Cumbre Vieja

September 21st, 2021

From the IARU Emergency Communications co-ordinator

The Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palmas in Spain’s Canary Islands erupted for the first time in 50 years on Sunday 19th September. This followed an increase in seismic activity in the previous seven days which had raised concerns that an eruption was imminient. The lava flow has triggered the evacuation of 5000 people on the island so far but authorities have deployed all the resources of the Canary Islands Government as well as military support from the mainland to manage the situation.

In order to facilitate communications to and from that area, EMCOM-SPAIN is asking for the Emergency Centre Of Activity frequencies to be kept clear in case the situation gets worse.

The frequencies are as follows:

80m band: 3.760 MHz.
40m band: 7.110 MHz.
20m band: 14.300 MHz.
15m band: 21.360 MHz.

Thanks for everyone’s cooperation.

73,
Greg, G0DUB

Peruvian Radio Amateur helps air ambulance

July 16th, 2020

On July 9th, an air ambulance en route from Santiago, Chile, to Easter Island lost communications while they were more than 1000 nautical miles from the mainland. The pilot resorted to the frequency of Cadena Peruana de Socorro (the Peruvian Relief Net) in 7,100 kHz to ask for help and let the authorities know they were safe and well. Read the full article here.

Indonesia flood death increases.

July 14th, 2020

JAKARTA, July 14 (Xinhua) — The number of people died from flash floods in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province on Tuesday rose to at least 10 people with 46 others reported missing while thousands of residents were forced to flee home, an official said.

The rescuers have been scrambling to save those being trapped as the strong current hampered the residents in Luwu Utara district from escaping the natural disaster, according to an official in charge at the Provincial Search and Rescue Office, who refused to be identified.

Besides, muds also submerged the areas by up to 50 cm high, the official said.

“Ten bodies have been retrieved and brought to a hospital, while ten others are undergoing medical treatment for their wounds,” he told Xinhua by phone from the province.

Thousands of people have also been taking to shelters in safer grounds located in several spots, according to the official.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Search and Rescue Office said heavy downpours triggered waters in a river in the district to overflow its banks and submerge surrounding areas after midnight.

Scores of houses, a school building and public facilities were damaged, the office said.

The vast archipelagic country of Indonesia has been frequently stricken by flash floods, floods and landslides during heavy rains.

IO-86 satellite has been activated for Emergency Communications purposes in Luwu, South Sulawesi. Be aware there is also a potential for activity on 7.110MHz so please leave it free for Emergency Communications purposes.

Training and development weekend

October 24th, 2019

On the 9th and 10th of November, AREN will hold a national training and development weekend in Dromineer, County Tipperary. Accommodation is available at the  Lough Derg House & The Lake Cafe, booking is required, please contact EI4JN at QTHR.

Topics for the weekend include Go-Kit demonstrations, a swapmeet, JS8Call, PAT, ARDEN (possibly a presentation from Cisco TacOPS), ARDOP and PV systems demonstrations as well as plenty socialising. Any licenced Amateur Radio operator is welcome to come along, please contact EI4JN or EI7IG to let them know you are interested.

Training and Development weekend, over for 2018

February 14th, 2018

All done for another year. The weekend began Friday evening with members arriving from all over the country into Dromineer, Co. Tipperary. Some initial setting up of the Mobile Command Post was done before adjourning to a local hostelry for dinner and chat.

Saturday was a mixture of high level strategy followed by more practical activities, a great win over France by the Irish Rugby team, and a discussion on the merits of Digital Mobile Radio for Public Service use.

Sunday looked at formal message handling techniques and their role in the context of the Framework for Emergency Management in Ireland.

Look for a longer report in an upcoming Echo Ireland (Journal of the Irish Radio Transmitters Society)

Many thanks to all who offered support and made the weekend happen.

 

Morning Sky

Training and Development weekend

January 14th, 2018

On the 3rd and 4th of February, AREN will hold a national training and development weekend in Dromineer, County Tipperary. Accommodation is available at the  Lough Derg House & The Lake Cafe, booking is required, please contact EI4JN at QTHR.

Previous weekends have included Message Handling exercises, Winlink & Winmor demonstrations and training, NBEMS demonstrations and training, Robust packet demonstrations, PV systems demonstrations and presentations on NVIS and its usefulness for public service communications.

Digital voice usage and activities.

March 28th, 2017

Changes to the 160k and 50k routes have been announced for this years Sean Kelly Tour cycling event. The 50k is using part of the new Greenway between Dungarvan and Waterford and the 160K is heading East from Dungarvan back along the coast before heading North towards Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel. Members will shortly test coverage over the routes and devise a communications plan in support of the medical team on the event.

The Galway VHF Group assisted the Kinvara Rock and Road Marathon on the 4th of March using C4FM. This was the first-all digital operation on an AREN supported event. Future operations locally will be DMR or Yaesu Fusion as a result of this trial as it worked so well.

On 11th March AREN provided communications support and delivered a workshop in Tralee for Kerry Civil Defence who were hosting regional competitions. A portable repeater was used to boost voice communications in a old meat processing factory where stainless steel clad walls provided a challenge for RF. The workshop covered a variety of techniques on overcoming communications challenges including coverage and interoperability.

AREN_Kerry_CD

Civil Defence Exercise 2017-03-17

Super typhoon clean-up underway

December 28th, 2016

Six people have been killed and more than 380,000 evacuated as Super Typhoon Nock-Ten (locally Nina) cut a path through the Philippines, with the Ham Radio Emergency (HERO) net activated in advance.

The Christmas Day disaster cut power to five provinces, downed trees, caused widespread damage, and dimmed the festive occasion in Asia’s largest Catholic nation.

The slow moving typhoon made landfall seven times from Sunday evening until noon on Monday. Jojo Vicencio DU1VHY says: “A truly commendable job was done by many radio amateurs who not only gave up their traditional Christmas activities, but some had to stop transmissions because they were in the storm path.”

In the Catanduanes were Sider DU4SLT of ARCC, Dexter DU4DXT and Joseph DV4PGS Joseph of ISLACOM, with other groups in Bicol and Samar-Leyte. All were on HF, and VHF communications were also active.

Jojo DU1VHY says as the typhoon first made landfall some network stations were off air, with weather reports for Catanduanes of sustained winds in excess of the 200kph mark.

Then gradually stations came back giving reports of the terrible damage that had occurred in their areas. As the typhoon swept along the Southern Tagalong areas it made landfall several times. Mannduque was badly hit too, as reported by HERO.

Jojo DU1VHY says: “It created a large swath of destruction and debris – uprooted and fallen trees and posts, landslides, impassable roads and other damage. Even our own HEROs were not spared.”

The reports were quickly gathered by the network and relayed to authorities, some tuned in to the HERO net themselves.

“The HEROs persisted. To get back on air, primarily to update the network of hams is truly admirable,” he said.

One such station when asked for his immediate needs after the typhoon had passed, replied simply that he was coping OK, and then gave accounts of what had happened.

Jojo DU1VHY says: “It has now become a reality that our emergency calling frequency is the most listened to during disaster. Government operators listened in, and some even revealed their presence.

“Armed Forces station Peacemaker in Catarman, for example, broke into the frequency looking for a counterpart station also in Northern Samar.

“An NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) volunteer operator made his presence felt saying they were also monitoring.”

The Office of Civil Defence (OCD) has two stations that constantly visited the HERO net. From Leyte to Quezon the HERO communications on 7.095 MHz never faltered.

Jojo DU1VHY says: “Thank you to all those who willingly parted with their Christmas time to be of service to others. We all must continue to hone our communications skills to meet and be prepared for the future.”

About 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippines each year, with emergency communications to the community and other agencies provided by the HERO network.

– Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications
Committee.

Super Typhoon in Philippines Southeast

December 25th, 2016

The alerts are out as a powerful late-season typhoon Nock-ten (Nina
local name), with PARA activating the Ham Emergency Radio Operations
(HERO) as it is to make landfall.

Roberto Vicencio DU1VHY reports the effects are being felt in the south
eastern portion of the Philippines with Typhoon Cyclone Warning Signals
raised in the Southern Luzon and the Bicol Region.

The HERO network is using 7.095 MHz nationally while each local club is
on the 2-metre band.

Authorities have urged hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their
homes on coastal areas with winds up to 240 kph, but the typhoon was
expected to weaken over land.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration forecast a storm surge in parts of the country, along
with heavy rains and flooding.

The typhoon was projected to weaken as it passed over the central area
including the capital Manila.

– Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications
Committee.

Volunteers – Thank you.

December 4th, 2016
The Amateur Radio Emergency Network is our national organisation for harnessing the capability of Ham Radio to help our emergency services and communities during major emergencies.  In order to do that members prepare and test equipment, learn and practice appropriate skills and volunteer in a coordinated way to deliver on the promise.  We build relationships with our local communities and emergency services through providing communications cover at sporting events and through participation in multi-agency exercises.
One of the most important events on the calendar is the national training and development weekend held in Dromineer County Tipperary on the shore of Lough Derg. It is where members from all regions can get together to share knowledge and experience, demonstrate kit, develop skills, get to know each other better and collectively steer the direction the organisation is going.
This years event took place on the 19th and 20th of November and was well attended. AREN would like to thank Declan and Fiona of Lough Derg House for accommodation, The Whiskey Still pub for meals and refreshments and Lough Derg Yacht Club for the training room. Finally a big ‘Thank you’ to all the members who attended and contributed over this weekend.