Level 1 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
EC-001

Senior Hams are encouraged to participate!

Introduction to Amateur Radio Emergency Communications. A basic course to raise awareness and provide additional knowledge and tools for any emergency communications volunteer. This course has 23 lesson units, is expected to take approximately 25 hours to complete over an 8-week period, and earns 1.5 CEUs. Each lesson consists of text, quiz questions, and Student Activities, which are required for successful completion.

Suggested Study Guide:

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course, Level I, $12.95. ARRL Order No. 8462.

LEARNING UNIT NUMBER	TITLE
A	Credits
1	Introduction to Emergency Communication
2	Amateurs as Professionals - The Served Agency Relationship
3	Network Theory and the Design of Emergency Communication Systems
4	Emergency Communication Organizations and Systems
5	Served Agency Communication Systems
6	Basic Communication Skills
7	Introduction to Emergency Nets
8	Basic Message Handling - Part 1
9	Basic Message Handling - Part 2
10	Net Operating Guidelines
11	The Incident Command System
12	Preparing for Deployment
13	Equipment Choices for Emergency Communication
14	Emergency Activation
15	Setup, Initial Operations, and Shutdown
16	Operations & Logistics
17	Personal Safety, Survival, and Health Considerations
18	Alternative Communication Methods
19	What to Expect in Large-Scale Disasters
20	Hazardous Materials Awareness
21	Marine Communications
22	Other Learning Opportunities
23	Modes, Methods, and Applications
Appendix A	Quiz Question Answers
Appendix B	Student Activities
Appendix C	Reference Links

LU 1

1a. List three ways in which emergency communications are similar to day-to-day communications.

1b. List six ways in which emergency communications differ from non-emergency communications.

2. In an emergency situation, a served agency asks you to forward an urgent message. Which one of the following methods would you NOT employ? In one or two sentences, tell why you selected your answer.

a. CB radio

b. Family radio

c. Informal, conversational grapevine

d. The served agency's own radio system.

LU2

1. Locate the ARRL website. Conduct a search for the Statement of Understanding (SOU) between The American Red Cross and ARRL. List three forms of assistance the Red Cross may request of ARRL ARES and NTS. (Hint: when searching the ARRL website, search on the term "MOU" rather than "SOU".

2. If you were asked to develop a Statement of Understanding (SOU) between your local emcomm group and a local served agency, what general topics would you include?

LU3

Make a list of the kinds of messages that might need to be handled during a communication emergency likely in your area. Match the kind of message (tactical messages, manpower requests, welfare inquiries, medical information, casualty lists, requests for supplies, shelter resident lists, etc) with the appropriate communication mode(s) (packet or other digital modes, FM phone, CW, HF SSB, etc.). Send a summary of your work to your mentor.

LU4

The following activities are designed to familiarize you with the ARES information provided on the ARRL website. Follow the link below and read the ARES information provided:

1. Go the ARRL website (http://www.arrl.org/). Locate the MOU between ARRL and the American National Red Cross. According to the MOU, how is a "disaster" defined?

2. Go to the ARRL web site (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/foreword.html) section entitled "Public Services Communications Manual". Find the answers to the following questions:

A. Is ownership of emergency-powered equipment a requirement for joining ARES?

B. Who can authorize RACES operation?

C. If the President were to invoke his War Emergency Powers, could there be any restrictions on Amateur Radio operation? If so, how would the two-meter band be affected for RACES operation?

D. What are the two primary components of ARRL's public service field organization?

Public service communications have been a traditional responsibility of the Amateur Radio Service since 1913, when amateurs at the University of Michigan and Ohio State University, in conjunction with numerous individual amateurs in and around the region, successfully bridged the communications gap surrounding a large isolated area left by a severe windstorm in the Midwest. In those early days, such disaster work was spontaneous and without previous organization of any kind. In today's Amateur Radio, disaster work is a highly organized and worthwhile part of day-to-day operation, implemented principally through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the National Traffic System (NTS), both sponsored by ARRL. The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), independent nets and other amateur public service groups are also a part of ARRL-recognized Amateur Radio public service efforts.

The ARES now consists of approximately 80,000 licensed amateurs who have registered their availability for emergency operation in the public interest. The operational leadership of ARES consists of approximately 2500 local and district emergency coordinators, along with the section ECs.

NTS operates daily to handle local, medium and long-distance written traffic in standard ARRL format. NTS consists of nets at four levels, with lines of liaison connecting them for the systematic flow of message traffic from point of origin to point of delivery in the shortest possible time consistent with organizational training objectives and mass handlings.

A subpart of the US amateur regulations (Part 97, Subpart E) provides for the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. RACES is a special phase of amateur operation sponsored by local emergency management agencies with support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and applies to US amateurs only. The primary purpose of RACES is to provide amateurs with a special opportunity to serve governmental civil preparedness agencies. ARRL has signed a memorandum of understanding with FEMA to enhance the coordination of ARRL and FEMA resources.

LU 5

Using the links provided, answer the following questions:

1. What do Sections 97.403 and 97.405 of the FCC Rules and Regulations (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/rules-regs.html) Part 97 state about Amateur communications during emergencies?

§97.403 Safety of life and protection of property.

    No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any

means of radiocommunication at its disposal to provide essential communication

needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate

protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.

§97.405 Station in distress.

(a) No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station in

distress of any means at its disposal to attract attention, make known its

condition and location, and obtain assistance.

(b) No provision of these rules prevents the use by a station, in the

exceptional circumstances described in paragraph (a), of any means of

radiocommunications at its disposal to assist a station in distress.

§97.407 Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).

(a) No station may transmit in RACES unless it is an FCC-licensed primary, club,

or military recreation station and it is certified by a civil defense

organization as registered with that organization, or it is an FCC-licensed

RACES station. No person may be the control operator of a RACES station, or may

be the control operator of an amateur station transmitting in RACES unless that

person holds a FCC-issued amateur operator license and is certified by a civil

defense organization as enrolled in that organization.

(b) The frequency bands and segments and emissions authorized to the control

operator are available to stations transmitting communications in RACES on a

shared basis with the amateur service. In the event of an emergency which

necessitates the invoking of the President’s War Emergency Powers under the

provisions of Section 706 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47

U.S.C. §606, RACES stations and amateur stations participating in RACES may only

transmit on the following frequency segments:

(1) The 1800-1825 kHz, 1975-2000 kHz, 3.50-3.55 MHz, 3.93-3.98 MHz, 3.984-4.000

MHz, 7.079-7.125 MHz, 7.245-7.255 MHz, 10.10-10.15 MHz, 14.047-14.053 MHz,

14.22-14.23 MHz, 14.331-14.350 MHz, 21.047-21.053 MHz, 21.228-21.267 MHz, 28.55-

28.75 MHz, 29.237-29.273 MHz, 29.45-29.65 MHz, 50.35-50.75 MHz, 52-54 MHz,

144.50-145.71 MHz, 146-148 MHz, 2390-2450 MHz segments;

(2) The 1.25 m, 70 cm and 23 cm bands; and

(3) The channels at 3.997 MHz and 53.30 MHz may be used in emergency areas when

required to make initial contact with a military unit and for communications

with military stations on matters requiring coordination.

(c) A RACES station may only communicate with:

(1) Another RACES station;

(2) An amateur station registered with a civil defense organization;

(3) A United States Government station authorized by the responsible agency to

communicate with RACES stations;

(4) A station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is

authorized by the FCC.

(d) An amateur station registered with a civil defense organization may only

communicate with:

(1) A RACES station licensed to the civil defense organization with which the

amateur station is registered;

(2) The following stations upon authorization of the responsible civil defense

official for the organization with which the amateur station is registered:

(i) A RACES station licensed to another civil defense organization;

(ii) An amateur station registered with the same or another civil defense

organization;

(iii) A United States Government station authorized by the responsible agency to

communicate with RACES stations; and

(iv) A station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is

authorized by the FCC.

(e) All communications transmitted in RACES must be specifically authorized by

the civil defense organization for the area served.

Only civil defense communications of the following types may be transmitted:

(1) Messages concerning impending or actual conditions jeopardizing the public

safety, or affecting the national defense or security during periods of local,

regional, or national civil emergencies;

(2) Messages directly concerning the immediate safety of life of individuals,

the immediate protection of property, maintenance of law and order, alleviation

of human suffering and need, and the combating of armed attack or sabotage;

(3) Messages directly concerning the accumulation and dissemination of public

information or instructions to the civilian population essential to the

activities of the civil defense organization or other authorized governmental or

relief agencies; and

(4) Communications for RACES training drills and tests necessary to ensure the

establishment and maintenance of orderly and efficient operation of the RACES as

ordered by the responsible

civil defense organizations served. Such drills and tests may not exceed a total

time of 1 hour per week. With the approval of the chief officer for emergency

planning in the applicable State, Commonwealth, District or territory, however,

such tests and drills may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours no

more than twice in any calendar year.

1.      Which courses offered by IMSA (http://www.imsasafety.org/certify.htm) pertain to radio operations? To what extent do these courses pertain to emcomm operations?

IMSA can provide frequency coordination for licensees or frequencies listed with the following suffixes:
 

LU 6

1. Using what you have learned, edit the following exchange to make it clear and concise.

"KA1XYZ at Ramapo Base, this is Bob, K2ABC at Weston EOC calling."

"K2ABC, this is KA1XYZ. Hi, Bob. This is Ramapo Base, Harry at the mic. Go ahead. K2ABC from KA1XYZ."

"KA1XYZ, this is K2ABC returning. Hi, Harry. I have a message for you. By the way, remember to call me later about the get-together the club is having next month. Are you ready to copy the message?" KA1XYZ, this is K2ABC, over to you Harry."

2. Based upon what you have read in this lesson, list five errors to avoid when communicating during an emergency.

LU 7

Describe the best use of the following nets:

A. Open nets
B. Emergency nets
C. Tactical nets
D. Resource nets
E. NTS nets

LU 8

Compose four complete ARRL formatted messages, one example for each Precedence, in written form. Use Handling Instructions and include the time and date sent. To determine the word count for the check, refer to this link: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/teacher/kemp/appendixa.html.

Any amateur can originate a radiogram on behalf of other individuals, whether the individual is a licensed amateur or not. It is the responsibility of the originating amateur to see that the message is in proper form before its first transmission, because under most circumstances it is improper for a relaying or delivering station to make changes.

Each radiogram should contain the following parts in the order given:

1.      Number

2.      Precedence

3.      Handling Instructions

4.      Station of Origin

5.      Check

6.      Place of Origin

7.      Time Field

8.      Date

9.      Address

10.  Text

11.  Signature

Radiograms

1.      Number--every radiogram should have a number. Keep a sheet with a consecutive list of numbers, beginning at 1, by your radio. When a radiogram is written, complete all parts of the preamble except the number. When you send the radiogram, assign a number to it from the number sheet, crossing out numbers on the sheet as they are used and making a notation, after the number, of the station to whom the radiogram was sent and the date. Most traffic handlers start with number 1at the beginning of each year.

2.      Precedence--every radiogram has a precedence, and it is normally "Routine" (R). It is a separate part of the preamble and is transmitted as such, not as part of the number. Other precedences are "Priority" (P), "Emergency" --never abbreviated, and "Welfare" (W).

3.      Handling Instructions (HX)--are used when the writer of the radiogram requires special instructions in how to the handle the radiogram.

4.      Station of Origin--is the call sign of the radio station from which the radiogram was first sent by Amateur Radio, and is included so that handling stations will be able to communicate with the originator if something interferes with the prompt handling or delivery of the message.

5.      Check--is the number of words and numerals in the text of the radiogram. Handling stations should agree on the check before the message is considered handled.

6.      Place of Origin--is the name of the town from which the radiogram started, not necessarily the location of the radio station of origin. The preamble of a radiogram written in Dayton, Ohio might read as follows: NR 457 R W1INF 21 DAYTON OHIO 2057Z JUNE 11. If a message is sent to your station by mail or not written in person, the preamble should show the place the radiogram came from. If the radiogram came to Dayton by mail from Auburn, Maine, the preamble would read: NR 457 R W1INF 21AUBURN MAINE 2057Z JUNE 11.

7.      Time Field--is the time the radiogram is received at the station that it sent. Standard practice is to use Universal Coordinated Time (UTC). This part of the preamble is optional with the originating station.

8.      Date--the month and the day (not the year) that the radiogram was filed at the originating station.

9.      Address--is the complete name, street and number, city and state to whom the radiogram is going--stress this when accepting a radiogram. The phone number should be part of the address. In transmitting the message by CW, the signal AA is used to separate parts of the address, and the address is followed by BT or "break" before the text is started. Addresses with the words east, west, etc, should be spelled out in full. Don't use suffixes "th," "nd"etc (example: 19 W 19th St should be 19 West 19 St.

10.  Text--consists of words in the radiogram. No abbreviations should be used. The text follows the address and is set off from the signature by another BT.

11.  Signature--is usually the name of the person originating the message. The signature follows the BT or "break" at the end of the text. The abbreviation "sig" is not transmitted. After the signature, say "end" or transmit AR. If more is to follow, say "more." On CW, use the prosign B. If there's no more, say "no more." On CW use the prosign "N."

LU 9

1. Create a formal ARRL style message using an ARL numbered radiogram text. Be sure the word count is correct.

2. Assume that you are helping a served agency staffer condense a lengthy message. Edit the following message text to reduce the number of words to a minimum, without losing any clarity.

"We need 50 additional cots and blankets at the Roe School shelter, and we also need more food since 20 new people just arrived and we are told another 30 may be coming soon. Please call me and tell me when these supplies will arrive."

3. Go to the ARRL website and look up ARRL Numbered Radiograms: http://www.arrl.org/FandS/field/forms/fsd3.pdf

When you have located the list of Numbered Radiograms, answer the questions that follow. Which of the Radiograms:

A. Indicates that a medical emergency exists?
B. Requests additional radio operators?
C. Offers congratulations on a new baby?
D. Offers greetings for a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
E. Indicates safe arrival.

LU 10

1. List the advantage and disadvantage of each of the following modes for an emcomm operation:

A. Voice net
B. CW net
C. Packet
D. Non-Packet Digital

2. What are the major topics found in ARRL's FSD-218?

LU 11

1. Contact a leader of your local emcomm group. Ask the leader:
A if the emcomm group is affiliated with a specific agency;
B. if there is a local, planned ICS structure and if so;
C. how the emcomm group fits into the local ICS structure.

2. Contact a leader of your local emcomm group. Ask the leader if the emcomm group has ever been activated. If so, what were the lessons learned from operating with local agencies?

3. Suppose that during an emergency activation, you find yourself to be the leader of the local emcomm group. To which agency would you report? To whom within the agency would you report? What would your duties be as leader of the emcomm group?

LU 12

1. Create a jump kit list suitable for your area and assignment.

2. Make a list of contacts and resources to keep in your jump kit.

Complete both tasks and share this information with your mentor.

Optional activities:

1. Go to the FEMA Emergency Management Institute website. (See Resources section above.) List five offerings from the Emergency Management Institute that you feel might be useful to emergency volunteers in your area.

2. The American Red Cross newsletter article listed in the Resource Links of this lesson focuses on the importance of training for disaster workers.

A. According to the newsletter, what action must an individual take before participating in Red Cross sponsored disaster training?
B. Which of the training ideas posed within the newsletter would be valuable to members of an emcomm group?

LU 13

Evaluate the equipment you now own to see if it is suitable for emcomm operation. Make a list of equipment you already own, and a second list of the items you will need to complete a basic emcomm package appropriate to your needs. Share the lists with your mentor.

LU 14

1. List the strengths and weaknesses of the telephone tree as an alerting system.

2. List the strengths and weaknesses of paging as an alerting system.

3. List the strengths and weaknesses of self-activation as an alerting system.

4. Design an emcomm activation system for a seven member team. Be sure to include back up methods.

LU 15

Choose and complete two activities - share the results with your mentor.

1. Suppose that you were given the assignment of coaching a new member of your emcomm group. What six rules would you teach the new member regarding behavior at a served agency?

2. Within this lesson, it was suggested that you pack the equipment needed to get on the air right away in your vehicle last, so that you can get to it first. This is a concept that was developed during WWII, known as "combat loading."

Consider all the gear that you might need for a three-day emcomm assignment. How might you "combat load" your gear in a vehicle?

3. Develop a checklist of actions you should take upon arrival if you were assigned to a different served agency during an emcomm event.

4. Develop a checklist of actions you should take before departing a served agency at the conclusion of an emcomm event.

LU 16

1. Develop a set of "rules" to help a new emcomm group member deal with stress during an emergency.

2. Develop a list of at least five possible served agency jobs that would also require your communication skills.

3. Develop five safety rules pertaining to generators and electrical lines in and near a radio room.

LU 17

Do all of the following, and share the results with your mentor.

1. Prepare a disaster preparedness checklist specifically for your home and family.

2. Prepare a personal-needs checklist for yourself.

3. What are two major disaster threats in your area? For each threat, list five actions you would take as a precaution to protect your home and family.

LU 18

Develop a list of at least three potential uses for non-ham radios in public service or emergency communication efforts in your area. You may base this on past or potential events. Specify which alternate radio system(s) best meets the need of each situation on your list and explain why.

LU 19

Make a list of the natural disasters most likely to occur in your home area, and order them from most to least likely. For the most likely disaster on your list, discuss the preparations made by local emergency communication groups to deal with a related communication emergency.

LU 20

Hazmat - None

LU 21

If you live within fifty miles of a seacoast, a major navigable river, or any of the Great Lakes, identify the U.S Coast Guard station nearest to your community and its telephone number. If not, this activity is not required.

LU 22

Choose and complete two:

1. Consider your own personal radio resources. Of the modes mentioned within this lesson, which would you consider acquiring for your own use? Why? Which would you not consider acquiring? Why not?

2. Select three of the digital modes. Identify the positive and negative aspects of using each of the three in an emcomm situation.

3. Based on the considerations you have identified above, develop a simple communication equipment plan for a small emcomm unit based in a small community. Within your plan, be sure to identify the equipment and modes you would employ.

4. How would the plan you developed above be different if your emcomm group were quite large and located in a large community?

LU 23

Choose the next step you will take to either become involved with a local emcomm group, and/or the next step in your emcomm education.