Amateur Radio…

REV 1.13.12 Jack Tiley AD7FO & Robert Wiese W7UWC

Amateur Radio…Amateur Radio…

Amateur RadioAmateur Radio• Often is called “ham radio”Often is called “ham radio”• Has consistently been a dependable and reliable Has consistently been a dependable and reliable

means of Communication in emergencies means of Communication in emergencies

Simply Put – Ham Radio Works!Simply Put – Ham Radio Works!

• Most of the time communication systems work fine in spite their complexity

• When they become overloaded or fail Ham radio operators Hams are frequently called to provide communication where it really matters

Conventional Conventional CommunicationsCommunications

Systems May Fail Systems May Fail • Telephones, cell phones, Internet, trunk lines, and Telephones, cell phones, Internet, trunk lines, and

satellite phones all go through many vulnerable choke satellite phones all go through many vulnerable choke points.points.

• In an emergency they become overloaded In an emergency they become overloaded with non-Emergency traffic and they lack the with non-Emergency traffic and they lack the ability to prioritize messages ability to prioritize messages

• Power failure can also cause telephone systemPower failure can also cause telephone systemfailure at the cell site,failure at the cell site,switching center or at switching center or at the user end.the user end.

Wireless Communications Systems May be Unavailable

• With extreme traffic volumes on normal 2-way radio systems they may be completely overloaded.

• Most agency radio systems have limited resources (number of radio frequencies available for communication).

Ham Radio is DifferentHam Radio is Different

• Hams have a practically unlimited number of Hams have a practically unlimited number of communication channels available. communication channels available.

• We have modes that can provide wireless radio to internet We have modes that can provide wireless radio to internet access. access.

• We have low and medium power portable radios for local We have low and medium power portable radios for local communication. communication.

• We have deployable HF (High Frequency) radios with 100 We have deployable HF (High Frequency) radios with 100 or more watts of output power. or more watts of output power.

Ham Radio is different Ham Radio is different (continued)(continued)

• We can relay information through other hams in their We can relay information through other hams in their homes where they may have high gain directional homes where they may have high gain directional antennas and up to 1,500 watts of transmit power, many antennas and up to 1,500 watts of transmit power, many with their own emergency power capability.with their own emergency power capability.

• We can also use our own VHF/UHF repeaters to extend We can also use our own VHF/UHF repeaters to extend our range just as the county and police do with their own our range just as the county and police do with their own repeaters on ridges and mountain tops. repeaters on ridges and mountain tops.

By Selecting the Right FrequenciesBy Selecting the Right Frequencies

We can communicate across town, across the state We can communicate across town, across the state or around the worldor around the world

What kind of radios do we use?What kind of radios do we use?

What Kind of Radios do We Use? What Kind of Radios do We Use? (continued) (continued)

• HF Radios (SSB Voice)HF Radios (SSB Voice)– Operating in the 1.8 to 30 MHz bandsOperating in the 1.8 to 30 MHz bands– Up to 100 or more watts of RF outputUp to 100 or more watts of RF output– Work well for long distance communicationWork well for long distance communication– Require larger antennasRequire larger antennas

What Kind of Radios do We Use? What Kind of Radios do We Use? ((continued)continued)

• Hand held FM radios for mobilityHand held FM radios for mobility– Operating in the VHF or UHF bandsOperating in the VHF or UHF bands– 1 to 5 watts of RF output1 to 5 watts of RF output– Work well in in line of site of the other stations Work well in in line of site of the other stations

or a repeater. or a repeater.

• Mobile FM radios (in vehicle or set up on a table)Mobile FM radios (in vehicle or set up on a table)– Operating in the VHF or UHF bandsOperating in the VHF or UHF bands– We can communicate 10-25 miles line of site We can communicate 10-25 miles line of site

with no infrastructure, and up to 50+ miles with no infrastructure, and up to 50+ miles through a repeater, even further with linked through a repeater, even further with linked repeaters.repeaters.

What Kind of Radios do We Use? What Kind of Radios do We Use? (continued)(continued)

Spokane Ham Radio ResourcesSpokane Ham Radio Resources

• VHF and UHF radios installed in Spokane area VHF and UHF radios installed in Spokane area Hospitals – Deaconess, Sacred Heart, Valley Hospitals – Deaconess, Sacred Heart, Valley General, Holy Family, VA Hospital and St General, Holy Family, VA Hospital and St Luke's – Operated by ARES/RACESLuke's – Operated by ARES/RACES

Contact – Bob Wiese [email protected]


Red Cross Chapter in Spokane Red Cross Chapter in Spokane • Radio room at the chapter with HF, VHF and UHF Radio room at the chapter with HF, VHF and UHF transceivers and installed antennas. transceivers and installed antennas.

The American Red Cross ECRV The American Red Cross ECRV (Emergency Communications Response Vehicle)(Emergency Communications Response Vehicle)

• The Red Cross ECRV located In Spokane is one The Red Cross ECRV located In Spokane is one of 12 located around the countryof 12 located around the country

• The ECRV is a deployable communications The ECRV is a deployable communications centercenter

Inside the American Red Cross Inside the American Red Cross ECRVECRV

Contact –Sharon Andrews [email protected]

National Weather Service officeNational Weather Service office•Permanently installed Antennas for VHF and HF Permanently installed Antennas for VHF and HF communicationscommunications•Have a YEASU FT 897 HF/VHF/UHF radio.Have a YEASU FT 897 HF/VHF/UHF radio.•Conference room has two 4” ports for temporary Conference room has two 4” ports for temporary antenna accessantenna access

Contact - Anthony Cavallucci Contact - Anthony Cavallucci KF7TNC

[email protected] [email protected]


Spokane County Combined Spokane County Combined Communications Building Communications Building •VHF/UHF Radio for voice (Kenwood D700)VHF/UHF Radio for voice (Kenwood D700)•Second VHF/UHF radio for winlink digital Second VHF/UHF radio for winlink digital messaging (Kenwood D700)messaging (Kenwood D700)

contact person - Robert Wiese W7UWCcontact person - Robert Wiese W7UWC [email protected] [email protected]


Salvation Army•Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) •National network that Handles Health and Welfare Information & Salvation Army Disaster Response Bulletins•Local HF nets on 3977.7 kHz SSB Sunday 0400 Zulu (8 pm Local) •No Radio installation in Spokene, just volunteers with their own equipment


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Emergency Response Communications (ERC) Emergency Response Communications (ERC) •Has about 400 licensed amateurs operators in Has about 400 licensed amateurs operators in northeast Washington and the Idaho panhandle northeast Washington and the Idaho panhandle •Conduct weekly VHF practice nets Conduct weekly VHF practice nets


• ““LDS Church leaders understand that civil LDS Church leaders understand that civil authorities have priority in directing efforts to authorities have priority in directing efforts to respond to emergencies. “respond to emergencies. “

• ““When civil authorities assign public agencies When civil authorities assign public agencies to respond to emergencies, LDS Church to respond to emergencies, LDS Church members should act under the direction of members should act under the direction of such agencies.” such agencies.”

LDS ERC Contact is Scott Grimmett LDS ERC Contact is Scott Grimmett [email protected]


Spokane international Airport•A few TSA employees attended one of my license classes•They plan to have the capability to set up an emergency station if needed •The station will operate on MARS (Military Affiliate Amateur Radio Station) frequencies in the HF Bands


Spokane Community College •Ham Radio Club on Campus•HF Station on campus with permanent antenna installation.

•Contact person is John Barnett (electronics Instructor) Office Phone -509-533-7141 Cell Phone -509-939-5648


How we use our radios How we use our radios

• For personal enjoymentFor personal enjoyment• For keeping in touch with friends and familyFor keeping in touch with friends and family• For public service events For public service events

– RacesRaces– ParadesParades– Public eventsPublic events

• For experimenting For experimenting with technologywith technology• Competing in contestsCompeting in contests

What Can Amateur Radio What Can Amateur Radio Provide? Provide?

• Local and long distance Voice message Local and long distance Voice message handling . handling .

• Communication between locations that Communication between locations that have overloaded or failed communicarion have overloaded or failed communicarion links. links.

• Communication in areas not covered by Communication in areas not covered by conventional wireless. conventional wireless.

Hams Stay PreparedHams Stay Prepared• When there isn’t an emergency, hams When there isn’t an emergency, hams

use all sorts of radios and antennas on use all sorts of radios and antennas on many different frequencies to many different frequencies to communicate with other hamscommunicate with other hams– Across townAcross town– Around the stateAround the state– Around the countryAround the country– Around the worldAround the world– Even outer space!Even outer space!

Local Amateur Radio ClubsLocal Amateur Radio Clubs

• Spokane County ARES/RACES has Approx. 40 Spokane County ARES/RACES has Approx. 40 active members active members

• Have our own wide coverage repeater Have our own wide coverage repeater (147.300 MHz) supplied and maintained by (147.300 MHz) supplied and maintained by the county. the county.

• Provide communication for community events Provide communication for community events as well as emergency communicationas well as emergency communication

Eastern Washington ARES/RACES Eastern Washington ARES/RACES consists of regions 7,8, and 9 consists of regions 7,8, and 9

Eastern WA ARES/Races Organization Eastern WA ARES/Races Organization KB7HDXMark Tharp

WA7LNCGordon Grove

WA7RFRob FIsher

From Surrounding

Counties

W7UWC Robert Wiese

Spokane County

From Surrounding

Counties

KG8ZKCharles Greeson

WB6JFHDavid Harper

KE7PIJoe Qualtieri

DEC

EC

SEC

DEC

EC

SM

AEC

AEC

AEC

AD7FO Jack Tiley

TC

SM - Section Manager SEC -Section Emergency CoordinatorDEC -District Emergency CoordinatorEC - Emergency Coordinator AEC -Assistant Emergency CoordinatorTC - Technical Coordinator

AD7FO Jack Tiley

Training


• Approx. 100 members Approx. 100 members • Maintain Repeaters and a repeater network Maintain Repeaters and a repeater network

for digital communications for digital communications • Club repeaters are available as ARES/RACES Club repeaters are available as ARES/RACES

back up back up

Contact – Mike Carey or Jack TileyContact – Mike Carey or Jack Tiley [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

• Operates nine repeaters covering North Operates nine repeaters covering North Western Oregon to Western Montana Western Oregon to Western Montana

• The KBARA repeaters provide a means for emergency communications within the Pacific Northwest

• The KBARA system covers an area from southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Oregon, and from western Montana to central Washington.


• The KBARA system can also be connected to the Evergreen Intertie, an interconnected group of repeaters located in the northwestern United States and western Canada.

• Contact – Duff Johnson WA7BFN - PresidentContact – Duff Johnson WA7BFN - President

[email protected] [email protected]


• Dedicated to HF communication over long Dedicated to HF communication over long distancesdistances

• Many members have permanent antenna Many members have permanent antenna instillations and high power stationsinstillations and high power stations

• Some have emergency power capability. Some have emergency power capability. • Many are available during an emergency for Many are available during an emergency for

relaying messages .relaying messages . http://www.sdxa.org/ http://www.sdxa.org/


• Formerly the HP/Agilent Amateur Radio ClubFormerly the HP/Agilent Amateur Radio Club• They operate two Spokane Area Repeaters They operate two Spokane Area Repeaters

• 2 Meter Repeater on 145.21 MHz 2 Meter Repeater on 145.21 MHz • 70 cm repeater on 443.475 MHz 70 cm repeater on 443.475 MHz • Contact: Jack Tiley [email protected] Contact: Jack Tiley [email protected]

Local Amateur Radio ClubsLocal Amateur Radio ClubsSpokane Amateur Radio Club

• Voice Voice • Morse Code Morse Code • Digital Communication with Digital Communication with

computers connected to radioscomputers connected to radios• TV- Slow and Fast Scan TV- Slow and Fast Scan

How we communicate How we communicate

Using the Amateur Radio Using the Amateur Radio FrequenciesFrequencies

• The FCC regulates Amateur ServiceThe FCC regulates Amateur Service• A license is necessaryA license is necessary• Morse code testing no longer requiredMorse code testing no longer required• There are three license levelsThere are three license levels

– Technician - Technician - entry level - all VHF UHF entry level - all VHF UHF privileges, Limited HF privileges privileges, Limited HF privileges

– General - General - privileges on all amateur bandsprivileges on all amateur bands– Extra - Extra - Additional operating privileges on HF Additional operating privileges on HF

bands bands

Simply Stated…Simply Stated…Ham radio provides the Ham radio provides the broadestbroadest and and most powerful most powerful wireless wireless communications capability communications capability available to any private citizen available to any private citizen anywhere in the worldanywhere in the world

Need More Information?

• ARRL Emergency Radio ResourceARRL Emergency Radio Resource www.arrl.org/emergency-radio-org www.arrl.org/emergency-radio-org

• information on local clubs at information on local clubs at www.arrl.org/findaclubwww.arrl.org/findaclub

• Information on Spokane ARES/RACESInformation on Spokane ARES/RACEShttp://www.spokares.org http://www.spokares.org

• Bob Wiese (W7UWC) Spokane County EC Bob Wiese (W7UWC) Spokane County EC [email protected] [email protected]

• Jack Tiley (AD7F0) Technical coordinator Jack Tiley (AD7F0) Technical coordinator [email protected] [email protected]

REMEMBERREMEMBER

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Amateur Radio…

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