W4MCO
Orange County Emergency Amateur Radio Team
Orange County, Florida
What is Orange County Emergency Amateur Radio Team?
Orange County Emergency Amateur Radio Team is a group of
Amateur Radio Operators volunteering their time and equipment to assist local government agencies and/or organizations in time of special needs.
We provide communication to
Orange County ESF-2, local cities, the
American Red Cross and other organizations when normal communications fail due to natural or man-made disaster.
We also provide communications for
Public Service events such as parades, walkathons, bicycle rides, etc...
Our
members are active on HF and
digital modes as well as VHF/UHF voice.
Meetings
Our next meeting on Monday January 11 2010 at the American Red Cross chapter house located at Bumby and Central in Orlando. Meeting starts at 7pm. For more information contact a staff member.
On the last Saturday of every month at 09:00am There is a meeting/training at our Communications Center on Amory CT. This is a secure facility so you will need to make contact on the 146.730 repeater when you are at the gate and you will be let in. Licensed Amateurs are also invited to attend this meeting/training. This training may last up to three hours; usually it's only two hours.
Nets
Our VHF net is held every Thursday evening at 19:00 local time on the 146.730 MHz repeater toned at 103.5 Hz. This VHF net is immediately followed by a UHF net on one of the UHF repeaters such as 442.525 MHz, 443.525 MHz or 442.700 MHz all toned at 103.5 Hz.
We also conduct an
APRS net on the national frequency of 144.390 MHz at 19:00 local time on Thursdays. APRS check-ins for this net are usually accepted by either W4MCO or KD4TWJ, starting just a few minutes prior to the VHF voice net, and for the duration of the VHF voice net.
We also have a digital packet net, on the ORL SEDAN node, on 145.770 Mhz. Connect to ORL, then enter Talk at the prompt to enter the "chat" mode to check-in. This digital packet net also starts just a few minutes before our VHF voice net on Thursdays, and lasts for the duration of the VHF voice net.
All amateurs are welcome to check in.
The Net Manager is looking for Net Control stations.
Skywarn
Amateur Radio License Classes
We are planning the next Amateur Radio Class. Please contact Michael Cauley via email or Michael can be reached by phone at 321-438-5933.
Skywarn
SKYWARN is sponsored by the National Weather Service and Orange County Communications Auxiliary is an active participant in the program. For detailed information go to the
Local SKYWARN page.
Member Requirements
Members are required to have a valid amateur radio license. Members must also host approximately one net per year. It is expected that members will make every effort to attend both the general meeting on the second Monday of every month and the meeting/training (Fun Day) held on the last Saturday morning of each month. Our
Operations Manual is required reading for all members.
Training
Training is available for members from a variety of sources. We hold training during our normal meetings as well as during Fun Days —
Current Training Schedule. Online training is available from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Orange County Emergency Amateur Radio Team Staff Members
- Steve Sweeney, N4OFL, Emergency Coordinator, 407-292-1975
- John Knott,N4JTK, AEC Operations, 321-438-5952
- Larry Monroe, N2HBX, AEC Technical, 407-697-6135
- Michael Cauley,W4MCA, AEC Training 321-438-5933
- Gil Chapin, WB2UTI, AEC Public Information 407-506-5375
- Stan Boyer, N4OWZ, AEC Finance?, 407-657-1650
- Neil Johnson, N4SI, AEC Administration, 407-282-7017
- Paul Kronenwetter, N2KIQ, AEC Technology, 407-388-7962
- Jacques Voisin, N4JCV, Skywarn, Skywarn Mgr & webmaster, 407-898-1207
- Barry Isbelle, N2DB?, AEC Logistics?, Logistics Coordinator
Interesting Articles
This article appeared on the Fire Rescue Magazine Website.
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