[ScanIndiana] HAM communications question
Duane Mantick
wb9omc at yahoo.com
Sun Jan 6 20:44:25 EST 2008
To add another 2 cents worth, to anyone who does go to
get a license try and find an experienced Amateur or
two to act as your "Elmer". That's ham slang for an
Amateur who is good with new folks. While you can
pass the written exam just off the books alone, I can
tell you that what you'll learn from a good "Elmer"
there is NO substitute for. Back when I got my first
license in 1974, one of my "Elmers" told me "the E in
Extra stands for Elmer". His point was, that folks
who get that top License (the "Amateur Extra", usually
just called the "Extra") should work to pay back what
THEY'VE gotten from Amateur Radio and that being a
good "Elmer" was one of the best ways to do it. I can
say without reservation that the guys who were my
"Elmers" were a HUGE positive influence for me to get
licensed, get active and stay with it. Since I got my
Extra, I've become an "Amateur Activist" in my own
ways to support, promote and improve the
hobby/service.
If any prospective hams reading this list get good
"Elmering", you'll be up to speed faster on operating
procedures, rules and regs and just in general "how to
do it"........a lot of stuff you won't easily learn
from just "book-passing" the tests. There's nothing
wrong with getting licensed quickly but I can tell
you, being able to draw on the experience of good
"Elmers" WILL make you a better Amateur. And I'd say
your experience will be much more enjoyable.
Duane
WB9OMC
--- ronnielu <ronnielu at michianawireless.com> wrote:
> It is true the fcc does allow communication if you
> are not authorized if
> immediate threat to life and no other communicatons
> is available. The ham
> license is now so easy since their is a no code that
> 2 to 4 hours of study,
> and you should be able to get you license. I would
> just go and get it, you
> don't know what you are missing. you won't reget it
> at all.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bob Burns W9RXR" <k4rxr_ at rlburns.net>
> To: "Indiana Scanning" <scanindiana at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 11:09 AM
> Subject: Re: [ScanIndiana] HAM communications
> question
>
>
> > At 09:21 PM 1/4/2008, Justin Knox wrote:
> >>I am with Boone County Civil Defense and I am on
> the skywarn or "storm
> >>response team". Last year during some severe
> weather I overheard via one
> >>of my personal scanners in my vehicle a mobile HAM
> radio operator stating
> >>he had a visual on a funnel cloud & I did not have
> any communications with
> >>this person (nor did any other Civil Defense unit
> on duty).
> >
> > Justin, I agree with the other posters' opinions
> that such communications
> > would not be legal under FCC rules. The rules with
> regard to emergency
> > communications are sometimes given strained
> interpretations, but I think
> > the consensus is that communications without the
> appropriate license on a
> > radio band where a license is required is only
> permitted in the event of
> > immediate threat to life or property _and_ if no
> other means of
> > communications is possible.
> >
> > I am RACES Radio Officer and Skywarn Coordinator
> for Hendricks County. In
> > our county, RACES and Skywarn work very closely
> with county emergency
> > management. Our EMA Director is a strong proponent
> of amateur radio as a
> > back-up to the county communications system. We
> provide him with a pool of
> > trained volunteers skilled in both emergency
> communications and storm
> > spotting. I'm sure your EMA budget is as tight as
> ours, so without our
> > volunteers, some tasks just wouldn't get done.
> >
> > When severe weather threatens Hendricks County, I
> can count on my cell
> > phone ringing with a call from the EMA Director.
> He immediately looks to
> > us amateur radio operators as a source of
> information about the impending
> > weather. We routinely provide the EMA Director
> with information about
> > storm tracks in the county and damage information
> after the storm has
> > passed.
> >
> > The county has provided me with a handheld radio
> programmed for the
> > Project SAFE-T radio system. I occasionally use
> that radio to communicate
> > with the EMA Director and the Sheriff's
> Department. I also have a VHF
> > radio programmed for the old VHF police and fire
> frequencies in the
> > county. But most of my communications is via
> amateur radio so that I can
> > funnel information between the hams and EMA. We
> have ham radio equipment
> > installed at the county EMA office and we are
> working on plans to put ham
> > radio equipment in the county's mobile command
> center and the new county
> > dispatch center.
> >
> > I strongly urge your department to develop a
> relationship with the hams in
> > your county. I think you will find them to be a
> willing and capable
> > resource that can provide a great benefit to your
> county.
> >
> > Alternatively, you could get an amateur radio
> license yourself. To get the
> > entry-level license, Technician, you would need to
> pass a 35-question test
> > about procedures, rules, and basic radio theory.
> The question pool, with
> > answers, is available from many sources and there
> are study guides
> > available in book form or on-line.
> >
> > Bob Burns
> > Hendricks County RACES
> >
> > ____ ____ ___
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>
> > ______________________________________________
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> > ScanIndiana at mailman.qth.net
> >
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> >
> > IndyScan.com 1996-2004
>
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