* * * HAPPY NEW YEAR * * *
THE EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN No. 139
- 31 DECEMBER 2002 -
A Weekly Bulletin for ARES and other EMCOMM Operators and Public Safety
Officials in “the west”...and beyond.
D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, Editor.
INTERNET: www.emcomm.org E-MAIL: k6soj@arrl.net
A.R.R.L. HQ: www.arrl.org/ (Check it
daily!)
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L = LCL (Local time in the (PST winter / PDT summer) zone
Z = ZULU (Universal Coordinated Time - UTC)
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IN THIS EDITION ...
+ STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT (SKN)
+ KNOW CODE NETS (KCN)
+ NEW SUBSCRIBERS
+ OREGON ARES NEWS
+ EC CORNER
+ NET REMINDER
+ ARC/ARES TRAINING in central Sacramento Valley
+ TRAINING and CONTINUING EDUCATION
• LESSONS FROM GUAM
+ NWS-SKYWARN SECTION
• Active SKYWARN Stations
• Reno NWS Section
+ “OUR EMCOMM HERITAGE” - SPECIAL FEATURE +
“ARRL The Early Years” - Part IV
+++ TONITE
IS ARRL STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT” (SKN) +++
Are you “staying in” on New Year’s Eve? Why not blow the dust off
that old
straight key and enjoy some good old fashioned QSO fun? The emphasis of
SKN is on rag chewing rather than on fast contest-type exchanges. It begins
on December 31 at 1600 PST and ends on 1600 PST on January 1. (0000 to 2400
UTC January 1, 2003). Try to contact some of your EMCOMM friends.
Some of
us will be “lurking around” at the times listed below for the KCN.
More info: www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2003/skn.html.
+ WHAT HAPPENED ON NEW YEARS EVE OF 1915?:
Find out in “OUR EMCOMM HERITAGE: ARRL The Early Years” below.
+ DAILY “KNOW CODE NETS” [KCN):
1300 PST 7111 kHz “up”.
2000 PST 3711 kHz “up”.
These are 1 kHz above QRP CW calling frequencies. (EMCOMM operators are
encouraged to operate QRP.) The KCN net is for those who want to improve
their Morse skills and make contact with other EMCOMM oriented operators in
a somewhat informal setting. If you do not hear anyone...try calling CQ.
+ WELCOME NEW SUBSCRIBERS:
• George Cusack, KG6LNZ, Ione, CA - Amador County CDF/VIP and RACES
+ OREGON ARES NEWS:
Oregon ARES District 5 Net is now at 1830L on Mondays on 3993.5 LSB
(Thanks to Warren Olney, KB7EKF, AEC Josephine County for this update.)
+ NEWS FROM THE “SHOW ME STATE”:
Glen Briggs, KBØRPJ, of Trenton, MO; has recently been appointed as the
Emergency Coordinator for Grundy County. Congratulations Glen!
+ EC CORNER (Reminder):
Monthly EC reports (FSD-212) for December are due. SV Section ARES
leaders
report online at: www.emcomm.org/svares/reports/main.htm
+ NET REMINDER (1st Wednesday) - 1 JAN 03 @1930 PACIFIC - 3987 KHZ:
Regional WINCO (Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon) ARES net
(any and all ARES stations welcome). ARES members are invited to submit
appropriate announcements, topics for discussion, or questions via email or
at net time. START THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT BY CHECKING IN!
+ AMERICAN RED CROSS and ARES TO HOLD JOINT TRAINING SESSIONS
Mike Scott, Disaster Services Director for the Three Rivers Chapter ARC and
Michael Colvin, W6CUJ, AEC, Yuba/Sutter County ARES have scheduled several
orientation meetings for ARES members (other hams interested in EMCOMM are
welcome) in the use of the newly re-furbished ARC Disaster Utility Vehicle (DUV). The meetings are primarily for amateurs in the service area
of
the
Three Rivers Chapter: Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Butte, Glenn, and Plumas
Counties; since these operators will most likely be using the DUV for their
own county disasters. EMCOMM operators from other counties who have
experience with ARES are welcome to attend and help Yuba-Sutter ARES get
off to a good start!
LOCATION:
Three Rivers Chapter ARC Headquarters
2125 E. Onstott Road
Yuba City, CA.
(Onstott Road is the frontage road along Hwy 99 on both sides of the
highway, so East Onstott is that part of Onstott that is on the east side
of Hwy. 99. Take the Queens Avenue exit. If you are coming from the north,
take the bridge across 99 and turn left at the first street you come to.
From the south, take Queens Avenue. Turn right on Queens, and turn left
immediately at the frontage road across the street.)
3rd Meeting: Saturday, 01/04/02 from 0900L to 1500L
DUV training and tentative SET (bring your own lunch)
Topics to be covered (not necessarily in this order):
1. Practice setting up and putting away the DUV
2. Take the DUV to a remote location, set up and make contacts with local
and regional hams on all frequencies.
3. Contact Red Cross HQ using public service xcvr
4. Return to ARC for debriefing
For more information contact: Michael Colvin, W6CUJ, w6cuj@arrl.net
+++ TRAINING and CONTINUING EDUCATION SECTION +++
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS...LESSONS FROM GUAM
Excerpt from EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN No. 136 - 10 DECEMBER 2002:
“GUAM DISASTER UPDATE...ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE FROM TYPHOON PONGSONA WITH
WINDS OF 180+ MPH HIT GUAM...FIRE FIGHTING EFFORTS CONTINUE INTO SECOND DAY
AT ISLAND’S MAIN FUEL SUPPLY DEPOT. CREWS FROM GUAM FD, GUAM AIRPORT,
ANDERSON AFB, NAVY, AND COAST GUARD. ARES AND RACES OPERATORS IN HAWAII
ARE STANDING BY TO ASSIST WITH EMCOMM TRAFFIC...”
Excerpt from the ARRL News Service 20 December:
(Full story: www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/12/20/4/)
“Duncan Campbell, KF6ILA/KH2, was one of the few hams able to get on the
air in the first few days after the storm hit, felling the island's lone
2-meter repeater tower in the process. Island hams used 2-meter FM simplex
as a major means of communication, Campbell said. The repeater reportedly
is back up. He was able to make several stateside HF to relay needs, but
fuel to run emergency generators for radio use became scarce, and he had
to shut down after December 10.”
LESSON: Most EMCOMM operators depend upon battery power to keep their
stations on the air during power system failures, at least for the first
few hours. But batteries can be quickly depleted. Especially if
there is
a significant level of radio traffic. Energy can be conserved (not to
mention reducing QRM) by operating with the lowest possible output power,
and by only transmitting when necessary.
Many of us have small gasoline, diesel, or propane generators as our
“second line of defense”. The size (in output power) of the
generator must
be able to supply the amount of wattage needed...but to conserve fuel it
should not be larger than needed. If possible two generators, one smaller,
“single person carry size” (about 1000 watts), and a larger size (3-5 KW)
for use when more power is needed.
In the Guam disaster mentioned above, the island’s fuel depot burned and
fuel supplies became very limited. Whether in the city or in a remote
wilderness location; adequate fuel supplies, SAFELY STORED, should be kept
ready. During power outages most service stations cannot pump fuel, even
if their storage tanks are full. Stored fuel should be used and replaced
every six months.
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Previous training bulletins are archived at:
www.emcomm.org/svares/training/
----------------------------------------------------------------------
• THE TRAFFIC HANDLER’S “MANTRA”:
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority • Traffic •
Delayed”
(NUMBER-PRECEDENCE-HX-STATION OF ORIGIN-CHECK-PLACE OF ORIGIN-TIME-DATE)
+++++ REFERENCE SECTION +++++
• BEEN AWHILE SINCE YOU OPERATED CW? NEVER HAD THE ENJOYMENT OF MORSE
OPERATING? Then, take a look at: “A Beginner’s Guide to Making CW
Contacts” by Jack Wagoner, WB8FSV at: www.netwalk.com/~fsv/CWguide.htm
• AN EXCELLENT NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM (NTS) TRAINING WEBSITE IS AT:
http://www.qsl.net/aresco/nts-top.htm
• ADDITIONAL (VERY) USEFUL information is available at:
http://www.remote.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/sec2-ch11.html
http://www.area-ham.org/tngdocs/ntsdocs/ntsman.htm
• CW “NETIQUETTE” (An excellent guide for the advanced operator):
http://www.qsl.net/n5lf/cw-nts.html
• FOR AN INTERESTING HISTORIC LOOK AT... “THE ART OF COMPOSING
TELEGRAMS”:
www.metronet.com/~nmcewen/telegram.html
(Some of the information at the above URL may NOT apply to ARRL RADIOGRAMS)
=== NWS-SKYWARN SECTION ===
+ MEDFORD NWS (WX7MFR) SKYWARN NEWS AND INFORMATION -
Jim Reynolds, KD7MLO, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Medford NWS
Gary Peterson, N7GK, Acting Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, Asst. Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
SKYWARN is the National Weather Service program of trained volunteer
spotters reporting severe weather. The ARRL/ARES has a national
“memorandum of understanding” (MOU) with the NOAA/NWS.
MEDFORD NWS SKYWARN WEBSITE: www.emcomm.org/skywarn
• ACTIVE MEDFORD AND RENO NWS SKYWARN “HONOR ROLL” -
NET LOG FOR 25 DEC 02:
NCS VHF - K6SOJ
NCS HF - K6SOJ
NCS RENO - no net
STATIONS REPORTING:
SY42 K6SOJ/KE6MZT HF
MO39 K6QQ HF
CU39 K7SEG HF
JA96 WA7SNY VHF
VISITORS/OTHER:
WO6P Shasta County (CA)
W7ARC Kitsap County (WA)
TOTAL: 6
MEDFORD NWS WX SPOTTER / SKYWARN NETS:
MEDFORD NWS WX SPOTTER NET: Wednesdays at 1915L on:
147.26+ / CTCSS: 123.0, (Mt. Ashland - Jackson County and more)
146.55 SIMPLEX (eastern Siskiyou and Klamath Counties)
146.97- (Likely/Modoc County Relay)
7232 LSB (up) DAYTIME
3987 LSB (down) NIGHTTIME
1982 LSB (alternate).
SKYWARN nets will be activated on these frequencies during severe weather
events.
NWS SKYWARN NET CONTROL STATIONS -
DATE 147.26+
3987 LSB
DEC 25 N7GK
KB7EKF
JAN 1 N7GK
N7TOD
JAN 8 N2RSN/N2RSI K6SOJ
JAN 15 N7IXS
N2RSN/N2RSI
JAN 22 N7GK
KB7EKF
JAN 29 TBA
K6SOJ
ADDITIONAL NWS NET CONTROL OPERATORS SOUGHT -
For more information contact:
Gary, N7GK, gpederso@OregonVOS.net;
or,
Dave, K6SOJ, k6soj@arrl.net
Matt, N7TOD, n7tod@arrl.net (Reno)
NWS PACKET NODE ON MT. ASHLAND is on 145.030 MHz, ID is: skywrn. NWS is
asking for SKYWARN and ARES packet stations to connect and let them know
your location, the type of antenna and power you use to access the Mt.
Ashland node. The “connect” to NWS packet bbs (direct) is 145.090 and the
ID is NWSMFR. Then connect to NWSBBS, e.g., c nwsmfr. Then, c nwsbbs. The
NWSMFR at nws mfr is a node.
Questions? Contact Gary, N7GK e-mail: gpederso@OregonVOS.net
Check in to the JEFFERSON NOON NET daily at 1200L on 7232 LSB (alt. 3987)
for announcements regarding anticipated or actual severe WX.
+ MEDFORD NWS / SKYWARN WEATHER SPOTTER CLASS SCHEDULE -
--- The Fall schedule of classes has been completed. ---
-----------------------------------------------------------------
+ RENO NWS (WX7RNO) SKYWARN NEWS AND INFORMATION -
• Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM): Roger Lamoni
• SKYWARN/Amateur Radio Liaisons:
- Matt Parker, N7TOD, Washoe County (NV) EC
- Mark Spencer, WA8SME, Mono County (CA) EC
SKYWARN NETS:
WEDNESDAYS 1905L 147.12+ (123.0) and 1915L on 3987 // Medford (OR) NWS
PACKET Information:
Frequency 145.050
Keyboard (Incoming WX Reports): WX7RNO
MBX: WX7RNO-1 (NWS/SKYWARN related traffic only please,
due to limited capacity of 5K)
KaNode: RNOWX (for contacting other local stations)
(NOTE: The call RNOWX for the KaNode is currently not recognized as a valid
call by the RNO node, a situation we are trying to get corrected. If
you know of anyone intimately familiar with the "The Net X1J4"
netrom operating system (used by the RNO node) who can offer us some advice,
please let me know. RNOWX is, however, recognized by YRGTN, the other
high-level node in the area and connections are possible along this
route. Basically, YRGTN-RNOWX provides back-up path for out of area
connections in case RNO fails...which it hopefully won't do again for a
while).
+++ SPECIAL FEATURE: “OUR EMCOMM HERITAGE” +++
Editor’s comment: There is much to learn about from whence we came,
and
much profit in knowing why we came to exist. - de K6SOJ
“ARRL The Early Years” - Part IV: “Trunk Lines”
(Reprinted courtesy February 1964 QST)
H.P. Maxim had come to two conclusions: first, that the time was ripe
for
the organization of six trunk lines, to cover the entire United States,
three horizontally and three vertically across the map; second, that
regular tests in the form of drills should be performed by the stations on
these trunk lines to keep them in training. He outlined his plan in the
February, 1916, issue of QST. The practicality of these ideas was
evidenced by the success of the first countrywide relay, on Washington’s
birthday anniversary in 1916.
On December 31, 1915, Wm. H. Kirwan, 9XE, had originated an emergency
QST
(general) message with the idea of covering the United States with it in
the shortest possible time. The success of this experiment led to the
planning and announcement of a gigantic test to be held on Washington’s
birthday, February 22nd. Under the plan, a message was to be originated
by
Colonel W. P. Nicholson of the Rock Island, Ill. Arsenal, addressed to the
governors of every state in the Union and President Wilson.
Selected
transmitting stations were appointed all over the country. The
cooperation
of the ARRL, the National Wireless Association, and the Radio League of
America was secured. When the results were tabulated, it was found that
the message--”A democracy requires that a people who govern and educate
themselves should be so armed and disciplined that they can protect
themselves...Colonel Nicholson”--had been delivered in 34 states and the
District of Columbia. The Pacific Coast got the message fifty-five
minutes
after it started at 9XE; the Atlantic Coast, sixty minutes after; New
Orleans and Canada each had it in twenty minutes. The success of this
test, although not 100 per cent, created wild enthusiasm and led to the
prediction in QST that a transcontinental message would eventually be sent
with but two intermediate relays.
NEXT WEEK: PART IV - The Government Cracks Down.
+ BACK ISSUES OF THE EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN
and (the former 5-1-2+ BULLETIN) ARE ARCHIVED AT:
www.emcomm.org/svares/archives
+ SEARCH FEATURE AT EMCOMM.ORG
Ever try to locate an article in a past issue of the bulletin?
Or, maybe you’re a new subscriber, and you are interested in knowing if a
particular subject has ever been addressed in a former bulletin.
Or...maybe you are just doing some research.
The “site search” feature at www.emcomm.org
may be just what you need!
+ HOW IS EMCOMMWEST AND EMCOMM.ORG FUNDED?
There are no charges, dues, or membership fees for the EMCOMMWEST Bulletin
or EMCOMM.ORG. The domain name, server, and other costs for EMCOMM.ORG
are
funded solely by a few very dedicated EMCOMM operators. If you have
benefited from our efforts, and would like to say thanks by supporting this
work in a tangible way; you may do so by sending a few green stamps, or a
check made payable to: EMCOMM. Mail it to: EMCOMM, P.O. Box 99, Macdoel,
CA 96058. A receipt will be issued upon request. (A SASE would be
appreciated). Your donation is an outright gift and is NOT tax-deductible.
A five dollar annual donation works out to less than 10¢ an issue.
“Brother...can you spare a dime?”
+ The “EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN” - Copyright (c) 2002 - D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce and re-circulate items from this
bulletin providing appropriate credit is given to the “EMCOMMWEST
BULLETIN” and/or the author or originator of the material. Send
corrections, updates, etc. to: k6soj@arrl.net
p
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