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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 16Minutes Town of Los Altos Hills EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Novemeber 16, 2010 @ 7:00 PM, Council Chambers Roll call: Member Call Sign Attended Absent Jim Abraham W6EB P Dru Anderson KG6LAD P Bob Anderson KC6ZWG P Ray Egan, Chair W6FQY P Andy Fawcett KI6MAF P Edwin R Jones, EC W7WPO E Andrew Kirk WB6CLS P Duncan MacMillan KI6VMY P Scott Overstreet N6NXI P Bob Rowe AF6LD E Miles Seiver, Secretary KI6LDU P Terry Smith K7YNO Maynard Stevenson W7MVT P Jerry Tomanek AF6HY Gary Waldeck K6AIR E Al Whaley KV6U Sam Wood K6MSR Other Hams present Jim Heintzelman KD6Y P Dave Stewart KJ6JQT P Bill Gibbons KJ6IRA P Council Liaison Rich Larsen KI6VMW Chairman Ray Egan called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Jim Abraham introduced a tech talk by Andy Fawcett regarding packet radio. Fawcett explained the differences between analog and digital radio communications and covered the various components of a packet radio station. Packet radio is used by the ECC for communication between the CERT ARK and the EOC. It is also used to communicate with the county EOC. Bob Anderson moved to approve the October ECC minutes, Jim Abraham seconded and the motion passed. Secretary Miles Seiver reported on the current status of the LAH ECC website. He had spoken to Al Whaley, current host of the LAH ECC website and owner of the lahecc.org and associated domain names. Whaley suggested that, if the ECC was interested in updating its website, it purchase a new domain name and design a new website. He would, if desired, forward traffic to the new domain from the old one. He stated in an email that he “certainly [defers] to the committee and its collective wisdom on how it wishes to be represented.” Dru Anderson proposed that the website be transferred to an independent host, such as Hurricane Electric (the service used by SPECS). Egan had not yet received a final answer from the Town regarding whether it would be able to host an ECC website on its servers. Jim Abraham thought that it might be possible for the Town website to include a link to the ECC website (hosted on a separate site). He also suggested that a LAH ECC Amateur Radio Club be created to manage the ECC website and acquire a new ECC FCC call sign. Dru Anderson recommended that the new website include training information on topics such as packet radio. Scott Overstreet supported transferring the current ECC domain names to a new host and the formation of a subcommittee of the ECC to manage the website. Ray Egan wanted to do further research on the possibility of hosting the website on the Town’s web server. Dru Anderson felt that tying the ECC website to the official Town website may make it more difficult to update the ECC website. Jim Abraham moved to transfer ownership of the current ECC website domain names from Al Whaley to the committee itself, Scott Overstreet seconded, and the motion passed. Bill Gibbons stated that he would be interested in joining the ECC. Dru Anderson reported that the CERT group in LAH is in the process of selecting the radio frequencies it will use for communication. Scott Overstreet reminded ECC members to use the Town repeater and designated simplex frequencies more often. If they are not used they stand the chance of being assigned to additional groups. Overstreet also suggested that CERT members with amateur radio licenses organize their own net on the Town repeater for practice. Ray Egan presented a proposal from Gary Waldeck for moving a radio to the Purissama Hills Water District office. Egan had found a IC-2100 radio which is not being used and would fulfill the District's needs. Jim Abraham moved that the radio and an accompanying power supply be loaned to the Purissima Hills Water District, Dru Anderson seconded, and the motion passed. Ray Egan asked for earphone or headset recommendations for the EOC and ARC. The devices would make it easier to operate radios in noisy conditions. Jim Abraham suggested a Yamaha headset that he found to be very comfortable and a good value. Bob Anderson moved to purchase 5 headsets to be distributed between the EOC and ARC, Duncan MacMillan seconded and the motion passed. Dru Anderson moved the approve the purchase of a printer for the ARC, Bob Anderson seconded, and the motion passed. Ray Egan reported that the LAH Planning Commission recommended that the Council approve a proposal for three new antennas at the La Cresta water tank site. Ray Egan reminded the committee that the December 21st ECC meeting will directly precede the annual ECC holiday party. Dru Anderson, along with individuals who helped set-up last year’s party (Miles Seiver, Andrew Kirk, Duncan MacMillan, Andy Fawcett, Scott Overstreet, Bob Anderson, and Ray Egan) will organize the event. Jim Abraham suggested that the LAH ECC roster be updated to reflect the change to associate membership for individuals who have missed three or more consecutive committee meetings. At 8:59 pm Bob Anderson moved to adjourn the meeting, Jim Abraham seconded, and the motion passed. Respectfully submitted, Miles Seiver LAH ECC Secretary