Serious question

[usafcap1]

Do you think that CAP should be able to set up temporary communication equipment in strategic geological locations during disasters when radio communications are down.

Thank you

[Holding Pattern]

Do you think that CAP should be able to set up temporary communication equipment in strategic geological locations during disasters when radio communications are down.

Sort of?

Public land? Sure. Private land? With permission. IIRC didn't this happen at Katrina (and didn't someone vandalize the system?)

[lordmonar]

Do you think that CAP should be able to set up temporary communication equipment in strategic geological locations during disasters when radio communications are down.

Thank you

As far as I know.....we can.    That is one of the reasons for each wing having a set of "mobile" repeaters.   They are not just for high bird.
The issue....is coordinating this with the local EM manager and making sure it is within the communications plan.

[arajca]

There's a National Comm Exercise in about 3 weeks that has this type field deployment/off-grid scenario being practiced.

My unit is procuring equipment for a simple, field deployable HF antenna system and we're going to be trying it out during the exercise. We already have the VHF antenna system. For this exercise, we're going to be running off commercial power as our goal is to test the HF set up and get our folks some radio practice. We are looking down the road at alternate power sources and systems. This is in addition to deploying our HF equipped van "somewhere" to exercise that set up as well.

If you want to develop your own system, go through channels to contact the Triblade net folks. They're happy to work with units to increase the use of HF. If you can get hold of a RDP kit, see how often your unit can deploy it. Again, working through channels, the Triblade net folks will help with exercising the HF to provide practice for then and you.

For VHF work, talk to your wing DC.

[LTC Don]

Do you think that CAP should be able to set up temporary communication equipment in strategic geological locations during disasters when radio communications are down.

Thank you

This should be entirely dependent on your relationship with all levels of Emergency Management in your wing. Certainly, it's one of CAP's least known capabilities because we are so overshadowed by Amateur Radio/ARES, but perhaps one of the most important services that we can provide.

In areas where ARES is sparce, CAP can fill that void with supplemental/auxiliary communications at EOCs and emergency shelters, or out at POD sites communicating back to EOCs, etc.  The possibilities are almost limitless, within the confines of power availability, be it generator, solar, wind, or otherwise.

A great area of comm exploitation is with the Skywarn program. Since we have a vested interest in weather as an aviation organization, CAP should be a major player with Skywarn, yet sadly, it's not. Communications plays a large part yet all that nice taxpayer provided equipment stays dormant for the most part.    CAP has a very nice MOU with NOAA that needs to be re-written to incorporate Skywarn stormspotter activities.

[jeders]

Do you think that CAP should be able to set up temporary communication equipment in strategic geological locations during disasters when radio communications are down.

Thank you

So setting up on metamorphic rock instead of sandstone?

I think you mean geographic, and the short answer is we already do. As others have pointed out, that's why we have mobile repeaters. For instance, during a recent SAREX, we had a repeater set up at a lake and state park that was being used as the primary ground training area.