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Dedicated to Emergency Communications by RADIO
EMCOMM MONTHLY
“PREPAREDNESS is our most
important PRODUCT”
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IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome to the April
2005 issue of EMCOMM MONTHLY. As
usual we begin with SHORT CIRCUITS. The EM
PHILOSOPHY is
next followed by FEEDBACK, The
EM ADVISOR, and ICS PERSPECTIVES.
In our FEATURE ARTICLE: "Make
Good Operating Procedures A Habit" - Part I we focus
on good voice operating procedures. NETWORK
NEWS and EMCOMM TRAFFIC
follows, and RETRO REVIEW,
takes a look at "THE WELL EQUIPPED AMATEUR STATION”,
QSH has a report on our March Survey
and introduces: "SHOW US YOUR SHACK"
and new page on EMCOMM.ORG. EMCOMM
SPECIALTY ITEMS, NEW SUBSCRIBERS,
CONTRIBUTORS, SUPPORT OUR SUPPORTERS. Our
handy REFERENCE SECTION rounds this
issue of EM.
SHORT CIRCUITS
• REGIONAL NET REMINDER
- TONIGHT (1st Wednesday of Month):
WINCOM (Washington, Idaho,
Nevada, California, Oregon, Montana) 1930PST on 3987 LSB.
All EmComm stations welcome! (Next scheduled
WINCOM NET: 16 February 05 at 1930PST on 3987 LSB.)
• U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF STATE AUTHORIZES THIRD PARTY AGREEMENT WITH UNITED KINGDOM
Effective immediately, U.S. radio amateurs may
conduct third party communications with radio amateurs in the UK.
The previous limitation with "GB" stations only
has been removed. Revised Part 97.115:
Third Party Communications - Section 97.115
of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. §97.115, authorizes an amateur
station regulated by the FCC to transmit a message from its control
operator (first party) to another amateur station control operator
(second party) on behalf of another person (third party). No amateur
station,
however, shall transmit messages for a third party to any station
within the jurisdiction of any foreign government whose
administration has not made arrangements with the United States to
allow amateur stations to be used for transmitting international
communications on behalf of third parties.
The following countries have made the necessary arrangements with
the United States to permit an amateur station regulated by the FCC
to exchange messages for a third party with amateur stations in:
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Belize, Bolivia,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Federal Islamic
Republic of Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Republic of the
Marshall Islands, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, St. Christopher and Nevis, St.
Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, South Africa,
Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and
Venezuela. The United Nations also has arrangements with the United
States to permit an amateur station regulated by the FCC to exchange
messages for a third party with amateur stations 4U1ITU in Geneva,
Switzerland, and 4U1VIC in Vienna, Austria.
No amateur station regulated by the FCC shall transmit messages for
a third party to any amateur station located within the jurisdiction
of any foreign government not listed above. This prohibition does
not apply to a message for any third party who is eligible to be the
control operator of the station.
(Thanks to Richard Hill NU6T, Official Emergency Station - Fair
Oaks, California)
• LICENSE ISSUED FOR NEW US CW
COASTAL STATION
This is only indirectly related to amateur radio
(unless you are also a commercial and/or maritime station operator); but
is of interest in the wider scope of EmComm.
The FCC has granted a license for a new, common carrier, class 1A CW
coast station to the Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS), the
group that brought ex-RCA coast station KPH back to life. The
MRHS applied for the license to assure that US commercial Morse
operations will continue into the future. This is the
first time in many years that the FCC has granted a new license for
this service. The hours of operation for the station have not
yet been determined. But the basic details are:
Call: KSM. Frequencies: 426, 500, 6474 and
12993 kHz. 5kW all freqs. -- Richard Dillman, W6AWO, Maritime
Radio Historical Society. www.radiomarine.org
(Thanks to Len Gwinn, WA6KLK)
Note: K6KPH (amateur station at
the historic RCA shore station KPH) is active on the amateur
bands on 3545, 7050, 14050 and 21050 kHz for special events
and scheduled operations. For more information check the website
above or look up K6KPH at www.qrz.com
. The transmitters are at Bolinas, California and are keyed
remotely from the receiving station 18 miles to the north on the
Pt. Reyes peninsula, (as was done when the station was in
daily commercial service) .
• FOR AN INTERESTING VIEW OF CW
COMMUNICATIONS READ
• FREE ARES® / EMCOMM
DIGITAL PACKET PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE
(Thanks to Bob Hutcherson, KO6JT)
• YAESU 747
INFORMATION SOUGHT
Brad Paplham, KBØLHB
of Princeton, Minnesota, has asked help from EM
readers that have replaced, or know how to replace, the display
light on a Yaesu 747.
• TWO SAN FRANCISCO SECTION
EVENTS TO HIGHLIGHT EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
April 15 at 2000PDT - San
Francisco Amateur Radio Club at V.A. Medical Center, 42nd Ave
& Clement St., Bldg. 7 1st floor. Talk in 145.150-
(114.8)
April 23 from 0800 to 1300PDT - Valley of
the Moon Amateur Radio Club (Sonoma). Info at: www.vomarc.org or Ken
McTaggert, N6KM kmct@vom.com
The EM PHILOSOPHY
"Knowing how to
operate a RADIO...does not automatically make you a
COMMUNICATOR!"
One of the
latest "hot topics" in amateur radio circles are
the one or two day amateur radio courses (licensing test
included) that offer such "come ons" as:
"Become a ham radio operator this
weekend! NO CODE test! Just memorize a
few easy "multiple-guess" questions and "get-on-the-air!"
Proponents of these "courses" believe that
increasing the number of licensed hams in this
manner will somehow save amateur radio. We heard some
say: "Just get your license and get on the air. You
can always learn the technical material and how to operate
properly later!" The equipment manufacturers and
other commercial interests love the idea of as many new hams
as possible. Opponents of this "instant
ham" approach suggest that this is just another indication
of "the dumbing down of amateur radio" (and
America).
EM believes
that while a one or two day course, may result in a batch of
new licensees, it is not the best thing for amateur radio.
Does passing
the ham radio licensing test the old fashioned way, or the new
fashioned way, ensure that new licensees will know all there
is to know about electronics, the rules and regulations, and
proper operating procedures? Of course not. In
fact, none of us will ever understand all there is to
know about radio. Should the goal then be just to
answer 70% of the questions correctly so one can get an
HT and start ragchewing on a repeater and find out
when the next club breakfast or coffee break will be?
We've even heard some 5 wpm (and some 13 wpm) hams say:
"Once I passed the code test...I forgot it as fast as I
could. I knew I'd never need it." We've also
heard some voice operators sound like they take the
same approach about proficient and courteous voice
operating procedures. We can almost hear someone now
saying: "This is America! People have the
right to operate anyway they like! Who are you to
dictate how a radio operator?
The
purpose of the licensing test is to make you legally
qualified to transmit on the amateur bands, and to get one started
on A LIFELONG PATH of learning, practicing and
perfecting the art and science of radio communications.
FCC Part 97.1 ("Basis and purpose" of the amateur
service) says (in part): "Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven
ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through
rules which provide for advancing skills in both the
communications and technical phases of the art. Expansion of the existing reservoir within the
amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and
electronics experts. Sadly, this is often not
the reality.
Perhaps
you've heard someone say: "The real learning begins
after one has a license." EM says that there is some
validity to that concept in a general education
context. Using the author's profession
(registered nurse) as an example, it is my
observation that new graduate nurses, with the ink hardly
dry on a BSN diploma and a new state board
issued license, are only minimally qualified to be
entrusted with the care (and life) of a hospital patient.
Many hospitals now require a supervised internship for new
graduate nurses. Also, in the medical professions
(and many others) continuing education is mandatory to
maintain a license to practice. (Maybe this would be a
good idea for radio amateurs?)
Conscientious hams
are concerned about the increasing lack of good operating skill
and courtesy they hear on the air. Part of the problem is
the often promoted notion that "amateur radio is only
a hobby"! While that may be true for
90% of today's hams, it is NOT what I believe or
teach. (I prefer the word "avocation" or
"service".) Remember: the word "hobby"
does not appear in FCC Part 97!
As far
as I am concerned, a licensed radio amateur has a solemn
responsibility to always operate in a skilled, proficient,
courteous, and legal manner. Even if they enjoy amateur
radio only for its "hobby" aspects! But as long
as the mantra: "It's only a hobby" is touted,
amateur radio it will continue to (mostly) produce mediocre
radio operators.
Parallels can
be made between an amateur radio license and a private pilot's
license. BOTH are serious business. Only a
fool would attempt to fly an airplane until a series
of classroom lessons had been completed, a specified number of
hours of flight training have occurred, and the ability to fly
has been demonstrated to and with a qualified instructor!
When I first
became a licensed amateur, I would not transmit on
the amateur bands until I was confident that I was properly
prepared. Of course, sounding like a
"lid" would probably not be fatal, it
was important to me to not be recognized as a novice!
I was proud of my new license and call sign! I recall my
first contact very well. I double checked my rig and
antenna, got up my nerve, and called CQ on 10
meters SSB . An operator in Iowa (KBØHFG) answered
. After we exchanged signal reports, locations, names,
etc., he asked me how long I had been a ham. I replied
that he was my first ever contact. After a brief
silence...he replied: "You sure fooled me...you
sound like a pro.")
It may be
helpful for readers to compare these similarities between an
amateur radio license and a private pilot's license:
1. While both may be
considered "a hobby" they both also require passing a
federally administered test and a (revocable) license.
2. Both require a high degree
of knowledge and technical skill.
3. Both are regulated by
federal law.
4. If the rules are not
obeyed, and good safety practices are not employed, death or
injury may result.
5. Not everyone has the mental
and physical abilities to engage in flying or radio
communications.
6. Both the pilot's and
the radio amateur's skills and abilities are a potential
resource for emergency and public service.
These
requirements cannot be said about pure hobbies such as
building model planes, trains or automobiles; or, collecting
stamps, match books or beer cans.
So put me on
record as being opposed to making it as easy as possible to
obtain an amateur radio license! Call me a
retrograde* if you wish. But historically, becoming a
licensed amateur radio operator was achieved only with
considerable effort. And it was an
accomplishment to be proud of! Amateur radio was
never intended to be for the masses. That is why the
Citizens Band, Family Radio Service and General Mobile Radio
Service bands were created.
In all
disciplines each individual will have a different level of
interest and commitment. As public service and emergency
communications radio operators we each need to ask yourself:
1. (a) Am I content to be satisfied
with serving only as a VHF / voice only / tactical
communicator....limited to local communications only?
(Don't tell me about repeaters or linked systems.
They cannot be depended upon and often only unnecessarily tie up
multiple frequencies that could be better utilized.) And,
if another station asks you to handle some formal; message
traffic, will you have to say: "Sorry. I can't do
that." If that is your choice...so be it...you can
still make a contribution to your community...but you have
severely limited yourself. Or (b), do you want
to be a full service station capable of handling formal
message traffic?
2. (a) Am I content to maintain
a station capable of only one or two modes and dependant upon repeaters
or commercial power and/or landline links? Or (b), do I
want to operate a full fledged station capable of
operations on HF SSB and CW and that can accept and forward a
RADIOGRAM?
If you answered
"a" to either of these you have limited yourself as
to what you can accomplish and what you can
contribute as a volunteer public service radio amateur.
More so, you have missed out on most of "The
Magic of Radio"; and, the great
satisfaction of accomplishing something that takes some
extra study and effort! I encourage every reader of
EM to think re-read FCC Part 97.1, and think about your
goals. Then ask yourself : "Am I all that
I can be?" - de K6SOJ
* Retrograde: "Having a
direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies. "
FEEDBACK, MUSINGS...
and SPURIOUS EMISSIONS
From EM's Correspondent in the
Bahamas (re. the SPECIAL BULLETIN issued on 26 March):
"Thanks for the communication. Even
though it does not apply to us, it makes me feel like I'm "in
the loop". Thanks for EMCOMM MONTHLY
also. My home (dial up)email is back up, but my primary hard
drive has major problems and must be replaced. Expect to have
this fixed within two days. From 14 -18 of March I attended
and presented at the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency
Conference in Nassau (Bahamas). I was amazed that I was the
only amateur radio operator there, even though a conscious
effort was made to involve them in the national communications
network. All is well with Regina and me. I'm still working on
our house, a little at a time. Blessing and Peace be unto you.
-- S. A. Kennedy, Sr., C6ASK Abacos(Ref. November 2004 EM http://www.emcomm.org/em/november2004.htm )
COMMENT: Great to
hear from you Sarone! At least one ham aboard
your island cares about EmComm! And we are pleased to hear
that you are making progress towards getting your house rebuilt
after the hurricane damage last summer. - Editor
From EM's Correspondent in
"The Great Land:
"Great March issue of EMCOMM
Monthly! Particularly of interest was Mr. Martinez letter and
comments, and your rebuttal to same. I thought you did an
excellent job of it. I strongly believe as you do, that
serious EMCOMM operators ought to be skilled in
"communicating". And that certainly should include a
level of proficiency that would allow them to efficiently work a CW
"circuit" irregardless of whether it is via radio, Aldis
Lamp, heliograph, tooting an automobile horn, blowing a steam
whistle, tapping on another person's arm or any other method of
producing the "make-break" action necessary to transmit
and receive information in Morse Code. This proficiency is just
something that MUST BE. You never know when you might be put
in a position to have to use it if all else fails, and it takes
someone on each end of it to make it work. BOTH must be
proficient in the mode. Also was fascinated by the
"underground" emcomm idea....I'll have to play with that a
little....."
-- Ed "FB" Trump, AL7N, Alaska STM and
EM Correspondent, Fairbanks, Alaska
From EM's Correspondent in San
Francisco:
"I agree with a lot of what you say
about radiogram forms. It is, of course, necessary to follow
"client" rules and protocols when working for served
agencies, and ICS etc. is a blessing. Still, the ARRL forms are
easily available, nearly universal, and the skills developed with them
transfer to other message forms. The radiogram is a format, as
you say, and it is also a very valuable training device as well as an
effective relayed-message format. Getting a message into a
concise Who, What, Where, When, How text takes some training, and
the radiogram format helps. One of the first things Charley Hargrove,
N2NOV, (a NYC ARES DEC) did on September 12, 2001, when he could get
up on the internet, was to download the radiogram forms so we could
use them at Red Cross, and we did. I use them in San Francisco for all
drill traffic and recommend them to others. Radiogram format
translates to other formats and forms if need be, but not vice
versa, because all too often a message in a different format is
incomplete. A properly drafted and formatted radiogram, is
a format that has stood the test of time. As you said, from
the days of the landline telegraph. Sometimes in the stress and
challenge of an emergency or disaster response, many more advanced
modes of many technologies are unreliable, and older, time-tested
formats are what, in fact, work." -- 73 Bart Lee,
KV6LEE, Former ARES® EC Assistant Operations Officer for SF OES/ACS
San Francisco (city/county).
COMMENT: Nice to hear from you (again) Bart!
While a skilled traffic handler can easily convert just about
any message into standard RADIOGRAM format, this should only
be done with the originator's consent and only transmitted after
it has been initialed/signed by the originator. My
experience is that when an "official" sees a properly
drafted RADIOGRAM for the first time;
and has been asked to initial or sign it (read
"authorize" or "approve" it), as is required
for RACES messages and as is proper protocol for all
other formal message traffic); they are usually quite
impressed with the "professional" appearing 'gram!
(NOTE: Bart was in lower Manhattan NYC on Sept. 11, 2001,
just 1.5 miles North of ground zero when America suffered the
worst terrorist attack in its history. He witnessed the
collapse of EOC building, (WTC-7) at 17:22 Eastern Time. He
contacted the American Red Cross (on scene) the next day and spent
ten days working as their EmComm "night-shift
trick-chief" (old radioman parlance for supervisor) under Jay
Ferron, N4GAA, Director of Communications. -- EM
THE EM ADVISOR
"I believe that you mentioned on
one of your nets that you would take CW check-ins, and CW
traffic. Well the present generation of amateur radio
operators do not know how to check into a SSB net on CW.
While the operators on the SSB net may not have to do any
thing but copy the CW station, but the CW station must know
what (s)he is doing.
We know that the transmitter always
transmits on the frequency as set on the dial. CW, SSB,
AM, and FM the frequency will be what is displayed.
Receive is another issue, depending on the mode of the receiver,
the signals processed or received will be adjusted by the
receiver circuits. CW signals on the modern transceiver
will usually be offset by 750 to 800 Hz. This generates
the CW tone that you copy. The actual frequency being
RECEIVED has been shifted from the DIAL
frequency by the built-in offset when in the CW mode 750 to
800 Hz. (The dial frequency is still the frequency
you are receiving, it has just been
changed inside the receiver to generate an audible tone.)
To check into a SSB net in CW,
the operator must shift his transmitter frequency 800 Hz
so that a tone is generated in a SSB receiver. As an
example, if the SSB net frequency is 7232 kHz SSB (displayed),
in the CW mode your signal will be zero beat with the SSB
receiver and no CW tone will be heard. The NCS could
adjust the RIT control to copy the CW, but then he has
modified the dial setting and he will not longer copy the SSB
traffic. The Net control should never change his or her
zero beat or dial to some one off frequency. Calling
stations should tune to the net control station. If a
station can not get on frequency don't worry
about them as you will not have success communicating with them.
Using 7232 kHz as an example, here is
the proper way to check into a SSB net using CW:
Since 40M is LSB, subtract 800 Hz
offset from the frequency, in the CW mode dial your radio to
7231.200 kHz. Adjust the receiver RIT to the SSB NCS and
you are ready to go. Do not move the dial. (For a
upper sideband net add 800 Hz offset to the net frequency
for CW operation.)
This may seem complicated, but if you
work CW often, it is easy to do and you will always have a good
signal. Use this same process if you move off frequency
with a SSB station that does not have a CW key. You
will then be able to copy the SSB voice signal and (s)he
will copy your CW signal.
Remember: on LSB you subtract the
800 Hz, and on USB you must add 800 Hz to the dial
frequency to check into a SSB net." - Ed Ewell, K7DXV
COMMENT: Thanks
for bringing up this topic and also for your comments Ed.
While it is fairly rare, you are correct when you say that I
will accept a check-in via CW on an SSB net (as long as the
sending station sends slow enough for me to copy -- HI )
There are several valid reasons for this:
1 - The calling station may be someone who
needs help or has some traffic he/she needs to get into a net
circuit; and...
2 - The operator is unable to speak (e.g. - a stroke victim or
a laryngectomee) or maybe his/her mic is broken or not
available.
Or maybe the sending station is in a
situation where it is not advisable to speak aloud and has
some traffic and/or just wants to check in to the voice
net.
3 - Or it could be someone who only has CW available and is in
an emergency situation or has other traffic. There may
be other valid reasons.
Assuming the calling CW station has complied with the proper
protocol as you have so well stated, the net control station
has the option of either:
1 - Responding (in voice or CW).
2 - Asking a (known) Morse operator (already in the net)
to move to another frequency (ideally in the CW
sub-band) and handle the traffic.
(NCS would first need to determine that the
calling station has the capability of changing frequency.)
3 - Ignore the calling station. (As far as I am
concerned, this is NOT acceptable.)
As an NCS, I will usually remain on the net SSB frequency and
ask the calling station to identify again in Morse. I
usually acknowledge them in voice since it delays the net to
change mode. (The calling station is obviously
listening in voice or they wouldn't be checking in.) If
there is lengthy traffic the NCS should follow option number 2
(above). Except when operating on VHF FM I always keep
a Morse key connected to the rig I am using and QRV for
CW operation.
Further, while CW is legal in the voice sub-bands, I do
not think it is good practice to use A1A during a SSB net in
an attempt to impress or be "cute".
(However, I often DO use Morse to identify my
transmission(s) after adjusting an ATU
("tuner") with a carrier. -- Editor
(WATCH FOR: "TIPS FOR GOOD VOICE NET
OPERATIONS" in the May issue of EM.)
ICS
PERSPECTIVES - by Jerry Boyd, N7WR
This
month’s column will be brief, but it responds to a reader’s question
concerning what on-line courses are available to add to one’s
knowledge concerning the Incident Command System. As many know, the ARRL’s
on-line Emcomm courses do discuss ICS to some degree. However, they do not approach
the subject in an in-depth manner.
The easiest way to become ICS-fluent is to take one or more
(preferably more) of the courses available through the Emergency
Management Institute. A
listing of those courses may be found at http://training.fema.gov . Upon completion of the courses
you will be sent a certificate of completion and, if desired, you can
actually take the courses for continuing education credit if you are in
a business or profession where having those certifications is of value.
The specific ICS related courses available from
the aforementioned source are: IS
100 Introduction to ICS; IS 195 Basic Incident Command System; IS 200
Basic ICS for Federal Disaster Workers; IS 230 Principles of Emergency
Management (which is valuable in terms of providing a perspective of how
ICS works); IS 700 National Incident Management System (which is ICS
plus!); and IS 800 National Response Plan (which discusses how it all
fits together at the federal, state and local levels).
Most people find that they complete each course
in about 3 hours max. The
courses allow the student to come and go and work at his/her own pace. Good luck.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Read Jerry' Boyd's column in WorldRadio
magazine)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE "Making Good Operating Procedures A
Habit" -- Part I
VOICE
EMCOMM
Let's face
reality folks. When push comes to shove, and when the
chips are down, the majority of emergency communications will
be voice (radiotelephone). At least in the United States. 100
years ago it was all in Morse. Spark gap was the
mode-o-day...then later CW dominated. That was all there
was. If you weren't a Morse operator...you didn't
communicate. 50 years ago a reasonable guess might be that
it was 50% Morse and 50% AM 'phone. (some SSB maybe) and a
little FM.
It makes no
difference if your favorite mode is CW or digital, and that
voice is the least efficient, the reality is that most EmComm is
on voice...and will probably remain their for a long time.
CW, digital, and other modes are more effective in many
ways and still have their place, and can (and will) be used very
effectively to supplement voice communications...in
certain situations and for specific functions. However, the
reality remains...like it or not...voice is where we are at.
We all learned to speak
before we entered kindergarten. By the time we left grammar
school, most of us could read and write fairly well. By the
end of high school we all (should have at least) mastered basic
verbal and written language skills. (While some of us had
learned the Morse language by that time, many had not, and
struggled to learn it later in life. Many hams learned just
enough Morse to pass an exam...and unfortunately never or
rarely use it.) SSB and FM prevail.
In all public
service good communication skills are essential. But,
unfortunately what we hear on the bands...is (usually) NOT a
good example of effective communication skills. As
EMCOMM operators, we must NOT allow ourselves to become
mediocre (or worse) voice communicators. Sadly, many
operators emulate what they hear on the air and assume that what
they hear, by both newcomers and old timers, is proper.
NOT!
So how does a skilled
voice radio operator...operate?
A GOOD VOICE EMCOMM OPERATOR:
1. ALWAYS
makes sure that his/her transceiver is properly adjusted.
Mic gain level, on the proper frequency, not using excessive
power, etc.
2. ALWAYS
speaks clearly and succinctly...and not too fast.
3. Establishes
two-way contact and obtains for a signal report before starting a
transmission. (If you want a "radio check" take your
radio to a repair shop.)
4. Avoids
talking directly into a microphone. But rather
talks "across the mic".
7. Does not use ROGER
for "yes", "affirmative", or "I agree
with you" and does not say: "That's a big ROGER" or
some other similar slang term.
8. Says AFFIRMATIVE for
"yes" and does not use it in place of ROGER.
(They are not the same.)
9. Says NEGATIVE
for "no". "Nega-tory" is not in his
or her vocabulary.
10. Uses SAY AGAIN
when they need something repeated. "Repeat" or
"please repeat" may be confused with
"received"
11. Says the call sign of the station he/she
is turning the contact over to, followed by their
call sign, followed by OVER. (Same as K or
KN in Morse.)
12. Allows a one second pause
before transmitting. (If you wait too long...someone may
butt in and say something like: "it's been passed to
you.")
13. Keeps their
transmissions reasonably short.
14. Pays attention and practices
"TLC"...("To Listen Carefully").
15. Knows where (s)he is
located and knows how to effectively communicate that
location to another station.
16. Says: "Say your
location" or "What is your location?" Never:
"What's your QTH?", "What's your 10-20", or
(worse yet) "What's yer twenty?". (Note: Law
enforcement uses the "10 code" and their own phonetics.
Amateur, commercial, maritime, aeronautical and other
operators use ITU standard prowords.)
17. Stays in a net (and pays
attention) unless checked in and checked out.
18. Does not ask another
operator to "check me in" (to a net) unless he/she is in
radio contact with the relaying station during the net
period. Telephone, email,
Internet and
other landline circuit relays are not radio...and do not count.
Nor does: "Check me in to the net tonight. I'm going
bowling." This puts the other
operator on
the spot and is useless.
19. NEVER whistles, says
"hell - oh", or blows into a mic when transmitting.
(Use a dummy load instead.)
20. NEVER keys down on a frequency
that is in use to adjust an antenna matching unit, and NEVER fails
to identify when tuning up.
21. NEVER slurs his or her call
sign when identifying in voice.
22. NEVER "quick
keys." On 'phone allow a pause of 0.5 to 1.0 seconds
before PTT to let others break in, and then pause another 0.5
to 1.0 seconds before speaking. (To
avoid cutting off the first letters or word of your transmission.)
23. NEVER transmits using
excessive power.
24. ALWAYS identifies at the end
of each communication, and at least every ten minutes during a
communication. (Part 97.119)
25. ALWAYS remains courteous
and respectful of others on-the-air. (Even if the other
operator is "a world class lid".)
Here are a few transmissions that have
actually been monitored on-the-air...during EmComm nets:
(After "doubling" on a net control
station.): "Net? Is there a net on? What
time is it? What frequency am I on?"
(During a blizzard): "The Highway Patrol has
closed the Interstate. But I can tell you a way to get
around the road block." (This was told to a truck
driver who took the operator's advice. Later his
jack-knifed 18 wheeler blocked a secondary road for over 12
hours . Fortunately, no one was injured.)
"BREAK." (NCS): "Go
ahead". "Is the club breakfast this Saturday or
next?"
"W...as in...as in...as in...Juarez!"
"H...as in...José."
PLEASE DO NOT DO THESE AND OTHER STUPID
THINGS! (UNLESS YOU WANT TO DISPLAY YOUR IGNORANCE AND
LACK OF COURTESY!)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NETWORK NEWS
Schedules and updates on
regional, national, and international EMCOMM and TRAFFIC nets.
• REGIONAL CW 7111 kHz DAYTIME / 3711 kHz
NIGHTTIME
• ALASKA WATCH - 3540 / 7042 kHz / 14.050 MHz
• NEVADA ARES® MONITOR/CALLING SSB: 3965 ± kHz SSB
• NATIONAL RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK: 7068 / 10122 / 14050 kHz •
• WEST COAST NET (WCN) Slow Speed Traffic/Training Daily 1900
Pacific 3702 kHz
• IMRA TRAFFIC NET (INTERNATIONAL MISSION RADIO ASSOCIATION)
14.280 MHz USB M-F 1800Z (summer) 1900Z (winter)
• ARES® 146.55 MHz
• ARES®/Red Cross 147.42 MHz
• NATIONAL CALLING (and Wilderness Protocol) 146.52 MHz
• WILDERNESS PROTOCOL (ref. June 1996 QST, page 85).
Primary frequency: 146.52 MHz (FM simplex). Secondary frequencies:
446.0, 223.5, 52.525
and 1294.5 MHz. All stations (both fixed, portable or mobile)
monitor the primary (and
secondary if possible) frequency(s) every three hours starting at
7:00 am local time, for five
minutes (7:00-7:05 AM, 10:00-10:05 AM, etc.) Additionally,
stations that have sufficient
power resources monitor for five minutes starting at the top of
every hour, or continuously."
WINCOM NETWORK - 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 1930 Pacific Time
on 3987 kHz (down).
WINCOM is for EmComm stations in
Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon,
Montana and anywhere else within range. Scheduled nets are on
the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays
at 1930 Pacific Time on 3987 kHz
(down).
The WINCOM NETWORK may
be activated during disasters, communications system
failures, and other emergency incidents as a regional SSB
network for tactical and/or formal
EMCOMM traffic. WINCOM is not intended to replace local or
section ARES® or RACES nets,
but rather to supplement and provide regional support by skilled
operators who know each
other and work together on a regular basis.
EMCOMM stations are encouraged to monitor
and/or use these frequencies for routine
calling and for a RADIO WATCH during actual or potential incidents.
(During actual events
move message traffic at least 5 kHz up or down.)
Nighttime: 3987 kHz (down) 1982 kHz (down) alternate).
Daytime: 7232 kHz (up)
NOTE: These frequencies may be in use for other scheduled state or
regional nets.
Always yield for scheduled nets. E.g. - JNN is daily at 1200
Pacific on 7232 kHz SSB.
REGIONAL EMCOMM NET LIST AVAILABLE
EM maintains a
roster of REGIONAL EMCOMM NETS. These are active
ARES and other EMCOMM nets (RACES and club nets are not listed).
It lists VHF and HF local, district, state and regional
nets in Washington, California, Oregon, Nevada, and Alaska. For
a current copy of the list contact: k6soj@arrl.net
EMCOMM
TRAFFIC
“For want of a letter, a word was lost.
For want of a word, the message was lost.
For want of a message, a life was lost.”
THE “TRAFFIC HANDLER’S MANTRA”
(Recite to help remember the eight parts in preamble):
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority •
Traffic • Delayed”
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority •
Traffic • Delayed”
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority •
Traffic • Delayed”
(NUMBER-PRECEDENCE-HX-STATION OF ORIGIN-CHECK-PLACE OF
ORIGIN-TIME-DATE)
RETRO REVIEW - “EMCOMM
viewed through the Retrospect-O-Scope”
This goes along nicely wioth our
March Survey. (Results below)
THE “WELL EQUIPPED
AMATEUR STATION” (will have):
• A comfortable,
well-lighted, desk or table and a comfortable chair.
• Accurate battery clock(s). (Recommend two. One local
time, one UTC.)
• Wall calendar. REMINDER...the UTC/GMT/ZULU DATE is
TOMORROW from
0000 UTC until midnight your LOCAL time.
• A provision to ground your antennas and a
“switch-to-safety”
(power shut off) for electrical storms or other
emergencies.
• Back-up/emergency power source.
• Flashlight or other (electric) emergency light source
• Logbook(s), note books, QSL cards, etc.
• ARRL Repeater Directory, Operating Guide, local and
regional emergency
plan, antenna books, recent issues of QST, copy of
FCC “part 97”.
• Telephone list and telephone books.*
• Maps! Local, state, regional, world. Road,
political, topographic
forest service, BLM, aeronautical, nautical,
amateur radio zone,
historical...it is impossible to have too many!
• Current world postal guide, plus stamps, envelopes, address
labels.
• Recent World Almanac.
• Extra pens and pencils (+ sharpener).
• A safe place (where it won’t get spilled) for your cup,
mug, or plate.
• Weather monitoring gear. Outdoor thermometer, rain
gauge, wind direction indicator (a flag or wind sock will work),
anemometer, etc.
(Beaufort Scale is adequate) http://www.zetnet.co.uk/sigs/weather/Met_Codes/beaufort.htm)
• A small tool kit. (Include electrical tape and duct
tape.)
• Wallpaper. (Your FCC license, certificates, awards,
QSL cards,
snapshots, pennants, toys, miniatures, memorabilia,
and whatever else
is important to you.)
* All serious EMCOMM operators keep a
READY BOOK within easy reach! A 3-ring
"half-size" binder that accepts 5½ x 8½ paper works very
well. Index it as you like...but you’ll need a section
for EMERGENCY telephone numbers, with the names and addresses of
contact persons in FIRE, OES, SAR, Red Cross, and NWS. Have
sections with VHF and HF frequencies, NET schedules, severe WEATHER
reporting criteria, media contacts, plus addresses and LL numbers of
friends and commonly called businesses.
=========================================================================
QSH ! EM’s Quiz,
Survey, and [attempt at] Humor Section...
EM's MARCH SURVEY RESULTS
Of the loyal readers who
participated in EM's MARCH SURVEY, James
McDonnell, W2LTB, of Lexington, Kentucky was the
winner of the random drawing!
James is DEC for Kentucky Area 13
and is an ARRL Official Emergency Station. His primary station
is in his basement. James chose a black canvas 2 pocket
belt pouch with room for an HT and a spare battery as his prize.
Congratulations James! Your prize "is in the
mail!" Keep up the good work in the Bluegrass State.
Here is a breakdown of
how the 49 who responded answered the question: "Where
is your home base station located?"
Attic
0
Barn
0
Basement
8
Bedroom
6
Closet
0
Den
7
Garage
0
Kitchen
1
Porch
0
RV 0
Shed/outbuilding 0
Spare room 18
Tree house
0
Workshop
1
Other (describe) 8
"I drive OTR. My
main shack is the cab of my Freightliner." (KK7UE)
"Station is in my Truck, I have
an HF station in garage that can be connected to truck antenna.
I have a separate VHF/UHF antenna for the garage." (WB6AGR)
"My office, electronics lab,
and ham shack are all in one room. This allows me to do
everything I need without moving from room to room." (NØAX)
"Efficiency apartment (wasn't
sure if bedroom, den, or kitchen applied.)" ( N9ZWM)
"Dining/computer/multi-purpose
room." (K8IG)
"Operate from my vehicle parked in the yard. 1/2 wave
Dipole 40 Meters, 1/4 Vertical for 10, 15 & 20, plus mobile
antennas for 20 and 80." (KK7UN)
"Portable - moves from location
to location based on need." (KD7UIT)
"Living Room" (N6OFY)
• All entries
received by May 31, 2005 will be entered into a random
drawing. Three (3) winners will be drawn and announced in
the June issue of EM.
=======================================================================================================
EMCOMM
SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
“License Plate”:
-----------O-------------------------------------------------O----------
EMERGENCY
COMMUNICATIONS
-----------O-------------------------------------------------O-----------
• View this item at: http://www.emcomm.org/products/
• Raised BLACK letters on WHITE background
• Durable Metal
• 6” x 12” with usual holes for mounting
• Mount on vehicle
• Place on visor or in window
• Space to "customize" with your
county or city's name, or your call sign using one inch vinyl letters
(available at hardware stores)
• Use at fixed or field EMCOMM stations
• MADE IN U.S.A!
• $10.00 each or two for $18.00 [Postpaid to one address
includes all applicable taxes]
Send check or money order and shipping address to:
EMCOMM
P O Box 99
Macdoel, CA 96058
• Allow 2 weeks for delivery
TRAFFIC
HANDLERS SUPPLIES:
RADIOGRAM
RUBBER STAMP
• Use on plain paper
• Use on front of envelope
• 3/4” x 3” wood handle stamp
Order: WRGS - Wood handle (traditional) rubber stamp
$10.00 each postpaid
($8.00 if ordered with Message Service Cross stamp (below)
• Send check or money order to:
EMCOMM
P O Box 99
Macdoel, CA 96058
• Please allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery
"MESSAGE SERVICE
CROSS" RUBBER STAMP
• Makes the “record” part of record message
traffic handling easy and efficient.
• Use on any message form or on plain paper.
• A message received and forwarded should be stamped twice (L lower /
R lower).
• Check TOR (Time Received) or TOD (Time Delivered / Forwarded).
• Available in two styles:
Order: SIRS - Self inking
rubber stamp - $15.00 each postpaid.
Order: WHRS - Wood handle (traditional)
rubber stamp - $12.00 each postpaid.
• Order yours today!
• Specify style, quantity, and shipping address, and send check or
money order to:
EMCOMM
P O Box 99
Macdoel, CA 96058
• Please allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery
NEW SUBSCRIBERS
• Ed "Otto" Tune, KV7J, Carson City,
Nevada - MARS
• Jim Bremer, KK6MM, Redding, California
• Ray Long, KD7JHW, Tempe, Arizona - ARES®,
RACES, CERT, MCSO Comm Posse
• Dennis R. Wells, Sr., K1DRW, Coatesville, Pennsylvania
• Samuel Saladino, KK7UN, Medford, Oregon
• Jon Mosby, KF6RFQ, Menlo Park, California - ARES® AEC for Town of
Atherton
• Lloyd Halgunseth, WA6ZZJ, Prescott, Arizona - ARES® DEC and
Yavapai County RACES Officer
• Roger Armstrong, WD6EVT, Simi Valley, California - Ventura
County ARES®, RACES
• Lela Schneider, KD7UIT, Boise, Idaho - ARES®, RACES
• Raymond Loeper, N2RAD, Albany, New York - ARES®, RACES
• James McDonnell, W2LTB, Lexington, Kentucky - ARES®, (DEC
EM 13), CERT
• Stephen Long, K7SLL, Portland, Oregon - ARES®, RACES, HEART
RECENT
CONTRIBUTORS -...- Thank you for your support!
• Cas and Debbie Grys, KF6CUE/KG6GCQ
- Winnetka, California
• José Fernandez, KI4BIE - Port Orange,
Florida
• Ken Reynoldson, KE6WC - Gualala,
California
• Mickey Cox, K5MC - West Monroe, Louisiana
SOS - SUPPORT OUR
SUPPORTERS
When contacting these fine vendors... tell them EMCOMM
MONTHLY sent you!
Books, etc.
Jack (AC6FU) and Margaret (KE7AWA)
Ruckman, Owners
www.hamradiobooks.com
ac6fu@arrl.net
(775) 577-2639
P.O. Box 309
Silver Springs, NV 89429
(Amateur Radio Books, ARRL patches, decals and other supplies)
EmComm-Products LLC
Robin (N7GSU) and Kathy (KD7OTY)
Faulkner
www.emcomm-products.com/index.html
(775) 521-6153
(775) 307-7101 (Fax)
PO Box 383
703 Sixth Street
Fossil, OR 97830-0383
(Manufacturer of the RADS 9-11 Rapid Antenna Deployment System)
Q. R. Zed
Engraving
Gordon Yee, KI6UH
www.qrzed.8k.com
(415) 467-2235
P.O. Box 651
Brisbane, CA 94005
(Name badges, desk plates, signs, and more. Custom work.)
The Wireless Store
Manufacturer Distributor Niljon Antennas
Jerry Gosnell, Owner
1599 Faye Road
Akron, Ohio 44306-4115
(330) 701-9280 Toll free: 1 (877) 751-8125
http://www.niljon.com/
Authorized Dealer: WiFi-PLUS, Inc.
http://www.wifi-plus.com/
EMCOMM.ORG and EMCOMM MONTHLY
does not accept commercial "advertising". However,
we list commercial vendors who offer products specifically
of interest or value to EmComm and who make periodic
contributions. If you would like your company to be listed in SOS
- SUPPORT OUR SUPPORTERS send a brief mention of
your company and it's products (see examples above) and a donation
to: EMCOMM, P. O. Box 99 Macdoel, CA 96058 - If you have
further questions just ask.
ABOUT ADDRESS CHANGES: Every month a varying number of EM
are returned as "undeliverable addressee unknown" or
"rejected due to containing possible objectionable
material". Our very limited all-volunteer staff does
not have the time, energy, or desire to track down everyone who
changes their email address and forget to notify us. Also,
if a subscriber installs a "spam filter" or a
"parental control device" and neglects to tell the filter
it that it's "OK to let EM
pass through", we do not have time or patience to jump through secret
hoops, or solve puzzles, to allow us to send email to you.
If you change your email address be
sure to notify us at: k6soj@arrl.net ...
that is, if you want to continue to receive EM.
EMCOMM MONTHLY and EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN archives: www.emcomm.org/svares/archives/
SEARCH FEATURE AT
EMCOMM.ORG www.emcomm.org
EMCOMM MONTHLY and EMCOMM.ORG is private
(non-government) volunteer organization funded solely by donations from
EMCOMM operators who are concerned about preserving the ability of
amateur radio operators to be prepared to provide skilled, accurate
and efficient emergency communications during times of disaster or
other events where normal channels of communication may be interrupted
or overloaded. EMCOMM.ORG is advertisement and “pop up" free. If you
have benefited from our efforts, and would like to support this work
in a tangible way; you may do so by sending a check or money order
payable to: EMCOMM.
Mail to: EMCOMM, PO Box 99, Macdoel,
CA 96058. -- Your donation is an outright gift and is
NOT tax-deductible.
The opinions expressed by individual contributors
do not necessarily reflect the EM philosophy,
the editorial position of EM or its staff.
ARES® and Amateur
Radio Emergency Service® are registered service marks
of the
American Radio Relay League,
Inc. and are used by permission.
For permission to reproduce material in EMCOMM
MONTHLY
contact: D. W. Thorne at: k6soj@arrl.net or write:
EMCOMM MONTHLY, P.O. Box 99, Macdoel, CA 96058 U.S.A.
EMCOMM MONTHLY - Copyright (c) 2005 - All
rights reserved.
STAFF:
D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ - Editor and
Publisher
Bill Frazier, W7ARC - Associate Editor and Webmaster
Ed Trump, AL7N - Associate Editor and Alaska Correspondent
Jerry Boyd, N7WR - Associate Editor and ICS Advisor
John Moriarity, K6QQ - Associate Editor and Technical Advisor
Dave Nicholson, KB6PNT - Associate Editor and SAR Advisor
IN THE NEXT ISSUE
OF EMCOMM MONTHLY : (Due out May 4)
"TIPS FOR GOOD VOICE NET
OPERATIONS"
Plus...NEWS... FEATURES...
FEEDBACK.... QSH... and MORE!
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