Amateur Radio in an Emergency

[taugust]

I thought I would post an experience I had today using ham radio in an emergency.

I made a trip from my home near Julian, CA to Borrego Springs. I was driving my mother's car and had my Icom HT and scanner. I usually carry some ham radio with me, no matter where I go. On the return trip, I encountered a motorcycle accident on Montezuma Grade, miles from any town. The rider had gone too fast (80 mph) into a curve rated at 30 mph and contacted the guard rail and posts. He was not moving, but conscious and responsive. No one could get cell reception in the remote high desert hills. I tried the Palomar repeaters but could not get them. I only had the rubber duck antenna. I was able to contact a station in San Diego on the Monument Peak repeater (near Mt. Laguna), who then called 911. The repeater was over 22 miles away, over several mountain ranges. Not bad for 5 watts and no external antenna.

EMS arrived within 10 minutes from Ranchita and Sheriff and CHP from Borrego Springs. I don't know his condition, but the rider was airlifted out via Mercy Air.

It just goes to show that ham radio works when and where your cell phone won't. Now that I think of it, I could have made the call myself on that repeater, since I am a member and could have made an autopatch call. I need to memorize the autopatch commands. Oh well.

 

[SinCityFJC]

Great write up & the type of situation that got me to finally take exam today for Tech license - passed & should know call sign next week.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Nice work, KG6WFV. Thanks for the report.

 

[adventureduo]

Right on, one of the many reasons for us having HAM in our rig at all times. Good deal you helped out.

 

[HMR]

Nice work!!!

 

[TheRoadie]

Great effort - hooray for technology and knowing how to use it.

I I haven't joined the Palomar Club yet, but I noticed a footnote on their repeater list that they no longer run an autopatch. Anybody know if it just wasn't something the members wanted to continue to pay for, or enough folks monitor the frequency that you can almost always get a human on the air? Or was it being abused?

 

[taugust]

Great effort - hooray for technology and knowing how to use it.

I I haven't joined the Palomar Club yet, but I noticed a footnote on their repeater list that they no longer run an autopatch. Anybody know if it just wasn't something the members wanted to continue to pay for, or enough folks monitor the frequency that you can almost always get a human on the air? Or was it being abused?

I don't know about the Palomar Club. I am a member of the East County Repeater Assn., since I mainly use their Palomar and Monument Peak repeaters. Both of those and others have autopatch. Also, the Monument Peak repeater is permanently linked with repeaters going across the desert (CALZONA system), including Black Mtn, Yuma, Phoenix, and points in between. That's a nice resource to have available. A ham in San Diego can speak directly with hams all across the desert to Phoenix. Pretty cool.

 

[Blair G]

That was a great job. I need to get my license. For local stuff I carry my Icom work radio so that I can contact people in the event of an emergency where my Cellphone does not work.

Blair

 

[taugust]

Great write up & the type of situation that got me to finally take exam today for Tech license - passed & should know call sign next week.

Congratulations. Great job. My 13 year old son passed his exam 2 weeks ago, after only 2 weeks of study with an old book. He is scheduled to take the General exam next week after 3 weeks on that book. He is stoked.

That should tell those of you who are apprehensive about the exam that it isn't difficult.

Also, several of those stopped in the backup were impressed that I could get out and asked how they could get the radio and license. Maybe some new hams soon.

 

[SinCityFJC]

Congratulations. Great job. My 13 year old son passed his exam 2 weeks ago, after only 2 weeks of study with an old book. He is scheduled to take the General exam next week after 3 weeks on that book. He is stoked.

That should tell those of you who are apprehensive about the exam that it isn't difficult.

Also, several of those stopped in the backup were impressed that I could get out and asked how they could get the radio and license. Maybe some new hams soon.

Thanks Tim

I was your sons age when I 1st got my ham license & will upgrade to general also. Local "las vegas" 4x4 clubs are encouraging members to get their ham licenses and last month we had CPR training @ a club meeting. Two great things to have just in case.

 

[Clark White]

So I've been wanting to get a HAM and my license, think I've picked out the HAM, (Yeasu?), but I have no idea how to go about getting my license. Is this something that can be done online, or do I need to find an FCC office?

Clark

 

[SinCityFJC]

So I've been wanting to get a HAM and my license, think I've picked out the HAM, (Yeasu?), but I have no idea how to go about getting my license. Is this something that can be done online, or do I need to find an FCC office?

Clark

Find local/closest Ham radio club, there members usually give the tests. Should be able to find club via ARRL's site.

A place for toys, study materials ect. Amateur Electronic Supply www.aesham.com

ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio www.arrl.org

FCC Amateur Radio License Practice Pages http://www.aa9pw.com/radio/

Ham Test Online http://www.hamtestonline.com/

 

[Clark White]

Thank you much!

Clark

 

[nwoods]

I I tried the Palomar repeaters but could not get them. I only had the rubber duck antenna. I was able to contact a station in San Diego on the Monument Peak repeater (near Mt. Laguna), who then called 911. The repeater was over 22 miles away, over several mountain ranges. Not bad for 5 watts and no external antenna.

Awesome report. I am a new ham, and have much to learn still. Please help me understand how you accomplished this rescue call. How did you find the Monument peak repeater? Once you found it, how did you know what the offset was?

Do you carry a book of repeaters around? If so, where did you get the book, and what is it called? Is it for San Diego area only, or national, or...?

For me, I can scan freq's, but if a repeater is not actively transmitting, I don't know how I'd find it? And once I heard something, I have no idea how to figure out how to connect to it, or if it's an open repeater or closed.

I'd love to have a better fundamental use of my gear, but this information is hard to come by.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Please help me understand how you accomplished this rescue call.

Tim, specifics?

How did you find the Monument peak repeater? Once you found it, how did you know what the offset was?

Do you carry a book of repeaters around? If so, where did you get the book, and what is it called? Is it for San Diego area only, or national, or...?

The ARRL publishes a pocketbook of repeaters every year. I keep this in my truck all the time. Mine is getting a little old, 2005/06, but things change fairly slowly and so you don't need a new one every year. Replacing it every few years is fine.

http://www.arrl.org/catalog/index.php3?category=FM+&+Repeaters

Also, checking repeater association websites, etc. I have a bunch programmed into my radios for Colorado and part of Utah and Wyoming. I also carry lists for places I'm going.

Offsets are set for the USA at 600KHz for 2m and 5MHz for 70cm. On 2 meters, the offset is always plus on 147.xxxMHz and minus otherwise on 145.xxx and 146.xxx frequencies. Most radios made in the past few years do repeater offsets automatically since most band plans designate the same range of frequencies for repeater use.

As an example, this is what Colorado's band plan looks like:

2m: http://www.ccarc.net/images/CCARC_FUP_144MHz_revB.pdf

70cm: http://www.ccarc.net/images/CCARC_FUP_420MHz_revB.pdf

For me, I can scan freq's, but if a repeater is not actively transmitting, I don't know how I'd find it? And once I heard something, I have no idea how to figure out how to connect to it, or if it's an open repeater or closed.

Closed or open, that you do need to check the ARRL book or if you know who owns it, their website or call the owner.

Once you know the output frequency (this is the one you listen to), you can figure out the input frequency by either subtracting or adding the offset. On 2m, an output of 146.805MHz (the one you hear), would mean you transmit on 146.205MHz to get into the repeater. The only piece you need to know is the PL tone (or maybe a DCS, a different type of tone) and that's it.