ARES and ARES and Georgia Public Georgia Public BroadcastingBroadcasting

John A. Davis – WB4QDXJohn A. Davis – WB4QDX

District Emergency CoordinatorDistrict Emergency Coordinator

Georgia Public BroadcastingGeorgia Public Broadcasting

January 28, 2006January 28, 2006

BackgroundBackground

In 2005, MOU executed between ARES and OHS/GEMA In 2005, MOU executed between ARES and OHS/GEMA establishing official cooperation with State of Georgiaestablishing official cooperation with State of Georgia

As a state-affiliated agency, GPB proposes to supplement As a state-affiliated agency, GPB proposes to supplement OHS/GEMA emergency planning with state-owned tower OHS/GEMA emergency planning with state-owned tower sitessites

Georgia Public Broadcasting developed RFP for digital TV Georgia Public Broadcasting developed RFP for digital TV conversion and upgrades to transmitter sitesconversion and upgrades to transmitter sites

GPB includes commercial-grade amateur antennas and GPB includes commercial-grade amateur antennas and transmission lines in TV tower upgradestransmission lines in TV tower upgrades

Georgia ARES designated to manage amateur radio use at Georgia ARES designated to manage amateur radio use at GPB tower sites to support emergency communicationsGPB tower sites to support emergency communications

ARES created new DEC position to support GPB ARES created new DEC position to support GPB relationshiprelationship

ARES OpportunityARES Opportunity

Utilize GPB tower sites to develop Utilize GPB tower sites to develop statewide amateur radio network for statewide amateur radio network for emergency communicationsemergency communications

Commercial-grade antennas and low-Commercial-grade antennas and low-loss transmission lines available for loss transmission lines available for amateur radio use at each siteamateur radio use at each site

Building space and electrical power Building space and electrical power provided at sitesprovided at sites

GPB Television GPB Television TowersTowers Nine TV towersNine TV towers

– Atlanta: Atlanta: WGTV / 8 WGTV / 8 – Albany: Albany: WABW / 14WABW / 14– Augusta: Augusta: WCES / 20WCES / 20– Chatsworth: Chatsworth: WCLP / 18WCLP / 18– Columbus: Columbus: WJSP / 28WJSP / 28– Dawson: Dawson: WACS / 25WACS / 25 – Macon: Macon: WDCO / 29WDCO / 29 – Savannah: Savannah: WVAN / 9 WVAN / 9

– Waycross: Waycross: WXGA / 8WXGA / 8

GPB Radio GPB Radio TransmittersTransmitters Some Radio tower Some Radio tower

sites may be availablesites may be available– Albany: 91.7 FM WUNVAlbany: 91.7 FM WUNV– Athens: 91.7/97.9 FM WUGA Athens: 91.7/97.9 FM WUGA – Augusta: 90.7 FM WACGAugusta: 90.7 FM WACG– Brunswick: 88.9 FM WWIOBrunswick: 88.9 FM WWIO– Carrollton: 90.7 FM WUWGCarrollton: 90.7 FM WUWG– Columbus: 88.1 FM WJSPColumbus: 88.1 FM WJSP– Demorest:88.3 FM WPPRDemorest:88.3 FM WPPR– Dahlonega: 89.5 FM WNGUDahlonega: 89.5 FM WNGU– Fort Gaines: 90.9 FM WJWVFort Gaines: 90.9 FM WJWV– Macon: 89.7 FM WDCOMacon: 89.7 FM WDCO– Savannah: 91.1 FM WSVH Savannah: 91.1 FM WSVH – St. Marys: 1190 AM WWIOSt. Marys: 1190 AM WWIO– Tifton: 91.1 FM WABRTifton: 91.1 FM WABR– Valdosta: 91.7 FM WWETValdosta: 91.7 FM WWET– Waycross: 90.1 FM WXVSWaycross: 90.1 FM WXVS

ARES Network ARES Network DevelopmentDevelopment Georgia ARES should develop statewide Georgia ARES should develop statewide

voice and data network planvoice and data network plan Determine site equipment required at Determine site equipment required at

each siteeach site Utilize local ARES groups and amateur Utilize local ARES groups and amateur

radio clubs for equipment and radio clubs for equipment and maintenancemaintenance

Approve site use by ARES or affiliated Approve site use by ARES or affiliated groups who agree to support network plangroups who agree to support network plan

GPB Site Use CriteriaGPB Site Use Criteria

Equipment to be installed and operated Equipment to be installed and operated consistent with ARES network planconsistent with ARES network plan

Repeaters or other equipment to be owned and Repeaters or other equipment to be owned and operated by local ARES groups or affiliated operated by local ARES groups or affiliated groupsgroups

Users to execute GPB approved Site Use Users to execute GPB approved Site Use AgreementAgreement

Liability insurance to be provided by userLiability insurance to be provided by user Unrestricted use by ARES for training and Unrestricted use by ARES for training and

emergency communicationsemergency communications Available for open amateur use during non-Available for open amateur use during non-

emergency conditionsemergency conditions

Where are we?Where are we?

GPB site upgrades/digital conversion vendor to GPB site upgrades/digital conversion vendor to be selected in the next few weeksbe selected in the next few weeks

Site work to be completed over next 2 to 3 Site work to be completed over next 2 to 3 yearsyears

First Site Agreement completed with Americus First Site Agreement completed with Americus Amateur Radio Association for 2m repeater on Amateur Radio Association for 2m repeater on WACS–TV in Dawson using existing commercial WACS–TV in Dawson using existing commercial antennaantenna

National Weather Service discussing Mesonet National Weather Service discussing Mesonet data network with GPB/ARES using amateur data network with GPB/ARES using amateur radioradio

Next StepsNext Steps

Develop Georgia ARES voice and data Develop Georgia ARES voice and data network strategynetwork strategy

Determine equipment requirements at Determine equipment requirements at each site to support networkeach site to support network

Recruit and approve local groups to Recruit and approve local groups to install and maintain equipment at each install and maintain equipment at each site as GPB upgrades are completedsite as GPB upgrades are completed

Site Use InquiriesSite Use Inquiries

Contact John Davis – WB4QDXContact John Davis – WB4QDX

wb4qdx at wb4qdx at arrl.netarrl.net