After the Tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean, Lesson # 1 says: Forget about satphones, BPL, cellphones, e-mail and the Internet. Only HF radio provides vital emergency communications immediately - see page 22 of our handbook 2005/2006 Guide to Utility Radio Stations • Worldwide HF Communication Today published on 10 DEC 2004! Joerg Klingenfuss and his team know the region and the situation of the people only too well, having conducted radio monitoring operations in Brunei, Djibouti, India, Indonesia (Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatera et al), Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak many many times), Maldives, Mauritius and Rodrigues many many times, Philippines, Reunion, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and dozens of other "exotic" locations worldwide. We've climbed volcanoes in Gunung Leuser National Park, only 100 kilometres from Meulaboh, the coastal village nearest to the epicentre. Despite good contacts to the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) and others, driving up along the coast to Bandar Aceh (Bandar means Sea Port) was too dangerous at that time. Officially-lah ... "Kalau Ence' sudah ada suarat jalan dari pejabat imigresen ke Medan, Ence' boleh berangkat ke Provinsi Utara bila-bila masa saja ..."
As of early FEB 2005, the number of people dead or missing from the Indian Ocean Tsunami and earthquake is 317,000. Bodies are still being found. There will be people in coastal areas that died and are unknown to anyone surviving and whose bodies were swept into the Sea.
Radio Amateurs in Indonesia have established emergency communications between Medan in Sumatra and Banda Aceh, the area destroyed by the Tsunami on the northern tip of Sumatra. They are using HF for long distance communications.
It seems like the world and the affected countries are learning valuable technology lessons from the Tsunami that could lessen the impact of similar disasters in the future.
Amateur radio played a key role in providing emergency communications, especially in the hours and days immediately after the devastating tidal waves hit the coastal communities, and especially in the more remote parts of the region.
When all the cellular and all other means failed, short wave stood bold and proud.
When all else is dead short wave is alive.
Some communication has been on CW and PSK31 to overcome poor conditions and interference.
Every other form of communication was down. They were the only link from the Andamans to the mainland for several hours after the disaster, says Gopal, adding that the Tsunamis had engulfed the island, paralysing all machinery and communication systems.
To resume communication, two Indian Coast Guard ships were sent out to sea. They managed to connect the far flung areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the capital Port Blair with the help of a HF communication system.
HF radio sets and solar panels for power supply are working in various islands in coordination with the administration and NGOs there to trace the missing people.
It only requires a 12V cell battery to power up a radio transmitter/receiver in a manner to reach thousands' of miles away your party who can send help or send messages.
Pacific Islands: No satellite communications, no telephone, no Internet.
Somalia needs wind-up-powered shortwave radio receivers for the remote coastal population.
Australia is sending 50,000 radio receivers to Tsunami-hit areas and is offering both engineers to set up temporary broadcasting facilities in disaster zones and 7 broadcast transmitters.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Amateur radio operators who arrived from mainland India are communicating using short wave radio transceivers that allow them to talk across India and provide information about missing or separated families.
Although hams have helped the government a number of times in emergency situations, red tapism is slowly choking amateur radio as a hobby. The laws, which were laid down in the days of the British Raj, are apparently ridiculously outdated today. For instance, according to the law, a ham can't leave home with his radio. Hence, ironically, every time they head out to help with disaster management, they're actually breaking the law. However, last month, the Home Department and Ministry of Communication had a meeting in Delhi with the Amateur Radio Society of India, which seemed to finally acknowledge the efficacy of ham radio. The society submitted a paper asking for changes and has been told that it's been studied and the departments concerned are looking into the issues.
Everybody who has been in India knows what this means ... (JK)
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