1. What’s your plan?

2. Comm 1 Review  Your greatest need for communications will be when public systems are in a state of failure  Amateur radio provides several options for communication even during infrastructure failure  Ham Radio has similar functionality to your smartphone

3. Comm 1 Review (con’t)  Features and Benefits of Ham Radio  Can patch into existing phone service  Voice Communications  Real-Time Instant Messaging  Email  Bulletin Board Services  Relay of messages through Ham network  Broadcast of communications over a wide area

4. Comm 1 Review (con’t)

5. Is amateur radio for me?  Understand your communication needs  How far does my network extend?  Who is committed to using amateur radio for emergency communication in my network?  Will my preparedness plan support Ham radio equipment?  Understand the investment of resources  Licensing  Preparation  Budgetary allocation

6. Is amateur radio for me?  Licensing  Technician Class- learner’s permit  Requires 4-8 weeks study  Pass 35 question exam with 70% pass rate  $10-15 exam fee  General Class- regular license  Requires 4-8 weeks study  Pass 35 question exam with 70% pass rate  $10-15 exam fee

7. Is amateur radio for me?  Preparation  Spend time participating in local nets to build radio practice skills  Study frequency characteristics  Study basic antenna theory  Study wave propagation basics  Spend time working with those in your network to develop SOP and band plan

8. Is amateur radio for me?  Budgetary allocation  Costs are loosely associated with the area your network needs to cover  < 0-100 miles = $125-$600  > 100 miles = $350-$15,000 The costs above are representative only and over- simplified- Specific equipment need will determine actual costs.

9. What do I do?

10. National Traffic System  If you decide:  Ham Radio might require more than I can do at this time  I’m ready to go but what if I need a level of emergency communication preparedness while I’m working to get fully prepared

11. What is the NTS?  The NTS is a relay messaging system developed for content accuracy  The National Traffic System consists of ARRL affiliated and independent amateur radio networks ('nets') which pass non-commercial messages on behalf of third parties as a public service.

12. The Radiogram

13. NTS Messages  What can be included in the body of the message?  Construct your own message  25 words or less if possible (punctuation counts as 1 word)  Use ARRL pre-formatted messages  69 pre-formatted messages to cover most common communications  First 26 are emergency related  Numbers 46-69 are common greetings

14. Pre-formatted ARL messages Group One --For Possible Relief Emergency Use ONEEveryone safe here. Please don't worry. TWOComing home as soon as possible. THREEAm in _______ hospital. Receiving excellent care and recovering fine. FOUROnly slight property damage here. Do not be concerned about disaster reports. FIVE Am moving to new location. Send no further mail or communication. Will inform you of new address when relocated. SIXWill contact you as soon as possible. SEVEN Please reply by Amateur Radio through the amateur delivering this message. This is a free public service EIGHTNeed additional ______ mobile or portable equipment for immediate emergency use. NINEAdditional ______ radio operators needed to assist with emergency at this location. TEN Please contact _______. Advise to standby and provide further emergency information, instructions or assistance ELEVENEstablish Amateur Radio emergency communications with ______ on _______ MHz. TWELVEAnxious to hear from you. No word in some time. Please contact me as soon as possible. THIRTEENMedical emergency situation exits here.

15. Pre-formatted ARL messages FOURTEENSituation here becoming critical. Losses and damage from _______ increasing. FIFTEENPlease advise your condition and what help is needed. SIXTEENProperty damage very severe in this area. SEVENTEEN REACT communications services also available. Establish REACT communication with _______on channel _______. EIGHTEENPlease contact me as soon as possible at _______. NINETEEN Request health and welfare report on _______. (State name, address and telephone number.) TWENTYTemporarily stranded. Will need some assistance. Please contact me at _______. TWENTY ONESearch and Rescue assistance is needed by local authorities here. Advise availability. TWENTY TWO Need accurate information on the extent and type of conditions now existing at your location. Please furnish this information and reply without delay TWENTY THREEReport at once the accessibility and best way to reach your location. TWENTY FOUREvacuation of residents from this area urgently needed. Advise plans for help. TWENTY FIVEFurnish as soon as possible the weather conditions at your location. TWENTY SIXHelp and care for evacuation of sick and injured from this location needed at once.

16. Delivering NTS messages  METHODS  NTS messages can be delivered by any means available to a Ham station utilizing VHF, UHF, HF and CW on any frequency the Ham is authorized to use  Phone  CW  Packet  Packet BBS

17. I’m ready to go!

18. Emergency Communications Plan  Elements of a Communications Plan  Define the network  Who is in your emergency network and where are they located?  Do you need a net on more than one level?  What level of licensing is required for net members?  How will it function?  What frequencies will be dedicated to net operation?  Who will control the net?  When will all members of the net meet?

19. Wave Propagation 101  VHF is line-of-sight  Obstacles reduce range  Short wavelength penetrates ionosphere  HF skips  Long wavelength is reflected off ionosphere http://www.spacenv.com/~rice/prop/Propagation.pdf

20. Wave Propagation 101 (con’t)  Sunlight ionizes (strips electrons from atoms) in upper atmosphere  Creates several regions that reflect radio waves http://www.spacenv.com/~rice/prop/Propagation.pdf

21. Wave Propagation 101 (con’t)  D & E layers disappear with the sunlight leaving only the F layer during evenings http://www.spacenv.com/~rice/prop/Propagation.pdf

22. Technician Privileges BandFrequencies (In MHz) ModeNotes 80 Meters3.525 - 3.600CW200-watt limit 40 Meters7.025 - 7.125CW200-watt limit 15 Meters21.025 - 21.200CW200-watt limit 10 Meters28.100 - 28.300CW, RTTY, Data200-watt limit 28.300 - 28.500CW, Phone, Image200-watt limit Above 50 MHzAll amateur privileges

23. General Privileges BandFrequencies (in MHz)Mode 160, 60, 30 MetersAll amateur privileges 80 Meters3.525 - 3.600CW, RTTY, Data 3.800 - 4.000CW, Phone, Image 40 Meters7.025 - 7.125CW, RTTY, Data 7.175 - 7.300CW, Phone, Image 20 Meters14.025 - 14.150CW, RTTY, Data 14.225 - 14.350CW, Phone, Image 15 Meters21.025 - 21.200CW, RTTY, Data 21.275 - 21.450CW, Phone, Image 17, 12, 10 MetersAll amateur privileges

24. License Training  Self Training  Internet Sites  QRZ.com (www.qrz.com)www.qrz.com  KB6NU’s Ham Radio Blog (www.kb6nu.com/tech- manual/)www.kb6nu.com/tech- manual/  Ham Elmer (www.hamelmer.com)www.hamelmer.com  Short Mountain Website > INFO tab>NEW HAMS (www.shortmountain.org)www.shortmountain.org  Classroom Training  Short Mountain Repeater Club (www.smrclub.com)www.smrclub.com  Local Amateur Radio Clubs in your area

25. Join the Ham Community  Amateur Radio Clubs  Elmers will help you grow in the Ham Radio craft  Field Days will help you get operational experience  Be a part of local club NETS  Serve your community