About W6CSP

By day, Board Certified Safety Professional Ralph G. Sbragia practices the safety profession as a Safety Compliance Inspector for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA). The LACMTA provides bus and rail transportation services and county wide transportation support and planning to Los Angeles County, California. Ralph also assists the LACMTA's Emergency Preparedness Coordinator in the development of an amateur radio Disaster Communication Group (DCG). During times of disaster or crisis this group will assist the MTA with communications between MTA properties and between the MTA and the City and County and State Emergency Operations Centers. His skills were used during the Y2K preparation and the Democratic National Convention.

In the Autumn of 2001 Ralph was promoted to the rank of Sergeant by the County of Orange Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (OCRACES). OCRACES (www.ocraces.org) is operated under the auspices of the Orange County Sheriffs Department’s Communications Section. It provides communications support and technical expertise during local and regional emergencies. Ralph has been an active member of this group since obtaining his ticket in February of 1992. In January of 2001, Ralph was honored as the OCRACES Member of The Year, 2000. Among leadership roles Ralph has undertaken includes the coordinating of OCRACES participation in the annual “Field Day” exercise (1996 – 2002) and coordinating automatic position reporting equipment and efforts in the support of over twenty-five law enforcement teams participating in the annual Baker-to-Vegas Challenge Cup relay foot race.

Ralph also provides training to MTA employees interested in becoming amateur radio operators and participating in the MTA DCG. Classes are held at lunch as interest and students are available. Ralph is an accredited volunteer examiner with both W5YI and ARRL.

Operationally, Ralph is most commonly found on 10M phone currently, where he is working toward his first WAS band. Ralph is also chasing 10M DX while the band (and the sun spots) are favorable. He enjoys PSK31, although some RFI issues at home are limiting his time in that mode for now. He can also be found via APRS and on the OCRACES 2M machine, 146.895.