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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.
Background
MIRO is a group of amateur radio operators who volunteer their time to provide back-up communications for the Mercer Island Fire Department and City of Mercer Island in case of a natural disaster or man-made disaster.
This organization was founded in 1993 by Ron Elsoe, Former Mercer Island Public Safety Director and Bob Farmer N7SJW 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, many who actively participate in both the monthly meetings, the monthly practice net, and the periodic exercise drills throughout the year. There are members living in each of the nine designated response regions on the Island, as well as a few who live off Island.
The Radio Net provides emergency communication between neighborhoods having an amateur radio operator resident and the amateur radio Net Control station at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the Mercer Island City Hall. There is an additional communciation center located at the Community Center at Mercer View (CCMV) above Luther Burbank Park. The Radio Net provides emergency communication between the nine response regions and both the North and South Fire Stations. Another option, depending on available manpower, is "roving" amateur radio operators with a mobile radio in their vehicle communicating with Net Control at City Hall.
The Net Control station at City Hall remotely controls "repeaters" located at the city Water Tower and South Fire Station. These repeaters relay both UHF and VHF signals from amateur radio volunteers around Mercer Island and beyond. The UHF and VHF repeaters act primarily as a link between the City Hall EOC and the MIRO emergency communicators. This system provides for reliable Emergency communication between the amateur radio volunteers and the Net Control station at City Hall. The City of Mercer Island purchased the radio equipment at City Hall and the Fire Stations. Additional equipment is on loan from individual MIRO volunteers.
The Mercer Island Radio Operators volunteer under the authority of the Mercer Island Department of Emergency Preparedness, administered by MIPD Officer Jennifer Franklin. The group is also affiliated with the ARES, Amateur Radio Emergency Service, of King County.
Activities
MIRO has a practice "on the air" net the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM on the MIRO 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. All interested Mercer Island residents are welcome to attend.
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. | 
