On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:14:09 -0400, Mike Coslo
wrote:

Cmdr Buzz Corey wrote:
Mike Coslo wrote:


Let me see now... I have a reading comprehension problem... There are
MILLIONS of FRS users compared to 675,000 couch potatoes. What makes
you
think that the proposal for a National SOS Radio Network is going to
make
any changes to Amateur Radio Service response to national disasters?
APPARENTLY, AMATEUR SERVICE FAILED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A NATIONAL
RESPONSE
TO DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE---THAT'S WHY FRS IS
GOING TO
TAKE THE PLACE OF THE AMATEUR SERVICE!




And millions more cell phone users. Let the cell phone users make
up the emergency network, eh?

- Mike KB3EIA -



And we have seen first hand several times lately just how great the cell
phone network performs with all the cell towers out of service.

It just doesn't, does it? The nature of cell phone service is that it
depends on the user having a low power Walkie-talkie, which relies on a
nearby hub where the signal is essentially multiplexed into a larger
system. Lots of "infrastructure" there.

So when a disaster occurs, two things happen. Number one is that the
power in the worst affected area goes out, and the cell phone antenna
sites go onto backup power. At the same time, everyone and their brother
starts calling relatives and friends to let them know that "they are
alright". The combination of the two saturates the local system until
the backup power fails.

The only place that the cell phone system works in emergencies is in a
few of the amateur radio groups, and it only "works" for those who want
to discredit Amateur radio.

gee it works for MSNBC

and it works for hams that don't want to discridt the ARS

And the concept of an FRS network is laughable. It's extreme short
range means that in order to have any chance of working, complete
saturation is needed.

Tin cans and string anyone?


- Mike KB3EIA -

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