November, 2004 | |
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The Trinidad Guardian Newspapers-Online Edition Ver 2.0 Wednesday 8th September, 2004
Hail the Radiomen
By Kerry Peters
While most of Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) slept through Hurricane Ivan's rumblings in the Atlantic, a few amateur
radiomen were busy at the controls.
"Nine, Yankee, Five, Tango, Hotel, Alpha, Over..."
The time is 3 am and Michael Brown is trying to reach the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). Six men huddled
together in a corner on the ground floor of National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA's) headquarters
in Tacarigua, trying to keep 1.3 milion people in touch and informed. The radiomen were busy dispatching
updates to several emergency agencies, some as far as Grenada, on Ivan's movements.
Looking at the set-up, you would think there was nothing major about their operation, but Joanne Persad,
acting director at NEMA, said they were part of the country's last line of defence. If a disaster happened, they
wouldbe instrumental in keeping the country connected with the rest of the world.
"We could communicate with Australia if we wanted, and the systems are wireless, so we do not have to worry
about TSTT's lines (the local telephone provider) going down," Persad said. To do this effectively, the six
rotated. It was the only way to track Ivan, dispense information and stay wide awake every second. Brown is
president of the group, the T&T Amateur Radio League. He said it is the only legally registered amateur radio
body in the country. "We recently came to NEMA and offered to assist the Government with disaster
preparedness, but we had no idea we would be called up so soon," he said. When Ivan started to grumble,
the first thing they did was to ensure the safety of their families, he said. They then headed for NEMA's
headquarters to take up duty, voluntarily. Even more surprising, Brown said working the radios was just a
hobby. There are clerks among them and he himself teaches full-time at the Sangre Grande SDA Primary
School. What's more, they are all trained to operate various frequencies. "As soon as I realised what was
happening with the hurricane, I left my home. That was yesterday (Monday) evening." He said Ivan kept them
busy. "When the Met Office issues a release, it goes to NEMA by fax, then it comes to us and we relay
information to several agencies, especially the regional corporations, the police and the Fire Service."
As the hours ticked by, Ivan had made his way so close to Tobago that his unwelcome presence could be
sensed all the way at NEMA's headquarters in Trinidad, where the Guardian correspondent had dug in for the
night. And Brown was still on the radio keeping us in step: "Nine, Yankee, Five..."
(Thanks, Ian, N3CVA, for sending us the above)
ARRL Member Named to Key Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Post
The FCC has named Michael J. Wilhelm, WS6BR, of Washington, D.C., as chief of the Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau's Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division. The division deals with
Amateur Radio Service issues, and the appointment makes Wilhelm -- a League member -- the first amateur
licensee in several years to hold such a position within the FCC. Wilhelm replaces D'wana Terry, whom WTB
Chief John Muleta named to be his chief of staff and associate bureau chief. Terry headed the Public
Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division and its predecessor, the Public Safety and Private Wireless
Division for six years. Wilhelm most recently served as the division's deputy chief (legal). In his new post,
he will oversee all policy, regulatory and licensing matters related to public safety entities, critical
infrastructure industries and private wireless radio services. Among Wilhelm's staffers is Bill Cross, W3TN,
ARRL member and FCC figure well-known within the amateur community.
Deadline is December 31 for WAS/90 AWARD
There is still time to make your 50 contacts to qualify for the ARL Worked All States in the 90th Award.
No QSLs are necessary, just fill out the application showing the contacts you've logged. To be valid for
the award, all contacts must be made between 0000 UTC on April 3, 2004 and 2359 UTC on
December 31, 2004. WAS in the 90th applications will be accepted through 2005. For more information,
visit the WAS in the 90th Web page http://www.arrl.org/awards/was-90
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