licensed operator being on the hook for
> any automatic station which gathers data from OpenRelief systems. As I
> can't see it being allowed for hams to essentially act as a wireless
> telco for ferrying third party traffic.
> 
> That said, might be an idea to look at what has occurred previously
> when hams have assisted with disaster relief efforts, as perhaps the
> rules are relaxed a little when an event is classified as a disaster.
> 
> I've added a section to the wiki:
> 
> http://www.openrelief.org/developer/index.php?title=Wireless_Communications#Amateur_radio
> 
> Shall I add you to the communications team for amateur radio related
> efforts? :o)
> 
> http://www.openrelief.org/developer/index.php?title=OpenRelief_Developer_Teams#Communications
> 
> Best,
> 
> Andrew
> 
> -- 
> Andrew Back
> http://carrierdetect.com
> 
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