Once again… after being bored and looking around Youtube I find a video which unfortunately plant the seed in my mind that despite our motto of “When all else fails… Amateur Radio”… That the technical types seem to bring out a new piece of kit to reinforce what is to start with a very, very robust communications network…
Now this is not anything “Anti Amateur” on my part. This is just me commenting on a new piece of kit designed by the people who design the networks that when deployed will fill in the gaps of a damaged network…
As with any piece of mobile technology I will guess that the disaster will not happen next to the parking lot where the unit is stored but… I am guessing that one of them (has to be more than one) can be deployed wherever they would be needed in less than 72 hours… First of all remember the first 72 hour rule… We can expect to be self sufficent for at least the first 72 hours as it could take that long for our local authorities to regroup and be able to assist. They tell us to be self sufficent for 72 hours… As you know no goverment organisation can function without its red tape and in this day and age…. the red tape has been replaced by a red network cable…
As Amateur Radio Operators we have to be prepared to step in and try to provide some sort of communications service in the first 72 hours because I get a feeling that once the network truck pulls into the area we will be not be doing much after…
How you do that depends on what your local ARES Group has trained for…
So here is the latest reason why we have to be on top of our game….
This is why we can’t talk about the good old days when…
Now its not like we are in a competition or anything… Don’t get me wrong but… Looking at how strong the systems are being built its looking like if the systems fail it will because of one heck of an incident. The same incident that knocks the systems out will be adversely effecting the Amateur Side of things as well…
We have the advantage of not only being the operator of the equipment but we also know its funcitons and limitations… ) as an example… I built the antenna to do a certain job… I know if it will work or not…
Every time technology raises the bar… we have to be “looking down” on it… and not “looking up” at it… Our systems can’t compete with their technology (and budgets) but we can give them a robust system than can step in when all else…. well you know…
But everything we do has to be ready to go quickly and in the first 72… and it has to work…
73bob
ps… Usual disclaimers… These are my opinions and may not agree with your thoughts… You are allowed your opinions and I am allowed mine… I was not saying anything nasty about yours and I expect the same courtesy… Comments are welcome but FLAMES cheerfully ignored and deleted…
Tags: amateur radio, Amateur Radio Emergency Communication, Amateur Radio Emergency Service, ARES, When "all else" fails
June 23, 2012 at 1:55 pm |
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