CT Region 3 ARES

Below is part of a dialogue between George Lillenstein, AB1GL and a few other hams regarding simplex frequency assignments.  George put into words best how I feel about the topic, not just for Region 3, but amateur radio in general.

I’d just add that this is the reason why I try to have as many towns as possible work with ARES so that we do not have any conflicts.

That being said, I hope I can rely on at least one basic tenet that all hams should have – compassion.

Let’s work together and thanx George for giving me permission to post this on our site.

Jonathan, KB1KIX – Region 3 District Emergency Coordinator, CT Section

No ham has “special status” when it comes to amateur frequency use and band plans.

There are only two exceptions:
1) a ham requesting assistance in an emergency involving loss of life or property who has no other means of communication available; or
2) a disaster or military emergency, declared by the President of the United States, during which the FCC designates specific frequencies for specific usage.

There are, of course, “Gentlemen’s Agreements” about certain frequencies, but this is not the case here.

The Region 3 Handbook frequency assignment chart is simply a list of frequencies that should be available for simplex operation because as far as we know they have not been assigned to a coordinated repeater in our area of operation.  We have assigned alpha names to them so we can assign them without having to say the frequency over the air — useful in the event of deliberate jamming. We publish the list in advance so ARES members can have them all preprogrammed into their radios and thus achieve maximum frequency agility. The phrase “primary” simply means, the first frequency the named station will monitor in addition to the area-wide linked repeater system. There is no intent to confer a right to use that frequency upon the named user.

The assignments we listed are simply a suggested starting point.  Given no other instructions in an emergency, the ARES parties named should start by monitoring the indicated frequencies.   There is nothing to prevent them from moving to a clearer frequency in the event of interference. If they do so, they should notify ARES regional leadership.

Clearly, there are not enough frequencies for every town and EOC in Connecticut and adjoining states to have their own.    Our plan relies on each ham using the absolute minimum power that allows communication, so as to allow distant towns to use the same frequency.

In past SETs, conflicts arose because some towns were transmitting much farther than they could hear.  This is rude and poor operating procedure, but not illegal.

If this happens, try reaching the offender by relay, phone, digital or NTS message and respectfully request they reduce power or change antennas.

As always in Amateur Radio operations, conflicts over a frequency should be resolved with courtesy, cooperation, and cool heads.  Be flexible. Remember that our communications are in the clear — the rest of the world is listening to you.  Let’s not give hams a black eye.

If it is not possible to find a clear frequency or reduce the interference, see if you can arrange to share the assigned frequency by creating a “layered net.”  This can work very well for nets with very short messages or infrequent traffic, but depends on the Net Controllers being able to hear each other.