National SOS Radio Network and Radio Relay International

[SteveH]

 

I haven't posted here in quite a while but I'm in the process of dusting off my GMRS equipment and have just added a Midland MXT400 to the mix. (This radio looks to be the same hardware as my TYT TH-9000 UHF.)

 

One of the things I've done in the interim is to have become a hub station in the Digital Traffic Network part of Radio Relay International. The network is a recent offshoot of the digital component of the National Traffic System. I've been handling formal traffic (i.e. radiograms) for Maine since mid-2014 and am affiliated with both RRI and NTS.

 

RRI very recently adopted the National SOS Radio Network, a neighborhood radio watch system that was created post-Katrina. The system was based on the use of FRS radios. NSRN suspended a while ago but RRI saw it as what could be a component in a tiered system with FRS at the bottom for local community communications. Above that would be GMRS and then the ham operators. Hams could pass along messages to, for example, the local or county emergency management agencies or pass 3^rd party messages into the traffic system. The system would also collect SITREPs from citizens and pass them along to the appropriate agencies.

 

There are pieces of some other pre-existing elements that are also being thrown into the mix, e.g. Neighborhood HamWatch.

 

I'm in the process of working to update our county program (see http://ballyhac.com/) that was put in place in 2015, after we had a fairly significant ice storm. (Of course, we've had no such storms since but it's only a matter of time until we get something equivalent to the one in 1998.) The goal will be to align with the national program.

 

The most current information on the RRI-NSRN program is in the most recent issue of the QNI newsletter. See https://qninewsletterdotnet.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/qni-2017-5.pdf

 

RRI's main page is at http://radio-relay.org/

 

[WQWI871]

That's nice. I often have lots of time on my hands. No friends to hang with and forever job seeking. I'd like to do something with my life, but, something that I can do that doesn't technically require luck of getting hired - one of those just do it kind of things. Job or not, it would be great especially to turn a hobby into even just a volunteer act such as a neighborhood or weather watch.

[mainehazmt]

Interesting I'll do some checking on this with Darren up here in aroostook. Having been involved with the lepc and others doing a lot of the training this is the first I've heard of it.

[SteveH]

Small world John, I was just on the phone with Roy KB1WGN.

[mainehazmt]

Small world John, I was just on the phone with Roy KB1WGN.

his son is the county EMA director

[SteveH]

Radio Relay International's program is gaining momentum. The latest updates are on page 10 (Local Programs Committee Formed) and 11 (Community Outreach - National Communications Strategy) of the July QNI newsletter. See https://qninewsletterdotnet.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/qni-2017-7.pdf

 

Also see http://radio-relay.org/emcomm/natcomstrat/

[mainehazmt]

Steve, Is any of this being talked about in Augusta? At MEMA?

[SteveH]

The state EOC (MEMA) is way behind the curve on communications other than public safety VHF, satellite and WebEOC. They do have an FNARS station and there's some ham gear there but it's not used much and the HF side of things is woefully lacking. So, the quick answer is no. The counties are where the action is.

[SteveH]

Here's a link to an update on the program in my area. We're focusing on our little midcoast Maine peninsula that consists of a half dozen communities.

 

http://ballyhac.com/Knox_Peninsula_Project_Final.pdf

 

We reviewed it at our county ARES/RACES-CERT meeting yesterday and we're going to try to get non-ham Skywarn spotters engaged in using the radio to report during storms.

 

Also included are the results of a test from the So. Thomaston EOC to the new warming shelter about 2.5 miles away using MURS and simple, slightly elevated antennas. Perfect solution and cheap.