[PPRAANet] Missed a chance

[ksheehansprint]

Rob,

Thank you very much for that information.  I didn't know any of what you
told me.  I do have allot of questions. And a lot to learn.  I will be ask
you and the people you recommended.  I'm trying to learn about the
activities in the area.  I would like to try and attend some of the other
meetings to help get a better understanding of the roll Ham radio plays in
the area.

The news has again done us a disservice.  I for one am happy to hear Ham
Radio played an important part.

Ken


-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Roller N7LV [mailto:n7lv at amsat.org] 
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 11:43 AM
To: ksheehansprint at earthlink.net
Subject: Re: [PPRAANet] Missed a chance

Hi, Ken,

A number of the Teller Co. SAR folks are hams (K0DRJ, N0VSX, etc), and these

guys are also members of the Mountain Amateur Radio Club.  Also, a number of

the El Paso Co. SAR are also hams, and are members of some of the local ham 
clubs.

The TCSAR in fact DID use the MARC repeaters during this search yesterday. 
I spoke last night with a ham that's involved with EPCSAR, and he told me 
that the only reliable communications the SAR folks had yesterday WAS 
amateur radio.  So aside from the news mentioning they had problems 
communicating, it apparently wasn't mentioned that they DID use amateur 
radio.

The TCSAR and the EPCSAR also work together from time to time and use 
several of the amateur radio repeaters in the area.

EPCSAR works closely with Pikes Peak ARES and El Paso Co. RACES when they 
need additional people.  A number of events in the past have been large 
enough that EPCSAR has called for PPARES support.  Specifically, PPARES will

operate the radios at the EPCSAR Base, or possibly station operators at 
trailheads.  Generally RACES/ARES members will not actually participate in 
the search because the hams don't have the same technical training 
necessary.

Skee Hipszky, N0PRY, past president of the EPCSAR, is also on the board of 
the PPFMA.  The PPFMA operates repeaters that are frequently called upon 
during some searches.

Yes, amateur radio did support yesterday's mission so really, we didn't miss

a chance.  We were there, it just wasn't obvious.  We just don't always make

the news.  Ham radio is more of a support function, and clearly doesn't need

to get mentioned that often.  The folks that know about communications in 
these organizations also know of the importance of amateur radio.  Pikes 
Peak ARES, El Paso Co. RACES, are well established in the emergency 
management offices in both the city and the county, as well as the SAR 
groups in this area.

If you have any specific questions, I can try to answer, or maybe get the 
info for you.

I'm also the chairman of the Pikes Peak FM Association, and one of our 
chartered missions is to provide repeaters that are available during 
emergencies.  Although the PPFMA repeaters weren't used yesterday (MARC 
repeaters covered the locations better than PPFMA could've) our repeaters 
also get used during searches.


73
Rob
N7LV




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ksheehansprint" <ksheehansprint at earthlink.net>
To: <ppraanet at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 11:18 AM
Subject: [PPRAANet] Missed a chance


> Good Morning all,
>
> Ham Radio missed its change over the weekend.  I saw on the news this
> morning, there was a lost hiker in the Pikes Peak area in Teller County.
> According to the news, Teller County Search and Rescue has a very 
> difficult
> time because they could not communicate.  By the looks of the radios I 
> saw,
> they looked like UHF radios.  That would explain why they had 
> communications
> problems.  I know PPRAA isn't really into Search and Rescue, I just wonder
> why Teller County Search and Rescue didn't seek help from one of the many
> groups in the area that practice emergency communications on a weekly 
> basis?
> If anyone knows why they weren't contacted, could you please tell me.  I
> thought there was a good working relationship between the groups.
>
> Had Ham Radio been involved it would have been a big boost for Ham Radio.
> According to the TV News, the hiker had a cell phone with one battery.  He
> did not have cell service until he nearly got to the top.  I'm sure he was
> in the coverage area for 147.345 repeater.
>
> One of my next projects was to try and establish closer contact between
> PPRAA and some of the other clubs in the area.  I do know a number of our
> members are members in other clubs.
>
> Ken
> KD0AGV
> V.P. PPRAA
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> PPRAANet mailing list
> PPRAANet at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ppraanet
> 





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