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