[MRIC] Ham Radio Comm. Check in Balto Region

[Terry Sapp]

Good morning all-
I regret I won't make the next meeting--I wanted to give you a quick update/heads up on the health dept ham project.  More health depts. have decided to purchase ham kits--all of the kits in the Balto Metro CRI Region are now wired and ready to go. (many thanks to all of you who helped with this!) Next we need to get them programmed--so don't be surprised if those of you who helped wire the kits get a call from the health dept to help with the programming.

On Monday, May 19th,we will be conducting a very simple comm. check--it's not even a drill--just a chance for each health dept. to set up their kit and see if they can hear DHMH from our command center.   

Basically, at 2pm we will have 8 counties (AA, Balt City, Balt Co, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Queen Anne's) join a conference call during which I will walk them through setting up their kit if they need help.  Then, I'll transmit a message--it may be as simple as just my call sign monitoring the frequency--and we'll see how many of them were able to hear the message.  We'll start out with the roll up J-Poles, and if it fails, we'll try out the Buddipoles.  If we have radio operators present(they don't have to be RACES--it's not a formal drill or exercise) that would be even better, but I didn't want that hurdle to stand in the way of testing the kits.

At the recommendations of some of you, I will be doing the comm. check on either 145.33 repeater (-600 kc offset, no PL), or 146.67 repeater (-600 kc offset, PL 107.2 HZ).  I'll be in Baltimore City at the DHMH Command Center; the health depts participating: Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Queen Anne's County and possibly Cecil County.

Wish us luck--I know it's "kindergarden stuff" for all of you--but this is a big deal for us! 

Also: while I still have your attention (assuming I had it in the first place!) I will be leaving DHMH after the Statewide Pandemic Influenze exercise in June, to serve the Baltimore County Dept of Health as their Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.  It cannot say thank you enough to all of you (and your memberships) who have pitched in your time and expertise to make this project happen.  

Regards & 73's all around
Terry 


Terry Sapp
State CRI Coordinator
Office of Preparedness & Response
Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
201 W. Preston Street, Suite #315
Baltimore MD 21201
Office: 410-767-4621
Cell: 443-695-8208
Fax: 410-333-5000
Email: tsapp at dhmh.state.md.us