Communication facilities for disaster management Introduction
Disaster Management: the range of activities designed to mitigate the effects of disasters and emergency situations and to provide a framework for helping people at-risk to avoid or recover from the impact of the disaster. Unfortunately at the time of major natural disasters, the regular telecommunication infrastructure of public wired and wireless telephones get severely damaged and become nonfunctional. During this emergency situation, the communication traffic goes beyond its capacity which leads to congestion of the network or in worst case, complete failure of network. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to have the communication links operational among Government authorities at various levels and the people/ volunteers working in the disaster affected areas to help the affected population. Main
Amateur (Ham) Radio In the event of major disasters/emergencies, it has been experienced that Amateur Radios have worked successfully when no other communications worked. Amateur radio (also called ham radio) radio) is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-
commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication. The term "amateur" is used to specify persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without direct pecuniary interest, and to differentiate it from commercial broadcasting, public safety (such as police and fire), or professional twoway radio services . The amateur radio service is established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) through the International Telecommunication Regulations. National governments regulate technical and operational characteristics of transmissions and issue individual stations licenses with an identifying call sign. Prospective amateur operators are tested for their understanding of key concepts in electronics and the host government's radio regulations. Radio amateurs use a variety of voice, text, image, and data communications modes and have access to frequency allocations throughout the RF spectrum to enable communication across a city, region, country, continent, the world, or even into space.
During and after disasters Amateur Radio operators set up and operate organized communication networks locally for governmental and emergency officials, as well as noncommercial communication for private citizens affected by the disaster. Amateur Radio operators are most likely to be active after disasters that damage regular lines of communications due to power outages and
destruction of telephone, cellular and other infrastructure-dependent systems.
How do Amateur Radio operators help local officials? Many radio amateurs are active as communications volunteers with local public safety organizations. In addition, in some disasters, radio frequencies are not coordinated among relief officials and Amateur Radio operators step in to coordinate communication when radio towers and other elements in the communications infrastructure are damaged.
How the Indian meteorological department disseminates information using ham radio The primary method is by voice. Voice can be used locally via repeater networks, or on lower frequencies, all over the world, depending on conditions. Another method is digital. Hams set up radio networks by using a small radio and a modem-like device so it works pretty much like the internet but over the air, but way slower. Some of these networks are linked through the actual internet so they can reach all over the world. Voice Frequency is created in Ham radio and transmitted; the other ham radio will receive it and then changes it into voice again. Conclusion Amateur radio is getting popular in India as a creative hobby and there are around 15,000 licensed Amateur Radio Operators (Hams) in India. Amateur Radio is an unbeatable way of learning about radio communications, and not only will you learn much, but you would also be able to help at the time of emergency. Throughout its history, amateur radio enthusiasts have made significant contributions to science, engineering, industry, andsocial services. Research by amateur radio
operators has founded new industries, saved lives in times of emergency.
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built economies,
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