WELCOME TO THE EMERGCOM ECHO!  
    
    
  This introduction is posted concurrently with the rules on the  
  first day of every month to familiarize newcomers with the echo and  
  to provide them a little more information than is available from  
  the rules.  
    
  EMergcom is an echo for anyone who works in the field of emergency  
  and/or disaster radio communications.  THIs includes first  
  responders; public safety dispatchers; ham radio operators; search  
  & rescue team members and volunteers with organizations such as  
  react.  
    
  fIdonet has a few echoes dedicated to radio communications, but  
  most are geared to other radio activities.  therefore, I began the  
  emergcom echo to give interested parties a place to discuss tools  
  and techniques that are beneficial to emergency and disaster  
  communicators.  
    
  Amateur radio offers some distinct advantages for volunteer  
  emergency and disaster communicators over other services.  First  
  and foremost, we have a wider range of frequencies and modes  
  available, allowing us to offer worldwide regional or local  
  communications no matter the time of  
  year or other factors.  When the infrastructure fails we have the  
  tools available to get the job done. NO other service offers the  
  same degree of flexibility and adaptability.  The flip side  
  of that coin is that amateur radio operators who wish to be  
  involved should be willing to acquire training, primarily  
  in the various operating disciplines and modes they may need  
  to use to get the job done.  
    
  emergency communications professionals may need to work with  
  volunteers during a disaster, and the aim of the EMERGCOM echo is  
  to provide tools techniques and information which will aid  
  communicators from different services in working together smoothly.  
    
       WHen communicating in emergency and disaster situations using  
  voice the prudent operator should always forego the Q signs 10  
  codes and other jargon.  Plain language works best and is  
  understood by all.  THe operator you must communicate with might  
  not understand "qth" or "10-22" etcetera.  Leave it out and use  
    
  "what is your location?"  
    
  "I shall disregard."  
    
       Having said this we still should remember that certain words  
  and phrases have universal acceptance among radio communicators,  
  whether they be military aero controllers or firefighters'  
  dispatchers.   thanks to TV and the movies however these have been  
  abused and their understanding muted in the minds of the public.  
  SO to help dispel the myths we'll list them below:  
  NOte that those most often abused are marked with an asterisk.  
    
    
  All after:  Used to get fills when copying record traffic, advising  
  the transmitting station that you need all after the word or group  
  stated.  This group will be the last group you copied correctly.  
    
  All before:  AS in the example above.  
    
  *break:  1.  An indicator that the sending radio operator will  
  break at this point to allow the receiving operator a chance to get  
  any fills or catch up.  
     2.  USed when finished with one station on a net and commencing  
  to communicate with another as in "break with you."  
    
  Please note that the so-called "double break" to signify an  
  emergency is not universally recognized as is often thought.  It is  
  an amateur radio affectation, I think imported from CB.  HOwever it  
  is recognized as the quick and dirty "I have an emergency" signal  
  for voice comms on amateur radio.   Using "break break" will  
  immediately gain the attention of net stations.  
  MOst other services recognize the pro signs "mayday" or  
  "panpan" (pronounced pon pon) however.  
    
  I say again:  Used when retransmitting a group or phrase.  
    
  *Out:  I have finished my communication with you.  (When used by net  
  control is not necessarily permission to leave the net unless  
  explicitly stated.)  
    
  *Over:  I have finished my transmission and expect a reply from you.  
  Please note that "over" and "out" are mutually exclusive and only  
  used together by communicators in bad war movies.  
    
  RELAY  (QNB on CW) Act as intermediary between stations.  
        Also, carry traffic between destinations (QSP on CW).  
    
  RE-LIST  Place a dispatched message back on the net list.  
    
  *Roger:  I received and understood your last transmission.  Does not  
  mean yes.  
    
  Wilco:  Will comply with your request.  IF you have received  
  instructions from NCS and will comply  with  them then to indicate  
  that you received understood and will comply with them the phrase  
  "roger wilco" might be appropriate.  However, it is quite  
  redundant, as "wilco" would suffice as it indicates that of  
  course you received your instructions.  
    
  Above all:  Learn and use the standard ITU phonetic alphabet.  
  LEarn it, love it!  THough some agencies adopt their own there is a  
  reason the ITU phonetic alphabet was developed and is still used.  
    
  FInally, once again thanks for reading, and participating.  
  TEll us about your organization's drills, what works, what  
  doesn't.  WE can all learn from each other's experiences.  
    
    
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   * Origin: Emergcom echo moderator (1:116/901)