[Ares-races] Alert Mechanism for NVIS Emergency Network?

[Jim Stephens]

Trying to find ways to "give back" and "pay it forward" through ham radio,
I have associated with ARES Putnam County (West Virginia) which is being
re-started after a long hiatus.  Much enjoying the training, friendships,
and building go-kits.  We have been tossing around a couple of issues.  I
am sure the following wheel has already been invented if someone could just
point me in the right direction.

Most ARES units seem to rely on VHF repeaters for their emergency
networks.  Here in West Virginia with its steep hills and deep valleys, I
could see us being deployed to a location where we could not get
line-of-sight to a repeater.  In that case we might opt for something like
a 40-meter NVIS set-up.  This way we could "chip shot" the signal out of
our particular "holler".  The signal would bounce down maybe 200 miles away.

The question is that - if you did this - how do you alert others in this
"bounce-down" circle to be listening for you?  I am not sure I have come
across any notification groups that would include potential participants
outside the range of a local repeater.  It could happen that we send up RF,
but no one hears it.

(P.S.- We are also talking about mini-repeaters to be set up on a nearby
hilltop and then shoot from the hilltop to a repeater.  That's probably a
viable method, but the nearby hilltops might be difficult to reach lugging
gear.  Then there is spending nights in the woods with the bears and
coyotes!  Hi!)

I was just curious to see if other ARES units have worked on this question.
Thanks much, Happy New Year, best, and 73!

Jim


Jim Stephens, NX8Z
Hurricane, West Virginia, USA
Jim.NX8Z at gmail.com