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September 26, 2005
Notes from Fall 2005 VON: Introduction of “Internet Field Day”
A little background: Ten years and a half years ago I made my first connection between what we used to call “Internet Telephony” and a lifetime hobby that I still have a strong passion for: Amateur (Ham) Radio. I’ve been a licensed ham since 1975. In fact, it was my ham radio roots and passion for “phone patching” that lead to the original launch of Free World Dialup which became the world’s first internet telephony network back in November, 1995.
“Field Day” is an annual ritual for US (and other) Ham radio operators that takes place on the forth full weekend of June each year. During Field Day, hams practice their emergency preparedness and establish communications using emergency power – solar, battery, generator and put up antennas while camping wherever they can find a spot – be it a back yard, a parking lot, a camp ground, a state park, a school, or a mountain top. Hams have been pretty creative over the years as to the places they have chosen to operate from.
In the days leading up to Fall 2005 VON I couldn’t help but notice the strong outpouring of support from the IP Communications Industry to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. While the support shown has been very impressive, the IP Communications industry lacked actual experience in responding in a coordinated manner to a natural disaster. This lead to my outreach to the American Radio Relay League to launch “Internet Field Day” as an activity to be coordinated with the ARRL’s Field Day.
Historically, it is the worldwide ham radio community that is amongst the first responders in a natural disaster. “When all else fails, Amateur Radio works” is not just a slogan. Katrina was no exception and, there was (and continues to be) a tremendous outpouring of support and tireless hours put in by the ham radio community.
While the details still need to be fully worked out, the ARRL is supportive of my concept for an “Internet Field Day.” Last week while I was in Boston I met a number of ham radio operators who were also very positive about this initiative and were committed to helping to make “Internet Field Day” happen. I believe that there is now a great opportunity for the IP Communications industry to learn about emergency preparedness from the Ham radio community and that going forward we can learn how to make a positive difference…together.
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Posted by jeff on September 26, 2005 08:27 AM | Permalink
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Comments
Jeff,
So how do I get involved? I live in Boston and have lots of time on my hands.
Gregg
Posted by: Gregg Lebovitz at September 30, 2005 09:23 AM
Wouldn't it be appropriate to petition the ARRL to create an IP class for Field Day? One of the issues in disaster scenarios like Katrina/Rita/Andrew and 9/11 is that the traditional communications infrastructure like fiber and microwave backbones and police/fire radio systems are down in the affected area. When the hams roll in, they have not only the equipment (yes, hams can do digital too), but the license class to allow them to construct high power systems. The average geek with his 802.11g access point is gonna only get so far. Hams can (legally) put up a temporary tower and create a backbone with transmitters of +1W (I'm thinking 10s of watts, myself).
Just a thought.
BTW, the public service benefit of disaster-assistance operations by hams should allow us to circumvent CC&Rs. But that's probably appropriate for another blog.
Posted by: Matt P. at September 26, 2005 12:43 PM
Hey Jeff,
I posted a note from www.shouldexist.org with an idea about 802.16 GMRS radios. Perhaps this is also applicable too? You can find the posting here:
Posted by: Alec Saunders at September 26, 2005 12:04 PM