Lighthouse Program: Neighbors Helping Neighbors What is the Lighthouse Program? A citizen-driven initiative to prepare for potential emergency or disaster conditions that include a reduction or loss of public services. - Family / Individual preparedness - Community / Neighborhood preparedness
What kind of emergencies are we talking about? Terror Strike Blizzard Solar Storm Grid down Wildfire
Can it really happen here? Wildfires: Hayman 2002 Waldo Canyon 2012 Black Forest - 2013 Blackouts: 2005, Katrina, 3 mil. 2003, NE US, 55 mil. 1989, Quebec, 6 mil. 2009, Kentucky, 800K Solar Storms: 1859 Carrington Event, Wide scale telegraph and electrical failure 2012 Near miss of Carrington Event levels Predicted catastrophic outcomes of hit Blizzards: 2003: 32 inches 2006: 21 inches 1997: 22 inches 1946: 30 inches 1913: 46 inches Terrorist Attack: 2014, USAFA potential target 2014, Metcalf Power Station Snipers 2001, World Trade Center Towers
Two Lighthouse Focus Areas 1. Information and encouragement to community families and individuals To prepare for potential emergency conditions To be as self-sufficient as possible in a large scale emergency scenario To organize for mutual support in the event of an extended loss of public services
Two Lighthouse Focus Areas 2. Resilient Communications Network Infrastructure of amateur radio operators (ham radio) Linking neighborhoods and emergency services Multi-way communications to promote Citizen-to-citizen assistance Citizen-to-county information flow County-to-citizen information flow
Preparedness Information & Encouragement Based on Seattle SNAP program Family / Individual based Community Leader Information Kits How to information Get your family prepared! Make an evacuation plan! Make a 72 hour kit! Make a go bag for your car! Get to know your neighbors! Get some valued preparedness skills!
Current status Where from here? County agency coordination Citizen Lighthouse network skeletal development Technical approach development and data collection Public awareness Forward plans Technical plans development, testing, and implementation Preparedness materials development/adaptation Community Beacon network creation/expansion Evolution of a replete and robust network
Lighthouse Radio Network Network overview Three connectivity approaches 1. Standard repeater networking 2. Simplex VHF/UHF networking 3. NVIS HF networking Other concepts & discussion
Pilot Lighthouse Network
Resilient Communications Network Area Lighthouse High-capability ham station & operator(s) Linked to county-wide Lighthouse network Link to government communications Information relay for Beacons Area coordinator Neighborhood Beacon Group Ham station & operator(s) Linked to Area Lighthouse Information relay for Candles Neighborhood coordinator Family/Individual Candles Participating prepared family Relays info to/from Beacon Helps distribute information to/from neighbors to/from Beacon Local neighborhood coordinator
Resilient Communications Network
Fulfilled Lighthouse Network
Current Lighthouse-interested Hams
Connectivity Approaches 1. Standard repeater networking 2. Simplex VHF/UHF networking 3. NVIS HF networking
Standard Repeater Networking - Assumes commercial power remains available for most repeaters. - Repeater use must be coordinated with owner/operating group. - Repeater use must be coordinated with ARES & RACES groups. - Tactical net protocols must be developed and implemented. - Conceptual Approach: - Lighthouse Area Stations coordinate on one repeater to pass traffic among the Lighthouse net. - Lighthouses relay to their respective Beacon networks via more local repeater and/or simplex communications.
Tri-Lakes Notional Example: Repeater Networking Lighthouse Net conducted on Pikes Peak UHF repeater. Tri-Lakes Lighthouse relays to local area Beacons via KØNR repeater and simplex links. Clearly, individual Beacon stations can and will monitor but not transmit on the Lighthouse Net as well.
Simplex VHF/UHF Networking - Assumes commercial power unavailable, repeaters unavailable. - Assumes use of personal radio and power assets. - Pre-coordinated use of simplex frequencies among Lighthouses. - Pre-coordinated use of simplex frequencies per Lighthouse- Beacon area. - Conceptual Approach: - Simplex connectivity is tested and exercised among the Lighthouses to form a network using FM VHF and UHF personal equipment. - In some cases the use of cross-band repeat may be used to connect stations into the Lighthouse network. - Lighthouse-to-Beacon networks will also utilize simplex communication and/or cross-band repeat methods.
Notional Example: Simplex Networking XB XB?? XB?? It may be feasible to link all Lighthouses together by simplex / cross-band repeat on a single net without the use of standard repeaters, and with robust redundancy of links among stations.?? One or more carefully positioned cross-band repeaters at high elevation may provide a simpler, if less robust, network capability.
NVIS HF Networking - Near Vertical Incidence Skywave on 40m or 80m band can often provide excellent coverage of a large geographical area. - Assumes commercial power unavailable, repeaters unavailable. - Assumes use of personal radio and power assets. - Conceptual Approach: - Lighthouse net stations link on a 40m / 80m frequency. - Lighthouse-Beacon nets use simplex VHF/UHF frequencies. Note: NVIS is dependent upon atmospheric conditions to provide good communication and may not always be feasible, especially at low points of the 11-year solar cycle.
NVIS - Typically uses 40m or 80m bands, SSB / CW / digital modes. - Steep take-off angles of propagating signals are refracted from the ionosphere back to a narrow cone of coverage about the transmitting station, typically a few hundred miles radius. - Advantage of coverage into terrain depressions, over mountain ranges. - Disadvantage of HF equipment and specialized antenna required. - Disadvantage of atmospheric condition dependency. ~ 300 miles ~ 300 miles
Other Concepts 2-meter or 70-cm SSB mode Lighthouse net. Deployable tactical repeater(s) to high mountain location(s). Tighten NVIS radius using antenna design techniques. Multiple small, low power, cross-band repeaters using HTs and solar powered battery, deployed to a few high terrain locations along front range.
Questions, Comments, & Discussion