Amateur Radio Communications

To the 2007 City of Los Angeles Marathon. Thank you for taking the time to volunteer your services as an Amateur Radio Operator for this exciting event. The contribution that amateur radio operators make to the marathon cannot be replaced and is ap­preciated by all involved with the marathon. So that we all operate on the same set of guidelines, please take a few minutes to read over all of the notes pro­vided on the pages that follow. Be sure to bring this manual with you on race day as it contains information that you will need. Please enjoy yourself and thank you for your participation.

Greg Powell, Communications Coordinator.

GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS NOTES 

The following are general operating notes for all Amateur Radio Operators participating in the City of Los Angeles Marathon.

It is imperative that you stay at your post until released by net control. If there are two operators at your location, one should always remain in place. If you are the only operator, check with your mile captain or your contact point before your 'temporary absence'. If you NEED to take a relief stop, keep it short and report back to your contact point as soon as you return to your post. While on break, remain in radio contact with net control.

MEDICAL ADVICE 

AT NO TIME IS ANY AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR TO GIVE MEDICAL ADVICE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, TO ANYONE!. We are here to provide communications ONLY. No matter what your background or experience, no information other than questions and responses to and from medical teams are to be given to runners or spectators. City of Angels Medical Center is very adamant about us NOT providing medical or first aid advice of any type to anyone. Keep us out of trouble and go through them for EVERYTHING, even if the channel is con­gested!

EMERGENCY REPORTS 

When reporting any emergency or any problem on the course, Please KNOW the EXACT location of the problem.    The paramedics do not know where 'mile

19' is. They need EXACT street addresses or geographical references. 'The runner is down 300 feet west of the intersection of 6th & La Brea“. There are enough geographic references and street signs that will enable you to give exact location reports. DO NOT BEGIN A CALL UNTIL YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. If you do other wise, you could jeopardize the person's well being by your lack of precision and delays in getting that information to the paramedics. They will not roll to a location until they have a specific location to send their truck. Remember, “I have a runner down at mile 19” IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. “I have a runner down at mile 19, 5742 6th Street is the closest address to his location” is what we need.

Are provided in the cover letter that this manual came with.

RACE DAY 

• The race will be held rain or shine. It rained like
  crazy one year and we were there!   You will be on
  the course for a large number of hours, many will be
  around until 4:00pm.

• Bring any food or liquids that you will need to keep
  you going for the required assignment.

• Dress according to the weather and be prepared for
  the unexpected.

• Bring HTs and extra batteries for your hand helds. 

• Bring a folding chair, food, beverage and what ever
  you may need to sustain yourself for the duration of
  your assignment.

• Bring a clipboard and writing material. 

•        Most mile markers will have portable toilets at
them.

•        Make sure that you do not park on the course or in
a location that will block the course or access to
driveways.

•        Absolutely   no   unnecessary   chatter   on   your
assigned frequency.

•        If you leave your post, take your radio with you at
all times.  If for some unforeseen reason you have to
leave your radio, do not do so until you check out
with net control.

•        Your   assignment   is   COMMUNICATIONS.   This
means that you are NOT to help distribute water,
pick up cups, unload trucks, etc.   We need you by
your radio at all times listening for a call and to the
traffic on channel. We do not want the net control
operator to have to call you more than once for a response! The course people have been told to not ask you for other than communications assistance, so DON'T VOLUNTEER to help in any other way!

•        The key phrase that we will be living by is   NON­
COMMUNICATION.   This is to remind you that it is
absolutely essential that you keep you transmissions
very short and to the point.  Formulate what you are

going to say BEFORE you call net control. If you go the whole race with only a check in and check out, you had a successful race. In the event that you do need to communicate, KEEP IT SHORT AND TO THE POINT.

•        When the sag procession has passed your station
and all is wrapped up at that location, inform net control that you are checking out and if there are any addi­tional jobs that need filling at that point.  If not you are free to leave.  

•        Please stay clear of any other communications
groups that are still in operation, especially net
control, the medical tents and the runner dropout
group.

Those working any position in the Marathon are required to wear security credentials at all times. These are included in the mailing that this manual came in, or are provided separately.

Those in Net Control, Lead Vehicle Group and other Finish Line assignments will need to carpool into the downtown area. There will be a limited number of parking tickets available for downtown parking.

In the event that a runner suffers a major disabling injury or death during the LA Marathon, the following procedure should be enacted:

The ONLY persons authorized to speak to the media on the subject shall be Dr. Bill Burke or Marie Patrick. NO medical information of this type should go over radio. Use the radios to contact the person and request a personal meeting ie: "Dr. Burke and Marie Patrick meet Dr. Cobble at [insert location] NOW", or "Dr. Cobble is needed at [insert location] NOW".

AT NO TIME IS ANY RADIO OPERATOR TO SPEAK TO THE PRESS REGARDING ANY INJURIES DURING OR AFTER THE MARATHON. I

cannot state this point enough. If asked by the press, defer their questions, do not give them any information such as "we handled XXX runners with heat exhaustion", etc. This is a VERY SENSITIVE area and we are being trusted to keep this to ourselves at ALL times.

SHADOWS 1 & 2

These shadows are located on the shadow net but may show up on any net at any time requesting information. Their requests are to be handled with top priority.

Shadow 2 is with Terri Collier, the Race Director and Shadow 1 is Greg Powell KD6AIS, Communications Coordinator.

The following procedures are to be in effect while operating on any of the nets for the Los Angeles Marathon. These procedures are intended to expedite communications, identification, and verification of participating stations. Please be prepared and famil­iarize yourself with the procedures listed below.

The FCC regulation 2000.84(a) is as follows: Each Amateur radio station shall give it's call sign at the end of each communication and every ten minutes or less, during a communication. In order for smooth, efficient communication and to be in compliance with FCC regulations, the following procedures will be used.

Routine Traffic 

Operator: Control, Mile 10

Control: Go ahead 10

Operator: We have a downed runner report (include

report quickly) 

Control:  Roger mile 10

Operator: Call Sign

Control: Call Sign

Emergency Traffic 

Operator: Break, Break

Control: All stations standby for Emergency traffic,

Go ahead double 

break 

Operator: This is mile 10, we need medical

assistance for a runner. 

Control:  Roger mile 10 (and any additional

exchanges) 

Operator: Call Sign

Control: Call Sign

It is important that we all remember that all 

communications on the net will go through Net 

Control.  You may not be able to hear the other

stations and this will prevent QRM on the frequency. 

When Net Control gives the net control call sign this 

will indicate that the frequency is clear. Please listen 

before  transmitting.  Only stations authorized to

work the Los Angeles Marathon and using the 

proper procedure will be recognized by Net Control. Please be prepared to use the above procedure during the race.  Remember that Amateur Radio is on display to the public.  The way that we dress and the manner in which we conduct ourselves will be remembered long after the memories of our good deeds have faded away.

NETS & FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS 

The following table lists the nets that will be in operation and what bands will be required for each.

Net Control Operations & Info Net 

Captain:      Greg Powell

GROUP CAPTAIN NOTES 

• The general communications notes pertain to ALL
  operators at the marathon.

• Plan on providing one backup radio and power
  supply

• Bring a clip lamp for each station for light. 

• Bring a few short extension cords (abt 10 feet). 

• MAKE SURE THAT YOUR NET CONTROL
  OPERATORS BRING FOOD AND DRINK TO
  SUSTAIN THEM FOR THE ENTIRE TIME.

• MAKE SURE THAT THE PREVIOUS ITEM IS
  ATTENDED TO.

• Setup will be Sunday MORNING - 4AM 

• Antennas, COAX (at least 200 feet), rope, pushups
  and tie downs will be needed for each station.

• Extension cords 

• Don't forget to enjoy yourselves. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL GROUPS 

MILE NET PURPOSE 

•        Provide a method for starting the course clocks
in sync with the start of the race.

• Provide   the    Mile    station   captains   with
communications for coordination.   You are also the
eyes and ears of the marathon.    Please report any
unusual incidents to net control.

•        Provide drop out information to net control.

METHOD: A ham operator will be assigned to each mile Aid station. The operators must make contact with the mile station captain and introduce themselves. Throughout the race it is imperative that you remain in contact with the mile station captain and that he/she knows where you are at all times. DO NOT MAKE THEM HAVE TO LOOK TO FIND YOU! Your automobile must be parked off the course and in a location that will not interrupt the conduct of the race. The ham radio operator will have to locate the position of the mile marker and station him/her self at that location.

For the start of the race, locate the person responsible for starting the mile clock and arrange for them to listen to your HT to start the clock in sync with the start of the race (main race only). Once this has been accomplished, report back to your mile captain.

We expect this net to be in operation from 0530 3/4/2007 to 1600 3/4/2007. Operators are expected to be on Station and ready for Roll Call at 0630.

The Net operation will be that of a controlled net. Only operators that are participating in the Marathon will be recognized. All communications must be directed to the Net Control Operator. Stations that are not part of the event will be asked to QSY to another frequency. Operators are re­quested to monitor the net frequency during the entire time of the net operations.