[OZAPRS] WAS Melbourne APRS Digipeater Status - PACKET and Emergency Comms

[Bob VK6KW]

Seems to me that there is a vast latent network out there with ready
instant-on public<>amateur capability in the 470mHz UHF (and even 27mHz HF?)
CBRS radios. Specific chanels are designated for emergency and calling ... I
can't see any reason why a ham (or club) couldn't set up as Net Control on
one or more ch, designate  a particular ch for say, outgoing news/warnings,
one for incoming reports of damage/hazards, and one for incoming requests
for... Etc.
Thus providing a 'node' for local area/community and using AR (including
"packet") as the backbone for liasion to regional or other services (SES)
etc. Again there is also a significant population with 4WD (etc) HF
capability which could also be interfaced in a large scale LOS of 'normal'
communications.

Some WICEN branches, and the AREC in ZL to name the two I am familiar with,
and many others no doubt, have experience in doing this - there have been
many informative reports published in AR and Break-In to get you started.
All power to the CARC in preparing for this... Use contests, field days and
JOTA as practice exercises, build on the community contacts/exposure created
during last year's WIA Centenary and National Field Day, promote and enjoy
AR.

Be Prepared,
73,
Bob Lockley VK6KW mob +61(0)407 442 650
President, West Australian VHF Group Inc.
Net Control, Australian 14.116 Traveller's Net.
WIA member 132586
NZART member 104063 Branch #99

-----Original Message-----
From: ozaprs-bounces at aprs.net.au [mailto:ozaprs-bounces at aprs.net.au] On
Behalf Of Howard Small
Sent: Friday, 25 March 2011 18:06
To: Australian APRS Users
Subject: Re: [OZAPRS] Melbourne APRS Digipeater Status

Yes.  It became obvious during Yasi that while the emergency services have
their communications systems there is nothing to support the community once
the phones and cellular systems die. We (Cairns Amateur Radio Club) are
currently looking at structuring a network to provide a facility for the
community when/if the public communications network is killed for an
extended period so they can get messages to family/friends/whatever outside
the disaster area. It would be good if that could be a two way system but
one way is the initial plan.

Our planning is based on voice systems but a packet system would have
significant advantages over voice.

howard
VK4BS

On 25/03/2011 7:59 PM, Andrew Rich wrote:
> Can u think of other uses for packet than exist at the moment ?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> Andrew Rich

_______________________________________________
OZAPRS mailing list
OZAPRS at aprs.net.au
http://lists.aprs.net.au/mailman/listinfo/ozaprs