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RGQ16/2/007-E
TELECOMMUNICATION
DEVELOPMENT BUREAU
ITU-D STUDY GROUPS / RGQ16/2/007-E
18 February 2000
Original: English only
Meeting of Rapporteur’s Group on Question 16/2
Geneva, 23-25 February 2000
FOR ACTION
Question 16/2: Preparation of Handbooks for developing countries
STUDY GROUP 2
SOURCE: ASSOCIATE RAPPORTEUR FOR QUESTION 16/2
TITLE: PROGRESS REPORT ON A HANDBOOK ON DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS
______
Action required: The Rapporteur’s Group is invited to express its opinion on the paper.
Abstract: The two attachments represent a revised draft outline of the Handbook, as well as a draft of Chapter 9 on amateur radio subjects, which is submitted as a sample chapter and report of progress made to date.
PRELIMINARY DRAFT
EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS HANDBOOK
OPERATIONS MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD……………………………………………………………………………..
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS………………………………………………..
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………….
1.1 Purpose and scope………………………………………………………………...
1.2 Organisation of the Handbook……………………………………………………
CHAPTER 2 - DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS POLICY & LEGISLATION………
2.1 Authority………………………………………………………………………….
2.2 National Regulatory Agency……………………………………………………..
2.3 Other Agencies…………………………………………………………………...
2.4 Rules and regulations……………………………………………………………
2.5 Public participation……………………………………………………………...
CHAPTER 3 - NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS…………..
3.1 United Nations (UN)……………………………………………………………..
3.2 International Telecommunication Union (ITU)………………………………….
3.3 International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)…
3.4 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)………………………………
CHAPTER 4 - GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS………………………………
4.1 National rescue services……………………………………………………….…
4.2 National communications services………………………………………………
CHAPTER 5 - NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS………………………..
5.1 International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)………………………………….…
CHAPTER 6 - REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS……………………………………………
CHAPTER 7 - DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS………………………………………
7.1 Range………………………………………………………………………………
7.1.1 Satellite Services
7.1.2 Mobile satellites – data, voice
7.1.3 Geo satellites services
7.2 Carriers……………………………………………………………………………..
7.2.1 Public networks (POTS)……………………………………………………………
7.2.2 Private networks……………………………………………………………………
7.2.3 Amateur Services… ………………………………………………………………..
7.2.4 Marine………………………………………………………………………………
7.2.5 Aeronautical…………………………………………………………………………
7.2.6 Internet……………………………………………………………………………….
7.2.7 Military/Civil Defence……………………………………………………………….
7.3 Equipment……………………………………………………………………………
7.3.1 HF……………………………………………………………………………………
7.3.2 VHF/UHF…………………………………………………………………………….
7.3.3 Terrestrial…………………………………………………………………………..
7.3.4 GMPCS…………………………………………………………………………….
7.3.5 Data networks………………………………………………………………………
7.4 Modes of service……………………………………………………………………
7.4.1 Voice………………………………………………………………………………..
7.4.2 Facsimile……………………………………………………………………………
7.4.3 Data…………………………………………………………………………………
7.4.4 Images………………………………………………………………………………
7.5 Protocols……………………………………………………………………………
7.5.1 Morse…………………………………………………………………………………
7.5.2 SITOR………………………………………………………………………………
7.5.3 PACTOR II…………………………………………………………………………
7.5.4 Packet………….……………………………………………………………………
7.5.5 Internet………………………………………………………………………………
7.5.6 LAN/WAN………………………………………………………………………….
7.6 Power………………………………………………………………………………..
7.6.1 Commercial…………………………………………………………………………
7.6.2 Generator……………………………………………………………………………
7.6.3 Solar…………………………………………………………………………………
7.6.4 Wind…………………………………………………………………………………
7.7 Location Systems……………………………………………………………………
7.7.1 GNSS (GPS, GLONASS)…………………………………………………………..
7.7.2 APRS………………………………………………………………………………..
7.7.3 Civil Emergency Locator Group……………………………………………………
7.7.4 Shelter location systems……………………………………………………………
CHAPTER 8 – PLANS………………………………………………………………………
8.1 Introduction/purpose…………………………………………………………………
8.2 Emergency Planning…………………………………………………………………
-Critical communications requirements……………………………………………...
-Urban vs. rural requirements………………………………………………………
-Traffic volume and precedence……………………………………………………..
-Delays for access……………………………………………………………………
-Equipment outages at key nodes…………………………………………………….
-Interoperability: the need for agencies to communicate with incompatible equipment…………………………………………………………………………..
-Need to communicate beyond normal operating range of equipment……………
-Need to relay traffic………………………………………………………………..
-Voice communications plus alternates:…………………………………………….
· Volume data (teletypewriter, high-speed packet, fax)………………………
· Encryption and privacy for sensitive information…………………………..
· TV (mobile, portable, aeronautical, marine)…………………………………
· Telephone interface………………………………………………………….
8.2.1 Written guide/SOP…………………………………………………………………..
8.2.2 Primary responsibility to provide communications…………………………………
8.2.3 Training and exercises to ensure rapid response when needed……………………..
8.2.4 Agencies served……………………………………………………………………..
8.3 Activating the plan………………………………………………………………..
8.3.1 Authority, method, agencies to be notified…………………………………………..
8.3.2 Mobilisation procedures……………………………………………………………..
8.3.3 Duties and Responsibilities…………………………………………………………..
8.3.4 Insurance, liability…………………………………………………………………
8.4 Plans and operations…………………………………………………………………
8.4.1 International disaster planning………………………………………………………
8.4.2 Regional disaster planning…………………………………………………………..
8.4.3 National disaster planning……………………………………………………………
8.4.4 State/provincial planning…………………………………………………………….
8.4.5 Model plans, MoUs……………………………………………………………….
8.4.6 Exercises, tests, alerts………………………………………………………………
CHAPTER 9 – AMATEUR RADIO IN EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS….
9.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………
9.2 Range (Short, medium, and long-haul)……………………………………………..
9.3 Tools (HF, VHF, UHF, AMSAT, ARPS)…………………………………………..
9.4 Modes of amateur communications (voice, fax, data, images)……………………..
9.5 Protocols (CW, ATV, packet, AMTOR, PACTOR II, G-TOR, CLOVER,
PSK 31, etc.)………………………………………………………………………..
9.6 Networks (traffic, emergency, weather, other)……………………………………..
9.7 Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and ARES Mutual Assistance Team (ARESMAT) Concept……………………………………………………………..
9.8 Emergency Coordinator………………………………………………………………
9.9 Plans and Procedures…..……………………………………………………………..
9.10 Training……………………………………………………………………………..
9.11 Regular practice, drills and tests…………………………………………………….
9.12 Field Day type event………………………………………………………………..
9.13 Simulated Emergency Tests………………………………………………………..
9.14 Net operator training……………………………………………………………….
9.15 Methods of handling information…………………………………………………...
9.15.1 Traffic………………………………………………………………………………..
-Formal message traffic……………………………………………………………...
-A National Traffic System………………………………………………………….
-Local nets……………………………………………………………………………
-Section nets…………………………………………………………………………
-Operations during disasters…………………………………………………………
-Packet radio as a tool for message handling…………….………………………….
-Image communications……………………………………………………………..
9.16 Amateur Radio Groups……………………………………………………………..
9.17 Public Service Events………………………………………………………………..
9.18 Natural disasters and calamities……………………………………………………..
9.18.1 Health & welfare traffic……………………………………………………………
9.18.2 Property damage survey……………………………………………………………
9.18.3 Accidents and hazards………………………………………………………………
9.18.4 Working with Public Safety Agencies………………………………………………
-Assisting the police…………………………………………………………………
-Search and Rescue………………………………………………………………….
-Hospital communications…………………………………………………………..
-Toxic-chemical spills and hazardous materials…………………………………….
Annex I - Glossary and list of abbreviations………………………………………….
Annex II - Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and ARES Mutual……….
Annex III - Simulated Emergency Tests……………………………………………….
Annex IV - ITU bibliography…………………………………………………………..
PRELIMINARY DRAFT
EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 9
AMATEUR RADIO IN EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS
9.1 Introduction
One highly useful service in terms of emergency communications is the amateur service. Since 1913, amateur communicators have been dedicated volunteers for the public interest, convenience and necessity by handling free and reliable communications for people in disaster-stricken areas, until normal communications are restored. These experienced communicators, the radio amateurs themselves not just their telecommunications networks, are a valuable resource in emergency telecommunications.
Emergency communications is a communication directly relating to the immediate safety of human life or the immediate protection of property, and usually concerns disasters, severe weather or vehicular accidents. The ability of amateurs to respond effectively to these situations with emergency communications depends on practical plans, formalised procedures and trained operators.
The amateur service, being a distributed network, is unlikely to be disrupted by natural disaster and thus is potentially capable of providing communications for relief operations and mitigation of the effects of disasters. Government policies should permit and encourage amateur radio networks for communications in case of natural disasters. Such networks need to be robust, flexible and independent of other telecommunication services, and capable of operating from emergency power. They should be permitted to operate regularly and should be periodically tested or exercised during non-disaster periods, by events such as a “simulated emergency test” or a “field day.” Amateur networks can contribute to disaster communications as yet another alternate means and function very professionally when operated by competent organisations recognised by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).
To obtain the optimal performance from the amateur service, administrations should include the amateur services as an integral part of their national disaster plan and amateur capabilities should be included among the national telecommunications assistance information inventories.
Administrations can prepare for emergency contingency operations by reducing and, where possible, removing barriers to the effective use of the amateur services for disaster communications. Amateur and disaster relief organizations should develop memoranda of understanding (MoUs), as well as to co-operate in developing model agreements and best practices in disaster communications.
9.2 Range
Short-range voice and data communications are accomplished primarily using VHF and UHF line-of-sight (LOS) systems. Amateurs typically utilise the 2 meter and 70 cm bands for this type of communication. Handheld radios are frequently utilised to talk to people using other handheld radios. This is done via simplex, a direct contact on a single frequency. Directional antennas are employed to achieve greater range. Repeaters are used for even longer distances. A standard repeater is simply a relay station. It consists of a separate “input” receiver and an “output” transmitter connected to each other and tuned to two separate frequencies within the same band. When the receiver picks up a signal on the input frequency, it simultaneously retransmits the same signal on the output frequency. In this way a repeater forms a link between two stations that may not be able to communicate with each other directly.
Medium range communications rely on HF bands, primarily on 80 and 40 meters (3.5 MHz and 7 MHz respectively). Due to the changes in the Earth’s ionosphere from day to night, the 7 MHz band tends to be ideal for daytime communications, while the 3.5 MHz bands is favoured at night. Medium-haul communications are accomplished by propagation known as near-vertical incidence skywave, or NVIS. Therefore, antennas for this type of HF communications need to be directed nearly straight up.
The longest-range communications, those which circle the globe, are also achieved on the amateur HF bands. The 40, 20 and 15 meter bands (7 MHz, 14 MHz and 21 MHz respectively) perform long-haul communications the best and are also affected by changes in the ionosphere from day to night.
9.3 Tools
Repeaters
A standard repeater, commonly used by amateurs on VHF and UHF bands, is simply a relay station. It consists of a separate “input” receiver and an “output” transmitter connected to each other and tuned to two separate frequencies within the same band. When the receiver picks up a signal on the input frequency, it simultaneously retransmits the same signal on the output frequency. In this way a repeater forms a link between two stations that may not be able to communicate with each other directly.
There are more complex repeaters that form integrated wide-coverage systems. These consist of machines miles apart that are connected by two-way VHF or UHF links. Such systems allow operators to use a local repeater to make contacts with amateurs in distant cities.
Amateur-satellites, or AMSAT
Many people are familiar with repeater stations that retransmit signals to provide wider coverage. This is essentially the function of an amateur-satellite as well. Of course, while a repeater antenna may be as much as a few thousand meters above the surrounding terrain, the satellite is hundreds or thousands of kilometers above the surface of the Earth. The area of the Earth that the satellite signals can reach is therefore much larger than the coverage area of even the best Earth-bound repeaters. It is this characteristic of satellites that makes them attractive for communications. Most amateur satellites act either as analog repeaters, retransmitting signals exactly as they are received, or as packet store-and-forward systems that receive whole messages from ground stations for later relay.
Analog satellites contain linear transponders. These are devices that retransmit a band of frequencies, usually 50 to 100 kHz wide. Since the linear transponder retransmits the entire band, a number of signals may be retransmitted simultaneously. For example, if four SSB signals (each separated by 20 kHz) were transmitted to the satellite, the satellite would retransmit all four signals—still separated by 20 kHz each. Just like a terrestrial repeater, the retransmission takes place on a frequency that is different from the one on which the signals were originally received.
In the case of amateur-satellites, the difference between the transmit and receive frequencies is similar to what you might encounter on a cross-band terrestrial repeater. In other words, retransmission occurs on a different band from the original signal. For example, a transmission received by the satellite on 2 meters might be retransmitted on 10 meters. This cross-band operation allows the use of simple filters in the satellite to keep its transmitter from interfering with its receiver. Cross-band operation also has the positive effect of allowing ground stations to use simple filters in the same way. Because it is relatively easy to do, most satellite stations operate full duplex, meaning they can receive while transmitting. (The phrase satellite stations means amateur stations that use the satellite to relay their signals). In most instances the built-in receiver filtering is sufficient to allow full-duplex operation.
Unlike commercial television and telephone-relay satellites, an amateur-satellite is not always immediately accessible. Commercial satellites are geostationary, which means that they appear to be motionless from our perspective. On the other hand, amateur satellites utilize low-Earth orbits (LEOs). The LEO orbit describes a circle, with the satellites traveling about 1000 km above the surface at a speed that causes the satellite to complete the circle about every hour and a half. As the satellite orbits, the Earth rotates on its axis, bringing different portions of the Earth “in view” of the satellite at different times of the day.
From our perspective a LEO satellite rises above the horizon, travels across the sky in an arc and then sets again. It may do so six to eight times a day. For “passes” in which the satellite goes nearly overhead, this rise and set cycle takes 15 or 20 minutes. On some orbits the satellite path is such that it rises only a short distance above the horizon, much like the winter sun near the Arctic Circle. As you might expect, the time the satellite is in view is much shorter. The total amount of time that any particular LEO satellite is available for use at a given location is perhaps an hour or so each day. It doesn’t seem like a long time, but it is more than enough to provide outstanding operating enjoyment on a regular basis.
PACSATs: Digital Wonders
The most fundamental change to amateur radio in recent years has been the advent of packet radio. The combination of the two has resulted in the PACSAT: a satellite carrying a packet radio transponder and a computer. PACSAT operates in a fundamentally different way from satellites with analog transponders.
A ground station transmits a digital message to the satellite. The satellite stores the entire message in its onboard memory, which typically can hold several million characters of message text. Later, when the satellite is over the ground station for which the message is intended, it transmits the message to that station. This kind of store-and-forward operation provides true worldwide communications using low-Earth orbit satellites. Because PACSATs can hold a lot of data, and because they are optimized for transmitting data rather than voice or CW, they provide an unsurpassed bulletin transmission system.
9.4 Modes of amateur communications
Amateurs use single sideband (SSB), frequency modulation (FM) and to a lesser degree, amplitude modulation, or AM, for voice communications.
CW (continuous wave, or Morse code) is an expedient mode of communications. It is the oldest mode of amateur transmission and is in daily use worldwide. It continues to be used for emergency messages during times of disaster.
For image communications, amateurs employ basically three techniques: fast-scan amateur television (FSTV), also referred to as amateur television (ATV); slow-scan amateur television (SSTV); and facsimile (fax).
Amateur TV (ATV) is full-motion video over the air. ATV signals use the same format as broadcast and cable TV. Amateur groups in many areas have set up ATV repeaters, allowing lower-powered stations to communicate over a fairly wide area. Since ATV is a wide-bandwidth mode, operation is limited to the UHF bands (70 cm and higher). ATV has undergone some dramatic changes in recent years, most notably in performance improvements and expanded portable applications. Small, portable, color ATV transmitters are now employed in the field for scientific and public service applications.