Handbook for emergency response amateur communicators

If you're new to ham radio on the internet, you may also want to check out my other Ham Radio Pages after reading this one. My pages on Hiking and Backpacking may also have some useful tidbits. The Hospital Disaster Support Communications System , a group of hams from Orange County, CA, have a great site dedicated to emergency and disaster communication for hospitals and other major medical facilities. Even if you don't take formal ARRL-sponsored classes, this should be your first stop. The Disaster Relief Communications Foundation : Described as an "NGO researching affordable telecommunications for small non-governmental organisations engaged in disaster relief and humanitarian aid during the acute phase of an emergency," this site is host to an on-line book on disaster communication aimed at British relief organizations.

Provisional Patent Applications No. The ever-present threat of regional or national terrorist or comparable emergencies creates a compelling need for a reliable way to restore sophisticated communications quickly and inexpensively. The present invention, in restoring and facilitating sophisticated communications, not only improves effective emergency communications but also creates a new paradigm for communications systems of all kinds. These same experts say that in , the average adult in The United States of America processes over 3, similar messages ever day, from sources including but not limited to cellular telephone calls, traditional telephone calls, PDA transmissions, pages, e-mail messages, podcasts, Internet instant messages, audio CDs, letters, facsimile letters, newspapers, books, magazines, television stories, videos, conversations including conference calls and video conferences, and electronic signs on sidewalks and roads.

Using modes from Morse code and voice to television and most advanced data modes, communicating in allocated frequency bands ranging from kHz long wave throughout the HF short wave , VHF and UHF all the way into the GHz range, Amateur Radio was throughout its history and still is today at the forefront of technology. Amateur Radio operators can form a global long range network, but they are equally at home when it comes to local short range or even satellite communications. Most of all, however, they acquire their skills because of their personal interest and hands-on learning experiences in the subject of radio communications, and they are the experts in achieving extraordinary results with whatever limited resources are available.

Homeland Security Ham radio is essential to homeland security in the United States. Our service is a dispersed and decentralized communications system that can't be shut down by terrorist attck. While public safety agencies rely on central dispatch stations, amateur radio operators can go on the air just about anywhere anytime. Hams are trained communicators with technical knowledge that prepares them to put their stations on the air at remote sites quickly, creating makeshift facilities when needed.