[Elecraft] NVIS HF vs VHF line-of-sight & CB in 9.0 quakes

[Gerald Manthey]

Don 
I couldn't agree with you more I am guilty of this too. What books could you recommend I start with? 
Thanks 
Gerald KC6CNN 

> On Apr 30, 2017, at 10:20 PM, Don Wilhelm <donwilh at embarqmail.com> wrote:
> 
> One important thing I forget to mention is that you should learn how to construct your own effective antennas.
> To my mind, that skill may be critical in an emergency. and with the proliferation (and acceptance) of ready made manufactured antennas, I am afraid that skill is decreasing in ham radio circles.  Yes, it does take a bit of studying and experimenting, but is not really that difficult. If you can do simple multiplication and division, you can calculate the length of a halfwave antenna that can be used for effective communications - all it takes is some wire and a feedline.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Stan,
> 
> While you have made your motives clear, if such an emergency does arise, just powering up radios and transmitting can result in communications chaos.
> 
> I encourage you to get on the air not only to familiarize yourself with your equipment, but also to experiment with a variety of antennas that can be deployed easily - your home antennas will likely come down in such a disaster.
> 
> Get involved with local ECOM organizations, and if they do not exist for you, form one.
> Ordered nets are the norm during emergencies, and someone has to act as net control - to whom all traffic is directed.  Establish standard frequencies and practice, practice, practice so that all participating know the format and the rules of proper operating.
> 
> You might want to consider taking an example (and perhaps some guidance) from the National Hurricane Net, which many of us are quite familiar with here on the East coast.
> 
> In the event of a disaster in your area, you will likely be forced to use low power to conserve battery power and depend on relays from individuals who can run higher power outside the disaster area.
> 
> You may have to learn to setup and use digital modes as well as voice in cooperation with your local and area Emergency Communications Center (ECO) which coordinate Police, Fire, Rescue, Hospitals and other emergency services during a disaster.
> That is all very organized communications.  If you are concerned about a disaster, I recommend you become familiar with it and hold practice sessions communicating with other concerned hams.  Many EOCs hold simulated emergency drills that you might want to participate in.
> ARRL Radio Amateur Field Day is a good exercise in setting up a functional station in a short order of time and operating on generators or other forms of emergency power.
> 
> Communication of Health and Welfare information can occur on non-emergency frequencies in the ham bands, but that still needs to be done in an orderly fashion since those in the disaster area can be expected to be operating at low power and depending on relays from outside the area.  There are formats for messages that operators should observe so the message gets to the intended recipient in an orderly fashion.  The ARRL information is quite helpful for the formats and relay net operating procedures.
> 
> What I am trying to say is that the formats and operating procedures for emergency communications is already in place, and you should become familiar with them and practice with your own local group and/or participate in national nets and exercises.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
>> On 4/30/2017 9:41 PM, KG7FYI wrote:
>> I'd like to say
>> that radio is a hobby but the fact is that my only motive was that lives
>> are at stake.  I'm learning.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to kc6cnn at gmail.com