[GA ARES] More from Honduras

[John Kraus KC4ZGQ]

This is as close as it gets to testing under real conditions.

The thing I find most impressive is the reduction of voice nets to truly 
important stuff and the shortening of time spent in voice nets is quite 
interesting.  When you go from hours three times a day to 10 minutes and 
with better message tracking, flow and control now that is progress.


>Hi Steve, and all on the group,
>
>This sent via the temporary IHS PMBO in La Ceiba, Honduras.
>
>Greetings from Uhi, Honduras in HR8-land,
>
>Winlink radio email is serving the International Health Service very well in
>this operation. We currently have medical/dental teams deployed to
>Hortensia, Esquipulas del Norte, and Yocon in the mountains and Kruta,
>Tikiuraya, Mocoron, Puerto Lempira, and Uhi, in La Moskitia--the Moskito
>Coast. A surgery team is located in Olanchito, and a team specializing in
>eye care is located in Esquias. All but two teams are equipped with HF
>portable equipment, and most also have VHF FM for voice. We deploy this way
>February of each year to different remote villages where there is little or
>no infrastructure for communications, transportation, comfort, or anything
>else. We make our own infrastructure with what we bring. So, as well as
>being a truly practical effort to bring healthcare to populations that
>otherwise do not get it, this is a terrific exercise in disaster-relief or
>emcomm in general. The logistics and conditions are remarkably the same. In
>fact, I would venture to say that I know of no other such opportunity
>generally available to amateur radio operators to practice emcomm skills in
>a realistic setting with real problems for a realistic deployment period,
>besides a real disaster.
>
>As you might imagine, the logistics involved in this operation are a
>challenge. The task is huge. We move 50,000 lbs of medical gear, supplies
>and 120 professionals into and out of what an US Air Force Captain, while in
>a short conference with us as we prepared to deploy, called "no-man's land."
>Add to that weather, road washouts, a diesel shortage, and regular visits
>from Mr. Murphy (who lives in Honduras) and this real-world experience
>teaches deep lessons.
>
>We have set up a temporary PMBO in La Ceiba where sporadic, non-standard
>internet service is available. It is battery-powered as reliable electric
>mains service is not available. This PMBO serves us well during the daylight
>hours on 40M, when the "tropical anomoly" charged cloud of ions hovers over
>this lattitude to create fine NVIS conditions. As the solar minimum
>approaches, the day-night transitions are extended compared to previous
>years, and 80 meters NVIS is also good well into the mornings and evenings,
>and of course all night. Switching to 30 or 20 meters finds great
>propagation to PMBOs in the southern and central states, Grand Cayman, and
>south to Panama.
>
>I can only estimate th total traffic we have generated, but this station has
>handled 240 radio email messages over the last six days. The number for our
>administrative and logistics centers will be substantially higher. Before
>radio email, all our traffic was handled in long voice nets three times each
>day. Now our nets are ten-minute affairs in which we highlight the urgent
>and important traffic for follow-up, besides exchanging pleasantries. Radio
>email allows an audit trail and a permanent record, which comes in handy
>when planning the next year's project. Happenings, data, and details are all
>available in the record of messages. Without Winlink, our communications
>effectiveness would be lessened considerably, and some of the service our
>teams provide would not occur.
>
>The numbers are not all in, but we estimate we have given medical exams,
>surgeries and dental services to in excess of 3000 Hondurans. Most have
>access only to IHS health care on our yearly visits.
>
>Special thanks is due to Tom N5TW, Frank ZF1GC, and Scott K4SET, who have
>made special accomodations to support our teams by extending connect time
>limits and/or favored us with special antennas. And of course, to you,
>Steve, for your support all around while we exercised on the air from the
>states in preparation for this project, and for your help with the IHS PMBO
>and lending K4CJX PMBO to our needs.
>
>If you or someone you know would be interested in applying as a radio
>operator/engineer and spend three weeks in paradise with us next February,
>have a look at our web site at <http://www.ihsofmn.org/>www.ihsofmn.org. 
>Email inquiries to
>JMKKEK at yahoo.com.
>
>73,
>Lor W3QA/HR8
>International Health Service
>In beautiful downtown Uhi with a radio and a battery





73 de John Kraus KC4ZGQ
Georgia DEC for Digital Communications
DIGITAL_COMMS_GA at COX.NET

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