HAM’S LIFE

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You also can call them at 1(888)298-1888 but be sure to tell them agent 355010 sent you so Ham’s Life can get the credit.   11

On February 28, 2009 from 0800 to 1300 EST amateur radio operators participated in a simulated emergency event called Virginia’s Operation Deep Freeze.  The event simulated a 28 mile section of highway I-77 being closed due to winter storm and heavy snow trapping motorist on that section of road.

Several amateur radio operators did an exceptional job of helping authorities study a potential distress situation.  These hams are to be commended for their willingness to help.  Complete information can be learned at: http://www.w4ghs.org/Deep_Freeze.html .

It should be noted that the value of ham radio in emergency operation is still prized by those who have to risk their lives doing life saving activities.  Participating in such simulations helps sharpen our ability to be ready when the real emergency happens.  It also shows the public and the authorities our willingness and ability to participate when lives are in danger. 

I got an email today from Sacramento Valley Section Manager of the ARRL, Ron W6JK,  just one day after publishing my blurb about becoming active in the community. 

The email reads as follows:

“The clubs and members of the ARRL have been asked by the FCC to aid in education efforts regarding the transition to digital television
broadcasting and information on installing converters where they are
needed. The clubs may develop and implement their own plans to serve by
providing information and help in their communities in the ways they
think best fits their situation, but are not to make ‘house calls’ or
do actual installations.
Beginning early January, FCC staff will use the volunteer contact
list information provided by the SMs to contact leaders of these
volunteering clubs and, where possible, arrange to meet at mutually
convenient times and locations for sharing information, A/V and printed
materials and training aids in this effort.
This looks like a low risk, high reward challenge for Amateur Radio.
Please consider this project for your club or as an individual effort
for the good of your community. As I get more details, I will forward
them to you. Also, please let me know as soon as you can if you want to
participate.”

This is an activity that hams should be jumping on like a duck on a June bug. 

For more information go to:  www.arrl.org/sections/?sect=SV

Ham radio is not an inalienable right!  The privileges of ham radio have been suspended in United States of America during war and those privileges can be permanently taken away in the future if we do not continue to prove our value.  Part 97.1 of the Federal Communications Commission describes the basis and purpose of Amateur Radio within its jurisdiction (USA).  Other countries would most likely have a similar statement in their Amateur Radio service rules and regulations. 

FCC 97.1 tells us that (I summaries) the purposes amateur radio is to provide noncommercial communications, particularly emergency communications. To advance radio art, advance skills in communications and technical phases of radio, provide an existing reservoir of trained radio operators, technicians, and electronics experts, and to enhance international goodwill.  Though personal enjoyment is not prohibited it is not included in the purpose.

In times past it was fairly easy to prove the importance of ham radio to society but today with cell phones, advanced electronics, and internet service it is harder for non-hams to see the importance.  Politicians are fed by the public so it is the public that must be convinced that we provide an important service to society.  We know the value of our service but how can we show the public our importance?

To prove our importance to the public we must be in front of the public doing what we do best, communicating.  One of the best ways of doing this is by finding local activities that can be enhanced by our presence.  Parades provide an excellent chance to do this by helping keep all the groups coordinated through ham radio.  Many other communities can also provide opportunity such as bike rides, trail hikes, street fairs, and any other activity where there may be the need of medical help, break down assistance, or coordination between people located in different areas of the activity. 

Such activities not only helps us to be in the public eye but it also enhances our abilities and hone our skills so when the real emergency comes we ill be ready.  Remember ham radio is sometimes the only communication system that remains viable [the word system is not totally accurate because ham radio is not technically a system and that is why it remains viable].  It is when we provide reliable communications during an emergency that we really shine and people see our value and we can only provide reliable communications during the stress and confusion of an emergency if we practice during nonemergency times.

On October 20, 2008 the ARRL petitioned the FCC to modify or cancel the authorization it gave Digital Aurora Radio Technologies (DART) to operate on the frequencies of 7.10 to 7.60 MHz with its experimental station WE2XRH.

DART requested the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) grant them a two year authorization to transmit on the 5, 7, and 9 MHz shortwave bands using Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), a digital technology that can give near FM broadcast quality on bands below 30 MHz.  The transmitter to be used has an output power of 100 KW and with the gain antenna system the Effective Radiated Power (ERP) adds up to 660 KW to be operated within a 1500 KM (937.5 Miles) radius of Delta Junction, Alaska.  The request was honored by the FCC and they were allocated the frequency bands of 4.4 to 5.1 MHz, 7.1 to 7.6 MHz, and 9.25 to 9.95 MHz.

7.10 to 7.6 MHz includes 200 KHz of the 40 meter amateur radio band.  The DART DRM transmission is 20 KHz wide.  The interference potential to the 40 meter amateur radio band is obvious thus prompting the quick action by the ARRL to petition the FCC.  

On October 24, 2008, just 4 days after the ARRL submitted the petition, the FCC acted and modify DART’s 7 MHz band to 7.3 to 7.6 MHz.  This would amount to an extremely fast response to the petition if indeed it was a response to the petition.  The word is that the FCC caught the clerical error, made the change and the ARRL petition had nothing to do with their action.  The accuracy that it was an error correction may possible be indicated by the 4.4 to 5.1 MHz band change which had nothing to do with the ARRL petition.  The new frequency band is 4.5 to 5.1 MHz. 

There are some who say the petition was a moot point to begin with because DART has stated they will not transmit on any amateur radio frequency. 

There does not need to be any finger pointing or criticism given for the actions of any the three parties.

The ARRL is to be commended for their quick and decisive action.  If a wait and see attitude had been taken it could have created more difficulty for all concerned.  The action also set a precedence that could help prevent future encroachments on our bands by some who may not have a friendly attitude towards ham radio. 

The FCC deserves our appreciation for their quick action no matter what the reason is for their action. 

Finally DART should also be thanked for their attitude and promise not to interfere with amateur radio communications by not operating in any ham band.  Hopefully DART will not take the petition as an insult but will recognize it as just good stewardship of the frequencies we have been allocated.  There is a saying, “good fences make good neighbors” and in this case the fence between the 40 meter ham band and the 7 MHz DART band has a very good fence by not having any overlapping frequencies.

Hopefully DART will have great success in their endeavor to improve the quality of broadcast radio and to provide a reliable state wide broadcast communication system for the state of Alaska. 

Another way Amateur Radio Operators serve the community is by acting as a link between the National Weather Service and local communities in the United States of America.  These weather spotters take a position near an anticipated storm and report on wind gusts, hail size, rainfall, and cloud formations all of which could signal a developing tornado.  These operators also receive and distribute information from the National Weather Service.  The system is called SKYWARN™ and was developed early in the 1970s.

Each year sense 1999 a special day has been set aside to recognize the efforts and contributions of these volunteer amateur radio operators.  During this day participating operators will visit National Weather Service offices so they can make contact with other ham operators around the world. 

This year’s annual SKYWARN™  Recognition Day will be on Saturday December 6 starting at 0000 UTC and continuing for a full 24 hours.  More information can be found at http://hamradio.noaa.gov/ and http://www.crh.noaa.gov/hamradio/participating_offices.php . 

Certainly these operators deserve our support, respect, and thanks for their efforts.

On the Technician class test there is a question which says, “What is the purpose of a fuse in an electrical circuit?” and the answer is, “To interrupt power in case of overload.”  In the Gordon West Technician Class Q And A book it says, in the added notes, “Place the fuse as close to the battery as possible.” (Page 162).  That is good advice because if for any reason the positive wire’s insulation is damaged and the wire touches the chassis or engine (a hot manifold is a frequent cause of this problem) then it will blow the fuse if it is close to the battery but not if it is between the radio and the short. 

On that same page it shows a schematic of an installation and it shows a fuse in the negative line.  Many hams think that is unnecessary because you will not cause a short if the negative wire touches the metal of the vehicle.  So why place a fuse in this line?

The diagram shows the negative wire going straight back to the negative terminal of the battery.  What I am about to say I have personally seen happen more then once so it is not hypothetical.  If the battery cable develops resistance between the cable and the body of the vehicle by rust or corrosion or the wire itself corrodes to the point that it is not a good conductor this type of installation can cause problems. 

When the engine is being started a lot of current is being drawn from the battery and the wiring to the mobile radio is not designed to handle any where that much current.  Simple Ohm’s law will tell you that the maximum current will flow through the path of least resistance and if that path happens to be through the negative wire of the radio to the negative terminal of the battery then that is the where the most current will flow.  Frequently the unit is not grounded well at the mounting bracket but the shield side of the coax makes a good ground by the antenna mount.  In that case the current for the starter will attempt to flow through the coax shield to the coax connector on the radio then on to the negative wire to the battery. If that wire is not fused the coax shield will smoke. If the radio is grounded at the mount the negative wire to the battery is not big enough to handle the load and it will smoke.  Either way there is a fire danger. 

Personally I do not recommend this type of hookup.  If you do this and the fuse blows you may not know it is blown because the radio finds sufficient contact between the mounting bracket and/or the antenna ground to continue to operate.  The resistance between the battery and the vehicle chassis does not have to be high enough that the vehicle will not start to cause this phenomenon.  The antenna ground and the mounting bracket are not designed to be the negative sores for the DC power of the radio and it will cause more problems then you can imagine.  Believe me as a two way radio technician for many years I have seen these problems and they can drive you crazy.  I suggest that you run the ground wire to the chassis of the vehicle.  Use an eye connector with one outer locking lock washer between the head of the screw and the lug and another between the lug and the chassis.  Scrape the paint off the place where the lug will come in contact with the metal.  Run the screw down tight but do not strip it out. 

A good mobile installation should never fail even after many years of service but as a two way radio technician I found the number one cause of mobile radio failure, far and above the failure inside the radio itself, is the installation.

When working on antennas sometimes it is necessary to climb a ladder.  On 10/02/2008 I was on the ladder I usually use to work on my antennas but I wasn’t working on antennas I was cleaning my gutters.  No matter the same principle applies, if you are near the top and you leave the ladder there is a quick decent with a sudden stop at the bottom.  My sudden stop was a concrete driveway.  The result was a 10 day stay in the hospital as result of a severally broken leg.

I am now home and today I was able for the first time sense the break to get to my computer.  In just 18 days 1785 comments left on this site.  Out of the 1785 you will only be able to see 4 the rest were deleted which lead me to think I needed to review the type of comments I will approve on this blog.

Every comment is read and every site is checked before I approve any comment.  Pornography and sexual sites will be deleted.  This is a ham radio site so if you include your website address in the comment it should have some interest to hams. 

The site does not have to be amateur radio related.  I got one nice comment which included a site on nitricoxide engines, it had nothing to do with ham radio, but it fit in the frame of radio control operation which was the subject of the post. 

There are some comments where the person entered their website address in the appropriate box and the site has nothing to do with ham radio but the comment was appropriate for the post and thus the comment was accepted but again if these sites are sexual in nature the comment will not be excepted.  I want this site to be safe for any age to read. 

I want your comments.  You do not have to agree with me.  Just follow the simple rules and your comment will be included.

As I have mentioned on this blog several times in the past, while I was in the U. S. Coast Guard, 1962 to 1966, I was a radioman.  CW was still the major means of land/sea communications to ships with radiomen on board.  While serving on the USCGC McLane an incident happened which I believe will illustrate what I am about to say.

We had left Brownsville port and were several miles out in the Gulf of Mexico in route to assist a disabled fishing vessel.  I was the only radioman on board for that trip, I don’t remember why the other two were both missing.  There was a regular schedule for a watch when there is only one radioman on board so he does not have to stand a twenty-four hour watch.

We received a call on 2182 KHz from Port Aransas that they had a Priority message for us.  (In those days 2182 KHz was the AM distress and calling frequency it is now the SSB distress and calling frequency.)  Fortunately they violated CG radio procedure and said it was concerning the death of a family member of one of our crew.  Though I was not on watch at the time I did happen to be on the bridge and heard the call.  Port Aransas had CW capability so I answered the voice communications and direct them to 6383 KHz CW to send message.  This allowed me to be the only one to know the content of the message before it was passed to the captain who was then able to pass it on the crew member whose family member it was about.  It turned out that person was on the bridge when the call came in and he would have most likely the one to receive the message if I had not intercepted it. 

Sometimes when we are assisting with communications in shelters we have people who can hear the radio communications.  Messages are being passed about the well being of family members and this information should be passed directly to the individuals involved privately by those who are running the shelter.  Overhearing a radio communication is not the way for people to learn about the well being of their loved ones nor should they learn because someone else heard such communications and ran to tell them.  Such communications error can sometimes be prevented by using earphones but the message may be being passed to another shelter while a friend or family member of the one being communicated about is in the shelter where another operator is located.  Most operators do now want to sit with earphones on the entire watch just to prevent such a problem not to mention the fact that even with earphones people near by may be able to hear. 

The answer is to take it to the next level of security just as I did on the McLane.  If CW is used for all such communications the possibility of someone hearing and understanding the message is greatly reduced.  It is still a good idea if possible to use earphones when copping such a message. 

If a more complex communication system is possible digital communications can increase the level of message protection even higher then CW but a CW station is much easier to set up and use if there are enough CW proficient operators available.  Where VHF or UHF FM is being used sending such a message can be as easy as using a Code Practice Oscillator and send the message with the PTT button depressed.

This has been quite a summer. When it started it looked like the whole state of California was going to burn down (I know there are some people who are saying “to bad it didn’t.”) Then I had several personal setbacks which I won’t go into but they all lead to this blog suffering from lack of entries.

Along with the fires in California there have been tornados floods, hurricanes and tropical storms in other parts of the US.

Floods, fires, hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, earth quakes, and volcano eruptions are daily events somewhere on this earth. This means daily there is death and destruction taking place somewhere on this cosmic speck of space dust we call earth.

When these events happen there are ham radio operators who rise to the occasion and at there own expense and sometimes peril to assist with the life line of communications. Even if commercial communications remain intact, which frequently during these events they do not, major disaster will overload them so they become nearly useless. This is where ham radio operators step in to help save lives and property and to help reduce suffering.

Many hams fear that the internet is going to replace amateur communications but the internet is just one of those lines of communications which frequently goes belly up during disaster. Ham radio is still the only effective communications that can fill the gap when all else fails.

Are you ready? A disaster is coming near you.