[Elecraft] Eclipse logistics and em-comm nets?

[Phil Kane]

On 8/18/2017 11:57 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> The local telephone services are installing many hundreds of portable
> "towers" to augment the regular cell towers. Even so, I won't be
> surprised if Wayne is correct: Amateur Radio may be the most reliable
> communications system.

Those of us who know better know that no matter how many other COWS
(Cellsites-On-Wheels) are deployed, there's a finite number of circuits
that the landline switch can handle.  I don't see them bringing in any
extra switches!

Two major VHF/UHF clubs with repeaters all up and down the state are
linking all their machines, and the various county ARES units are on
standby to relay overflow requests for 9-1-1 assistance, as will be
state and local HF ARES units.  Net control for this gigantic net will
be at Washington County Sheriff's Office -- which is NOT co-located with
the 9-1-1 Center.  My ARES deployment is supposed to be at the 9-1-1
Center (Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency) but
because of mobility limitations I will be standing by at home to do
cross-systems relays if necessary.

One activity that has not received much attention in ham-dom is that
during the eclipse the ionospheric D-layer will disappear as it does at
night, and AM Broadcast signals will propagate as DX for an hour or so.
FCC Rules prohibit AM stations with different daytime and nighttime
parameters to operate nighttime with daytime parameters but this is one
exception (another is during a mandated FCC inspection).  It's going to
be interesting.

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

Member, Washington County, OR
Emergency Communications Team
ARES/RACES AEC for Training