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The Silicon Valley Wireless Users & eXperimenters (SVWUX) successfully tested a microwave data link between the City of San Jose's Emergency Operations Center (SJ EOC) and Layer42 Networks in Santa Clara. While it isn't a very long link, it wasn't guaranteed to work due to urban obstructions like buildings, trees and power lines. Some participants studied the path and realized there may be a hole in the obstructions big enough to at least give it a try. We tried. It worked. The SJ EOC end of the link was done by Amateur Radio volunteers from SVWUX and the San Jose Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (SJ RACES). The Layer42 side of the link was done by SVWUX volunteers and Layer42 staff who were volunteering their time. Among many volunteers, preparations done by Craig Anderson N6YXK and Andy Brown N6ESS really helped to make this work. Any doubts turned to celebration when the link worked immediately before efforts were even started to fine-tune the aim of the antennas. This test paves the way for installation of permanent links to be installed. SVWUX's Emergency Wireless Network (EWN) project aims to construct a high-speed emergency backup communications network between the Emergency Operations Centers of the cities and Santa Clara County, as well as participating businesses and network provider sites in Silicon Valley. Discussion and then planning of this project began after the country witnessed Hurricane Katrina's devastation in 2005, recognizing emergency communications as a key to relief and recovery after a large disaster, as well as better preparedness for a variety of smaller emergencies. With some appropriate symbolism, the generator on the tower trailer which was used during the test is the same one which powered San Jose's KRTY broadcast radio station studio for several days following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. See also... Andy Brown's pictures on Facebook SVWUX is a Special Interest Group of the South Bay Community Network, a 501(c)3 non-profit California corporation based in Silicon Valley.
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