On January 31, 2024, the High Frequency (HF) radio system in the communications room of the Humboldt Emergency Operations Center (EOC) became operational, joining the VHF system which was activated a few months earlier. The EOC can now serve as a communications hub during emergencies, as well as provide support to local drills, exercises, public service events and radio nets.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services was awarded a Cal OES High Frequency Communications Equipment grant on May 9, 2022. The purpose of this grant is to provide funding for equipment that will allow local government EOCs to participate an integrated HF radio network that utilizes special frequencies authorized by the Federal Communications Commission to facilitate communications with state, local, and federal agencies.
This system provides a secondary backup communications system to daily operations. High Frequency uses wireless technology to “bounce” radio signals off the earth’s atmosphere to communicate both by voice and digitally. Through this grant, the county purchased two HF Codan Envoy systems. One is a mobile HF radio system designed for field deployments, and the other is a base station located in the Humboldt EOC and in the 5th floor radio room. Unlike most radio systems that are directly connected from the radio control point to the antenna, this system is linked by the county network system. This network allows the radio frequency unit to be closer to the antenna, thus improving its overall performance and allows it to be accessible by remote control by PC or phone applications. The Codan Envoy has a very unique operating system that allows it to use digital voice encryption, and send/receive email using Winlink with a Pactor modem.
The active support of several county departments and volunteers was required for this project become operational. Humboldt County Information Technology provided assistance in creating a firewall system separate from the regular county network to maintain cyber security. IT assisted in programming the network equipment makes the systems communicate remotely. They also assisted in the connecting of a power distribution system (RIGrunner 4005i) that can be remotely monitored, and send email alerts if the radio system develops voltage or current irregularities. IT ran the LMR-400 coax cable that was prepped by AuxComm members in November 2023. IT also oversaw the installation and design of the eighty-eight foot folded dipole antenna on the courthouse roof.
Humboldt County Public Works assisted in the instillation of this folded dipole antenna, creating the attachment points used to secure each end, and the middle support structures on the roof.
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Business Department assisted in the development, maintenance, management, and submission of the HF grant. The Sheriff’s Business Department was instrumental in preparing progress reports and adhering to report deadlines.
The system required contracting for tower climbers to install a pulley system on one of the towers on the courthouse roof. Cal OES telecommunications accepted the project and was able to complete the instillation of the dipole antenna by attaching the north point approximately thirty feet up and the south end at approximately twelve feet in the air. The overall antenna slopes down north to south. Initial signal reports are good to great. Standing wave ratio from twenty to eighty meters ranges from 1.1 to 1.8.
The Humboldt County AuxComm team was instrumental in organizing the different agencies to come together to make the radio operational. AuxComm members attended training to use the system and assisted in preparing the communications room for a more ergonomic work environment.
Humboldt County OES would like to give Don Nelson, WA6NBG, and Anthony Reyes, a County Radio Communications Technician, a special big “thank you” of appreciation for all their dedicated work to get the OES HF radio to where it is today. This project has been 
challenging, and they have been there for every step.
As of February 21, Don and Anthony were also able to connect a GPS antenna receiver to the HF radio from the courthouse roof. With this, in the future, OES will be able to send and receive encrypted Winlink emails on the SHARES RF network by syncing the GPS time. Don and Anthony were able to install, network, and test the Dragon Pactor modem. This modem is located physically next to the radio frequency unit on the 5th floor radio room in the Courthouse. Don was able to send and receive email using Winlink through the HF Codan radio in the EOC. This new milestone will allow Humboldt County to be listed in the State Warning Center as a phone and digital HF capable radio system.
All Humboldt County staff and AuxComm team members are encouraged to make time to operate the system. The Codan Envoy operates similarly to a smart phone with the option to manually enter desired radio frequencies. Humboldt County OES obtained a SHARES radio call sign (NNA9DW), and the SHAred RESources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio program provides an additional means for Humboldt County OES to communicate when landline and cellular communications are unavailable. SHARES members use existing HF radio resources to coordinate and transmit messages needed to perform critical functions, including those areas related to leadership, safety, maintenance of law and order, finance, and public health. While operating on SHARES frequencies, AuxComm and EOC staff members are not be required to have an amateur radio license. Thanks to Peter Esko (W6IES), OES now has a club/team call sign, KA6OES, which any AuxComm member can use with the Codan Envoy radio system on amateur radio frequencies. The teams official first QSO was made by Ed Swafford (KN6GZS) during 2024 Winter Field Day, January 27, 2024. The first SHARES contact was made by Greg Waters (KJ6OUI), on the SHARES West net January 31, 2024 @ 18:18 Zulu. This official SHARES log-in fulfills our grant funding obligations.
