PSV-108 WHAT IS A “SHADOW”

by

PSV-108
WHAT IS A “SHADOW”

Modified and updated by Earl Pack
Based on an article by John Galvin – N5TIM


A shadow is an amateur radio operator who accompanies an official or other important person during an event. The shadow operator may be on foot, mobile in a vehicle, or both, depending on the assignment.

Concept

The purpose of a shadow operator is to maintain constant communication with a person who is critical to event operations. The amateur radio operator must therefore remain in the immediate vicinity of the person being shadowed at all times.

The shadow must stay vigilant because the assigned official may move quickly to another location without warning. It is the shadow’s responsibility to keep up with the official and avoid losing contact. Reconnecting becomes extremely difficult once the official has moved out of range and has no independent communications capability.

Although the official may hold an amateur radio license, their primary duties often prevent them from monitoring the radio continuously. In such cases, the shadow serves as a filter, passing along only the communications the official needs to hear. Because the person being shadowed is usually engaged in important activities, the shadow should remain mostly unobtrusive, interjecting only when necessary to relay critical information or to establish communications with other officials at the request of the person being shadowed.

Responsibilities and Duties

Communications

  1. The shadow operator must remain with the person being shadowed at all times and monitor the radio continuously.
  2. The shadow operator must follow directions from the event communications coordinator throughout the shift.
  3. The shadow may also operate additional devices provided by the event, such as a dedicated event radio or cellular telephone.

Shift Duration Most event operations last 12 hours or less, although the actual duration may vary based on operational needs. Rotating shadow assignments, with operators relieved every few hours, may also be used.

Duties

  1. The operator must be in good physical condition and able to walk, and sometimes run, long distances alongside the official.
  2. Dress appropriately for the assignment. Wear respectable attire and prepare for the expected weather conditions.
  3. Build a strong, professional relationship with the official. A confrontational approach will not succeed. Over the years, many officials request the same shadow operator each year — or they do not. (Some officials have even been known to say they would rather run the marathon themselves than work with the wrong shadow.)

Credentials Due to increased security requirements, the amateur radio operator must usually possess the same credentials as the official. Although the official can sometimes waive this requirement, completing the necessary vetting and background checks is far easier and allows the shadow to accompany the official anywhere needed. This requirement may also influence the type of bag used to carry equipment, so confirm details in advance.

Equipment Requirements The shadow operator must furnish the following equipment when reporting for duty:

  1. Power adapter connectors, including both cigarette-lighter and clip-lead types, with cables at least 10 feet long. Anderson Powerpole connectors are recommended for maximum compatibility and flexibility.
  2. Send corrections, modifications, updates or suggestions to k5prs@aol.com
  3. A quality handheld dual-band (2-meter/70-centimeter) transceiver with 5-watt output, synthesized tuning, and programmable CTCSS tone encoder. Note that cross-band operation may be required depending on repeater locations. Many inexpensive handheld transceivers lack adequate receiver filtering and noise rejection, making them unreliable or completely ineffective in dense urban environments.
  4. An earpiece or headphones for the handheld transceiver, or a speaker-microphone. These are essential for two reasons: they prevent the shadowed official from being disturbed by constant radio traffic, and they ensure the operator can clearly hear communications in noisy conditions.
  5. For crossband, a 5/8-wave mag-mount antenna with at least 15 feet of coaxial cable, or an extendable high-gain antenna for vehicle use, along with a high-gain rubber-duck antenna suitable for foot operations.
  6. A mobile 2-meter/70-centimeter radio designed for easy installation in a vehicle, complete with a mag-mount antenna and clamp-type connectors for direct connection to the vehicle battery. Be aware that many modern vehicles lack suitable magnetic surfaces, so a ground-plane kit with a suction-cup mount or a square of plate steel taped to the vehicle may be necessary.
  7. Alternative: A handheld transceiver combined with a mobile booster amplifier can suffice if paired with an external antenna and a sufficiently long coax cable.
  8. Large-capacity battery power is strongly recommended, especially when vehicle battery access is limited or terminals are inaccessible. A charger that plugs into the vehicle’s accessory port can help maintain power during long assignments.
  9. Spare handheld transceiver batteries or rechargeable batteries with a suitable charger capable of supporting 12 hours of continuous operation.

That concludes tonight’s training. Are there any questions, comments or suggested additions to this material?

Thanks, this is (callsign) clear to net control.

Send corrections, modifications, updates or suggestions to k5prs@aol.com