Welcome to the Mercer Island Radio Operators (MIRO) information site.
This site provides information to our members and interested parties about the MIRO organization,
activities, and upcoming events.
Mission
MIRO is a group of amateur radio operators who volunteer their time
to provide back-up communications for the City of Mercer Island in case of
a natural or man-made disaster.
History
Ron Elsoe, Former Mercer Island Public Safety Director and Bob Farmer,
N7SJW, founded this organization in 1993 under the name Mercer Island
Amateur Radio Emergency Net. They sent out a questionnaire to the all of the
FCC licensed amateur radio operators on the Island and asked them to
respond for an initial roster. From this initial response the group has continued
to grow and now has over 50 members.
Current and Planned Infrastructure
MIRO has a radio room at the Mercer Island City Hall. It is located adjacent to
the City Emergency Operations Center (EOC). MIRO also has a back up radio
room located in the Mercer Island Community Center at Mercerview (CCMV).
Additionally MIRO has VHF and UHF voice radios at the north and south fire
stations on Mercer Island.
Voice communications is facilitated through the use of VHF and UHF radio
repeaters located on a shared communication tower located at the Mercer
Island water reservoir on the highest point on Mercer Island. These repeaters
accept low-level signals from radios around the island and repeat them so that
they are clearly readable on most parts of the island as well as on many off
island locations.
MIRO also has digital communications capability on both VHF and UHF frequencies.
These digital communications allow computer-to-computer connections for those MIRO
amateurs with digital equipment. One of the MIRO members operates and
maintains a digital server at his residence that facilitates the digital
communications. The server allows low baud rate e-mail messages to be sent
to and from locations on Mercer Island as well as a connection to Internet e-mail,
if and when that service is still available in time of an emergency.
Operational Deployment
During an emergency or drill MIRO amateur radio operators generally deploy
near their homes on Mercer Island. There are nine general regions established,
each having amateurs in residence. Furthermore, the city has an emergency
infrastructure consisting of emergency teams that deploy around the island as
needed. These teams can request that a MIRO member accompany them on
their deployment to facilitate communications from their field location back to
the Mercer Island EOC.
Drills and Meetings
MIRO has a practice "on the air" net the second Thursday of every month at 7:00
PM on the MIRO two-meter repeater; 147.160 MHz +, CTCSS tone 146.2. All
amateur radio operators are welcome to check in to the net.
There is also a monthly meeting of the group on the third Thursday of every
month at 7:00 PM at the North Fire Station at 3030 78th Avenue SE.
All interested Mercer Island residents are welcome to attend.
MIRO welcomes all licensed radio amateurs to join our organization and will
assist unlicensed interested individuals in obtaining an FCC amateur license so
that they can join MIRO.
Authority
MIRO operates under the authority of the
Mercer Island Emergency Preparedness organization
headed by Mercer Island Police Officer Jennifer Franklin who is the Mercer Island Emergency Preparedness Officer.
MIRO is also affiliated with the
King County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES).
For Additional Information
If you would like additional information or would like to participate please contact the MIRO Volunteer Chairman,
Dave Cook, WAØTTN, 206-230-0397.