From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 10 / 02 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

International Amateur Radio Union President, Tim Ellam VE6SH/G4HUA told the Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunications that Amateur Radio is probably more relevant now than it was 25 years ago.  The International Telecommunications Union event GET-2016 was held in Kuwait City on January 26-28 with a slogan of ‘Saving lives’.  In an interview at the conference Tim VE6SH/G4HUA said: “We’re so dependent now on all kinds of systems of communications – everyone has a cell phone, everyone is used to using the Internet – but they’re not used to what happens when those systems go down.”

He further said: “Amateur Radio is there. It relies on somewhat old fashioned technology, but there are also advancements in technology that we rely on.”  Hams can use computer-based digital techniques to pass message traffic at very low power levels and under poor propagation conditions.  Tim VE6SH/G4HUA said: “Amateur Radio has kept pace by developing new ways to communicate.”

He highlighted IARU concerns that radio amateurs face a number of difficulties in a few countries, including delays in getting a licence, high duties on imported equipment, while some make it hard to erect antennas and support structures.  Tim VE6SH/G4HUA also spoke to sessions of GET-2016.  Radio amateurs are on the ground, often close to the site of a disaster, or might even be in it.  He told a Leaders’ Dialogue forum: “They’re there.  They’re ready to go.  For the first 24 to 48 hours you have people on the ground, ready to assist.  They own their own equipment.  They don’t rely on commercial networks.  If cellular service goes down, we can assist by using HF or VHF or UHF communications on a peer-to-peer basis.” 

The typical radio amateur, like Tim himself, are not engineers or do not work in a technical field, but know enough to get on the air using alternate power sources and a very simple wire antenna.  He told those at the Leaders’ Dialogue forum: “Don’t forget the Amateur Radio services …. they’re a great asset to you in times of crisis.”  The ITU described GET-2016 as an international platform to discuss topics related to world-wide emergency telecommunication policy and disaster risk reduction.

(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee) 

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 10 / 02 / 2016 
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The US National Guard had its Operation Seismos, an earthquake drill on February 3-6, and used radio amateurs to transmit messages as it accessed community disaster resources.  The National Guard 213th Forward Support Company at Cedar City Utah, the Sheriff’s office, City Police, Fire Department, local hospital and the Rainbow Canyon’s Amateur Radio Club were involved.  Iron County Emergency Management Coordinator John Higley, describes how the messages, to and from the Emergency Coordination Centre, included some innovative techniques.  Don Blanchard WA7GTU of the Rainbow Canyon’s Amateur Radio Club said that about 160 radio amateurs who were in contact with each other including the hospital.

He said: “Teams were deployed to various sites to do simulated damage assessments and reported in using both voice and digital communications.”  The digital communications them to provide messages directly into the required government forms (IC-213).  Don WA7GTU said the exercise was highly successful and showed the hams could interface with the National Guard and worked on how best handle traffic that they might need to send.  He said although a few snags were found, we were able to quickly work around them and felt that the exercise was highly successful.  Some of the key people that made it all successful were Brad Biedermann, WA7HHE, George Gallis, AL7BX, Linda Shokrian, KG7PBX, and Ken Richter, KR7KR.

Meantime the Iron County Emergency Preparedness EXPO for 2016 will be held in June, to be called ‘Preparedness in the Park’ and likely to feature a new communications trailer.

An earthquake measuring 6.4 has hit Taiwan, and caused buildings to collapse.

HARTS (Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society) has received a weak voice signal from the CTARL Taiwan (Chinese Taipei Amateur Radio League) that asks that the following frequencies be kept clear.

HF frequencies used in Taiwan are voice: Main is 7.060 MHz with backup 7.050 MHz and 3.560 MHz.  Short range frequencies are on VHF and UHF.

At least four buildings have collapsed in the south of the island.  Dozens of residents are reported to be trapped in the city of Tainan, those houses nearly two million people.

Tremors were felt in the capital Taipei, on the other side of the island, and aftershocks were felt.

Taiwan lies in the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’ and in 2013, four people were killed in a 6.3-magnitude quake.

Jim Linton VK3PC
IARU Chairman Disaster Communications Committee.

From ARVic, original post here.

The push for youth involvement in Amateur Radio continues, this time a new free booklet is available to help prime youngsters on what the hobby has to offer.

The aptly named 40-page publication ‘Alex Discovers Amateur Radio’ comes as a downloadable PDF, with a cartoon style story giving basic information, some history, applications and the relevance in the world today.

At the end of each section is as Multiple Choice Quiz in which the reader is invited to tick the box.  It has been peppered with the modern QR-Code which is a barcode for use on mobile devices, and URLs enabling the reader to get more information.

Although written for the British scene its language and style makes it also suitable for use elsewhere including Australia which also has a Foundation Licence.

Downloadable 8.8MB PDF is available here.

From ARVic, original post here.

The 2-metre repeater in Kathmandu Nepal serves those with hand-held transceivers has now been upgraded to become the latest IRLP node with worldwide access.

The repeater, donated through the Radio Mala group and the Bay-Net in California, was installed last year following the massive earthquake in the Himalayas.  Bay-Net volunteers helped build, test and ship the repeater system
that is at the Tribhuvan University with the callsign of 9N1SP.

George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU of Bay-Net reports that after testing, the IRLP node has worked well over the last two weeks.  The new IRLP connection in Kathmandu has been assigned the Node number 5511.