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- Bid : $RACESBUL.287
-
-
- RB: 287 OPS Official Relay Stations 1/2 8/16/93
- TO: ALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
- INFO: ALL RACES OPERATORS IN CA (ALLCA: OFFICIAL)
- ALL AMATEURS U.S. (@ USA: INFORMATION)
- FROM: CA STATE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (KH6GBX @ WA6NWE.CA)
- 2800 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA 95832 (916)262-1600
- Landline BBS open to all: (916) 262-1657
- RACESBUL.287 DATE: Aug. 16, 1993
-
- SUBJECT: OPS: Official Relay Stations - Part 1/2
-
- In emergency communications there are times when the only
- reliable communication path is via a relay station. Howard
- Shepherd, Manager, MacArthur Relay and frequent Alternate Net
- Control for the California Emergency Services Net, offers a
- perspective of how Official Relay stations serve a vital purpose.
- The Official Relay station provides an alternate means of
- communication between the NCS and responding stations on the net,
- regardless of the type of net. This function becomes critical in
- disruptions caused by interference, atmospheric conditions and
- other situations beyond the control of the NCS.
- To best perform the Relay Station should be remotely located
- from the NCS station so as to minimize the disruption affecting
- the NCS.
- To adequately serve, the Relay Station operator needs to be
- prepared to carry on a continuity in operations just as if
- nothing untold has occurred. In daily on-going net operations
- this means being prepared with the usual roster/rollcall,
- standard operating procedures and a familiarity with the typical
- NCS procedures. In order for the station to undertake a seamless
- operation in the unexpected moment, it needs up-to-date
- directories, maps, listings, SOP's and a full understanding of
- the Net's overall purpose.
- Top performance comes from careful observation of the
- nuances of the net operations over time, as well as practice and
- continued self improvement. This requires careful monitoring and
- record keeping. Relief and standby operators may be called for in
- some extended operations and need to be considered as well as
- these other factors.
- Operations alone is but part of the preparation. Equipment
- must be considered. An emergency power source is a vital
- requirement for lighting, radios and life support for the station
- personnel. An adequate emergency food and water supply is an
- obvious requirement in an extended incident where commercial
- power or facilities may be disrupted.
- (To be continued in Part 2 of 2 parts)
- EOM
-