The Comm Room
  • Home
    • About Me
    • Personal Website
  • Amateur Radio
    • SkyWarn >
      • What is SkyWarn?
      • Getting Started
      • What Do I Report?
      • Severe WX Reporting
      • Spotter Safety
      • Overpass Safety?
      • SkyWarn in Arizona
    • Public Service & Events >
      • 10 Ways to Optimize Your Effectiveness
      • Are You Making a Difference?
    • ARES Information >
      • ARES Net
      • Prowords
    • Emergency Communications >
      • Emergency & Disaster Radio Operating Procedures
      • ECom Do's & Don'ts
      • Emergency Management Cycle
    • Training
    • EMCOMM Bulletins >
      • RACES >
        • 1995-96
        • 1996
    • Virtual QSL Wall
  • Incident Command
    • DHS Position Paper on NIMS & the ICS
  • Emergency Preparedness
    • Emergency First Aid >
      • First Aid for Pets
    • Planning For Pets
  • Social Media
    • Social Media vs Ham Radio
  • Links & Awards
    • SkyWarn Links
    • Public Service Links
    • ECom Links
    • ICS/NIMS Links
    • Emergency Prep. Links
    • Training Links
  • Radio Logs
    • Contest Log
  • Photos

2000-01 EmComm Bulletins

TO: Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
TO: Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
FROM: Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

Back

EMC274 - ALE Experiences 4/5

1/29/2001

0 Comments

 
During system development I conducted several tests from the ACS CommCenter to a group of selected ALE addresses placed in several locations up and down the state. A computer was used for a MANUAL automated "call." That took 1/2 hour for the computer-controlled radio to go through the process of trying to connect to each of the 
stations. The same process with non-ALE could have been done in 2 minutes or less per station by a trained HF operator. My report said that such testing was inherently self-defeating and that such system testing should be reversed--that is, the link testing should occur from the other end; that is at the "slave" unit, not the "master," which is how the FEMA radio is TESTED manually. Later tests were more successful. This illustrates the need to set the system up in its most effective manner from a design standpoint.

Today, the OASIS System ALE program with the Motorola XF radio is under further study as a public-safety system. It was never designed as an ACS system although the ACS supports and operates public-safety systems when required. OES has acquired the newer MICOM 2E and it is being evaluated. The future of the HF radio ALE system for OASIS will likely depend on how it is considered in future plans, and whether legislative funding is available.

Harris ALE

State OES uses a Harris ALE radio that is funded and maintained by FEMA. It is rack-mounted in two six-foot-high cabinets in a separate vault from the State Warning Center. It is a 2500-watt radio using diversity receivers, internal modem, and data system. It is a technician's dream to service, with easily accessible components in pullout sections. The radio controller unit (the size of large amateur HF receiver) provides an error report coded to a manual that details what has failed for all units except the power supply.

While ALE can be operated from the radio itself, for day-to-day needs it is set for remote access. That remote access is a black push-button type telephone handset that sits on a console in the State Warning Center and the ACS Comm Center. Except for manual operations in non-ALE mode, the personnel need NOT go to the radio to use it for FEMA ALE contacts. They do NOT need to know how to operate the radio, only how to use a handset and dial the station-call codes.

To use the system the operator lifts the telephone handset and dials a three-number code, NOT the radio call sign. An internal radio controller selects the right channel and sends a signal over that channel to the called station. The handset at the called station rings, and the person lifts the handset and talks to the person calling via the radio. There is no operator at the radio; it is unattended and operates automatically pursuant to commands of the built-in controller unit.

Continues next bulletin.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    A Decade Of Emcomm
    Ale Experiences
    Amateur Radio Withdrawn!
    A Passion For Emcomm
    Are We Prepared?
    Assumptions Kill!
    Because They Care!
    Bulletin Focus
    Comfort Is An Emcomm Unit
    Confined Space Response
    Do You Know What I Mean?
    DSW Coverage Begins?
    Dsw Rules Changes
    Emergency Preparedness
    Exercise En Masse!
    Gila County EMARC (AZ)
    Hidden Jewels
    How Do You Activate?
    How Many To Involve?
    How To Create An Emcomm Unit
    Images
    Important Documents
    Indecision Can Kill
    Informing Officials
    Internet Rims
    Is RACES Unique?
    It Takes Time
    Management Or Operations
    Mutual Aid 2000
    Mutual Aid Recap
    Net Control - A Perspective
    Nsep And Shares
    Operations Techniques
    Pabulum Or Popcorn?
    Preparedness Partners
    Quakes In Mind
    Quick Quotes 1
    RACES - Amateurs Only?
    Races And The Acs
    RACES & FEMA
    Races History
    RACES History - 4
    RACES History - DCS Unit
    RACES History & FLAMES
    Races One Hour Rule
    Resource Directories!!
    Sharing Ideas
    Shortage Of Hams
    Solving The Impossible
    Statewide Comm Drill
    Successful Emcomm Units
    Synchronicity & You?
    Training Test Matrix
    Unit Activation
    Unit Life And Death
    Unit Organization
    Unsuccessful Units
    Use Volunteers? Y/N
    Volunteer Awards
    Volunteer Management
    We Don't Need It!
    Who Writes The Bulletins?
    Why We Volunteer
    Wildfire Volunteers
    Working With Volunteers
    Y2k & Good Timing

    Archives

    December 2001
    November 2001
    October 2001
    September 2001
    August 2001
    July 2001
    June 2001
    May 2001
    April 2001
    March 2001
    February 2001
    January 2001
    December 2000
    November 2000
    October 2000
    September 2000
    August 2000
    July 2000
    June 2000
    May 2000
    April 2000
    March 2000
    February 2000
    January 2000

    ACS Bulletins

    The Bulletins are addressed to the Emergency Management Agency (with sub-addresses to others) with the intent that the Radio Officer, ACS Coordinator or other unit participant will deliver them to the agency coordinator, and discuss their topics.

    RSS Feed

Search This Site:



© Copyright 2009-2022, David M. French.

All original content by David M French is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Other names, titles, and images are registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations. All rights reserved.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.