Saturday, October 21, 2006

Bud Berliner, shown to the left, operated out of a van simulating a distant radio station.

Loren Fleming, shown to the right, manned an off-the-grid station in SWOCC.

    Using no commercial power or telephone system, The SAR team took survivor's information and transmitted it to a mock station out of the disaster zone.  The far station, clear of the tsunami's effects, had full power, telephone and internet service.  So it was an easy job for the far station to upload the survivor's data to                          www.CoosCountySheriff.com/ImOkay.

 

The workshop attendees were delighted to see their name, whereabouts and status/condition being transmitted on a radio with no hook-up on the wall outlets.  That's off-the-grid!!  In a few minutes as if by magic the survivor's information was on the web for all the world to see. They were astounded as the data was displayed in real time on a laptop monitor which also had absolutely no ties to the world.

 

SAR members at the workshop were, of course, Bud Berliner and Loren Fleming along with Joe Doman, Christina Kendrick, Brett and Barbara Jackson, Shawn Frost, Brian Hibdon and JJ Kellum.  Displayed on the wall were custom posters made for the tsunami workshop by Ginger Snaps.  ARES were at an adjacent table and helped out when needed. Mary Graham was especially helpful.