----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dedicated to Emergency Communications by RADIO
EMCOMM MONTHLY
Official Journal of the World Radio Relay League
www.wrrl.org-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------VOL. 3 -- No. 4 ONLINE: www.emcomm.org/em/ September 2006
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TABLE OF CONTENTSThe EM PHILOSOPHYSHORT CIRCUITS - Brief itemsFEEDBACK, MUSINGS... and SPURIOUS EMISSIONS
The EM ADVISOR - "Q and A"WRRL WINDS - WRRL Member News
ICS PERSPECTIVES
TRAFFIC HANDLING -
THIRD PARTY TRAFFIC FROM UNTRAINED OPERATORS
NETWORK NEWS - "N.E.T.S."
EMCOMM WORKSHOP -
A NEW and IMPROVED Easy-to-make roll-up J-Pole Antenna
FEEDBACK ON: "A Simple and Easy 14v. EMERGENCY Power Supply"SHOW US YOUR SHACK - Updated
FEATURE SECTION
EMCOMM SPECIALTY ITEMS - Stuff for Sale
NEW SUBSCRIBERS and CONTRIBUTORS
SUPPORT OUR SUPPORTERS
REFERENCE and RESOURCE SECTIONThe EM PHILOSOPHY
Editor's note: Last month in The EM PHILOSOPHY we stirred things up a bit. (See FEEDBACK in this issue for more about this.) EM is not afraid to speak out about what is broken in Amateur Radio emcomm and we will continue to do so as long as necessary. But we also provide alternatives and suggestions about how to fix what is broken. As you read this month's column, we suggest that you perform a little self-examination. Then, if some (or all) of what we say applies to you and/or your emcomm unit, think in terms of making some improvements. As this issue "goes into cyber-space", the Eastern U. S. is being deluged by Tropical Storm Ernesto and Baja California is being pounded by Hurricane John. Are you prepared? And more so...is your unit trained, practiced and prepared to handle message traffic and function as an emergency communications TEAM?
"BY-PASSING THE POLITICS OF EMCOMM."
One year ago, the United States was experiencing the most catastrophic hurricane season in its history. This week the media has been full of "one year later" articles and TV programs. One line we hear over and over is: "We were without communications". One NBC DATELINE program focused on one of many hospitals in the New Orleans area where 120 patients, at least as many family members, and the medical, nursing and other staff were stranded without power, water, or... communications. It was 48 hours before any help whatsoever arrived. When the patients and staff were finally evacuated, they were then left to fend for themselves on a highway with thousands of other evacuees with no communications.
As I watched these programs, I kept thinking about how different it could had been if each one of these severely affected hospitals had had just one (1) TYPE 3 ARCT stationed aboard. (A Type 3 ARCT consists of two equipped radio operators skilled in message traffic handling.) Imagine if each one of these evacuation points had had just one (1) TYPE 3 ARCT. Imagine if there had been just one TYPE 1 ARCT operating in each ward or parish. I am not suggesting that the resident emcomm operators of New Orleans (or anywhere else in the impacted area) could have met the need. But ready and available teams could have been brought in by small boat, or air, to set up self-powered emcomm stations at strategic locations.
Another NBC report told about how vermin-infested rubbish still remains piled in heaps in New Orleans. Some officials seem to be paralyzed and are still pointing fingers at each other while waiting for someone else to take action. The report told about one housewife-mother, who finally got tired of waiting and organized hundreds of volunteers to work six to eight hours a day. Armed with rakes, shovels, garbage bags, and pick-up trucks, they have cleaned up hundreds of tons of rubbish and disposed of it. Guess what? No government bureaucrat authorized it...and no government grants were needed!
But WE are about EmComm. And emcomm is not complicated...nor should it be. ("The simpler...the better.") In the example described above, two operators (one day, one night), trained and practiced in message traffic handling, with an emergency light, a stack of paper and pens, and a battery powered transceiver, and part of a disciplined network, would have made a world of difference. In some places it did--as it did at the LSU Medical Center in New Orleans where Richard Webb, NF5B and his wife Kathleen, KCØHZU maintained an Amateur emcomm station (the only link to the outside world) for six days until they were evacuated from the flooded and darkened hospital. (Ref. QST Nov. 2005 page 46).
Has the Amateur service made any improvements in its ability to provide a viable emergency communications service to the public since Katrina?
In some pockets around the country: YES! Especially in the Gulf Coast states. Another positive result was announcing and implementing the WRRL (the idea of an international organization specializing in emergency communications had been in the works for some time.) The time had come to begin to by-pass the politics of emcomm.
But in much of the U.S., it appears to be "business as usual". There is no shortage of meetings, discussion and study groups, and more meetings. Many continue to spin their wheels in a quagmire of endless debates about who, or what agency, should be in charge. Or, fussing about which color vest is better, or which patch looks best on their cap, or which patches may or may NOT be displayed, or which acronym will fit on their name badge. Some are still trying to invent and promote a "new and improved" format to handle message traffic. We have heard several heated arguments over even more trivial matters. We heard about one fracas over whether to serve ham or turkey at an annual meeting. It escalated to the point where the group split into two factions. (Could these hams be turkeys?)
A disaster victim or emergency worker who needs to send a message (of any precedence), doesn't really care what the entrée was at your last banquet. Or whether your EC, DEC, SEC or other team leader is a man or a woman. They don't give a hoot about what county you live in or if the program at your last club meeting was about model airplanes or gardening or (God forbid)...message traffic handling. All they want to do is give their message to a counter person or a skilled traffic handler, and be reasonably sure that the message will get delivered. And if a reply is requested, that a reply will get back to them.
The POLITICS OF EMCOMM consumes a lot of time and energy that could be better utilized for planning and training, or Morse practice, or learning technical field skills and (of course) record message traffic handling. The first national emcomm organization was the AREC (which became the ARES®). Then RACES appeared. (RACES was never intended to be a separate "organization"). Then, MARS and SATURN and REACT and ACS and on and on. Every now and then, someone comes up with a new idea for another layer or organization to coordinate all the various emcomm factions. (That is what the ARES® was originally supposed to do. But that has long been abandoned in most quarters.) Others think that government agencies should manage emcomm, and others want to work only for their church, club, or employer. In all of these examples, the organization often becomes the focal point of interest and absorbs the majority of time and energy; and, the mission of a communications service to the public is lost and forgotten.
Radio Amateurs are not much different than the rest of society. Petty bickering, power struggles, and turf battles are far too common. Campaigning (for this, that, or the other title or office), voting, elections, with winners and losers, abound. What fun! For those who enjoy those activities: enjoy yourself.
But this is not what EM (and the WRRL) are about. Frankly, we don't have the time, nor are we interested, in committees, elections, and long debates as to how emcomm should or should not be done. Those procedures were all discussed, debated, decided and implemented many decades ago. HINT: they still work!EM and the WRRL were formed to promote the learning of, and the practicing of, the radio emcomm skills necessary to handle message traffic, while by-passing the politics of emcomm. Whether you choose to join WRRL or not really isn't the issue. (Of course, if you qualify, we'd love to have you.)
Remember: The ARCT resource typing system http://www.wrrl.org/arct_program/default.asp is available for any emcomm unit to adopt and use.
SUMMARY: The real issue is: When will Radio Amateurs (those who care) realize that our mission is to accept, relay and deliver third party traffic (both tactical and formal) accurately and as rapidly as possible from "Point A" (wherever that is) to "Point B" (wherever that is)? We believe that fulfilling Part 97.1 will only be accomplished when the politics of emcomm become secondary, and service to the public becomes primary. - EM
SHORT CIRCUITS• BEWARE OF PROFITEERS, PIRATES and PICKPOCKETSThey're everywhere...even in ham radio. We know of at least one instance where an individual is attempting to "cash in" on the ARCT resource-typing system. There are some major differences between this "registry" and the WRRL:
1. They charge a fee of $45.00 to register an ARCT. The WRRL does not charge a fee to register an ARCT.
2. While they have probably made enough changes in the ARCT resource-typing plan to avoid copyright infringement, a different ARCT resource typing system only muddies the water. The original plan was carefully developed, reviewed and tested over a two year period, and was introduced in QST in 2003 and 2004. It is now included in ARECC Level 3. We encourage ARES® units to implement the system. Standing Type I ARCTs are being formed/have been formed and are being registered by the WRRL. We consider the ARCT resource-typing system to be a gift to the American people, and it was always intended to remain in the non-commercial public domain.3. The ARCT resource-typing system that is currently in the approval process at FEMA is at: www.wrrl.org/arct_program/ and www.emcomm.org/ARCT/ - EM
• EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Due to interference to the 14050 kHz CW Traffic Watch Frequency for Alaska and to the Washington-Alaska relay circuit by foreign AM broadcasting, we will use 14055 kHz as an alternate frequency if we cannot work "thru" the QRM on 14050. If our signals are strong enough at both the Alaska and Washington or California ends of the circuit, we may still be able to use 14050, but if not, AL7N in Alaska will QSY to 14055 and will expect to contact K7BFL or other stations on the "south" end of the circuit there. K6KPH may not be able to QSY to 14055, but may be strong enough that we can work them "split" with KPH QSW on 14050 and AL7N QSW on 14055. This will be our plan until the foreign AM phone QRM ceases. - Ed "FB" Trump, AL7N, WRRL 6, ARRL STM, Alaska
• TRAFFIC HANDLER'S CHALLENGE NEWS
"The Traffic Handler's Challenge was a real brain teaser. I have been an amateur radio operator for 11 years and still get confused on some things, so taking this quiz was a real challenge. Keep up the good work." -- Charles Greeson, KG8ZK, AEC Spokane County ARES/RACES
TAKE THE "THC" AT: www.emcomm.org/thc/index.html
• RADIOGRAM MESSAGE TRAFFIC HANDLING DVD
The RADIOGRAM TRAINING DVD features D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, as the instructor. The session was taped live at the U.S.F.S. facility at Redding, CA on October 29, 2005 by Paul Peterson (K6PTT). As you watch it, you'll feel like you are actually in the classroom. DW begins with a review of the history of communications beyond the horizon, followed by a thorough explanation of the "whys and wherefores" of basic message handling. Essential information for all emcomm operators is presented in a palatable way. The video includes a brief overview of the ICS. Thanks to Robert Jackson (KB6YTD) of Weaverville, CA, the audio and video quality is good. Disclaimer: This is not your usual scripted, studio, well-rehearsed, and edited training video--it is raw and unedited and it includes flub-ups, bloopers, jokes, as well as unsolicited comments! There are a few "glitches" that could not be remedied; however, it is not necessary to adjust your player or TV when you encounter them, but rather just let the video run. Not rated. 155 minutes. $10.00 (includes postage and shipping) - $15.00 for two DVDs to same address. The DVD is copyrighted. Contact us for permission to copy for non-commercial use only. Send check payable to: EMCOMM, P.O. Box 99, Macdoel, CA 96058
DVD FEEDBACK:
"I would like permission to copy the Message Traffic Handling/Radiogram DVD for use in training programs conducted by our local amateur radio clubs. These clubs include the Black Hills ARC, the Northern Hills ARC, and the Hot Springs ARC, all located in western South Dakota." - Doug Aldrich, WØWSP, Secretary
Black Hills Amateur Radio Club and Northern Hills Amateur Radio Club.
Doug Aldrich, WØWSP: Permission is hereby granted per your request provided that you do not sell or trade the DVD copies or charge for viewing.
We would appreciate hearing how many copies are made and the approximate number of persons who view the DVD. Please mention this credit:
"Reproduced courtesy of EMCOMM MONTHLY and the WRRL". Thank you for asking. - EM
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FEEDBACK, MUSINGS... and SPURIOUS EMISSIONS
AMATEURS? OR PROFESSIONALS?Amateur: from the Latin amator (lover), i.e. one who does something solely for the love of it.Professional: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs.
Last month's EM PHILOSOPHY rubbed a few people the wrong way. Three of our readers took the time to write and let us know. One even demanded "a retraction and correction with statement of the FACTS".
The mission of EM is not to upset anyone, but rather to educate and inform Amateur Radio Operators who are serious about: "...the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications." - FCC Part 97.1a -- Part of this process is to "call it as we see it". We are not too timid to point out things that are askew, or bluntly...really fouled up! But we won't criticize without also providing a solution or an alternative. Often some of these are the old tried and true methods. As one wise old farmer once said: "All progress is change. But not all change is progress!"
Keep in mind that EM is not under any outside editorial thumb and we are free to publish what we feel is wrong as well as what is correct and proper. And our readers are free to judge us on our own merits. We don't expect that everyone will accept everything we say. All we ask is that you do your homework before you fire off a brick bat. Many of the questions, comments, and even the occasional nasty-gram is based on a lack of understanding or little or no research.
In reference to our comments about the ICS-213 office memo which is being advocated as a "new" radio message traffic format, one reader accused us of believing that, "we know better than the professionals and that they should all stand back and let us tell them how we want to do things."
We're not sure how our critic would define professional. A common definition is someone who earns a living at some particular skill or discipline. Although professional implies a greater degree of competence that an amateur might possess, it ain't necessarily true. Just because someone is being paid to do a job doesn't guarantee that the job will be done any better or faster. Many of the greatest artists, writers, inventors, explorers, athletes, humanitarians, and you name it, were never paid for their work.
But since "professional" gives credence to some skill, and assuming that professionals know more than amateurs, we ask the writer how many professional radio operators/traffic handlers has he consulted? Of course, professional traffic handlers (includes commercial land and maritime and U.S. Navy operators) are on the "endangered professional species" list, and it is now mostly up to Amateurs to keep those skills alive. The few that we know and have talked to, still maintain say that the universal STANDARDIZED RADIOGRAM format is the only means of rapid, accurate, long-distance communication that will work when the infrastructure goes "ka-put". Oh yes, EM is very fortunate to have two professional traffic handlers on its staff.
Another reader took issue with our comment regarding managers assigning skilled emcomm communicators to perform functions other than radio work. He also misinterpreted the comment as an attack upon the Red Cross.
EM has never published any negative comments about the American Red Cross or any of its programs. Our point was in reference to the poor utilization of the Amateur resource by some managers and a lack of understanding of the importance of Amateur Radio emergency communications. (This example happened in a county in my section.): During a wildfire incident, a local emergency manager told a DEC, "We won't be needing any emcomm operators, but come on out anyway and we'll find something for you to do. If you want to bring your handie talkies you can, but you won't be needing them."
Sorry, but that's not what we are about, and that is not what we have all trained so diligently for. (Well, at least most of us!) If some ham, as an individual, wants to volunteer in some capacity (other than emcomm) with the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, or whomever...that is their business. (And, yes, they might need their handie-talkies.) But, they must realize that once they are committed to some other task that is under a supervisor other than a communications leader, they are no longer available for assignment as an operator at an emcomm station.
EM is not a public forum for everyone to spout off about whatever they wish. There are numerous ham radio "soapbox" web sites that specialize in catering to that type of non-productive rhetoric. About all we can say that is positive about most of these "threads", is that they take a lot of garbage off of the airwaves.IN THE MEANTIME...we know we won't please everyone...but we will forge ahead with our mission of promoting simple, efficient, and accurate emergency and public service radio communications.Some critics have suggested that the ARCT resource typing matrix is lacking in that it does not specify or list a lot of equipment. An ARCT is not about what equipment should be used. It is about people. Trained and disciplined radio operators/traffic handlers working as a team. We believe that skilled emcomm operators will already know what gear to bring to accomplish a mission. If they need to be told what to bring...they probably won't be of much value. EM has a gear list (to pick and choose from) at: www.emcomm.org (Click on: Gear Check List)
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ON THE OTHER HAND...
"I'm way overdue in sending along my thanks for all the work you do promoting practical, efficient, EMCOMM. Your writings always keep me pumped up about preparedness, training, awareness, and sharing all this with others. It seems to me that many get into ham radio without a real purpose, and soon drop out. What better purpose can we have that to serve, putting our skills and equipment to use for the good of our communities and country in time of need? We all know that our next opportunity is just around the corner. We have no excuse for not being prepared. Again, thanks for motivating us all to "Be Prepared". -- Roger Armstrong, WD6EVT, WRRL 43.COMMENT: Thanks Roger. By the way was your father or perhaps an uncle named Jack?
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QRP?
"If you use a urine battery (NOCANDO CHRONICLES EPISODE III - August)...you would be QRP?" - Ward Silver, NØAX, Vashon, WA
COMMENT: Maybe QRPp? Or...Voice over IP?∙-∙-∙
QUANTUM LEAP?
"Your invention of the ARCT is a quantum leap forward into responsible and effective emergency communications support by qualified and dedicated amateur radio operators. It is admirable of you to have invented it, offered it to the powers that be and promoted it as you have done to date. I am a Tech (no code), but I am currently working to upgrade to General, I see that the better way to ensure the appropriate qualifications for emergency communicators using amateur radio bands would be the creation of a new FCC license class for EmComm operators. The qualifications for such a license would be a valid FCC amateur radio operators license and specified training such as NIMS, ICS, NOAA/NWS Severe Weather Spotter, Hazmat Awareness, etc. and background check. The FCC license would be the emergency communications ID card that professional emergency response organizations can validate our competency and readily accept us as a support resource for the emergency or incident. I would like to know what your thoughts are concerning my idea. I know that it has shades of the old RACES license process but it is different." - George Mosho, KB9TTW, WRRL 53, Joliet, IL
COMMENT: I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a new special FCC emcomm operators license class or federal ID card! Too many agencies with their own agendas, too much red-tape and too many "chiefs". Unfortunately, the trend for the last two or three decades has been towards reducing the requirements for the various Amateur Radio license classes. Getting the FCC to increase the requirements for a new emcomm (or any other) license class would probably be an exercise in futility. We contend that it's more productive to leave the mission of getting radio amateurs to improve their operating skills and capabilities to organizations in the private sector. Serious public service radio amateurs will want to learn the necessary extra skills, such as Morse at 13 -18 wpm, standardized message format, how to utilize simple technology and make-shift gear under emergency and adverse conditions...and they will do it voluntarily. - EM∙-∙-∙
THE EM ADVISOR
The staff of EMCOMM MONTHLY is happy to answer your questions to the best of our ability. Some are "FAQs" (Frequently Asked Questions) and others are of a specific nature. Each month we will answer questions that may have value to other emcomm radio operators. Technical questions are forwarded to our Technical Advisor, Ed Ewell, K7DXV. Questions about our ARCT program or ICS/NIMS are forwarded to Jerry Boyd, N7WR. Others may be forwarded to other staff members. Questions regarding EMCOMM in general are usually handled by D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ. Some will wind up on our FAQ page at: http://www.wrrl.org/faq.aspBefore submitting a question, we ask our readers to check the FAQ page first...your question may have been asked before. Also, please consider checking our site search page at: http://www.emcomm.org/search.htm to see if your question may have been previously addressed in EMCOMM MONTHLY. Thank you.Q: A friend forwarded me an article about some interoperability box which the federal government was throwing its support behind, but I can't seem to locate the article at the moment. According to this article, users could insert handheld radios from different services in this thing and it would act as a repeater using one's service HT as transmitter and another one as a receiver. This concerns me for numerous reasons:
1. How are your "Average Joe's" going to figure out the different wiring schemes for the speaker mics on these radios to get the box wired correctly to properly use all of the different configurations?
2. If they practice with it once a year or so, will all the different agencies be playing at the same time?
3. Do these folks know that they can't transmit on Amateur frequencies without a licensed control operator?
Has anybody at Emcomm Monthly seen one of these widgets and can comment on it? - Richard Webb, NF5B, WRRL 93, Eads, TN
A: Well...readers?
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"WRRL WINDS" (WRRL MEMBER NEWS)
∙ WRRL NETS - MONDAYS on 14.280± MHz USB 1940Z (SUMMER) 2040Z (WINTER)
∙ WRRL STATION MAP UPDATE
A map showing the approximate location of WRRL stations can be viewed at: http://www.wrrl.org/map/
∙ WRRL MEMBER'S PATCHES (view at: www.wrrl.org/supplies.asp ) are now in stock. One for $5, two for $8 or three for $10 (postpaid to one address). Make checks payable to WRRL. Recommended display is on left sleeve 3/4" below shoulder seam of shirt or jacket. Other acceptable placements for the patch are on a removable armband or on a black baseball style cap or black "mil-spec" beret.)∙ WRRL LOGO RUBBER STAMPA WRRL LOGO rubber stamp is now available. Use on envelopes, QSL cards, letters, etc. It is like our "globe logo" except it has www.wrrl.org below the globe.
View at: http://www.wrrl.org/supplies.asp Since they are fairly expensive, we are offering them at our cost. (However, you may include a little extra as a donation if you are feeling rich!). Order an Ideal® 400R, 1-5/8" diameter, self-inking stamp for $19.95 + 2.00 postage; or a knob handle wood stamp for $13.95 + $2.00 postage. Make checks payable to: WRRL. Send to: WRRL, P.O. Box 99, Macdoel, CA 96058. Allow about two weeks for delivery.
∙ WRRL MEMBER LISTS
Lists of WRRL members by number, state, and call sign are updated monthly and are posted on www.wrrl.org The two digit member numbers are gone. We only hope that by this time next year we are saying "the three digit numbers are gone"! Our goal? 600 WRRL STATIONS...and at least one fully capable TYPE I ARCT in each FEMA REGION in 2006.
∙ WRRL CALL SIGN: W7RRLW7RRL is issued to the World Radio Relay League. It is authorized for use during special nets, events and incidents.
WRRL: "BUILDING A POOL OF SKILLED AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNICATION TEAMS...ONE TEAM AT A TIME!"
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ICS PERSPECTIVES
By Jerry Boyd, N7WR, Associate Editor and ICS Advisor
I read with interest D.W. Thorne’s column in last month’s issue regarding the pros and cons of using hams for non-amateur communications and thought I would share a few thoughts on the subject. First of all, I agree that the skill level and capabilities which Amateurs should possess ought to go well beyond that required to depress the push to talk switch on a public safety radio. There are already too few Amateurs trained and available to provide the communications only Amateurs can provide. To reduce our numbers even further does not seem in the best interests of anyone.
Having said that, let me share a recent experience in my home county which identifies some issues which can arise when amateurs get pressed into public safety service. The political entity for which I work recently experienced a very large wild land fire. A government organization from the state level, which uses Amateurs to staff its mobile communications unit, sent that unit and a group of Amateurs into our county to provide technical support for a state fire agency. Those Amateurs arrived on scene, set up their comm. vehicle, and over a multi-day period used Amateur Radio to communicate with each other while in the process of setting up public safety communications systems for their “employer”. Nothing particularly wrong with that, but the following didn’t happen: #1. No effort was made to contact the local Emcomm structure even as a courtesy; #2. Using of a local, linked repeater system without even so much as a courtesy request for approval or any notification to the Amateur group that operates the system.
Now I agree that there is no requirement for either local notification or approval to use any “open” repeater system. However, had that group of Amateurs, being totally unfamiliar with the area, at least touched base with local Amateurs two positive things would have happened. One, there would not have been as many “ruffled feathers” and; two, they could have received some advice on which of the linked local repeaters would have provided the best coverage of the area involved in their effort. Not having made those contacts, they struggled to communicate until a “local” became aware of their needs and took the initiative to point them in the right direction.
The point? If you do elect to become involved in a mix of public safety/Amateur Radio Emcomm, take the time to at least make local Amateurs aware of operations in their area and take advantage of their expertise----it might make the task much easier.
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TRAFFIC HANDLING“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.”
HANDLING THIRD PARTY TRAFFIC FROM UNTRAINED OPERATORS
All that is really needed for any emcomm station to get a message delivered, whether tactical or formal, and no matter what precedence, is to be able to make contact with one (1) other station. VHF to HF, VHF to another VHF to the NCS, or a HF station, etc. Of course it takes an operator who actually knows how to communicate. This basic, but essential concept, is still lacking in most emcomm organizations.
Sooner or later, every emcomm operator will find themselves in a position where they need to handle a piece of third-party traffic from an operator that is unfamiliar with the proper procedures. It may be on voice or CW. You may be monitoring a calling or watch frequency, or just tuning across the band and hear a station asking for anyone to respond and accept a message. (Improperly formatted messages, received via a digital mode that must be relayed via CW or voice, can be VERY frustrating.)The calling station may be foreign or within your own country. Language differences and/or accents may make communication difficult. If you respond and make contact, here are a few tips that may be of value:1. If this happens during a net, it is better if the NCS asks for an operator (that can hear the calling station) to volunteer to move to another frequency and handle the traffic. REMEMBER: The station that is to RECEIVE the traffic is the one who picks the exact frequency and calls the station that has the traffic to send.2. You will need plenty of patience. An untrained operator may not use ITU phonetics and prowords (if on voice), or standard Q signals and prosigns (if on CW).3. If you decide to accept the traffic, avoid making any on-the-air criticism of their lack of knowledge and preparedness.4. Consider it to be a learning experience for them and a teaching experience for yourself.After you have established contact and both stations have identified and given their location:
1. Make sure that the other station's country is on the approved list for third party traffic. If it is an EMERGENCY message...do not waste time with this!2. Ask the calling operator the name, the complete address, and telephone number (if available) of the addressee. Be sure you get it correct.3. Have the sending operator say what the message is. You may have to help to compose/format it.
(This is no different from what a counter person does, except you are doing it over the air.)4. Obtain the signature (verbally), and if a reply is requested you must obtain the signer's address or other means of contact.THE PREAMBLE:1. In these situations YOU then become the originating station since you are the first station to format and transmit the message as a RADIOGRAM.2. Assign the message a number per your normal procedure.3. Assign the message a precedence.4. Assign handling instructions (HX) if appropriate.5. Your call sign (or the station where you are operating) is the station or origin.6. Complete the "word" count and fill in the check.7. Fill in time if appropriate. UTC (ZULU) is recommended. This is tricky because the time of origin (when you accepted the message), may be somewhat later than the time the message was actually originated. If the message has some time specific requirement, consider stating that clearly in the text.8. Fill in the date. UTC (ZULU) is recommended. It must match the time.Make sure that the message correctly states what is to be said. Read (or send) it all back if necessary. Again...you have assumed the role of a counter person.Finally, ask the other operator if there is anything else you can do to help and reassure him/her that you will forward the message. Consider, making a schedule in a day or two, in case a service message is needed.On phone you will hear all sorts of "phonetics". Some may be easy to understand...others may be confusing. Some "bo-jack phonetics" may be nearly standard (ITU) phonetics. (E.g. - "FOX" is commonly used in place of FOXTROT, but FOX is a "soft" sound that could is easily mistaken for GOLF.) Another common example is that KILOWATT is often used improperly for the proper: KILO. I once heard a ham say: "I don't have time to learn all these new phonetics!" Excuse me...the current ITU RADIOTELEPHONE PHONETICS were adopted as the INTERNATIONAL STANDARD in 1956! That's 50 years ago. How long should it take to learn twenty-six words? Refer:
http://www.emcomm.org/svares/training/itu_phonetics_10_30_2001.htm---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE “TRAFFIC HANDLER’S MANTRA” (Recite often 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
To help you to memorize the eight parts of the preamble, RECITE the "Traffic Handlers Mantra" often:
“No • Prepared • Ham • Should • Copy • Priority • Traffic • Delayed”
ASSESS your current traffic handling skill, take the "TRAFFIC HANDLER’S CHALLENGE" at: www.emcomm.org (main page)∙-∙-∙
NATIONAL EMCOMM TRAFFIC SERVICE (N.E.T.S.)
The NATIONAL EMCOMM TRAFFIC SERVICE uses designated watch and calling frequencies. Public service Amateur Radio Operators everywhere are invited to monitor these frequencies whenever possible. But when disasters or other incidents occur, emcomm operators are asked to warm up their radios and "light up" the NATIONAL EMCOMM TRAFFIC SERVICE..."24/7". Active operators know which bands are most likely to be "open" depending upon the time of day, season, etc.
During disasters and for other emergencies the frequencies are "open nets". When traffic becomes heavy they will become "command and control" frequencies with a net control station "triaging traffic" and directing stations with traffic to another (traffic) frequency. (At least 5 kHz away.) Proper net procedures are essential.
NETS does not maintain regular schedules and does not handle routine "make work" messages such as birthday greetings, "your license is about to expire", "book messages", etc.) NETS is intended to supplement and fortify other networks by providing a vehicle for EmComm operators to originate, relay and deliver legal radio message traffic (i.e. - "first class mail") of any precedence, at any time, from and to anyone and anywhere--especially during disasters or other crises. NETS stations will cooperate and use other networks that are known to be capable of accurately and efficiently handling RADIOGRAMS.
NATIONAL EMCOMM TRAFFIC SERVICE (NETS) WATCH • MONITOR • CALLING • TRAFFIC FREQUENCIES
All listed frequencies (except 60 meters) are nominal. Actual nets may be up or down as much as 20 kHz.
SSB:
• 1982 kHz (May be activated during incidents.)
• 3987 kHz (And down because most "RACES" activity is above 3.990.)
• 5332 kHz "Up" to other 60M channels as necessary. 50W maximum ERP. (Activated during actual incidents.)
• 7244 kHz (up)
• 14280 kHz (up)
• ALASKA ONLY: 5167.5 kHz (USB emergency traffic only)
CW:
• 1911 kHz (May be active during incidents.)
• 3711 kHz
• 7111 kHz
• 10119 kHz• 14050 kHz
• ALASKA - 3540/7042/14050 kHz
• GULF STATES (LA, MS, TX, AL) - 7111 kHz 1100Z-2300Z / 3711 kHz 2300Z-1100Z
(Times approximate depending on band conditions and changes in sunrise/sunset.)
VHF/UHF FM
• 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 (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.
NOTES:
1. "Up" or "down" should be in increments of 3-5 kHz SSB (except 60M); 1-2 kHz minimum CW.
2. If traffic is heavy, nearby frequencies should be designated by NCS at least 5 kHz away from NC.
3. 60 METER BAND (USB):
CH NOMINAL CARRIER
A 5332kHz 5330.5kHz
B 5348kHz 5346.5kHz
C 5368kHz 5366.5kHz
D 5373kHz 5371.5kHz
E 5405kHz 5403.5kHz (common US/UK)
Some of the frequencies listed may be on or near other established net frequencies.As a matter of operating courtesy always move up or down a few kHz to avoid QRM when a frequency is in use.
∙-∙-∙THE EMCOMM WORKSHOP
A "NEW and IMPROVED" Easy-to-make roll-up J-Pole Antenna
by Cris McBride, M.D., KB7QXQ, WRRL 23, Pinetop, AZ
Just what the good doctor ordered! Most "roll-up" J-Pole antennas are made using 300 Ohm "twin-lead". This prescription uses 450 Ohm ladder (window) line.
The plans are too long to include here, so we have created a page for the project complete with pictures at: www.emcomm.org/projects/jpole.htm(Cris is a retired Pediatrician, so this project should be easy for those who are in their second childhood! ;-)
READER'S FEEDBACK ON: "A Simple and Easy 14v. EMERGENCY Power Supply"In the July 2006 issue EM said: "Here is an IDEA...but we have not yet tried it. EM would like to hear from readers who may have experimented with this and had either good results or not-so-good results. We all know that many modern solid state transceivers are nominally rated at 12 volts DC. We also know that many require 13.8V for optional performance. We also know that many will "die" after a few minutes operation on a 12V battery that is not connected to a charging circuit.When 6V auto electrical systems were the standard, it was common to pop the hood on a 1950 Oldsmobile or Cadillac or Lincoln and see an 8V lead-acid battery.The extra 2 volts provided the extra "oomph" needed to turn over the big V-8 engines. In fact, auto lamp bulbs of that era were marked: "6-8V." Eight volt batteries are available (but may need to be special ordered. The idea is to (using a standard HD battery cable) connect an 8 v. battery in series with a comparable (in ampere hours) 6V battery, with a result being a long-lasting 14V emergency power source! (Of course one would need a 14VDC re-charging circuit...but that should be easy to find.EM would like to receive comments, either pro or con, on this idea."
FROM ALASKA:
I just reworked my station DC power source so as to give more operating time after a commercial power failure. What I did initially was parallel four 12 volt auto batteries onto a common "bus" positive and negative, and ran four No.4 AWG stranded copper cables about 25 feet from the garage "battery power board" to the radio desk, one pair of cables for positive and one pair for negative. Doubling the cables reduces the IR drop when the transmitter is pulling heavy current. Depending on how healthy the four second-hand batteries I used are, I should have considerably longer operating time available than I had with just one battery. Later tests will hopefully prove this out. I installed 20 amp fuses in each connection from the radio room near at the battery bus, so as to protect all the wiring in case of a short anywhere in the system. A regular automotive charger is keeping the batteries at full charge, and supplying the three or four ampere load current the radio equipment presents in the "key up" receiving mode. A "smart" charger is planned to replace this basic "dumb" one soon.
It should be noted that modern "twelve volt" amateur gear will usually not function well (and maybe not at all) when the battery supply voltage reaches a point a little below 12 volts at the DC INPUT terminals of the radio equipment. One thing that is often overlooked in typical "ham shack" DC power systems is the fact that a 12 volt lead-acid battery is only going to provide about 12.5 volts AT THE BATTERY TERMINALS even when fully charged, when no "float charge" current is applied from a charging circuit. The radio equipment will always "see" somewhat less than that, especially when transmitting, due to the IR losses in the connecting cables,
particularly if the cables are long and of insufficient size to carry the required DC current to the load without excessive voltage drop. If you lose even one volt in each lead to and from the battery to the radio, you are only going to get a little over ten volts to the radio...this probably will be very marginal. And that is only when the battery is fully charged, which goes downhill quickly under high current draw.
Very large wire must be used to reduce this voltage drop if any appreciable current is drawn by the equipment. A 100 watt class transceiver will pull around 20-25 amps from a 13.8 volt DC supply when transmitting. Wire sizes of No. 4 or No. 2 AWG or maybe even larger are thus required for runs longer than just a few feet, if the voltage supplied to the radio equipment is to be kept within proper operating range.
What is needed is a couple "extra" volts from the battery itself. Six and eight volt storage batteries could be connected in series to provide nominal 14 volts battery terminal voltage and overcome the IR loss problem. However, six and eight volt lead-acid batteries are not all that commonly available anymore. Most likely,
they would have to be specially ordered (read "expensive"), and such batteries certainly would not be easy to find under emergency situations where DC power may have to be supplied in a hurry. "14 volt" chargers are also not common, although a variable output high current capable DC supply could be pressed into service as one in a pinch.
Perhaps it would be easier to "tap" a normal six-cell "12 volt" auto battery between cells, and get a two volt "extra cell" to put in series with a second 12 volt battery and do the same thing. It might be possible to drill into the top of the battery case and tap a connecting bolt or stud into the inter-cell strap between two cells. A second-hand battery that has a "dead" cell or two in it that makes it unusable for "normal" automotive or marine purposes might be utilized in this manner, if the other cells are still okay.
I haven't tried this, but might do so and see how it works. The charging circuit is still going to have to be worked out, but shouldn't present too much of a problem. It will have to be capable of supplying whatever load is normally presented by the radio equipment under "key up" conditions, and a small additional amount of "float" charging current for the battery cells, probably not more than a few amperes normally. The battery itself will supply the heavy intermittent current load for transmitting, and the charger can recover the battery if the transmitting duty cycle is kept reasonable (CW or SSB).
What to do with the other "unused" cells in the "tapped" battery??? You could use them as a four or five cell (eight or ten volt) source to run lights or something like that which isn't fussy about battery polarity. You could ground the "TAP", have positive 14 volts for the radio equipment, and negative ten volts
for the light circuit with respect to ground. Use 12 volt lamps and they'd last forever on 10 volts, being only a little dimmer than normal.
If the two 12 volt batteries were connected in series for 24 volts (assuming all cells are "good"), they could be charged as a 24 volt system (fairly common) with the charger "floating" and feeding the ends of the 24 volt 12 cell string, with the "ground" on the "tap" in between the first and second cell away from the "center" connection between the two 12 volt batteries.
The only problem with this approach is the fact that you still only have the Ampere-hour capacity of "one" battery available. In this respect, it may be inferior to a system that just uses several 12 volt auto or marine batteries in parallel for added capacity.
Ideally, a DC "battery plant" would be made up of identical larger high A-h two-volt cells connected seven in a string for 14 volts with plenty of capacity. Such battery cells are made, but normally are intended for telephone Central Office plant use and are too large and expensive for the average amateur to obtain.
-- Ed "FB" Trump, AL7N, Fairbanks, Alaska
COMMENT: Thanks Ed for some excellent ideas and "food for thought". Way back when I was building "street hot rods" we often installed a 12V battery, generator and starter...and maybe the headlamps. The rest of the "rod" (AM radio, tail, brake, running, dome and dash lights, etc. were not changed, and remained as 6V. Using a voltmeter, a puncture was made into the lead bar-link on the top of the 12V battery, a small hole was drilled and tapped and a screw was installed for a 6V "tap".
FROM CANADA:
As a radio technician, communications technician and a vehicle mechanic, I have had some experience with the use of the 14 volt P/S. We had one in our main repeater site VE6PRR and it worked well for some time until the batteries gave out. The charger was home-made and the unmarked batteries were replaced with standard 12 volt ones. The result was over-charged and ruined batteries.In normal use, 14 volts from a battery won't hurt. But if they are just off the charger and have a float charge, or the charger is attached, the charging voltage will be 16-16.5 or more volts. Most radios now use 16 volt electrolytic capacitors so you will be stretching the limit on them and risking blowing them and ruining the radio (the electrolyte in them is corrosive).My advice: stick to 12 volt systems, turn the power down and don't over tax your radio, it will last longer. A 30 watt radio at 20 watts will still be able to put out 30 watts but a radio used at full power will deteriorate over a period of time and not be able to put out 30 watts. I have had experience with UHF 30 watt radios set for maximum O/P of 30 watts not being able to put out 25 watts after 2 years of service. After 5 years, they rarely put out 20 watts--most of the time they were 15-19 watts with a few as low as 10-12 watts. -- Forbes Purcell, VE6FMP, Grimshaw, ABCOMMENT: Thanks, Forbes, for the cautionary advice. I keep an small, inexpensive voltmeter wired into all of my power supply circuits. (I prefer analog since it is easy to notice at a glance if the needle is not where it should be.) I do this on AC circuits as well. (Especially when using a generator.)∙-∙-∙
QSH -- (I HAVE HUMOR FOR YOUR STATION)
EM’s Quiz, Survey, and [attempt at] Humor Section...
FREE Bar-B-Que - Just in time for Labor Day Cookouts!
www.emcomm.org/nostalgia/humor/bbq.htm
∙-∙-∙
"SHOW US YOUR SHACK" - (updated)
• Send a picture of you AND your shack (all in one frame and in JPG or JPEG format) to: k6soj@wrrl.orgOUR FEATURES SECTION IS ON VACATION.NEXT MONTH: "The Chronicles of Nocandoo" - Episode IV
=================================================================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 HANDLER'S 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• View this item (in use) at: http://www.emcomm.org/products/
"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• View this item (in use) at: http://www.emcomm.org/products/=====================================================================NEW SUBSCRIBERS
• CW Espey, KB4AAC, Marianna, FL - ARES®, SATERN, MARS, NREN
• Jim Russell, NQ5L, Leander, TX - ARES• Troy McCabe, N3YMA, Salisbury, MD• Charles A. Greeson, KG8ZK, Otis Orchards, WA , Spokane County ARES®AEC, RACES• Snyder County Emergency Services, W3SNY, Selinsgrove, PA - RACES, ARES® ESF-2• Steve Bartz, KCØBHS, Red Wing, MN - ARES®, RACES• James Adkins, KE5ENB, Deer Park, TX - ARES®, RACES
• Rob Hooper, KI4NCT, Arlington, TN - ARES®, Local Emergency Planning Committee• Paul Roberts, K5HHM, Jersey Village (Houston), TX - ARES®, RACES• Dean Grapentine, KC8ZIH, Youngstown, OH - FEMA, ARES®, CERT• Joseph Consolo, KD7QDL, Reno, NV - ARES®, SKYWARN, RED CROSS COMMUNICATIONS, SATERN
• David Bentz, KD6KPW, Placerville, CA. - ARES®• Kurt Warner, KA7ZDD, Milwaukie, OR - ARES® AEC• Michael C. Vasiliades, KE7FEH, Tempe, AZ - ARES®, SKYWARN• Art Fregeau, K1WMQ, North Haven, CT - ARES® DEC Area 2 (South Central, CT)
• Linda Ganske, K6NTZ, Mead, WA - ARES®, SATERN• William Aber, N2JAI, Green Creek, NJ - Ret. Comm. Officer Cape May County, Current SKYWARN COORDINATOR• Bill Taylor, W4BPT, Dunbar,WV - ARES®, Storm Spotter WV• Richard Lea, NZ5S, Shreveport, LA - ARES® Coordinator, RACES RRT
• George Fisher, W4OF, Bluefield, VA - ARES® AEC Mercer County• Scott Hernandez, KD5PCK, Mandeville, LA - ARES®• Michael Albers, KØFJ, Colby, KS - ARES® EC Thomas County, RACES Officer KS OES, SKYWARN Coordinator NW KS• Joe Gadus, KD5KTX, Porter, TX -ARES®, RACES (pending)• John Beinhauer, W7BND, Medford, OR - MARS• Mark Wintersole, WB5NMZ, Montgomery, AL - ARES®, SKYWARN, Red Cross, RACES• David Moore, N5ELI, Poplarville, MS - Pearl River County EMA• Lyle L. Lockhart, KD7SXQ, Johnson City, TN - ARES®• James Tovet, KA1EUI, Holbrook, MA• Morgan Hall, KG6IMK, Placerville, CA - ARES® AEC
RECENT CONTRIBUTORS - Thank you for your support!(The individuals listed below have made recent donations to help EMCOMM MONTHLY and EMCOMM.ORG survive.)
• Robert Miller, WA6MTY, Reno, Nevada
••••
SOS - SUPPORT OUR SUPPORTERS
When contacting these fine vendors... tell them EMCOMM MONTHLY sent you!
Auxiliary Emergency Radio Organization (AERO)
Contact: Dave Gomberg, NE5EE, San Francisco.
www.wcf.com/aero/funAnderson PowerPoles®, headsets, books, other items.
Proceeds go to support AERO.
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)DC POWER, LLCwww.dcpwr.com
Wes (K7WWG) and Debbi Allen
(503) 531 4081
665 SW 167th Ave.
Beaverton, OR 97006
(Anderson Power Pole® Connectors and Accessories)EmComm-Products LLC
Robin (N7GSU) and Kathy (KD7OTY) Faulkner
http://www.emcomm-products.com/index.htm
(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)RDTechnologyRobert D. Miller, WA6MTYbobmiller@gbis.com
(775) 843-59523895 Corsair St., Suite E
Reno, NV 89502
(Dual Radio Sound Card Interface)EMCOMM.ORG and EMCOMM MONTHLY are free of paid commercial advertising and "pop-ups". However, we list 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 its products (see examples above) and a donation to: EMCOMM, P. O. Box 99, Macdoel, CA 96058. If you have further questions just ask.
REFERENCE and RESOURCE SECTION
• ICS-ARCT GUIDE: www.emcomm.org/ARCT/
• TRAFFIC HANDLER’S CHALLENGE: www.emcomm.org (click bar on main page).
• TRAINING ARCHIVES: www.emcomm.org/svares/training/
• PHONETICS: www.emcomm.org/svares/training/itu_phonetics_10_30_2001.htm
• ICAO RADIOTELEPHONE PROCEDURES: www.emcomm.org/svares/training/icao_procedure.htm
• NVIS PROPAGATION MAPS: http://www.w0ipl.net/ECom/NVIS/NVISprop.htm
• COLORADO ARES® TRAINING RESOURCES: http://www.w0ipl.net/aresco/• GEAR AND EQUIPMENT LIST: www.emcomm.org (Click on GEAR LIST)• FEMA TRAINING COURSES: http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/crslist.asp
• FEMA TRAINING COURSE IS-700 (NIMS): http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/is700.asp
• ARRL FSD-218. The famous “pink card” that contains (almost) “everything you ever needed to know about RADIOGRAMS”.
An electronic version of FSD-218 is at: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/#fsd-218
• NTS page by W7ARC: http://www.w7arc.com/nts/
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM (NTS) Methods and Practices Guidelines: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/nts-mpg/
• PACIFIC AREA TRAFFIC NETS: http://home.earthlink.net/~k7bfl/nwnets.html
• NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SKYWARN www.emcomm.org (click on NWS or links) or
Contact your EC or local SKYWARN coordinator for local net information.
• BEAUFORT WINDSPEED SCALE: http://www.zetnet.co.uk/sigs/weather/Met_Codes/beaufort.htm
• STANDARD TIME ZONE SCALE: http://www.travel.com.hk/region/timezone.htm
• HOSPITAL DISASTER SUPPORT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (HDSCS): http://members.aol.com/emcom4hosp/
• AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANUAL Chapter 6 - GROUND-TO-AIR EMERGENCY CODE and GROUND-TO-AIR (close-in) VISUAL SIGNALShttp://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/AIM/Chap6/aim0602.html
• U. S. AIR FORCE Search and Rescue SURVIVAL MANUAL MIRROR SIGNALING (AFM 64-5 Aug. 1969)
http://www.emcomm.org/drawings/Mirror_Signaling_mid.jpg
SUBSCRIBE TO EMCOMM MONTHLY www.emcomm.org/subscription.htm
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 forgets 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@wrrl.org ... that is, if you want to continue to receive EM.EMCOMM MONTHLY is originated in: 10, 12, 14, and 18 point Arial font and transmitted in HTML format. Occasionally selected portions are set up in the: Lucida Console font. HOWEVER...we have received a few reports that on some computer screens...EM appears unformatted in Plain Text or FUBAR. ("Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition.") If this happens to you, you can always view EM, as it is intended to appear, at: www.emcomm/org/em
Upon request EMCOMM MONTHLY will be transmitted in plain text format to visually impaired subscribers who use an email-to-audio conversion program, and/or other subscribers whose computers do not process email in HTML format.EMCOMM MONTHLY and EMCOMM.ORG are private (non-government) volunteer organizations 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 theARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio, Inc. and are used with permission.
For permission to reproduce material in EMCOMM MONTHLY
contact: D. W. Thorne at: k6soj@wrrl.org or write:
EMCOMM MONTHLY, P.O. Box 99, Macdoel, CA 96058 U.S.A.EM STAFF:
D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ - Editor and Publisher - k6soj@wrrl.org
Jerry Boyd, N7WR - Associate Editor and ICS Advisor - n7wr@wrrl.orgBill Frazier, W7ARC - Associate Editor and Webmaster - w7arc@wrrl.org
Ed Ewell, K7DXV - Technical Advisor - k7dxv@wrrl.org
Ed Trump, AL7N - Traffic Editor and Alaska Correspondent - al7n@wrrl.org
Dave Nicholson, KB6PNT - SAR Advisor - kb6pnt@wrrl.org
COMING IN THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF EMCOMM MONTHLY:
• MORE: "Chronicles of Nocandoo"
• PLUS...NEWS... FEATURES... FEEDBACK.... QSH... and MORE!
IN THE WORKS:
• DXers and EMCOMM• PROPAGATION and EMCOMM
• The FIELD OPERATION DISASTER PORTABLE STATIONEMCOMM MONTHLY -- The Official Journal of the World Radio Relay League - WRRL®Copyright (c) 2006 - All rights reserved.∙-∙-
