The video I've shared below is of special interest to me because I see vast potential for this type of LoRa device in Emergency Communications. To avoid confusion I need to make a couple of important points first.

1) LoRa devices are specifically designed to automatically create a mesh network. The Meshtastic software when flashed on a LoRa Tbeam can be directly accessed using a cell phone connected to the device wirelessly using WiFi. This then allows text messages to be sent via one LoRa device to another, and so then to another cell phone running Meshstatic software.

2) The range of a Tbeam device can be dramatically increased with a better antenna. In this test the max range was roughly 2 miles. However a respectable antenna will increase this to up to 10 miles. As with all line of sight radios, increasing elevation also allows an increase in range. Experiments I have seen routinely get 30 miles between devices. Without putting fine point on this, that obviously means that someone with a LoRa device in one location, connected to another LoRa device at another location, 30 miles distant, could send a text message using their phone and Meshtastic software to another party with a second LoRa device, and running Meshtastic software.

3) LoRa Tbeams with Meshtastic software automatically create a self-discovery / self-healing network. Each device running Meshtastic software will be added to the net automatically. The net will then self-heal when devices leave the net. Meshtastic calculates TX and RX pathways automatically and so no additional configuration is needed to create a mesh network.

4) Meshtastic is free open source software. Tbeams are cheap and easily availble. As seen in the video, waterproof enclosures can be pretty basic, however files to make better quality enclosures are available for 3D printers. Solar charge controllers and solar panels can be added making such devices stand alone nodes.

5) The value of having community based text based mesh-networks, available to anyone with a cell phone, is perhaps a relative point. However I feel this kind of network could be very useful in any community during a real emergency situation. This is the neighbors helping neighbors concept made visible with hardware and software. Combined with the long distance capabilities of HAM radio the potential to provide community based emergency communications is very real and I think achievable. This would be a matter of having enough, solar powered Tbeam devices in mesh-nets across a community.

6) Of special interest to me was the idea of connecting a LoRa TBeam device to a repeater controller to allow for remote access. There are other potential uses for such connections which are worth of consideration.

Winter weather is a challenge to be certain. However few of us will ever experience what one couple in Texas endured as a result of the now infamous unexpected winter weather in that state. It's a good read and an excellent summary of the reason I feel strongly that organized community based communications networks are so very important. In a large scale event, emergency services will not be able to respond to many distress calls. Various times different agencies have cautioned that we should be prepared to help ourselves for at least 72 hours. However, with history as a teacher, it's easy to understand that this figure should be taken to be a minimum.

Please take a few minutes to read the story and reflect on how ready you are to cope with an unexpected and damaging winter storm. Consider also if you could help others during such an event. Such help might only involve passing emergency or priority traffic by radio. Consider also supporting Bruce county ACS and Grey County ARES by becoming a volunteer operator for emergency nets during an emergency.

A Texas Couple vs Extreme Winter Weather

Spaceweather.com is advising that a strong geomagnetic storm and a coronal mass ejection may affect HF propagation on 30-31 October.  Buckle up!

https://www.spaceweather.com

73
Dave, VE3WI

Topic --are you ready for the upcoming SET. An excellent discussion on preparations for the simulated emergency test Oct30th. Grey and Bruce EC's were on air to set up the scenario and answer questions. Thanks to all for participating.

NCS VA3TS Tom

VHF Checkins 14
KO4DXQ Bob
9Z4DX Bertrand
VE3MIO Maureen
VE3GIO Larry
VE3VCG Marvin
VA3KOT John
VA3GUF Frank
VE3FP Adam
VE3WI Dave
VE3RQY Greg
VE3OZW Richard
VE3BQM Bernie
VE3DGY Doug
VA3EAC Janet

HF Checkins 7
VE3VCG Marvin
VE3GIO Larry
VE3BQM Bernie
VA3KOT John
VE3FP Adam
VE3RQY Greg
VE3OZW Richard

This is an excellent article about a topic rarely discussed. However, in reading it you can see that this is a matter of genuine concern to emergency planners and emergency managers. As we all know to well Ransomware attacks have disrupted the normal operation of various infrastructure systems within the last 24 months. It is entirely plausible, even likely that such events will happen again in the future. This article makes the point that cyber criminals could take advantage of any disaster situation to create another layer of complexity to the situation. This then would make the job of anyone dealing with the crisis more difficult. It could in fact endanger those in greatest need of help.

At the risk of being seen as the profit of doom, I continue to point to such matters as clear and present threats to all of us. Having said that, I also believe that simply by seeing such potential problems we can be better prepared to deal with them should they come to pass. When I think of what Emergency Communications really means, I think of people, not radio gear. For me radio communication is just another tool to use to help each other in times of need.

I really enjoy HAM Radio as a hobby. But I also see the practical potential for using it for the benefit of family, friends, neighbors and our communities in general in a time of need. This is why I accepted the role of ACS Emergency Coordinator for Bruce County.

We live in a time of great uncertainty. The world is a complex and connected place today. Even here in Bruce County, were emergencies are rare, various events in distance places, can create unexpected problems which were largely unknown in the past. For that reason I think taking note of articles such as the one I'm sharing here is not only prudent but wise.

Cyber Attacks During an Emergency Event

Many people from several locations, including three rural schools, participated with San Benito County Radio Association operators on Oct. 21.

This year 15.1 million people took part in drills to Drop! Cover! and Hold On! – a record-setting year. It was a record-setting year for the San Benito County Radio Association (SBCARA) as well.

The ShakeOut is an international earthquake drill on the third Thursday of October. For 2021, the event took place on Oct. 21 at 10:21 a.m.


https://benitolink.com/record-number-of-...out-drill/

Attached is the logsheet for this weekends Simulated Emergency Test (SET).  Use this document or one formated similarly in an EXCEL type document for logging of contact made during the SET.  As indicated in the GBARC newletter, this weekends SET is set up like a contest for those interested in participating from the comfort of their QTH or off grid location.  The contest point structure is as follows;

1 point for each contact to NET control.

1 point for each contact on 2 meters off the mobile repeater frequency. No points for GBARC OSR or Paisley repeater frequency contact.

5 points for both operators of a HF message relay to another operator, relayed to NET control.

Additional 5 points for HF relay message originator. Maximum HF message relay points is 100 for relay operator and 200 for relay message originator.

2 points for both operators of a 2Meter message relay received at NET control.

Double points for operating off grid.


OCTOBER 30th, SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST from 9am to 12 noon
Mobile repeater frequency 147.105+ MHz with a tone of 97.4
Frank Gufler VA3-GUF is net control.

Alternate frequencies in use for integrated Grey and BRUCE county SET
• 09am – 10am / HF phone @                                    3.800MHz
• 10am – 11am / JS8call @                                        3.578MHz
• 11am – 12pm(Noon) / 2 meter simplex @        146.520MHz

Marvin Double as Net Control on alternates

Have fun this weekend.  It should be a blast.

Cheers

Frank Gufler

VA3-GUF / VE0-GUF / VE0-VET

Attached Files

  - LOGSHEET SET 20211030.docx (Size: 6.29 KB / Downloads: 12)

The General Message form attached to this post can be used when operating as a radio operator during an ARES activation at a Municipal or County site.  Simply send the message handed to you and keep the copy on file for possible response or receive and write out the message on a blank General Message form and have it handed to the intended recipient.  Serialize each message sent or received with a YYYYMMDDHHmm number format and log this in your log.  When you receive a message with a subject that has your serial number on it, then simply write the response in the response section of the General Message form and hand it back to the original message originator.

General Messages handed to you with the response section filled out, simply forward on the reply message indicating it is a reply message and file it in a separate response folder.  We therefore would have 2 folders of messages, one with messages originating and sent from your location with no response received and another folder with all the reply messages sent that were responses to first time messages received at your location.

Cheers

Frank

VA3-GUF / VE0-GUF / VE0-VET

Attached Files

  - ICS-213 general message 1 pager.pdf (Size: 169.31 KB / Downloads: 5)

Topic: Will you be participating in October's SET?

VA3KOT John Owen Sound VHF NCS
KO4DXQ Bob Tennessee
VE3DGY Doug Annan
VE3BQM Bernie Owen Sound
VE3GIO Larry Woodstock
VE3MIO Maureen Wiarton
VE3WI Dave Port Elgin
VE3UJK John Tiny
VA3KOT John Owen Sound HF NCS 3783KHz
VE3GIO Larry Woodstock
VE3FJN Colin Hamilton
VE3BQM Bernie Owen Sound
VE3DGY Doug Annan
VE3IJD Gene Honey Harbour
VE3IDS Don Owen Sound
VE3MIO Maureen Wiarton

I'm sharing the link to a pdf document which is worth downloading as a reference. You will find the link below my comments.

This document clearly lays out the Government of Canada's objectives for developing "resilient" communities. This politically correct wording is code for, communities which are prepared to deal with emergencies without the need for the intervention of large organized top heavy agencies. Note please the specific reference to volunteers.

This document and others like it strongly suggest that the government of Canada wants communities to become more self-reliant in dealing with emergencies. If this assumption is correct then I feel it reinforces my view that amateur radio operators should refocus our efforts towards helping communities organize some manner of local (street level) emergency communications.

In my view this would involve helping local volunteer groups develop their own local emergency communications networks using unlicensed walkie talkies, CB radios or possibly phone based mesh networks. Such groups would interface and work with local HAM's and using our gear and ACS operators in Emergency Operations Centres to forward emergency traffic to one of our served agencies.

Following is the link to the previously mentioned pdf

Emergency Management Strategy for Canada