I have been around tornados, and their aftermath. The devastation can be complete, but the area devastated is very small (a narrow strip). An enormous tornado is a mile wide... All of the infrastructure two miles away is generally completely intact. Once the overload subsides, your cell phone will work just fine in the worst part of the destruction. Land line phones a mile or so away will all work. Handhelds and VHF/UHF mobiles are handy. There generally isn't need for much else.
Hurricanes are a completely different story.
73, Joe
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Acito Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 8:11 PM To: Stefan Wagener; i8cvs Cc: Amsat - BBs Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Amateur Satellites and the emergency on tornadoin Oklahoma and Texas
Yep, I was going to raise the same point and link. They list the following "benefits":
- providing Satellite based Amateur Radio Services/meet the long felt need for the Amateur Radio Operators of South Asian region (especially a mode B bird) - bring Satellite Services within the reach of the common man and popularize Space Technology among the masses. - stimulation of technical interest and awareness among the younger generation by providing them with an opportunity to develop their technological projects - providing a low cost readily accessible reliable means of communication during emergencies and calamities like flood, earthquakes, etc.
I never said the last one is a "falsehood". I am suggesting it does not hold anywhere near the same weight as the first three.
I have never been in a tornado. But I would suggest that those hams in the impact zone no longer have access to any working equipment, which means hams in the surrounding areas are coming in to help, and have the choice. If I was going into the impact zone and had the choice of what communications I might bring, it would be - a portable cell site - mobile/HT VHF/UHF - mobile HF ...in that order. A portable satellite station would be a distant fourth.
If you read the summaries in the aftermath of Joplin, amateur radio (VHF/UHF) played a critical role in the minutes leading up to, and the hours after the tornado tore through. Then mobile phone, mobile date, and social media took over when the mobile cell sites came on line.
Back to prepping my FD station,
Bill W1PA _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb