WeComm, Ltd. and WI
ARES/RACES
Communications Update
January 25, 2011
One Thing To Remember
 We communicate when no one
else can.
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Who Are These People?
 HAM Radio operators (volunteers)
 ARES
 Amateur Radio Emergency Service®
 Sponsored by the American Radio Relay League
 Nonprofit
 Private
 Can self-activate
 Around since 1935
 NIMS compliant
 RACES
 Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
 Government sponsored
 Directed by Emergency Management
 Can only be activated in a declared emergency by EM, FEMA, the
President
 Organized in 1952 – Cold War period for civil defense
 Dual membership in Wisconsin for continuity and resiliency
 1400 members
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What is WeComm?
 All volunteer nonprofit, tax exempt organization
 Financial organization with the following purposes
 To support and facilitate emergency, disaster, and public service
related communication systems and services provided to
government agencies, the general public and private disaster
relief organizations by Amateur Radio Operators through the
Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service. The primary purpose shall be the
construction and maintenance of a statewide voice and digital
wireless two-way communication network.
 Such other activities as the directors may determine are
necessary or desirable in furtherance of the forgoing paragraph.
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What’s New in Ham Radio
 Federal Communications Commission has eased Part 97
regarding ham radio operators who are employees
 Can now participate in exercises
 Can use ham radio as long as there is no direct pecuniary
interest
 Emergency Communications Advisory Committee to the
ARRL Board of Directors
 Number of new hams has skyrocketed over the past two
years
 2010 – 8.5 percent increase (18,270 as of June 30)
 2009 – 7.5 percent increase (30,144)
 New and innovative ideas
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WI ARES/RACES Focus
 Professionalism
 Consistent, standardized training (NIMS)
 Department of Health Services partnership
 E-sponder participant
 Strengthening communications infrastructure
 Linked statewide voice system (WeComm, Ltd.)
 WinLink (email off the internet grid)
 Position reporting system (APRS)
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Current
WeComm
Repeater
Coverage
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Seeley (Sawyer County)
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WinLink Network
 One of the most active states in the US
 Most counties have ability to send and receive
email without having local internet service (not as
fast as normal internet email)
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2010/2011 WeComm
Projects
 Complete linking of current repeaters
 Seeley/Sawyer County Repeater construction
 Milwaukee Repeater construction
 Appleton Medical Center High Speed Data Network
 Abbottsford WinLink RMS Relay Station
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What This Means to You
 Professional, trained communications resources
 Improved Amateur Radio communications
 Hospital HAM radio equipment
 Improved digital communications
 Ability to broadly communicate with other health
resources
 New HAMs who are hospital employees
 Ability to continue contact with the outside world
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Health Facility Radio
Equipment
Hospital/Nursing Home /Health Department Equipment Recommendations

One (1) Diamond GZV4000 Switching Power Supply

One (1) ComProd Communications CP872F-70/772-70 Offset dual VHF/UHF commercial antenna
(recommended)

Alternatives

One (1) Diamond X510NA VHF/UHF Dual-band antenna with N Connector (we have had service problems with this antenna)

Hustler G6-270R

Andrew/Decibel DB-222-E (2 bay) and DB-224-E (4bay)

One (1) Lot of 200 feet (may vary depending upon the facility) Times Microwave Systems LMR-400 coaxial
cable (May need to be hardline if over 200 feet)

Five (5) PL-259 Silver Plated connectors (RF Industries RFIRFU501 or exact equivalent)

Five (5) N-Type connectors (RF Industries RFN-1001-S, or exact equivalent)

One (1) Polyphaser IS-50NX-C1 lightning suppressor N-Type connectors
Radio Addition – Added April 2009

Yaesu FT-8800R Dual-Band (2-meter/440MHz mobile radio) Approximate cost $350
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Let’s Look at the Equipment
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Diamond GZV4000
Switching Power Supply
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Antennas
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The Radio
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The Other Stuff
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Is the Equipment Confusing?
 If you are not familiar with HAM radio, it should
be
 WeComm provides free, but limited consulting
assistance
 Challenging in some facilities
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ARES/RACES – How Can We
Help You?
 Contact your county’s Emergency Coordinator or
District Emergency Coordinator
 http://www.wi-aresraces.org/
 Involve us in your plans
 Understand we also have limitations
 We provide communications when no one else
can, but we need to
 Interact with your organization
 Know the key players
 Understand your objectives, challenges and
obstacles
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What Are Your Questions?
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Summing It UP
 Amateur Radio is a national resource available to
help our communities and nation
 Thank you for your time, dedication and attention
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