MISSION STATEMENT

The Kaiser Permanente Amateur Radio Network (KPARN) is an organization of Federal Communication Commission licensed amateur radio operators who volunteer time and technical expertise to support the emergency preparedness mission of Kaiser Permanente Health System through redundant communication technologies.

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Typical KPARN Hospital Station (click banner for description)

A picture of a typical KPARN station installed next to the Hospital Command Center (HCC) in a Kaiser Permanente hospital.

The Radios are Alinco single band from left to right: one 6 meter, two 2 meters, one 220 (1.25 meters) and two 440(70 centimeters).
Far right radio is commercial uhf for internal communications. The Yaseau HF transceiver is to left of the computer display on the desk top.

The Computer is a hospital networked computer specifically displaying the same information the command staff in the HCC is viewing. Behind and to left of computer is one telephone handset for permanently installed satellite phone. 

Above the radios, the black boxes are individual Samlex 23 Amp power supplies. One for each radio. Samlex is used as UL approved, meeting hospital regulations. We have tried battery backup, but too heavy, costly, and an ongoing maintenance issue. The metered power supply is for the HF radio.

The power supplies are plugged into red receptacles, which signify emergency power in hospitals. Typically Kaiser Permanente hospitals have three or four (N+1) large generators operating in synchronized mode providing emergency power. By large, the generators are the size of locomotive engines. There is more than sufficient emergency power. By regulations the emergency generators are tested under load monthly and with a load bank every three years.

Above the power supplies are DCI (Digital Communications) bandpass filters one for each radio in each band. So there is one for six meters, one for 220 (1.25 meters) and two each (one per radio) for 2 meters (vhf) and 70 centimeters (uhf). A low pass filter is installed for the HF radio.

The telephone is hospital extension.