The Hospital Radio Network (HRN) is a group of Oklahoma amateur radio operators that work to link Oklahoma Hospitals using amateur radio (hams). The hams can design and build technical systems to connect local hospitals to our infrastructure. While they bring radios, headsets, and connection tools, the most important part of our service is the amateur radio operator. These people hail from various professions and are trained and skilled critical thinkers used to solving problems on the fly. They tend to work well with others and can capitalize on the group’s strengths to keep moving forward.
The HRN offers a number of programs that hospitals can use to address each facility’s communication needs.
Voice
The first entry to the HRN is usually our voice network. This voice network is used in times of need and tested monthly. Participating amateur radio operators can either staff an existing radio station at a given hospital or bring their own “Go-Kits” to operate from a hospital parking lot without a permanent station.
Typically, hospitals provide operators with a radio or other means of communication to contact the hospital. Hospitals can provide a working amateur radio station or provide rooftop access for our teams to install connections for a “Go-Kit” or a system in the hospital.
Winlink Email System / National Traffic System (NTS)
To expand the reach of the voice network across the entire state of Oklahoma or to interface with contacts around the globe, HRN members can send and receive messages via the Winlink email system. This digital network lets hams pass messages between hospitals in the state, or connect a hospital to another resource using the public email network, without access to the local Internet. Local connections to the Winlink system are made via AREDN, VHF, or HF.
Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN)
The Oklahoma Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN) has nodes throughout central Oklahoma that hospitals use to pass digital traffic in this closed network. Hospitals provide space on their roofs for us to connect directly to this network. This network can pass data over Ethernet for messages, emails, voice, video, and more. Currently, this network has dedicated servers providing web servers, file transfer (FTP) servers, email, voice telephones (PBX), fax telephones (PBX), direct messaging (Team Talk 5), Winlink, airplane flight tracking (FlightAware), and more.
Use Cases
Amateur radio operators get involved with HRN to practice their communications skills and test out their gear. This project is also a great way for hams to give back to the community in times of need.
Hospitals use this service to enhance their emergency communication preparations.
- While we tend to think of emergencies such as tornadoes, floods, fires, and other natural disasters, simple telecommunications failures can also disrupt the daily routine.
- Hospitals also have multiple campuses, and a loss of communication between these properties could cause chaos for a single hospital.
- Catastrophes involving widespread events would require multiple hospitals to coordinate incoming patients with the area’s first responders.
- Even larger events would require communication between local hospitals and state or federal partners.
- Hospitals that need to evacuate due to weather, mechanical failure, or other reasons can use our teams to provide communications among the main site, the bugout site, and locations in between.
- And other cases as they appear…
Hospitals – Get Involved
If you are an Oklahoma-based hospital worker and would like to learn how to integrate your hospital into the HRN, please contact Lavone Anderson, KG5GWO, via email at mkleine@live.com.
Amateur Radio Operators – Get Involved
If you are an Oklahoma-based amateur radio operator and would like to learn how to get involved with the HRN to activate your local hospital, please contact Lavone Anderson, KG5GWO, via email at mkleine@live.com. We are looking for all types of volunteers. We need technical professionals to design, build, or remodel hospital stations. We need operators who can perform the net control duties during the monthly tests and in times of need. We need operators willing to travel to hospitals to staff stations. And, we need hams to deploy with their “Go-Kits” to hospitals that don’t have a permanent station.
2022 Presentation Video
Hospitals Expressing Interest
- Saints (15 facilities)
- Mercy (Multiple locations)
- Stroud
- Enid (3 facilities)
- Region 3 MRC (23 hospitals in the Southwestern quarter of the state)
- J. D. McCarty Center
- Norman (three locations)
Oklahoma “tested” AREDN Parts List
Here’s a link to a Word document containing pieces and parts we have used on the Oklahoma AREDN network.