Radio operator participation, overlapping within other public-service, private agencies, CERT, NPREP, CPREP and Amateur Radio, are encouraged for purposes of broad interoperability. Additional frequencies and trained personnel to distribute vital information during times of congestion and stress; who can argue with that? The question remains, and is always helpful, can there ever be too many backups? Precisely why WE do this is on this page.
Want to be involved in Oly-Comm itself? Volunteers can register their intentions here.
In the event that you have not had a great deal of experience with repeater-based, UHF-FM, two-way radio systems, some basic configuration details are presented a little later on this website. Knowing what to expect, by way of system performance, will assist all operators in achieving their best usage.
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Operators who are willing to gather and report reliable information regarding items of interest, the condition of the public infrastructure and general state-of-being in their particular area are encouraged. Links to area designation maps will be posted on-line as they are developed.
Volunteers can obtain their application form here. Please return your completed application to the address listed on the form. Multiple-service radio Operators are encouraged!
Community-service Operators who typically have traffic to pass, regarding preparedness or response activities by either public or private agencies (ACS, Red Cross, CERT, Food Banks, Shelters, etc.), are welcomed to take advantage of Oly-Comm systems availability, regardless of location. Joining this radio community can have numerous benefits. If recent history is any guide, local agency communications infrastructure may occasionally be subject to physical damage, or other operational limitations as large disasters may generate, so those operators are also encouraged to participate within the Oly-Comm framework as needs may dictate.
Organizations wishing to establish a working relationship of this nature should contact us here. Those wishing to be an official Oly-Comm member can obtain their application form here.
When Tier One or Tier Two Traffic is not present, communications of a more general nature are permissible and even encouraged, as prescribed in CFR 47 Part 95E. Previously, access to Oly-Comm1 and Oly-Comm2 has been by permission only. However, system maturity now allows free access for residents of Clallam, Jefferson and Island Counties. Usage is still liberally permitted, by those living beyond these areas, by permission.
We encourage all frequent operators to make their presence known and to regularly "belong" to the Oly-Comm on-air Family. When using Oly-Comm 1 or 2 users are required to identify which system they are using (Oly-Comm1 or 2) as both machines are on the same channel pair and responding stations need to know.
In the future, weekly Practice Nets will likely occur on an evening (yet to be determined) at 19:00 hours for the Olympic Peninsula wide-area repeater Oly-Comm1.