[KYHAM] KEN Training for August 2004: KY Frequencies in Emergency Situations: AN UPDATE

[Ron Dodson]

Quite sometime back I had written a training module on Ky Emergency 
Frequencies which since the KEN’s change in frequencies back in March 
has become seriously outdated. What with the current world situation and 
upcoming events that carry high risks for unwelcome activity 
nation-wide, I felt it best that we revisit and update this for 
everyone's benefit. At this time, it is too soon to know how much 
WINLINK 2000 operations in the future will impact this material further. 
For the time being, this is the main meat and potatoes of large scale 
op’s in the state.

As a general rule most communications performed by ARES or RACES 
operators will be on a local basis and are of short duration. However, 
should the situation escalate beyond the local level and require 
participation from adjacent areas, or, statewide activation occurs; the 
following frequencies may be used. Use of these frequencies will be at 
the discretion of the Section Manager, Section Emergency Coordinator or 
their designee or the Resource Net Control Operator.

Net Controls; Should an HF frequency be in use, do not ask for the 
frequency. Simply move either plus or minus 3 kHz or so. Stations 
looking for emergency nets on HF, ALWAYS look within a few kHz of any 
frequency before deciding that there is no net taking place. The net can 
shift to its normal frequency as soon as it clears.

All local communities should have local plans for their regular 
emergency operations and frequencies, which they plan to use regardless 
of the type response being undertaken.. In all cases, we SHARE our 
frequencies with all other amateurs and the fact that we are performing 
emergency communications on amateur radio does not, BY LAW, give us the 
frequency we want. Good amateur practice says that the non-emergency 
stations SHOULD allow the emergency use of a frequency. It does not 
guarantee it! As has been seen many times this year, some hams 
unfortunately just don't care what your emergency is. As long as they 
are not affected by it, they may selfishly want to use a frequency for 
their own purposes. In most cases, there is little one can do but work 
around someone of such inclinations.
Kentucky Operational Frequencies and some designated auxiliaries for 
standardized use.

75 Meters:
· 3.960 SSB State-Wide Health & Welfare Traffic (Ky Traffic Net)
· 3.993.5 SSB State-Wide Tactical Net (Ky Emergency Net) from 2100Z to 
1400Z
· CW Nets: KYN - The Kentucky CW Net meets at 8 PM ET, daily, on 3599 
Khz and KSN - The Kentucky Slow Net meets at 10 PM ET, daily, on 3721 
Khz may also be deployed.

40 Meters:
· 7.228 SSB State-Wide Tactical (KEN) from 1400Z to 2100Z
· 7.198 SSB State-Wide backup from 1400Z to 2100Z

10 Meters:
· 28.400 SSB State-Wide Tactical (no established regular nets)

6 Meters:
· 50.150 SSB State-Wide Tactical (no established regular nets)
· 52.490 FM State-Wide Tactical (no established regular nets)

2 Meter Phone:
146.550 State-Wide Simplex 0000Z to 2359Z (no established regular nets) 
144.225 SSB may be used where available from 0000Z to 2359Z

2 Meter APRS 144.390 MHz.


As you can see, many of these may never be used at any one particular 
time. They serve to provide a standard for setting up 
regional/state-wide net operations and reflect any mode that might be 
called into regular service for tactical or H&W traffic needs. Use of 
these in future multi jurisdictional DRILLS is encouraged but not 
mandatory.

*HF Phone Net Operation

Tactical Traffic and Health and Welfare (H&W) inquiry traffic by their 
natures do not work well together on the same frequency. Therefore we 
have two established nets that will be used for their individual duties. 
Liaisons from each to the other can and should be designated in 
emergency operations.

3993.5 kHz / 7228 kHz Tactical/Command Net. Stations reporting for 
emergency communications duty will check in to the Kentucky Emergency 
Net by callsign, name, and county. Once the station as been checked in 
to the net, they will stand by on frequency for additional information. 
This net acts as a holding and general information net and directs it's 
participants to other nets as needed. Key functions of this net are 
situation reports and personnel resources. Times for use will depend 
greatly on band conditions and may increase or decrease with the time of 
year. (Verbal messaging between County level governments, Volunteer 
Agencies such as Am. Red Cross, Baptist Brotherhood etc., Area EM 
Offices and Boone Center, the State EOC will be found here. Some written 
traffic will possibly occur, but will on most occasions be minimal 
compared to the KTN on 3.960 MHz.)

The Kentucky Traffic Net will, if needed, operate on 3960 kHz during 
emergencies for the purpose of handling traffic and Section-wide 
updates. This may be where the bulk of the activity will take place and 
will most likely be the first frequency to be activated on a wide area 
basis. Health and Welfare and the bulk of written RADIOGRAM style 
traffic will be sent here for transmission. This allows more control in 
handling both types of messaging.

An example of how this will all work is say that following a series of 
killer storms, the state HQ for the American Red Cross in Louisville 
needs to tell Boone Center (the state EOC) that 3 ERV's are enroute to a 
location as they had requested. They would call into KEN on 3.993.5 MHz 
and advise Boone Center of this.

Likewise if a radiogram were sent from a party in Georgia requesting H&W 
info on their relatives in a disaster area. This would go through KTN on 
3.960 MHz. to the shelter or an amateur in proximity to the area 
involved to attempt to check up on the family involved. Any reply would 
likely exit back to Georgia through KTN as well.

If Boone EOC has operators to handle both of their HF amateur radio 
stations at the same time, one may at their discretion be placed on 
3.960 to monitor there but REMEMBER, When operating both H&W and 
Tactical nets, the State EOC will always be on the Tactical net (KEN) 
frequency on either 3.993.5 MHz. in evenings or 7.228 during daylight 
hours if amateur radio operators are on duty there in Boone Center. BTW, 
State EOC's callsign is KY4EOC for anyone who might have missed this in 
the past. This should be real easy to remember.

One more note on callsign's:The station at the Louisville National 
Weather Service has changed from KF4EKR to WX4NWS.
If your local EOC or served agency has a specific call or it changes, 
please advise me of this so that we can make everyone aware. This can 
save a lot of confusion in a crisis.