[MRIC] I am done.

[brettham at aol.com]

Bill,

You raise a good point about some installations requring a radio that 
can be remotely controlled. I can think of at least one other 
jurisdiction that has the same concern. My point is that others have, 
or will have to, skin the same cat. If you use the same equipment, you 
can use the same configuration, parts list, and lessons learned to save 
a lot of time and heartache. MRIC can help in that regard by providing 
guidence material. Nothing we do is forcing any jurisdiction to do 
anything. But we can make this easy for those that are interested in 
making it easy, if we coordinate our efforts.

Brett

-----Original Message-----
From: K3UEZ at aol.com
To: BrettHam at aol.com
Cc: mric at mailman.qth.net; lwdehart at verizon.net
Sent: Thu, 1 May 2008 11:07 am
Subject: Re: [MRIC] I am done.



Brett,

 

I brought up the suggestion that we leave the actual equipment list 
open-ended, one reason being our special circumstances here in Allegany 
County.

 

Amidst the transition in location of the EOC and assigned RACES 
location, we are left with very severe antenna limitations. We have 
been advised that plans call for the erection of a tower onto which 
amateur antennas may be installed by the team of professional 
installers. However, the actual radios will be housed in a utility 
building at the base of the tower and no copper coax or control cables 
will be fed underground from the RACES operating position inside EOC to 
the transmitter utility building. All control cables will be fiber 
optic and controls of all equipment will be by PC. Unless I'm missing 
something in my understanding, this precludes the use of regular 
amateur equipment with which our volunteer RACES people are accustomed, 
and it further challenges our ability to come up with people whose 
interest rises to the level of wanting to function in this type 
tecnological environment. Moreover, almost all the newer equipment will 
have to come from funding external to the local club because we are 
essentially broke. Maybe other jurisdictions are also planning a 
similar arrangement in their EOC, I don't know. But if they are, I 
would think these factors should be considered when formulating an 
equipment list. Moreover, since the tower planned for here is in excess 
of 300 feet, rarther than the commom RG-213 coax, it would probably be 
better to think about hardline.

 

Additionally, there is at least at our jurisdiction a trend toward 
hardening of security at the EOC facilities. This has to do with 
everything frrom temporary antennas, mobile units, and just who or who 
isn't credentialled for admittance. So just because someone volunteers 
their operating skills and brings their equipment to the table doesn't 
of itself mean automatic inclusion... at least here. My point is not to 
criticize standards set by those in charge. I am only citing the 
challenges we face as volunteer communicators.

 

I am also mindful of the anecdoteal story of the fellow sitting on the 
official board of his church and it was proposed by one member, "We 
should get a new chandolier for the sanctuary." Another guy spoke up 
and said, "Well, that would probably cost us a lot of money, and then 
who would we get to play the thing?"

 

Thankfully, at least in our county we have one member of our RACES 
group who not only has acquired his own Winlink equipment at a certain 
level but is also knowledgeable in its function. Just how many others 
will be added in the future has hope attached but still remains an 
uncertainty, not because of any technological reason as much as just 
the fact we are a volunteer group and what people do is based on their 
own internal motivation and hankerings to enjoy the hobby in one or 
more ways. At this stage there are probably as many operators around 
here interested in CW as Winlink, and a lot of those who are 
disinterested in verbal modes don't come out of the woodwork for RACES. 
But I personally approach the issue of planning and deployment with two 
criteria: 1) Does it work? 2) Are people using it? I observe three 
types of people with regard to computers and related technologies. The 
one is the person who is the ham who views the hobby value in a 
computer on par with the hobby value of a dishwasher! I have several on 
my RACES registrant list of over sixty names who hold that view. They 
are good hams in their own right, handle traffic well, and can and do 
respond to events. But they are simply not interested in anything with 
a computer screen and quite likely don't carry a text message cell 
phone. The second group are computer nerds who have no interest 
whatsoever in ham radio. We couldn't get them interested in RF 
transmission even if we gave them a license! Then the third group are 
the people who meld both sets of technologies together. These are the 
pool of people from which we might derive further interest in packet, 
Winlink, Echolink, etc. Allegany County is one jurisdiction that has a 
ham specifically designated by the EC/RO as 
the ARES/RACES representative to coordinate this interest as it 
emerges.

 

As I've outlined, though, we do have our challenges. Perhaps some other 
jurisdictions are facing the same EOC strictures and issues like we are 
with the new facilities, tower, equipment, etc. I hereby request their 
advice and counsel.

 

The other issue goes to the fact that RACES is volunteer based. We 
can't force people to do what they don't volunteer to do, regardless of 
how cool the technology is, or are not themselves interested in doing, 
no matter how compelling the personality of the RO. Neither do we find 
it wise to ignore the contributions they do offer. They will either get 
their personal fun and fulfillment or they won't make it happen. That's 
true at all levels of amateur radio. So we're ready to respond to those 
who show up, open the doors, become interested, and bring the money!

 

Meanwhile we attempt to service any events that may crop up in the 
immediacy by whatever conventional means is at our disposal. We are not 
totally caught without ability to respond.

 

See you down the log!

 

Vy 73,

 

Bill Tucker K3UEZ

Allegany's EC/RO




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