Simplex Operations and Equipment
Simplex Operations
Realistic disaster training anticipates that some or all local repeaters may be unavailable.
After a storm, repeater battery power must be conserved. Don't hog a machine to rag chew with your buddy down the street or always expect the repeater to "be there" to compensate for a poor station on your part. Amateur radio emergency plans must stipulate when simplex is appropriate and provide guidance on frequency coordination, to manage operations without depending upon repeater infrastructure.
Repeaters are appropriate for event "talk-in" and to reach into areas with poor simplex coverage, but don't rely on them for your primary working frequency.
If an event covers a few miles radius, use simplex instead of tying up a machine. Keep repeaters available for inter-jurisdictional traffic, as backup into difficult to reach areas, alerting, etc. when wide-area coverage is really needed.
When using the repeater, pause between transmissions, to enable stations with priority traffic to break in or to assist weak stations needing relays.
Instruct new operators where the "reverse" button is on their rig, so they can listen to the input frequency. If someone has a poor signal into the machine and you can copy on the input, you can relay. If making a contact and both stations have good copy on the input, change to simplex to free up the machine.
Nets which normally meet on a repeater when the repeater is "down" should be called on the repeater output frequency simplex, because that's where people will be listening.
Establish and distribute a local communications plan which informs operators which simplex frequencies to use for local nets.
This encourages operators to preprogram equipment to a standard list and to routinely use their assigned simplex channels. Simplex frequencies are not formally "coordinated," but should be arranged under "gentleman's agreement" by EmCom groups in your operational area.
New operator classes should include operating skills beyond the minimum needed to "pass the test."
Teach the proper use of prowords, ITU phonetics, Accuracy Brevity and Clarity in communications and message fundamentals on both the ICS and NTS forms. Encourage new hams to participate in public service events, so they can practice, gain experience and confidence enabling them to become skilled, effective emergency communicators.
On simplex, it is important to open the squelch to listen for weak stations, instead of keeping it tight to reduce noise.
Encourage use of simplex on weekly training nets as a reliability check of your emergency equipment, instead of using commercial power. New operators also need to be taught to use plain language, correct "pro words" and ITU phonetics on phone and how to program a new frequency, offset and CTCSS tone not already in memory.
Hand held transceivers are not adequate as primary rigs for emergency communications!
If an HT signal is so weak that it cannot be copied, it takes double the air time and battery consumption from others to provide relays, repeats or fills. Having "only an HT" limits you to nearby repeaters or simplex within a few miles.
Don't depend on having a regular Net Control!
EmCom operators should all learn how to call up and run a net. In an emergency, your "regular" net control may be busy elsewhere! If the NCS of a scheduled weekly net misses his “Sked”, use the opportunity for a "wall flower drill." Somebody should just jump in there and do it. A suggested script is available upon request for any that want to start a local training net in their neighborhood. Contact KE4SKY@att.net