CAHAN System Testing
San Joaquin ARES will be testing the California Health Alert Network (CAHAN) system during January and February.
We have 78 members currently registered for CAHAN, which we would use to activate emergency communicators during an actual incident. Many of these members, however, may not be properly receiving these alerts.
CAHAN can deliver text messages via e-mail and to pagers or other devices. It will also deliver a voice message over landline or cellular telephone.
We want to make sure as many ARES members and other registered users receive these messages as possible. So far, based on responses to earlier e-mail tests, only about a third of recipients are provably receiving the messages. That needs to be a much higher percentage.
The first “live” test will occur on Saturday, 1/16/2009 at 2pm.
It will consist of a short message reminding recipients to acknowledge receipt of the message. This is done by clicking on a link in the e-mail or entering the user’s PIN in response to the telephone message.
Note: If you don’t enter the PIN, the telephone system will call each number up to three times. If you have forgotten your PIN, you can acknowledge the message from the e-mail, thus stopping the calls.
We anticipate having a series of three tests, at approximately two-week intervals before moving to monthly or quarterly testing. After each test, we will make necessary adjustments to user accounts—most of which can easily be done by users themselves at cahan.ca.gov. Caution: The site only works with Internet Explorer.
As a result of the tests:
1. Users will know how messages are delivered and can make changes in e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and PINs as they desire.
2. Based on user feedback, we can post educational material about the CAHAN system.
3. Users will be trained in how to acknowledge receipt of CAHAN messages before an actual emergency.
Thank you in advance for your participation. Please send questions or comments to me.
David Coursey, N5FDL
Emergency Coordinator
SJ County ARES
n5fdl@arrl.net
Welcome to SJ Ham
This site is about Amateur Radio in San Joaquin County, California. On this site you will find information and links to clubs in Tracy, Manteca, Lodi, and Stockton, as well as to the Amateur Radio Emergency Service in our county.
There is also pages where you can sign-up for our e-mail lists, learn about our one-day HamCram licensing events, or download frequency lists and other information.
Here is a list of open repeaters serving San Joaquin county.
