[Elecraft] OT: VOA Article about Hams in India

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Fred, K6DGW wrote: 

this is yet another example of infrastructure-free communications that hams
can provide and hardly anyone or anything else can.  When the going gets
tough, the power is scarce, and the noise is high, a radio/ ham operator at
each end of a 15,000 km circuit can still communicate.

--------------------------

As things are going it may not be long before Hams, especially Hams
proficient in CW, are the ONLY ones who can communicate independently of the
highly-complex communications infrastructure. 

After posting information with a link to that story on our local town e-mail
list, a number of townspeople replied with stories about how they had been
helped by hams in emergencies in years past. To one message I replied:
"...Things have changed over the years. I have sitting nearby a miniature
radio station that fits in a coat pocket, batteries and all. It's about the
size of most pocket cameras. It's Morse code only, which means it takes a
trained operator to use it, but with a hank of wire thrown over a nearby
tree limb I can communicate with Amateur emergency networks half way around
the world if need be and stay in touch for days without any additional
power, satellites, or other infrastructure."

Of course I'm talking about my KX1. 

One of the townspeople wrote back:

"...Hams are wonderful folks - keep up the good work! .. we are happily
residing over an earthquake waiting to happen - hopefully not for many
generations, but if it does shake things up, folks like you are going to be
in BIG demand.  Keep those batteries recharged!"

A little "PR" goes a l-o-n-g ways...

Ron AC7AC