SCHEART Introduction
The SCHEART linked repeater system is for the use and benefit of all FCC Licensed Amateur Radio Operators. In the event of an emergency, operation of the linked repeater system will be under the control of ARES - SC SEC Billy Irwin, K9OH, and or a designee. At all other times, the system will be open to normal Amateur Radio operation. Please coordinate net schedules (ARES, Skywarn, local, etc.) or onetime public service event projects (parades, races, etc.) through SC . All the cooperating groups in the SC HEART project are interested in how and how often the linked repeater system is being used for public service.
Connecting SCHEART Repeaters Across South Carolina
The SCHEART analog repeater network allows amateur radio operators to temporarily connect their local repeater to another SCHEART repeater anywhere in South Carolina using DTMF keypad commands. For example, an operator using the Whitehall 146.715 MHz repeater can establish a link to a distant repeater and communicate directly with operators in that area. These connections use SCETV's microwave communications network and can be manually disconnected when the conversation is finished.
Ham Radio and Preparedness
The Mission
The SCHEART (South Carolina Healthcare Emergency Amateur Radio Team) mission is to strengthen the statewide communications infrastructure for hospitals and healthcare facilities using Amateur (Ham) Radio as backup to the Palmetto 800 MHz radio system.
Why Ham Radio?
Amateur (ham) radio equipment does not rely on wires and communications facilities provided by common carriers and phone companies. When the common carriers are overloaded or they fail completely, ham radio is not affected.
Ham radio operators are everywhere in your community — near neighborhood hospitals, schools, parks, churches and local businesses. They can be quickly deployed to assist health and medical services (ESF-8) at hospitals, shelters, and alternate care sites. Today’s ham radios are small and portable with many channels to handle short-range communications.
A Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) system is being added to the SC HEART network. DMR or Mototrbo (Motorola Trade Mark) will operate in parallel with the analog SC HEART VHF and UHF system, using the ETV intranet for connectivity. The UHF Digital network will add two additional talk paths, one talk path and data or two data paths. The features are simular to a trunked communications system. Visit the following web site for information of the world wide network: http://www.dmr-marc.net/
DMR Alert from Roger – KD4JQJ
