John’s Pass Hurricane Preparedness Exposition (June 13th and 14th)
By Larry Karisny
Director ProjectSafety.org
"The old wireless meets the new wireless"
The Hurricane Preparedness Expo, sponsored by Project Safety Business and Technology Cluster (ProjectSafety), used old tech and new tech wireless technologies to demonstrate hurricane survivable wireless networks.The expo was under a big tent next to a Gulf of Mexico waterway inlet called John’s Pass. This waterway was made during the Gale of 1848 which drastically distorted miles of the West Central Florida Gulf coastline creating John’s Pass. With the theme of “don’t be scared be prepared,” the expo demonstrated both old and new survivable wireless communication technologies from Bluemont Networks and Pinellas County Emergency Management Auxiliary Communications Services (ACS).
Neil Lauriten Sr., Pinellas County Emergency Management’s Auxiliary Communications Services (ACS) Radio Officer showed that that amateur radio may not be amateur at all.Neil has titles that include Pinellas County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) Emergency Coordinator, West Central Florida Section Emergency Coordinator, Navy-Marine Corps (MARS) Asst. State Director and SHARES Region 4 Network Control Station Manager.With titles like this, it is clear that amateur radio is here to stay.In fact, after Hurricane Katrina, it was WiFi and these amateur radios that were up and running while Emergency Communication Networks and Cell Networks were crippled for months. Lauritsen Sr. explained: “your neighbor with all those antennas may be your lifeline to get help.These networks were used in Hurricane Katrina to get messages out to friends and family that people were ok.”
The expo demonstrated a command center consisting of off the grid powered amateur radio and wireless broadband network supplied by Bluemont Networks.Bluemont Networks had a radio node running off the power grid while video streaming the event live demonstrating both the bandwidth capabilities and survivability of these radios (see picture). "Our low powered radios can run off a marine battery for weeks after a hurricane", said Bryan Paulk CEO of Bluemont Networks. "We are strategically placing these hurricane survivable radios on hotel roof tops along the beaches for tourist casual Internet access and information services.These radios are then back hauled by large building roof top point to point radios capable of pulling the signal inland to dry land.
The expo not only demonstrated a broadband wireless communication network currently running portions of the Gulf Beach cities along the coast, but actually demonstrated WiFi hot spot buoys running in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.VodaLCC offers WiFi radio buoys that have the ability of collecting sensor and video information using WiFi for data collection.
“Voda is pleased to be a supporting sponsor for the John’s Pass Hurricane Expo. Our outdoor sensor network products are designed with harsh environments in mind and hurricanes certainly fit that description.” says David Fries, CEO of Voda LLC in St Petersburg. “The imaging and chemical sensors and drop-in broadband communication network solutions offered by Voda would greatly enhance the ability of first responders to monitor conditions and share live field data during a crisis situation.”
Cities along the West Central Gulf Coast are beginning to realize that things need to be a little different when offering wireless communications to their communities. City of Madeira Beach District 1 Commissioner Terry Lister, whereJohn’s Pass is located, said ” these amateur and broadband wireless networks are not only important for our first responders, but are also requirements for people coordinating supply logistics, insurance adjusters putting in claims and just letting your loved ones know you are ok.
ProjectSafety’s Larry Karisny said, “The show by chance took place the very next day after all local area TV stations went to an all digital format, clearing the way for the 700 MHz spectrum. Portions of this spectrum were to be used as a national solution for interoperable public safety communications. To date there has been only one low bid for building such a network.The broadband wireless networks demonstrated at expo have the ability of adding the 4.9 GHz spectrum to all radios giving public safety primary and interoperable wireless access in emergencies.”
Karisny continues,“Oddly enough, the wireless broadband network was immediately put to the test when a two hour power outage hit sections of Madeira Beach Florida where the expo took place.Due to the design technology and topology the wireless network ran perfectly and without any interruption.”Karisny documents these and other facts of why we need these municipal wireless networks with video on his website projectsafety.org.
Neil H. Lauritsen, Sr. W4NHL / NNN0TFH
WCF ASM/SEC
ACS Radio Officer/ARES Emergency Coordinator
Pinellas County Emergency Management
400 S Fort Harrison Ave, Suite 111
Clearwater, FL 33756
Home 727-242-5630
Cell 727-643-1670
