Interesting to see the news broadcast coverage of the cylcone mentioning shortwave radio frequencies, as when the storm hits it probably bring down radio/mobile towers for serveral hundred km's.. Good to remind people that there will be times like this, and shortwave makes the distance in times of emergency, and it ain't dead, specially when the info needs to get out there. Not forgetting the Amateur radio operators that will spur into action as maybe the only form of communication in and out of the affected areas(never forget them. its times like this that they shine)
2 comments:
Hi, Shane - I was Googling to see what ham radio involvement there was for Yasi recovery efforts. Not much found.
You are right on - sw still a very viable mode - especially with some of the digital comms.
Are you a ham operator?
Ron. VE6AJX
Hi Ron,
Yeah, I think hams have almost been all but forgotten when it comes to emergency communications, which is our alternate role in times of need.
On the WIA website and elsewhere it was made evident that WICEN (our amateur emergency network group) was put on watch on 40m's but I don't think was all that utilized
http://wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2011/20110202-1/index.php
I was listening to broadcast coverage of the cleanup on shortwave from the cyclone zone (on radio australia) and I heard people ran out of mobile phone coverage, saying "we are now completely without communication", not knowing that hams are still alive and well in these types of events. It worries me that things are changing so much that the general population are no longer aware of hams and their ability to help and get the message out)
While most mobile phone cell towers go out due to loosing power, ham operators are usually set up with backup power in the form of battery back up, generator, even solar power and can have an antenna up and transmitter in a very short time compared to a mobile phone network. The simplicity of the technology in that regard seems too good too lose.
Anyway I rant..
I am a ham operator VK2HAZ this way.
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