Public Service

Public Service

The Surftown Half Marathon and 5K Needs More Amateur Volunteers, September 10, 2023

- by Phil Temples

Surftown Half Marathon logoJim Creamer, KB1MAO, writes on the RI-ARES mailing list on September 1, 2023:

I can still use a few more hams. This is a large event and requires a substantial number of hams.  Non hams are welcome also because they are a great help to the hams providing the communications.  See the attachments for details.  If you are available please let me know.

The Hartford Marathon Foundation’s web address for the event is:  https://www.hartfordmarathon.com/surftown-half-marathon-5k/

Ham Outreach / Public Service

Volunteer at Big E – the 6th largest fair in the nation Sept 15 -Oct 1, 2023 (free admission & parking)

- by Nancy Austin

As we head deeper into hurricane season, it is as important as ever to build state and regional connections, face to face, with other radio amateurs.

The Big E, formerly known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as “New England’s Great State fair.” It is the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard and the sixth-largest fair in the nation. In 2022, the Big E had 1.6 million visitors. 

For the second year, Larry Krainson, W1AST from western MA is leading an ambitious project to have an Amateur Radio booth staffed for the Fair’s duration by all the ARRL-affiliated clubs and individuals in New England. Last year, the BIG E featured an ISS-astronaut live chat. This year, Larry is again requesting support from RI. The ask is to support this major ham outreach and awareness project by signing up to cover 1 (or more) 6-hour shifts during the 10am-10pm period the New England Amateur Radio booth must be staffed each day for the 17 days the fair is open. Volunteers will be reimbursed for admission and parking. You can sign up individually, or carpool as a group from your club. Come experience what the Big E is all about while meeting other hams from across the region.

The sign up form is here:  bit.ly/45Cv6mn

More information on the Big E is here:

https://nediv.arrl.org/project-big-e/

Emergency Communications / Public Service

Maui Disaster Ham Radio | Updates – courtesy of RI ham KC1NFM

- by Nancy Austin

More updates shared courtesy of Newport County Radio Club member BILL CASSIDY, KC1NFM who served in Hawaii for the Department of the Navy.

Maui Disaster Ham Radio | UpdatesWe continue to track the wildfire disaster in Maui, with special attention to emergency communications.

 

The following report from Hawaii ARES provides an excellent overview of what repeaters are working, as well as social media sites providing updates.

We’re unaware of any live feeds at this time.

We do have AmRRON members in Hawaii, but thus far have had no contact from them.  They’re likely focused on the local situation, as they should be.

This file: https://bit.ly/HAM-UPDATE – Send updated to [email protected]

https://bit.ly/Maui-ICS-205-HAM – Updated by KH6ML and KH6UU 

Suggest you download and print – Load into the radio. 

Radio Bulletins RE:  Maui Wildfires have affected phones, internet, and cell services across Maui.

No contact was established with Lahaina or its ham operators due to burned fiber lines and VERY limited hams in the area.

KH6COM Linked Repeater Update As of 9:15 am, operational in Kula, Maui (NH6Y & KH6UU)

Maui Winlink Status:

  • Stations are operational but some face internet disruptions.
  • Can still function as digipeaters.

HF Stations are suggested to monitor 7.088 LSB. Your participation is crucial during this time. SEE 40meter.net  Informal Nets held at 9am, Noon and 4pm.

Normal Weekly HF ARES Net on Wednesday night 18:30 on 7.088 LSB

DMR-Hawaii-  Lost Kula and West Maui repeaters.
Wailuku is still up on 444.9500 + CC3

Mauna Kea Repeater at the top of Big Island  is on the air for EMCOMM purposes, 146.720, Negative Offset, – pl100.0  FM (4:33 PM 8/9/2023

Haleakala Digipeater Protocol:

  • Should KH6COM-10 encounter connectivity problems, it will continue as a Digipeater.
  • KH6ML and digipeat via KH6COM-10 on 441.000.

Change to 441.000 KH6ML Winlink Gateway to service Maui -Station: KH6ML: 441.000 VARA FM Kaneohe, Oahu

  • Status: Operational as a Winlink Gateway with internet
  • Note: Please limit testing to affected areas.

Hawaii Allstar Repeaters on-line on Maui County:

Maui

WH6AV – Wailuku       443.025 (+) PL 103.5 Repeater

WH6CYD – Pukalani   147.000 (+) PL 88.5 Repeater

WH6YF – Lahaina        147.540 PL 100 Simplex (Offline) Fire related

WH6FQM – Lahaina   444.800 (+) PL 88.5 Repeater (Offline) Fire related

WH6FGS – Wailuku   442.525 (+) PL 100 Repeater

WH6FEO – Wailuku   446.175 PL 100 Simplex

AH6MA – Napili    147.495 PL 100 Simplex (Offline)

WH6FGX – Waiau 147.510 PL 100 Simplex (Offline)

Molokai

WH6IT – Ho’olehua 147.420 PL 100 Simplex (Offline)

WH6IT – Kaunakakai 145.370 (-) PL 88.5 Repeater

Lanai

KH6CED – Lanai City 147.435 PL 100 Simplex (Offline)

WH6DNN – Lanai City 147.510 PL 100 Simplex (Offline)

Please stay vigilant and safe. We extend our gratitude for your amateur radio service.

8/9/2023 10:00am LOCAL AND Visitors that are displaced and do not have accommodations on Oahu can go to Hawaii Convention Center.

Maui wildfires 8/9/2023 Noon 

Impacted areas are approximate and provided for informational purposes only. Check official sources for more information.

Help & information

Shelter information and family reunification hotline

American Red Cross 800-733-2767

Please text for emergencies – Maui 911 back up 2-911

Maui County Emergency Management Agency twitter.com/Maui_EMA

Traffic updates on TwitterHawaii Twitter.com/DOTHawaii

Situation updates on Twitter County of Maui twitter.com/CountyofMaui

Situation updates on FacebookCounty of Maui facebook.com/countyofmaui

 

Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

RI Ham shares updates from Hawaii ARES net

- by Nancy Austin

Newport County Radio Club member Bill Cassidy, KC1NFM served in Hawaii for the Department of the Navy, and has been sharing updates on the NCRC nets.

Here is more information to share  with the radio community.

Special Presentation: Maui Wildfire Discussion Hawaii ARES Net 10 Aug 2023

From an emergency communications perspective, the following is very interesting. This is the Hawaii ARES net discussing wildfires, power outages, sirens which didn’t sound, communications outages, refugee status, and other observations from ham operators at the scene and across the state.

Operating / Public Service / Technical

Amateur TeleVision and ARESⓇ Public Service

- by Nancy Austin

Have you ever wondered if Amateur Radio TV is really a thing? Who uses it in 2023 and why? 

Well, here is your chance to learn from experienced Boulder County ARES member Jim Andrews, KH6HTV. He has been a pioneer in Amateur TeleVision (ATV/DTV) equipment development and field deployment for decades and is a Fellow of the IEEE. 

Did you know that as far back as 2010 Amateur TeleVision (ATV) provided video coverage situational awareness for a week during the coordinated effort to contain the FourMile Canyon fire that destroyed over 7,000 acres of forest and 160 homes. The technical side of Amateur TeleVision has advanced continually since then, driven by hams with the ongoing mission to provide real-time Public Service situational awareness using video.  

RI Section radio amateurs  interested in ARESⓇ, situational awareness, or technical innovations are encouraged to attend the next NE-ECAPS Meeting this upcoming Thursday July 13th at 8:00 pm. If you haven’t already done so, join [email protected] for more information and the Zoom link for the upcoming meeting Thursday July 13, 2023 at 8:00 pm. 

This meeting will also offer RI hams a chance to consider what best practices RI might learn from the innovative ARES training programs developed in Boulder County, Colorado (BCARES). 

We are fortunate that Jack Ciaccia, WM0G, the new ARRL New England Division Assistant Director for Emergency Communication and Public Service was one of the leaders building this Boulder County ARES program. How can his experience help inform RI ARES at this time? 

Jack WM0G will be hosting Thursday’s NE-ECAP Zoom meeting. The RI Section in particular looks forward to welcoming Providence-native WM0G back to the region. 

  • What: next NE-ECAPS meeting Thursday July 13, 2023 at 8pm
  • Topic: ATV and Public Service, presentation by Jim Andrews, KH6HTV 
  • Zoom link contact: [email protected]