A monthly publication of the
Middle East Tennessee Emergency Radio Service, Inc.
METERS is a registered non-profit
service organization based in
Club call sign: KG4NLF Website: www.metersinc.org
Meetings are held at 7 PM, the 4th Tuesday
every month. Our February meeting will be at the
Members’ submissions are invited for this newsletter,
in .rtf, .doc, and plain text formats, subject to space available and editing.
Editor: Larry
Osterman, W8JYQ, e-mail to w8jyq (at) arrl (dot) net.
President’s Statement for
February 2006
By Alan Sims KG4MMG
Hello Group,
and
It's a great
thing METERS is doing for HAM RADIO, for EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, and for OUR
COMMUNITY: Training OPERATORS in ways to make use of their, and only their,
unique and very special SKILLS. METERS is and has been, the lead factor in getting
amateur radio STATIONS placed in HOSPITALS, at HEALTH DEPARTMENT locations, and
in COUNTY BUILDINGS. We have been asked to develop an Emergency Plan for these
AGENCY GROUPS as well.
It's a sad
thing that so few "hams" participate, when we provide so many ways to
get on the AIR and support THIS (your) community, and to make sure OUR family
and friends are safer, so that when that emergency call for OUR SKILLS is
heard, we are READY.
At one time
you ALL asked for equipment. Now that we have stations up and running that need
to be used, I ask, "Where are you operators?" WE, as emergency
operators, need to use our skill and do our best to show how PROUD we are of
our hobby. I have said this before: Folks, if you think we are safe, that
nothing can happen here, then you are not seeing past your front door, you
never watch the NEWS, and you never leave your house. WHEN bad weather hits /
shelters open / hospitals can't talk to the EOC / natural disasters and/or
terrorists STRIKE, WE will be doing what we can to HELP our FAMILIES and
COMMUNITY. Will YOU?
Get off your
soft warm chair and support YOUR local Emergency Service GROUP. We at METERS are glad to see and help train
every amateur radio operator in our community. Please TELL a friend, tell a
fellow HAM, to come and help this organization.
I'll be
listening for you on our NETS and invite you, and your friends, to join us at
our next meeting at the
See you
there. -- Alan Sims KG4MMG (Knox
Do
You Have Any Idea??
-- de Dick Wolf WI8X, under my METERS Training Officer beanie
Do you have any idea of the free training available to you? This year? Read on…
Free training! And that’s just the beginning of the fun in
store for you in METERS! You’ll also be
able to participate in communications events such as the
Q: What are the three biggies
in METERS training this year?
A: NIMS, a.k.a. FEMA IS-700
NIMS -- National Incident
Management System, a.k.a. FEMA IS-700 -
To successfully complete NIMS, you should be experienced in ICS (Incident Command System). Earn your Certificate of Completion by scoring 75% or higher on a 25-question exam. One intense four-hour session, including the test, Tuesday, April 11 at 6 PM at the Blount County EOC. Taught by Carl McDaniel, Area Coordinator for TEMA
SkyWarn – Severe weather instruction
and spotting -
Earn or renew your Skywarn severe weather
spotter-training card. Taught by Howard
Waldron, National Weather Service. One
stormy day only, Saturday Feb 25, 2006 at 10:00AM, Knox County EOC
EmComm Level II– (Requires EmComm Level I certification) -
This is the next step beyond EmComm Level I. It builds upon and enhances the skills and
knowledge gained from your experiences, including the Level I course. Test
fee: $10.00. Taught by Dick Wolf WI8X, with an assist
from Squint-O-Vision. Begins March 28 at
the METERS membership meeting
“OK,”
you say. “But why do I need the
training? And why do I need
certification? After all, I am a
licensed Amateur Radio operator.” Yes,
you are. However, you do remember 9-11,
don’t you? Since then, Homeland Security
and the ARRL want trained and certified Amateur Radio operators on location at
Served Agency incidents. Training will
qualify you in the practices wanted by Served Agencies. In fact, says pres Alan KG4MMG, you won’t be
admitted to increasing numbers of future emergencies without
certification. Since getting certified
would be up to you, now is the time to act. After all, if WI8X can get certified, anybody can!
Take
action NOW, before this
month’s meeting, by signing up with Tyra Buczkowski AI4KG (865) 966-8223, ai4kg
(at) metersinc.org, or Connie Harrison K9GWB, k9gwb (at) metersinc.org.
Treasurer Talk!
By Dave Ogle KE4YBZ
Meeting our small budget for
2006 requires a minimum of 45 paid members – folks willing to participate and
pay the nominal $10 annual dues. You are cordially invited to step forward and
join this exceptional organization of friendly public-spirited amateur radio
enthusiasts. We have things for you to do to help your family and community,
and will keep you well informed on how to be a better radio operator. Note our
meeting location and come on down. Please check our website shown above for an
application, directions and a map, if needed. See you soon.
STILL
WANTED:
Net Control
Operators and Alternate Net Control Operators -
All METERS
Members Can Qualify! Requirements:
* Amateur
Radio License: Any level.
*
Radio: Anything that can reliably
communicate through our local repeaters.
* Time
Involved: As little as 30 minutes a
month.
* Skills
Needed: Ability to follow a net script
and log check-ins
*
Benefits: Develop your skills for use
during emergencies and enjoy communicating with your fellow METERS members and
area hams.
We will
provide a net script and net logging sheet. All you need is the desire to become an NCS! We need net control stations and alternate
net control stations for the Monday evening 75 Meter Relay Net and for the
Wednesday night METERS training net. Please let me know if you are interested and we will get you
started! Thanks! Connie Harrison K9GWB, METERS Net
Manager, (k9gwb (at) metersinc (dot) org)
A Basic Tool
Kit for METERS Operators
By Alan Sims
KG4MMG
Hey Group
Here are
some ideas for a small effective tool kit, which should accompany you at home
or away.
1) Lineman
pliers
2) Wire
stripper/cutter
3) Multi-bit
screwdriver
4) Channel
lock pliers – 6-inch opening
5) Gas
soldering iron and .032 flux solder
6)
Heat-shrink tubing, several sizes
7)
Electrical PVC tape
8)
Multi-meter
9) LED light
(for power check) and Flashlight (LED or otherwise)
10)
Assortment, crimp wire terminals
11) PL-259 /
RG-8 reducer, PL-258 coupler, PL-259 to BNC adapter, and any others YOU need
12) Twin-lead
power cord, red & black, and white & black, 10-ft long each
Folks, this
should be about all we need to quickly fix, anything that will pop up, but feel
free to add whatever else you can get into your tool and repair kit. Keep it
SMALL and keep it HANDY.
(You may
also want to include: a long-nose pliers, a small fuse puller, spare fuses for
your equipment, a set of small Allan and star wrenches, a small hammer, a small
file or piece of emery cloth, and a pocket knife, if you can get them in your
kit. –Ed)
Our
Neighbor's View
From: Alan
Sims KG4MMG, EC Knox County
(Following
illustrates that we are not alone in our pursuit of performance in assisting
our local agencies. You will recognize the writer's name and call sign if you
check into our METERS training nets. –Ed.)
Sent:
Thursday, February 02, 2006 9:35 AM
Subject:
Ref: Hospital Radio
Alan -
I started working yesterday with the administrator of the hospital (RMC) and we
expect to make a nice publicity splash in
At the
EOC, in addition to getting the TS2000 (which is in addition to a dual band
VHF/UHF radio already there), we will be getting a RigBlaster Pro and a SCS PTC
II-Pro TNC so we can upgrade our capabilities to include, packet, VoIP, and
Winlink 2000. All that won't happen at once, but we'll have the technology in
place so we can grow into it. Not near all my folks are ready for those kinds
of leaps yet, but my philosophy is that while we are able to purchase things,
we will, and we'll have them when I DO get our folks ready to move upward into
this new technology. My goal is to have some NVIS antennas made, and to use the
TS2000 on emergency power during Field Day, to demonstrate some of those new
capabilities.
Also -
both TS2000 stations will be accompanied by a THD-7AG HT that will do
cross-band
repeat, etc., so one can be away from the base station, in case of a
need to
roam a bit, and still get through it.
I think
the work METERS is doing is WONDERFUL and vital - the goal of knitting EmComm
folks together to serve a greater area is really right on the mark!
73,
Bill KI4FZT (J. William Farnham, EC –
It's Just a
Matter of Time Before Terrorists
Use Weapons
of Mass Destruction
From
AG4XO, from a report by Con Coughlin, The Daily Telegraph, Jan 17, 2006.
Biological
weapons pose a far more serious long-term terrorist threat to the West than
nuclear weapons, according to
Crumpton
refuses to rule out military options to tame
"This
threat has changed the way we'll fight wars in the future," he said.
"We
are talking about micro-targets which, when combined with WMD, have a macro
impact. I rate the probability of terror groups using WMD [to attack Western
targets] as very high. It is simply a question of time. It is not just the nuclear
threat that bothers me. I think if anything, the biological threat is going to
grow.
"As
catastrophic as a nuclear attack would be, it would be localized. But if you
look at a worst-case scenario for a biological attack, it would be difficult to
determine whether or not it was a terrorist attack, and it would be far more
difficult to contain."
After
the September 11 attacks on the
"They
had hired a very experienced biologist to work on this. They were very serious
about it and there is no reason to believe they have given up on their
interest," Crumpton said.
The
fear that terrorist groups might be able to acquire WMD from rogue states, such
as
"If
we look at the threat posed by
As for
taking action to prevent
In a
distinguished career with the CIA, during which he won four of the agency's
highest awards, Mr. Crumpton was a key figure in its covert operations against
al-Qaeda even before September 11. Referred to simply as "Henry" in
the 9/11 Commission Report, Mr. Crumpton tried to persuade the CIA to do more
in Afghanistan to hunt down Osama bin Laden before the attacks, but his two key
proposals to tackle al-Qaeda were turned down.
After
the September 11 attacks, in which he lost many close friends he was initially
overwhelmed by sorrow. He said, "that sorrow was soon replaced by anger,
anger that al-Qaeda could do this to innocent people - and the anger lasted for
more than a year."
Mr.
Crumpton stresses the coalition's achievements in disrupting bin Laden's
network. In his view, al-Qaeda's infrastructure has been so badly damaged that
it is now struggling to control the groups that would like to support it.
"They
can no longer communicate with their supporters unless an occasional courier
breaks through. They can't get ready access to money or things like that. We
have made life very difficult for them."
But
despite the initial success achieved during the Afghan war in 2001, he
expressed disappointment with the support
The
regime of President Assad in
From the
ARES E-Letter
(Shortened
to fit our Newsletter. –Ed)
The ARRL
Mississippi Section held a "Katrina Lessons Learned Meeting" on
December 10, 2005, in
Conferees
felt that ARRL should coordinate needs with the section level well before the
disaster event: Inundation of the
Another
recommendation was a pre-populated database of volunteers and rapid response
teams (RRTs). "The on-line method used during Katrina resulted in
enlisting many helpful operators, but some were
ill-trained,
unprepared for stressful assignment, and had personal characteristics
incompatible with the disaster environment. The database should be actively
updated. Volunteers approved for listing in the database need to be
credentialed at the federal level."
The
conferees believe EC's should be in charge of ARES operations in their
county/jurisdiction provided they are coordinated with the county emergency
management agency (EMA) director. "The EMA Director
should be
aware of all emergency nets in operation in his jurisdiction including an ARES
net. There is no problem with separate ARES, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and
Baptist Men's Kitchen nets in operation; but they must be coordinated with the
EMA's director and Communications Officer so that communications resources are
efficiently employed."
The
conference noted that the "Red Cross has its own way of conducting
business, but it should not control ARES assets; that is the function of the
EC. ARES is, of course, more than willing to help the Red Cross, but is not
part of the Red Cross command structure. When the National Red Cross took over
local operations, outbound H/W from shelters was discontinued for privacy
considerations. Given that conventional
and cell phones were spotty, with many evacuees desperate to tell relatives
that they were safe, this action should be reviewed."
The group's
bottom line recommendation: ARRL needs to re-examine its MOU's with disaster
response agencies so that the chain of command and points of contact are
clearly understood as well as defining
those
services that radio amateurs can and cannot render.
Supporters
for NIMS/ICS Training as an ARES Priority
"It is
"If you
answer a disaster call from outside of
"A
challenge for ARES/RACES organizations is being recognized as
"professionals" by emergency services personnel. When a multi-agency
incident occurs, local authorities assign an Incident Commander (IC) to take
charge. The Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management
System (NIMS) protocol establishes an Incident Management Team (IMT).
"The
IMT has no time for unknown players. Hence, we need to integrate ARES with the
ICS/NIMS structure and training. Then, when we arrive on-scene with IMT
credentials, ICs know who we are in a way that fits into their ICS structure.
"Our
ARES/RACES group serves the
"There
is a training commitment to be sure, but the results are worth the effort. Many
of us have fought this legitimacy issue. ICS/NIMS training is one current way
to solve it." -- Roger Krautkremer, KØYY, ARES/RACES,
10-Meter
ARES Net Open for Check-Ins
A bi-monthly
10-Meter ARES net is held on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 2015
Eastern Time on 28.480 MHz USB. It is an open net with ARES operators around
the country invited to check-in
with signal
reports, traffic and comments. -- Jeff Fishman, KB3FIO, AEC,
Closing
Message from the
Now is the
time to improve the skills you used during the Hurricane Katrina disaster. We
must continually prepare, train, practice and test ourselves to be effective in
the next event. Prepare your personal
Jump kit, equipment, manuals, provisions; join and build local ARES; get
vaccinations. Train by taking ARRL, FEMA, and Red Cross courses. Build your
experience through Field Day, the Simulated Emergency Test, contests, nets, and
Public Service events. Pass traffic.
Test your equipment in different configurations. Learn to operate it fully,
efficiently and with other amateurs. Your preparation will help ARES be ready,
effective and successful when called on for the next emergency large or small.
– Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Alabama Section Manager
Definitions,
Pandemics and Plagues
By Larry
Osterman W8JYQ
Back in
2002, Sen. Bill Frist MD (R-TN) published a book titled, "When Every
Moment Counts". He advised everyone to read at least Chapter 2,
"Safe at Home". He was writing after the Anthrax scare in DC and
around the country, which followed 9/11. In 1995, James Cross Giblin wrote,
"When Plague Strikes", published by HarperCollins. Both are
useful reading, especially for those of us working on the METERS hospital
teams. More recently (week of Jan. 26, 2006), Dr. Michael Osterholm appeared on
Oprah's TV show and reviewed our clear vulnerability, particularly with respect
to the latest jitters over the (Asian) bird flu. We may not be ready with the
"right genetic antidote" he said, despite CDC's best efforts.
Should we be
frightened, concerned, or just aware? In
a recent PBS documentary "The War that Made
An Endemic
Disease is usually regional, contagious, but often controlled through our
own antibodies.
An Epidemic
Disease is one that spreads rapidly among people of a community or region,
and which may or may not have an antibody fix that works. Typhus is a case in
point with some possible fixes, but Ebola is another variety with no ready fix
in place. When there is no fix, and the spread is rapid, the disease is called
a Plague. When the spread of the disease is going beyond local
communities or regions, and may become worldwide in scope, it is called a Pandemic.
Editorial
Notes –
At our
January meeting, Dick Wolf WI8X was elected Board Member at Large, and I was
elected Secretary for METERS. Thanks for your confidence. We will both do our
best, but we also invite every member to serve on METERS committees and
hospital teams. – At the meeting, we were pleased to see a TV crew from WBIR
who later presented our story on the air: Superb PR for our group.
Our March
meeting will be at an entirely NEW location,
Our Healing
Prayers & Best Wishes to Ron AG4IW, who had a major heart operation
recently. 73..