RadioBanter - View Single Post

June 20th 04, 09:18 PM

On 20 Jun 2004 13:14:21 GMT, (Steve Robeson K4CAP) wrote:

I am curious about the German callsign that John attributes to being in
Washington state? A typo...?!?!

I presume you're referring to DLA303. Bear in mind that this was
logged in reference to a SHARES exercise in support of GRECIAN
FIREBOLT 2004. DLA303 is one of ten Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
sites that participate in SHARES. DLA303 is the site in Bremerton,
Washington, which also serves as SHARES Coordination Station
Northwest. They have HF voice and ALE as well as digital capabilities
to support the SHARES BBS (PACTOR). DLA303 is the SHARES registered
callsign for this facility, and is similar to tactical callsigns used
by hams during ARES/RACES events.

The difference, of course, is that DLA sites are "licensed" by NTIA,
not FCC, and thus operate under different rules than we do as regards
station identification. They're under no requirement to identify using
their NTIA-assigned callsign. DLA303 obviously is not their
NTIA-issued callsign, since NTIA does follow a callsign allocation
plan that conforms to ITU standards.

As far as I know, all ten of the DLA sites in SHARES use DLA ### calls
(DLA303, DLA302, etc.) rather than their NTIA-issued callsigns. The
DLA obviouly identifies it as a Defense Logistics Agency site. Wher
the numerical part of the call comes from, I have no idea.

I see at least one reference to a Civil Air Patrol station.

Yep - Puerto Rico CAP is their correct State Wing callsign. Like
Florida CAP where you are, or WHITE PEAK where I am.

I DON'T see ANY reference to any Part 15 or other unlicensed devices being
employed or reported. Nor do I see any PLMRS, GMRS, or MURS systems. (Certain
posters here insist they play a "major" role in "emergency comms"...Guess they
will be in the NEXT exercise...?!?!

In all fairness, the frequencies posted were in relation to a military
exercise and to an exercise of a radio net oprated by the civilian
government in support of said military exercise. This is far removed
from the type of "emergency comms" in which GMRS, MURS, FRS, and
Amateur stations would be involved.

In fact, GMRS, MURS, and ham stations have no more business checking
into a SHARES net than they would have coming up on the military
aircraft band and trying to raise Air Force One for a ragchew.
However, all of them (along with CB, marine VHF, and any other radio
on which it is possible to establish communications with another
station) are of potential value in emergency situations. This is
especially true of CB, MURS, and FRS equipment when it is desirable to
be able to directly contact by radio individuals who are not licensed
in one of the other radio services such as GMRS or the ARS.

The emergency management department in Niagara County, NY keeps
several GMRS/FRS portables on hand with just that in mind - which I
did not know until the deputy commissioner of emergency management
personally handed me one during an activation last year so that he
could contact me directly when he wanted to do so.

This is not to say that regular users of GMRS, MURS, FRS, etc. are
routinely written into contingency planning for communications during
disasters, but the equipment used in those services most certainly can
and is routinely procured by emergency management agencies for use
during disasters.

73 DE John D. Kasupski
Tonawanda, New York, USA
Amateur Radio (KC2HMZ), HF/VHF/UHF Monitoring (KNY2VS)
Member ARATS, ARES, RACES, WUN