Avagene Moore: On behalf of the EIIP Virtual Forum, welcome!  Amy Sebring, my 
partner/associate, and I are delighted to see you in our audience today.

Avagene Moore: Today's topic is "Interoperability with Amateur Radio Emergency 
Communications," a very timely topic.  I believe you will find this a most 
informative discussion.

Avagene Moore: For the benefit of any first-timers, we will begin today's 
session with a formal presentation followed by an opportunity for your 
questions.

Avagene Moore: We will provide further instructions on the protocol for asking 
questions or commenting just before we begin the Q&A section.

Avagene Moore: Our speakers are covering quite a few details about amateur radio 
and how helpful this resource can be. Therefore, it is wise to jot down your 
questions or comments as we go along.

Avagene Moore: Please do not send private messages to our speakers or the 
moderator, as we will be busy with the presentation.  If you need assistance, 
you may send a private message to Amy Sebring.

Avagene Moore: I am having momentary problems ....

Avagene Moore: The transcript of today's session will be available late this 
afternoon -- just check back on our home page.

Avagene Moore: Now, it is my pleasure to introduce our speakers for this 
session.

Bruce Powell: Nice call sign, Chris!  Are you a professional Scouter?

Amy Sebring: Ava is having trouble...

Avagene Moore: Amy will finish the introductions.

Amy Sebring: I will take over.

Amy Sebring: Lloyd Colston is the emergency manager in Mayes County Oklahoma. 
Lloyd came up from the ranks of the amateur radio community, trained as a storm 
spotter, Emergency Medical Technician, EMT instructor, emergency management 
volunteer, and EMA director.

David Moseley: Top of the day to everyone..

Amy Sebring: Lloyd knows today's subject - he is a licensed operator (KC5FM) and 
a member of a local radio club, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the 
Quarter Century Wireless Association, the Christian Amateur Radio Fellowship, 
...

Amy Sebring: a member of Navy-Marine Corp Military Affiliate Radio System where 
he serves as the South Area Public Affairs Officer, and a member of the board of 
advisors for the area Skywarn group.

Amy Sebring: Steve Ewald is the Supervisor of the ARRL Field Organization/Public 
Service Team at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. He has worked at 
the ARRL since 1982. His ham radio call sign is WV1X.

Amy Sebring: Steve helps provide administrative support and guidance to the ARRL 
Field Organization and the volunteer ARRL "Section Leaders" across the country.

Amy Sebring: He works and corresponds with participants in the ARRL-sponsored 
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the National Traffic System (NTS) and 
other radio amateurs that are involved in many facets of public service 
communications.

Amy Sebring: Welcome, Lloyd and Steve!  We appreciate you being here and look 
forward to your presentation.  Lloyd, I now turn the floor over to you, please.

Lloyd Colston: First, I d like to thank Avagene and Amy for inviting us to the 
Forum to discuss amateur radio.  As we get started, perhaps we should give some 
definitions.

Lloyd Colston: Let s define  Interoperability .

Lloyd Colston: Webster s describes  interoperable  as  ability of a system (as a 
weapons system) to use the parts or equipment of another system .  Today, we 
hope to show you how to use parts of amateur radio s system to benefit & to 
augment your own communications system(s).

Lloyd Colston: Perhaps an even better definition is from the Department of 
Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms:

Lloyd Colston:  The ability of systems, units, or forces to provide services to 
and accept services from other systems, units or forces and to use the services 
so exchanged to enable them to operate effectively together.

Lloyd Colston: Sometimes  interoperability  comes in strange ways.  For some 
folks, it means having a responder s list of cell phone and pager numbers.  The 
FBI, ATF, Departments of Commerce, Transportation, and Defense are all on this 
sheet, ...

Lloyd Colston: along with the County sheriff, County Commissioner, ambulance, 
fire, and EMA.  When you want to communicate with that resource, you look on 
your list for the resource you desire and call the number.

Lloyd Colston: Others try to accomplish interoperability by tying all the radios 
that need to talk to one another together.  If one channel is busy, imagine the 
confusion when three busy channels are tied together.

Lloyd Colston: Using amateur radio, local emergency managers can achieve 
interoperability in a number of ways.  Hams serving as  shadows  to key 
personnel is one way.  Having a ham radio in the Emergency Operations Center is 
another.  Having a storm spotter group tied to SKYWARN and then to the National 
Weather Service is yet another.

Lloyd Colston: In short, using hams for interoperable communication can result 
in a benefit to the local responder &  to operate effectively together .  The 
overhead on their normal communications channels can be reduced while getting 
the message through to the right folks.  This helps insure the safety of the 
responder while moving the mission of recovery.

Lloyd Colston: Steve, would you tell us what the American Radio Relay League is, 
please?

Steve Ewald: I'd like to, first, echo the thanks for those who have made this 
program possible.  

Steve Ewald: By 1914, there were thousands of Amateur Radio operators--hams--in 
the United States. Hiram Percy Maxim, a leading Hartford, Connecticut, inventor 
and industrialist saw the need for an organization to band together this 
fledgling group of radio experimenters. In May 1914 he founded the American 
Radio Relay League (ARRL) to meet that need.

Steve Ewald: The American Radio Relay League, the League for short, is a not-
for-profit organization that:

Steve Ewald: - promotes interest in Amateur Radio communications and 
experimentation

Steve Ewald: - represents US radio amateurs in legislative matters, and

Steve Ewald: - maintains fraternalism and a high standard of conduct among 
Amateur Radio operators.

Steve Ewald: The ham radio community and our membership come from all walks of 
life.  Some are professional businessmen, doctors, lawyers, teachers, while 
others are mechanics, construction workers, and truck drivers.

Steve Ewald: With the advent of the technology itself, hams have been involved 
in the forefront of its use and improvement.  RADAR, Single-Sideband telephony, 
Radio Teletype, moon bounce and amateur satellite communications have been 
developed or improved by amateur radio hobbyists. 

Steve Ewald: At ARRL headquarters in the Hartford suburb of Newington, a staff 
of 120 helps serve the needs of members. ARRL is also International Secretariat 
for the International Amateur Radio Union, which is made up of similar societies 
in 150 countries around the world.

Steve Ewald: ARRL publishes the monthly journal QST, as well as newsletters and 
many publications covering all aspects of Amateur Radio. Its headquarters 
station, W1AW, transmits bulletins of interest to radio amateurs and Morse code 
practice sessions.

Steve Ewald: The ARRL also coordinates an extensive field organization, which 
includes volunteers who provide technical information for radio amateurs and 
public-service activities such as we are discussing today. In addition, ARRL 
represents US amateurs with the Federal Communications Commission and other 
government agencies in the US and abroad.

Steve Ewald: The ARRL is a member of the National Volunteer Organizations 
Assisting Disasters <http://www.nvoad.org/: and an affiliate with Citizen Corps 
<http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/affiliate.shtm:.  Lloyd, could you tell 
the audience what amateur radio is?

Lloyd Colston: First, I'd like to mention that some of this information is 
replicated in the file on the EM Forum web site 
(ftp://www.emforum.org/pub/eiip/AROfinal.pdf).

Lloyd Colston: The file is a document from the MIPT web page.  I was privileged 
to be a part of the peer-review team for this document.  The document has not 
been finalized for publication, however.  We are able to use it today.

Lloyd Colston: Amateur Radio is a service licensed by the Federal Communications 
Commission.  The license is granted to candidates who successfully pass an exam 
on radio theory and, for some licensees, the International Morse Code.

Lloyd Colston: The FCC defines the Amateur Radio Service as  a voluntary 
noncommercial communication service, used by qualified persons of any age who 
are interested in radio technique with a personal aim and without pecuniary 
interest.

Lloyd Colston: This  without pecuniary interest clause  causes some 
consternation with some hams.  For example, as an emergency manager, I can not 
use amateur radio as my primary communication means because I am paid to provide 
emergency management services.  This will explain why I carry a cell phone.  
When one of the hams wants to talk EM, I have been known to call him on the 
phone.

Lloyd Colston: Some National Weather Service employees have come under scrutiny 
for using amateur radio services to talk to storm spotters.  The work-around for 
example, is to get unpaid volunteers in the EOC to do your communication for 
you, or consider using the radio resources of the Military Affiliate Radio 
System or some other means outside the amateur radio bands.

Lloyd Colston: Also, from the FCC database, as of Friday, there are 681,466 
licensed radio amateurs.  The League lists 157,000 members and 40,000 Amateur 
Radio Emergency Service members.

Lloyd Colston: Following that, there are over 6,000 members of MARS.  Then there 
is the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service and SKYWARN.  For the purpose of 
our discussion, the absence of figures is not important.

Lloyd Colston: RACES is a program that, in some jurisdictions, is not supported.  
In some places, the ARES and RACES groups are the same.  In some places, ARES is 
all there is.  A RACES member is under local control.  In other words, a RACES 
Radio Officer would be subordinate to the emergency manager and the coordinator 
of the radio program.

Lloyd Colston: SKYWARN is comprised mostly of hams.  However, each area may, 
like RACES, have an active program or not.  Where the rubber meets the road 
though, like RACES, is at the local level.

Lloyd Colston: Later in the program we will try to explain how the local 
emergency manager can support a ham radio program.  In the mean time, Steve, 
what is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, please?  How is it different from 
RACES?

Steve Ewald: The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed 
amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for 
communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed 
amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national 
organization is eligible for membership in the ARES. 

Steve Ewald: The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio 
license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only 
amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered 
equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership. 

Steve Ewald: There are four levels of ARES organization--national, section, 
district and local. National emergency coordination at ARRL Headquarters is 
under the supervision of the ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager, who is 
responsible for advising all ARES officials regarding their problems,...

Steve Ewald: maintaining contact with federal government and other national 
officials concerned with amateur emergency communications potential, and in 
general with carrying out the League's policies regarding emergency 
communications. 

Steve Ewald: At the section level, the Section Emergency Coordinator is 
appointed by the Section Manager (who is elected by the ARRL members in his or 
her section) and works under his/her supervision. In most sections, the SM 
delegates to the SEC the administration of the section emergency plan and the 
authority to appoint District and local ECs. 

Steve Ewald: Some of the ARRL sections with capable SECs are well organized. A 
few have scarcely any organization at all. It depends almost entirely on whom 
the section members have put into office as SM and whom he/she has appointed as 
SEC. 

Steve Ewald: It is at the local level where most of the real emergency 
organizing gets accomplished, because this is the level at which most 
emergencies occur and the level at which ARES leaders make direct contact with 
the ARES member-volunteers and with officials of the agencies to be served. 

Steve Ewald: The local EC is therefore the key contact in the ARES. The EC is 
appointed by the SEC, usually on the recommendation of the DEC. Depending on how 
the SEC has set up the section for administrative purposes, the EC may have 
jurisdiction over a small community or a large city, an entire county or even a 
group of counties.

Steve Ewald: Whatever jurisdiction is assigned, the EC is in charge of all ARES 
activities in his area, not just one interest group, one agency, one club or one 
band.  Please see http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/sec1-ch1.html for a more 
complete explanation of the program.

Steve Ewald: RACES and ARES often function in the same jurisdiction.  As you 
have already mentioned, RACES operates under the local control of the emergency 
management program.  ARES operates in support of EMA and other served agencies, 
through the League's partnership in the Voluntary Organizations Serving in 
Disasters.

Steve Ewald: Contrasting RACES to ARES, RACES is allowed one hour per week of 
drill time.  ARES is not restricted to time.  RACES is restricted to certain 
amateur radio frequencies within the amateur radio bands.  ARES is not 
restricted to a specific frequency.

Steve Ewald: RACES, because local governments may have their rules related to 
the use of minors, generally limit participation by those under the age of 18.  
This is also true of MARS.  ARES may allow participation by younger hams.  Those 
are the big differences. Lloyd, what is MARS and how is it different from ARES?

Lloyd Colston: MARS is the Military Affiliate Radio System.  Unlike ARES, MARS 
operates on radio frequencies located outside the ham bands.  These are 
government frequencies assigned to military support.

Lloyd Colston: http://www.asc.army.mil/mars/news/terrorists.htm tells a little 
about how MARS responded to WTC II and the Pentagon events.  The National 
Weather Service, in one area, was able to obtain a MARS station for their 
facility.  There s another example of interoperability.

Lloyd Colston: MARS members are trained in Emergency Communication.  ARES, 
though the training is available, has not achieved 100% training.  The only 
untrained members in MARS are the  new recruits .

Lloyd Colston: For the local director, one benefit of MARS is they re reporting 
to Homeland Security through the Director of Military Support in the Department 
of Defense chain of command.  FEMA has radio link to Homeland Security called 
SHARES, SHAred RESources, a HF radio network described at http://www.ncs.gov.

Lloyd Colston: Thus the emergency manager with MARS on the table has two means 
of communicating with FEMA, either directly through SHARES or indirectly through 
DOMS/DOD. What this can mean is that the local Emergency Operations Center may 
spend $7000 or more for a SHARES radio or use the $2000 or less amateur radio 
station on MARS channels.

Lloyd Colston: Thus, interoperability is obtained by the MARS station either at 
the Emergency Operations Center being able to communicate to the military units 
after they arrive and even hours before they arrive.

Lloyd Colston: Imagine being able to talk to the expert, to get valuable 
guidance about what to do to keep your local responders safe, while the resource 
is hours away.  As a caveat, radios to be used on SHARES must be NTIA-complaint.

Lloyd Colston: https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/hf_summary.cfm lists those 
that are compliant.  As you price some of them, you will see some cost several 
thousand dollars and a number are under two thousand.

Lloyd Colston: While you are at the NCS web site seeking information about 
SHARES, also look at the Government Telecommunications System and the Wireless 
Priority Service.

Lloyd Colston: Steve, can you tell about SKYWARN and how amateur radio supports 
it?

Steve Ewald: As Lloyd has mentioned before, SKYWARN is not an all-amateur radio 
program but the majority of SKYWARN members are hams.  Interoperability with 
SKYWARN is accomplished when your Federal government partner is the National 
Weather Service.

Steve Ewald: SKYWARN's web page is http://www.skywarn.org.  

Steve Ewald: Lloyd, how does ham radio play for the emergency manager?  Can it 
benefit Citizens?

Lloyd Colston: Before Y2K, emergency managers stressed to Citizens that they 
should have a personal disaster plan and a personal disaster kit.  In the plan, 
we tell them to get an out-of-state contact.

Lloyd Colston: This contact is to be called so they can convey the news of the 
loved one to the relatives and friends who care about their welfare.  We do good 
telling Citizens about this.  We forget to tell them HOW to do it when the 
phones, both cell and landline, fail to work.

Lloyd Colston: Using the National Traffic System, amateur radio operators can 
send a message from Newington, CT to Pryor, OK by relaying it from ham to ham 
until the message is delivered.  It s the RELAY in the ARRL.  Messages may be 
relayed by radio using several different modes including digital communications, 
voice, and Morse code. Hams do it every day.

Lloyd Colston: Thus Interoperability is accomplished here; not so much with the 
served agencies, but to the Citizens we are challenged to serve.

Lloyd Colston: Every day, the League receives word of hams that help a Citizen 
who had a heart attack on a busy freeway, a ship s captain who had his vessel 
attacked by pirates, or a pilot whose aircraft radio is broken but has a 
passenger who is a ham.  Most hams lack training in anything but how to work 
their radio.

Lloyd Colston: These are just a few of the Public Service Honor Roll 
announcements made over the years within the pages of QST.  There are many 
instances of interoperability both from agencies to Department but also from 
Citizen to Department.

Lloyd Colston: Another use of amateur radio operators would be in the Emergency 
Operations Center.  Remember SHARES?  Oklahoma has an HF radio system like 
SHARES.  They test it every week.  It s not on the amateur radio bands.  It 
cures the pecuniary interest problem for the director/ham but there s also a 
place for the volunteer who is willing to be trained.

Lloyd Colston: During a disaster, the ham could also serve as a call taker in a 
busy dispatch center or even as a radio operator for the fire department because 
the normal dispatcher is either incapacitated by injury or required to serve at 
the disaster because of his skills.

Lloyd Colston: Additionally, nationwide the focus from Citizen Corps has been on 
the Community Emergency Response Teams.  CERT members, most are not hams, don t 
have robust communications.  Some are relying on Family Radio System devices for 
their communications.  Hams can volunteer with CERT groups and assist them with 
communications.

Lloyd Colston: They are also valuable in helping train CERT members in how to 
use the radios they obtain.  Here in my own back yard, Pat Murphy, NJ5M, the 
Assistant Section Manager for the ARRL, has taken the CERT Train-the-Trainer 
class so he can help train both hams and non-hams in this important activity.

Lloyd Colston: Also, some jurisdictions use hams as shadows for government 
officials such as Mayors and Councilmen who don t want to sit in a musty old 
EOC.  This is interoperability.  They are used as communications to hospitals 
and between hospitals and health departments.

Lloyd Colston: Hams can serve as interoperable agents between the hospitals and 
clinics without radios.  They can even be the interoperable agents between 
medical clinics, mental health clinics, and a host of other medical facilities.

Lloyd Colston: Finally, the hams can support emergency management by 
participation in SKYWARN.  Locally, we host a NWS spotter class each year.  This 
is mandatory training for our volunteers.  The Tulsa office of NWS trains 
spotters all across the region.

Lloyd Colston: That way, if one of my spotters misses our training, he can still 
get training at a location that is more convenient to him.  Again, SKYWARN is 
your interoperable link to the National Weather Service.

Lloyd Colston: Steve, can you tell us a little about how amateur radio was used 
during the Shuttle recovery mission last year?

Steve Ewald: First in Texas and later in other states farther west, Amateur 
Radio Emergency Service volunteers were among those assisting federal, state and 
local officials in a search for shuttle debris. 

Steve Ewald: Radio amateurs provided the communication link for many responders 
from around the Nation who came to assist in the search.  During two weeks of 
searching in Nacogdoches and San Augustine Counties in Texas, nearly 350 Amateur 
Radio operators signed in. Eighty per cent of the participating amateurs were 
from outside those two counties.  

Steve Ewald: At the shuttle recovery, hams shadowing important officials 
achieved interoperability.  Hams in cars and with walkie-talkies went with 
search teams.  One was assigned to the Incident Command Post.

Steve Ewald: Lloyd, don't you have a friend who was there?

Lloyd Colston: Yes, I have a friend who served there as the Safety officer for 
the mission.  He explained to me how teams deployed with a radio operator.  He 
has frequently said the hams were valuable, especially one day in the snow and 
cold.

Lloyd Colston: The searchers were suffering from hypothermia.  My friend had his 
radio operator to call the Incident Command for the search to be called for the 
day.  He brags on ham radio a lot.  Now, if I can only get him to get his 
license.

Lloyd Colston: Tim Lewallen, KD5ING, was the local Public Information Officer 
during that event.  This was his  baptism by fire , on the job training in the 
extreme.  He reports that  volunteer amateur radio operators logged over 5,100 
man hours and 60,000 miles on their personal vehicles...

Lloyd Colston: At minimum wage, 5100 hours is $26,265 and the 60K miles equates 
to $21,600.  There s close to $50K in value at zero cost to the local, State, or 
Federal governments.  To the taxpayer, the result is tax dollar savings.

Lloyd Colston: Steve, can you tell our audiences about how APRS and PSK31 might 
benefit an emergency manager in need of  almost  secure communication?

Steve Ewald: APRS is Automatic Position Reporting System. It is a real-time 
tactical communications and display system for emergencies and public service 
applications. With APRS, radio amateurs are:

Steve Ewald: 1. able to send text messages to the mobile/handheld unit;

Steve Ewald: 2. able to track a resource as it moves around the field;

Steve Ewald: 3. able to send email to cell phones, pagers, and email addresses 
from the field using internet gateways; and

Steve Ewald: 4. able to receive NWS weather warnings and watches directly to 
monitors in the area 

Steve Ewald: Interoperability allows for APRS units to be stationed at strategic 
sites.  For example, an APRS unit might be located at the staging areas for 
fire, police, and EMS.  

Steve Ewald: As units are checked into the area, the chief of logistics logs 
them.  As they are deployed, APRS could move the information to the FINANCE 
chief so they could start tracking the cost.

Steve Ewald: If you had enough APRS units, you could track the individual unit 
around the field.  It would add a whole new level to accountability.  If the 
unit is damaged the signal goes away.

Steve Ewald: If the unit moves, you can see where it went.  You may not know why 
but you will know it moved.  In the case of having a number of the resources 
identified on the field, should you need one at Point X, you can visually see 
which one is closer.

Steve Ewald: The ability to send a text message to an APRS radio helps reduce 
your voice net overhead.  The message is received.  It displays on the screen.  
There is very little need for follow-up such as those little annoying "what did 
you say?" events that tie up the channel.

Steve Ewald: PSK31 is an acronym for "Phase Shift Keying, 31 Baud". PSK31 is a 
form of modulation (or "mode") that offers a new and higher level of performance 
in conversational communications (keyboard-to-keyboard) that we "hams" (amateur 
radio operators) can enjoy.

Steve Ewald: PSK 31 requires sophisticated decoding equipment that would allow 
for messages, that, though they can be intercepted, can be sent over a more 
secure channel than voice.

Steve Ewald: PSK31 allows for interoperability on a grander scale.  For example, 
if the phone lines are down, Internet is down, you just have nothing, PSK31 
could be used to send an MSDS … a Materials Safety Data Sheet from a site that 
has internet directly to the Incident Commander.  

Steve Ewald: He could print the sheet at the command van and have it ready for 
his team leaders.  It really is like the old radio teletype except it is faster 
and less prone to errors.

Steve Ewald: Lloyd, are there benefits for the emergency manager who chooses to 
support a radio program?

Lloyd Colston: Yes and a pretty important one at that.  Remember the shuttle 
disaster?  As it turns out, in my discussion with Steve Vaughn with the Texas 
Department of Emergency Management, the exact total of the number of hours 
donated by amateur radio operators at the recovery effort is forever lost.

Lloyd Colston: Why?  Because there appears to be no documentation of how many 
were there, for how long, etc.  As I mentioned earlier, Tim gave us some figures 
that are  guestimates  at best that came from the best available sources.

Lloyd Colston: What this means is that the important part of the Incident 
Command System & the system that divides the command into four parts, i.e. 
planning, operations, logistics, and finance	&	that important part called 
Finance never learned about some of the resources expended.  In the medical 
arena, the rule is  If it s not documented, then it did not happen.   It applies 
to EMA as well.

Lloyd Colston: As a side note, for some of our hams here, you should learn at 
least the rudimentary principles of ICS.  Communications is in the Logistics 
section.  FEMA has a free ICS school.  It s I-195 Basic Incident Command System.  
It s free and available at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp

Lloyd Colston: One of the lessons learned from this is:

Lloyd Colston: The Finance Section may need to track all volunteers, even if 
they are not  paid .  Why?

Lloyd Colston: Because grants are often tied to the recovery cost.  The higher 
the  cost  the more money to come to the local jurisdiction.

Lloyd Colston: Those grants often have a match.  Occasionally, the match may be 
 soft .  In other words, if the local jurisdiction has a RACES program 
contributing 1 hour per week for 10 members, that s 520 hours.

Lloyd Colston: If the price of a radio operator was $10 per hour, then that is 
$5,200 of soft match money.  For an 80/20 grant, that s $26,000 or over $20K 
after the match.  I can t say it will work all the time.  If it works once, 
that s more than you had.

Lloyd Colston: If you d like to see if there are any hams in your local area, 
there are two ways to do this.  Steve, would you tell us how, please?

Steve Ewald: Check with the ARRL.  Ask me at wv1x@arrl.org .  Tell me where you 
are so I can direct you to your local Emergency Coordinator or District 
Emergency Coordinator.

Steve Ewald: Another way is to do a search of the database at QRZ.  Go to 
http://www.qrz.com/i/names.html and search your local zip code(s).  This will 
give you the names and address of the local hams.  

Steve Ewald: In Mayes County Oklahoma, there are over 100 hams in the various 
zip codes.  About ten of them are involved in the local EM (as in RACES) 
program.  They are a valuable asset to EM, especially during storm season.  
Maybe you could partner with the EC to send a letter inviting them to 
participate in your new ARES/RACES program.

Lloyd Colston: By the way, Mr. Vaughn is very appreciative of the hard work that 
hams did in the Shuttle recovery.  He told me  for the first 72 hours, all the 
communicating being done was by amateur radio .  He told me that the State of 
Texas is working to revamp the RACES program.

Lloyd Colston: What does all this interoperable communication cost?  Absolutely 
nothing.  Because of the  without pecuniary interest  clause, a ham can not bill 
you for his service as long as he is using amateur radio resources.  The sign 
 will work for food  may apply though.

Lloyd Colston: Avagene, would this be a good time to take questions from the 
audience?

Amy Sebring: Thank you very much, Lloyd and Steve.  That was a lot of material 
to cover.  If it went by a little fast, remember you can read it again in the 
transcript ...

Amy Sebring: Now, our protocol for audience questions is to enter a question 
mark ? to indicate you wish to ask a question or make a comment.

Amy Sebring: Then go ahead and compose your question or comment to have it 
ready, but do NOT hit your Enter key or click on the Send button until you are 
recognized by name.  Please WAIT your turn.

ed kostiuk: ? Comment

Amy Sebring: We will take questions in the order the question marks are sent to 
the screen.  One question at at time, please.  If you have a follow up, please 
get back in line with another ? - courtesy is the order of the day.

Scott Duckworth: ?

Amy Sebring: We are ready to begin now.  Please input a question mark (?) at any 
time.  Remember to wait your turn so we can handle the Q&A in an orderly 
fashion.

Amy Sebring: Ava, back to you please.

Avagene Moore: Thanks, Amy.  Ed you are first with your comment.

Helen Norris: ?

Al FitzSimons: Steve, you mentioned RACES is limited to certain frequencies.  
Isn't this only when amateur radio use is restricted?

ed kostiuk: I want to thank Both Steve and lloyd....during STS-107 recovery we 
would have been lost had it not been for the HAMS folks.............this past 
weekend after graduating a class of SAR personnel Lloyd and I were enroute to a 
real situation and again it would have been impossible to communicate without 
his HAMS system........

Lloyd Colston: First, it's good to see my friend, Ed, here.  Thanks for 
reinforcing...

ed kostiuk: during STS-107 I asked our HAMS folks to call off the search due to 
bad weather......it was taken care of in a matter of minutes..........we owe 
them so much

Lloyd Colston: the use of amateur radio.  Ed tried using a cell phone ...

Lloyd Colston: but with no cell service, I was using my ham radio in the car as 
we...

Lloyd Colston: caravaned to the search area.

Avagene Moore: Al, for future reference, please wait your turn.  Steve go ahead 
and answer Al's question please.

DAVID PERRYMAN: ?

Avagene Moore: Steve, do you see Al's question above?

Steve Ewald: RACES frequencies are limited , but they may be used at the same 
time as ARES. 

Avagene Moore: Scott Duckworth, your turn, sir.

Scott Duckworth: How do you propose to get governments to see the need for hams? 
Many have chosen to ignore a valuable resouce.

Chris Joyal: ?

Lloyd Colston: Thanks, Scott ...

Lloyd Colston: for that question.

Donovan Hoggan: ?

Lloyd Colston: Part of the problem has been two-fold, IMO

Lloyd Colston: First, the local government has not gotten the word from the 
local ham

Lloyd Colston: ...

Lloyd Colston: what they can do.  In other words, groups of hams need to do a 
better job getting the word out ...

David Grizzle: ?

Lloyd Colston: secondly, most of the local groups I have had complain, criticize 
hams for ...

Lloyd Colston: not being able to provide what they promise...

Lloyd Colston: In other words, they over promise and underachieve.

Lloyd Colston: As ...

Lloyd Colston: a consequence, I answer that criticism ...

Lloyd Colston: with "how clearly were your expecations delivered?"...

Lloyd Colston: In many cases, the expectations were not delivered at all.  The 
mission was ...

Lloyd Colston: go talk ...

Bruce Powell: comment

Lloyd Colston: and we did.   :)

Avagene Moore: Helen, you are next, please.

Helen Norris: I am an Emergency Management Director in Ohio with a wonderful, 
active team (established as RACES).  My question is in regard to the cost of 
PSK31 and how many units do you need to make it work on a basic level?

Lloyd Colston: Helen ...

Lloyd Colston: I am revamping the EOC radio system here ...

Lloyd Colston: The radio I have chosen is the Kenwood 2000 ...

Lloyd Colston: cost is less than $2K and around $2K if you through in an 
antenna.

Avagene Moore: David Perryman, you are next.

Helen Norris: In past years we were poor and couldn't purchase much equipment to 
support our team.  Now we have a modest budget, but I am always looking to 
improve their value to our responders (and me in the EOC).

Helen Norris: Sorry.

Avagene Moore: OK, Helen.  David P, are you with us? Input your question please.

Lloyd Colston: BTW, the radios I mentioned are ...

DAVID PERRYMAN: I volunteer w/local Red Cross chapter.  The local ham community 
has donated old business band radios that they have reprogrammed for ham use to 
be used in shelters.  They have been working on this project for over a year now 
and still have not completed the project.  How can we nudge them to complete the 
projcet.  We have build a very good relationship with the Ham community over the 
last year or two locally.

Lloyd Colston: three total ... one for EOC, one for my car, and one for another 
site. ...

Lloyd Colston: Funded by grants I was able to obtain.

Helen Norris: Thank You.

Avagene Moore: Steve can you take David's question please?

Avagene Moore: Any suggestions for David?

Steve Ewald: David, are you in touch with the local EC?

DAVID PERRYMAN: Yes

DAVID PERRYMAN: He is the one that is heading up the project.

DAVID PERRYMAN: Actually, he just got promoted to the district coordinator of 
ARES Capital District.

Steve Ewald: I see.  Let me contact you after the forum.

DAVID PERRYMAN: Okay.

Avagene Moore: Chris Joyal, your turn now, please.

Steve Ewald: I am at sewald@arrl.org

Chris Joyal: How does the use of Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) affect 
direction and control for amateur radio operators? Sometimes EOC configuration 
and operations is not exactly parallel to the ICS used in the field. Does this 
affect interoperability, in your opinion?

Lloyd Colston: Good Question, Chris ...

Lloyd Colston: ESF is an important part of what we do.  As you know ...

Lloyd Colston: there are a number of them.  Communications is just one ...

Norman Dorn: ?

Lloyd Colston: Our EOC is configured such that communications gets their own 
room ...

Lloyd Colston: Not because we think it is the most important ...

Lloyd Colston: we hams tend to be noisy ...

Lloyd Colston: Therefore we sequester them aside and use another room for the 
remaining ESFs.

Avagene Moore: Donovan, please.

Donovan Hoggan: Are there any brief, easy to read outlines of the different 
capacities of Ham radio?  The biggest obstacle I'm running into to is that the 
Managers don't understand that Ham is more than just HF

Lloyd Colston: Thank you Donovan ...

Steve Ewald: Yes, there are some good resources...

Lloyd Colston: If it were me, I'd ask the local managers what they want to 
accomplish.

Lloyd Colston: There is a resource to do it.

Lloyd Colston: Steve?

Avagene Moore: Go ahead and complete your reply, Steve.

Steve Ewald: The ARRL Web site at www. arrl.org/pio/  has a good start on 
information.

Avagene Moore: David Grizzle, you are next.

Chris Joyal: ?

David Grizzle: I am the Emergency Management Coordinator for my City.  I noticed 
the comment on the grants.  I would like for it to go back up the food chain 
that many of the grants for Emergency Management do not include the authority to 
buy radios and other equipment.  They are deemed as first responder items and I 
have to compete with the Police and Fire Departments for the grant money.  I 
lose.  I would ask that more voices raise this issue.  City budget money is very 
limited and restrictive.  david.grizzl

Hans Zimmermann: ?

Lloyd Colston: David, look at Homeland Security ...

Lloyd Colston: funding for your needs.  In OK, we are able to buy interoperable 
communication equipment.

Avagene Moore: Bruce Powell, you have a comment?

Bruce Powell: Regarding how to get the local EM interested in AR.  VA RACES made 
a video tape after Hurricane Floyd.  It has testimonials from several EMs and 
law enforcement types and the director of EM for Virginia.  Contact me at 
ke4gfm@arrl.org to arrange for a copy.

David Grizzle: david.grizzle@ci.norman.ok.us. //who at DHS and what is your 
organization?

Lloyd Colston: I'd like to add ...

Daniel Sullivan: ?

Lloyd Colston: that VA RACES has a very active organization.  Their net tonight 
on 60 meters is just one example of what VA is getting done.

Avagene Moore: Thanks for the resource, Bruce.  (We need to move along swiftly, 
folks - We have a few people lined up with questions.)

Avagene Moore: Norman Dorm, please.

Norman Dorn: As a late joiner //depressed Your reference to ESFs comes from what 
context? RECP?

Lloyd Colston: Essential Support Functions.  It's defined on the FEMA web site 
... http://www.fema.gov, Norman.

David grizzle: ?

Avagene Moore: Chris Joyal, please.

Chris Joyal: Follow on: ICS and ESFs had to do more with coordination, I guess. 
For example, a previous question asked about HAM operators and Red Cross 
shelters. This is Mass Care ESF and Communications ESF as well as perhaps 
Volunteers and Donations Management. Does it present a difficulty having to move 
from ESF environment to traditional ICS environment on-scene?

Lloyd Colston: Chris ... if you will allow me, ...

Lloyd Colston: I look at ICS as what happens in the Field.

Lloyd Colston: while...

Lloyd Colston: ESF happens in the EOC ...

Lloyd Colston: and then there's the ICS/EOC interface ... and a whole course to 
deal with it.

Avagene Moore: Hans Zimmerman, please.

Avagene Moore: Hans, do you have a question?

Hans Zimmermann: overall hams are also best when it comes to solving problems in 
any networtk....

Hans Zimmermann: not only in the use of their own networks in RACES or ARES.

Avagene Moore: Lloyd, Steve, do you wish to comment on Hans statement - quickly?

Steve Ewald: I'll add..

David Moseley: ?

Steve Ewald: Indeed, Amateur Radio operators are very resourceful.  

Avagene Moore: Daniel Sullivan, please.

Daniel Sullivan: Good job in presenting the hobby as a viable communications 
tools during an emergency Steve and Lloyd. I want to toss out the other side of 
the coin if I could to build on earlier statements. Hams need to coordinate 
better with their local EMA's in order to develop the relationships needed for a 
sucessful program. Regular meetings with the EMD, coordinating planning and 
training schedules with the local EMA Training Officer, and inclusion in long 
term planning within the jurisdiction's EMA are a

Avagene Moore: Submit your question, Daniel.

Daniel Sullivan: few of the ways Hams can work to improve their status

Daniel Sullivan: I only had that comment sorry it got cut off

Lloyd Colston: I will encourage all EMs to develop an auxiilary communications 
team.  Using Hams, you can augment your communications ...

Avagene Moore: Thanks, Daniel.  Additional comment or amen from Lloyd or Steve? 
WE have 2 more questions in line.

Lloyd Colston: and locally, we have some of our hams very active in the workings 
of the EOC ...

Helen Norris: ? Comment

Lloyd Colston: plus you get the benefit of additional support when the times 
turn bad.

Avagene Moore: David Grizzle, your question, sir.

David grizzle: Sorry I got disconnected before I was able to view Lloyds 
response on the Homeland Security comment and what organization he is with.

Avagene Moore: Lloyd is EM director of Mayes County OK.

Lloyd Colston: I am the Mayes County OK EM director.

David grizzle: Thanks

Avagene Moore: David Mosely, please.

David Moseley: There is confusion on the use of Tactical call signs to insure 
brevity and accuracy of commos.  What is ARRL doing to change the FCC's and the 
average ham's idea of the paramaters of that. I'm a retired fire chief who used 
tactical call signs with great success.  It will prevent mistakes and speed 
commo.

Avagene Moore: Steve, want to take this one?

Steve Ewald: David,...

Steve Ewald: The ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Courses deal a lot 
with this topic .

Steve Ewald: The hams must follow FCC rules and at the same time adapt to the 
local emergency.  ...

David Moseley: ?

Steve Ewald: It can be confusing, but practice through training is the key.  

Avagene Moore: Helen, your comment, please. We have time for one more question 
after that.

Helen Norris: In relation to Homeland Security Grants - In Ohio we are required 
to work with a multi-discipline team, totaling 12 people, to make the decisions 
about how our funds are spent from those grants.  We have extensively funded 
Communications equipment where it interfaces with response, including at EMA.  
Ask your EMA Director to bring the request before their Terrorism Advisory Team.

Avagene Moore: Thanks, Helen. David Mosely, please.

Avagene Moore: Last question for today.

David Moseley: 9-11 has changed how we should operate. The hams who have taken 
those courses advise the advice is not clear.

David Moseley: 9-11 has changed how we should operate. The hams who have taken 
those courses advise the advice is not clear.

Avagene Moore: Do you have more to say or question, David?

Rick Hampton: ?

Avagene Moore: Steve or Lloyd, comment?

Lloyd Colston: David, I'll restate ... local hams need to be involved with the 
local EM period.

Steve Ewald: I understand, David, the topic is worthy of discussion.   

David Moseley: If the FCC is requiring outdated procedures, it would appear that 
ARRL is the vehicle to seek modernuization of that.  I am involved with the 
Local EM guys.

Avagene Moore: Rick, your question real quick.  Then the questions are over for 
today.

Rick Hampton: Another point of confusion when using Amateur Radio is employees 
who are licensed.  I can understand the need to preclude a conflict of interest,

Rick Hampton: how can we justify this confustion in cases of emergencies?

Lloyd Colston: Rick ... good question ...

Lloyd Colston: the answer lies in the definition of an emergency ...

Lloyd Colston: If I can't communicate to safe life or property on a cell ...

Lloyd Colston: then I can use amateur radio, even though I am paid for that 
service.

Lloyd Colston: I have to trie the cell first.

Amy Sebring: That's all we have time for today.  We greatly appreciate your 
efforts and time on our behalf today, Lloyd and Steve.  Good discussion! Thank 
you!

Amy Sebring: If  we did not get to your question, or you need more info, please 
follow up with our speakers later.  Please also refer to our Background Page for 
links for further info as well.

Amy Sebring: Please stand by a moment while we make some quick announcements 
....

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Amy Sebring: We are pleased to announce our newest EIIP Partner - New Jersey 
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Amy Sebring: If your organization is interested in becoming an EIIP Partner, 
please see the  Partnership link on our home page.

Amy Sebring: Again, the transcript will be posted later this afternoon and you 
will be able to access it from our home page.

Amy Sebring: Thanks to everyone for participating today.  We appreciate you, the 
audience!

Amy Sebring: Our session is adjourned but before you go, please help me show our 
appreciation to Lloyd and Steve for a fine job.

Helen Norris: Good discussion.  Thank you, and our presenters, for all you do.

Amy Sebring: The EIIP Virtual Forum is adjourned!