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


Keith, ZS5WFD, in his command vehicle, operating ZS5DCC

 

 

News

Sand and Surf Paddle Ski Event, 17 July
Registration will be from 05H00 - 05h50 on race day. Starting times will be as follows: - 06H30 Single Skis 07H00 Double Skis

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"


Both the Comrades (30 May 2010) and the Dusi Mfula cycle race (05 June 2010) were Hamnet success stories.  Have a look at the gallery for more pictures.

Hamnet had another successful event with the Tour Natal Rally on 6/7 March 2010.

More pics can be found here


The MODIS Rapid Response System was developed to provide daily satellite images of the Earth's landmasses in near real time. True-color, photo-like imagery and false-color imagery are available within a few hours of being collected, making the system a valuable resource for organizations....submitted by ZR5BBL.  More information


The National Road Traffic Act  (submitted by ZS5DGR)


Upcoming Events

5 June Hamnet quarterly meeting
11 September Hamnet quarterly meeting
11 December Hamnet quarterly meeting

15 January 2010 - From the SARL forum by ZS6BUU:

"My apologies for this late entry but as you can imagine, since Wednesday morning, I have been up to my eyebrows with involvement in this tragedy that took place in Haiti.

Suffice to say, we are involved but not as much as the relief organisations in the USA. A team from the Off Road Rescue Organisation under the control of Ivor Rimmer ZR6IVR and Bruce Hepburn ZR6BDH - both Hamnet members, are on their way to Haiti to assist with relief operations. The head of Gauteng Disaster Management Colin Deiner is also in the team.

Hamnet is involved from an IRESC point of view and Francois will be operating as Net Controller over the weekend giving the other operators from around the world an opportunity to take a well earned break.

The IRESC Conference Room is a hive of activity with as many as 120 operators from around the world on stand by to assist where possible.

Because we are so far removed from the disaster area and because propagation is poor, our best way of assisting and helping is via Echolink, and we will continue to do this and be involved as long as is necessary.

We have been flooded with data, information and feedback from information posted in the IRESC Database - not only reports from Haiti but also requests for information of family and friends from around the world.

This is a monumental disaster - never seen before and pictures from the area indicate total destruction of many parts of the city of Port au Prince!

The main priority at present is to establish effective communication links from the Island to relief organisations around the world but in particular to the USA.

The airport is still closed to commercial traffic and only open to relief flights.

We will keep you posted as to what is happening and fill you in with information as we feel it is necessary.

Should you need information of friends or family in Haiti, please visit the IRESC web site at www.iresc.org At the top of the page - in red - is a request "send us emergency information" This is recorded in the Database and is passed on to Red Cross.

It is going to be a very busy few weeks!

Francois Botha - National Director HAMNET and IRESC Officer."


The Asishove and Amashova cycles races on 17 and 18 October was a success, in spite of trying conditions and lines communication.  Visit the photo gallery for more pictures.


Keith has secured a repeater for the Windy Hill site, and has had it programmed for the correct frequency.  He has acquired cavity filters, and is having them tuned.  As soon as this is done, we will install the repeater at the Windy Hill repeater site

 

Successful field day at the New Germany Nature reserve
(more photos)


06/07 June 2009 - Dusi Mfula Cycle Race

Hamnet KZN assisted with emergency communications once again on both days of the race.  Radio communication proved to be vital again, not only for requesting  medical assistance, but for logistics as well.

Further details and results of the race can be found here

 

Copyright ©2009 HAMNET KZN.  All rights reserved.  Last Modified: 13/07/2010 08:46