HARDware and software Infrastructure technical work group
HARDware, ELECTRONICS, and software technical work group
This KARO-ECHO Work Group covers the repair, maintenance, installation, planning, access, and development of all the Karo-Echo Electronics Hardware and Software infrastructure, KaroEcho served agency sites, and member sites. It is the physical/electronic network that our radio information travels on.
Job Responsibilities/Purview
Technical issues include the development and maintenance of hardware, portable and fixed emergency power installations (training in the use of batteries, solar, and use of car charging system), ham & FRS/GMRS radio antenna equipment, and the regular maintenance and testing of portable and base antennas. The Infrastructure Working Group maintains a working inventory and a maintenance schedule. This team maintains coordination with corresponding agency site managers in order to arrange 24 hour access to equipment. The team works together with the Operations Work Group in order to identify and establish optimal locations and equipment.
This team will also help KAROECHO members install, repair, and maintain their antenna, radio, emergency power systems, and programming, as well as coordinate efforts with the KARO/ECHO Training Work Group in their Elmering/Mentoring program.
Team
Team Lead: Howdy, KE6BEE
Current Team Members: Jerry K6KOP, Mike KM6CXI, Jamuel KM6HBO, Don NI6A, Howdy KE6BEE, Larry KK6GIO, Marian KC6OBK, Rob K6RJM, and Hal KK6NDF.
More volunteers are solicited.
Equipment and Locations
El Cerrito
El Cerrtio EOC
Antenna, radio, and emergency power
Onsite Contact: Chief Kevin Janes
Coordinator: Jamuel KM6HBO, Hal KK6NDF
Fire Station 71
Antenna. radio, and emergency power
Onsite Coordinator: Chief Kevin Janes
KaroEcho Coordinator: Jamuel KM6HBO, Hal KK6NDF, Marian KC6OBK, and Howdy KE6BEE
Fire Station 72
Antenna, Radio, and Emergency power
Onsite Contact: Chief Kevin Janes
Coordinator: Jamuel KM6HBO
El Cerrito Senior Center
Radio, power supply. and antenna, no emergency power (removed since 06-2018)
Coordinator:
Harding School Park Clubhouse
50 watt radio, power supply, and 17' X-500HNA antenna
On site Coordinator: Chris Jones -- Parks and Rec. Department
Karo-Echo Coordinator: KE6BEE
Tassajara Park
Outdoor antenna on Recreation Clubhouse
50 watt radio and power supply
Onsite Contact: Chris Jones -- Parks and Rec. Department
Karo Echo Coordinator: Mike, KM6CXI, Jamuel KM6HBO, Howdy KE6BEE
Kensington
Fire Station 65 (KPSB)
Antenna, 50 watt radio, Diamond X-300 antenna, and battery emergency power
Onsite Contact: Chief Kevin Janes
KaroEcho Coordinator: Jerry, K6KOP, Hal KK6NDF
Kensington Community Center (KCC)
Diamond X-300 antenna. 50 watt radio, and emergency power
Onsite Contact: Chief Janes
KaroEcho Coordinator: Jerry, K6KOP, Hal KK6NDF
Kensington Hilltop School (KHS)
Diamond X-300a antenna, 50 watt radio, and emergency battery power
Onsite Contact: TBD
KaroEcho Coordinator: Jerry, K6KOP, Marian KC6OBK
Kensington - El Cerrito Area Wide Portable Go-Kart
50 watt radio, deep cycle AGM 105 AH battery, tripod base, 6.5 DBd gain portable antenna, and Rigid Portable Cart on wheels.
Onsite Coordinator: TBD
KaroEcho Coordinator, Don NI6A
There are five additional KARO-ECHO radios that need to be placed or cached, an Astron 35M 12V power supply, and a couple of Diamond x300A antennas.
Notes on Locations
Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
The EOC is located in the El Cerrito Public Safety Building at 109000 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Station 71
Station 71 is located at 10900 San Pablo Avenue at the corner of Manila Avenue. The station was built in 1964 and is the headquarters for both the Fire Department and the El Cerrito Police Department. In addition to the Fire Department’s administration, Station 71 is also home to Engine 71, Truck 71, and OES #300.
Station 72
Station 72, located at 1520 Arlington Boulevard, was built in 1997 to replace the outdated station at this same site. This station serves as a secondary Emergency Operations Center for the City and has a training room facility as well as archive storage for Fire Department records. Engine 72 and Engine 372 are both housed at this facility as well as a 16-foot mass casualty incident trailer that stores extra medical supplies for large-scale incidents.
Station 65
Station 65 is located at 217 Arlington Avenue in Kensington, was built in 1970 to replace the old station that was located down the street. The Station is owned by the Kensington Fire Protection District that has contracted with the El Cerrito Fire Department to provide personnel and administrative services since 1995. In addition, the Fire District leases part of the building to the Kensington Police Department who also work out of this same facility. Engine 65 and Engine 365 are both housed at this facility.
Outstanding Tasks
Documentation
- Plan out the physical network of radio stations that are required to support the network plan developed by the Operations Working Group.
- Document the requirements for what a fully operational radio station needs to have, including (but not limited to)
- Radios (ham, FRS/GMRS, etc) and how they are to be placed
- Antennas and how they are to be installed
- What access is required
- Primary and backup power
- Seating and general operating space
- Logs, forms, and other office supplies, etc.
- Document how to maintain a fully operational and ready radio station at each location including clear labeling of all the ham equipment. All stations should have installed a 3 ring binder containing message forms, simplex frequency list, net control protocols, a crib sheet, operating manual, pencils, paper, ICS form 309, the KAROECHO Field Resources Operators Handbook, etc.
- Plan out how stations are to be maintained, including frequency of visits, maintenance record log, and what needs to be done when
Execution
- Facilitate building out the plan of physical network of radio stations, including relocating stations and portability needs as necessary
- Apply for or otherwise obtain funding to build out new portable and mobile radio capabilities
- Work with city officials to make sure qualified KARO-ECHO members can access radio stations
- Ensure that the maintenance plan is being followed
- Write and permanently install clear, complete, and concise laminated waterproof operating manuals at each location
Related Pages
Battery Emergency Power Operations
EMcomm Operators Go-Kit (Jumpkit)
Customized KARO/ECHO EMComm Operators Go-Kit based on types of assignments
The Four Types of Assignments Based on Radio Hardware and Levels of Skill (see the above KARO ECHO Go-Kit based on type of assignment).
KARO/ECHO How to Work a Directed Net Click here
The Role of a Message Center and Message Center Manager
Emergency Communications Field Operations Manual and Handbook (Karo-Echo) (Rev 4/2018)
A list of Relevant VHF and UHF SIMPLEX Frequencies in our area
The KARO-ECHO HYBRID ARES/RACES MESSAGE FORM in MS Word format
The same KARO-ECHO Hybrid ARES/ICS 213 message form as a PDF
ICS 309 Communications Log Form (PDF)
ICS-309 KE-ARES Fillable Log Form (MS Word)