Coal Fields Amateur Radio Association (CFARA)

Coal Fields Amateur Radio Association is an amateur radio association for facilitating emergency communications throughout Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky with the primary goal is hospital linking, by working with existing clubs and associations, individuals, and existing systems in the area with education, training, and outreach programs.

First, let's take a few moments to review why amateur radio is so important for emergency and disaster communications.

During major disasters, routine forms of communication, such as public service communications, the Internet, cellular phones, and telephone landlines, can quickly become congested or even fail. While some government agencies, but not all, have access to other forms of communication (satellite phones, priority telephones, etc.) they, too, can fail. Other government agencies (local, county, state, and regional), private citizens and faith-based groups are often left without any means of communicating with each other or the outside world.

An amateur radio network will allow these entities to communicate at a local, county, state, regional, and worldwide level if a disaster knocks out regular communications. Amateur radio has more than often proven to be the most successful emergency communications tool when other forms of communications are unavailable.

"We call them amateurs, but, their skills level are anything but amateur!" -- Walter Cronkite - KB2GSD - SK. ⁽¹⁾

"These are people in any other realm would be called professionals." -- Michael Ton - WT0N.

"They're the people who know how to put the pieces together, know how to build the network, know how to get information from one place to another when every other systems has failed. I don't think that's Amateur." -- Michael Ton - WT0N.

"Amateur Radio is the only fail-safe communication system in the world. Amateur Radio is the best backup communication system in the world. And that's the way it is!" - Walter Cronkite - KB2GSD - SK. ⁽¹⁾

You can watch the you-tube video yourself
at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z9136_Nhh4.

How ham radio works in a disaster is best summarized by the following three illustrations.

Most people use cell phone and land-line phones. These phones depend heavily on our infrastructure of communication cables and electrical power distribution.

After a disaster, the communications infrastructure may be damaged. For example, EMA microwave systems, public service systems, cell phone networks may not work or could be limited to simple functions such as text messaging.

Here is a real communications tower downed!

So here is a good picture for anyone to use next time someone does not understand why we hams do what we do in this day or cell phones. This is a local cell tower (I-75 @ Wagner Ford Road) just north of Downtown Dayton Tuesday morning. This is what happens to a cell tower in an EF3 tornado. [May 28, 2019]

Off the grid mountaintop repeaters extend the range of hand-held and mobile radios hundreds of miles. Since ham radio repeaters often have some means of back-up power, they will usually continue to function in an emergency. These repeaters could be mobile to go where needed.

More about Amateur Radio :
The following link is put out by the ARRL. Watch it to learn some more. If you have questions or quires, contact us with the link near the bottom of this page. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OExEEAFJ4oA

Licensing :
For amateur radio, there is an technician level test with 35 multiple-choice questions and a fee of no more than $15.

Coal Fields Amateur Radio Association will help to provide a venue for classes and will work with VEs and VECs.

More about licensing can be found at W5YI.org also at http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=17.

Training :

Getting an amateur radio license does not teach one how to use a radio much. The amateur radio operator, know as hams, test mostly covers theory and regulations. New radio operators need mentoring or classes to prepare them to be able to help in an emergency. The emergency co-ordinator at the Coal Fields Amateur Radio Association center developed a three-class program to prepare newly licensed ham operators to use the basic radio, such as the Wouxun KG-UVD6P or the Baofang UV5R+. Each class is two to three hours and involves both PowerPoint presentation and hands-on training. This class could be used at any center that chooses to use the hand held radios and mobile radios. The PowerPoint slides are so thorough that this presentation could be presented remotely via webcast. Interested members should contact CFARA for more details.

If you are interested in helping the region develop a radio network or want to learn how to become a member of the Coal Fields Amateur Radio Association, please send your name and contact information to CFARA. We have assembled a committed group of members who are available to train other members in person as well as over the Internet. No experience is necessary, and all ages are welcome.

The Plans :
At this time the plans are to get established legally with both Kentucky and West Virginia, and, to become a tax exempt entity via the IRS.

Starting slowly with a repeater site and getting the word out for those whom wish to help us and have the same drive and vision as we do.

As time goes on, the plans will be increasing in coverage and training, with medical centers and hospitals joining with us in our venue. The state and county EMAs and EOCs will be involved as well.

For more information you may contact CFARA at any time via e-mail.

Thank you in advance for your consideration to be a part of the Coal Fields Amateur Radio Association, and to those who donated to our venue as well those who will donate monies, equipment, provisions for training and meetings, and etc..

If you wish to donate either monies
or equipment you can

And we do graciously appreciate your help.

Notes:
(1) To read more about Walter Leland Cronkite, go to http://www.arrl.org/news/walter-cronkite-kb2gsd-sk. Also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Cronkite.

CFARA's Coverage Area

CFARA's coverage is widespread over 41 counties of the Coal Fields in the Appalachia.
This area is mostly in Kentucky and West Virginia, but Ohio and Virginia borders as well.

Below the map are two tables, the left one is sorted by District # and then the SAME #.
The right table is sorted by the state then county (The SAME # is in order by default).

SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) was developed by
the National Weather Service for the Hazardous Radio transmissions.

CFARA uses a 6 digit format that encompass the SAME's 5 digit format for county/town Coding.
For the technical side of SAME for NWS's purposes, go to : https://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/nwrsame.html.

CFARA Coverage Map showing the Districts.

Sorted by State then County (CFARA #)
County	State	CFARA #	District #	District Name
Boyd	Ky.	021019	3	North
Breathitt	Ky.	021025	5	South West
Carter	Ky.	021043	3	North
Elliott	Ky.	021063	3	North
Floyd	Ky.	021071	4	West
Greenup	Ky.	021089	3	North
Harlan	Ky.	021095	5	South West
Johnson	Ky.	021115	4	West
Knott	Ky.	021119	5	South West
Lawrence	Ky.	021127	3	North
Leslie	Ky.	021131	5	South West
Letcher	Ky.	021133	5	South West
Magoffin	Ky.	021153	4	West
Martin	Ky.	021159	4	West
Morgan	Ky.	021175	4	West
Perry	Ky.	021193	5	South West
Pike	Ky.	021195	4	West
Lawrence	Oh.	039087	3	North
Bland	Va.	051021	1	South East
Buchanan	Va.	051027	4	West
Dickenson	Va.	051051	5	South West
Giles	Va.	051071	1	South East
Lee	Va.	051105	5	South West
Tazewell	Va.	051185	1	South East
Wise	Va.	051195	5	South West
Boone	W. Va.	054005	2	East
Cabell	W. Va.	054011	3	North
Fayette	W. Va.	054019	2	East
Greenbrier	W. Va.	054025	1	South East
Kanawha	W. Va.	054039	2	East
Lincoln	W. Va.	054043	3	North
Logan	W. Va.	054045	2	East
McDowell	W. Va.	054047	2	East
Mercer	W. Va.	054055	1	South East
Mingo	W. Va.	054059	4	West
Monroe	W. Va.	054063	1	South East
Putnam	W. Va.	054079	3	North
Raleigh	W. Va.	054081	2	East
Summers	W. Va.	054089	1	South East
Wayne	W. Va.	054099	3	North
Wyoming	W. Va.	054109	2	East

Sorted by District then State
County	State	CFARA #	District #	District Name
Bland	Va.	051021	1	South East
Giles	Va.	051071	1	South East
Tazewell	Va.	051185	1	South East
Greenbrier	W. Va.	054025	1	South East
Mercer	W. Va.	054055	1	South East
Monroe	W. Va.	054063	1	South East
Summers	W. Va.	054089	1	South East
Boone	W. Va.	054005	2	East
Fayette	W. Va.	054019	2	East
Kanawha	W. Va.	054039	2	East
Logan	W. Va.	054045	2	East
McDowell	W. Va.	054047	2	East
Raleigh	W. Va.	054081	2	East
Wyoming	W. Va.	054109	2	East
Boyd	Ky.	021019	3	North
Carter	Ky.	021043	3	North
Elliott	Ky.	021063	3	North
Greenup	Ky.	021089	3	North
Lawrence	Ky.	021127	3	North
Lawrence	Oh.	039087	3	North
Cabell	W. Va.	054011	3	North
Lincoln	W. Va.	054043	3	North
Putnam	W. Va.	054079	3	North
Wayne	W. Va.	054099	3	North
Floyd	Ky.	021071	4	West
Johnson	Ky.	021115	4	West
Magoffin	Ky.	021153	4	West
Martin	Ky.	021159	4	West
Morgan	Ky.	021175	4	West
Pike	Ky.	021195	4	West
Buchanan	Va.	051027	4	West
Mingo	W. Va.	054059	4	West
Breathitt	Ky.	021025	5	South West
Harlan	Ky.	021095	5	South West
Knott	Ky.	021119	5	South West
Leslie	Ky.	021131	5	South West
Letcher	Ky.	021133	5	South West
Perry	Ky.	021193	5	South West
Dickenson	Va.	051051	5	South West
Lee	Va.	051105	5	South West
Wise	Va.	051195	5	South West

This Table, below, is not complete for the data survey is not finished.

Calculated Tower Sites in the Counties within CFARA
Col #	Expiation of Column Cell Colors
Zone	These colors matches with those in the above tables.
1	Total Number of all Sites Calculated for that county. - Subject to change.
2	Number of Sites Planned/Engineering. See Sites Menu for listing.
3	Number of Sites Under Construction
4	Number of Sites Constructed and under test
5	Number of Sites Partely Operational
6	Number of Sites Fully Operational
7	Number of Federal or State EMAs/EOCs sites
8	Number of County EMAs/EOCs & VFDs
9	Number of Hospitals in County
10	Special - See, if any, notes at the bottom of the table below.

SAME # County ST Noteses Zonee 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

021019 Boyd KY - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

021025 Breathitt KY - 5 - - - - - - - - - -

021043 Carter KY - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

021063 Elliott KY - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

021071 Floyd KY Beginning County 4 10 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 3 1

021089 Greenup KY - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

021095 Harlan KY - 5 - - - - - - - - - -

021115 Johnson KY - 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 -

021119 Knott KY - 5 - - - - - - - - - -

021127 Lawrence KY - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

021131 Leslie KY - 5 - - - - - - - - - -

021133 Letcher KY - 5 - - - - - - - - - -

021153 Magoffin KY - 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 -

021159 Martin KY - 4 - - - - - - - - - -

021175 Morgan KY - 4 - - - - - - - - - -

021193 Perry KY - 5 - - - - - - - - - -

021195 Pike KY Second County for CFARA 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 -

039087 Lawrence OH - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

051021 Bland VA - 1 - - - - - - - - - -

051027 Buchanan VA - 4 - - - - - - - - - -

051051 Dickenson VA - 5 - - - - - - - - - -

051071 Giles VA - 1 - - - - - - - - - -

051105 Lee VA - 5 - - - - - - - - - -

051185 Tazewell VA - 1 - - - - - - - - - -

051195 Wise VA - 5 - - - - - - - - - -

054005 Boone WV - 2 - - - - - - - - - -

054011 Cabell WV - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

054019 Fayette WV - 2 - - - - - - - - - -

054025 Greenbrier WV - 1 - - - - - - - - - -

054039 Kanawha WV - 2 - - - - - - - - - -

054043 Lincoln WV - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

054045 Logan WV - 2 - - - - - - - - - -

054047 M^c Dowell WV - 2 - - - - - - - - - -

054055 Mercer WV - 1 - - - - - - - - - -

054059 Mingo WV Third County in CFARA 4 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 -

054063 Monroe WV - 1 - - - - - - - - - -

054079 Putnam WV - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

054081 Raleigh WV - 2 6 - 0 0 1 0 1 5 3 -

054089 Summers WV - 1 - - - - - - - - - -

054099 Wayne WV - 3 - - - - - - - - - -

054109 Wyoming WV - 2 - - - - - - - - - -

About #	Note :
021071	021071-0010 CnC - Testing Center