The final report for the Global Simulated Emergency Test held on 18 December 2015 is now available from this website.

Although there was a lot learned from the exercise, it was generally a success in demonstrating the speed that amateur radio can respond to an incident and a dramatic increase in the number of Radio Amateurs who took part compared to earlier events. Of over 8000 amateurs contacted as part of the event, around 20 – 30% stated that they would be available to respond in < 1 Hour depending onthe IARU region concerned.

The report has already been distributed to Emergency Communications Co-Ordinators around the world but it is emphasised that this was not a contest about who could be quickest to respond. Instead it is hoped that it will cause more discussion about how to improve our resilience and be used to assist planning and talks with our Served Agencies.

To download the report, or the translations into Spanish or Romanian please click the links below.

The Global Simulated Emergency Test ( GlobalSET ) started on 18^th December with a 24 – 48 hour timelimit for Emergency Communications Groups around the world to carry out an availability exercise, contacting their members to find out how many would be available within 1 – 12 hours.

38 countries took part in the Test, 22 from Region 1 and while initial results have proved that amateur radio can respond quickly to an emergency call, even one on a working day, there has also been a great deal to learn about the reliability of the systems we use and the resilience of our structures.

All webforms used for collecting data for this exercise have now been closed and the results are being analysed with the target of the exercise report being published to Emergency Communications Groups by 25^th December.

Thanks to everyone who took part in this valuable exercise.

Since 2006 the International exercises organised by IARU Region 1 have concentrated on testing between countries using the emergency centre of activity frequencies defined in the band plans, and passing formal messages across language barriers. 
Some countries are very involved in emergencies but have not been able to take full part because of timing or their distance from other countries.

Following the Nepal Earthquake earlier this year, a new test is required to demonstrate that Amateur Radio is able to respond quickly to an emergency. GlobalSET 2015 will take place, but with a focus on our organisation rather than on how easily groups can set up field stations.

We announce that between 12 – 22^nd December, the IARU Regional Emergency Communications Co-Ordinators will trigger a call out exercise in their region. The exact time will depend on the Regional co-ordinators and may not be a weekend as disasters can occur at any time.

We will use whatever means considered appropriate to ask the IARU Member Societies and Groups known to be active in emergency communications to contact their members and ask them how quickly they could get on air if required. 
There is a time limit of 24 – 48 hours to complete their local call out exercise and submit their results through a web form which will make the results far easier to produce than earlier years.

By using a web form it is hoped that any language barriers are removed as online translation tools can be used to convert this into their local language to make it easier to fill in. The web address will be given when the exercise starts and information will be gathered by each region separately.

No one is expected to get on air, so the exercise is independent of any HF propagation problems.

The aims of the exercise are;

To show that we can respond quickly and in a co-ordinated manner.
To get groups and societies involved in an event without language, time or propagation barriers.
To update our information about how many radio amateurs around the world are available for emergency communications showing our strength in the hobby.

Some countries have large ( >1500 member ) emergency communications groups, in these cases being able to demonstrate that a significant number of members would be available is a success.

More information will be circulated to National Emergency Communications Co-Ordinators soon.

Global Simulated Emergency Test – Sunday 23^rd November 2014

IARU Region 1 invites the HQ-Stations of all IARU member societies and stations of Emergency Communications Groups to participate in a Global Simulated Emergency Test on

Sunday November 23^th, 2014 11.00 – 15.00 Local Time

Continue reading “GlobalSET Rules — November 2014”

A summary of known groups and stations taking part in the IARU Global Simulated Emergency Test (GlobalSET) to be held on 23^rd November 2014. Please check this website frequently for updates.

Continue reading “GlobalSET November 2014 — List of Participating Stations”