Barry.

Why do we bother with this? I cannot believe that I have just read that...

Are you aware that that approx 75% of the clubs income comes from WICEN events? (give or take) with out it, the club could not possibly afford to provide the services that it does to the Amateur community.

Are you aware that WICEN is an accredited emergency communications organisations? And as such we are required to ensure we have a level of competence? Events like these provide invaluable opportunity for exposure, training and testing of operators and their equipment "in the field."

Citizen Band was not created for this, CB was created for everyone and to be used for anything. This means that for events like this, it could be used in theory, but I wonder when was the last time you actually tried to use CB for a structured purpose?? I can guarantee that despite having 80 channels to pick from, that someone would take exception to the rally being on air on one of those 80 channels, and would do all they could to disrupt comms. There is nothing you can do about this either. By using WICEN, we can offer a dedicated communications line that is free from the abuse.

If they did opt for CB, are you aware that it is CRARC who supplies and installs the repeater for them to use in any case? Simplex is not an option out there.

Having been involved in other forms of motor sport, it would also not surprise me that the organisers are actually required to have some sort of "professional comms" in place for insurance purposes. Despite the fact that we are by title Amateurs, we are in fact by definition, professionals.

Having been involved in many WICEN events for CRARC, and witnessed / heard various emergencies (including a fatality), I would also not like to rely on untrained operators the CB network of HH that would be in use, to provide comms / assistance when things head south. 90% of the people involved at rallies (road closures etc) are random jo-blo's off the street who volunteered.

Did I mention that it is an invaluable source of income for the club?

Have you actually been out at a rally or WICEN event and seen for yourself, first hand what happens out there?

These are just a few points that I can think of off the top of my head. I am sure others will come up with more.

73
de
Peter VK1NFI / VK2MPJ

PS Did I mention that it means income for the club?? :-)

the On 3/12/2011 1:13 PM, Barry Matson wrote:

Why do we bother with this? This is what the Citizens Band was created for. Why can’t they do their communications for themselves.
_______________________________________________
WICEN-Members mailing list
WICEN-Members@crarc.ampr.org
http://www.crarc.ampr.org/mailman/listinfo/wicen-members