[lug] The Call Is Out for IT Experts

[Nate Duehr]

Some communications needs for the Red Cross are being handled by local
Amateur Radio operators, according to other news sources I've read -- 12
hour shifts.  The ARRL (www.arrl.org) has a bulletin regarding this.

Currently because the only transportation available in the Lower
Manhattan area is public transportation and/or the infamous NYC cabs,
ARRL/ARES (American Radio Relay League/Amateur Radio Emergency Services)
officials in NYC are turning down help from outside the area until they
can "provide for the saftey and comfort of visiting Amateurs".

Many of the communications problems are hindered by the overloaded local
phone and cell phone systems and that the location of many commercial
transmitters was on top of WTC-1.  

Currently there is only one broadcast over-the-air TV station on the air
in NYC.  Some of the oldest radio stations in the world have fallen,
along with at least five known missing communications/radio engineers
who were most likely in the WTC-1 transmitter site at the time.

In reading ARRL's bulletin a little deeper, current volunteers are being
asked to bring "mobile" rigs instead of handhelds, indicating that the
typical power output of a handheld radio (5 Watts) is not enough to
reach the closest working repeaters.  Typical power output from most
mobiles is on the order of 35-50W for VHF and UHF radios.

Thought some of the folks on the LUG list might be interested in all
this for this reason:

I'm heavily involved in the Internet Radio Linking Project
(www.irlp.net) which is a way for Amateurs to link repeaters and other
radios via the Internet.  On the day of the disaster, I noted that more
than once during the day the various NYC repeaters were linked together,
indicating that down the road there may be some excellent stories of how
the Internet and Radio together helped on this sad day.

The IRLP system uses a customized version of RedHat and SpeakFreely VoIP
software and an add-on hardware board controlled through the parallel
port of the computer to handle keying the radio, and knowing when not
to key the radio via a "carrier operated squelch" line.  If you have an
old scanner lying around and would like to hear our local IRLP "node"
here in Denver, tune it to 145.340 Mhz.  If you hear a "courtesy tone"
after a transmission, the IRLP node is linked somewhere... either
node-to-node or node-to-reflector, with reflectors being somewhat like a
"party line" for multiple connections.

Closer to home, Amateurs have been helping the local Red Cross
communicate between the two local shelters and their vans which are
shuttling people to and from DIA.  You can hear this activity on
145.280 Mhz on a scanner/receiver.  They are using tactical callsigns,
so you'll hear "Shuttle 1", and "Shelter 1", etc.

Nate (Amateur callsign: N0NTZ)

On Sat, Sep 15, 2001 at 01:30:27AM -0600, John Starkey wrote:
> This was posted to another list.
> 
> =====================================================================
> 
> http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,46821,00.html
> 
> The Call Is Out for IT Experts 
> By Michelle Delio 
> 
> 2:00 a.m. Sep. 14, 2001 PDT  
> NEW YORK -- Techies of the world, New York City needs you. 
> 
> Red Cross workers at the scene of the disaster desperately need computer
> equipment and technically skilled volunteers to aid in the recovery effort. 
> 
> And soon, many businesses in the downtown area will need help and hardware
> to get back on their feet. 
> 
> "The New York American Red Cross is in dire need of technology equipment and
> services," said Joe Leo, assistant director of the American Red Cross in New
> York. 
>  
> The field workers and rescue sites have little, if any, means of
> communication, and the central office is processing way too much on
> completely paper systems. Any help in acquiring these resources would be
> greatly appreciated," Leo said. 
> 
> Leo said there is a specific and immediate need for Citrix server engineers
> and Microsoft-certified consultants to help in setting up systems that will
> assist rescue workers in communicating and coordinating the recovery effort.
> 
> 
> The New York Red Cross also needs laptops, wireless networking cards,
> printers, CD burners and other equipment. 
> 
> "Essentially, anything you can give us, we can use," Leo said. 
> 
> Donations of equipment can be sent to Leo's office: 150 Amsterdam Avenue,
> New York, NY 10023. Leo said that his e-mail, and the Red Cross servers, has
> been hit with heavy traffic and asked that only those who wish to volunteer
> contact him directly. 
> 
> Fredrick Addorama, a recently laid-off network administrator, volunteered
> his services, on Wednesday, at the Family Services Center that has been set
> up in New York's 29th Street Armory. 
> 
> The center is assisting families who are searching for missing loved ones. 
> 
> Addorama said he was told there is an urgent need to develop a single system
> that can track missing people, and the city is attempting to set up a
> database containing pictures, dental records and descriptions of the
> missing. 
> 
> "If you are a geek in New York, I'd strongly suggest that you head over to
> the nearest police station, Red Cross office, or emergency center and
> volunteer your time and expertise," Addorama said. "And if you are not here,
> please come if you can. If you don't have skills, send computer equipment.
> If you don't have equipment, sponsor a techie. Get them here. We need them."
> 
> 
> A spokesman at New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's office said the city
> welcomes donations of computer equipment and technically skilled people's
> time. 
> 
> "Whatever you have that you can spare, you can bet this city needs it," the
> spokesman said. 
> 
> Those who wish to contribute can get further information at the New York
> City Government website (http://www.nyc.gov/). 
> 
> Some technology companies have already responded to New York's need. 
> 
> Nextel, a wireless communications company, has loaned more than 12,000
> wireless phones with digital two-way radio service capabilities to
> government agencies and the American Red Cross in New York City and
> Washington. 
> 
> The twin towers were a major communications hub for Manhattan, and equipment
> and antennas that transmitted millions of calls each day now lay buried
> under a mountain of smoking rubble. 
> 
> While it's difficult for city residents to be without regular phone service
> during the crisis, the real issue is that emergency workers are struggling
> to communicate with each other through cell phones, which more often than
> not are unable to pick up a signal. 
> 
> "Communication is beyond crucial in a time like this. We --all the rescue
> workers -- need to have immediate access to each other," fireman Dan
> McCormick said. 
> 
> Microsoft announced Thursday it is giving $5 million in cash and $5 million
> in software and services to help relief groups and government agencies.
> Microsoft is also assembling response teams to help customers in New York
> and at the Pentagon rebuild their computer networks, spokesman Rick Belluzzo
> said. 
> 
> A spokesman for Dell Computers said that the company is in discussions about
> donating equipment and that Dell is giving first priority to building and
> shipping supplies needed by rescue and emergency workers. 
> 
> There is no official agency handling requests from New York businesses for
> technically skilled volunteers at this time. Most of the attention and
> effort is still being directed to the rescue efforts. 
> 
> "It'd sure be easier if there was one number to call," said Jeff Carter, a
> programmer who wants to help local businesses recover. "But right now I
> suggest that people make calls to agencies and companies in New York. Or
> just show up at crisis centers prepared to work. At first, until the efforts
> here are more coordinated, you may be asked to hand out water bottles to the
> rescue workers. It doesn't matter. Just show up." 
> 
> Tech publication Computerworld (http://www.computerworld.com/) is attempting
> to organize a volunteer corps of techies to assist those in need of help. 
> 
> Information on Computerworld's Volunteer IT program is available on the
> publication's website. 
> 
> Mike Lackey, with AIT Global, a technical workers association, has asked all
> AIT members, and the entire tech community, to sign on at Computerworld's
> site. 
> 
> "The businesses that are still somewhat intact, or who have hope for
> rebuilding themselves, will soon be looking for help with their IT
> infrastructure," Lackey said in an e-mail. "Let's all pitch in together to
> make the rebuilding of downtown NYC as successful as possible." 
> 
> ============================================================================
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-- 
Nate Duehr <nate at natetech.com>

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