QRZ! Ham Radio 1/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - December 1993.iso/ucsd/races/1989.002

Text File | 1991-04-30 | 34.1 KB | 656 lines

RACESBUL.072                                   DATE: July 3, 1989
SUBJECT: WHAT ABOUT FAMILY? - PART 5/5
     One city is a few hours downstream of a potential dam
failure that would inundate the city and hundreds of square miles
around it. The city feels it is reasonable to expect all of its
essential duty employees to have a contingency plan for their
families to evacuate themselves to distant safe havens. This
leaves the essential employees to continue uninterrupted the
business of relocating essential services, records, personnel,
prisoners and other wards of the government, etc.     Several
agencies use some form of the "buddy" system. Those reporting
from home stop off at the homes of other employees to see that
they are OK; patrol duty personnel may make similar checks if
time allows.     One county communications department says that,
in the event of an earthquake, if you can make it home and back
inside of one hour, you may go ahead and do so; if you cannot,
stay on the job.
     Too few agencies have adopted a policy in concert with
adjacent jurisdictions: if you cannot get through to your duty
station, report to the nearest similar facility and offer your
services. That facility may have intercommunications with your
own and your whereabouts can thus be made known.
     Too many agencies have not addressed this subject at all.
How about yours?  Have you?                          --KH6GBX

RACESBUL.073                                 DATE: July 10, 1989
SUBJECT: WHO RUNS THE RACES?
     Q.  "Who is charged with managing the RACES program?"
     A.  The civil defense director, or by whatever title is used
in your state or local government.  Reference: FCC Rules and
Regulations part 97.163 et al.
     DISCUSSION:  This does not mean that the c.d. director
literally manages the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
program.  The definition of "civil defense" is "any and all
government agencies and support organizations working together on
an emergency problem, normally in accordance with established
plans and procedures."
     The c.d. director usually delegates the RACES program to a
qualified person in his/her office or to a support or response
agency. Thus, the c.d. director often assigns the day to day
training, management and use of the RACES unit to the  chief
of a law enforcement or fire department; the mission of the
RACES, however, remains to serve the needs of the c.d. director
and  all agencies within the government. By the same token, the
RACES must not serve the needs of only one agency, nor can there
be more than one RACES organization within one government.
     The operative word is delegation or assignment. The c.d.
director cannot waive responsibility for the proper development
and utilization of the RACES. A government either has a RACES
unit or it doesn't. The RACES is not is a club, a special
interest, or similar outside or detached group of people.
(Concluded in Part 2)

RACESBUL.074                                DATE: July 17, 1989
SUBJECT: WHO RUNS THE RACES?  Part 2/2
     There may be a tendency to assign the RACES to a
government's technical communications section. This is generally
not recommended because the RACES is or should be) primarily
operational and not technical. RACES communications is tactical
and supports operational elements of government in real time and
ever changing environments. It requires the movement of people
and resources to adapt to often rapidly changing events. Such
operations are typically not the job environment of technical
communications managers, engineers and technicians. For these
reasons civil defense directors should resist the frequent,
albeit natural, tendency to place the RACES under a technical
communications department head.
     RACES members are volunteers and it certainly helps to place
its management in an agency familiar with the regular utilization
and management of volunteers.
     Input and comments are welcomed by return mail or packet
radio. --KH6GBX  (W6HIR @ WA6NWE)

RACESBUL.075                                 DATE: July 24, 1989
SUBJECT: EMERGENCY PACKET COMMUNICATIONS  - Part 1/2
     When you are asked  to set up a temporary packet station to
provide communications for an emergency or drill, two computers
should be used. If you don't, you will probably be caught in the
middle of a message flow log jam that can be almost as bad as no
communications at all. The reason is that you can't write
messages to disc and receive traffic at the same time.
     Example: Amateur Radio station N6ZZZ-1 may be your regular
packet radio terminal at your EOC. When incident communications
are initiated, set up your second packet terminal as, say, N6ZZZ-
2. In this manner N6ZZZ-1 is used only to receive traffic; it
should go to both the computer's log and its associated printer.
Meanwhile, terminal #2 is transmitting traffic from N6ZZZ-2.
     Another computer should be used for writing the outgoing
traffic to discs "off line." This can be done by any employee or
volunteer with fast typing skills. No radio license is required.
The discs are then given to the Amateur radio operator for
transmission. All of the received messages have to go to a
printer, of course. The outgoing message discs are cycled back
and forth between the radio operators and the disc writer.
(To be continued)

RACESBUL.076                                DATE: July 31, 1989
SUBJECT: EMERGENCY PACKET COMMUNICATIONS  - Part 2/2
     Never, please, never send messages from a keyboard in real
time. This can hold up the entire system by preventing other
stations from moving traffic in the shortest possible time.
Accuracy and speed are the attributes that elevated Amateur radio
from a nice-to-have emergency communications resource to must-
have in many jurisdictions. The goal in state level RACES, for
example, is to maintain an exchange of the maximum amount of
letter perfect traffic in the least transmission time per
message. Until the advent of packet in California, for example,
no Amateur Radio mode met this need. State and county emergency
operating centers everywhere should install one or more packet
radio terminals.
     It is recommended that a voice frequency be established
between the various packet radio terminals for use used as a
coordination or "order wire" channel. This can be most useful in
solving technical problems quickly and for giving quick replies
to some packet messages. Just because a message was
received by packet does not mean that it is chiseled in stone
that a reply must also be by packet. Whereas it may be deemed
appropriate that a written (packet) reply be made for the record,
a voice radio reply will be faster and more appreciated -- the
written reply can follow later.
---WA6EQQ, KH6GBX

RACESBUL.077                                 DATE: August 7, 1989
SUBJECT: RACES ACTIVITIES - PT. 1/3
     We welcome RACES bulletins and newsletters so that we may
gather and share good ideas and positive thoughts with you -- the
CD/ES Coordinator/Director and your RACES Radio Officer. At least
one county in the country is fortunate to have recruited as its
volunteer county RACES officer, a nationally recognized
communications businessman. His management skills and the unit's
increased morale are reflected in their newsletter. Here are some
excerpts from just one monthly issue. Place and people names have
been deleted.
     "NEXT RACES MEETING: TOUR OF COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. At this meeting we will learn
about the responsibilities of those who work at the Emergency
Communications Center and how RACES supports the County Fire
Department. The department's Emergency Management Division is
installing a considerable amount of Amateur radio equipment at
its various facilities for RACES operation, with strong emphasis
on packet radio. This is a very important meeting and all County
RACES members are requested to attend. RACES members from all
city organizations are also encouraged to be there. Other Radio
Amateurs or prospective Amateurs are also invited."
     "RACES ACTIVATION SCHEDULED FOR JULY 4TH.   RACES volunteers
and their 2-meter HT's are needed to work on July 4 with the
County Fire Department. This will be a County RACES activation
and all members are requested to participate. The fire department
needs at least 20 certified RACES operators and, therefore, RACES
members from cities will be needed in addition to County members.
During this activation, one RACES operator and a 'runner' will be
assigned to the County Fire Emergency Communications Center and
other operators will be assigned to fire inspectors (who don't
have HT's) at public displays. RACES operators will be assigned
to roving patrols to report illegal fireworks . . . Assignments
will be made to unincorporated areas of the County, as well as to
contract cities. The training program will be held in June and
all participants will be required to attend that program."
(To be continued)

RACESBUL.078                                DATE: August 14, 1989
SUBJECT: RACES ACTIVITIES - PART 2/3
     "RACES SERVES VARIOUS AGENCIES.   Much of our training and
activations have involved the County Fire Department, and we can
expect our activities to increase with the Department as we
become more trained and experienced. We consider it a privilege
to serve the County Fire Department, but we are also available to
other County agencies. For example, we can expect to be activated
for communications service to the County Probation Department,
and a training program is being planned. Other agencies, such as
the County Sheriff, could also ask that we be activated,
especially as we become more thoroughly trained as a crack
emergency communications team. Our level of activations depend on
you, the members of the County RACES. We need your participation
in the weekly nets, in scheduled and unscheduled RACES
activations, at the monthly meetings, and in the training
programs. We also need your suggestions for activities to make
our meetings more interesting and we need your volunteered
efforts to make those activities a success. We also need you to
recruit other Amateurs to join the RACES. With more members we
will improve our operations, and we will increase our enjoyment
in providing this important emergency communications service to
the citizens of this County." [This is another good example of
why RACES personnel must be trained by and exercise with the
government they serve; that having an Amateur Radio license is
not the end all in emergency communications -- it is just the
beginning. Training, a thorough understanding of your local
government and its operations, and frequent participation are key
requisites to the RACES. The training does not have to be civil
defense emergency communications in order for RACES personnel to
become effective when the RACES is activated for its intended
purpose. Showing up for duty the first time in an emergency is
usually too late.]
(To be continued)

RACESBUL.079                                DATE: August 21, 1989
SUBJECT: RACES ACTIVITIES - PT. 3/3
     "RACES DECAL AVAILABLE FROM CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. Contra
Costa County (CA) has had new decals printed with the new RACES
logo which was designed about a year ago." [It was designed by a
Nevada State RACES artist and adopted by CA State RACES with
their kind permission.] "The logo is circular with the words
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS THRU AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS printed
between concentric yellow bands at the outer edge of the circle.
Within the inner band is a drawing showing a telegraph key,
satellite and dish, and a tower with a beam on top. The word
RACES is printed in red at the lower part of the drawing area.
The outer lettering, the satellite, and dish are printed in blue.
The background is solid white. These [vinyl] decals have a self-
adhesive on the back with a peel-off covering. They are suitable
for mounting on the outside of a window and are weather
resistant. As supplied, the decals are 4 inches square and need
to be trimmed with scissors to become round. They can be used on
the covers of RACES manuals, car windows, and magnetic signs."
[Certified RACES personnel may obtain availability and cost
information on these plus 9-inch decals, and 3- and 4-inch cloth
garment patches by sending a SASE to us; see the message header.]
     This completes these excerpts from an outstanding monthly
and professional appearing county RACES newsletter. Proof again
that the Amateurs in the RACES are indeed professionals.---KH6GBX

RACESBUL.080                            DATE: August 28, 1989
SUBJECT: ICS RACES RESPONDER'S CHECKLIST
     This checklist applies to State RACES personnel and is
recommended to the RACES in other jurisdictions and organizations
using the Incident Command System.
1. Receive your assignment and mission or order number.
2. Check in at the incident base or where directed above.
3. Obtain briefing from supervisor. This should include
sleeping, feeding and other details.
4. Acquire work materials if required.
5. Organize and brief subordinates. Everybody has a supervisor.
6. Observe communications procedures and discipline.
7. Brief your relief as you would want to be briefed.
8. Complete necessary forms and record keeping.
THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WORKING WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
ICS ORGANIZATION IS MAINTAINING A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP BY
KEEPING THE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS OPEN.
Harter, KH6GBX, State RACES Coordinator CA

RACESBUL.081                           DATE:  September 4, 1989
SUBJECT: ICS PROPER RADIO USAGE
1. Official use only.
2. Message priorities in declining order:
   a.  Death, injury, accident, medical aid
   b.  Report of a new incident
   c.  New incident communications
   d.  Other incident messages
   e.  Routine administrative messages
3. Plan your messages.
4. No profanity.
5. Report facts, not opinions.
6. Speak clearly and in a normal tone.
7. Use clear text (no ten, ham or other codes).
Sgd/STANLY E. HARTER, KH6GBX, State RACES Coordinator

RACESBUL.082                               DATE: Sept. 11, 1989
SUBJECT: ANTENNAS & SLINGSHOTS (PART 1/5)
     Most of us have had the experience of putting up a portable
antenna in a remote area -- most often for Field Day. My most
memorable time was on a deer hunting trip. I climbed a small pine
tree to put up a random wire. I then spent an hour trying to get
the pitch off me and my clothes.
     Since that time I have used several other methods that don't
require one to get so personal with the supports. I tried tying a
rock to the end of a rope with the intention of throwing it over
a low branch. The rock kept coming off the rope and I succeeded
in knocking a dead branch off the tree. I settled for a lower
branch and had to worry about tall campers running under it.
(To be continued in Part 2/5)

RACESBUL.083                                DATE: Sept. 18, 1989
SUBJECT: ANTENNAS & SLINGSHOTS - Part 2/5
     I saw an article where someone used a bow and arrow to put
up an antenna and I decided to give it a try. I used my archery
fish reel on the bow with some Dacron line. It worked very well;
I was able to put up a 137-foot random wire that turned out to be
vertical. The best tree for the antenna was a tall pine about 20
feet in back of my camper. I was glad that I used an arrow with
a blunt head when it came back down too close for comfort.
     In archery, the rear sight of the bow is called the anchor
point. It is on your face, cheek, corner of your mouth or etc.,
where you place your fingers of the hand that you use to draw the
string. When putting up the antenna, unless it's a very tall
antenna, you will not need a full draw. Another ham was erecting
his first antenna using a bow and arrow for Field Day a few years
ago and used a full draw. The arrow shot up over the tree and
headed for parts unknown. He never found the arrow but did find
the string on the opposite side of the tree and was able to get
the antenna up.
(To be continued in Part 3/5)

RACESBUL.084                             DATE: Sept. 25, 1989
SUBJECT: ANTENNAS & SLINGSHOTS - Part 3/5
     Another method I have used that works well is the use of a
slingshot and "Jetline". Jetline is used by utility companies and
others for putting up power lines and such. It lends itself to
antenna work very nicely. It comes in a plastic tube. I hold the
tube in the same hand that I hold the slingshot, with the open
end of the tube in the direction the fishing sinker is to be
propelled. Slingshots are great for pulling the Jetline from the
tube and carry the weight up and over whatever you want to use as
your aerial support. A 2-1/2 or 3 ounce weight is used to provide
enough weight to get your Jetline over a rough branch surface and
back down to where you can reach it. I haven't figured out a way
to get the Jetline back into the tube. There is enough in one
tube to put up several antennas -- depending upon the height, of
course.          (To be continued in Part 4/5)

RACESBUL.085                                  DATE: Oct. 2, 1989
SUBJECT: ANTENNAS & SLINGSHOTS - Part 4/5
     Fishing reels with monofilament line have also been used
with good results.
     Before Amateur Radio antennas were installed on Sacramento's
new Blood Bank building, we needed to put up an antenna in a
hurry to fulfill our obligation in an upcoming Simulated
Emergency Test. The garage of the building has a 40-foot ceiling
with exposed rafters and stringers. I used the slingshot to put
up  a forty meter dipole inside the garage. It was successful,
the radio worked fine, and the Blood Bank officials were very
impressed.
     The slingshot and Jetline was used during the forest fires
to put a 2-Meter "J" antenna 40 feet up a pine tree at a fire
camp.                           (To be continued in Part 5/5)

RACESBUL.086                               DATE: Oct. 9, 1989
SUBJECT: ANTENNAS & SLINGSHOTS - Part 5/5
     I find the slingshot and fishing sinker easier to use and
pack in the trunk of a car than the bow and arrow. The slingshot
I use and prefer is a folding Wrist-Rocket. It also makes a
usable survival weapon. I used it in a park to put up an antenna;
I don't believe it appears as threatening as a bow an arrow to
other park users.
     Both methods make a difficult job both easy and fun, a
slingshot is cheaper than pole climbing spurs, and keeps you and
others from getting emotional about a pine tree.
LES BALLINGER. WA6EQQ @ WA6NWE.CA.USA
State RACES Packet Operations Manager
Governor's Office of Emergency Services
(This concludes Part 5 of 5)

RACESBUL.087                           DATE: Oct. 16, 1989
SUBJECT: STATION LICENSE QUESTIONS
Q. Can we get a new club or RACES station license?
A. No. They are no longer available.
Q. If we already have one, can it be renewed?
A. Yes.
Q. Can a repeater license be renewed?
A. No.

RACESBUL.088                           DATE: Oct. 23, 1989
SUBJECT: WHAT IS THE RACES?
     Judging from the increased frequency of questions from those
becoming interested in the RACES for the first time, it is timely
to reissue State RACES Bulletin 86-6.
     The RACES is communications supporting a local government by
Amateur Radio operators. The RACES withered and died in those
areas where they thought its use was limited to a major disaster
or war. RACES survived or is being reestablished in those areas
where it is utilized to support virtually any emergency with as
little as one RACES operator. In short, the use of the RACES is
not limited to a major event that might require the mobilization
of all of the RACES and other civil defense resources.
     A series of messages followed 86-6 showing the many
activities by which Amateurs may increase their participation and
readiness in the vital area of emergency communications. 86-6
went on to say:
     An old saying goes "It's not what you know, it's who you
know." This goes for the RACES and the ARES as well. Inter-
personal communications between the disaster and emergency
responder agencies can be as important as the actual
telecommunications. Volunteers unfamiliar with the players and
how they play their government game can be a hindrance and their
services declined unless they have received the necessary and
required orientation and training. The same holds true for us
hams. A few hours of orientation and meetings with the
government, plus some field activities, can make a significant
difference on how much value an individual RACES and ARES member
can be.
WILLIAM L. MUSLADIN, N6BTJ
Chief State RACES Radio Officer

RACESBUL.089                                  DATE: Oct. 30, 1989
SUBJECT: DSW ID CARD SOON TO BE
     Details of a new and long sought statewide California
Registered Disaster Service Worker identification card will soon
be announced.
     Generally, a volunteer will complete the necessary
application forms with a city, county, or the State emergency
management (civil defense) agency with which the volunteer will
affiliate. The applicant will then be given paperwork to take to
the nearest Department of Motor Vehicles office to have his or
her picture taken. Following the necessary processing, the
volunteer will subsequently receive a laminated photo ID card
that will measure approximately 2 inches by 3-3/8 inches.
     The front of the card will carry the photo, the State seal,
name, and Class Assigned as specified by Emergency Council Rules.
Amateur Radio operators are in the "Communications" class. The
card will say "The person identified by this card has volunteered
and been trained to carry out the stated assignment in time of
emergency, on behalf of the State. It is
important he/she be assisted in carrying out these duties."
     The reverse of the DSW card will have a serial number,
specialty (such as RACES), color hair, height, color eyes,
birthdate, volunteer and official signatures, and card expiration
date.
     This new DSW ID card will be in addition to, but not
necessarily replace, any government agency or other
organizational ID card issued to volunteers.
     Detailed information will be forthcoming so please do not
deluge us with questions at this time.
STANLY EASTON HARTER, KH6GBX (W6HIR @ WA6NWE)
Asst. Chief, Telecommunications Division
Amateur Radio Service Coordinator/State RACES Radio Officer
Phone [phone]     Fax [phone]

RACESBUL.090                                 DATE: Nov.  6, 1989
SUBJECT: EARTHQUAKE OBSERVATIONS, PART 1/2
     As  is  always the case, the recent Santa  Cruz  earthquake
demonstrated   that  there  are  never   enough   communications
facilities available when disaster strikes.  In the hundred mile
long  affected area telephone service was partially knocked  out
and  that  which  remained in service  was  totally  overloaded.
Microwave  public service links went down as antennas were  mis-
aligned, towers buckled and power failed. The result was a  huge
lack  of  information about what damage had occurred,  what  was
needed  and  where  it was needed,  and  where  recovery  effort
priorities should be placed.
     The  State  of  California RACES quickly came  on  line  to
supplement  limited circuits between government  agencies  where
they  existed, and to provide communications where  all  regular
circuits  had  been  disrupted.  At  the  Governor's  Office  of
Emergency  Services HQ, in-place RACES radio assets were  manned
within  minutes.  Solid communication links  into  the  affected
regional  OES command posts in turn were in  communication  with
the  key  units in their recovery plans. The RACES links  had  a
vital  part in knitting governmental recovery operations into  a
viable,  efficient effort. For the first five days, RACES  radio
rooms were manned around the clock. Then , as regular government
and  commercial  circuits were restored, RACES  operations  were
+reduced,   but   not   before  Jon  Madzelan,   Chief   of   OES
Telecommunications,  told the RACES that "We couldn't have  done
it without you."                  (Continued in part 2/2)

                         ERRATA:
CHANGE THE LAST WORD IN RACES BULLETIN 087 FROM "YES" TO "NO".

RACESBUL.091                                 DATE: Nov. 13, 1989
SUBJECT: EARTHQUAKE OBSERVATIONS, PART 2/2
     There were many lessons to be learned from the actual
operation in a major disaster recovery situation. Some of them
follow:
1. Government furnished, pre-positioned, tested radios and other
equipment are vital to successful communications in and out of
headquarters where operational direction and control is
accomplished.
2.Sufficient RACES staff must be available, known in advance to
be committed to their particular assignments, when disaster
strikes.
3. The RACES units must be good enough to be considered as
members of the professional staff by the fulltime, paid disaster
workers. This, of course, means regular contact between the RACES
and paid staff, planning and exercising jointly.
4. The use of tactical callsigns is basic to success. Ham calls
that change as individual operators change can and do cause
confusion and disruption. FCC callsign rules must be met, of
course, but the tactical call sign is paramount. "KB6ABC at OES
Region 2" meets requirements and lets other locations know what
they need to know and with what part of the system they are
talking. The use of individual callsigns should be minimized and
limited to meeting FCC requirements.
5.  Hard copy is better than voice, where messages addressed to
third parties must be delivered with zero chance of error. Packet
radio provides hard copy and allows logging each message
automatically for retrieval or any future need.
6.  As far as the end user is concerned the means of
communication are normally invisible and should be so. The goal
of the system is to move information and/or data as rapidly as
possible, neither adding or subtracting anything in the process.
Signed: WILLIAM L. MUSLADIN, N6BTJ
        Chief State RACES Officer

RACESBUL.092                                 DATE: NOV. 20, 1989
SUBJECT: FLIGHT 232 COMM LESSONS LEARNED
     United Airlines flight 232 crashed in Sioux City, Iowa, on
July  19,  1989.  Here  is a brief summary  of  the  lessons  we
learned:
o  Centralize control and decision making.
o  Plan for the worst.
o  Extend handheld range with a portable repeater.
o  Have packet capabilities.
o  Tape record all repeater communications.
o  Document each potential volunteer's skills.
o  Maintain regular contact with service agencies.
o  Meet regularly to discuss disaster preparedness.
Sgd  MIKE NICKOLAUS, NF0N, EC Dakota County, Nebraska
     DOUG POTTS, KA0VHV, Asst. EC, Woodbury County, Iowa
     ALAN PEDERSON, KA0VNM. Asst. EC, Dakota County, Nebraska

RACESBUL.093                                 DATE: Nov. 27, 1989
SUBJECT: PACKET TERMINAL SPECS, 1/3

                   RACES PACKET RADIO TERMINAL
                               by
                      Keith Crandall, K6QIF
                    HQ RACES Station Manager
                            June 1989

We  have  been asked from time to time for  a  specification  for
obtaining,  adding  or  upgrading of packet  radio  stations  for
government  sites  and  civil  defense/emergency  services  fixed
locations. [This report is divided into a narrative and a minimum
specification  in  lay  terms.  No endorsement  of  any  make  or
manufacturer is intended; where such does appear it reflects that
with which we have had satisfactory experience. ---KH6GBX].

                            NARRATIVE

     The world tells us that Packet Radio is already  two-thirds
complete  when  we  have a two meter radio and a  terminal  or  a
computer.  That is true but it is not really the complete way  to
go. It makes more sense to do it right the first time.
     The RF part of the system should be a radio that will reject
extraneous  signals and have good sensitivity on the  frequencies
you are to use.  A  good  example  is  the  Kenwood   TS-2550
transceiver.  It has a clean receiver and transmitter and  has  a
fast switching time between transmit and receive.
(Continued in part 2/3)

RACESBUL.094                                 DATE: Dec.  4, 1989
SUBJECT: PACKET TERMINAL SPECS, PART 2/3
     Next would be a good TNC (Terminal Node Controller). The AEA
model PK-232 does this very well. It gives you all the modes  (6)
and good basic operation. Another model is the KAM by Kantronics.
     You  must run the complete system with a good data  terminal
or  computer. (We call them what they are -- data  communications
terminals --- particularly where jurisdictions have  prohibitions
against  or  governing the procurement of  computers  for  common
workplace  applications.)  We have had good experience  with  the
TDK-1000,  an IBM clone, obtainable in the Sacramento  area.  The
unit is unique in that it has a special setup: two serial  ports,
10  meg speed, 1 Meg RAM, 20 meg hard disc, and both  3-1/2  inch
and 5-1/4 inch floppy disc drives for data I/O.     A  good power
supply system should be chosen with  a  backup A.C.  supply
(UPS) and battery good for a sufficient  period  of time  until
the standby power can be on line. For this reason  we use  a
Tripp-Lite model SB-400 for the A.C. power and 4  each  40 Amp-
Hour  gel cell batteries in parallel to
obtain 160  Amp  duty cycle.

                     MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

The following are the minimum requirements for a data terminal
for Emergency Services/Civil Defense packet radio communications:

SYSTEM:        Baby AT case, 200 watt power supply, mother
               board XT turbo 12 MHz with 8 slots, and 1 Meg
               memory installed.

(Continued in part 3/3)

RACESBUL.095                                 DATE: Dec. 11, 1989
SUBJECT: PACKET TERMINAL SPECS, PART 3/3

DOS:           Disc Operating System shall be 3.2 or later.

LED/SWITCHES:  LED indicators for HD and other accessory switches
for keyboard               and turbo.

I/O CARD:      Mono-multi I/O board with the following:
               2 ea. serial ports marked COMM-1 and COMM-2.
               1 ea. printer port marked PRINTER.
               Floppy disc drive controller with the RT-clock on
               this board.

DRIVES:        Shall be capable of three drives; 5-1/4, 3-1/2, or                HD.
               It shall be delivered:  (1)  5-1/4 inch,
               (2) 3-1/2 inch, and (3) 30 Meg HD marked "A", "B", and "C"
               respectively.

KEYBOARD:      Model 5160 or equivalent.

MONITOR:       Casper GM-1266 or better.

PRINTER:       Star NX-1000 or better.

CABLES:        All cables required to make this an operating
               system.

RACESBUL.096                                 DATE: Dec. 18, 1989
SUBJECT: LEVEL OF ACTIVITY, PART 1/2
     Here are some tips we'd like to pass along for dedicated and
well organized public service volunteers. They are the people who
accept the basic premise that, "Barring any higher personal
priority, I will respond each time I am called out. I do this
because this is what I really like to do."  Volunteers in this
"Level A" category are typically those in search and rescue, fire
fighters, law enforcement reserves, the Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service and certain other civil defense volunteers.
     Some volunteer groups are first line responders with a
highly developed callout system. Their parent agency radio pages,
telephones or otherwise signals the volunteers on each and every
callout. This may happen from once to several times a month.
     The majority of volunteers, however, don't get called out
anywhere near that often. Their chance to serve may be only once
or a few times a year. This
doesn't mean to say that their level of skills required is any
less than the more frequent responders; it's just that the need
for their services may be far less. Amateur Radio operators are
usually in this category, whether they are in the RACES, ARES, or
by whatever name.
     Let's call the volunteer head of this group the OIC or
officer-in-charge. It behooves an OIC or his/her designee to be
tuned in closely to the community emergency services, to be aware
of what is going on most of the time, so that the OIC will know
of any incident or threat that could or would use the services of
their Amateur Radio operators -- either "for real" or
simply as a training vehicle.
     It really can't be said often enough to volunteer groups:
"More often than not, you have to request to be requested." This
goes hand in hand with: "Out of sight is out of mind."
Government agencies don't see their "deputy communicators" day in
and day out.  More often than not they don't really understand
what it is you do, why frequent usage or training of the
volunteers is important, or why the Amateur Radio emergency
resource itself is important.           (Continued in part 2/2)

RACESBUL.097                                 DATE: Dec. 25, 1989
SUBJECT: LEVEL OF ACTIVITY, PART 2/2
    The OIC  (or designees)  monitors what  is going on and what
is scheduled in the future, actively looking for opportunities to
serve. When the OIC identifies such an opportunity, he goes to
his supervisor in the parent agency and requests permission for
the unit to participate.
     I have served on both sides of the fence over the years. As
an OIC I have requested permission to respond to the incident or
to participate in a support or training role. Quite often it
required a selling job to educate the authorizing authority the
benefits to be derived by both the participants and the
sponsoring agency. As an authorizing authority I have to weigh
the benefits, the expected results, and the hazards. As a rule I
look for every reason to say "yes" and not an automatic turndown.
     How does it work in your community, with your organization
and your agencies?
Sgd STANLY EASTON HARTER, KH6GBX (W6HIR @ WA6NWE.CA.USA.NA)
Asst. Chief, Telecommunications Division
Amateur Radio Service Coordinator
Governor's Office of Emergency Services
2800 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA 95832
Phone [phone]     Fax [phone]

                [BULLETINS continued in the 1990 file]

****************************************************************