[GVARC] Humanitarian Opportunities@N6IJ

[Pat Barthelow]

For general Distribution:

               Humanitarian Missions from N6IJ; Marina California


4/22/02
Folks:

We seem to have reached a critical mass of persons with varied needs, 
interests and skills to begin in earnest to activate the Marina Station for 
Humanitarian Support missions, utilizing both Amateur and Non Amateur Radios 
and frequencies.
Below is a short descriptor of just 2 worthy, humanitarian aid missions that 
our completely unique hardware and personnel can aid.  I am looking for 
feedback:



                         Baja Mexico, Memorial Day Weekend

1.  Rotary International project to Mexico, Memorial Day weekend.  Involves 
driving down with a team of medical professionals  to Baja Mexico, to 
Ensenada, meeting with Rotary club members there, and bringing the group 
further down to San Quintin, and a nearby village, Ejido Erendira.  We speak 
regularly with a local ham in San Quintin, nightly at 19:00pst on 7.173Mhz.  
Our radio misson is to obtain 2 VHF donated commercial radios to bring and 
set up at the Medical Clinics in San Quintin, and Erendira.  We need to find 
2 ea donated 50 watt or so, radios of multi channel capacity to cover VHF 
Simplex, and repeater (split) frequencies between 138 and 155 mHz, and that 
have PL capability.  We need to prepare these radios and antenna systems, 
etc... completely here, stateside to be ready for quick install in San 
Quintin and Erendira, over the Memorial Day Weekend.  We may be enlisted 
into other support missions to the Medical teams working there.  We will 
Leave Monterey 23 May, and return 27 May.  Lots to do...primary of which is 
to find some donor radios.  Any leads appreciated.  We have a budget to 
order and install all crystals, and PL tweaks for the radios.  Paperwork is 
also a big job to take care of, but we have help in Mexico working on it.



2.                      Afghanistan Humanitarian Aid


There is need, and may be an opportunity to provide long range comms to 
Afghanistan for managing humanitarian aid efforts there. There is a large 
Afghani population in the central coast (California) region, and a local 
business man who makes regular business trips to Afghanistan, (until 
recently) that is now attempting to do humanitarian aid missions there. If 
we were able to activate MARCS (Marina Amateur Radio Contest Station) in 
support of his efforts to Kabul, it will be very useful and appreciated.  
Our log periodic antenna and high power HF capability is just the ticket for 
reasonably reliable comms there.  American Red Cross folks may be able to 
guide us to available FEMA HF frequencies and radio equipment for use in the 
humanitarian missions.

Rotary International personnel are in Pakistan, to move into Afghanistan 
when it is safer to do so.  They are interested in our capabilities, and 
deserve our support.  I would like to implement also, I-Link, and IRLP 
Capabilities if possible to Kabul. The problem with that, is we have to 
obtain Afghani authorization for 3rd party messaging, which may be possible. 
  Once authorized, by the Afghani Government, I-link and IRLP could be a 
real boon to easy comms to Kabul.  WA6HHQ/R  on 441.925 is a local repeater 
easily accessed and is now equipped with BOTH I-link and IRLP.  Once/If 
permission can be obtained for 3rd party communications to Afghanistan, by 
the Afghani Govt, reiable comms are a snap from the Monterey Bay.


I'll take names, callsigns, and email addresses of those that can assist in 
either of these 2 missions.  I already have a local ham who will join us in 
the trip to Mexico to assist.  Email me to let me know your 
interests/capabilities.

73, DX, de Pat AA6EG/N6IJ  meamonte@hotmail.com
Local: RF or I-link to WA6HHQ, Aptos Ca
441.925 (+) PL 100
On the web: http://www.polkinghorn.org/n6ij, or   
http://communities.msn.com/n6ij
599 DX Drive Marina CA 93933


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