The following information was received from IARU Region 3 on Friday morning. With poor propagation, please take care in the area of known Philippines emergency communications frequencies.

“Ham Emergency Radio Operators (HERO) was set this morning at 2145 UTC ( Thursday UTC Time ) due to Super typhoon Nepartak amplifying the effects of the SW monsoon. Heavy rains in some areas caused preemptive school class suspensions.

HERO net operator DV7DRP opened DU net on 7095kHz at 2300 UTC ( Thursday ) with relay net controls DU1IVT, DU7DUG, and DU1EQ. PROPAGATION CONDITIONS NECESSITATED RELAYS AND HAND OFF OF NET CONTROL DUTIES TO DU1VHY.
Rainfall of varying intensity were reported but mostly minor floodings on the streets.
Reports of river conditions in the metro Manila area was also being reported with the Marikina River being at 13.7 meters in depth.
In general, rains are in the central Luzon and Metropolitan Manila area.

– Roberto “Jojo” Vicencio DU1VHY”

Cesar Pio Santos HR2P reports that following the Ecuador Earthquake on 16th April, an emergency net has formed on 7060kHz LSB for passing messages between Ecuador Radio Amateurs in the most affected areas. Stations in adjacent countries are also monitoring that frequency ready to provide assistance if required.

While Echolink nodes had been the initial source of information from some areas. It is understood some nodes have now been turned off due to energy saving measures.

Radio Amateurs with propagation to South America are requested to keep 7060kHz clear.

Sources: HR2P, OA4BSA, OA4CLU

Amateur Radio Involvement in Exercise Gamma Sur is expected to start today ( 6th April ) with a focus on the 40m Emergency CoA frequencies.

A major exercise started on 4th April in Spain. Exercise Gamma Sur will simulate an earthquake striking north of the City of Seville followed by a further earthquake in the area of Ceuta.

The exercise scenario will simulate many failures of infrastructure such as buildings, dams and communications as it grows from a Regional to a National Emergency. Radio Amateurs will play a part in the exercise as it develops and EMCOM SPAIN and REMER are both taking part. They are expecting to utilise the Winlink system to send data files also frequencies in the areas of the IARU Centre of Activity frequencies to confirm the flow of messages on the data system. The scenario will call for the total failure of normal communications at some point.

More information will be posted as the exercise develops but please be aware that there may be increased activity around the CoA frequencies.

The exercise will close on 7th April.

Greg, G0DUB
IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator