HAM RADIO OPERATORS BEEF UP RESCUE SERVICE.

Byline: Gloria Gonzales Daily News Staff Writer

When a crane overturned on the Ventura Freeway just north of The Oaks mall and blocked all four lanes of rush-hour traffic, dozens of commuters reached for their cell phones. Some called home to report their delay, and others dutifully dialed 911.

``That was a few years ago and it was the first time people realized how useful we could be,'' said Don Munding, a 15-year member of the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club. ``All the frequencies were overloaded and deputies couldn't call back to the sheriff's station. So we set up our ham radios in a makeshift command center at The Oaks mall, and deputies called in that way.''

Emergency personnel learned that day that hobbyists and their ham radios could prove useful when cell phones and higher radio frequencies might be overloaded, Munding said.

This week the 160-member club took that technology to the streets in its new mobile communications center - a Ford Econoline van retrofitted with ham radios, AC and DC power, energy-generating solar panels and backup batteries.

The van will allow the group to respond quickly to accident and disaster scenes, Munding said. The van bears the Sheriff's Department logo, and club members wear badges identifying them as emergency workers.

``Before, we would go to a scene in someone's car, and we'd have to load all the equipment,'' said Joe Buhek, van project director and club member. ``When the van is complete, we'll be able to drive off to a scene at a moment's notice.'' While the van is in service this week, club members hope to add six permanent ham radios which will cut down on response time. Currently, members have to pack their own radios before going to an emergency scene.

The van is also equipped with a trailer that hauls a generator, a refrigerator and stove, so radio operators can stay at a scene if necessary.

The van will transport six radio operators and their equipment to emergency scenes. Included in that equipment are portable repeaters, small radio beacons that allow operators to transmit from remote locations currently beyond the reach of cell towers.

``We worked the Malibu fires and surveyed for damage in Oxnard during high water and floods,'' Munding said. ``We've taken care of communications for the Red Cross. When they set up a command center, we set up at an emergency scene and communicate with the center.''

Ham radio operators will send messages about casualties, supplies and evacuees. On rare occasions, radio operators are the only ones able to reach emergency personnel to call for ambulances or helicopters.

The retrofitted van promises to help them do their job better. GTE Inc. donated the 1984 service van and $1,000 to the club about two years ago, Buhek said. The club's van committee began work in earnest on the van about one year ago.

``We reconditioned the van from the ground up,'' Buhek said. ``We chiseled out the old stuff, reinforced the floor, put in insulation and built the cabinets.''

All told, the improvements have cost the club about $4,000, which was raised through garage sales, bake sales and other fund-raisers. The group needs to raise additional funds to pay for a computer, printer and permanent radios. Currently, members bring their own radios on calls.

The newly equipped van will be on display Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Police Department Open House at 2101 E. Olsen Road.

For more information about the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club or to help with the van project, call Buhek at [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--color) Joe Buhek oversaw the outfitting of the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club van.

(2) Photos show the development of a amateur radio club rescue van.

Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News