what is amateur radio and what can it do for you?

What is Amateur Radio What is Amateur Radio and what can it do for and what can it do for

you?you?

What is Amateur What is Amateur Radio?Radio?

Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) isAmateur Radio (Ham Radio) is– a radio service licensed by the Federal a radio service licensed by the Federal

Communications Commission (FCC)Communications Commission (FCC)– established by the Federal established by the Federal

Communications Commission as a Communications Commission as a voluntary, noncommercial voluntary, noncommercial communication servicecommunication service

The Amateur Radio Service is The Amateur Radio Service is founded by the FCC under the founded by the FCC under the following principles:following principles:– Recognition and enhancement of the Recognition and enhancement of the

value of the amateur service to the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, communication service, particularly with particularly with respect to providing emergency respect to providing emergency communicationscommunications


– Continuation and extension of the Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio artthe advancement of the radio art

– Encouragement and improvement of the Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of communications and technical phases of the artthe art


– Expansion of the existing reservoir Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and trained operators, technicians, and electronics expertselectronics experts

– Continuation and extension of the Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill international goodwill


All amateur radio operators are licensed by All amateur radio operators are licensed by the FCC after testing for their class of licensethe FCC after testing for their class of license

There have been amateur radio operators (or There have been amateur radio operators (or “Hams”) around since the beginnings of “Hams”) around since the beginnings of radio communicationsradio communications

Amateur radio operators have been Amateur radio operators have been instrumental in the development and instrumental in the development and advancement of radio communications since advancement of radio communications since its beginningsits beginnings

Currently, there are about 600,000 amateur Currently, there are about 600,000 amateur radio operators licensed in the U.S.radio operators licensed in the U.S.


Communications Communications EmergenciesEmergencies

During times of disasterDuring times of disaster– Normal means of communications can Normal means of communications can

become overloaded or may not exist at allbecome overloaded or may not exist at all Telephone lines may be downTelephone lines may be down Cell phone service may be overloaded or cell Cell phone service may be overloaded or cell

sites may be damaged or out of servicesites may be damaged or out of service Internet and e-mail service may be disruptedInternet and e-mail service may be disrupted Normal radio communications links may Normal radio communications links may

become overloaded or disruptedbecome overloaded or disrupted

Some possible Maine disasters:Some possible Maine disasters:

Communications Communications EmergenciesEmergencies

Any of these can disrupt or overload normal communications links

The Amateur Radio Emergency The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) was established in Service (ARES) was established in 1935 as the Amateur Radio 1935 as the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps by the American Emergency Corps by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL – The Radio Relay League (ARRL – The National Association for Amateur National Association for Amateur Radio) and was later re-designated Radio) and was later re-designated as the Amateur Radio Emergency as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service Service

What is the Amateur What is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service Radio Emergency Service

(ARES)?(ARES)?

ARES consists of licensed amateurs ARES consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public communications duty in the public service when disaster strikesservice when disaster strikes

Every licensed amateur, regardless Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES eligible for membership in the ARES


(ARES)?(ARES)?

The only qualification for The only qualification for membership in ARES, other than membership in ARES, other than possession of an Amateur Radio possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve in license, is a sincere desire to serve in times of needtimes of need

Because ARES is an amateur service, Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateur radio operators are only amateur radio operators are eligible for membership eligible for membership


(ARES)?(ARES)?

The possession of emergency-The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membershipis not a requirement for membership

There are about 60,000 ARES There are about 60,000 ARES members nationally who volunteer members nationally who volunteer their communications skills and their communications skills and equipment during times of disasterequipment during times of disaster


(ARES)?(ARES)?

ARES provides communications ARES provides communications services to served agenciesservices to served agencies– Who are these served agencies?Who are these served agencies?

EMAEMA Public Safety OrganizationsPublic Safety Organizations Disaster Relief OrganizationsDisaster Relief Organizations HospitalsHospitals

What ARES DoesWhat ARES Does

The Amateur Radio Emergency The Amateur Radio Emergency Service provides:Service provides:– Supplemental, backup communications to Supplemental, backup communications to

served agencies whenserved agencies when Normal means of communications are Normal means of communications are

nonexistentnonexistent Normal means of communications are Normal means of communications are

overloadedoverloaded When there is a need for communications When there is a need for communications

between served agencies when it does not between served agencies when it does not exist (interoperability)exist (interoperability)


It does this through:It does this through:– Voice (Tactical) communicationsVoice (Tactical) communications

Both local, regional and long range Both local, regional and long range communications (up to worldwide)communications (up to worldwide)

– Data (Record) communicationsData (Record) communications Both local, regional and long range Both local, regional and long range

communications (up to worldwide)communications (up to worldwide)

– Video communicationsVideo communications Local video broadcasts through amateur Local video broadcasts through amateur

televisiontelevision


What types of messages ARES can What types of messages ARES can handle:handle:– Status or situation reportsStatus or situation reports– Requests for logistics supportRequests for logistics support– Messages between agenciesMessages between agencies– Health and Welfare messagesHealth and Welfare messages


What types of messages ARES What types of messages ARES cannot handle:cannot handle:– Any message that requires encryption or Any message that requires encryption or

is sensitive in natureis sensitive in nature Casualty reportsCasualty reports Medical information that contains a patient’s Medical information that contains a patient’s

personal informationpersonal information Shelter resident lists (that contain sensitive Shelter resident lists (that contain sensitive

information)information)


ARES provides it’s communications ARES provides it’s communications servicesservices– During disastersDuring disasters– During drills and exercisesDuring drills and exercises– During planned public service eventsDuring planned public service events

Such asSuch as– Walk-a-thonsWalk-a-thons– Bike ridesBike rides– Foot racesFoot races


Don’t let the word “amateur” in Don’t let the word “amateur” in amateur radio confuse youamateur radio confuse you– Amateur radio operators are Amateur radio operators are

professionalsprofessionals Many work in the communications industryMany work in the communications industry They have to take tests to become licensedThey have to take tests to become licensed They are trained in emergency They are trained in emergency

communications techniquescommunications techniques They are trained in the Incident Command They are trained in the Incident Command

System and NIMSSystem and NIMS


In addition to not being able to handle In addition to not being able to handle sensitive messages, Amateur Radio sensitive messages, Amateur Radio cannotcannot– Handle normal day to day communicationsHandle normal day to day communications– Cannot handle communications for profit Cannot handle communications for profit

making organizations (in their business)making organizations (in their business)

This is due to FCC regulations regarding the This is due to FCC regulations regarding the Amateur Radio ServiceAmateur Radio Service

What ARES Can’t DoWhat ARES Can’t Do

What to do before asking for ARES What to do before asking for ARES supportsupport– Evaluate your needsEvaluate your needs

Do you have a communications emergency?Do you have a communications emergency? Are your communications overloaded or Are your communications overloaded or

nonexistent?nonexistent?

– Know what you needKnow what you need What type of communication is needed?What type of communication is needed? How many radio operators do you need?How many radio operators do you need? Where are they to be located?Where are they to be located? How long will they be needed?How long will they be needed?

Contacting ARESContacting ARES

What to do before asking for ARES What to do before asking for ARES supportsupport– Request ARES SupportRequest ARES Support

Through your county ARES Emergency Through your county ARES Emergency CoordinatorCoordinator


Things to rememberThings to remember– ARES is a limited resourceARES is a limited resource

There is not a “bottomless pit” of ARES There is not a “bottomless pit” of ARES membersmembers

ARES members will be dispatched on the ARES members will be dispatched on the basis of the greatest needbasis of the greatest need

Do not request ARES support for potential Do not request ARES support for potential locationslocations

– If those locations have working communications If those locations have working communications linkslinks

– Exhaust or overload your own communications Exhaust or overload your own communications capabilities firstcapabilities first

– Please do not overstaffPlease do not overstaff


Things to rememberThings to remember– ARES members are ARES members are notnot first responders first responders

ARES is a support organizationARES is a support organization ARES members are volunteersARES members are volunteers ARES members are not on call 24/7ARES members are not on call 24/7 It may take as long as 4 hours to fully It may take as long as 4 hours to fully

mobilize ARESmobilize ARES


Things to rememberThings to remember– ARES partners with served agenciesARES partners with served agencies

ARES does not become a part of your ARES does not become a part of your organizationorganization


ARES would be happy to meet with ARES would be happy to meet with you to discuss and evaluate your you to discuss and evaluate your emergency communications needsemergency communications needs– What you haveWhat you have– How it could be improvedHow it could be improved– What you might needWhat you might need– How ARES could fill any shortfallsHow ARES could fill any shortfalls

Additional ARES Additional ARES SupportSupport

ARES can offer licensing classes to ARES can offer licensing classes to train your staff in becoming amateur train your staff in becoming amateur radio operators to further enhance radio operators to further enhance your emergency communications your emergency communications capabilitiescapabilities

ARES can present programs to your ARES can present programs to your group on how to improve their group on how to improve their existing communications capabilitiesexisting communications capabilities


ARES can help you with your ARES can help you with your emergency communications needsemergency communications needs– During disastersDuring disasters– During drills or exercisesDuring drills or exercises– For planned public service eventsFor planned public service events


For further information about ARES For further information about ARES and how it can help you, contact:and how it can help you, contact:

Your county ARES Emergency Your county ARES Emergency CoordinatorCoordinator


what is amateur radio and what can it do for you?

Documents

amateur radio ham radio

amateur service

amateur radio emergency

radio art encouragement

emergency communications

email service

service internet

communications emergencies