[Elecraft] Question on K3S and Winlink Express

[Fred Jensen]

"I don't argue with the responders position, but have found that the 
participation of hams in emergency communications is not only welcomed, 
it is encouraged by groups like FEMA, Red Cross, Salvation Army and 
others on local, regional and national levels."

Well ... For about 8 years, I coordinated the amateur communications for 
the Western States Endurance Run [100 miles, Squaw Valley CA to Auburn 
CA via the historic Western States Trail] and the Tevis Cup endurance 
ride on roughly the same course.  Both events draw entrants from around 
the world. Required about 100-120 hams and maybe an equal number of 
non-licensed family/friends with FRS radios around each of the aid 
stations.  Primary mission was safety and evacuation, often coordinating 
directly with medical airlift aircraft, secondary mission was logistics.

These are large, grueling events with multiple hundreds of staff at 20+ 
aid stations.  Runners and horses will face ~18,000 ft of elevation 
gain, ~22,000 feet of descent, often run on snow and ice near the 
summit, in 110 degree heat in the lower canyons, and a 24 hour 
deadline.  Really not unlike a major disaster.

One thing we proved conclusively, without exception, is that possession 
of an amateur radio license does not automatically make one a competent 
radio operator when the mission is anything but a rag chew.  We had to 
establish training sessions on standardized phraseology, message 
handling, details of the event, procedures, how the chain of command 
worked, and the like.  Prior to the events, we coupled up trail marking 
and clearing operations into exercises.  It is way more work and there 
are way more details to being truly effective that most believed, and 
many who started the training did not finish.  We always paired a new 
"training graduate" with a seasoned operator having found that even with 
the training program, a rookie operator alone at a station sometimes was 
less effective and created more problems than no operator at all.

Amateur missions such as these are inherently local.  It is virtually 
impossible to show up somewhere with a radio and be effective unless the 
amateurs know the served agency and its mission well, are well known to 
the served agency, have a practiced plan and procedures, and are 
effective and professional communicators.  [See first sentence in 4th 
paragraph above].

If it seems I'm sort of camping with James, K8JHR, it's because, even 
though I don't own a gun right now, I am.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 8/4/2020 4:56 AM, Lyn Norstad wrote:
> I don't argue with the responders position, but have found that the
> participation of hams in emergency communications is not only welcomed, it
> is encouraged by groups like FEMA, Red Cross, Salvation Army and others on
> local, regional and national levels.  Many of us have completed the required
> FEMA training and participate in exercises regularly through our local
> organizations (ARES, etc.).
>
> The voluntary participation by Hams in the case of natural disasters, for
> example, is well documented.  Many of us have taken it seriously enough to
> actually get the required training offered to us by FEMA, ARRL, etc.  Groups
> such as SATERN and the Red Cross hold periodic Simulated Emergency Tests
> with the active participation of ham radio groups.
>
> Right now, hams in the South Carolina area are actively participating in
> emergency communications related to Hurricane Isaias.  Are they "riding high
> and saving the day" ?  Probably not, but they are contributing their skills
> and facilities in an effort to serve the public need.
>
> 73
> Lyn, W0LEN
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of JHRichards
> Sent: Monday, August 03, 2020 4:18 PM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Question on K3S and Winlink Express
>
> a nationwide group to become proficient in handling P2P message
> traffic in the case of a "grid down" emergency (no internet, no cells, no
> repeaters, no power).
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
> While that is a lovely gesture, it is neither realistic nor practicable.
> Your traffic handler and I have radios, but my in laws and relations do not.
>
> Moreover, when it gets THAT bad, I will NOT be on my radio.   Instead, I
> will grab a gun and hunker down to protect my homestead and loved ones from
> looters.   And, I expect your traffic handlers to do the same.   If they are
> situated within the disaster area, they will be busy enough looking after
> their own, and if they are located outside the area, they are not likely to
> drive hundreds of miles in to hand-deliver messages of good tidings to my
> wife's disconnected family 200 miles away.  Besides, FEMA and most other
> official agencies are not going to be embarrassed by another communications
> conundrum "when all else fails."   Even the ARRL has backed away from that
> draconian position.  At a recent Dayton Hamvention, FEMA made it abundantly
> clear the notion of ham operators riding high and saving the day are long
> gone.  It clearly indicated ops must be FEMA trained and certified, and it
> will supply the radios.   It gave an example where the only way local ham
> operators were involved in an actual emergency was to identify the highest
> hill in the area to put a temporary repeater.   Thank you, good night, we
> will take it from here.    Just MY take.   K8JHR
>
>
>
> --
> Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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