[ScanIndiana] HAM communications question

[ronnielu]

It is true the fcc does allow communication if you are not authorized if 
immediate threat to life and no other communicatons is available. The ham 
license is now so easy since their is a no code that 2 to 4 hours of study, 
and you should be able to get you license. I would just go and get it, you 
don't know what you are missing. you won't reget it at all.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Burns W9RXR" <k4rxr_ at rlburns.net>
To: "Indiana Scanning" <scanindiana at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: [ScanIndiana] HAM communications question


> At 09:21 PM 1/4/2008, Justin Knox wrote:
>>I am with Boone County Civil Defense and I am on the skywarn or "storm 
>>response team".  Last year during some severe weather I overheard via one 
>>of my personal scanners in my vehicle a mobile HAM radio operator stating 
>>he had a visual on a funnel cloud & I did not have any communications with 
>>this person (nor did any other Civil Defense unit on duty).
>
> Justin, I agree with the other posters' opinions that such communications 
> would not be legal under FCC rules. The rules with regard to emergency 
> communications are sometimes given strained interpretations, but I think 
> the consensus is that communications without the appropriate license on a 
> radio band where a license is required is only permitted in the event of 
> immediate threat to life or property _and_ if no other means of 
> communications is possible.
>
> I am RACES Radio Officer and Skywarn Coordinator for Hendricks County. In 
> our county, RACES and Skywarn work very closely with county emergency 
> management. Our EMA Director is a strong proponent of amateur radio as a 
> back-up to the county communications system. We provide him with a pool of 
> trained volunteers skilled in both emergency communications and storm 
> spotting. I'm sure your EMA budget is as tight as ours, so without our 
> volunteers, some tasks just wouldn't get done.
>
> When severe weather threatens Hendricks County, I can count on my cell 
> phone ringing with a call from the EMA Director. He immediately looks to 
> us amateur radio operators as a source of information about the impending 
> weather. We routinely provide the EMA Director with information about 
> storm tracks in the county and damage information after the storm has 
> passed.
>
> The county has provided me with a handheld radio programmed for the 
> Project SAFE-T radio system. I occasionally use that radio to communicate 
> with the EMA Director and the Sheriff's Department. I also have a VHF 
> radio programmed for the old VHF police and fire frequencies in the 
> county. But most of my communications is via amateur radio so that I can 
> funnel information between the hams and EMA. We have ham radio equipment 
> installed at the county EMA office and we are working on plans to put ham 
> radio equipment in the county's mobile command center and the new county 
> dispatch center.
>
> I strongly urge your department to develop a relationship with the hams in 
> your county. I think you will find them to be a willing and capable 
> resource that can provide a great benefit to your county.
>
> Alternatively, you could get an amateur radio license yourself. To get the 
> entry-level license, Technician, you would need to pass a 35-question test 
> about procedures, rules, and basic radio theory. The question pool, with 
> answers, is available from many sources and there are study guides 
> available in book form or on-line.
>
> Bob Burns
> Hendricks County RACES
>
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