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Realizing that in todays world, there are many other good/excellent and perhaps faster methods of allowing a Stake President to remain in communication during normal and most other abnormal emergency situations. i.e. there is no way a Stake President is going to call up a bunch of Hams so that he can pass a message to one of his Wards if the telephone is still working. Reality says that there is a small chance for most of us that Ham Radio will ever be used in a real, live situation.The problem we face is somehow keeping some semblance of capability readily available during that 1 percent chance that Ham Radio will actually be necessary. And, the BIG problem is....when it does become necessary, I fear it likely won't be ready and waiting. During a big problem, if Ham radio isn't instantly ready to roll, leadership will immediately turn elsewhere.Nets used to be a wholly viable method of passing good amounts of traffic for normal life. Perhaps nowadays we must look at nets as a method of ensuring technical capability. i.e. inside a Stake environment, how well is your HF NVIS skills? Have you established a test to see if Ward to Ward to xxxx to Stake comms via VHF is really possible via a J-Pole, or do you need a yagi? Have you actually tried to pass a data file via HF or FM....PSK or Packet? How about a Ward test to see who can talk to each other via FRS? I mean, really do it? All the wire cables in order; all software working? Don't Do it from home....do it via portable ops??A NET like this can be held once or twice a year. Your own Field Day or do it on Field Day. There is nothing better than really doing it live. And even if nobody in my Stake is willing or able to test, my XYL and I do it ourselves.
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I agree with your recommendation for actual regular testing of local LDS “emergency” nets. Somehow, our Bishop's Storehouse here in Kansas City, MO has a ham station that is operational. My wife and I served a 2-year mission in this facility and being a licensed amateur operator, wound up as the “net control” operator here. We have had zero direction as to what our purpose is or any chain of command instructions. We were provided with a schedule showing we were to call the net on Tuesday evenings at 0120 GMT using simplex. We have 3 to maybe 6 other LDS hams check in. Basically this turns out to be an equipment check.What we would like to have is some direction as to the reporting "tree" should there be a real emergency. We are looking for direction. Do you or others have any instructions fron Church HQ? What are others doing? Are other Storehouses equipped with stations and do they have "a plan"?Paul, K0SEP
I've never seen or witnessed any interest from any Church leader…ever. I don't blame them. Its just not a front burner topic for them. Thus, my XYL (also a Ham) and I usually go it alone, without assistance or guidance.I've served in HC and as Ward/Stake EM Prep specialist and have drawn up emergency plans of all kinds, hosted emergency fairs and so forth. It todays world, we have what we want by using a credit card. Thus, there is no interest in being ready for anything. I see satellite fones sitting in Bishops' Storehouses...people are scared to use them or don't know how.Thus, my direction is to do what I can, where I can. And to this end, I see that regular comms nets are nearly worthless. Thus, make them less regular and with a practical purpose when they do happen.
I have been involved in Amateur Radio on and off since the '70s. I started working on my novice ticket several times back then, but was being 'encouraged' by my father and I just wasn't dedicated to doing it for myself. I finally heard about a class being taught a couple of years ago when I was living in the Lakewood, CO stake, I went to the class and passed my tech license and missed my General by one question. We started having a weekly net on Sunday evenings, we had between 14 and 16 hams checking in regularly. But their interest started waning and now, two years later, it's basically a weekly rag chew session among a few hams. No formality, few regulars, etc.We have a monthly regional net put on by the storehouse here in Denver. The monthly net is actually two nets. The first net is for the Stake called specialists, the net control calls each stake in alphabetical order. Once that net is complete, the second net starts which is the regional volunteer net. Both net's are very successful. We have a lot of hams throughout the region and good leadership supporting it. I don't know of any specific instruction from SLC regarding Amateur Radio, but I know first hand, they have a nice antenna farm on top of the Church Office Building. See this post for more on that.Most of the church leadership (Stake Presidents, Branch Presidents, Bishops, etc.) are far too busy dealing with normal activities and needs to worry about how the details of emergency communications work. What we need is for our Emergency Preparedness Specialists (Stake and Ward), Emergency Communication Specialists, High Councilman over Emergency Preparedness, etc. to be the driving force behind the preparations; assembling and testing workable communication plans. The Stake also needs to be testing regularly and the process needs to be adjusted where appropriate. The people involved need to be trained and prepared. The true challenge is as stated, is the convenience of using the latest technologies such as cellphones. They lull us into believing it's a preferable alternative to activating an Amateur Radio net. That said, there are certainly times when Amateur Radio is far superior. In an article published in the ND InForum http://www.inforum.com they published:When a busload of volunteers were being deployed from Moorheadʼs Nemzek Hall for a sandbag operation, the Red Cross and Salvation Army knew when and where to provide water and food. When Red Cross officials had trouble getting a cell phone connection inside an evacuation center at the high school in Casselton, N.D., they relied on ham radio operators. The operators were also able to alert the nurses station at Fargoʼs Innovis Health about incoming Coast Guard helicopters hauling in evacuees. There were six ham operators directly involved with the evacuation of Fargoʼs MeritCare Hospital. “You can inform 20 people at once,” said Tareski, a 67-year-old who also worked the 1997 Red River Valley flood as a ham operator. “With a cell phone, you would have to make 20 calls. You can get the information out much faster.” Sherri Thomsen, executive director of the area American Red Cross, said the additional layer of communication is invaluable. Adam Moore, captain of the local Salvation Army, said the local ham radio group is so reliable, he doesnʼt have to call in the Salvation Armyʼs national radio team known as SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network). “They are invaluable to us,” Moore said. “And in the event we lost all communications, we would rely solely on our amateur radio operators.”I think we need to be consistent in developing and maintaining a working infrastructure, have clear and comprehensive plans and training our participants as much as possible to be ready if and when we are called upon.In the mean time, until we are actually needed, I love the idea of trying to hold an LDS field day! Let's start planning one and see if we can make it happen next summer. -Rob
I'd love to put together a “Field Day” type session on the air, formal or informal. Alas, for now I am U.S. Military (civilian) stationed in Germany (DA1BRJ). But we'll be back in the US of A next year.In the mean time, and when we return, my push will be:Establish/practice what it will take to ensure simplex VHF and HF comms (both Data and Voice) between all stake buildings. Build a CONOPS, including list of hardware, to enable quick reaction and duplication of this effort.The problems we face nowadays are two major points. First, modern day comms is both good and prolific (and on any one given day, fairly reliable). Second, it is a fact that most of us will never see a real, true emergency. Keeping everybody interested with no real-life use of Ham Radio is proving to be difficult. It is the "all is well in zion" syndrom. As you have pointed out, when critical comms is needed and when emergencies do happen, it seems that good comms is the first thing to go.When you think about it, the chances that anyone will ever be personally involved in the middle of another 9/11 emergency is quite rare. Depending on where you live, snow storms or earthquakes or tornados or hurricanes or similar that are life threatening are also rare. The chances that anyone will happen upon a vehicle accident where they are the first responders is quite rare. But all of these things do do happen and the more of us that are ready when they do occur, the better off we and those around us will be. Again, the problem is...how to keep even a few people ready to respond is growing more and more difficult. I hope my efforts will end up being useful, but at the same time simple.
Just wanted to let you know about a grassroots effort to start an annual LDS Field Day.Twitter: @ldsfieldday #LDSFieldDayWebhttp://www.ldsfieldday.net73
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