China Amateur Radio Disaster Communication Review

For GAREC-2009

CRSA, 2009/08, TokyoComposed by BA1RB, CRSA representative

in IARU R3 Disaster Communications Committee

Agenda

Brief Recall of the big disaster

Current situation

Next action

14:28 BJT, 12 May 2008, A magnitude-8.0 earthquake hit China’s Sichuan area.

Wenchuan City, Center of quakeWenchuan City, Center of quake 31d28.7’N 103d34.8’E31d28.7’N 103d34.8’E

Chengdu City, Capital of Suchuan Chengdu City, Capital of Suchuan ProvinceProvince 103 103 km from quake km from quake

centercenter

69,227 died and 374,643 injured in the disaster

80-90% of houses were

crashed.

Amateur radio operators help to provide emergency communication

Important actions immediately taken by amateur radio operators

Date Time Place Actions

2008.5.12 14:28 Chengdu City

The earthquake hits Sichuan, 2-3 minutes later, the amateur radio network turned to emergency communication status. Some part of the repeater system damaged but still working. 439.225MHz and 439.800MHz was used for emergency communication. BG8AAS, BG8AAK, BG8BX worked as network controller. The repeater covered 100Km radius.

2008.5.12 14:45 Chengdu City

Amateur radio operators used HF to communicated with other amateur radio operators outside Sichuan, gathering information from internet to locate the center of the earthquake area.

2008.5.12 Afternoon

Chengdu City

Xiang Yong, BG8CVE drove from Chengdu to the center of earthquake area immediately.Zhang Zhen, BG8DOU also reported, 2 amateur radio operators drove to center of earthquake area.

Important actions immediately taken by amateur radio operators (Cont.)

Date Time Place Actions

2008.5.12 Evening

Chengdu City

Liu Xu, BG8AAS reported to Sichuan radio administration bureau, setup “Sichuan amateur radio emergency communication network command center”. Pei Dan, BG8DG and He Chang, BG8BXcontrolled the network.

2008.5.12 Evening

Mianzhu City

The Hanwang town has no message sent out. BD8AAI, BG8BES led a team to help build the communication. At evening, more operators came, setup a repeater and give several handheld V/U transceivers there.

2008.5.12 Evening

Mianzhu City

Heavy rain. Amateur radio communication vehicle parked in front of government disaster relief center, The Mayor of Mianzhu used amateur radio equipment to communicate with vice Mayor and secretary, who was in front line.

Important actions immediately taken by amateur radio operators (Cont.)

Date Time Place Actions

2008.5.13 Chengdu City

The emergency repeater in Mianzhu city continuously provide communication for the Mayor, and report status.

2008.5.13 Mianzhu City

The repeater in Chengdu kept busy for traffic handling, guide to transport injured people. Another repeater was setup in Mianzhu, but finally retired because of short of gasoline.

After 2008.5.14

Sichuan The “Sichuan amateur radio emergency communication network command center” act as communication hub to connect local V/UHF network, and report status in HF band. The command center also coordinate the instructions for CRSA, CRCF etc. Amateur radio operators came from Chengdu, Beijing, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou and Nanjing etc. provided equipments and facilities to help build communication and transport goods, medicines and injured people.

IARU R3 Chairman Michael Owen VK3KI introduced Sichuan earthquake and Chinese amateur radio disaster communication in 2008 GAREC

Proposed by Bob, W6RGG, ARRL awarded the 2008 humanitarian award to CRSA member and Sichuan amateur radio operators

Bob Vallio, W6RGG, Director, Bob Vallio, W6RGG, Director, Pacific Division,ARRLPacific Division,ARRL

David Patton, NN1N, Award David Patton, NN1N, Award Manager, ARRLManager, ARRL

ARRL awarded 2008 International Humanitarian Award to CRSA

The amateur radio in Sichuan province are also awarded

CRSA held the 2009 annual member meeting in Sichuan to commemorate the big disaster

Agenda

Brief Recall of the big disaster

Current situation

Next action

China issued the “Emergency Response Law of the People's Republic of China” in 2007

The Law was issued in 30 Aug 2007 and effective from 1st Nov 2007. Table of Content Chapter 1 　 　 General provisions      Chapter 2 　 Prevention and preparation     Chapter 3 　 Monitor and alert     Chapter 4 　 Emergency disposal and rescue    Chapter 5 　 Relief and rebuild     Chapter 6 　 Law responsibilities    Chapter 7 　 Appendix

The emergency situation consist of Nature disaster, Accident, Public health disaster, Social security disaster.

Other emergency communication trends

International Telecommunication Union

Mobile public communication services

Professional Emcom network

Satellite communication network

Future system

ITU ITU （（ International Telecommunication UnionInternational Telecommunication Union ））

ITU-TTelecommunication standardization of

network and service aspects

ITU-RRadiocommunicationstandardization and

global radio spectrum management

ITU-D

Assisting implementation and operation of

telecommunications in developing countries

191 Member States+700 Sector MembersITU

Helping the World Communicate

Disaster phases and Disaster phases and the radio services involvedthe radio services involved

Disaster prediction and detectionDisaster prediction and detection – – meteorological and Earth exploration meteorological and Earth exploration satellite servicessatellite services

Disaster alertingDisaster alerting – broadcasting, fixed, – broadcasting, fixed, mobile and related satellite servicesmobile and related satellite services

Disaster reliefDisaster relief – Amateur, broadcasting, – Amateur, broadcasting, fixed, mobile and related satellite servicesfixed, mobile and related satellite services

Status of studies – needs of future Status of studies – needs of future systemssystems

Report ITU-R MReport ITU-R M.2033.2033

““Radiocommunication objectives and Radiocommunication objectives and requirements for public protection and requirements for public protection and disaster relief (PPDR)”disaster relief (PPDR)”

Defines objectives and needs for the Defines objectives and needs for the implementation of future PPDR solutionsimplementation of future PPDR solutions

Focuses on operational needs around 2010Focuses on operational needs around 2010

Resolution 64Resolution 6466 (WRC- (WRC-0303))RecommendRecommends s use use of of regionally harmonized bandsregionally harmonized bands ::

Region 1Region 1: 380-470 MHz as the frequency range : 380-470 MHz as the frequency range within which the band 380‑385/390‑395 MHz is a within which the band 380‑385/390‑395 MHz is a preferred core harmonized band for permanent preferred core harmonized band for permanent public protection activities within certain public protection activities within certain countries of Region 1;countries of Region 1;

Region 2Region 2: 746-806 MHz, 806-869 MHz, 4 940-: 746-806 MHz, 806-869 MHz, 4 940-4 990 MHz;4 990 MHz;

Region 3Region 3: 406.1-430 MHz, 440-470 MHz, 806-: 406.1-430 MHz, 440-470 MHz, 806-824/851-869 MHz, 4 940‑4 990 MHz and 5 850-824/851-869 MHz, 4 940‑4 990 MHz and 5 850-5 925 MHz.5 925 MHz.  

EEncouragencouragess administrations administrations to facilitate cross-to facilitate cross-border circulationborder circulation of radio equipment intended for of radio equipment intended for use in disaster relief situationsuse in disaster relief situations

Status of studies – Amateur Status of studies – Amateur involvementinvolvement

Recommendation ITU-R M.1042-Recommendation ITU-R M.1042-22

““Disaster communications in the amateur Disaster communications in the amateur and amateur-satellite services”and amateur-satellite services”

Encourages the development of robust, Encourages the development of robust, flexible and independent amateur service flexible and independent amateur service and amateur-satellite service networks, and amateur-satellite service networks, capable of providing communications capable of providing communications during disasters and relief operationsduring disasters and relief operations

Public Mobile communication network emergency communication solution

Contingency Plan

Contingency base station

Super base station

Group business

News broadcasting

Space-Ground integration

Satellite emergency communication network

Space – Ground integration mobile network

LEO constellation(Orbcomm……)

New developing / Future Technologies

AVCS(Aerial Vehicles Comm Sys)

HALO-Proteus （ US ）

New developing / Future Technologies(Cont.)

HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station)

HAPS

StratSat （ UK ） Stratpspheric PL. （ JP ）Sky Station （ US ）

Capanina （ EU ） SkyTower （ US ） Heliplat （ I ）

The position of amateur radio emergency communication in disaster relief

1 ， Part of the disaster relief system;

2 ， A supplemental of national emergency communication;

3 ， The prerequisite to function well:

Available Non-Governmental communication resources

Popularizing communication technology

The amateur spirit

4 ， The most valuable things can provide:

In very short time to report disaster situation

In very short time provide self relief communication

Agenda

Brief Recall of the big disaster

Current situation

Next action

Action 1 – make amateur radio activity popular

This is the basic factor that amateur radio operators can serve for disaster relief.

In the Sichuan earthquake there was a hamradio operator (Mr. Tian, BG8FA) in Hanwang town – one of the center area – his equipments was entirely damaged – fortunately, his family were all survived in the big disaster.

Mr. Tian, BG8FA lived in the ground floor of this building, his equipment was entirely damaged by the big earthquake

内容

Action 2 – Setup practice standard for amateur radio emergency operation

Enhance CRSA emergency communication exercises.Setup operation standard for emergency communication, Jiangsu province has the first stepCorporate with government and social disaster relief forces.International experience sharing.

CRSA participated all SET proposed by IARU R1Actively involve in GAREC meeting

Practice on standard emergency communication frequencies

Action 3 – Focus on normal preparation

Basic communication skills educationEnhance corporation with government disaster relief departmentLocal communication self training Building VHF/UHF emergency networking skillsResearch amateur radio emergency repeater technologyResearch amateur radio direction finding rescue technology

Action 4 – Develop technologies and solve problems

200Km stable communicationSolve skip problemStable reporting to command centerDigital signal alertWeak signal / Low power communication

200Km stable communication

With “Emergency Response Law of the People's Republic of China”, when disaster occurs, the situation should report to provincial center which normally about 100-200Km far away

Develop VHF/UHF repeater system to cover these areas in east developed region.

By using HF, need high angle radiation antenna while to consider HF absorb by D and E layer.

Loop antenna and high angle antenna

Solve skip problem

Relayed by remote station, the 100-200Km station can use HF to communicate

Solve skip problem (Cont.)

Stable reporting to command center

By setup about 5 stations national wide, and link them by VOIP technology such as Echo Link, the command center can easily communicate to the stations in the disaster center.

Stable reporting to command center(Cont.)

XCVR PC

XCVR PC

XCVR PC

XCVRPC

XCVR

ServerPC

Internet

Station X

Station 3

Station 1

Station 2

System admin

Listener

Stations in disaster center

Sound card

Link to internetInterface

PC

XCVR Control

（ Audio ）

System admin

Digital signal alert

The digital signal such as RTTY or PSK can transmit characters (including Chinese double byte characters), make the message less distortion.

To setup national wide monitoring system under certain protocol, the digital HF/VHF alert system even can be observed from internet!

Digital signal alert(Cont.)

The Warbler 80m PSK transceiver. BA5AG has modified the schematic diagram to easily fit in China.

Digital signal alert(Cont.)

The KN-Q8 made by BA6BF. It is a very small yet full function rig for 40-20m, convenient for field use.

Digital signal alert(Cont.)

By using pocketDigi, integrate with KN-Q8, it’s easy to transmit Chinese Characters by using PSK31.

Weak signal / Low power communication

Given the power limit and antenna status, low power stations should be took into consideration. Weak signal processing is of vital importance in disaster communication. JT65/FSK144/QRSS technology are worth to apply in this area.

Weak signal / Low power communication(Cont.)

We gain the experiences from LF and EME practices

Spectogram Spectran I2PHD IK2CZL EasyGram OK1FIG

Argo I2PHD IK2CZL Spectrum Lab DL4YHF Crunch VE2IQ

QRS ON7YD Jason I2PHD WOLF/GUI KK7KA DL4YHF

谢谢各位！Thanks

Produced by CRSA