TO: ALL ARES OPERATORS IN DISTRICT 3 (OFFICIAL)
ALL AMATEURS IN WEST VIRGINIA (INFORMATION)
FROM: WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED AND WOOD
COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES (ARES)
ARES DISTRICT 3 BULLETIN NR 07.40 DATE: October 7, 2007
SUBJECT: USING SIMPLEX FREQUENCIES
Since this is Simplex Sunday again. I thought I'd reuse and old simplex bulletin. Why use a simplex frequency when a repeater will do just as well, if not better? Some reasons are unique to individual organizations, others are common to all. One reason is to get off a wide area repeater and tying it up if the activity is within a small area. This allows others to use the repeater if they need it. In public safety systems the repeater frequency may be used for routine dispatch and communications, while a simplex frequency may be used for the on-scene, tactical and incident command communications.
On Public Safety, Civil Air Patrol, and MARS frequencies the users are disciplined and controlled. This is not always so on most Amateur Radio frequencies. It usually becomes a compromise in the ham bands to move to a simplex frequency. A move to a simplex frequency that is NOT part of any national simplex plan would be the best, but is not always practical. Why? Many times a radio operator may be limited, by using a crystal controlled radio, which only has a few frequencies. For that reason, the use of frequencies such as a nationally known frequency of 146.520 MHz should be used. But, if all radio operators that are involved in the activity have radios that are programmable, then another frequency should be used.
The use of simplex during non-emergency activities allows us to practice communications and message handling for the real thing, and the main repeater is down. From time-to-time activities such as a Foot Races, Bike Races, Regattas, and Parade line-ups simplex frequencies will be used to provide the needed communications.
(Reprinted, with modifications of, Wood Co. ARES Bulletin 99.27)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV;
ARES Assistant Section Coordinator WV
ARES District Emergency Coordinator WV DISTRICT 3