[Qcwa] The Blackout of 2003

[N2RQ]

Both Mike and Bob raise some good questions.

My response is based on my experiences since being licensed in 1959.  My
main operating interests have been rag-chewing, dx, traffic handling (more
than 30 years in MARS) and public service.

I believe that the competition from the Internet is an enigma.  I cannot
explain it, but every student member of the Brooklyn Technical High School
ARC has been active on the Internet for some years.  This has not stopped
them from coming to weekly meetings, getting licensed, operating on
vhf/uhf/hf. We have had members and alumni assist in many events such as the
NYC Marathon, Field Day, the School Club Roundup (SCR) (see below).  At last
year's the first annual Tunnel to Towers Run (to the WTC site) 5 of the 17
operators were from the BTHS-ARC.

If you want to encourage new/young hams, try participating in the SCR next
February 9-13. Better yet, contact a school administrator and/or teacher and
offer to set up a station at a school during the SCR.

http://www.arrl.org/contests/results/2003/SCR.pdf 2003-07-28

http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/scr.html 2002-09-26 The 2004
rules should be the same.

The low number of pieces of traffic handled during the blackout can be
attributed to the outstanding good behavior of citizens.  We were lucky
there was little need. My experience driving home via several neighborhoods
across the borough of Brooklyn was amazing.  I found volunteers directing
traffic at nearly every signal controlled intersection beginning at 4:15,
less than 5 minutes after the power went off.  They included people of
virtually every ethnicity. There were kids, men and women, some working in
teams. Drivers were alert and more courteous than usual.  I could not get
through with my cell phone. Many broadcast stations were off the air.

In this "post 9/11" environment, our local officials are taking our service
more seriously. In Nassau County, Long Island, NY, the Office of Emergency
Management (OEM) has beefed up its RACES and ARES relationships. Training,
net participation and turnout all seem to be up.  As a result, in this
county there were operators at the OEM, Red Cross HQ, Salvation Army,
shelters that were opened, and a number of fire battalions.  There were many
more on stand-by at home.

There are sure to be fights and other issues ahead of us. I am confident
that if we persist we can prevail.


Lew Malchick
n2rq@arrl.net
Faculty Advisor to BTHS-ARC since 1977


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Cumming" <w2bzy@cfl.rr.com>
To: <qcwa@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 5:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Qcwa] The Blackout of 2003


Its amazing how quickly we "Bad mouth" our hobby.  Bear in mind that some
of the regulatory folks might be subscribed to this (and other)
reflectors.  I, for one usually let my emotions cool off before answering
threads of this type.

There has been coverage on this subject even in the NY Times - see:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Blackout-Ham-Radio.html?ex=1062320598&ei=1&en=4c7170bb40c57333

Also the ARRL in its Bulletin:  ARRL Bulletin 54  ARLB054

Being an Ex- NYer,  I hate to see people say how little the Amateur Radio
Community does for the public.   Don't complain, get involved - ask your
local Radio club or the local ARRL SEC what you can do to help!

As to getting new hams involved, ask yourself when was the last time you
invited local hams, (Old and new) to your shack during a high energy event
like a contest or took the time during Field Day to explain the hobby to
new hams (or non hams).

Spread knowledge, not flames.

VRY 73

Bob Cumming
W2BZY

>Frankly, I'm surprised my tongue-in-cheek posting about the blackout
elicited
>the meager response it did.  I wonder if that is because we're finally
>getting the message or that the message is no longer relevant.  I'll
explain.
>
>I am deeply concerned for the future of Amateur Radio in this new
environment
>where the proliferation of low-power wireless services is so rapid and
where
>worldwide communication is now available at the click of a computer mouse.
>What reason can I possibly give to a youngster to persuade him to invest
vast
>amounts of time studying for a ticket and building a station and vast
amounts
>of money on decent equipment � when a five hundred dollar computer and 20
>bucks a month puts him on the Internet?  Heck, how can I convince an
inactive
>ham to log off the Internet and get back on the air?  Much more important,
>what arguments can we proffer to the public and public officials to give
>Amateur Radio priority and protection from incursions by wireless devices
and
>technologies such as BPL?  Can our governmental leaders really be expected
to
>protect Amateur Radio at the expense of new technologies that offer
services
>to millions and that will nurture new industries?
>
snip...
>73.
>--
>Mike Sturm, KA2E
>http://home.att.net/~ka2e