[FPARC] AMATEUR RADIO WITHOUT PLUGGING INTO THE WALL SOCKET

[Bill Sinbine]

        AMATEUR RADIO WITHOUT PLUGGING INTO THE WALL SOCKET
     ______________________________________________________
    AMATEUR RADIO AWARENESS DAY TO FEATURE EMERGENCY POWER OPERATING =
     EVENT
     What makes Amateur Radio unique is its ability to communicate with one
     another anywhere in the world--and even in orbit--without having to rely =
     on
     any outside infrastructure whatsoever. Hams can even do this without =
     being
     plugged into the wall socket. Experienced radio amateurs take this
     capability for granted, but the general public is far less aware of it. =
     So,
     an Emergency Power Operating Event (EPOE) on Amateur Radio Awareness =
     Day,
     Saturday, September 17, will highlight Amateur Radio's ability to
     communicate worldwide without commercial mains, the Internet or a =
     cellular
     telephone system.
     "What better way to mark Amateur Radio Awareness Day than by calling

- Ignored:
     attention to this unique capability?" says ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. =
     "It
     is particularly appropriate since September is the Department of =
     Homeland
     Security's National Preparedness Month."

     Amateur Radio Awareness Day activities typically focus on increasing =
     public
     awareness. Past events have included public demonstrations, talks to
     community groups and getting local media coverage. According to DHS,
     National Preparedness Month is aimed at encouraging Americans to prepare =
     for
     emergencies and to raise public awareness about the importance of being
     prepared.

     This Amateur Radio Awareness Day, September 17, the ARRL will sponsor a
     15-hour Emergency Power Operating Event for stations operating off the =
     grid.
     "It is not a contest," Sumner stresses. "It is simply a demonstration of
     what we amateurs can do without having to rely on the commercial mains, =
     and
     what we will do whenever the need arises."=20

     An announcement in September QST (page 49) spells out the details. The =
     event
     kicks off at 1300 UTC on Saturday, September 17, and wraps up at 0400 =
     UTC on
     September 18. The ARRL is inviting home stations to operate from =
     generator
     or battery power. Mobiles and portable stations also are welcome to
     participate, although unlike Field Day, the emphasis is not on setting =
     up a
     temporary station, but rather on operating your regular station on =
     emergency
     power.

     There is no set exchange; contacts may be casual, but operators are
     encouraged to share information on their emergency power sources in =
     addition
     to the traditional signal report, name and location.

     ARRL Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will be on the air for the event, =
     running
     on emergency power from its 60-kW emergency backup diesel generator. =
     W1AW
     Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, says the whole point is to showcase =
     that
     Amateur Radio is prepared during National Preparedness Month--"and any =
     time,
     for that matter," he adds. A special QSL will be available to stations
     contacting W1AW while running from an emergency power source. Include a
     self-addressed, stamped envelope with all QSL card requests, and =
     indicate on
     your card the emergency power source used. (Address cards to W1AW, 225 =
     Main
     St, Newington, CT 06111.)

     "I hope we can work stations operating on emergency power in all 50 =
     states,"
     says Sumner. "It should be a lot of fun, and we may even learn =
     something!"

     The League is encouraging participating radio amateurs or groups to =
     invite
     local Citizen Corps leaders to see Amateur Radio installations in =
     emergency
     power mode.=20

     "The two events offer great opportunities for Amateur Radio to showcase =
     its
     valued service to the nation," said outgoing ARRL Field and Educational
     Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO. She urged ARRL-affiliated clubs =
     and
     Field Organization volunteers to take advantage of the occasion to set =
     up
     public demonstrations of Amateur Radio and to present or even
     demonstrate--under the banner of National Preparedness Month--the free
     services Amateur Radio provides to the community.=20

     ARRL Club/Mentoring Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, believes a public
     Emergency Power Operating Event offers a great opportunity to recruit
     prospective hams for licensing classes clubs that may be forming this =
     fall.

- Done.





Think about it .....
A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet and in e-mail?

73, Bill Sinbine
n4xeo at bellsouth.net