Thursday, February 5, 2026
23 check-insTonight's Question
"In this ice-storm blackout, where EM has asked ARPSC to collect time- and location-stamped photos and damage reports, do you currently have — or do you plan to obtain — a mobile or base-station radio setup that would let you reliably reach a county-wide DMR simplex net during a situation like this?"
Consider: What power level do you run? Do you have a mobile rig or just an HT? Do you have backup power for extended operations?
Ice Storm Blackout & ARPSC Damage Recon
Scenario Overview
Overnight, a major ice storm coats Macomb County in a thick layer of ice. Trees and power lines are down across large areas of the county. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses are without power. Some cell sites are on battery backup, others are dark. Traffic lights are out in multiple cities, and many side streets are blocked by fallen limbs or wires.
911 Status
911 is still running, but call volume is very high. Fire and police are busy handling immediate life-safety calls and can't get a good picture of overall damage across the county.
Repeater Infrastructure
Critical complication: Many local repeaters have suffered damage due to ice loads on antennas and towers. Several key repeaters may not be functioning, limiting traditional FM repeater-based coordination.
ARPSC Activation
Macomb County Emergency Management asks ARPSC to activate. Our primary mission for the first operational period is visual damage assessment:
- Operators are asked to safely observe their local area and, when possible, drive pre-assigned routes
- Members will gather time-stamped and location-stamped photos and brief written notes about what they see: blocked roads, downed lines, damaged infrastructure, and access to key facilities like hospitals, fire stations, and warming centers
- Radio nets are used to coordinate these field reports and, where needed, relay high-priority information back to the EOC
Field Reporting Requirements
What to Document:
- Blocked roads and intersections
- Downed power lines (note if energized/sparking)
- Damaged infrastructure (poles, transformers)
- Status of key facilities (hospitals, fire stations)
- Warming center accessibility
Photo Requirements:
- GPS location enabled on camera/phone
- Timestamp visible or embedded in metadata
- Brief written description with each image
- Safe distance from hazards
When repeater infrastructure is compromised by ice damage, DMR simplex operation offers significant advantages over traditional FM simplex:
- Forward Error Correction (FEC): DMR's AMBE+2 codec includes error correction that can recover audio even with weak or noisy signals
- Lower Signal-to-Noise Ratio: DMR can decode usable audio at signal levels where FM would be unintelligible static
- Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA): Two simultaneous conversations on one frequency – useful for busy nets
- Digital ID: Every transmission includes the sender's DMR ID for automatic logging
High Power Simplex Considerations
For county-wide simplex coverage during infrastructure outages, mobile or base station setups with higher power output are essential:
Power Levels:
- HT (5W): Limited range, best for local comms
- Mobile (25-50W): Good county coverage with external antenna
- Base (50-100W): Excellent range with tower/mast antenna
Antenna Considerations:
- Mag-mount on vehicle roof for mobile ops
- J-pole or ground plane for base/portable
- Height advantage crucial for simplex range
Effects of Ice on Antennas & SWR
Ice accumulation on antennas is a serious concern during winter storms. Understanding these effects helps operators prepare and troubleshoot:
What Happens:
- Detuning: Ice changes the electrical length of antenna elements, shifting resonant frequency
- SWR Increase: A well-tuned antenna (1.5:1) can jump to 3:1 or higher with ice loading
- Impedance Mismatch: Ice acts as a dielectric, changing the antenna's characteristic impedance
- Physical Damage: Heavy ice can bend or break elements, especially on Yagi antennas
Mitigation Strategies:
- Antenna Tuner: Can compensate for moderate SWR changes
- Reduce Power: Lower power reduces risk of damage from reflected power
- Vertical Antennas: Shed ice better than horizontal elements
- Backup Antenna: Have a secondary antenna ready
- Monitor SWR: Check before transmitting at full power
Net Control Discussion Points:
- What radio equipment do you have that could support high-power simplex operations?
- Do you have backup power (battery, generator) for extended operations?
- Have you participated in a damage assessment deployment before? What did you learn?
- What smartphone apps do you use for GPS-tagged photos?
- How would you safely document downed power lines while maintaining proper distance?
Further Reading: Real Ice Storm Events
Ice storms have caused significant damage across Michigan and other states. Here are some notable events that illustrate the challenges faced during these emergencies:
Michigan Events:
- March 1976 Midwest Ice Storm – Widespread power outages across SE Michigan
- December 2003 Michigan Ice Storm – 250,000+ without power in SE Michigan
- December 2013 Ice Storm – 500,000+ outages in Lower Michigan
- February 2023 Michigan Ice Storm – Recent event with significant outages
Notable National Events:
- January 1998 North American Ice Storm – One of the worst in history, major ham radio response
- December 2008 Northeast Ice Storm – 1.4 million without power
- February 2021 Texas Ice Storm – Grid failure, widespread emergency response
- ARES Ice Storm Response Case Study – Amateur radio emergency response example
"When the infrastructure fails, amateur radio operators become the eyes and ears of emergency management."
Be prepared. Be equipped. Be ready to serve.
Announcements
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View Donation OptionsCheck-In List
| # | Call Sign | Unit # | Name | City | Member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N8HLY | 12 | Tom | Sterling Heights | Member |
| 2 | KE8WUO | 20 | John | Warren | Member |
| 3 | K8WA | 19 | Bill | Warren | Member |
| 4 | W8VOX | 30 | Jon | Macomb | Member |
| 5 | KC8KJO | 14 | Tom | Memphis | Member |
| 6 | AD8OD | 21 | John | Troy | Member |
| 7 | KA8UHG | 28 | Steve | Saint Clair Shores | Member |
| 8 | W8BPD | 24 | Brian | Warren | Member |
| 9 | KF8DPZ | 26 | Cliff | Clinton Township | — |
| 10 | N8VDZ | 2 | Mike | Warren | Member |
| 11 | KF8ETQ | 23 | Darren | Fraser | Member |
| 12 | KE8YNU | 1 | Dave | New Haven | Member |
| 13 | KF8FGS | 32 | David | Utica | Member |
| 14 | N8HAP | 15 | Joe | New Baltimore | Member |
| 15 | K8ICB | — | Robert | Imlay City | — |
| 16 | KE8LAX | 22 | Dean | New Haven | Member |
| 17 | N8WRO | 10 | Tim | Richmond | Member |
| 18 | AD8MP | — | David | Saint Clair Shores | — |
| 19 | N8MJR | — | Michael | MARYSVILLE | — |
| 20 | N8XZ | 5 | Ron | Warren | Member |
| 21 | KE8DOT | — | Thomas | Redford Township | — |
| 22 | N8WCB | 6 | David | Sterling Heights | Member |
| 23 | W1BLU | — | David | Clinton Township | — |