On The Cover: January 2003

On the Cover

If a plane crashed on the border ... between Sarasota and Manatee Counties in Florida, emergency management officials from both counties (including hams) would know how to respond, having practiced just such a scenario at the drill pictured on our cover this month. On the cover, Ron Wetjen, WD4AHZ, transmits live video back to the Sarasota Emergency Radio Club's communications trailer, where county RACES Officer Al Alviani, N4LML (inset), monitors the pictures and retransmits them at higher power back to the county's Emergency Operating Center (EOC). Sarasota County has just bought the group an ATV repeater, with which it is hoped that they will be able to provide video coverage back to the EOC from anywhere in the county. The county has also provided funding for outfitting two identical communications trailers plus two collapsible 100-foot towers for setting up at disaster scenes. The ARES/RACES group makes extensive use of amateur television in its emergency communications operations.

In addition to 434-MHz ATV equipment, each van is outfitted with HF, VHF and UHF ham gear, along with radios for the county's 800-MHz trunked radio system plus emergency management, forestry, marine and CB radios as well. Each van has a generator for its own power, plus a second generator to power the electric winch on each tower. For more on using amateur television in emergency and public service communications, see this month's "Public Service" column on page XX. (Cover photos by Larry Mulvehill,WB2ZPI)

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