WHEN ALL FAILS AMATEUR RADIO SUCCEEDS 

Something has gone terribly wrong. Normal ways of doing things are not working. The fastest way to turn an emergency into a full disaster is to lose communications.  Radio Amateurs understand emergencies. For over 70 years they have provided emergency communications for organisations. When normal ways of communication fail or get overloaded Radio Amateurs will be there.  

HAMNET, the National Emergency Communications division of the South African Radio League (SARL), provides communications for emergencies and can mobilise experienced communicators who with their own radio equipment will back up official channels or take over when all else fails.

The SARL represents all Radio Amateurs in South Africa at all levels of Government and through the IARU at the International telecommunications Union.  Radio Amateurs or "Hams" use two-way radio communication to make contact with other radio amateurs all over the world. They are even able to use satellites and on occasion speak with astronauts. Radio Hams can do this from home or while mobile in cars, boats or on foot.

Radio Hams have a full range or communication modes at their disposal. These include plain voice, Morse code, numerous digital computer modes and even graphical modes like television. A licensed radio amateur is able to join in experiments using all these modes.

HAMNET is a voluntary group of amateurs who make their unique communication skills available to assist and help others in distress during and after disasters. HAMNET is represented on the sub-committee of the South African Search & Rescue Organisation. Training Modules are available either from your Provincial Director or from the National director via e-mail.

HAMNET forms part of the Constitution of the South African Radio League which means that you have to be a member of the SARL to be a member of HAMNET. All information on HAMNET is available on the web site of the SARL.

The SARL is a founder member of the International Amateur Radio Union and as part of it's charter, is required to operate an emergency communications division which is charged with providing accurate and efficient communications in times of natural and other disasters, and when life or property is endangered.

This task has been delegated to HAMNET which is the SARL's emergency communications arm.

The members of Hamnet KZN are also actively involved in assisting with communications on numerous sporting events. During these events, normal means of communication by cell phone do not work due to various reasons, including traffic congestion of cell phone towers, and difficult terrain, such as deep valley where no cell phone coverage is found.  Our Hamnet members have the ability to set up radio equipment in these environments for successful communication lines, enabling critical race and safety information to be relayed from the field to the central command centre.

Some of the regular events Hamnet are involved in include:

• Comrades Marathon
• Tour Natal Motor Rally
• Dusi Mfula Cycle race
• Tour d'Urban
• Scottbugh to Brighton Beach Sand and Surf Marathon
• Amashovashova Cycle Race

A safety mobile phone number for emergencies as well as for notifying the Race Referee of withdrawals is REX 072 501 8363 . The onus is on the competitor to notify the Race Referee of his/her withdrawal. The costs of any search resulting from a competitor not notifying the organisers of his or her withdrawal will be borne by the competitor. (A helicopter search can cost up to R 5 000,00 per hour.)

Race Course Alternative in Adverse Paddling Conditions
- Adverse Conditions Are Defined as:
1. NE Headwind blowing at 6am on Race Day 2. NE predicted at >12knots at 10am.

Start at Scottburgh, Paddle 23km Headwind to Winkle, Turn @ Winkle and Paddle downwind back to Scottburgh

Operator positions :
Peter ZS5SK - Start Shaun ZS5C - Windy Corner
Dave ZS5HN - Greenpoint Dave ZS5HN - Dakota Beach
Duncan ZS5DGR - Umkomaas Norman ZS5NF - Vee Cutting
Geoff ZS5AGM - Winkel Deon ZS5DD - Race Control Brighton Beach
Mike ZS5ML - Toti Beach Phil ZR5VC - Race Control

Dave ZS5HN will brief operators on Friday 16 July at 19h30 via 145-625. I will assist with a relay onto 145-600.

Instructions for the rubber ducks:
"IRB 1&2: IRB 1 (2?) to launch at start of race 06h30.  Slowly make way north. IRB 1 ready to launch, but will stay on beach until all paddlers have passed backline.  They must assist any paddlers after wipe out.  This duck will patrol around the last paddler until hand over at Karridene to IRB 4,5 and 2nd Winkle IRB (IRB 10 not on list)

Umtam IRB 3: Must launch at start and patrol between IRB 1 and 2 until Karridene.  IRB 3 must then collect IRB 1 & 2 radios.  They will then patrol field to Toti.  At Toti they will beach after last paddler and hand over 3 radios to check in table for paddlers.

Winkle/Warners.  IRB 6:  Must be in position off Karridene Hotel between 07h15 and 07h30.  They must patrol field between Karridene and the canal cutting.  At the cutting they must hand over their radios to IRB 9.

Toti Pros 1 IRB 6:  Must be in position at Doonside at 08h15 and patrol the field to the cutting.  Hand over radio to IRB 9.

Toti Pros 2 IRB7: Must be in position on Toti Beach at 08h45 and leave with leaders and patrol to Ansteys.  At the Ansteys they must hand over their radios to IRB 9.

Isipingo IRB 8:  Must take the marker bouy to Ansteys.  Be in position at Ansteys at 09h15.  Radio contact established with O.I.C (Rex 0725018363).  He will instruct where bouy is to be laid.  Must then proceed south to meet leaders.  Return to Ansteys with leaders and direct them to turn bouy.  there after they must operate around turn bouy also insure that all paddlers reach beach safely after rounding turn bouy.  Hand over radio to IRB 9.

Toti LSC IRB 9:  Must be in position at Toti at 08h15.  Will act as rescue  for any wipe outs at Toti until last paddler to Ansteys.  They must collect radioa from IRB 4 to 10.  After last paddler has rounded bouy, lift bouy and take radios and nouy back to Toti for collection on Sunday morning.

All IRB crews have the right to take paddlers off the water if they think that the paddlers are at risk to themselves"