| C.A.P. Emergency Services exercises are known | | | | missions' capabilities. |
| as SAREX's. The practice involves assembling a | | | | Right now in the Amateur world there is some |
| gathering of ground teams that coordinate search | | | | digital technology that is becoming available and it's |
| and rescue with Cap airplane crews. The U.S.A.F. | | | | quite expensive. Once it is more available the price |
| calls Cap for an actual mission usually when an | | | | may come down and just in case anyone is |
| airplane is reported overdue or missing or when | | | | wondering what I'm talking about, it's D-STAR. |
| an emergency locator transmitter E.L.T. is | | | | Cap radios and such, what was/is the reason for |
| monitored on an a/c vhf frequency. This activity | | | | changing radios in the first place? Seems like |
| is rewarding to Cap members who volunteer to | | | | having the H.A.M. radios that can be easily |
| help locate missing persons or provide rescue | | | | modified for Cap and or M.A.R.S. use would, or |
| assistance in disasters. We make extensive use | | | | should have been the way to continue but then |
| of vhf and HF 2 way radios to do the jobs. | | | | again I guess there are many pros and cons to |
| Actually I was thinking there might just happen to | | | | be considered. |
| be some of those here that might have taken | | | | If the new compliant radios are going to be that |
| part of that training/exercise, out of curiosity. You | | | | expensive to which some or many members can |
| see I'm a member of the local Amateur Radio | | | | not purchase them then how can Cap perform its |
| Emergency Service (A.R.E.S.) and Radio Amateur | | | | missions to the high degree it normally does? |
| Civil Emergency Service (R.A.C.E.S.), I'm also | | | | These question may have already been asked |
| considering becoming part of the Citizen | | | | and answered elsewhere in this forum but please |
| Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T) and with | | | | entertain me for awhile and let's open up a |
| me being a veteran of the US Air Force also | | | | discussion about those new compliant radios and |
| having served as a civilian Police Officer at the | | | | what the best possible solution may be. |
| Dothan Airport (in Alabama) I have an interest in | | | | But Cap members aren't required to purchase |
| this. | | | | their own stuff. They may do so if they want |
| Well at least I got a dialogue started here now I'll | | | | extras. National developed plans based on what |
| just have to wait and see if there are any | | | | they thought each unit needed and has been |
| Alabama CAP members to join in the discussion. | | | | distributing radios based on that plan, including |
| Alabama Cap members to join in the discussion. | | | | handheld and mobile (vehicle) units. |
| You'll find that there are many members of | | | | I think we are probably still somewhat lacking in |
| A.R.E.S. that are also members of Cap. The | | | | handheld units for ground teams, however keep in |
| Vertex 150 for example (even if being phased | | | | mind that National never really used to issue them |
| out in Cap) can cover all the Cap repeaters as | | | | at all and those were sort of member/unit |
| well as the ham repeaters. | | | | purchases. So, things are improving. As to the |
| Although we still generally call them "SAREXs", | | | | quality of the radios, I'm not an expert on them, |
| most incorporate disaster relief/photo | | | | just a user. |
| reconnaissance tasks into the scenarios now. I | | | | I know that Cap has been programming in other |
| don't pretend to follow C.A.P Communications | | | | frequencies into the radios that might be helpful |
| closely at all, but I recently did see an article | | | | and at least at the state level there is some |
| saying that every CAP repeater in the country | | | | movement towards getting Cap radios from the |
| was getting replaced. | | | | state that will work with local forces. Not sure |
| The change in repeaters doesn't change my post. | | | | how widespread that is. Given that a lot of states |
| But the change to narrow band does. After Oct | | | | are still struggling with that issue for their primary |
| 2007, all Cap radios must be narrow band, which | | | | response agencies, Cap probably isn't at the top |
| means the market will be flooded with used | | | | of their agendas. |
| personal radios (unless the member is also a ham) | | | | This process has been going on for almost 10 |
| The change also means that Cap communications | | | | years so it's something we've been dealing with |
| will be severely limited because of the cost of | | | | for a while. Since the A.F. has ponies up a lot of |
| radios that comply with the new standards. Many | | | | money to buy radios, it has eased a lot of |
| members can't afford the price of the radios. | | | | worries that were there at the beginning. Probably |
| Would there be any type of grants available to | | | | a lot of members who did have equipment that |
| Cap squadrons to help purchase these new | | | | met the old standards which is no longer usable |
| compliant radios? If the individuals are required to | | | | probably aren't too happy about it, but realize |
| purchase their own, then yes with the higher cost | | | | there is nothing Cap could have done to change |
| it will most likely cut down the number of available | | | | things. |
| radios which in turn could severely limit the | | | | |