[Elecraft] Elecraft Rigs as Public Relations Tools.

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Since the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, my KX1 has become the centerpiece of
discussions with non-hams here in Forest Grove (we're about 17,000 people in
a typical western town dating back to the late 1800's, about 30 miles west
of Portland). 

We live in a region threatened by tsunami's, earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions (Although were over 100 miles away, Mt. St. Helens dumped so much
ash on parts of the town that it took weeks to dig out. Some residents made
concrete out of it for their retaining walls and walkways - it's still as
fresh and strong as the day it was poured!) Some of the world's greatest
forest fires have occurred right here in our beautiful Tillamook Forest. 

Unlike the Indian Ocean, we have an extensive tsunami alert and evacuation
system all along the Oregon coast, extending south into northern California
and north through Washington state. Earthquakes here aren't the frequent
little rockers California expects, but very infrequent (thankfully) quakes
in the Richter 8 or 9 range that leave little of anything standing for many,
many of miles in all directions. They are typical of "subduction" zones like
here, and like Sri Lanka.

So the "wake up call" on Dec 26 got some people to talking and wondering
about what they'd do. Everyone knows the phone system and power grid are the
first causalities in any serious disaster. I took the opportunity to make my
KX1 the center piece of some discussions with non-hams in Forest Grove. 

About my KX1 I explained, "This little box that fits in my jacket pocket is
a complete short-wave radio station that I built. I can throw a wire over a
tree limb and contact other people over a range of hundreds of miles,
thousands of miles, even half way around the world at times. It requires no
satellites, no cellular towers and no telephone or power lines. It requires
nothing at all but me and the other station. It even contains its own
batteries, and when they die I can hook onto any car battery and it will
operate for weeks, at least. 

I am a Amateur Radio Operator, a "Ham", licensed by the federal government
to build, maintain and operate this equipment. There are hundreds of
thousands of us all over the USA. Many of us are organized into emergency
networks that meet on the air whenever a disaster strikes. We are here to
serve you in the event of an earthquake, tsunami or other disaster just as
Amateur Radio Operators have provided essential communications in Sri Lanka.
It's what Hams do when things go wrong." 

To my surprise and pleasure, several people, non Hams, have shared their own
stories about how Hams have helped them or family members in the past, and
how grateful they are that there are Hams active in our town.  

These are great public relations tools, these Elecraft rigs. Don't let any
opportunity pass to tell non-Hams who you are and  emphasize what you can do
when all else goes wrong. 

Of course, we must be prepared for the day we are needed.

It may be the most important thing we do. 

Ron AC7AC