HAMNET REPORT  2 May 2010

HAMNET is a voluntary group of South African radio amateurs who make their unique communication skills available to assist and help others in distress during and after disasters.
HAMNET is represented on the sub-committee of the South African Search & Rescue Organisation, and is also affiliated to IRESC.

The final arrangements for the Soccer World Cup communications network around the Johannesburg area is almost complete. We requested some quotes for our equipment that needs to be purchased for this event but only one company responded with what we need.   

The JCC or Joint Communications Centre will be in the Johannesburg Roads Agency Building in the central business district.
The building did present some problems by way of its structure – it is like a Faraday cage, with result communication from within the building was almost impossible. We overcame the problem in the following way: - the console in the ops. room will be a 70cm set-up as this was the only frequency that allowed communication up to the roof – another 7 floors up.

On the roof we will under an eave mount a repeater system with a 2 m antenna that will give us the necessary coverage.

Initially the organisers wanted us to be on duty 24 hours a day in the centre but relented after we told them we simply do not have the manpower to achieve such a request.  In the end, all activities will be on a voluntary basis but once the final team for the JCC has been compiled; all those members will be on a 24 a day stand-by basis. 

Actually the same applies to the volunteers who will man – when required - various fan parks, accommodation venues and training grounds for the whole period of the event. We do not anticipate too many call outs but we will be fully prepared for any eventuality. 

Once the games are over, all the equipment purchased will be available for distribution around the country where a Province feels it needs an item for their emergency network. A 2nd emergency kit, which forms part of the JCC set-up, will remain in Gauteng South but can be deployed anywhere should an emergency arise. 

Francois Botha – ZS6BUU.

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