[Ares-races] ARL Number "Wish List"

Wed, 18 Sep 2002 18:28:56 -0400

Dave,

Good to hear from you and thanks so much for your feedback.

This is exactly why I had also originally asked the question
as to whether anyone is even using the ARL numbers.
To be honest, we haven't used them much locally here either
(except during training nets!!) and I wasn't sure whether we
were an odd duck or not.

So far on the use of ARL numbers, it's zero for and two against.

If the situation is such that nobody uses them, and furthermore
if there are strong cases against using them, I'm thinking whether
a formal proposal should be sent to the league regarding the
elimination of the Group 1 codes.  Any thoughts on this?

73,  Ken Akasofu KL7JCQ
ARRL Eastern New York
Section Emergency Coordinator

At 04:19 PM 9/18/2002, you wrote:
>Ken,
>
>Both lists are good ideas BUT, I agreee with Tom. Being in the emergency
>commuinications field as I have been for 16 years messages MUST be kept in
>simple plain language. Codes lend themselves to being misunderstood by the
>reciever. We must in ARES/RACES strive to be compatable with everyone we
>serve, ie fire, ems, police, redcross and the like. To take messages and
>change the format to our liking on a Tactical operation would not fit into
>most systems and would not be well recieved by those that we service in time
>of emergency.
>
>I use the old tried and true methood of KISS. Keep It Simple. I have found
>that the media does not monitor ham radio repeaters readily durning
>emergencies unless someone has told them that is where the action is. So if
>we keep that info quiet it seems to work well.
>
>I dont think much of the information passed during the incidents in New York
>City , Washington DC, or Pensylvania on repeaters were even thought of by
>the media.
>
>Just an idea anyways Ken,
>See you soon
>Dave N2FEP
>Saratoga County ARES E/C
>Radio Office Saratoga County RACES
>Desk Officer Saratoga County Sheriffs Dept.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ken Akasofu KL7JCQ" <[email protected]>
>To: <[email protected]>
>Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 10:21 PM
>Subject: Re: [Ares-races] ARL Number "Wish List"
>
>
> > Tom,
> >
> > Thanks for taking the time to give such an extensive reply.
> > Here are some comments:
> >
> > At 06:38 AM 9/17/2002 -0400, you wrote:
> > >Several of your suggested messages appear useful.  However I also note
>that
> > >many of them appear to be messages that would primarily be local tactical
> > >traffic.
> >
> > The first three, yes.  The rest, however, were intended for mutual aid,
> > i.e. calling for help from ARES groups which are outside the locale
> > (Here in the ENY section, we have an EC for each county, so
> > a call for help could easily reach an area a few counties away).
> >
> > >The primary point of the ARRL Numbered Radiogram list was (and is)
> > >to cut down the length of common messages used on long haul HF traffic
>nets.
> >
> > Group 2 does seem that way.  Much of the Group 1 text seemed to me
> > more immediate, short range, though
> > (i.e. ARL 20 = Temporarily Stranded Need Assistance;
> > ARL 26 = Help/Care for evacuation needed at once, etc).
> >
> > >The use of the numbered radiograms in local tactical nets is generally a
>bad
> > >idea.
> >
> > Whether or not to use formal written traffic for ARES messages has
> > has been a topic of some very lively debate, at least in this neck of
> > the woods.  The anti-formal-traffic folks take the position that during
> > an emergency there is so many messages that need to be passed that
> > the lack of accuracy is an acceptable tradeoff for the increased speed.
> > The pro-formal-traffic folks bring up the importance of accuracy,
> > particularly when a precise written log of what was passed needs to be
> > recorded in the event of some sort of legal action.  Both sides have
> > a point...
> >
> > My focus was more towards surveying the ARES groups who do use
> > formal written traffic for messages (if any) to see if they
> > use ARL numbers or not.
> >
> > >The existing ARRL Numbered Radiograms are frequently misused badly by
> > >operators who are not regular dedicated NTS traffic handlers.
> >
> > The examples of common errors you give are very good reference material
>for
> > NTS training / exercises.  If ARL numbers are misused, it's a good
>opportunity
> > to view it as a supporting case for the need to get involved in training
> > instead of not using it at all, i.e. we all get "blue sky" reports from
> > hams during Skywarn nets, but I wouldn't want to do away with Skywarn
> > just because of that, though.
> >
> > >Transmitted message:
> > >ARL    NINETY    NINE    EXTENSIVE    TORNADO
> > >DAMAGE    AND    NUMEROUS    FATALITIES    HERE
> >
> > Good point!...
> >
> > >What happens when that transmitted message is monitored by the media, by
> > >SWLs, and by hams who aren't traffic handlers?
> > >There really is a good reason why one of the basic principles of
>Emergency
> > >Communications is to always use plain text for tactical messages.
> >
> > This actually gets into another subject I have been thinking about, which
> > is to what extent is our usefulness limited by the fact that our
>communications
> > channels are not secure. I'm sure during an emergency there must be a lot
>of
> > important messages, but amateur radio can't be used to pass them.
> > Non-voice modes (CW, Packet & other digi modes, TV, etc) provide some
> > privacy, but other than that we don't have much.  I've been thinking if
> > there was some way to rectify this situation.
> >
> > 73,  Ken Akasofu KL7JCQ
> > ARRL Eastern New York
> > Section Emergency Coordinator
> >
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