Each link opens one or more text paragraphs of topics suitable for hams to present on the air as-is, to help train each other in various aspects of ham radio usage, best practices, emergency communication, and preparation. Feel free to present any of the topics in any type of net or activity you think applies, regardless what heading they're listed under here. Also, please feel free to change the wordage or word placement, especially if they seem awkward for the way you normally speak. Some of the topics are accompanied by PDFs of the same, similar, or more expanded text.

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Which radio to start out with [link] [PDF]
Let's cut to the chase, and then we'll start talking about options and possibilities. You should purchase a Baofeng UV-21R radio, a Signal Stick antenna, then program it with the frequencies you'll use most.

A handheld transceiver (HT)
When selecting a portable radio that you can quickly take with you when you need it, here are some things to consider:
• It must be able to receive and transmit on 2 meters, which is where most local communication takes place on repeaters and nets. Ideally, it should also be a dual-band radio, supporting 70 cm, the second-most used frequency band.
• It should be one for which you can purchase an alkaline sled for it, since many models do not have that option; that is, an empty battery case that you can fill with your own non-rechargeable batteries
• It should be one that many of your friends have. It's very convenient to have a radio, for which you can ask for help, or compare notes, or bring to club meetings and discuss.
• It should be supported by CHIRP, the free, online radio programming software, to get it programmed quickly, should you need to add a new repeater or net frequency. (You'll need the programming cable that goes to your particular radio model too.)
• It should be able to receive FM broadcast radio, allowing you to hear news and information from commercial radio stations during an incident.
• It should be not only a dual-band radio, but also a dual-watch radio, which can allow you to hear incoming communications on two different frequencies at the same time.
• It should be light-weight and small enough to slip onto your pocket or re-sealable sandwich bag.
• It should be inexpensive, to allow you to feel free enough to experiment with it and wear it out, without the worry of replacement or repair cost. Some folks will purchase an expensive HT that's loaded with cool features, as their first radio, only to be too afraid to take it hiking with them or do field experiments with it or involve it in events.
• It should be convenient to charge, like with a USB cable.
Will your choice of radio still be a good one if all the above criteria aren't met? Probably, but there are some minor inconveniences you might have to live with.

A mobile radio
If you're looking to get something a little heftier, whether you install it in your vehicle, set it on your desk, or (yikes!) pack it around on your back, a mobile unit might be what you're looking for. Some of the above suggested criteria still apply, such as dual-band, dual-watch, same model used by friends, CHIRP-supported, and low-cost. Obviously, there are other things to consider when you get a mobile unit, such as:
• It needs a separate 12-volt or 13.8-volt power supply, such as an MFJ MFJ-4230MVP or Powerwerx SS-30DV
• It needs a good, portable antenna, such as a Tram 1185 mag-mount, or a Pockrus J-pole mast-mount antenna
• It needs 50-ohm coaxial cable that's long enough to reach from your radio to the antenna, but of a model that minimizes the signal loss, such as RG-8X
• It should deliver (transmit) 25 watts on FM to make it worth your investment
There are other types of radios, such as portable and base units, but the focus here is on getting started, and recommendations for a reasonable deployment.
Which antenna to get [link]
Similar to those in the real estate business, we radio amateurs have three basic rules: antenna, antenna, location. Being interpreted, your location will play a part in your ability to get your signal out to others, but your antenna is the important focus by far. And notice that radio is not mentioned in that mantra at all.

Obviously, without your radio, you won't be able to transmit any signals, but without a doubt, your antenna is one of the most important components of your amateur station. An appropriate antenna can connect you with the world, or render your station as useless as a vehicle without fuel. But, which antenna is right for your particular application? Let's categorize them by function and see.

When you first purchased your radio, it came with a stubby, little antenna we affectionately call a rubber duck. That tiny creature wasn't really meant for you to use seriously, but for testing your new transceiver, to make sure it works. And now that you're sure, it's time to get a real antenna.

At home
In the comfort of your residence, you're going to need an antenna that will get your signal out of your walls and into the air. For that, you should get a Pockrus J-pole, and either mount it on your roof outside or lean it up against the wall inside near a window. To connect to the antenna, you're going to need some RG-8X coaxial cable (coax) terminated in a PL-259 connector on the antenna end.

If you're using a mobile radio at home, you'll need the coax terminated in a PL-259 connector on the radio end. If you're using an HT (handheld transceiver), you'll need to either terminate the radio end of the coax with an SMA connector, or terminate the radio end with a PL-259 connector, plus a pigtail.

Walking around
When you need to walk around with your radio either attached to your body or in your hand, you should get hold of a whip-type antenna, either a telescopic whip or a Signal Stick. You might also find that your long antenna sometimes gets in the way. To help keep it out of the way, you can purchase a lapel microphone that has an antenna connection, which in most cases will keep your antenna up and away from your body.

Driving around
If you're out driving around, you'll need to use an antenna that's mounted on your vehicle; that is, your antenna is installed on a mount, which is attached to your car body. That could typically mean either a hole-mount, magnetic-mount, or lip-mount. A hole-mount is one that requires you to drill a hole in your car's metal body. A lip-mount attaches to the lip or edge of your flat body piece, such as your trunk or hood. A magnetic-mount or *mag-mount* simply magnetically attaches to your car's metal body. Glass mounts have not shown to be as effective as the other three types.

Is it possible to mix two of the above situations, like using a telescopic antenna while you're driving? Sure it is, but that might take a little experimenting on your part, to see what works for you. Any kind of antenna inside your vehicle will be shielded by some of your car's metal body (for most vehicles), and so people outside your vehicle might not hear you well. Then again, some hams use a mobile antenna, one that's made for a vehicle, but inside the home, to get more of their signal out of the house. They often do this by getting an antenna with a mag-mount, placing the mag-mount on a cookie sheet or the fridge, and adapt the coax with a pigtail for their HT.

As a side note, it's alright to leave your radio powered on while you change your antenna; just don't press your PTT button with your antenna removed.
What frequencies should be programmed in your radio [link]
Most of today's radios are able to hold many frequencies in their memories, but should you fill them, just because they're there? I recommend you only program into your radio what you need, so that you won't get overwhelmed or confused if you find you need to communicate right away. Ok, so which frequencies should you program? That'll depend on where you'll be at the moment you need them.

Where you're likely to be
If you spend most of your awake time at home or at work, it'll be wise to take that proximity into account, especially if you plan to communicate between home and work. But you might also need to go downtown shopping, to the doctor's office, or visit a friend, and if those take you far away from home, those locations might require some additional frequencies to think about.

Know what channel to change to, if necessary
If you have already programmed your radio with a number of useful frequencies, you're probably prepared to talk on whichever one you need at the moment. But if you have them programmed by name, are you familiar with what the names mean, as in which frequencies, or at least which areas they cover? And when it comes time to switching frequencies, are you able to do that on the spot?

Know how to manually change frequencies at a moment's notice
Be familiar enough with your radio that you can manually enter a new frequency at any time. You might be required to manually enter a frequency you've not already programmed in, because you need to get off a repeater or move off a simplex frequency that's already in use. This'll require you to know how to enter the frequency (Frequency Mode), the offset (OFFSET), the shift direction (SFT-D, plus or minus, or off for simplex), and tone (T-CTCS).

Programming your radio on-the-fly while you're traveling is very useful, but often quite cumbersome. So, taking your laptop and an appropriate programming cable along for the ride can prove indispensable. Do you know how to use the cable and the software to do the programming? You can download charts of programming frequencies, listed by radio model and general location from Noji's programming page.
Request a signal report before starting [link]
It doesn't help a whole lot if I attempt to get on the air, and nobody hears me. Even if I have the very best equipment that money can buy, including a great antenna, and even though I feel certain everybody this side of the Wasatch Front can hear me, it's still possible that they can't. If I'm talking on simplex, my antenna could be oriented incorrectly, I might have a loose or corroded connection, I might not be speaking close enough to the microphone, or my battery is on its last breath. If I'm trying to talk through a repeater, maybe my tone or offset isn't set, maybe I'm too far from the repeater to hold it open for proper communication, or maybe I've bumped my button and I'm a little off-frequency, or maybe I just need to get out of the basement.

When you need to get on the air, especially in a hurry, it seems there are a number of obstacles that could hinder your otherwise perfect transmission. For that reason, one of the first things you should do before a net or a drill is to request a signal report. Maybe say,
This is KI7ABC. Could I please get a signal report?
and you'll likely find one or more listening hams who'll be happy to help you out by telling you how you sound.

You're typically looking for three things as feedback to your transmission: the quality of your sound, your loudness, and whether your audio is accompanied by any hiss or other noise. A responding operator who can report these three sound properties is probably the most helpful. By the same token, you can offer the most help by reporting these same three qualities to people who are asking for a report. On the other hand, those who say, "You sound fine" mean well, but might be just a bit too brief, and don't give you a lot to go on, although it's still kind of them to try and give you some sort of feedback. The brief exception is when a ham operator simply reports,
You're coming in perfectly!
which, in a nutshell, means crystal clear audio, loud audio, and no perceptible background noise.

Once you do this, you're relatively confident that the rest of your transmissions could easily be heard by those who need to hear them. Even after that, your signal or audio could still become less-than-perfect if you're moving around, changing your antenna direction, or your battery starts failing. But, at least you've taken that initial step to ensure a smoothly running net or drill.
How to communicate through a repeater [link] [PDF]
Setting up
First, you need to find out the four basic parameters and set them up in your radio. They are
• frequency
• offset amount
• offset direction
• tone

Once you have these parameters, program them (manually or by computer) into your radio, and you're ready to go. If the repeater is for 2 meters, the offset amount is 0.600 MHz (600 kHz). If the 2-meter repeater has a nominal (output) frequency of 147.000 MHz or less, the offset direction will be minus (-); otherwise, it will be plus (+). Set the tone for all repeaters to 100.0 Hz, unless a particular repeater requires something different. If the repeater is for 70 cm, the offset amount is 5.000 MHz, and the offset direction will always be minus. 220 MHz repeaters are a different story.

Talking
Once you've determined the repeater's not in use, press the PTT button, wait a half-second, then begin speaking. You can simply say one of the following:
KI7ABC
This is KI7ABC, monitoring.
This is KI7ABC. Anybody want to talk with a new ham?
If nobody responds, wait about ten seconds and repeat the announcement, because it often takes time for a person to walk across the room, pick up the mic, and reply. If nobody responds the second time, repeat it a third time before giving up.

Once somebody answers you, go ahead and carry on a normal conversation, remembering to say your call sign every ten minutes and at the end. If nobody answers, it might be helpful to ask whether your signal is reaching the repeater, by asking
This is KI7ABC. May I please get a signal check?
But in response, you should only expect a signal check, and not engage the other person in conversation. Simply thank him and end with your call sign. Luring another ham into a conversation by requesting a signal check can leave a sour taste in the person's mouth.

Finally, after you finish speaking during your turn, continue holding down the PTT button for a half second before releasing it. This will ensure your last syllable will be heard by the other ham. Furthermore, if you're communicating by a linked repeater, like one on the Intermountain Intertie or the Sinbad System, wait two whole seconds before begin speaking and wait an entire second after your last syllable before releasing the PTT button.

Answering
When the other person has stopped transmitting, listen for the right time to press your PTT button and begin speaking, to play well with the other hams. Here's what you're going to hear:
• the other station stops transmitting
• the repeater beeps (known as a courtesy tone)
• after four seconds (known as the hang time), the repeater stops transmitting
• you hear a short, loud crash (known as the squelch tail)
• all goes quiet

The time you should press your PTT button is ideally about one or two seconds after step 2; that is, after you hear the repeater beep. That gives others plenty of time to break into your conversation to join it or announce an emergency. It also gives the repeater a break, so that it doesn't wear out its relays to drop its carrier (step 4) before you key up. So, once you hear the repeater beep, wait one or two seconds, then press your PTT. Every repeater is different, so prepare to be flexible if the repeater you're communicating with doesn't behave exactly this way.
Learn to use the Reverse function [link] [PDF]
In our ever-charitable desire to be helpful to other hams, we sometimes encounter those who have a difficult time getting into or even reaching the repeater. When we hear somebody struggling like this, it might be worth our while to help out by communicating with the person directly rather than through the repeater. But if he's tuned to the repeater, and you don't know his phone number, how can you alert him, so that you can help him?

One way is to switch to what we call reverse mode, which most radios support. The reverse function merely switches the repeater input and output frequencies on your radio. Normally, when communicating through a repeater, you use your radio to talk into the repeater input frequency and listen on the repeater output frequency. On reverse, you talk into the repeater output frequency, so that your friend can hear you, and listen on the repeater input frequency, so that you can hear him.

But communicating on reverse like this only works if the other person can reach you better than he can reach the repeater, because the repeater is out of his range on one side (to the north of him, for example), but you're within his range on the other side (to the south of him, for example). Or this might work when your friend is being obstructed from the repeater because of a mountain or tall building, but you have a clear shot of both him and the repeater.

So, how do you use this reverse function? Many mobile units and some HTs have a button labeled REV. Just press that button once, and your radio switches its repeater input and output frequencies, then press it again to get out of reverse, and back to normal repeater communication. If you're on a Baofeng or Wouxun, simply press the _* (star) button for reverse. If you have a Yaesu FT-60R or VX-7R, simply press C. Then press the same key to exit reverse mode. There's no need for your friend to go into reverse mode.

Once you're in communication with the other ham by reverse, kindly let him know that his signal is not making it into the repeater. Offer helpful, non-critical suggestions on what he could do to improve his transmission, like move to a different location, point his antenna straight up, speak closer or louder into his microphone, increase his radio power output, and so forth. It's possible that his battery is running low or that his antenna has come loose. I always believe my signal sounds wonderful, but one time people were telling me I was sounding terrible, even when I was staring right at the repeater antenna. Turns out I had forgotten to put my antenna back on after cleaning it off. So obviously, installing an antenna might help some of us!

The last thing to keep in mind when communicating in reverse is that you might want to let others know you're in reverse mode, since even though you're not technically using the repeater, you're tying up the repeater, because you're preventing others from using the repeater output. You might get a lot of you're not in the repeater reports from others. Another thing is that switching to reverse is no guarantee that you can reach him better; in fact, it might be worse, but it's something you can try, in your quest to be a helpful ham.
Baofeng radios are legal to use [link]
There's been quite a lot of discussion and concern lately about certain announcements made by the FCC regarding some models of Chinese radios. Bottom line is that they are all legit, and can be used legally by licensed amateurs, as long as you're using them on amateur frequencies.

The controversy arose because many Chinese radios have the ability to transmit on frequencies outside amateur bands. Ok, that's not so bad, because we amateurs know the rules, so that notice doesn't really bother us, because we follow the rules. Then along came some marketers who not only advertised that these radios can transmit on those non-amateur frequencies, but encouraged people to transmit on them without a license. That's what got them into trouble, and prompted the FCC to make the announcements.

Because of the confusing wordage of the announcements, coupled with mis-interpretations by an FCC attorney, many hams felt that they could no longer use their cheap, little handhelds legally. But after a series of clarifications, prompted in part by objections from the ARRL, we have been re-assured that our Baofengs and other Chinese radios are perfectly legal to use. And can you sell them? Yes, you can, personally. That means to one ham from another.

So, I repeat: it's completely legal for you to use any Chinese, Japanese, Indian, or even Martian radios, as long as you use them on ham frequencies.

More details are spelled out in the club newsletter, the November 2018 issue of the UVARC Shack p. 22, about the legality of using Chinese radios.
You might want to purchase a mobile radio some day [link]
You might have discovered that your little handheld radio is a wonder of science, enabling you to communicate with friends, loved ones, and others, for fun or in a moment of need. But if you've used it enough, you've also discovered that the little guy has a few limitations. Some of these limitations can be resolved by a change in your transmitting location or a better antenna. But there are times when it would be nice to have a little more juice behind that signal of yours. If this extra signal boost is on your mind, then purchasing a mobile radio might just be what you're looking for.

A mobile radio is a transceiver that's typically larger in physical size than most HTs (handheld transceivers), and normally has the ability to transmit on a higher power level than most HTs. Most require an external power supply and an external antenna, and most come with an external hand microphone. And most hams use mobile radios in any of three ways: in a vehicle, at home, or portable.

In a vehicle
Because of its namesake, it's obvious that a mobile radio was designed to be installed and used in your car, truck, or RV, which offers the convenience of having great communication ability from the comfort of your vehicle. If your mobile radio and antenna are installed more or less permanently, all you need to do is pick up your mic and push the PTT; no need to carry the radio, fiddle with cords, or get poked by your antenna. Also, if your service is needed at a location away from your home or work, your mobile can help you communicate and stay updated while you travel.

Can you do this with an HT? Yes, you can, if you can work without the extra transmit power. In fact, you can connect your HT to an outside-mounted antenna (mag-mount, lip-mount, or hole-mount) and your signal will be heard much better and farther than it could with any whip or duck antenna. Furthermore, unlike a true mobile radio, which is tethered by connections to the car's antenna and battery, you can easily remove your HT and take it with you when you get out of your vehicle, because it carries its own *power supply* and antenna.

At home
Many hams have a mobile radio at home as their *base* unit; that is, their main home radio, where they transmit for nets, for emergency, and for ragchewing. Keep in mind that a home base like this requires an external power supply, an external antenna, and coaxial cable. I highly recommend your power supply for this home mobile radio be able to supply 30 amps, even though your radio specifications state that it requires much lower. For the antenna, I recommend a Pockrus J-pole. For coax, I recommend RG-8X, terminated on both ends with PL-259 connectors.

Portable
In the context of mobile radio, the term *portable* means the ability to quickly grab a radio that's more powerful than an HT, but yet available enough for you to collect it (along with its battery, antenna, and coaxial cable), and head out the door. Portable can also refer to the ability to carry a radio more powerful than an HT (plus the battery, antenna, and coax) with you on a hike or a bike trip.

Any way you use one, a mobile can provide you with a little more power, to get your signal out farther, or at least stronger. Most HTs can transmit a maximum of 4 to 8 watts, depending on the model. Most mobiles can transmit 5 watts at their lowest setting. There are times when the extra power is helpful to get around those buildings (knife-edging), get down the canyon, and be heard on that distant repeater, and a mobile can often do the trick.

Please understand that this training topic is not meant to tell you that you need to rush out and spend your hard-earned cash on new hardware. It's only meant to offer you an option, in case you're getting tired of bad signal reports and the need to constantly repeat yourself over the air, in spite of having installed a superior antenna.

Let's hear your thoughts. Do you have any questions about mobile radios?
Syllabic emphasis [link]
The Japanese language is interesting in more ways than one, and one of those ways is that their words don't have emphasized syllables like we do in English. For example, when we say the word collection, instead of saying all three syllables monotonically, with the same emphasis and pitch, as is done with a Japanese word, we normally emphasize the second syllable by raising the pitch a little, as in col-LEK-shun. This works well for us Americans, but emphasizing syllables comes at a price when we use the same speaking pattern on the air.

Especially when we communicate in a noisy environment, or by single-sideband like we do on HF, the background noise can hide important syllables if they're spoken quietly. If we ever find ourselves needing to communicate when it's more critical to be heard well, we might learn quickly that speaking normally might get in the way. Instead, try emphasizing all the syllables you transmit.

For example, if we try and say the call sign K-I-7-A-B-C in phonetics, it might sound like KEE-IN-SEH-AL-BRA-CHAR to the person trying to hear me, because all my non-emphasized syllables might fall below the noise level. Instead, try saying KEE-LO-IN-DEE-UH-SEH-VEN-AL-FUH-BRA-VO-CHAR-LEE, emphasizing ALL the syllables equally. This might seem a little un-natural to you, but might also prevent you from having to repeat yourself so often.

An easy way to practice equal syllabic emphasis is by starting with the number seven and the letter november. Say SEH-VEN and NO-VEM-BURR instead of SEH-vun and no-VEM-burr. Those of us who frequent the HF bands have likely heard people confuse TWO and ZOO-loo. If instead the person said ZOO-LOO, that might have helped a lot.

So, this is yet another example of how you can be heard a little better, without raising your voice or increasing your output power or microphone gain. It's more about sounding clearer.
How to use a microphone [link] [PDF]
People love hearing you when you come through sounding loud and clear. Sometimes, anything less might be out of your control at the moment, such as your location or your radio power level or a better antenna. But one thing that you usually have control of, to help you sound better, is the way you speak into your microphone. And the way you speak into your 'mic' (pronounced mike) often depends on the type you're using and its features.

A ham radio microphone is built a little differently than one for a cell phone, because it's designed to pick up a somewhat different frequency set and sound quality than a cell mic is. Locate your little microphone hole, if that's what your radio presents to you, like with most built-in and hand mics. Most desk mics have a much more obvious interface.

Built-in mic
A typical HT has a microphone implanted somewhere in its face. Get your mouth as close to the mic hole as you can get it, then speak with a slightly louder-than normal volume. Also, speak across the mic, instead of blowing directly into it, to prevent puffing. If you're using a Baofeng radio and are feeling brave, remove the face of the HT body and drill out the mic hole to about an eighth of an inch.

Hand mic
Keep your mouth one to three inches away from your mic, then speak with normal loudness. Speak across the mic, instead of blowing directly into to. If you're using a Baofeng or TYT hand mic, you might want to take the mic apart and drill out the mic hole to about an eighth of an inch, then surround the little mic with a couple of cotton balls. Also, try and keep still while you speak. It's easy to fidget while transmitting, which can result in sending everybody an annoying crackling, crunching sound.

Desk mic
Keep your mouth one to three inches away from your mic, then speak with normal loudness. You're free to speak directly into to the mic, because most have a built-in puff shield. Even so, avoid blowing air into the mic as much as you can. Avoid picking up a desk mic while you're transmitting, which can result in everybody hearing the annoying stretching and rubbing of your mic cord.

Microphone features
Many microphones have settings and other features that let you control the quality of your audio, but those are typically confined to hand and desk microphones. Here are some controls, along with their suggested settings, that might apply to your mic:
• VOX (voice-activated transmit) : turn it off, unless you're certain you want to use it, and know how to
• mic gain : keep it turned down below 35%
• speech processor or compression : disable this feature unless you're on SSB (single sideband) and know how to use it to your advantage
• AGC (automatic gain control) : keep this control set to SLOW
• volume control and squelch have no effect on how you sound to others

No matter what kind of mic you're using, there are ways to improve your sound quality by remembering a few simple tips. Make sure you sound as good as you should, by requesting an audio check on the air. Honest feedback on your audio will often provide the best results, and might even contradict some of the guidelines just listed here. And get a second opinion; two sets of objective ears are sometimes better than one from a biased friend. Just keep in mind that their ears are not your ears, and so your own assessment or preferences might differ from theirs.

Probably one of the best ways to know how you sound is for somebody to record your transmission, then send you the audio file. Or you can get on the WebSDR and listen for yourself, although the timing on that can be a bit tricky. Finally, don't talk with your mouth full or while shuffling papers or with music playing in the background.
Handheld radio accessories [link] [PDF]
Whether you plan to use your radio for a family road trip or a local emergency, chances are, you'll be using an HT (handheld transceiver) at one time or another. On one hand, these little units can pack a real punch when you need them; on the other hand, their miniature and portable nature often causes us to forget how limited they can be without extra added gear they might need.

Let's list some of the accessories that can help your HT, or help you when operating your HT. Since this training is meant to complement a handheld radio, I'm going to assume that you've already got one, so these things are in addition to your HT. Also, these are only suggestions, so some of them might not be as applicable to you, as for another ham:
• A better antenna than the one that came with your HT, such as
  • A Signal Stick
  • A whip antenna
  • A telescopic whip
  • A Slim Jim antenna
  • A roll-up J-pole antenna
• An external microphone
• An earpiece or ear bud
• Additional power sources, such as
  • An alkaline sled, which is a battery case filled with alkaline batteries
  • An extra rechargeable battery, like Li-ion, NiMH, LiFePO₄, and more
  • A charger, if you believe you'll be near an AC outlet, or a battery eliminator, if you're in a vehicle
  • A portable solar panel and charge controller, with appropriate cabling and DC connectors
• A programming cable (and therefore, maybe even your laptop)
• A belt clip (for the radio)
• A lapel clip (for the microphone)
• A chest strap or gear organizer
• Spares for any of the above

And here are a few things not related to ham radio, that might help while you're using your HT:
• A flashlight or desk light or headlamp
• Pen and paper
• A permanent marker
• An umbrella, for either rain or sun

Finally, do you need to rush out and purchase all of these things this very week? Of course not. You decide which accessories make the most sense for you to use, then gradually build up your equipment arsenal as you have the means to do so. Also, with experience, you'll find that your equipment wish list will mature, allowing you to pick the right gear for your circumstances, and maybe others that we haven't listed.

Alright, let's hear your thoughts. Any accessories I haven't mentioned?
Working your VFO [link] [PDF]
Just about every modern ham radio has two operating modes: Memory (also known as Channel) mode and VFO (also known as Frequency) mode. Memory or Channel mode is merely a set of memory channels that have a number of frequencies stored in them, along with the appropriate settings for each, such as offset, tone, and power level. You select each by simply scrolling through the stored channels. VFO or Frequency mode, however, doesn't quite work the same way, and it's often convenient to understand how to work it.

VFO stands for variable-frequency oscillator, which simply means that this mode will allow you to set your radio to almost any arbitrary frequency and other parameters needed for any desired type of operation on that frequency. That's useful for manually tuning to a frequency, setting the parameters, and testing it before you commit it to a memory channel. Even though VFO mode is a kind of *scratch pad* location to get a frequency set up, most radios will preserve those settings in VFO, so that, after you turn off your radio, and then power it up again later, all the information you put into VFO will still be there.

Here are some of the parameters that can be set for a particular frequency:
• repeater offset
• repeater shift direction, such as plus, minus, or off
• ARS, which stands for automatic repeater shift, when it's on, will automatically set your frequency offset and shift direction for *standard* repeater frequencies
• tone mode, such as TONE, TSQL, CSQ, DCS, and CTCSS
• tone frequency
• power level
• squelch level
• bandwidth, meaning wide or narrow
Also, for HF radios:
• signal mode, such as AM, FM, LSB, USB, CW, and RTTY
• split, to indicate different transmit and receive frequencies
A number of other settings can be saved in memory, some can't, depending on the radio model, but these are among the important ones.

As you can see, it might be difficult to remember all of the necessary settings, so it'll take a little time and practice on your part, to manually set up your VFO set correctly for a given frequency on your particular radio. Once you get it set up right, you can then store the frequency and all the details in a memory channel, so that you can retrieve it later in Memory or Channel mode.

It's helpful to know how to manipulate and program your VFO when you need to, without needing to rely on a manual or another person. Yes, it's one more thing to learn, about amateur radio, but can be convenient, so that you're not always dependent on somebody else to program your radio for you, especially when you're not near a computer.

Alright, let's hear from you. What are your thoughts or questions about working VFO mode?
You might want to install an outdoor antenna soon [link] [PDF]
If you're relatively new to ham, you probably use a handheld radio with a stock antenna that we call a rubber duck, or a whip antenna, such as one by Nagoya, Signal Stuff, or even ABBREE. That antenna might actually have served you well, for the most part, but once in awhile, it seems you just aren't able to hit a repeater that others seem to reach easily. You might also find that you need to either move to that sweet spot in your house, where you get the best signal reports, or go outside.

There's nothing like an antenna that's sticking up over your roof, to get your little signal out as far as your radio can throw it. An outdoor antenna is almost worth its weight in gold, and has the ability to send your voice to distant lands, or at least out of the county. You've no doubt noticed that you can hear others just fine, using your whip antenna indoors, but for them to hear you is often a different story. Having that outdoor antenna can not only improve your radio experience, it can be yet another step in your preparedness lifeline.

Type and care
There are many outdoor antennas to choose from, that you can connect to your handheld radio, and most work very well. If you wonder which you should get, talk to other hams in your club or your neighborhood, to see what they use and recommend. A Pockrus J-pole is probably the best-performing antenna you can get for the price. It doesn't need to be tall or large to serve you well, but in general, the taller the better. You're going to need a length of coax and a pigtail or adapter, to connect your radio to that antenna.

Your outdoor antenna and coax will get wet, and chances are, it's made for rain and snow and ice, so getting wet shouldn't be a problem. The part you don't want to get wet is your connector, between your coax and your antenna. Most connectors aren't waterproof, and need some sort of protection from inclement weather. If you wrap your connector tightly with self-sealing silicone tape, it'll remain free from damaging moisture. Most modern coaxial cable is outfitted with jackets that are protected from damaging ultraviolet radiation, so that's not typically a concern today.

Alternatives
It's true that many people, for whatever reason, aren't able to install an antenna outside their homes. Turns out, however, that there are alternatives, though not ideal, that can still help get your signal out farther than an indoor whip antenna. One approach is to install the Pockrus J-pole in your attic. If worse comes to worse, you can lean your Pockrus J-pole antenna against a window or sliding glass door. Another alternative is to place a stealth Ed Fong antenna on your roof, because it blends in with all the other pipes sticking out up there. Another possibility is to mount a vertical antenna on a flagpole out in your front or side yard.

So, there are ways to make your signal heard father away than what your little rubber duck can do for you. Ideally, it's an outdoor antenna on your roof, but there are alternatives for those who aren't able to put one out in public view.

Let's hear your thoughts. Do you have any questions or comments about installing or using an outdoor antenna?
An antenna on your vehicle [link]
Many hams enjoy the convenience of using ham radio in their vehicles, whether that means holding a standalone HT, or a hand microphone attached to a mobile radio that's mounted to the front console. In either case, the largest contributor to the success of your transmissions will be your antenna.

It's very possible to use your handheld radio inside your vehicle, but if its antenna is also inside the vehicle, you might find that your car's metal body will prevent much of your radio's signal from getting out. Even placing your radio and its antenna near a window is not a perfect solution, and can be a little awkward when you're driving.

Install an external antenna
Probably the best thing you can do, to improve your signal strength outside your vehicle is to drill or punch a hole in your car's beautiful roof and install a through-hole mount for an appropriate mobile antenna. But if it's not in your plans to blemish a good paint job, there are alternatives that can work nearly as well. Some of these include a magnetic mount (mag-mount for short), a trunk lip-mount, and a bracket mount. Many hams have had a lot of success using these alternative vehicle mounts.

A mag-mount is possibly the simplest alternative that works well. You can temporarily place it on your vehicle's metal body, then remove it when you need to. But there are a few drawbacks to mag-mounted antennas you should be aware of. You still need to find a way to route the coaxial cable into your cabin without damaging the coax jacket. One way to do this is to slip it under the weatherstripping of a door. Another thing to be aware of, is that, because the antenna does not have a direct metal-to-metal connection with the vehicle body, its signal strength will be somewhat compromised, compared with one that comes in direct contact. A third thing to take care of is the magnetic base movement on the body surface, which can scratch the paint surface over time.

A trunk-lip mount uses set screws to pin its mounting bracket onto a trunk lid, rear hatch, hood edge, or other places where the thin metal closes onto the vehicle body. This mount can be quite secure, but is also subject to a little signal compromise, because its bracket and set screws don't penetrate the paint enough to make a direct metal connection. A bracket mount is possibly the best alternative to the through-hole mount, because its mounting screws bore right into the metal body, under the hood or trunk of your vehicle. With either of these mounts, you can route the coax inside the vehicle, instead of through a door, but can be a little tricky, depending on your vehicle model.

Use any radio you want
Once you've installed your choice of external vehicle antenna, feel free to connect any radio you want to it, whether that's a handheld or a mobile radio. You might find that your external antenna will make your little HT sound like a big base station, and that your listeners might not be able to tell you're talking on a small handheld.

Any questions or comments about installing or using an external vehicle antenna? Let's hear from you.
The importance of antenna orientation [link] [PDF]
No matter what kind of radio or antenna you're using, one thing to keep in mind for effective communication is for you and your friend to send and receive radio waves that are aligned the same way. This is known as signal polarization. In order for you two to make your signal polarizations match, you both need to have the same antenna orientation. Orientation is simply the physical alignment of your antenna relative to the up-and-down pull of gravity, while polarization refers to the alignment of a radio signal.

Most of our communication using HTs, and mobile radios, and through repeaters require a vertical orientation of our antennas, meaning they are pointed either up or down. This is because most repeater and vehicle-mounted antennas are fixed pointed upwards. Then again, if you're talking with a friend on simplex, and his antenna is pointed horizontally, like to the side, you'll need to point your antenna to the side as well, to allow for the best signal reception between you two.

If your antenna is not oriented the same as that of the repeater or your friend, only a portion of your signals will be received by each other. It's a little like trying to melt a popsicle in the sun shining through the blinds; you'll probably get the most coverage by holding the popsicle sideways, rather than up-and-down, because it'll match the orientation of the sun's rays through the blinds better. You might find that many hams using HTs will suddenly sound better, as they turn their radios so that their antennas are pointed up.

An additional advantage of having a vertical orientation is that you don't need to worry about which direction the repeater or your friend is, in relation to your antenna, while with a horizontal orientation you'll need to face the flat side of your antenna to them.

One last thing about antenna orientation. Make sure you don't point your antenna at your friend, or your signal might not he heard at all.

Let's hear from you. Any thoughts about antenna orientation?
VHF / UHF equipment FAQ [link] [PDF]
Many of us who are new to ham radio, get our start using the 2-meter band, which is a subset of the VHF band. This means frequencies starting with 14, such as 146.520, but this Q&A can be applied to the UHF band as well. Simply put, this is a short list of many of the questions that you, as a new ham, might ask:

Do I need to get a better radio?
If your HT (handheld transceiver) has been working well for you, maybe not. But if you believe a little extra power can help you get your signal out farther, then a mobile radio, used as a desktop base, might be what you need. Then again, if your signal is not reaching others as well as you hope it would, you might benefit by investing in a better antenna.

Should I log my contacts?
You can, if you want to, but you might find that it'll become somewhat tedious, due to the numerous contacts you'll make on VHF and UHF. Logging is an activity that’s typically more appropriate on the HF bands, which tend to lend themselves better to making international or rare contacts.

Do I need to get a tuner?
If you have a store-bought antenna, you will not need to purchase a tuner, unless there's something wrong with your antenna, in which case you should just replace your antenna. If you're using a home-built VHF / UHF antenna, you only need to install a home-made matching device, if it needs tuning.

Do I need to get a watt meter or an SWR meter?
While it won't hurt to purchase a meter, you really won't need one. Typically, your radio's power output is set to particular levels, and the only time you might need to monitor that or your antenna system SWR, is when your antenna is not performing well, in which case it might be more beneficial to purchase a better antenna.

Should I purchase an amplifier?
You could, if you want to, although a VHF amplifier is somewhat hard-to-find. But you'll find that you're better off investing in a better antenna, if you need that extra punch to reach a distant station.

Do I need to get a better antenna?
The answer is a thundering YES! If all you have is a stock antenna, in other words, the antenna that came with your HT, you'll likely do much better with a whip antenna, or even a rooftop antenna connected to your radio by coaxial cable.

Are you sensing a pattern here? As you can see, while not all your questions can be answered by getting hold of a better antenna, purchasing or making one yourself is probably the best first step toward improving your VHF / UHF station.

Ok, let's hear from you. What VHF or UHF equipment questions do you have?
Providing power for your handheld radio [link]
Your HT (which stands for handheld transceiver) likely arrived in a package along with a rechargeable battery. You charged it according to the instructions, you've gotten on the air with it, and you probably feel pretty satisfied with it. But now that you've gotten a little experience, a few questions come to mind about providing power for your little wonder. Like, will you always be able to depend on its battery? Are there special precautions you should take with it? And can you use your HT with another power source?

It's generally safe to leave the radio and battery combination in the charging cradle if the battery is a lithium-ion type, but it's best to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. I don't recommend leaving those with nickel-metal-hydride or ni-cad batteries in the cradle longer than overnight. Resist the urge to transmit while the radio is in the cradle. In many cases, transmitting while charging will not cause problems, but your listeners might complain of a loud buzzing coming from your signal, resulting from RF feedback the cradle can cause.

You can power your HT by what's known as a battery eliminator, which is nothing more than a voltage converter in the shape of your rechargeable battery. Simply replace your battery with one, and plug the other end into your vehicle accessory port, otherwise known as the cigarette lighter socket. This device doesn't typically charge anything, but will provide power to your radio as long as your accessory port is turned on. Then, you can turn on your radio and transmit with it while it's being powered by your vehicle. Another benefit to a battery eliminator is the ability to connect your HT to a large battery not part of your vehicle. This is especially handy when you'd like to power your HT with a battery that's part of your solar setup.

An alkaline battery case, or battery sled as many of us call it, is an empty case that can hold several non-rechargeable batteries, like double-A or triple-A batteries, to replace your rechargeable battery. This is useful for semi-long-term storage because the shelf life of alkaline batteries tend to outlast that of the charge in typical rechargeable batteries. However, many HTs don't have alkaline battery case alternatives yet, so for those models you might want to have two rechargeable batteries charged and on-hand at all times. By the way, be sure to never insert an alkaline case into a charging cradle!

One more thing about battery sleds. The typical HT requires about 7.2 volts to 7.4 volts from its battery. However, some sleds allow you to insert up to six batteries, which amount to six times 1.5 volts, or nine volts, which might exceed your radio's requirement and can damage your radio. If you encounter a sled like this, you can purchase a dummy battery, which is no more than a wire or short circuit in the shape of a battery, that you can insert into the sled, reducing the voltage to five times 1.5 volts, or 7.5 volts, safe enough for your radio.

Let's hear from you. Any other thoughts or precautions about powering your HT?
Upgrading to a higher-power handheld radio [link]
Many of us have seen the ads for HTs (which stands for handheld transceivers) that can deliver 8 watts, 10 watts, or even more. The first question that comes to our minds is, "Is it worth it, to upgrade to a higher-power HT?" I mean, if my little 5-watt radio works ok, an 8-watt radio should work better, right? Well, you'd think so. It turns out that some of these so-called higher-powered HTs don't actually put out the power they claim to, but for a moment, let's assume they do.

After doing some testing on your own, you're likely to find that these higher-powered HTs perform pretty much the same as your old, 5-watt HT. From the same locations as where you're used to, people can hear you just about the same as always, and you can hear them the same too. Where you'll likely notice the difference is when you're in the back-country hiking, and you're on the outer fringes of a repeater, or a person back home or at camp are at the limits of your signal. At those points, a few extra watts can make a little difference.

Where you and I typically use our HTs, neither you nor the others will likely notice much difference in your signal. If you really need to get your signal out farther and clearer, your best bet is investing in a better antenna, rather than a higher-powered HT. If you honestly believe you need the extra power, it might be time to move up to a mobile radio, which can deliver up to 50 watts. But doing so will sacrifice some mobility, since they're larger, heavier, and require an outside power source, such as a big battery.

So, when you see an ad for a higher-powered HT, be sure that the little extra benefit you receive will be worth the extra cost over the HT you already have. Also, you should be a little suspicious if the ad claims the HT can transmit more than ten watts, because today's science can only pack so much punch into an HT battery. Even ten watts will either use up your battery charge quickly or overheat your radio to the point where it might become a little too hot to handle.

What do you think? Would it be worth it, to move up to a higher-powered HT?
Repeater operation terms and phrases [link] [PDF]
Many of us are acquainted with using a repeater, and are familiar with terms associated with repeater operation by amateurs. But, not everybody who's licensed knows them well, and there are some slang and other phrases that are good to know. Here's a quick of some of the more common ones you might encounter:

• A repeater has an input frequency and an output frequency. What you hear from the repeater is from its output frequency, and when you press your PTT, you're sending to its input frequency. The difference between these two frequencies is called the repeater offset.
• To open a repeater means the repeater is able to hear you well enough to perform its repeat function.
• If a person is not able to hit the repeater, it means he's unable to reach the repeater. So, hitting the repeater means the repeater can hear and acknowledge your transmission.
• If you're not in the repeater, it possibly means your radio is not set to the proper repeater offset, or is accidentally on simplex to the repeater output frequency.
• When you hear somebody on the repeater, and there's no background noise or hiss in his audio, it means he's full quieting into the repeater.
• While hearing somebody attempting to talk through a repeater, meaning he's trying to use the repeater, you might hear a syllable here and there, but maybe not a complete sentence, because the signal keeps cutting in and out. We tend to say that he's not holding the repeater, meaning that the repeater can't hear him very well, except for a little here and there.
• Sometimes, you might hear somebody who's tying up the repeater, meaning that he and a friend are talking on it so long that others who might want to use it have little chance to use it for themselves.
• And it's possible for the person who's talking on the repeater so long to time out the repeater, which causes its time-out timer to terminate the repeat function and reboot or reset the repeater.
• If that happens too much, it can cause the repeater to go down, until the repeater trustee or owner can reset it manually.
• Many repeaters are linked together by the internet or other means. We call that a repeater system, and the repeater you use to get onto that system is a linked repeater.
• There are times when you might want to communicate on the repeater output frequency, which is called talk-around, because you're talking around the repeater and not going through it.
• Finally, a similar operation takes place when you communicate on reverse, meaning you're sending on the repeater output and listening on the repeater input, which is useful in listening for somebody who might be having a difficult time hitting the repeater.

What have you heard? Are there repeater terms that I haven't mentioned?
Become acquainted with nearby repeater systems [link]
[Note: this training is specific to the repeater systems in Utah, but can easily be adapted to those in your own state]

In our area, there are a couple of repeater systems that you might want to acquaint yourself with. A repeater system is two or more repeaters that are linked together in some way, such that transmitting on one will allow you to be heard on the others. In Utah, we have several, but the two main ones that you should familiarize yourself with are the Intermountain Intertie and Sinbad.

The Intermountain Intertie consists of a number of repeaters in Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and of course Utah. In Utah, the Intertie covers primarily the Wasatch Front, along the I-15 corridor. Sinbad consists of Utah repeaters that stretch from Utah County to Vernal, and again down to Castle Dale, a more-or-less east-west triangular pattern. This means it's possible for you to carry on a casual conversation with a friend in Las Vegas, using nothing more than your HT.

A repeater system allows you to travel to some remote locations and remain in contact with others along the same coverage area. Most of the repeaters of a system remain linked to the others full-time, and when you transmit to one of them, all the repeaters in the system will re-transmit your message, so that all who are listening to any of the repeaters on the system can hear you.

To get onto a repeater system, simply pick the nearest system member and call out on it as you would any repeater. But because the repeaters in the system are linked, there will likely be some delay in your transmission, so once you press the PTT, wait a second, begin speaking, then after your last word, wait another second before letting go of the PTT. Likewise, once the other person stops speaking, wait at least two seconds before you press your PTT. Obviously, this'll take some getting used to.

When you're talking on a repeater system, allow for others to share this valuable resource by limiting your talk time to about ten minutes. Be especially patient and courteous when talking, because many people will probably be listening, and it's very easy to double with another operator or miss their message completely, even more so than on a single repeater.

At any given time, a number of people are monitoring these repeater systems, meaning simply that they're listening, in case somebody gets on one of the system repeaters and asks for assistance. There have been several instances in which stranded motorists have used them to call for help or ask for road conditions in a specific part of the state. Most of the time, a newly licensed ham will get on the system and ask a question or two about repeater operation, etiquette, or amateur radio in general. And many times a friendly ham who's been monitoring will answer the call and offer some helpful information. The next time, that helpful ham could be you.

From Utah County, you can access these two popular repeater systems by the following frequencies:

• Intermountain Intertie (from Utah and Salt Lake Counties)
  147.120+ MHz (100.0 Hz tone)
• Sinbad (from Utah County)
  147.080+ MHz (77.0 Hz tone)
• Intermountain Intertie (from Wasatch County)
  147.180+ MHz (100.0 Hz tone)

Did I leave out anything? Let's hear from you.
Operating in a noisy environment [link]
Every summer during Field Day, without fail, a group of excited people will enter your station area and chatter, even loudly. They might not even realize that they're disturbing your ability to complete the contact that you're making at the moment. Sooner or later, it seems we're faced with having to operate our ham radio station in a noisy area. There are basically two ambient noise concerns you might need to address, the one in which you're transmitting, and the one in which you're receiving.

If you've ever set up a radio station outside, you'd know that it's noisy out there, even when it's not. The traffic of the vehicles driving, people shuffling nearby, and even a calm breeze across your microphone can be picked up and carried to your listeners, making it difficult to hear you talking over it. Add a nearby conversation between three or four bystanders, and it sounds near-pandemonium.

The other side of the coin is your ability to hear the person on the radio, sometimes for the same reasons. Whether your radio is a mobile unit or an HT, its little speaker inside the rig can be difficult to hear if it's competing with sounds around your station. Even the seemingly quietest nature surroundings are full of rustling leaves, chirping birds, hushed breezes, babbling brooks, and overhead aircraft.

What can you do? It might be a good idea to invest in a pair of headphones. Some suggest noise-canceling headphones, as long as they're comfortable and inexpensive. Another thing you can do is speak louder into the microphone, or at least closer. You can try silently signalling others nearby to quiet down.

If the ambient noise is just too much for either you or your listeners to handle, you might consider going indoors, and running a coax to an outdoor antenna, if possible. Even setting up your station in a tent or behind a wall or tarp seems to help considerably. You can try cupping your hands around the microphone, but that tends to give some mics a tinny or muffled sound.

Finally, telling everybody around you to shut up is probably not going to win you a lot of friends, even though it might be what you feel like doing at the moment. As difficult as it might be at times, take a deep breath, calm yourself down, and approach people's noisy chatter by a more silent way, like placing your index finger over your lips.

Are there other ways to reduce the noise in either direction? Let's hear from you.
Avoid double-keying [link]
You might have done this yourself. After you speak on the radio, you released your PTT, then remembered that you needed to add one more thought, and pressed your PTT again to say what you just remembered. Well, that's not so bad, right? I mean, we do it all the time on the phone. And I suppose that's where the habit comes from, because we're so used to speaking in full-duplex, which is that you and I can talk and hear each other at the same time.

This is a small annoyance known as double-keying. It can be irritating to the person you're speaking with, especially if that other person believes it's his or her turn to speak. The result is often that you two will be speaking on the radio at the same time, and unlike with a phone conversation, neither of you will have heard the other. Of course, this'll require your friend to repeat what he or she just said.

Avoiding double-keying takes a little practice and a little patience. When you say something on the radio, then release your PTT, resist the temptation to press the PTT again, and train yourself to wait for the other person to respond before pressing yours. This might not come naturally, because we don't talk that way, and we don't use a PTT button when we're on the phone.

It's very possible that what you have to add at the end of your transmission is very important. Is it important enough to stomp on your friend's transmission and cancel everything he or she said? Probably not. Now, are there times when double-keying is acceptable? Yes, if, for example, you're delivering a training topic or telling a story over the repeater, it's very acceptable to un-key, pause for a second, then resume, because nobody is expected to speak next except you. (By the way, there's no need to say anything like pause for reset, although there's no problem with saying it either.)

How can we better-avoid this little habit? Let's hear from you.
Perform regular maintenance on your ham radio gear [link]
Because our ham radio hardware is mostly physical and man-made, it's subject to become dirty, wet, damaged, and could eventually malfunction. By simple usage, our equipment endures wear and tear, and might even start brandishing a less-than-new appearance. So, it's probably wise to take some steps and care for your stuff. Here are a few tips to help you maintain your hard-earned ham gear:

Regular
• Check the charge state of your batteries often.
• Check the ends of the cords for hand-microphones, to make sure they aren't frayed or showing any bare wires.
• Examine your coax for cuts, pinches, bite marks, frayed ends, and showing bare wires. Also examine the connectors for excessive corrosion or water intrusion.
• While it's typically alright for your antenna to become wet with water, check whether your other radio gear has any liquid spilled on it, and make sure you keep it dry.
• Clean and disinfect your desk mics and hand mics after others have used them.
• If you loan out your equipment to others, good for you! It might be a good idea to look it over when it gets returned, however.
• Blow the dust out of your fans, like in your power supply and transceiver, if you have them.
• Inspect your rooftop antenna for bends and breaks after a storm or high winds.
• Trim overhead branches that might grow close to your antenna.
• If you have them, check your guy wires for wear or fraying due to wind, water, and UV (ultraviolet) light damage.

Ongoing
• Avoid taking your radio equipment outside. Ok, taking it outside might actually be the reason you got into amateur radio. So, keep it away from dust and water as much as you reasonably can.
• Avoid taking your radio into a highly humid environment, such as your shower or a sauna, which can damage your paper speaker cone.
• For your handheld radio, stand it up if possible, or lay it face-down if you can't stand it up, to prevent dust from collecting on its screen and scratching it.
• Speaking of handheld radios standing, it's typically ok to leave it upright in its charging cradle if its battery type is not an NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) or NiCd (nickel-cadmium).
• Be sure to keep your handheld radio turned off when it's sitting in the charging cradle.
• Keep telescoping antennas in their fully retracted position when you're not using it.

Extended (you haven't used it for months)
• Check the knobs and buttons to make sure they move as they should, and are not stuck.
• Check its programming and settings to be sure they're as expected.
• If dust has collected on your stuff, lightly dust or clean it off to prevent scratching and shorting electrical components.

One of the reasons we hold nets is to provide you with a means and an excuse to check your station equipment regulary, to ensure it's ready for action. It's also a good idea to check your equipment after it's been subject to dropping or heavy handling, like during travel or shipping.

Do you have any other maintenance tips to add?
You might want to display numbers [link] [PDF]
During the lives of most hams, there comes a time when each must decide how programmed channels are displayed on their radio. The overwhelming majority of transceivers will only display the channel name, the channel number, or the frequency, but not a combination of them. When faced with choosing one or another, most operators tend to select the channel name (also known as the alphanumeric tag) as their choice of display, because the six-digit numerals are not very meaningful to them.

Before too long, it becomes apparent to many of these same operators that the labels are not standardized, in spite of some published Standard Load lists. In a hurry, the operator might call a friend and ask to quickly turn to the “ABCXYZ” channel for example, only to find that the friend has no such name programmed in his or her radio. In order to get on the same page, they both switch their displays to show the frequencies instead, coordinate by frequency numbers, and the two can begin communicating by radio.

It turns out that the six-digit frequency is the only thing everybody can agree on. The suggestion here, however, is not necessarily to resign yourself to seeing displays of numerals for the rest of your life, but to find an easy way for you to connect your names or channel numbers with their frequencies. One way of doing this is by keeping a nearby paper list handy. A paper might seem awkward, old-school, and prone to getting lost or damaged, but it does work for many operators.

Another is by purchasing a radio that can display both the channel name and frequency for each channel. Unfortunately, that feature is rare, and typically only found on a few mobile units and a few expensive handheld models. For them, simply use computer software to associate the names with their frequencies, then upload the programming to the radio.

Also, when displaying names of repeaters on the radio, people tend to forget which label goes to which repeater. If the frequency is displayed, it's easy to verify the correct one, whether the offset and tone are enabled, and which shift direction is being used. If a friend is in need of a specific repeater frequency, you won't need to fumble with the menu to place your radio into the NAME mode to see it.

Finally, whether you set your radio to display names or frequencies is completely up to your comfort level, and you might never experience the problems just mentioned. Neither way is the right way or the wrong way, but it's something you might want to think about.

Let's hear from you. Any thoughts about displaying numerals instead of words?

Personal training topics

Ham radio best practices [link] [PDF]
The wide world of ham radio might still be somewhat new to you, and you want to jump into it with both feet, so you're bound to make a few mistakes here and there, but that's alright. Still, to play nicely with everybody else, here are a few tips, good habits, and even unwritten rules, to help you avoid little pitfalls and maybe some embarrassment:

Radio etiquette

• After pressing your PTT button, wait about ½ second before speaking, especially if you're communicating through a repeater
• When speaking into your microphone, try talking across its face, rather than blowing directly into it (some call that puffing)
• Place your hand microphone about two or three inches from your mouth when transmitting, but stay within an inch of your built-in microphone
• When using a handheld radio with a whip or rubber duck antenna, try and keep the antenna pointed upward when you're transmitting
• When announcing your call sign along with that of another ham, the rule is to put yourself last, as in KR5LYS, this is KI7ABC if your call sign is KI7ABC
• While it's customary to call out CQ on HF bands, it's best practice on the 2-meter and 70-cm bands to announce your call sign instead, especially on a repeater
• If another ham points out a problem with your transmission ("you're sounding a little scratchy"), always assume the problem is with you (location, orientation, power too low, etc.) or your equipment first, and always admit your mistakes
• If you'd like to jump into an ongoing conversation, avoid using the word break; instead, say your call sign between their transmissions
• After your contact releases his PTT button, allow one to two seconds before you press yours, in case another person wants to join the conversation or has an emergency
• Avoid kerchunking, which is repeatedly pressing and releasing your PTT button without announcing your call sign; it's not only illegal, but irritating to others, especially those listening on a repeater
• When speaking through a repeater, try and keep your conversations to under a few minutes

Personal reminders

• While it's not always possible, try and make your conversations positive and upbeat; sounding positive attracts friends, while negative comments tend to turn other hams away from you, even if you mean well
• Don't react like you're offended just because another ham can't remember your name or call sign
• If another ham does offend you, let it go; don't retaliate or try and belittle the other ham for it; be the adult in the encounter, even if you're a kid
• Be considerate of your contact's time, and minimize dead-air time by at least thinking of what you're going to say before you key up; and while it's fun to use your PTT button, don't forget that it's also an RTL (release-to-listen) button
• Avoid making insulting or disparaging remarks about others on the air; what people hear you say about others, they'll also believe you'll say about them
• Within reason, avoid burping, coughing, sniffing, clearing your throat, smacking your lips, and making other bodily or disgusting noises on the air

Equipment habits

• When storing your HT for later use, like in a grab-and-go bag or bin, use alkaline instead of rechargeable batteries, and keep the battery case removed from the radio until you need to use it
• Make sure your radio is programmed with an appropriate frequency list before you stash it away, but be sure to accompany it with a card or sheet to remind you of what the frequencies or channel names are for
• Learn how to manually program your radio; you might not know when you need to travel through a location where there is no cell signal available for your phone or tablet

A final word about these best practices: when you hear mistakes made by another ham, it's not your job to jump on the air and correct the person. Just let it go. If you feel that he or she really ought to know, however, try and reach out by cell or email, instead of dressing the person down in front of three hundred others.
Be agreeable [link] [PDF]
When you're approached by people who say something contrary to what you want to hear, or do something that doesn't precisely meet your approval, it's often easier to point out their seemingly incorrect thinking than to try and see things from their perspective. Instead, agree with others at every opportunity. Avoid telling them they're wrong, if at all possible. For example,

Person asks, Should I go to Center Street to help them?
Rather than say, No, I need you over at 100 N.
Instead say, That's a great idea, but I could use your help more on 100 N.
(Say Yes instead of No)

Person asks, Is my radio offset correct?
Rather than say, No, it needs to be 600 kHz.
Instead say, Try setting it to 600 kHz.
(Turn your answer into a positive comment by avoiding a Yes or No answer altogether)

Person asks, Do you need any help?
Rather than say, No, but thanks for asking.
Instead say, Thanks for asking! I believe I've got it under control.
(Be grateful for the help or idea and avoid using the word but to point out additional facts. People are quick to pick up on your but exceptions, as this next extreme and silly example illustrates)

Person asks, Do you like my hat?
Rather than say, I do, but you have something in your teeth right here.
Instead say, I do like your hat! By the way, you have something in your teeth right here.
(In this silly example, complete the affirmation without reservation, I do like your hat! Then, start another, unrelated topic if you need to, You have something in your teeth...)

Yes language is an art form that seldom comes naturally, and often takes some practice. Family members, friends, and hams, tend to be good, well-meaning people who want to feel like their portion of the discussion or situation is valuable and worthwhile. Your acknowledgment of that contribution can mean the difference between them feeling very small and worthless, and them feeling motivated to further help and improve, and contribute even more.

When we assume that people are intelligent, and recognize that they mean well by trying to do and say good things, it becomes a little easier to see their perspective and acknowledge their contribution to the situation. This applies to emergency communication, radio talk, and everyday conversation. The more non-negative you sound, the more others are attracted to you and want to be around you or listen to you.
Help others improve their signal [link]
There are times when you're running a net, or you're trying to communicate with somebody by radio, and he's difficult to hear, for whatever reason. On one hand, you don't want to sound too critical of the person; after all, he's a new ham, and at least he's trying to get his signal out there. But, assuming he's open to ideas and help (most new hams are), what kinds of helpful suggestions can you offer? Depends on what the issues are and other factors. Here's a list of things you can pick-and-choose from, that might be helpful.

Things that can make his audio difficult-to-hear:
• His little radio might not be set on high power
• He might have a rubber duck or some other poor antenna
• His batteries might be running low

Things you can help him with right now:
• He's in a poor location — ask him to try moving a couple of feet to one side or the other, or go outside or at least get out of the basement
• He might be blocked by his house walls — ask him to move near a window
• He might sound as though his signal is repeatedly strong and then scratchy — ask him to not move around quite so much, if possible
• His antenna orientation might be wrong — ask him to point it upward
• He might sound garbled or distorted — ask him to back his mouth away from his microphone an inch or two
• He might sound too quiet — ask him to get as close to the microphone as possible, then speak louder, clearer, and to not allow his voice volume to trail off at the end of the sentence
• He might be transmitting a loud alternator whine — if the whine is loud enough to compete with his audio, ask him to turn off the engine, if possible
• Does he know where his microphone hole is?
• He might be puffing or blowing into his microphone — ask him to speak at the side of the radio or microphone
• He might sound as though he's got a loose connection — ask him to make sure his antenna is securely connected

Things he can do later:
• Get a better antenna
• Get a better microphone
• Install a tiger tail
• Get a longer-lasting battery

If you believe another ham can hear him better than you can, you might want to ask for a relay of his message. As they say in amateur radio, if you can't hear 'em, you can't work 'em, meaning you need to be heard by others, so that they can communicate with you. By the way, asking people to modify their microphone gain will actually have little effect on making them sound louder or better for several reasons, especially if they're on an HT.
Be brief when it's your turn [link] [PDF]
Let's face it...you probably love the sound of your own voice, and can listen to it for hours. Unfortunately, not everybody shares your love for your voice. For many of us, it's easy to get a bit long-winded and start rambling, especially when we're not sure what to say, how to say it, or when to ask for some help on a thought. In short, be brief, but within reason.

Common courtesy
Unlike with cell phones, when you're on the radio, you have a captive audience. I mean, as long as you're talking, there's no way for the others listening to interrupt you or stop you. Are you certain that what you have to say is that much more important than what the other person is saying? Yes, you have a lot to share, but practice common courtesy, and allow others a chance to speak their minds as well.

If you ever notice that the person (or the others in your group) you're talking with, take a lot less time when it's their turn, than you do when it's yours, chances are they're less interested in what you have to say than you think they are. In other words, that might be your clue to either change the subject or take less time when it's your turn.

This is not to say you need to limit your turn at the mic to two-word sentences; in fact, you should feel free to speak. Just think about what you're going to say, then try and consolidate it to a concise sentence, that's all. Sometimes it's just not practical to cut your statement shorter, and that's alright too. The point is to use good judgment and be considerate of other people's time.

Practical reasons
Most radios include a feature known as a time-out timer (or transmit overtime on some transceivers), often labeled TOT, and is typically set for 60 to 120 seconds. Its purpose is to prevent your signal from being transmitted for longer than it should. One reason to limit your transmission time is to prevent "timing out the repeater" or exceeding the repeater's own time-out timer, which is typically set to between three and ten minutes.

If you should ever time out the repeater, the repeater will reset, and possibly reboot its controller, which can take several minutes to revive, preventing everybody from accessing the repeater during that time. If your station has a "stuck mic" or a microphone whose PTT does not release, the repeater might reset repeatedly. If this should happen two or more times within a short period, the repeater could remain "down" until the control operator can revive it remotely. (A hand microphone PTT can get stuck in the "on" position if it's accidentally wedged between the vehicle seat folds, for example.)

If you're involved in an emergency service, like ARES, it's good to practice being concise and to the point anyway. During a callout or even a drill, your communication needs to pack more meaning in a few words than the way you normally speak. People's lives can be at stake if you take too long to make your point.

Guidelines
Here are a few tips that might help you to be brief on the radio:
• Try and keep your transmissions down to about thirty seconds, give or take
• If you think you're getting close to your thirty seconds, release the PTT for a second and resume speaking, if you're telling a story or a long joke
• If you can't think of what to say, release the PTT
• Similar to the previous point, if you find yourself saying "and, uh..........um.........um....." a lot, that's also a good time to release the PTT

Finally
By the way, here's a little-known fact: your PTT button doubles as an RTL button. RTL stands for release to listen, so while you can press it to talk, you can also release it to listen.
And from an old Chinese proverb,
He that speaketh little, thinketh much. And he that thinketh little, speaketh much.
Lighten up [link] [PDF]
We hold amateur radio licenses that are issued by the FCC, meaning the federal government. That privilege is therefore accompanied by a degree of natural seriousness, and rightly so. Yet, can an operator maintain a degree of professionalism on the radio, and still enjoy it?

It was our privilege to hear Riley Hollingsworth K4ZDH, former ARRL Chief Counsel and former FCC Special Counsel on Amateur Radio Enforcement, speak to us in our monthly club meeting recently. His message had multiple topics, but included a warning against taking radio so seriously. He said, Lighten up.

Cut to the chase
We amateurs need to realize that we're not the police, we're not the military, and we don't run tactical for the fire department, at least not while we're operating in an amateur capacity. It's alright that you expect some strict discipline from yourself; just don't insist that others follow the same way of operating.
• Avoid correcting another ham on the air, unless it's important, and you can tactfully and kindly help the person. If an operator happens to say broadcast instead of transmit, or forgets to ID, remember that you're not the ham police, and more than likely, he's not a ham criminal.
• If alternate phonetics, military jargon, or a CB word rubs you the wrong way, let it go.
• There's no need to repeat yourself, if you feel that you might have missed or mis-spoken something. Your listeners want you to succeed.
• It's alright to be light-hearted and joke around on the radio. Remember, however, that sexual innuendo and suggestive remarks have no place on amateur airwaves.

Experience is key
With practice, you'll come to understand just how far to take humor, how far to look away from a supposed offense, and the right words to use, when you help somebody on the air. Meanwhile, it's alright to stumble and mess up. Acknowledge your mistakes, and all will be forgiven.

Many hams are humble enough to accept your unsolicited advice, but a few are not. Often, it's more tactful and less embarrassing to offer to call the person on the phone, so you can work on issues outside the earshot of others.

Furthermore, others listening to you give the unwanted advice might become silently irritated at your counsel. It requires time and good judgment on your part to distinguish helpful guidance (If you get near a window, your signal might get out better) and advice that's not as useful (If I were you, I'd throw away that radio and get an Icom).

Let's have fun
Experiment, play with the radio, announce your name and call sign on the repeater, call out on the radio for somebody to talk with, challenge another ham to get on and talk with you, change frequencies, find some common ground to discuss. Very few on-air conversations are about radio; they tend to be about family, work, school, sports, and the weather, making radio the tool it was intended to be.

After all that's been said and done, let's enjoy the craft. Amateur radio might not be everybody's definition of fun, but the more pleasant we make it, the more new folks are apt to make the scary attempt and get on the air, and the more experienced folks are apt to get on and ask questions or volunteer their time.

What do you think? Are we sometimes too serious? Any other thoughts about lightening up? Let's hear from you.
Be an elmer [link] [PDF]
The meaning of the word elmer is known to many hams as a mentor or tutor who offers personal guidance, technical knowledge, assistance, and encouragement to ham radio operators. Let me explain how you can be an elmer to others, or in other words, how to elmer. By the way, the term “elmer” was coined almost by accident, in a March 1971 QST article.

Kindness
Above all other attributes, make kindness your guiding principle in every conversation. If a new ham asks you a very basic question, or one that you're simply tired of repeatedly answering, either answer the question politely, or tell him you'd rather answer at another time. It's not kind to remind the person that he or she should have already known the answer from the exam or study materials, because many of us have probably forgotten more than we remember, and very few of us passed the exam with a perfect score. Refrain from simply telling people that they should have Googled it or to read the manual, because they likely have already done that. And criticism has no place in the conversation of an elmer.

Patience
You might not be aware that the person you're helping has a learning impairment, is highly self-conscious, or is otherwise disabled in some way. Working with some can test your patience, so try never to speak sharply or harshly to them; speak in a kind voice. Avoid correcting the person's mistakes, if at all possible; instead, present another point of view. For example, if the new ham states that a dipole is made of two half-wave length elements, simply state that you tend to find better results when you cut them to quarter-wave lengths.

Be reachable
Every so often, turn on your radio and announce that you're monitoring, indicating that you're willing to converse with whomever is listening. We live busy lives, and don't have time for every person who wants our attention. But, if you do make time for, and befriend one or two hams you don't know, your generosity will pay off.

Set the example
Whether you're helpful or otherwise, people hear you and see you in action, and they look to you for an example of what an experienced ham should say and do. As impossible as it might be at times, try never to be negative on the radio; be positive. Never berate anybody or resort to personal attacks or name-calling; instead, build them up. Be agreeable, even when you don't agree with them. When you sense a pointless argument brewing, stand down.

Humility
You can tell by now that you don't need to know a lot, to elmer others; even the newest licensee has something to teach and share with the rest of us. Still, none of us knows everything, and there is no shame in saying that we weren't aware of a technical detail or a particular situation. People tend to have greater respect for those who can admit that they're wrong. Refer the ham to another who is better qualified to answer a question.

Finally
So, does being an elmer describe you? Of course it does, and down deep you know that's true. You have a lot that the rest of us can benefit from. Don't be afraid to take a person under your proverbial wing, and kindly show him or her how to elmer too.

Anything you'd like to add, about elmering? Let's hear from you.
Share your knowledge to learn more [link]
Many of us look for ways in which we can improve our knowledge of amateur radio without going back to school and getting another college degree or getting drowned in a sea of unnecessary or boring technical material. Ironically, one way you can advance your education is by teaching it, even if you don't feel completely qualified to be an official instructor.

No doubt you've already served as a teacher in one capacity or another, whether that's professionally in a school classroom, or voluntarily as a religious teacher in church, for example. You can leverage some of the skills learned there, in the interest of amateur radio as well. You might also have faced the pressure of giving a talk, making a last-minute presentation, or teaching your child a long-forgotten concept. The result was that your education in the topic was either elevated or renewed, and the same idea applies here. If you want to enhance your amateur radio knowledge, try teaching it.

Here are a few ways in which you can share your ham radio knowledge:
• Be an elmer : Mentor a friend or somebody who's just getting started in ham radio
• Volunteer to present a training topic on a net : Offer to discuss a two-minute idea that you've found valuable
• Teach a ham radio class : With a little preparation, you can use a slide show presentation already made, or create your own
• Write a newsletter article : We're always looking for good ideas to help others come up to speed
• Teach the Radio Merit Badge : You don't need to be a registered counselor to teach radio, only to sign off the badge

When somebody online asks a question, and you believe you know the answer, do your best to provide a helpful reply, even if you're not an expert. Many people are afraid to post answers because they know that many experienced and even professional eyes are watching over their proverbial shoulders, and they often feel like those smart people are ready to pounce on their comments. Well, the fact is, those very knowledgeable folks are hoping for your success, not your failure. They want you to help others so that you can gain the teaching experience (and so they won't have to).

Also, you might prefer the privacy of email or Private Messaging, and those are more good ways of sharing your knowledge with others without being scrutinized by an audience.

Let's hear from you. Are there other ways you can teach ham radio, in an effort to improve your own knowledge?
It's ok to make mistakes [link]
No matter how much of an expert we are, it seems like none of us is exempt from making mistakes on the radio. In fact, we're bound to make mistakes, especially during times when we're trying to help during a drill or even an emergency. But for some of us, the fear of slipping up is crippling enough to prevent us from participating in nets or even get on the radio at all.

If you're one of those who are afraid of the embarrassment that comes with messing up over the air, please understand that you're not alone. You realize that people, often complete strangers, are listening to what you're saying, and that could be a scary thought. But I have some ideas that could help you, not make fewer mistakes, but to feel more comfortable about making the ones that you do.

First, when you're aware of your mess-up, simply apologize, and apologize simply. No need to drag out a request for forgiveness; just admit to it, say you're sorry, and drop it. Your listeners will be forgiving, and will hope that you move on quickly too.

Second, when you hear others make a mistake, it's often best to ignore it. If the mistake is important, like the mis-spoken date of an event, or an incorrect website link, repeat it to them and ask for a clarification. There's no need to criticize the person who made the error, or to make a long, drawn-out deal about it. Let kindness be your guide to correcting others.

Finally, to err is human, but to forgive and overlook mistakes made by others is divine. Try not to allow the fear of making them keep you from throwing your voice out into the airwaves. As one person put it, there are no mistakes, only experience. Remember that you're among friends, not enemies, and all of us are rooting for your success, and will quickly overlook your little mess-ups.

Have you ever attended a recital, at which your young daughter is playing the violin? When you did, were you sitting there, hoping that she would fail or even miss a note here or there? Of course not. You were not only hoping for her successful performance, but maybe even praying for her. While your listeners might not all be praying for you, they will definitely be silently encouraging you.

Anything you'd like to add, about making mistakes? Let's hear from you.
Don't single out women [link]
Some time ago I read online a ham talking about something that happened at one of his local club meetings a few years ago. A new female ham had introduced herself in the meeting, and right away one of the club leadership said something to the effect of, Wow, a lady ham! It's been a while since we had a female join our ranks! I wish more of them would show up! While the excited male ham probably had good intentions, and wanted to welcome the young lady, the new ham felt so embarassed that she never returned.

It's true that the amateur radio world is populated largely by male operators, and it's also true that we want more female operators to join the fun. But one thing you might have discovered over the years is that, for the most part, these good ladies don't want to be treated any differently from anybody else. They want to become part of the communication solution, enjoy this craft, and become good at it, but don't want to be highlighted simply because of their gender.

Occasionally, while listening on HF, every so often you might also hear a young lady ham calling out, CQ! CQ! Right away, dozens of male hams will answer back all at the same time, in hopes of making a contact with her. We refer to that as a pileup, and those tend to happen most when the calling person is located in a rare location, or the caller has a female voice. We often hear this during Field Day, and women do tend to attract the male hams from far away. Honestly, if you're a lonely male ham, I suggest that the ham radio airwaves is probably not the place to look for love.

The bottom line is, please try not to treat female hams any differently than you do male hams. Yes, their often pleasing voices tend to be attractive, especially on our male-dominated frequencies. But they're here to learn and become familiar with their equipment, to make the best use of their new-found hobby. And our job is to help them, not in a condescending or demeaning way, but through kindness and in the spirit of helpfulness, become an elmer to these good folks without making a big deal about the fact that they are women.

Any thoughts about singling out women? Let's hear what you think.
Train yourself to speak slowly and clearly [link]
Many people who have ever taken the opportunity to learn a new language find that, when they attempt to speak with somebody who's native to the language, they're tempted to speak louder, when in fact what's needed is to speak slower and clearer. In radio communicatiion, granted there are times when it's important to speak louder, especially if we have a quiet voice or a low-quality microphone, but the focus here is clarity, not volume.

Because when we're trying to communicate, we want our communications to be heard correctly, the first time. It's typically more helpful to take five seconds to say something slowly, than to take three seconds to rapid-fire say the same thing, only to have the other person ask you to repeat it slower, then for you to finally take the five seconds it should have taken you to begin with, costing everybody an extra seven wasted seconds.

When the situation is urgent, it's natural for humans to hyperventilate, speak faster, and at one octave higher than they normally speak. Overriding this natural behavior takes training, to know that you need to slow down and how to slow down, then to practice actually slowing down. This becomes especially important when you're saying words in phonetics over the radio, because, novice or expert, phonetics is not our daily language, and it takes time for the listener to process each letter.

And then there's speaking clearly. If English is not your native language, or if you have a mild speech impediment, you might need to expend a little more energy than others to say the same things. Again, please use our nets to practice enunciating while you speak. A few people might secretly laugh at you for trying to slowly pronounce every word, but when you're the means of communicating life-giving information to Net Control, they won't be laughing anymore, especially if it's them you're trying to help.

One of the purposes of these nets is to help us become accustomed to speaking on the radio, so that if we ever need to communicate during an emergency, the action of talking a little slower and more clearly becomes second-nature.

What do you think? Anything you'd like to add, about speaking slowly and clearly? Let's hear from you.
Add ham radio to your will [link] [PDF]
After all these many years, you've no doubt acquired quite the collection of amateur radio gear, most of it still very useful. But, some day you’ll be faced with your own mortality, and somebody else will need to do something with all that equipment. If you specify in your will what you'd like done with it, that takes the guesswork out of it. But wait...you do have a will, don't you?

A will is a legal document that informs the living of your intentions for your estate once you die. Your estate is everything you own or have control over, such as your money accounts, property, house, corporate ownership, guardianship, and yes, ham radio gear. It's possible for you to pass away at any time, and without a will, all your belongings can be claimed by people through no choice of your own, or by the state, or even discarded to the local landfill. But that's not the biggest problem solved by a will.

When you leave this mortal life, whom do you expect to pick up the burden of removing all your ham radio equipment? Your spouse? Your local ham radio club? A couple of close friends? Nobody? Whomever they are, they'll need to make some decisions, such as whether to donate the gear or sell it, to clean it or distribute it as-is, to give it away or throw it in the trash. And if they do decide to sell it, will your spouse or relatives know how much they should expect from the sales?

Here are a few things you can do, to prepare for that inevitable day:

• Make a will, and include a section that instructs survivors how to deal with your ham radio equipment
• List in that section the equipment you consider of worth, and how much (in USD today) you believe they're worth if you anticipate them being sold
• List which items can be donated, indicating that the items not listed can be trashed (as valuable as you think your DIY equipment is, most people will not want to inherit much of what you've made)
• Indicate who should take care of distributing your equipment (this can be a very heavy burden for your spouse, by the way), or allow the Executor to assign somebody
• Label your equipment, whether it's of worth or not (including the mods made to them), so that it's clear what should be its destination following your demise
• Investigate, then note in the will, how much it's going to cost, to take down your tower or antenna structure (including a contractor to rent a crane or bucket)
• Notarize the will, and inform significant others of the document, and of this section
• Finally, if you believe that you'll soon leave this frail existence, prepare in advance by getting rid of as much ham radio equipment as you can live without, even in stages, until the big day
If you're ready to start selling off some of your equipment now, you can list them on the Schulman Auction Group, who specializes in selling ham radio gear for you, or a yard sale Facebook group. If you want to specify a recipient of your donations, your local ham radio club or school might make a good choice.

Just remember that doing nothing is simply not likely to end up well; be considerate enough to manage this final matter.

What are your thoughts about adding ham radio to a will? Let's hear from you.
Appropriate on-air subjects [link] [PDF]
It seems like the number one most popular topic of discussion on the radio is radio and things related to radio. Antennas, transceivers, feed lines, propagation, and nets tend to dominate the repeaters. It seems kind of like the most popular use of a hammer is on hammers. Well, unlike hammers, radio is quite a complex topic, so it's natural that we talk so much about it. But is that what radio is meant for? What else can we talk about?

Well, there isn't any particular thing we should talk about on the radio, yet there isn't anything good that we should avoid either. But even discussing a good thing can require good judgment on our part, such as being sensitive to the feelings or situation of a potential listener when mentioning something a bit negative.

Openly talk about your job, schoolwork, your family, a favorite game, your car, what you saw when you went hiking, a restaurant you really enjoyed, something that made you laugh or cry, the latest movie, the weather, and your other hobbies.

So, what kinds of things should we avoid discussing on the radio? Many who have been in the craft for a long time say two topics that should be avoided are politics and religion. Yet, even those two are not forbidden, provided the conversation remains civil. You shouldn't be afraid to mention your church calling, or even which religious beliefs or political party you adhere to. The one thing that should remain off-the-air, however, is sex. We're not talking about gender or identity either, but sexual content and sexual innuendo, which is the reference to sexually explicit language, actions, and thoughts.

The rules also mention that "obscene or indecent words or language" is prohibited. So, does this mean the FCC posts a list somewhere of words that are considered obscene? Well, no, and we don't need them spelled out for us, but instead the gubmit leaves it up to your good judgment and self-policing to know better than to say naughty words.

Talking about others behind their backs isn't always bad, especially when we're attempting to help them. But when we undertake to spread rumors about the personal or private affairs of others, especially in an unfavorable light, that's known as gossip, one more thing that has no place on the air. If you feel you need to mention something disparaging about somebody, take it in person or to the phone.

As we grow older, we find that health concerns tend to increasingly dominate our thoughts and conversations. Unfortunately, these often carry over onto the air waves because it's another conversational medium for us, and face it: ham radio is largely populated by an aging group. The fact that you've broken your leg or are not feeling well at the moment are good things to mention, to help others understand your situation. But to go in-depth about your colonoscopy experience or the details of your latest toenail fungus surgery is not likely to win you friends on the radio. Again, take that to the phone.

Ok, what's the bottom line? It's better to get on the air and chat away, than hesitate or shy away worrying about what subjects to discuss or avoid. Speak freely about your latest achievements or milestones, especially those involving your family. And yes, you can talk about ham radio stuff if you really want to.

What appropriate topics do you like to talk about?

Protocol training topics

How to run a net [link]
Once in awhile people ask just how to properly run a net. There's no *correct* way to run a net, within reason. For most nets, both new and experienced hams can organize and operate a net by simply reading through a script. As the NCS (Net Control Station, or simply Net Control) if you repeat the script a few times, you'll come to know it well enough to engage a group of hams when a real net need arises. Still, every net is different, and we might be able to outline the common ingredients that make up an effective net that any ham can control without much training or special knowledge.


Before the net even begins, however, your group needs to decide on a 1) net day, 2) net time, and 3) net frequency (especially whether the net should be held on a repeater or by simplex.) Furthermore, it's appropriate to define the net boundaries, such as geographic (as in political, religious, landmarks, etc.), interest (as in hobby, vocation, ethnicity, political, etc.), and circle (who's allowed to check in, like all hams, only women, under 18, any human being. etc.) Normally, these have already been decided, and all that's left now is to hold and run the net.

Greeting and preamble
Announce to the world that you are starting a net, and briefly explain the net's purpose, then tell everybody who you are. Welcome your listeners and participants. The term *QST* is not necessary, but is a customary procedure to get the attention of hams who are scanning for active signals. A net *preamble* is a short paragraph that explains the net participation procedure, such as check in only when your residential area is called or announce your call sign in phonetics, followed by your name.

Check-ins
Nets typically request operators to check in by either roll-call or at random. A roll-call means that Net Control is reading off some list of operators who check in regularly or who have registered with the net in some way. Random means that Net Control will ask anybody to check in, with possibly some restrictions, such as all operators north of a particular city. If your net is being held on simplex, it's a good habit to ask for relays every so often.

Following the regular check-in, Net Control might ask for guest check-ins. It's also a courtesy for Net Control to ask for late or missed check-ins about mid-net.

Group announcements
Net Control might announce upcoming events, amateur radio news, or other information of interest to the group.

Training topic
Nets often invite one of their participants to present a moment of appropriate training or education, to help inform the group on a particular topic. It's good to invite group members to ask questions or make comments following the training.

Net traffic
The term traffic refers to a rather formalized manner of conveying a message from one ham to another. In the case of most nets, however, that message is communicated the same way we do any other. So, when an operator announces that he or she has traffic for the net, that's merely an indication that the person has a special announcement to make to the group.

Individual comments
Completely at the discretion of Net Control, net participants might be asked to optionally share a personal thought or life happening with the net, often, but not necessarily related to the net or training topic.

Roundtable
If there's enough time, Net Control might invite anybody who has a question, comment, or concern, to address the net and engage everybody in a discussion or forum. This might be useful for asking a difficult question regarding amateur radio, or for simply deciding who wants to volunteer the dessert at the upcoming outdoor event.

Closing
It's often courteous to thank the repeater owners and trustees for the use of the repeater on the net, if indeed you're using an actual repeater. After that, thank everybody who checked in or even just listened. Say 73, you're returning the frequency to regular amateur use, then end with your call sign.

And there you have it. Even though we've listed eight sections here, the local 6-meter Net, for example, uses only the Greeting, Check-ins, Individual comments, and Closing, but they also add a section for signal reports. Still other nets, such as the Information Net, add a section on General announcements, which might involve or extend to folks outside the net or intended geographic area.

At any rate, these are only guidelines, and it's up to Net Control to run his or her net any way that's appropriate. One final thing: it's very easy to get caught up in the step-by-step process, so remember to announce your call sign every ten minutes.

Any other thoughts? Let's hear from you.
Participating in a directed net [link]
A ham radio net, or on-air gathering of licensed operators, can be both a fun and educational way to inform your operators, while raising their radio skill levels in several ways. A net can be casual and light-hearted, but it's a little easier to control, and wastes less time, when you can keep the agenda flowing. Maintaining order during the net is often easier in a directed net.

Net control makes the rules
A directed net is one that's under the control of one radio operator, who dictates the format of the net and the flow of communication. This Net Control Station, or NCS, determines the rules that should be followed by all participants. At the start of the net, the NCS should take a little time during the net preamble to briefly explain some of those rules; at least, some of the important ones.

You as a participant should understand that, while the net is not meant to be very strict or formal, you should follow all the instructions given you by Net Control. This means you should not say anything during the net unless you're given permission to speak, and sometimes that takes a little getting used to.

Principles that help the flow
Here are a few tips that can help the net run smoothly:
• If Net Control asks everybody to check in phonetically, do so slowly. Also, Net Control typicall expects you to remain on the net the entire time, unless you ask for an early out, as in
  K-I-7-A-B-C, early out
• If you have any sort of announcement that you'd like to make on the net, tell Net Control that you have traffic, by saying
  K-I-7-A-B-C, with traffic
  Net Control will ask for your traffic at a later time during the net. And if Net Control asks you to state whether you have any traffic for the net, yet you have none, say
  K-I-7-A-B-C, no traffic
• If you want to ask or answer a question, or add your thoughts to an ongoing discussion, give the suffix (all the letters after the digit) of your call sign, then un-key, waiting for Net Control to acknowledge you, like this:
  You say : ABC
  Net Control says : ABC, go ahead
  You say : Yeah, I just wanted to blab. Back to Net. KI7ABC.
  In this case, a) you announced your call sign suffix, which is nothing more than a tactical call sign, b) Net Control acknowledged and said that you were free to speak, and c) you eventually returned the air to Net Control (abbreviated Net), and announced your full legal call sign.
• There are times when Net Control might not want to turn the air over to you. When you hear the words stand by during the net, do not transmit until told otherwise, like this:
  You say : ABC
  Net Control says : ABC, stand by
  You don't key up at all, until Net Control comes back around and turns the air over to you
  This last example demonstrates how Net Control is able to maintain message flow during the net.
• Remain on frequency (meaning you should leave your radio turned on and you should be actively listening for instructions from Net Control) until you are released from the net. On the other hand, if you've already informed Net Control when you checked in that you aren't able to remain on frequency, you're free to leave the net at will.
  The reason for remaining on frequency is that Net Control needs to know whether to count on you being there if your help is needed, to relay a message, look up some information, or to get help

One of the problems that a directed net attempts to solve is the circumstance of more than one participant transmitting at the same time, making it so nobody can hear either, which further adds to the confusion. Under the control of a single operator, a net can run a little more smoothly, and even handle an urgent situation quickly if one arises.

So, there's an order to how a directed net should run, and Net Control is in charge. The bottom line is that you must be given permission by Net Control to speak on a directed net.

What do you think? Let's hear from you.
Stand by [link]
Spoken by you
When you need to pause your message or communication, you're probably used to saying "Hold on" or "Hang on for just a minute," in the interest of using plain English. For most communication, that's perfectly acceptable. However, I encourage you to get in the habit of saying "Stand by" instead. This phrase is brief and is well-understood in many circles, especially those that are part of emergency management, public safety, and amateur radio.

There are other phrases we use, to mean the same thing, such as "Please wait" or "Just a sec." A popular one is "Let me reset," for those who are aware that they tend to talk long enough to "time out" their radio, so they un-key momentarily to allow the radio timeout timer to reset. Or worse yet, they simply un-key without saying anything, hoping nobody hijacks the frequency while they've momentarily un-keyed to reset. Are any of these phrases illegal or bad practice? Absolutely not, but it might be better to get in the habit of saying "Stand by" because it's almost universally understood, and has a specific meaning.

Spoken by Net Control
When you hear the phrase "Stand by" from Net Control or an official, such as the Incident Command shadow, it's telling you two things of importance, that should grab your attention:
• you must not transmit during this time
• you must listen closely for further instructions
When asked to "Stand by," we're often tempted to leave the net or go away long enough to make ourselves a ham sandwich. An even less tactful action is to check-in, request a signal check, or attempt to communicate with another person on the net after Net Control has announced "Stand by." When you hear, "Stand by," do not transmit, but do listen closely for the next thing that Net Control has to say.

During one of our training nets, we might ask operators to "Stand by" out of habit so often, that its significance might get lost in sheer usage. But that's a good problem to have. It's better to get used to saying and hearing the phrase than to use it so infrequently that we forget what it means and how to respond to it.
What to say at the end of your QSO [link]
If there's one thing that new hams find awkward, is what to say at the end of the QSO, or conversation. The answer is, your call sign is all you need.

But most people find that rather impersonal or incomplete, and feel compelled to say things like clear or over or something else that sounds official or police-like. For example, the following is what some hams run into:
Ham 1 : Well, I've got to go now, so I'll see you later.
Ham 2 : Ok, I'll catch you later. KI7ABC.
Ham 1 : 7-3 KI7ABC from KI7DEF. I'll be clear on your final.
Ham 2 : Ok, 7-3 KI7DEX, I mean KI7DES. No, wait KI7DEF from KI7ABC, clear.
Ham 1 : Ok, KI7DEF, over and out.

These two hams are doing their best to follow the rules, but feel awkward simplifying their closing, possibly believing the other ham will feel snubbed by his directness. Furthermore, Ham 2 is struggling to remember Ham 1's call sign. To help this, I recommend two things at the end of your QSO:
• Don't worry about giving the other person's call sign
• Say your own call sign when it's the only thing left to say, except maybe 7-3

These are not rules, but suggestions. Here's an example, using the same two hams above:
Ham 1 : Well, I've got to go now, so I'll see you later. 7-3.
Ham 2 : Ok, I'll catch you later. 7-3.
Ham 1 : KI7DEF.
Ham 2 : KI7ABC.

And they're done. Neither said any call signs until it was time to hang up the mic (pronounced mike) and neither felt that the other ham was being offensive, because both experienced hams understood the guidelines. You never need to remember or say another person's call sign during your QSO. It's often customary to say the other person's call sign when calling for him, but still not necessary. So, you can say either,
Hey, Jim, are you there? This is Tony
or simply
KI7ABC, KI7DEF

And if you say only call signs, it's understood whose call sign is which, because of the gentlemen's agreement of putting yourself last, which means the person talking in this case is most likely KI7DEF.

And no need to say clear or over or out or any similar military-sounding word.

Is it alright to say these extra words? Sure. Nobody's going to chastise you for saying them, but these tips just might make it a bit easier to conclude your radio conversation.
Don't over-use phonetics [link]
A few weeks ago I was driving up in Davis County, and had my mobile radio trained on an Ogden repeater. I heard a ham get on clearly and with great audio, saying that he was mobile, and announced his call sign something like
yankeedeltathreemikewisskeyromeo,
and that his name is
deltaalfavictorecho.
I decided to engage him and gave my call sign, but then asked him to repeat his call sign. Once again, he repeated
deltayankeethreewisskeyvictorromeo
or something. I asked him to say it once more, but a little slower. By this time, he was getting a little upset, and asked whether I was a new ham who had not quite mastered memorizing the Phonetic Alphabet.

So, what was my problem? Was my brain just not running as quickly as his mouth? Or am I unknowingly dyslexic, requiring extra repetition to get incoming data straight? Well, I know that I can understand A-B-C a little better than alfa-bravo-charlie, because my native language is A-B-C, not alfa-bravo-charlie. In fact, when I hear alfa-bravo-charlie, I have to stop for a millisecond and mentally translate each word to its corresponding letter. And if the phonetic words are spoken fast enough, by the time I get to the sixth letter, I've already forgotten the first two, since my concentration was on the final one or two.

What it boils down to is this: if the other person could hear you reasonably well, there's no reason to state your call sign, or anything else, using phonetics. The exception is when you're on a net, and Net Control asks you to say your call sign or name that way, even if he or she could hear you perfectly. When you're communicating within the noisy environment of HF, you'll often be asked for your call sign in phonetics.

Other noisy situations that might require a more regular announcement of your name or call sign phonetically include operating outdoors, or in a crowd, or near loud equipment or music. To use phonetics when people can hear you clearly is not illegal by any means, but often makes you appear somewhat elitist or just showing off. That being said, it's still good practice to practice, so use good judgment too.

When you do give your call sign using the Phonetic Alphabet, slow down, even if you've given it a hundred times:
keelo-india-seven-alfa-bravo-charlie
and the same with your name
delta-alfa-victor-echo
More often than not on a repeater, however, people will understand K-I-7-A-B-C and Dave much easier.

So, please only use phonetics if asked, or if you know you're surrounded by a lot of noise. Even when your signal is difficult to hear, because of your location or antenna, if people want to hear your call sign or name phonetically, they'll often ask for it.

What do you think? Is it possible to actually over-use phonetics?
Using alternate phonetics [link] [PDF]
Late one night during a Field Day, an unlicensed young lady called CQ at the GOTA (Get-On-The-Air) station while I sat next to her, logging her contacts. A club station located in Boise, Idaho, was trying and re-trying to decipher the little girl's announcement of gossara-leema, which was her way of pronouncing golf-sierra-leema, but they just couldn't make out the call sign. After five or six frustrating tries, she was in near-tears and ready to call it quits, so I whispered "great salt lake" to her, and into the microphone she shouted, "great-salt-lake!" Immediately, the Boise station acknowledged the GOTA station's call sign, made the proper exchange, and logged the entry. The little lady was all grins after that.

The ITU (International Telecommunication Union) has devised the English version of the ITU Phonetic Alphabet to help clarify communication between radio stations. Depending on your communication mode or how noisy your environment is, some of the words in the Phonetic Alphabet can be less than helpful. Also, it's sometimes difficult to hear some of the ITU words from a person with a mild speech impediment or whose native language is not English. For these reasons and more, it's often helpful to use phonetic words that are not part of the ITU list in the interest of clarity. Here's a list of commonly used alternate or substitute phonetic words:


america
california
denmark
germany
italy
japan
kilowatt
mexico
norway
ocean
queen
radio
sugar
tokyo
united
victoria
zanzibar

Can you use phonetic words outside of this list? Of course, such as michigan or mary, instead of mexico, if it helps with clarity. These are only common substitutes. Just keep in mind that most hams are used to hearing the ITU phonetic words, so you might need to slow down when using alternates. Also, there are times when it's appropriate to speak multiple-word phonetics, for even further clarification. One often-used multi-word phrase is king-henry for K-H, the first two letters in the call signs of many Hawaiian hams. The one used in our above example, great-salt-lake is another.

Finally, be fore-warned that there are some older hams who berate those who use alternate phonetics, out of some religious or otherwise fanatic allegiance to the ITU list. Please rest assured that using alternate phonetics is not illegal, and is in fact highly encouraged to promote clarity in communication. And the little girl at the GOTA station? Two months after that Field Day, she became KI7RES, the youngest ham in Utah at the time.
Follow the band plan [link] [PDF]
While helping a new ham couple with their radio issues one day, I noticed that their HTs (handheld transceivers) were set to 147.3325 MHz. I asked them why they chose that frequency, and they proudly announced that it's well within the 2-meter band, as allocated by the FCC and displayed on the ARRL band chart for Technician licensees, and that one seemed to work for them.

I told them they were correct in selecting a frequency within their Technician privileges, and congratulated them on that. I then asked whether they were familiar with the Utah Band Plan, and they said they weren't, but that they had heard there was such a thing. I explained that the band plan further clarified which frequencies were permitted by amateurs on each band.

According to the ARRL band chart (which reflects the corresponding Part 97 rules), anybody with a valid Technician license is indeed permitted to use any frequency in the 2-meter band, which spans 144.000 to 148.000 MHz. However, our local band plan states that certain sub-bands, or subsets of this span, are allocated for specific types of usage. The Utah Band Plan is laid out online at utahvhfs.org/bandplan1.html.

From the online list, you can see that the frequency the couple was using, 147.3325 MHz, falls within one of the sections allocated to repeater operation, and so their selected frequency did not meet the Utah Band Plan for simplex usage. They needed to choose a frequency from within one of the three sub-bands designated for simplex operation to be compliant.

But wait, there's more. Further examination of the Utah Band Plan shows that simplex frequencies must be selected by odd-numbered 20 kHz frequency separations in the 145.500 to 145.800 MHz list, and even-numbered 20 kHz frequency separations in the other two. This means, for example, you can use 145.510, 145.530, 145.550 MHz, etc., from the first list, and 146.480, 146.500, 146.520, etc., from the second list, and so forth. Therefore, a selection of 146.490 MHz for your simplex operation, for example, goes contrary to the Band Plan, for example.

Finally, a band plan is not the law, but it is a set of strongly suggested agreements that help us all play nicely with each other, in that they prevent chaos and minimize interference between stations. The band plan is set in place by the Frequency Coordinator, and in Utah is supported by the Utah VHF Society. Keep in mind that not all band plans betwen different states follow the same guidelines. So, if you travel to another state, don't assume the band plan there is the same as what you're used to; a little research can save you some heart ache.
How to handle a pileup [link]
Whether you're running a net, engaged in a conversation, or calling CQ, there's always a possibility that more than one person will transmit at the same time, in an attempt to communicate with you. We typically refer to that as a pileup on single-sideband, or a double on FM, although mode has little to do with the end result. When multiple people transmit on the same frequency using single-sideband, you can often hear all the transmissions perfectly. But when two people do the same using FM, you often hear a garbled sound instead, due to the multiple carrier signals attempting to dominate the receiver simultaneously.

Regardless what we call it, how do you handle a situation like that, in which two or more transmissions are reaching you at the same time? First, listen carefully for any words or portions of call signs that can help distinguish one person from the rest. Second, acknowledge what you can hear. But some times even those tips won't always solve the problem.

If you can easily tell one call sign from another, simply pick one, repeat it, and have the person proceed:
KI7ABC, go ahead
If you can't easily tell them apart, try asking them to say it phonetically:
Could you please repeat that phonetically?
If you can only distinguish part of a call sign, you might try saying
The station ending in delta, please come again with your full call sign
One tip that seems to make one stand out over others is to ask them to repeat it slowly:
Could you please come back with your call sign, slowly?
This last one works because no two people seem to agree mentally on what slowly means, and that disagreement will work in your favor.

There are times, especially on single-sideband, when you can hear two callers, but they aren't able to hear each other. In that case, it's up to you to be the traffic cop:
KI7ABC, please stand by. KJ7XYZ, go ahead.
At that moment, KI7ABC might realize that somebody else is calling you too.

There are also times when the pileup or double takes place because an operator failed to tell the others in the conversation who should speak next. You can avoid that situation by passing the mic to the next person in the QSO:
Over to Jim
After you pass the mic to Jim, everybody else in your QSO will know to stand by and allow Jim to take his turn.

Finally, if you simply can't distinguish multiple callers, evan after a couple of repeated attempts, start over, like you never heard any of them. Often, this will be enough to clear up the confusion. However you try and tackle the situation, be sure to remain kind and polite, never critical or demanding.
Third-party communication [link] [PDF]
There might come a time when you'll have to operate your station in behalf of another, possibly unlicensed, person, such as a family member, a neighbor, or maybe even a church leader. Well, it turns out that amateur radio provides a method for you to legally handle that kind of operation, which we call third-party communication. However, many, if not most, ham radio operators either don't really know how to perform third-party communication, or find it a little awkward, since it's not an operating mode they use every day. I'm hoping that this short training might help you feel a little more confident about handling third-party operation.

In amateur radio, the term third-party communication arose from the need for a telegraph operator to send a message to another telegraph operator in behalf of an unlicensed person, such as a supervisor, or even a government official, especially during war, a crisis, or other emergency. The first party is you, the licensed control operator making the call. The second party is the operator you're contacting, who is the licensed control operator answering the call. The third party is the unlicensed person for whom the first party is making the call.

Today, US rules governing third-party communication have broadened and loosened since those early days, so that the second-party operator never even needs to speak with the first-party operator at all. There are three basic rules that govern third-party communication, although there are other rules that also cover their details. The three are
• You, the first party, are the licensed control operator, and must maintain control of your station during the communication
• You must be in close enough proximity to your station to take control of it, should anything go wrong with it
• You must be awake

The following example illustrates how to carry out a third-party communication, assuming your call sign is KI7ABC, and you're trying to reach KI7XYZ:

• You've turned on the radio, set it to the appropriate frequency, and handed the mic to your unlicensed friend.
• Your unlicensed friend calls out to the second party, giving your call sign; maybe saying something like KI7XYZ, this is KI7ABC.
• The second party responds with This is KI7XYZ, go ahead.
• Your unlicensed friend and the second party are then free to talk back-and-forth on the air at will.
• Every ten minutes, your unlicensed friend says KI7ABC and the second party says KI7XYZ.
• At the conclusion of the conversation, the second party should say something like Nice talking with you. KI7XYZ. and your unlicensed friend says something like Yeah, nice talking with you, too! KI7ABC.
• Your unlicensed friend turns the mic back to you, and you turn off your radio.

Notice that during this entire conversation, not once did you need to say anything, not your call sign, no introduction, not the words "third-party", nothing. Your unlicensed friend did all the talking at your station, and that's good enough. A few hams who are unfamiliar with third-party communication might feel uneasy about this procedure, and will step in and announce his or her call sign or say something to seemingly legitimize the communication, such as "for third-party traffic," and that's alright too; it's just not necessary.

There is one small exception to what I just said, that you should probably be aware of. The unlicensed person must not have been a ham who has had his or her licensed revoked or suspended. How will you know whether the unlicensed person has ever had that happen? Likely, you won't know, but if you happen to find out, just be aware of the rule.

I also mentioned that one of the rules say that you must be present in case something goes wrong with your station. Well, what can go wrong? Your station could get off-frequency, it can lose battery power, its antenna could come loose, and a host of other possibilities. Also, the unlicensed person could suffer a sudden health problem or unwittingly violate the rules, and start singing or swearing. In those cases, it's up to you, the licensed control operator, to take control of the situation.

Finally, I mentioned that you, the licensed control operator, must be awake. Ok, that makes sense, but what if you're unconscious, due to an accident or health problem of your own? Well, that's the definition of an emergency, and a different set of rules take over.

Ok, let's hear from you. What are your thoughts about third-party communication?
Traffic [link]
On many nets, you might hear Net Control say, "When you check in, please indicate whether you have any traffic for the net." Or, even when Net Control doesn't ask for it, you might hear net participants say, "KI7ABC, no traffic." So, exactly what is traffic?

The word traffic means, essentially, a message. But there are typically three different kinds of messages that can be passed or aired: formal traffic, emergency traffic, and informal traffic.

Formal traffic
A national organization called NTS (National Traffic System) is a network of amateur radio stations and others who are organized for the purpose of relaying formal traffic messages. It was originally set up as a way to provide an amateur radio means of communication between government officials (such as the governors of two states caught in a hurricane) who are not licensed amateurs, while maintaining message integrity. Besides the conveyed text, these messages include the name of the sender, the name of the recipient, the number of message words, and more, much like a paper telegram. They're passed between one ham operator and another in a very exact and procedural method. Again, the purpose of formal traffic is to pass precisely worded messages.

Emergency traffic (also known as priority traffic)
An incident in our context is a situation the poses a threat to health, life, or property. Any incident-related message that must be given to, or received by, an emergency official, such as an Incident Commander, your doctor, the police, your religious leader, or others engaged in an incident, is considered emergency traffic. The message might or might not be very formal, but typically it's conveyed as a high-priority request or order.

Informal traffic
An informal traffic message is not technically traffic in the sense of the original definition, but is still referred to as traffic because it's a message delivered by a ham radio operator to listening participants. It can be an announcement, a reminder, instruction, or some other information intended for some or all of the listening audience. Unlike formal or emergency traffic, an informal message can simply be informational, personal, or even funny.

Be sure to understand what kind of traffic is expected on a particular net or activity, before offering a traffic message, since many emergency nets will not allow informal ones. Along the same lines, be sure to listen to your net's preamble, to know how to respond to a call from Net Control, whether any traffic announcement is expected from the participants. Then, you can check in and say no traffic if you have none.

Well, what do you think...did I cover it all? Let's hear from you.
Passing the mic [link]
When you're on your cell phone, you typically talk only to one person. There are apps that allow you to add another person into the conversation, but that's a rare exception. In ham radio, however, having more than two people engage in a conversation together is quite common, and we often refer to that as a group. Taking turns, in a group exchange therefore, becomes important, so that you don't leave anybody out. It's a good problem to have, because group communication is one of the strengths of ham radio.

When engaging in an on-air conversation with two or more people, after you've released your PTT, it's helpful to indicate who should talk next. We call that passing the mic (pronounced mike). Let's say you're in an auditorium, talking with two friends of yours, Ron and Linda, and the many people sitting in the bleachers could only hear you three when one of you talks into a single microphone, that you all share.

Naturally, when you've had a turn at the mic, you hand it to Linda, so she could talk and be heard. Next, she hands the mic to Ron, to give him a turn, says his part, then hands it right back to you, and so it goes, around again. By handing the physical microphone to Linda, and Linda to Ron, you two have indicated who should talk next. Using the same technique, but with radio, you have to verbally indicate who goes next, because if you simply stop talking, neither Linda nor Ron will know who should talk next, and both might actually start talking, stepping on each other.

When we pass the mic on the radio, we often say, Over to Linda or simply, To Linda, and it becomes obvious to Ron that he should stand by and allow Linda to speak. We might also say Back to Linda if we want to turn the mic back to her instead of passing it to the next person who should get it. But it doesn't matter what you say, as long as you indicate who should take a turn next.

There are times when it's important or convenient to momentarily confine the conversation between two people in the group, even though more than two are talking with each other. For example, after you pass the mic to Linda, she mentions something that catches Ron's interest, then passes the mic to Ron. Ron suddenly has a question for Linda, and doesn't want to wait for your turn before hearing from Linda, and so passes it right back to her, instead of you. That occurs quite often, and is very appropriate, as long as Linda and Ron eventually remember to include you back into the group. The following illustrates this:
You say : I was born in Ogden. How about you? Over to Linda.
Linda says : I actually grew up in Samoa. Over to Ron.
Ron says : Wait...Samoa? Did you ever eat green bananas there? Back to Linda.
Linda says : Why yes, I practically grew up on green bananas. Do you like them? Over to Ron.
Ron says : No, I can't stand them, but I just had to ask. To Linda.
Linda says : Ok, that's funny. Over to (whatever your name is).
You say : Wow, I had no idea you two shared a Samoan heritage.

As illustrated, the conversation went back-and-forth between Linda and Ron for a short time, but Linda was considerate enough to eventually allow you back into the group. Well, what if you forget who to pass the mic to, or even who's in the group? It doesn't matter, as long as you pass it to somebody and don't deliberately leave a person out of the conversation. If you accidentally leave somebody out, just do your best, and all will be forgiven.

Finally, when should these three say their call signs? Every ten minutes and at the end of their conversation. They don't need to say any call signs as they pass the mic from one person to the next. They could, if they want to, just not necessary.

What are your thoughts? Let's hear from you.
Raising your hand [link]
During a net, a regular on-air conversation, or even other moments, there are times when you might want to interject something into the discussion. But you want to do so appropriately, at the right time, and without interfering with anybody else's transmission. Turns out you can do just that, by doing what some of us refer to as breaking into an ongoing conversation.

When you were in elementary school, you learned the importance of raising your hand, to help you take turns at talking, thereby maintaining order during a classroom lesson or discussion. In ham radio, it's not that different. If you'd like to say something or add something to the net, just raise your hand, by saying your call sign or the letters of your call sign following the digit.

For example, if my call sign is KI7ABC, and I wanted to add something to the ongoing net, I should wait until the current speaker is finished, then say, ABC. If the Net Control Station feels it's appropriate to allow my comment, he or she might then say, ABC, go ahead. I will then be free to speak my turn. Here's an example from Kelly, who wants to add something to the net, and her call sign is KI7XYZ:
Net Control says : Good luck on your doctor visit, Jim.
Jim says : Thanks. I believe everything's going to be alright.
Net Control says : When will you know the test results?
Jim says : Not until Friday.
You say : XYZ
Net Control says : Go ahead, XYZ.
You say : Thanks, Kelly here, KI7XYZ. I had the same test done last week, and it was brutal.

Notice what took place in this example. First, Kelly heard Net Control and Jim talking, and she had something to say, so she waited until Jim was finished, and had un-keyed. She then announced her three-letters, but did not speak her turn until Net Control gave her permission to speak. Kelly was experienced enough to know that simply saying the three letters did not give her the go-ahead to talk, and so held off, until Net Control told Kelly to proceed.

Finally, instead of using her three letters to raise her hand, Kelly could have said her name, but Net Control had probably specified that if somebody wants to jump into the conversation, he or she should say the last three letters of their call sign. None of these need to be the full, legal call sign, because this name or set of letters is known as a tactical call sign, which we'll leave for another training.

Anything else you'd like to add? Let's hear from you.
Ham radio words and phrases [link]
Most of the time, we ham radio operators follow the guideline to use plain English when we talk on the radio. Or plain Spanish, if that's your language of choice. But, occasionally we get a bit confused about some of the terminology, so let's go over a few of the common words and phrases that you might hear on the radio, what they mean, and maybe how to respond to them.

Here are a few words and phrases that might be good to know:
• testing
  When you hear an operator announce that he or she is testing, it means they're running a test, and don't want to be interrupted. So, it's not appropriate for you to respond with something like, Your audio sounds good or similar. You should not respond at all.
• stand by
  The phrase stand by means, please wait, and the operator is asking you to be patient while he or she addresses another operator, or takes care of a possibly personal issue for just a moment.
• monitoring
  There was a time when monitoring meant that the operator is attempting to listen for rule violators, and record their conversations. Today when an operator announces that he or she is monitoring, it simply means they are available for a casual conversation, and listening for anybody who might want to chat.
• reset
  Our repeaters have a time-out timer, such that, if one operator is holding his PTT down too long, the repeater's time-out timer will cause the repeater to reboot, as a precaution against being stuck in transmit mode. To prevent the repeater from timing out, it's wise to release your PTT every so often. Some operators do that after saying something like, pause for reset or similar, although it's not required that you say anything.
• break
  The word break is reserved for emergencies. When an operator says the word break, it means, Attention everybody...I have an emergency. This word was once commonly used, especially on HF, to break into conversations, and many older hams still use that term out of habit. So, if you hear the term, and they're not really announcing an emergency, just forgive them and move on.
• picket-fencing
  When you're driving, walking, or otherwise moving around while talking on your radio, your signal can get compromised by a number of things. Sometimes, the people listening can tell you're moving around, because of the erratic, fluttery sounds that are coming from your transmission, and we call that picket-fencing.
• double
  When you transmit at the same time as another ham, especially on FM, which is what we use on our nets, and especially through repeaters, the act of that dual-transmission is known as doubling. Often when you double with somebody, people cannot understand either of you, because you both sound like you're talking under water.
• full-quieting
  If you ask for a signal report, and the other person tells you that you're full-quieting, they mean that your audio sounds clear, with no background noise or other interference. If your signal is going through a repeater, they might tell you that you're full-quieting into the repeater because the repeater will likely have a clear signal, but your signal going into the repeater might not.

As mentioned, these are only guidelines, and not hard, fast rules. But they're more examples of some things you might hear on the radio, and how to respond to them.

Are there other common ham phrases that we might get tripped up on? Let's hear from you.
Announcing your call sign [link] [PDF]
In light of a long history of old traditions and habits, it's no surprise that many hams, especially newer ones, are a little confused about when it's appropriate to announce their call signs on the radio. It seems most of us are aware of the basic rules of saying it at the end of the communication and every ten minutes, but are there other times when it's a good idea, or even necessary? For clarity, your assigned call sign is the one that the FCC has assigned you, if you're an American. A vanity call sign is also an assigned call sign, because it replaces your former assigned call sign. Here are some tips for American amateurs:


• It's a courtesy to announce your call sign at the start of your conversation, but not necessary


• It's a courtesy to announce the other person's call sign, but again, not necessary, not even when calling for them


• If you do use both your call sign and the other person's call sign, the convention (not a rule) is to say your own last


• It's not necessary to wait until the repeater has completed announcing its ID, to announce your call sign (they're typically designed so that your transmission will override its ID announcement)


• It's not necessary to say "for ID" when announcing your call sign, since that's understood


• You must announce your call sign in English


• A partial call sign is not a call sign at all, but is a tactical call sign, which in fact does not need to even resemble your assigned call sign, and so does not replace your assigned call sign


• When using phonetics to announce your call sign, using one or more letters from an alternate phonetic alphabet is perfectly acceptable, as long as you remember to slow down


• On a repeater, it's not necessary to announce your call sign using phonetics, unless you're not being heard well, or the net control operator asks you to do so


• Announcing your call sign with every transmission is unnecessary, and will likely only irritate others


• When you're operating in behalf of another station (like during Field Day, a special event, or certain contests), be sure to announce your own assigned call sign once every hour


• When you announce your call sign at the end of your communication, it does not need to be the very last thing you say


• When you announce your call sign at the end of your communication, you don't even need to say it in your final transmission

This short checklist is by no means comprehensive, but it's a start into helping us decipher between rule and tradition. Are there other call sign tips you can think of? Let's hear from you.
What to do if somebody is using your frequency [link]
You're about to start your net, when you hear a couple of people talking on your net frequency. They probably know that there's a net that's about to start, so chances are, they'll conclude their conversation by then. But what if they don't? Should you tell these grievous offenders that you're about to start a net, and demand that they take their conversation to another frequency?

As we all know, none of us owns a frequency. That means it's up to us to share the air with other amateurs. It's true that, by rule, emergencies take priority, but by gentleman's agreement, repeaters and nets also receive some preference on their regularly established frequencies. A gentleman's agreement means that we need to be courteous, and respect other operators, meaning that demanding our net take over the frequency is inappropriate, and not in keeping with the rules.

So, what can you do in this situation?

First, one of the reasons you should announce your net a few minutes prior to its start, is to let the world know that you're about to start a net on that frequency. If a couple of operators are already talking on the frequency, wait until one of them un-keys his or her microphone, then announce your call sign. Chances are, one or both of the operators will invite you into the group. At that time, say something like
Hi, would you mind if I make a quick announcement about our upcoming net?
At that point, most people will not only allow you to make your announcement, but also get the clue that a regularly scheduled net is about to start, and they will typically clear off.

Second, if the two rag-chewers continue their conversation after the time when your net should start, cut into their conversation again. But this time say
Hey, guys, would you mind moving to another frequency while we hold our net?
If they change to a different frequency, then all is well, and you can proceed normally. If they refuse to move (maybe because they're in the middle of communicating something very important to them), then keep in mind that because you don't own the frequency and because they were using it first, they have precedence, and it's you who must move. In that case, say
All you who are participating in our net, please change to 146.XXX
Then, three minutes into your net on the new frequency, ask your net members to stand by while you return to the original frequency, interrupt the conversation in the same way, and make your announcement once more. Then, repeat that about six minutes into your net. By then, everybody who plans to check into your net should have heard your announcement.

Does this happen very often, that you need to ask another party to move, or ask your own group to move, to another frequency? On local FM simplex frequencies, and on local repeaters, it's not often that you need to do that. But on an HF net, where your single sideband signal might be heard outside your county, or even your state, it's quite common, so you tend to get used to the protocol on those nets.

Also, if the conversation that's using your frequency is outside your county, another thing you can try is ask both them and your own net participants to lower their power, to reduce the chance of interference between the two groups.

What else could we do when our frequency is in use? Let's hear from you.
What it means to monitor [link] [PDF]
While listening to the radio, you've no doubt heard somebody announce to nobody in particular that they're monitoring. But wait, is that legal, to broadcast something to the general public, without addressing somebody specific? Technically, according to Part 97.111(b)(2), amateurs are permitted to make one-way transmissions in an attempt to make a two-way contact with another station.

To announce that you're monitoring means that you're listening for people who might be requesting help in an emergency or something as simple as a signal report. It can also mean that you just want to talk with whomever is listening at the moment. If somebody does request help, you can answer the call if you feel you're able to provide the requested assistance, or direct the caller to another person who is able to help.

Calling CQ is similar to announcing that you're monitoring, in that you're attempting to make contact with another amateur. But the two do have some differences. First, calling CQ allows you to present your signal on the radio so that a person who is casually tuning around can home into your signal and locate you to communicate. This is not appropriate on FM repeaters because they're channelized, and casually tuning around until you can fine-tune the signal on one doesn't make much sense. Second, the purpose of calling CQ is to make a contact or casual conversation, where announcing that you're monitoring can also mean that you're listening to be of potential assistance.

So, how does one become a monitor? If you have a valid amateur radio license, simply listen. And when there's no traffic on the frequency, just say
• This is KI7ABC, monitoring
• This is KI7ABC, listening
• This is KI7ABC, mobile (if you’re traveling)
Even after announcing that you're monitoring, you have no obligation to answer anybody; it's still your choice who you want to talk with.

Every so often, turn on your radio and announce that you're monitoring, indicating that you're willing to converse with whomever is listening. Most of us live busy lives and don't have time for every person who wants our attention. But, if you make time for, and befriend one or two hams you don't know, your generosity will pay off.

What's your feeling about monitoring? Let's hear from you.

Emergency training topics

How to help when you're on the road [link]
While you're traveling by road, if you're interested in contacting local hams through their repeaters, one thing you can do is download a list of repeaters along your route, and program them into your radio ahead of time. Where can you get that list? From RepeaterBook.com. Just look up the state or the interstate route, and you can see all the repeaters available. Copy the repeater info to CHIRP and program your radio accordingly. Of course, that requires a laptop and an appropriate cable to interface with your radio, to program it.

What you can do alternatively is download the app from RepeaterBook.com and activate it. Then, while you're traveling, the app will display nearby repeaters, based on your GPS location. You can then manually program the repeaters into your radio, or download it to your laptop and program as you go. Of course, that can be a real pain, which is why knowing how to program your radio manually is a good skill to learn.

So, if you travel, you're all set to go, but to do what? To help yourself and others. Here are some possibilities:

You encounter an incident and want to help
If you travel in an area, and learn it's been struck by an incident, such as a tornado, wildfire, chemical spill, or terrorist attack, turn to the 2-meter National Calling Frequency (146.520 MHz simplex) and listen. If you don't hear anything, either call out on that frequency every 15 minutes,
This is KI7ABC, monitoring
It's possible that somebody will respond, and ask for help, and you'll be there to answer the call. Or start scanning (all frequencies, instead of just memory channels). And yes, scanning is another good skill to learn.

You're the one who needs help
If you travel in an incident area, and find yourself in need of assistance, start calling out on the National Calling Frequency every few minutes,
This is KI7ABC, and I need help
Hams who are familiar with the Wilderness Protocol will be monitoring for those in need of help, and might be able to give you the help you need.

Start a conversation on a local repeater
Finally, you're not aware of any local incident, but you never know. So, strike up a conversation with a complete stranger on a local repeater. Find out when he or she first got licensed. Ask about their family, how many kids and dogs, their favorite foods, their hobbies, the breadwinner's occupation, etc. But be sure to leave a one-second break between each un-key and key-up, to allow those with an actual issue or emergency to break in. The mere constant chatter will help put other listeners more at ease, and assure them that the amateur system is still available, should they need help or have a question. Don't worry that you're tying up the repeater because that's what it's there for.
For whom you will really be transmitting [link]
Many of us have spent a great deal of effort, training to set up and operate our radios during a time of emergency or disaster, and that's terrific. And if you're part of an emergency radio team, such as ARES, RACES, or AUXCOMM, you might find yourself getting called out or activated during an incident, to help out with communication, as part of an organized team of radio volunteers. In spite of your training, however, during an actual emergency, you might discover that your radio skills will be needed much less in an official capacity than you might like to believe. So, for whom will you be doing all that radio communicating?

The answer is, for yourself or your family. If an earthquake should hit, it's alright to believe that you're prepared to pull out your radio, start a net, and save the world. But it's much more likely that you'll be listening in on a net that's already in progress, then checking in or staying in touch on behalf of your own family. And that's alright too, because being self-sufficient is one of the reasons you got into ham radio.

In the event of a disaster, and both you and your family are safe, and maybe not directly affected by the incident, you can still help with communication without being an official relay or shadow. First, listen to multiple frequencies on your dual-watch radio. Next, check into any net in progress you believe is appropriate, such as a local area net (often organized by a neighborhood or a nearby religious collective) or city net or ARES net. This way, you can make your radio services available, if they become needed, especially as a relay.

So, as you continue to improve your skills and gather your equipment to prepare for a possible emergency, keep in mind that you're putting these together primarily for you and your family. That's because during a true incident, your primary goal is the safety of your family. And if help is unavailable, unreachable, or otherwise occupied by an ongoing relief effort, it's a little peace of mind to know that you might have some sort of communication line to a listening ear.
You might want to upgrade your license [link]
I know a nearby ham who's a wonderful and competent radio operator, and she's completely content with her Technician license, and has no plans to upgrade. That's perfectly fine, since her skills will be the ones most sought for, in her family, her neighborhood, and her area, should they be needed. In other words, in any given emergency, all the communication operation and equipment likely to be required, can be performed by somebody with a Technician license.

In the event of a much more catastrophic or large-scale emergency, such as an earthquake or terrorist strike, the power, cell towers, and other parts of our infrastructure could suddenly become unavailable for a rather large geographic area. In that case, transmitting by your mobile unit, and especially your handheld, can only get you so far. And if you need to reach outside, say, 200 miles, to get help, you'll need to rely on HF. It's possible to transmit this far by tropospheric ducting, using 6-meter single-sideband, or sporadic E, all of which require only a Tech license, but the likelihood of getting anybody's attention this way is very slim.

So, that leaves HF. It's true that a Technician licensee can use a 200-kHz section of the 10-meter band on HF, so they have that much going for them, if they have the equipment and know-how to use it. But wait a minute, you ask, Isn't it true that, during a true emergency, any means of communication necessary can be used in the protection of life or property? Yes, that's true, but there's a catch.

Let's say that you and a friend, both Tech licensees, are driving across the Utah desert, transporting some belongings to a third friend. Among your cargo is an HF station, complete with antenna and coax. While you're driving, your car breaks down, outside the reach of any cell towers or even ham radio repeaters. And while walking around looking for signs, your passenger falls and impales an artery on a sage branch. This sure sounds like an emergency. Since it dawns on you that you have a complete HF setup, you conclude that you can save your friend's life and call for help on any frequency you need. Well, I believe you're right, but I have a few questions for you.

Do you know how to set up an HF station and turn it on? Alright, it's not rocket science, and you're pretty smart, so you manage to figure it out. Will you know how to use it? On what band? On which frequencies? Using what mode? What's the protocol? And what's that awful noise you're hearing, and how do you make it go away? Do you know whether your setup is going to need a tuner? You'd know the answer to those questions if you had trained and practiced using HF. And you won't have been able to get that training and practice without a General license.

Yes, it's possible for a Technician licensee to get *some* training and practice on HF, but I just don't know many who can justify getting an expensive HF rig, just for a small, 200-kHz section of the spectrum. And depending on the sunspot cycle, nobody might hear you there anyway.

Finally, if you've already got a General class or higher license, you won't need to upgrade. Instead, why not mentor, or at least encourage, Technician licensees to upgrade, by explaining the benefits you heard here. Just keep in mind that, after you explain the reasons to them, and they don't care to upgrade, that's their choice, there's no need to pester them, and they're free to pursue ham radio they way they see fit.

Please tell me your thoughts. I hope nobody will feel truly pressured to upgrade their Tech license to a General, just because of a training item. But I did want to give you some food for thought.

Are there things I might have missed? Let's hear from you.
What frequency to monitor for a nearby incident [link]
Once in a while an incident occurs, but in another county, or is not large enough to label it a local emergency or to disrupt cell phone operation. These can include an earthquake, chemical spill, a large storm, and out-of-area flood. Although they might not affect you very much right away, or at your current location, the disaster potential might be real enough to worry you, especially if a loved one lives in the affected zone.

Essentially, you're in a non-life-threatening situation. Everybody near you seems alright, they haven't lost consciousness, aren't bleeding much or have minor injuries, they seem emotionally stable, and there's simply no need to call an ambulance. At times like that, we tend to want information, like how big the nearby incident is, how you should respond, if at all, where you should go, and how to best reassure others.

Similar to what happened during the last earthquake, because we were not in a truly emergent situation, yet somewhat involved in a relatively minor way, there was not really a need to activate emergency protocols; just had to collect a few reports. As a result, the emergency frequencies we had mentioned in previous trainings were fairly irrelevant to the situation. Alright, so, what should or can we listen to?

We recommend that you tune to local ragchew repeater frequencies, plus a locally accessible repeater system. Often, when an incident occurs, a previously designated operator will start a net going on one of them, and ask for people from all over to check in and report conditions at their locations. In spite of the mis-information potential, they might just give you the most information from those who are experiencing the incident first-hand.

When the recent earthquake hit, one person assumed Net Control on the Intertie, started a net, and asked for reports from all over Utah. Many people checked in, reported the conditions at their locations, and gradually helped paint us a large mental map of what was or was not happening where, as a result of the earthquake. It was a good and quick way to get a little peace-of-mind, when the broadcast news agencies could not say anything more than what was officially released to them, which was sparse at first.

Here are some recommended ham radio frequencies:
Utah County
146.760- repeater
147.120+ (100.0 Hz) repeater
Salt Lake County
146.620- repeater
147.120+ (100.0 Hz) repeater
Officially designated emergency broadcast radio channels:
102.7 FM (KSL-FM)
1160 AM (KSL-AM)
Any or all of several police, sheriff, fire, and EMS (emergency medical services) frequencies, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
154.860 MHz : North Utah County Sheriff
156.135 MHz : South Utah County Sheriff
155.235 MHz : Utah County Search and Rescue
851.600 MHz : Utah Public Safety (all services)

Search out and find the same or similar kinds of frequencies where you live, including popular repeaters and statewide repeater systems, if you have them.

Are there others you know of? Let's hear from you.
Join a local faith-based net [link] [PDF]
Throughout the US, many counties and cities have established emergency service nets, to give you the opportunity to check in, get trained, and get involved with the local emergency service. They're excellent sources of emergency preparedness information, especially when it comes to communication. However, most of these groups do not have the bandwidth to serve every neighborhood and every household individually, in the event of a disaster.

It just so happens that the predominant religious organizations of many locations in the US have divided their geographic locations into local regions they can serve in meaningful ways. This results in neighborhood and other community areas whose boundaries are conveniently drawn for suitable emergency communication. As a result, many of these areas hold weekly local nets, known as faith-based nets. Regardless of the title, religion is rarely discussed on their nets, because their purpose is preparedness, not religious.

In many California cities, for example, Catholic dioceses have subdivided their communities into parishes, each of which might hold its own ham radio net and drill schedule. In Illinois, religious leaders have organized ham radio nets to serve their members by synagogues. In Utah, many LDS stakes have subdivided their neighborhoods into wards, and hold appropriate nets to serve their emergency communication needs as well.

Whether you're a member of the local predominant religious organization, or not affiliated with any religious group at all, it's in your best interest to join a local faith-based net that's hosted by one of them in your area. This involvement will serve your family by giving you a neighborhood-level emergency communication network, while allowing others in your area to get to know you and your family and build trust. This can be important, because during a disaster, people tend to turn first to those they know, for basic help and information. And if those people live in the same neighborhood, then all the better.

If your area does not have a faith-based net, or other neighborhood net, you are fully authorized to start one, even if you aren't a member of the local predominant faith, or do not, for some reason, have their blessing to start one. Instead of working at odds with them, however, do your best to work with them. If you do start an area net, and at some future time they would like to take it over, feel free to let them do so, if that's conducive to your plans. Your common goal should be to train area and neighborhood citizens on how to quickly set up an effective net, being ready to communicate needs and information to both church and civic leaders, and between each other.

What are your thoughts on this? Let's hear from you.
What to keep in your vehicle [link] [PDF]
When we're traveling, whether it's on a road trip, or just a drive to the store, it's good to be prepared with a few common-sense basics that can help us and others when we're temporarily away from home. This short list might be a good start:

• First-aid kit
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Programmed handheld ham radio, antenna, and extra battery (get an HT that can receive FM broadcast)
• Food and water
• Hygiene items (toothbrush / toothpaste, floss, comb, feminine needs, shaving, etc.)
• Medicine (prescription, OTC, and vitamins)
• pen, paper, permanent marker
• Candles, lighter
You can likely keep all these things in a single backpack in your vehicle, but be sure to check it periodically. If your vehicle does not have a ham radio permanently installed in it, you can keep or take a portable station temporarily inside your vehicle, and it should include

• Radio
• External antenna
• Coax and/or pigtail
• Ground plane (if appropriate and possible, like a pizza pie tin or cookie sheet or aluminum foil)
• Power supply (batteries, solar panel, charge controller, cabling)
• Programming cable and repeater list
Here are some larger or extra items you might want to consider:

• Lightweight tent
• Water filter
• Portable toilet
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Small, collapsible wagon
• Other things (garbage bags, Ziploc bags, duct tape, cash)
Finally, whether you keep these in your vehicle full-time or grab them when you head out, will be up to your needs and your judgment.

Are there other important things to keep in your vehicle, just in case? Let's hear from you.
Learn how to use the MONITOR function [link]
Squelch is a wonderful thing, and its purpose is to turn off the sound on your HT when it's not receiving a valid signal. If we didn't have squelch, the constant and staticky hissing sound coming from the radio might turn away many new hams. Most modern HTs enable the squelch by default, so you never hear the noise unless you want to. But would you ever want to hear the noise? You might, if the signal you're trying to hear is so weak that your squelch has turned off the audio, making it so you can't hear it.

Turns out your HT has a button called MONITOR, whose purpose is to turn off the squelch, allowing the loud, staticky noise to come through. It's labeled differently for different HT models, some with the letters MONI or simply the letter M or something else. Your HT's manual should describe how your MONITOR button is labeled. When you're attempting to communicate using your HT with another person by simplex, and your friend's audio cuts on and off, press and hold the MONITOR button, and you might be able to hear him better, since he's no longer cutting in and out.

As I had mentioned, the MONITOR button works primarily when you're communicating by simplex, but there are a few times it can work when communicating through a repeater too. If the repeater you're trying to reach is far away, using the MONITOR button can help, as long as you keep in mind it's the repeater's signal you're trying to hear, and not that of your friend. Also, a person in need of help might be trying to reach somebody on the repeater frequency using the repeater output, hoping you can hear him. In that case, just like with simplex, you might be able to pick him out better by pressing your MONITOR button.

The MONITOR button on your HT won't solve all your difficult communication issues, but it might help on occasion, especially when it's important to hear the other person's weak signal. Won't simply turning down your squelch do the same thing? Sure it will, but it's not as quick or convenient as the MONITOR button.

Any other thoughts or questions about the MONITOR function?
The importance of emergency power [link] [PDF]
When the lights go out, that often means they've been running on commercial power, which is the electricity that's provided by the utility company. It would be convenient, and in some cases life-saving, to have a way of restoring at least some of your appliances to normal function quickly following such an event. Let's examine a few ways to implement emergency power in case of a power outage.

One of the first, if not most convenient sources of emergency or backup electrical power is a battery. If you're on your desktop radio when the power goes out, you can easily disconnect your radio from its power supply, plug in your backup battery, and you're back in business within a minute. Possessing that kind of convenience means you need to have a battery that's large enough to handle your power needs, and that's already charged and ready to be used at a moment's notice.

Another reliable but temporary power source is a generator. It might be a little less convenient than a battery, but a generator can provide house current for several appliances, whereas a battery can only deliver direct current to one or two items. You can keep your generator going for as long as your fuel supply holds out. Be sure and keep your running generator outdoors, and not inside your garage or your house. If you do have a generator connected to your house, it's useful to have a transfer switch, which can re-route your power source from commercial to generator in a single flip.

Yet another popular standby power source is solar. As long as the Sun's out, even when it's cloudy, a solar panel can deliver seemingly free electrical power to your radio and other equipment. Because solar radiation is not constant, the panel voltage rises and falls, and needs to be regulated and stored for it to be useful to you as an emergency power source. Your solar setup will need both a charge controller and a battery to even out the flow of power delivery.

Some other unusual emergency power backup possibilities include wind turbine, water wheel, or even bicycle. All of these require a small generator, but again because of their constantly changing voltages, you'll need to route their electrical power through a charge controller and a power converter, to prevent damaging the battery from over-charging.

While you can most likely run across the room and retrieve a charged battery to restore your radio's power during an emergency, it might be a lot more convenient if it were already connected to your radio in some way. Many of these emergency electrical power solutions we've discussed can automatically switch over to the battery upon detecting that the city power has gone out. Others require a failover device, one that immediately switches from commercial power to battery. This way, while you're on the radio, even transmitting, and the power goes out, you might never know you've switched to battery power.

The emergency power solutions we've been discussing involve what you can do once commercial power fails. But they can also be helpful when another power source quits or has drained. For example, when your HT battery has given its last breath, it's convenient to carry a spare battery for your radio, just in case.

What other thoughts do you have concerning emergency power?
Check the weather before operating outdoors [link] [PDF]
There might be a time when you'll want to leave the comfort of your home, and use your radio to help out with a drill, for personal hobby interest, or for an actual emergency. If you plan to operate your radio outside your home, maybe away from any permanent shelter, it's a good idea to check the weather forecast before venturing out there. I mean, you don't want to rush out and risk damaging your equipment by getting it wet or sunburned or worse; it would be good to know what awaits you out there.

It might seem obvious to glance outside your big picture window to get a good idea of what's happening right now, but there are a couple of things to consider. One is that you're viewing the weather in its current condition, and anybody who's lived in our area knows how quickly weather can change. Another is that not everybody has the luxury of a clear view of the weather from their living room, or any other room, for that matter. Many hams live in apartments or small living spaces that are surrounded by trees, tall fences, buildings, or other large obstructions. So, simply looking outside is not always the best idea, but it's a start.

If possible, before going out, get online and check the forecast for the next few hours. If your internet is unavailable, then by all means go outside and get a look at the sky if it's daytime, and estimate which way the clouds are moving. Even at night, you might be able to get some idea of what weather to expect in the next hour or so.

You might find out that the equipment you're so used to operating seems to work differently in the out-of-doors for one reason or another. One might be that your equipment can function differently under conditions of higher or lower temperature, greater humidity, or simply that your eyes are unaccustomed to the bright sunlight. Another is that wind, even a slight breeze, can make it difficult for others to hear you, as it whistles across your microphone. Finally, operating at an unfamiliar location can place you just a little out of your comfort zone, resulting in shivering, stammering, and occasional hesitation.

Because of the nature of our preparation-minded activities, it's ironic to think that the worse the weather is, the more likely our help might be needed. While we tend to experience good weather more often than adverse weather, the likelihood of a communication need seems to increase with the times storms roll through.

Besides creating a nuisance with your microphone, as I had mentioned, wind can easily tear down taps, canopies, and tents, and overturn tables, chairs, and small vehicles, like wagons and bicycles. If you know that you'll be out in a windy condition, bring extra rope, and brush up on your knot-tying skills. Also, bring several bottles of water, because the wind tends to quickly dehydrate you and your helpers.

By the way, if you suspect there'll be lightning coming your way, being outside is not a very good idea; remain indoors, if at all possible. If you must go outside in a lightning storm, stay away from trees, ponds, lakes, hilltops, and other high places. When you hear thunder, the best place for you to be is inside.

So, the bottom line is that operating our equipment outdoors can be fun and different, but it has its challenges. So, use good judgment and check before going out there, and make sure it's safe for both you and those operating with you.

How about you? Anything you can add for watching the weather?
Operating out in the rain [link] [PDF]
If you're ever considering whether you should operate your radio out in the rain, there's only one answer : DON'T. We're not talking about keeping your radio equipment dry or safe from the elements, although that's important too. This is about you.

We're talking about lightning safety. Whether or not a particular rain storm appears to generate lightning is a moot point, because every rain storm can potentially produce lightning. As the saying goes, When thunder roars, go indoors. While getting inside during a rain storm is not a guaranteed protection against lightning, you stand a much lower chance of being affected by it inside an enclosed shelter.

That being said, there are times when being outside in a rain storm in almost unavoidable. During severe weather or even an earthquake, you could easily be caught outdoors without any shelter, and no place to hide out in. If you happen to be outdoors and away from civilization, your vehicle, while not perfect, might likely be the best place to shelter. So, if you must be outdoors during a rain storm, what can you do to protect yourself from lightning?

• Stay away from trees, ponds, lakes, hilltops, and other high places
• Avoid large conductive objects, like chain-linked fences, barbed wire, power lines, towers, and utility poles
• Never lie flat on the ground, because that will turn your small grounded contact area into a much larger one
• If you're out in or on the water, get to shore as quickly as you can
• If you're in a group, split up so that you won't be sharing the lightning strike
• Cliffs and rocky overhangs do not make good shelters from lightning
• Avoid open vehicles, such as motorcycles, bicycles, convertibles, scooters, golf carts, and ATVs
• Avoid open structures, such as gazebos, baseball dugouts, metal sheds, picnic pavilions, carports, and sports arenas; they won't protect you from lightning

If you can hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck by lightning. After hearing it, and you're outside, stop what you're doing and seek shelter in a real building or a hard-topped vehicle.

Any other ideas about how to stay clear of lightning when outdoors? Let's hear from you.
Be ready to take notes [link]
Whether we're running a net, operating at Field Day, or participating in a drill, it seems like we find ourselves in need of taking notes when our radio skills are needed. And as we humans go, it also seems like we're always looking for something to write on or write with, because we often overlook our need to take notes. So, we're not talking about logging contacts, but simply being able to jot down information, like call signs, names, or even a personal reminder to bring home a loaf of bread.

No matter how we do it, we should be ready to take notes at any time that we're helping out during a net, a drill, or even an actual incident. Regardless by what medium we take the notes, whether it's pen and paper, a smartphone, a laptop, voice recorder, or some other way, the point is to provide ourself some way to record information that allows us a way to observe and report any important detail.

As old-school as it might seem, it's a good habit to distribute pen and paper, maybe a spiral notebook, to operators ahead of a net or an event. Taking notes by tablet or laptop is good because the notes are searchable and don't require binder space to store them. But pen and paper is often preferred because of speed, so you might need to decide beforehand which is best for you.

Then, once you've taken the notes, whether you store them away or throw them away will depend on the activity you're in and what the people in charge want you to do with them. In most cases, you can discard them, but they might help you in future events by providing some feedback on what you could do better next time; some lessons learned. Another good reason to keep notes around a little while is to pass logistical information to the next operator or net control operator. This lets them know who was running the station previously, what problems to follow up on, and other instructions or information.

Let's hear from you. Any other thoughts on taking and keeping notes?
Be ready for rapid deployment [link]
There might come a time when you're asked to fill an assignment during a callout if you're part of ARES, or you need to leave your home right away and set up your station to call out for help. Your radio equipment should be ready to go at a moment's notice, simply for you to quickly collect and leave for your assignment or destination. In other training topics, we've discussed what to grab on your way out, but not specifically radio-related, and how to test and ensure your radio gear is ready to go, but not what specific gear to take. Here's what you might want to gather, to be prepared at any moment for you to grab and run out the door.

Handheld
Any HT (handheld transceiver) capable of transmitting 5 watts should work, but be sure to get one that you're comfortable with, in terms of usability, feel, and weight. It's convenient to get an HT that supports dual-watch (displays and receives two frequencies at the same time), so that you can monitor more than one frequency. These include the Baofeng UV-17 Pro, Quansheng UV-K6, Yaesu FT-3DR, Yaesu VX-7R, and Yaesu VX-8R. Replace your rubber duck (stock antenna) with a Smiley antenna, which is not as rugged as a Signal Stick or Nagoya, but will likely perform better and can retract to a small size when storing it.

Mobile
Probably the simplest solution for a mobile transceiver is to either install a TYT TH-7900 in your vehicle, or build the portable repeater kit. For the kit, you'll need an antenna that you can set up quickly, either directly attached to the transceiver or by coax and set on a tripod. An N9TAX roll-up J-pole is ideal for such a setup, being lightweight, powerful, and inexpensive. You can mount it on a simple PVC tube, or just hang it from a tree branch.

Base
If you do plan to be prepared to operate on HF, it's probably best to take a 100-watt shack-in-a-box, like the Yaesu FT-991A or Icom IC-7100. These will provide the most power for the greatest amount of band coverage for the least amount of weight, in a single transceiver. Older yet more portable units include the Yaesu FT-857D, Yaesu FT-897D, Icom IC-7000, Icom IC-706MKIIG, and Yaesu FT-100D.

Along with your transceiver, you'll need a tuner like the LDG AT-100, if one isn’t already built into it. Purchase either the Palomar 40-6 off-center-fed dipole if you can get it reasonably high off the ground, or a Diamond BB7V vertical if that suits your situation better. You'll also need coax and an antenna mount appropriate for your antenna. Portable as thy might be, steer clear of magnetic loops.

If you plan to do digital work, locate the communication gear necessary to support your intended (Winlink, FT8, APRS, PSK, etc.) modes, such as a laptop and USB cable, along with a TNC, if one isn't already built into your radio.

Power
You'll need a 100 Ah Lithium battery or the 30-amp Powerwerx SS-30DV switched-mode power supply for the HF or mobile transceiver. Steer clear of linear power supplies. It might be good to look into a set of solar panels and a solar charge controller for the battery as well.

Finally
Years after this training gets published, many of the items listed here will have become obsolete or otherwise unobtainable. But this list will give you an idea of the kinds of things to search and fill your need for a rapid deployment.

How about you? Any more radio equipment ideas for a quick getaway?

For emergency service nets

Radio-related training topics

Tactical call signs [link]
One thing hams, as well as police, fire, military, government, and EMS personnel find useful while communicating during an incident is the use of tactical call signs. A tactical call sign represents a group name, function, or geographical location, such as Medical 3, Lookout Point, or Grid 27. It's not the same as your FCC-issued call sign, and does not replace it, but can be used as a shortcut or abbreviation during an exercise or emergency.

They help keep things simple
During an actual call-out it can get really tedious, if not confusing and frustrating, for all parties involved, if you had to remember or read back a series of call signs, fumbling with dyslexic numerals and letters as you try and get some important information to a far-away team. Simply say,
Team 2, this is Incident Command
and then whomever is Incident Command replies with,
Incident Command, go ahead
That's a little easier easier than,
KG7ZSC, I mean KC7ZSZ, this is KB7BVP
only to have the other party say,
Was that KC7ZSZ or KC7ZFZ?
and then you say,
Kilo-charlie-seven-zulu-sierra-zulu, this is kilo-bravo-seven-bravo-victor-papa
By the time you've figured out the call sign, the patient has died.

They keep station locations organized
Another advantage to tactical call signs is that there is no need to keep track of which call sign is where. Imagine Incident Command needing to get an update on a forest fire line advance.
KC7ZSZ, this is KB7BVP
with a reply of,
This is N7YHU, KC7ZSZ had to leave
Incident Command then asks,
Ok, how about KG7UFU?
with a reply of,
No, KG7UFU had to go too
Incident Command then says,
Well, who's still there, who can give me an update?
What a time-wasting mess! Instead, try this:
Hilltop Overlook, this is Incident Command
with a reply from Hilltop Overlook of,
Hilltop Overlook, go ahead
and then,
Could you please give me a fire-line status?
In this case, Incident Command doesn't know, but more importantly doesn't care, who's at Hilltop Overlook; he just wants an update from somebody there who's qualified to deliver the update.

They're assigned by NCS
So, whose job is it to assign tactical call signs? It's the responsibility of Incident Command. If IC doesn't care, or has delegated it, it's the responsibility of Net Control, who is typically the Incident Command shadow, but Net Control must then communicate them to IC, so that IC can keep an overall picture of the incident by location or group name. If IC starts calling a group Hospital Deck, that might be a good clue that you should also call it by that name, because that's familiar to him. And if you're the person making up these tactical call signs, please make them as short as you meaningfully can. Instead of giving one team a name of Samuel Thornton Fluke Memorial Site 3 maybe simply Site 3 is good enough.

Now, all that being said, every ham is still required to transmit the FCC-issued call sign every ten minutes and at the end of the communication, regardless of tactical call signs. One way to do this during a drill, exercise, or incident, is by adding to the confusion and stating your actual call sign every time you speak, which is not recommended, because you need to say less, not more. The recommended approach is for Net Control to ask everybody to say their call signs every ten minutes, all at the same time. Yes, you'll be doubling with thirty other people, but you've satisfied the rule, to transmit your call sign; there is no requirement that anybody actually hear your call sign.
Setting up a relay station [link]
During an actual incident, what's often needed is a relay station to transfer messages between two stations who couldn't reach each other by repeater (because it's down or unavailable) or by simplex (too many obstructions). You can accomplish this several ways, but probably the two most common ways is by local control and automatic control.

Local control means you're the relay station, and you need to travel to a location between the two most critical communication stations that are having trouble hearing each other. All three of your stations are using the same simplex frequency. You hear messages from one station, then repeat the same message on the same frequency, so that both stations can hear you. You then hear responses from the other station, and once again repeat the responses on the same frequency, so that both stations can hear you.

Automatic control means you're responsible for setting up a repeater station, possibly a cross-band repeater (XBR), between the two most critical communication stations that are having trouble hearing each other. You set your XBR to a pair of repeater frequencies, one 2-meter and one 70-cm frequency, but set them in the XBR for simplex. Then ask one of the two distant stations to set their frequency to the 2-meter frequency using simplex, and the other distant station to the 70-cm frequency using simplex.

Things to take into account with either method include location, power needs, and access. The location of your relay station could be in your home, a school, or out in a field if the weather is cooperating, as long as your surroundings don't obstruct your signal, making your relays worthless. If you're away from home, you're going to need to plug into an outlet if the power is on and reachable.

If AC power is not available, you might need a trusty battery, whose size will depend on your radio and usage. If you're going to be out for long, setting up a solar panel might be a good idea, if you have one. Finally, make sure you have immediate access to your station if at all possible, especially if you're running an XBR, in case the battery dies or if the station frequencies needs to readjusted, to avoid interference, for example.
How to relay messages [link]
There are times when you're on a net, and it seems that Net Control just couldn't hear the check-in from a weak or distant station, even if you're holding the net by repeater. (Maybe the unheard station is not in the repeater because his radio isn't programmed properly or isn't programmed with this particular repeater.) In that case, if you're able to hear the distant station, cut into the check-ins between transmissions by saying relay, and Net Control will know that you're hearing somebody he or she isn't, and say, Go ahead, relay. You then say, keelo-bravo station go ahead, if you heard "KB" from the distant station in the midst of giving its call sign, for example.

After that, your responsibility is to relay the check-in, including call sign, name, location, and any message (traffic) that the distant station needs you to pass along to Net Control. As you might guess, this is good practice, because during an incident, you might need to relay for an injured operator who's trapped in a basement, when Net Control is unable to hear him or her.

Be brief
Relaying a message between an unheard station and Net Control is not the time to give long-winded descriptions or explanations, even in the interest of accuracy. Relay the information as completely as you heard it, but allow Net Control to dictate just how much and how accurate your information should be. And being brief does not mean repeating everything in rapid-fire speech. If you normally take three seconds to say something, but compress it into two seconds, you might need to repeat it, requiring six seconds, including the time it requires for Net Control to ask you to repeat it. So, slow down and say it in four seconds the first time.

Ham-to-ham
A relay between radio operators means official A is asking operator A to relay a message to official B. Operator B then communicates the relayed message to official B. This ham-to-ham (more correctly station-to-station) communication involves only licensed amateur radio operators using the radio equipment, with the officials simply giving and receiving orders.

Official-to-ham
A relay between an official and a radio operator means operator A has handed his or her microphone to official A, allowing the official to communicate directly to operator B, due to the complexity or urgency of the situation or the need at the moment. And even though official A is not a licensed ham radio operator, by third-party rules, operator A can legally allow that, provided operator A is awake and remains in the same room as official A for the duration of the communication.

In either case, you become more or less a piece of furniture that simply passes messages between one party and another. But that's alright, because thet's what you signed up for, by offering your radio station in the service of others.
Radio equipment for shadowing [link]
The equipment you're going to need for shadowing an official during an incident can be summed up for two situations: stationary or on foot. And in each case, you have radio equipment and support equipment to consider. It'll be up to your good judgment which of these items you should actually use, but here are my recommendations.

Stationary
Being stationary gives you two advantages: you have a place where you might actually be able to sit down, and you don't have to lug all your radio equipment around. Also, people find comfort in being able to refer or resort to a particular location for communication needs.
• TYT TH-7800 mobile radio ($190)
• Tram 1185 magnetic-mount antenna ($23, includes coaxial cable)
• Thunderbolt Magnum Solar 64102 ($70) 12 V 35 Ah SLA solar battery
• Powerpole alligator clips ($10)
• Powerpole T adapter ($13)
• Folding table, folding chairs
• Camping lantern

On foot
When you're shadowing an official (or even when you're alone during an incident), it's often necessary to move quickly from one place to another on foot, because of uneven or obstructed terrain, building entry for light search-and-rescue, or a disaster that covers a wide area.
• Baofeng UV-82HP handheld radio ($63)
• Extended-life battery pack ($18)
• Kenwood shoulder-mount speaker-mic-antenna ($16)
• Super-Elastic Signal Stick antenna ($20, select SMA Female)
• Program these frequencies into your radio. If you use CHIRP to program your radio, use this programming file (download it and read it into CHIRP) and this programming cable ($14).
• A small, portable and collapsible wagon ($70) to lug your stuff around in
Know how to manually operate your radio [link]
One day, before the time of GPS technology, a man was driving all over an upscale section of New York City, until he decided to stop for directions. He flagged down a pedestrian and rolled down his window. "Excuse me, sir, could you please tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?" The pedestrian answered, "Practice, practice, practice."

You've got your ham radio license, you might have taken a CERT course, and now you have a nice, little radio that you've grown to like. In fact, to take your readiness a step further, you had your little unit programmed with 200 channels of something or other. Furthermore, you use your radio by participating in several local nets. Terrific! But if worse comes to worse, there's one more thing that might help you become a little more radio-ready for an actual incident.

During an emergency, do you know what frequencies to use? Because of the nets you participate in, maybe so. But what if your programmed frequencies are busy, and you need to move to a frequency that's not programmed in your radio? Will you know how to manually set that? At a moment's notice, you might need to find a simplex frequency, or change to one that your net control has dictated. Will you know how to do that manually, within seconds? How about if Net Control asks you to change to a repeater that you don't have set in your radio? Will you know how to set the offset, tone, and direction?

Assuming you have all of that, depending on the emergency, your hands should also be free enough to help people, instead of being tied up by a handheld radio. It might be wise to put a belt clip on the back of your radio, then attach it to your belt or pants pocket. On top of that, it might be convenient to attach a speaker-microphone from your radio to your lapel. Then your hands will be free, except when one hand is pressing the microphone button.

And after doing all of that, suddenly your battery dies. It would be convenient to have a freshly charged battery, or a sled of alkalines that you can slide onto your radio. And what if people complain that they couldn't hear you very well? It would help if you have an extra antenna, either a flexible Signal Stick or a telescopic one, or at least a whip, that you can replace your stock rubber duck with.

Finally, use your net as your personal "emergency" by practicing these things during the net. While your net is going, 1) switch to VFO Mode ("Frequency Mode") and punch in your net frequency manually, 2) clip your radio to your pants pocket and attach your speaker-mic to the radio, 3) turn off your radio and replace the battery, and 4) replace your antenna with a better one. Now, repeat that during the net again next week.

Getting your license was a great first step, but now it's time to do more than just stash your radio away until there's an emergency. Because when an incident arises, and you aren't used to using your radio effectively, you'll suddenly create your own emergency, rendering your license useless. For real estate agents, the motto is "Location, location, location." For those of us trying to prepare for the unthinkable and yet be helpful, it's "Practice, practice, practice."
Use simplex for your net [link]
It's definitely convenient to have a repeater to rely on for communication, especially for a net. Just as easily, however, a repeater can also be a crutch, which can become a handicap if it should ever become unavailable. Repeaters, like cell towers, the internet, and any other communication systems that require an infrastructure, can go down due to damage by weather or vandalism, or because it somehow lost commercial power.

If you're thinking of establishing a regular net, it's wise to consider using simplex for your net, instead of a repeater, especially if the net is a faith-based or city emergency net. This way, none of your net participants will become completely reliant on the clean, clear signal of a repeater, at least during your nets.

If your net already uses a repeater, there's no need to abandon the use of that repeater for your net. Instead, hold your net on the repeater like you usually do; only, use a simplex frquency for your net one week out of the month, if you hold a weekly net, for instance. But you'll need to decide whether to use your repeater frequency as your simplex frequency, or a completely different frequency altogether.

Using your repeater frequency for a simplex frequency can be complicated, especially for those who are relatively new to amateur radio. This is because their radios must be manually switched to simplex mode, since most radios recognize a repeater frequency as an actual duplex frequency, and set the appropriate offset and shift direction automatically. Probably the easiest way to get around this is to program the simplex version of your repeater frequency on a different channel from your regular net repeater frequency.

There are two big reasons for holding your net on simplex, at least for part of the time. First, they help you and your net members learn how to use simplex, something that will become vital if you should ever find yourself in a disaster situation. Second, holding a simplex net will encourage your net members to find ways to improve their antennas.

Communicating by a simplex frequency takes a little getting used to. Repeaters offer us a lot of feedback and assurance that our signals are getting through like they should, even when we use less-than-perfect antennas. When we communicate by simplex, however, it becomes apparent that the regular antennas we normally use might need an upgrade. It's easy to feel that a rubber duck is sufficient for your net needs, until the net goes simplex.

In amateur radio, we all know that nobody truly owns a frequency. Nobody. But when you select a simplex frequency to use, keep in mind that most are being used by nets and regular rag-chewers, or are coordinated for particular purposes or services. Simply tuning up on a simplex frequency that doesn't seem to be in use, is no guarantee that you won't be interfering with another scheduled net or activity. If you need a simplex frequency to use, and want to be sure, please get hold of a member of the club leadership, and that person should be able to get you to the right resource.

What are your thoughts on holding a simplex net? Let's hear what you have to say.
Have alternate simplex frequencies at your disposal [link]
During an incident, your local (area, neighborhood, city) net will likely be operated over a simplex frequency. That's good, because dependency on a repeater or the internet can cripple you during a widespread incident, which you're training to prepare for. However, there might be times when your agreed-upon frequency will be unavailable, like when it's already in use by another group, when it causes interference to a group outside your county, or when you're asked to vacate the frequency for some reason. In those cases, it's convenient to have two or three alternate simplex frequencies you can quickly move to.

Given the demand and the population, finding a few alternate frequencies might not always be easy, so here are some suggestions. These ideas are based on using simplex frequencies within the 2-meter band and the 70-centimeter band, which means you need to have a radio that supports those bands. It also means that you need to have your radio pre-programmed with those simplex frequencies, and be familiar enough with your radio to turn to them at a moment's notice.

You need to purchase a dual-band radio
Your radio must support both the 2-meter band and the 70-centimeter band at a minimum. That is, 144 to 148 MHz, and 420 to 450 MHz. This makes a whole range of little-known or seldom-used simplex operation available to you. (Keep in mind that a few dual-band radios support 1.25 meters [220 MHz] instead of 70 cm, but you're going to need 70 cm.) Also, please understand that, even though your license gives you transmit privileges on most of the frequencies covered by these bands, your state or region Band Plan dictates which frequencies you can actually use on simplex, and how, as in mode, bandwidth, separation, and tones.

You should have available two or three alternate simplex frequencies you can use
In one Orem area, those folks have agreed on four simplex frequencies that they've researched, and plan to use for emergency nets. Their primary frequency is 147.480 MHz, which they use each Sunday night on an area training net. Their main backup frequency is 147.440 MHz, which is the frequency used by their neighboring area, whose net they can join if they need to vacate their primary frequency. That same Orem area has also decided on 439.225 MHz as an alternate if they aren't able to use either of the above 2-meter frequencies. Finally, they've decided on 439.425 as yet another alternate, should all the others become unavailable.

Program your radio with these simplex frequencies
Store all of these simplex frequencies in your radio memory, then make a note of which channel contains which frequency, so that you can quickly turn to any one of them. In the case of many Chinese VHF / UHF radios, change to Channel mode and select the channel number. For other radios, change to Memory to access the channels in which you stored your simplex frequencies.

Know how to manually change to them at a moment's notice
Be familiar enough with your radio that you know how to change to one of the alternate frequencies. For many Chinese VHF / UHF radios, if they're not stored in your radio's memory, change to Frequency mode, then punch in the frequency by hand, remembering to set the shift direction (SFT-D) to OFF. For most non-Chinese VHF / UHF radios, change to VFO, then enter the frequency.

During chaotic moments, it might be necessary to establish or check into a net or other communication using a frequency that you don't use regularly. Having some alternate frequencies can be a life-saver, and knowing how to turn to them can be a time-saver. Remember that nobody owns a frequency, and it shouldn't surprise you if another group is using your frequency when you need it, so being flexible enough to have options goes a long way.

How about you? Let's hear what you have to say.
Ensure your gear is ready [link]
Recently during the local ARES Net, the assigned Net Control Station at the last minute could not fill the NCS role, and asked a friend to step in, and the friend happily accepted. Well, three or four minutes into the net, the handheld battery of the Net Control Station ran out. He then attempted to switch over to a power supply, but discovered that it had a different adapter than what his handheld required. He then switched to his mobile unit, and the ARES frequency was not programmed into the rig, and we all stood by as he fiddled with the manual, to get it on frequency, including the proper tone.

At any time, regardless of the crisis-of-the-day, we might be getting closer to the point where we'll need to rely on amateur radio to communicate. In all probability, our electrical grid will be fully functional. But, I'm not so sure we should wait until the very moment we truly need our communication gear to be available. During an actual incident is probably not the best time to check your equipment.

I realize we all live busy lives, and we can't spend a lot of time playing radio. But during the next few days, why not take this time to make sure the radios we rely on, and our backup radios, are in good shape? Use them during a net like this one. Use them during a social net. Use them to casually call up a friend. Use a repeater, ask your friend to switch to another repeater. Go to a simplex frequency, like the 2-meter National Calling Frequency, and chat if you're within range of each other.

A simple check list

• Check your batteries
  • Examine them for leaking and radio damage
  • Make sure your rechargeable batteries are fully charged
  • Plug in your non-rechargeable backups and make sure they're ready for use
• Check your radios
  • Make sure you know how to assemble both your main radio and your backup radio, as in, install the battery, the antenna, and coaxial cable, if applicable
  • Know how to change channels in your radio memory, and how to manually punch in a frequency that's not in your radio memory, including the offset and tone
  • Check your radios for damage, and make sure the displays are clean and readable
• Check your antenna system
  • Make sure your antenna is not bent or broken
  • Check your connectors by inserting, tugging on them, and removing them a couple of times
  • Make sure your antennas are adequate, so that people can hear you well, and not constantly asking you to repeat things
• Check other radio equipment
  • Check your power supplies
  • Check your coaxial cable and connectors
  • Get on the air and ask for a report on several simplex and repeater frequencies; simply turning them on will not tell you whether you have the correct tone set, whether your offset is correct, whether your antenna is connected properly, and whether your battery charge can handle an actual communication
• The three rules of radio readiness: test, test, test
  • Get on the air with a minimal combination of your gear
  • Get on the air with another or unusual (connectors, adapters, antenna, power, etc.) combination
  • Ask for signal reports from somebody farther away than your own neighborhood

Ok, what do you think? Is there anything else we should be checking at this time? The above list is missing a lot of detail, but was made to be a quick and simple set of tests, to make sure your basics are in place and ready to go. Let's hear from you.
Exercise: changing your radio on demand [link]
[Note to the trainer: before your net starts, be sure you have two different ham radios that you can use for this training; be sure their batteries are charged, if they're on battery power, or that their power supplies are working if they're not; also, be sure that each radio has an easily accessible antenna you can attach quickly]

During our check-ins today, I'd like you to also report the make and model your radio you're using to check in. There are no right or wrong or better or worse answers; I'm just trying to find out what you're using right now, ahead of our training topic. Let's go ahead and take your check-ins now.


[Take check-ins in the usual manner, but also ask for radio make and model from each operator; you do not need to take note of their radio models]

You might find out one day that you need to swap out your radio, for whatever reason. Its battery might have run out of charge, or maybe you accidentally pressed a button that put your radio into a state that you can't quickly figure your way out of, or the radio itself might have malfunctioned in some way. It's also possible that you're radio is still working, but that you suddenly need to turn on another one, to work multiple frequencies. For these and other reasons, it's good practice to know how to manually change radios or at least quickly activate an additional one.

Now that check-ins have been taken on this net, I'm going to ask everybody to turn off their radios and check in again, this time using a different radio, if you have one, and report the make and model of that second radio. If you aren't able to check in using a different radio, there's no shame in simply reporting the same radio model. Let me now go back over the roll and ask for your check-ins again.


[Take check-ins by roll call, according to the check-ins you received the first time around, and once again ask for each operator's radio make and model]

At this time, you're free to remain on the radio you've ended up with, or switch back to you original radio. I'll give a minute to those who want to switch back. Please stand by.


[Un-key for a minute]

Thanks to everybody for your participation in this brief training. It was not meant to put you on the spot or embarrass you, but to demonstrate one more point of readiness we might be able to improve on.
Get a dual-watch radio [link]
When I first served in the Provo Freedom Festival parade, it was recommended that I purchase a particular model of HT (handheld) radio, which was sturdy and reliable, yet reasonably priced. It was about halfway through the parade, however, that I realized what I needed was a way to monitor both Primary Net Control and our Local Net Control. I could then be informed about issues both locally and in general, and even relay information between them. But doing so with my HT became cumbersome, because it's a single-watch radio, which forced me to keep switching between the two frequencies to stay informed on both nets.

During subsequent parades, drills, and nets I became wise and invested in a dual-watch radio, one that allowed me to listen to two different frequencies at the same time. Dual-watch radios often display two different frequencies on their faces. Many handheld units are dual-watch, but that feature must be enabled on some models.

The dual-watch feature shouldn't be confused with the dual-band feature. Dual-band means that the radio can transmit on two different bands, like 2 meters and 70 centimeters, where dual-watch means that it can pick up signals from two different frequencies, whether those frequencies are in the same band or on different bands. So, you can have a dual-watch radio that's single-band, or a dual-band radio that's single-watch, or one that's both dual-band and dual-watch.

When you purchase an HT, and you plan to use it for emergencies or drills, I recommend that you get a dual-watch HT. And dual-watch isn't limited to handheld radios; many mobile radios have the same convenient dual-watch feature.

What are your thoughts on dual-watch radios? Let's hear what you have to say.
The importance of portable work [link]
One of the reasons many of us got into ham radio is to help others, if not ourselves, with emergency communication. Often, we can practice radio for an event like that from the comfort of our own homes, and that kind of training is very valuable in many ways. There might come a time, however, that we might need to vacate our homes to provide that same communication help. We refer to this kind of activity as portable work.

Functioning as a portable station can be a lot of fun, whether we set up an outdoor station, an indoor station away from home, or even from within our own vehicle. But it does come with a few challenges that can be solved with a little forethought and equipment planning.

Power
Supplying power to your portable station can be as easy as connecting your radio to your vehicle accessory port, also known as a cigarette lighter socket. Just be aware of its limitations, because accessory ports are typically not able to handle a heavy current draw that's often required by mobile radios. Another good power option is solar, but that will require not only solar panels, but a charge controller, appropriate connectors, and possibly its own battery.

Antenna
Your portable station can most likely make use of the antenna already installed on your vehicle, but if you're not using your vehicle, then you'll need to figure out how to connect to a more portable antenna. This might require a standalone mobile or base antenna, coax, and a way to hold the antenna upright, such as with a tripod or by hanging paracord.

Radio
You might be surprised to discover how quickly a mobile radio will consume battery power, so with a good antenna installed, if you can get away with using an HT, by all means give that a try. But if you do, be sure you bring along the correct pigtail to connect your HT to your coax. If you need to use a mobile radio, start at low power first, then crank it up to the next level and check it out.

Other
To accompany your portable setup, a good table lamp or head lamp goes a long way. People don't often think of pen and paper, but working portable can get you scrambling for something to write with. A water bottle nearby can keep you both hydrated and vocally understandable. A portable, collapsible wagon can save you from making extra trips to your vehicle and strain on your back. Finally, spares of coax, batteries, and even an HT might help when you need to troubleshoot an issue in your own station.

So, working a portable station might not be something we do every day, but if we do it every so often, can help us be little bit better prepared, and that much more valuable as a communication resource in yet one more way. Remember the three rules of setting up a ham radio station are test, test, test. Test your setup, ask for a signal report, find out whether your battery can withstand a conversation, see whether your tripod can stand on its own, check whether you have the correct repeater and other frequencies programmed in your radio, and so forth.

Have you ever done portable work? Let's hear from your experiences.

Personal training topics

Helping somebody in distress [link]
We've talked previously about how to aid somebody who's calling for help. That is, how to discern their needs, whom you should call, and how you can personally assist in the way of equipment or relaying emergency messages. But there's another side to helping a person who is calling for anybody out there to come to their aid, and that's the personal side. In other words, is there something helpful you can actually say to them on the radio?

During an actual crisis, not only will your caller be frantic, but believe it or not, you're going to start freaking out too. The caller will be in great danger, or will be calling for a loved one who's screaming out in pain, and that person will most likely not have his or her mind together during the communication. And in spite of all your training, your bloodstream will be flowing with a half-gallon of adrenaline, causing you to speak very quickly, in a high-pitched voice, and begin to hyperventilate.

So, what can you say to somebody who desperately needs your help, when your own heart is racing? First, let's mention a few things you should NOT say:
• Do not lie to them by telling them that you understand how they feel, or that help is on the way, or that they're going to be alright. Yes, you've called 911, and police dispatch has assured you they'll get there soon, but you really have no idea if or when. And you have no clue as to how they feel or whether they'll be alright.
• Don't tell them to stay calm or to not worry. It's alright to worry. We're human and are born to worry, as a defense mechanism.
• Don't tell them not to cry or that they shouldn't feel bad. They have every right to feel bad, and that bad feeling, especially crying, can actually be their own mind's way of dealing with the situation.
• Do not tell them it's God's will that these things happened the way they did. You have no idea that's true, and it's often insulting to arbitrarily assign some sort of religious meaning to the situation, and can anger them.
• Don't tell them that they're strong and that they'll get through this. You don't know they're strong, and many will seriously question whether they'll actually survive the event.
Ok, so you know a few things you should not say. So, what could you say to this person who is under such stress? First, take a deep breath before speaking. Second, slow down and lower your pitch. Here are a few things you can say:
• Ask them their name. As much as you can, refer to them by their name. That's their most favorite word and sound in the world. It's calming and reassuring, and tells them that you're listening and are interested. Avoid using "Mr. or "Mrs."
• Don't overwhelm them with a hundred questions, but ask questions as you would in a regular conversation. Find out what happened, who is injured, and how severe the injuries are. Often, people are looking more for a listening ear than an ambulance.
• Assure them that you're doing whatever you can to help. Tell them you're not a doctor or a policeman, but that you know how to work a radio, and will try and get them the help they need.
• Keep them talking. Again, not to overwhelm them, but ask them about their family, where they live, what their parent does for a living. They want to talk about themselves, and it helps distract them from the problem at hand for a little while.

The best way to keep them calm is by you setting the tone and the example, hard as it might be. It's ok to be surprised, but keep your cool, even when the other person says something shocking or unexpected. Don't get angry or upset, don't raise your voice unless you're in a noisy environment, and don't use profanity. Use a calm and deliberate voice, and before long, they'll subconsciously start imitating your tone.
Wear a vest during training or an incident [link]
A couple of years ago, I was called out to an activation by UCARES (Utah County Amateur Radio Emergency Service) to help out with communication during the Tank Hollow fire up in Spanish Fork Canyon. As is my habit, I grabbed my grab-and-go bag, my helmet, and my bright yellow vest. I tossed my grab-and-go bag and helmet in the front seat passenger side, but put my vest on, figuring that was one less thing I needed to carry in my hand. Soon, I arrived at the command post, where other hams were communicating with one fire team or another.

After about ten minutes, a fireman rushed into the command post, came up to me, and started asking questions about locations and status, and of course I had no idea how to answer him. The team leader, another ham friend at the command post, told the fireman he was in charge of giving status updates, and proceeded to help the officer. The fire fighter was a bit confused at first, but turned his full attention to the team leader. About an hour later, four of us went outside the command post during a break in the day, and right away I was accosted by a Utah County Sheriff deputy with questions. Once again, I had to defer all questions to our team leader, who was still inside our command post.

In just over an hour, these two gentlemen had taught me something valuable. They both assumed that I, the only person wearing an official-looking vest, was in charge. The fact was just the opposite, but the point is, the vest meant something to them, and it got me thinking that these vests likely mean something to a lot of people, like ordinary citizens. It turns out that, on one hand, vests might portray a facade (fake view) of who I really am. On the other hand, it tells people that the situation is (at least a little) under control, and that people who know what they're doing, are helping to make a bad situation more tolerable for the rest of us, whether those are facts or not. It offers them a small peace of mind, and helps to calm otherwise frantic folks who are worried or in shock.

So, who is authorized to wear one of these official-looking things? You are, if you're helping with communication, first-aid, or another incident-related exercise, drill, or actual emergency. The next time you participate in an ARES or RACES net, volunteer at an ultra-marathon aid station, or help out in a city drill, wear your vest proudly, and make your presence known. At first, you might feel like you're pretending to be somebody or something you're not, but the more experienced among us will congratulate you for taking the initiative to make yourself visible to the public, as part of your training.

If you're interested in getting hold of an amateur radio vest, for example, you can purchase one for $16 from ARRL. Once you get it, I encourage you to wear it during drills, training, and other radio communication exercises, to get accustomed to wearing one. Yes, they might look a little pretentious, and maybe even a bit silly. But if you can overcome those feelings by using your vest periodically, you might also come to realize that people will view you as somebody who has some answers, and can help them in their hour of need.
The most important person in the world [link]
Who IS the most important person in the world?

You are.

You personally might not feel you're all that important, especially compared with, say, the President of the United States, or the leader of a highly respected religious organization, or even your daughter. But if your immediate task is to keep any of those people safe, and your own safety has been compromised to the point where you're injured, unconscious, or deceased, how will you accomplish that task? You're not going to do them much good if you've placed your own health or life in danger.

As difficult as it might be for many of us to face, our own safety is our first priority, above that of everybody else. Most of us are born with an internal moral compass that seems to contradict that priority, out of duty or love, and we might even secretly tell ourselves that we intend to obey that compass, no matter the circumstances. But remember that you might also do so at the peril of the very ones you're hoping to protect.

Even though you likely have a lot of radio skill in your back pocket, be sure that it's safe for you to climb the stairs following an earthquake, or to help an unconscious person lying near a downed power line, or enter a room full of coughing people. Be alert for danger signs that warn you of an unsafe situation, so that you don't become one of the victims, possibly rendering your aid and skills useless. Look for standing water, broken glass, the smell of gas, arcing or flashing lights, and creeking building structures. If there's ever any doubt, either get another person's opinion (you shouldn't be alone anyway, if at all possible), or don't approach the situation.

You want to help; after all, that's why you're listening to this. Just make sure you do what you reasonably can for your own safety first, so that you can effectively help others. Once your own safety is assured, you can be the means of helping or saving many others.
Use good judgment [link]
Do you have good judgment? Of course you do, and you use it well...most of the time. You usually know the right thing to say or do at the right time, and that judgment has come because of a lifetime of habit.

During a recent CERT course, the Operations Officer directed a runner to go check on a particular family, then report right back to the Operations table for a waiting assignment. Over the radio we could hear the runner give the Operations Officer the status of the family he had to check on, but said he had heard that another family needed help right away, and asked for permission to check on that other family before returning to the Operations table.

The runner was met with silence, so a Medical Officer came on the radio and said that it would be a good idea to go ahead and serve that other family before returning to the Operations table. Well, it turned out that that other family only needed a bottle of water, which they were able to obtain themselves, and when the runner returned to the Operations Table, the assignment awaiting him was given to another person, because it was a matter of life-and-death.

First, the Medical Officer made a bad judgment call by having the runner go against his orders, which resulted in a possibly life-threatening situation. Second, it was not the Medical Officer's call to make anyway. I mean, he sympathized with the runner, who heard no reply to his question, but he might have been better off keeping silent.

During yet another training class, we heard a Medical Officer reporting that there was "blood all over" and another person say that, as he was applying a bandage on a patient, that "his pants fell down". Do these things really need to be announced on the radio, for all to hear? Good judgment might tell you that they don't. At another time, the Planning Director became frustrated, and let loose a swear word at the radio operator, and the radio operator repeated the statement, word-for-word. Do you think that radio operator used good judgment? Sometimes, exercising good judgment is subjective and not easy, especially when you need to decide between following protocol and behaving appropriately.

Alright, so just how does one develop good judgment? Here are three tips:
• First, obedience is key. Follow orders. But that's often where the difficulty arises, especially if there is another incident that demands your attention. But when in doubt, follow the directions given you.
• Second, if you have the luxury of making that decision, keep in mind that you must do the most good for the most people. That means you might need to compromise, and allow one person to bleed out while you save seven others.
• Third, trust your experience, trust your training, and trust your mentors
As the saying goes, good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.
It comes down you deciding whether a course of action is the wisest one. And be sure that it's your call to make. Just because you can do or say something, doesn't always mean you should.

Anything you'd like to add, regarding the use of good judgment? Let's hear from you.

Protocol training topics

Incident Command shadow responsibilities [link]
You've been assigned the responsibility of shadowing Incident Command or you've volunteered for it. That means you're the main communicator for the incident to all of your civillian (not police, EMS, fire, etc.) operators. You have a few things to start moving on quickly, so here's a minimum list of your duties as Incident Command shadow (not necessarily in this order, but the order might help a little):


• You are Net Control, meaning you are in charge of the civillian radio net, under the direction of Incident Command. If there's a net already in progress, (politely) inform the operators that you are taking over as Net Control, by order of Incident Command.
• Decide on a band plan; that is, a) what frequency you plan to use for Incident Command, b) what frequency should be used by other teams (triage, SAR, medical, evac, etc.) if you should need more than one, c) whether to use simplex or repeater(s), and d) which FRS (walkie-talkie) channel(s) to use.
• Assign communicator roles, such as Operations shadow, Medical Team 4 shadow, Stake President shadow, etc.
• Assign tactical call signs to your operators, as in "Incident Command" (that's you), "Operations", "Medical Team 4", "Aspen Stake", etc.
• Start the net by announcing "QST, QST, QST" and then let everybody know that you are shadowing Incident Command, and that this is a directed net, meaning operators can transmit only if permitted by you
• Assign somebody near (in geographical proximity) to you, to monitor the 2-meter National Calling Frequency, which is 146.520 MHz (simplex). If your monitoring person has a dual-band / dual-watch radio, ask him or her to also monitor 446.000 MHz (simplex) simultaneously
• Instruct your operators as follows:
  • slow down and enunciate
  • be brief (use fewer words) by thinking about what you're going to say, then say it on the air
  • be accurate; that is, give proper detail, and don't worry so much about privacy when a person's life is at stake
  • use each other's tactical call signs
  • use plain English as much as possible. Except for the "QST" at the start of your net, avoid using "Q" codes or CB or police or military language. While it's acceptable to use some clarifying words, such as "negative" and "affirmative", try to refrain from ham radio jargon, such as "roger" or "copy" or "clear" or "over". If you need one station to wait on-frequency while you address a concern or answer the question of another, you can say "stand by".
  • put yourself last when announcing to whom you're speaking and who you are, by saying, "Medical 1, Incident Command"
  • be kind and helpful, not angry and demanding, in spite of the tremendous amount of stress you're under
• Set the net in motion by telling everybody that they are now permitted to transmit any message of urgency or need, as they relate to the incident
• Every ten minutes order all ham operators to ID; tell them to simply announce their FCC-assigned call signs all at once, and not worry about "doubling" with other operators, since the rule is that you transmit your call sign, not that you be heard; those who wait until others are finished will waste precious time
• Remain on the job until released by Incident Command. If you're too tired to continue, or if you need to relieve yourself, have another operator take your place, then inform the Incident Commander of the change. There's no need to announce the change to the net.
• Repeat the net announcement by saying that you're holding a net to handle an ongoing incident (or drill) every so often. If this is not a true incident or emergency, you must state over the air that this is not an emergency, to prevent unnecessary alarm.

As Incident Command shadow, you've got a big job. But keep in mind that, even though you're "in charge" of your net and your communicators, you still answer to Incident Command, who is in charge of the entire incident. Also, in a large-scale incident, Incident Command might have several communicator shadows, including you as the civillian shadow, a fireman as the fire and SAR (search-and-rescue) shadow, a policeman as the police shadow, etc.
Who's in charge [link]
As an ARES or CERT volunteer, it's possible you might get called out to help with an incident as a communicator, if you and your family are safe. But whether we're seasoned operators or brand new at the game, one point of confusion can arise, especially if there's a lot going on at the scene, and that is who is in charge. Most of us understand the Incident Command structure, in which the first person on the scene assumes the role of the Incident Commander, until replaced by somebody with greater authority or qualifications. But what we're addressing here is who you answer to.

Let's see if we can break that down into just two different viewpoints. First, according to the NIMS Unity of Command philosophy, each participant has one and only one supervisor. So, that addresses who your boss is. But are you in charge of anybody or anything? Turns out that's the other viewpoint.

The official is in charge of you
An official in this context is somebody who makes decisions and gives direction. This could be a policeman, fireman, a church leader, community leader, or other person who is responsible for handling the incident or gathering information. As a radio operator in the capacity we're discussing, you're the official's shadow, essentially following him or her where needed, to be ready to communicate by radio at a moment's notice. You're essentially the slave, simply relaying messages from the person you are shadowing, to another radio operator at an unseen, possibly distant, location.

What this means is that, while many of us might be experienced at leadership and administration, you do not make any incident decisions. You can make decisions regarding how to set up or work your radio equipment, and what to tell your own family, but not regarding the incident. For example, if you see a need (injured person, water, more blankets, etc.), you should bring that to the attention of your official, and that's all. Your official will make the decision of how to handle the given information.

As a shadow, your responsibility is to relay traffic and messages as precisely as you're able. At times, the chaos of the incident might make it difficult to work your radio in this way, requiring you to ask for repeats of the messages that need to be relayed. In a very short period of time, you'll discover by experience what works and what doesn't, including how to orient your microphone and antenna, how to enunciate without sounding angry, and how to work in an adrenaline rush without passing out.

You are in charge of your equipment
Even though your official is directing your actions, the FCC holds you accountable for the proper operation of your amateur radio equipment, from the power cord to the antenna, by virtue of your license. Nobody has the right to operate, modify, or move your ham radio gear without your express permission, because you are the radio station owner. However, you are permitted to delegate the operation, modification, and relocation of your ham radio equipment to another, even an unlicensed, person.

This also means you're responsible for selecting an appropriate frequency for your communication needs. It means you must remove sources of radio interference, should you become aware of such a problem. It also means that it's up to you to find ways to ensure that your station gear remains workable and available at the moments it's needed, whether that means backup power (batteries, generator, solar panels, etc.) or even backup person (you're too tired or stressed.)

You might be in charge of the net
That is, if you are the Incident Command shadow, you are resonsible for establishing a net, including assigning frequencies, tactical call signs, and making the traffic (message-handling) rules. You will become the voice of reason and calm to all your listeners, which will be a fairly easy task, because of all the training and practice you've had on your local nets and drills, in spite of the excitement of the moment.

If you are a radio operator who is not the Incident Command shadow, then you must do as directed by your official and by Net Control. If there's a conflict in orders given by the two, you're going to have use your best judgment, but keep in mind that Incident Command is in charge of the incident. In most cases, the best thing to do is follow the orders given by Incident Command, and then inform your official 1) what was told to you by Incident Command and 2) what you are going to do.
Always serve with a companion [link]
Many of us have served LDS missions. While there, we learned one of the rules was that we and our companion went everywhere and pretty much did everything together. Except for showering and personal hygeine moments, we were together in the same room 24/7. And that taught us the value of companionship, not because of an arbitrary rule, but because of a number of good reasons, which now seem like common sense.

Don't serve alone
When we serve in any emergency communication capacity, such as a drill or an event, or an actual incident, that we work as companions, and for many reasons. When you're working with another, reporting becomes a little more accurate, you feel the need to share your time and resources, time seems to pass a little easier, and you might even feel a bit safer.

There are times when it's just not practical or even possible to find a companion to serve with, and certainly most drill, simulation, or incident leaders will understand. Make sure you understand that when you don't, you're taking a risk.

Assist another who's already serving
A couple of years ago one of our hams was serving at the Squaw Peak 50 ultra-marathon up Provo Canyon. When he arrived, he noticed a young lady setting up the radio and refreshments at the aid station. He saw a few others there that I knew, but out of nowhere a man walked up and wanted to know what they were doing. He was obviously inebriated, and started to sit close to the young lady, then helping himself to people's water bottles, and speaking loudly. It was apparent that the people at thte aid station were a bit nervous about the situation, so my friend kept placing himself between the wanderer and the young lady. But the thought occurred to him, What if this woman had been alone? Would she have felt safe? I mean, there's no cell service up there.

My suggestion is that, when you see another radio operator sitting alone, plant yourself right alongside the person, and make yourself a new friend. Let the operator know that you're going to assist and work right alongside him or her. This way, if one of you does get asked about some details or actions, you can now reinforce the other.

It's another level of protection
When serving with another person, and you've forgotten some procedure or protocol, you have somebody who can help remind you of what course to take. When you're with another helper, and questions come up later on your whereabouts at the time of an incident or drill, you have a ready witness who can vouch for you. If you get accused of some misdeed, you have somebody who can assure the authorities of your activities. Finally, working in plain sight with another tends to make you less of a target for an assault or other nefarious activities.

And let me conclude by saying this is only a suggestion, and not a rule or a law, or even a demand; I believe it's just common sense. For safety, for protection, for accountability, and for companionship during a possibly intense moment. But now, I'd like to hear from you.
Volunteer to be a backup [link]
Because we're human, we have human needs and human circumstances that draw away our attention from the task at hand. Our throats might get too dry, and we need a drink. We might need to visit the restroom and relieve ourselves. One day I sat with an operator who suddenly got stung by a wasp. For whatever reason, there are times when we can no longer perform the function we were assigned, and during those times, it would be really convenient to have somebody standing by, ready to take over our job at a moment's notice, if needed.

You be the volunteer
During many nets, an assistant net control position is assigned to a person who is willing to help Net Control with duties. That person can also replace Net Control, if needed. But for nets that aren't organized to the point of having an assistant, you can volunteer for that spot yourself. And you don't need to announce that offer to Net Control or anybody else; simply stand by, and if Net Control isn't able to continue for some reason, you can step right in and take over, without skipping a beat.

Of course, if you don't announce your plan, there might be more than one of you who'll be standing by to take over; then again, that's a good problem to have. It'll then be up to you, to figure out who should take over, but that's typically pretty easy. You can let Net Control know in advance, that you'd like to be a backup, or simply assume the role silently, until the need arises.

As Net Control
And if you are Net Control, it might be helpful and wise to invite one of your members to volunteer as ANCS (Assistant Net Control Station) prior to the start of the net, or even during the net. I mean, you might never know when something will arise and require your attention a lot more than your radio.

I'd like to hear from you. Anything else that might be important for a backup or an assistant?
Not an actual emergency [link]
While working at my computer on a project one day, I had my radio on Scan, when it landed on a conversation between three or four people. After a couple of goings back-and-forth, I heard the word injury, and then paramedic, so I dropped what I was doing and turned to listen. After more than a minute of words like bleeding and trauma, I started getting just a bit concerned. But then, I started hearing clues, such as Donald Duck is being transported and apply a neck tourniquet, which told me that this whole communication was part of a simulation or mock disaster. Whew.

Announce that this operation is a drill
I believe that, had the Net Control operator or some other person on the radio, announced that this had been a drill or a staged exercise of some sort, I would not have become nearly so alarmed. Maybe he did, and my scanner missed the announcement. It's very appropriate for the person in charge or in control of the net to say
We are staging a training exercise. This is NOT an emergency; only a drill.
or
This is only a drill, and not an actual emergency.

Repeat the announcement
Every half hour or other reasonable duration, repeat the announcement that what you're operating is a simulation, and not an actual emergency. This way, people (like me, who tuned in late to the game) will get the chance to hear officially what this alarming event is, instead of having to listen for clues.

Dial back the reality
If you want to lower the level of concern by the listening public, yet keep your drill as realistic as you can, inject silly clues to let them know they're listening to a training exercise, and not a real incident. Use names of celebrities, political figures, or cartoon characters for tactical call signs. Give places names like "bean bag chair" and "donut hole" to lighten up the drill a bit. Try and use words like "bleeding" and "fracture" and "casualty" sparingly.

Say it at the end
At the conclusion of your exercise, repeat the announcement one last time:
This concludes our drill. This has NOT been an emergency, but a staged training exercise.

Don't forget that not only hams will be scanning and listening for alarming words, but it's possible that officials such as firemen and EMS will also pick up on your drill. Your frequent mention of the event as a training exercise will go a long way to lower their level of concern.

What are your thoughts? Let's hear from you.
Recording time formats [link]
One year during the Provo Freedom Festival parade, I was asked to relieve the person who was operating as Net Control for a portion of their net. It was about 9:30 am, and the parade workers and communicators had been stationed and coordinating since 3 o'clock that morning, so the parade was well under way. I glanced over the notes made by the previous person, who wrote down a couple of minor incidents at 10 am, which confused me, since 10 am hadn't occurred yet. Then it dawned on me that he was recording them in UTC time, not local time. Of course, that raised a few questions in my head.


• What time format should we be using?
• Did somebody announce the format, or was that covered in some previous training?
• Does it matter?

In my opinion, these are good questions, especially if somebody besides you needs to read your notes, like what happened to me. Just to clarify, there are four types of time formats that we as hams tend to encounter: 12-hour local time, 24-hour local time, military time, and UTC time.

12-hour local time is what you read on your 12-hour clock, and let's say that local time reads 9:27 pm on Tuesday. 24-hour local time is the same, but in a 24-hour format and without the am or pm, such as 21:27, using the same example. UTC time is a 24-hour time format, relative to the time zone in England, which is offset from our local time by the time zone and Daylight Saving. Using the same example, 9:27 pm local time would be 03:27 on Wednesday if it's summer, or 04:27 on Wednesday if it's winter.

Military time is seldom used by hams, but is often written by those in the military or law enforcement, and seen by some of us during multi-agency drills and ARES callouts, for instance. It's also a 24-hour local time format, but specifies the time zone, and for the same example, would be 2127T for Utah.

Alright, so which time format is the best one to use, or which should we use?

The answer is, the one that's dictated by the person in charge of your activity, such as your Net Control station, event organizer, or an Incident Commander. But if the chief didn't say, (because organizers often overlook that possibly petty detail), then which should you use? Your default should be to use 24-hour local time (like 21:27 Tuesday) if you're engaged in a local activity, such as a church net, city drill, an ARES callout, or CERT activation. But if your communication can potentially be heard across time zone boundaries, such as with an HF net or a special event station, you should use UTC time (like 03:27 Wednesday for the same example).

What about on the air? To prevent confusion, it's often best to use the same time format on the radio that you use when jotting down an event. If you're forced to mentally translate between two different time formats, it's a lot easier to make mistakes, especially during a crisis.

The bottom line is to do your best to help communicate clearly. Even if you're the only person who will ever see your notes, it's still possible that you'll need to refer to them in the future. And if you do, will you remember what day and time you meant, when you wrote down 1:45? It might become important, for example, if an injured victim's insurance company asks for it, which occasionally happens following a TERT incident.

And we haven't even touched on which date format to use, which is recommended by ARES as 0M/0D/YYYY, as in 07/04/2020.

So, what are your thoughts? Which time format should we use in our nets? How about other activities? Does it matter? Let's hear from you.
Privacy concerns [link] [PDF]
One day on social media, in the context of logging contacts, a person commented that he had nothing to hide. A second commenter asked, "So, what's your Social Security Number?" The first commenter then admitted that he indeed had some things to hide after all. On one hand, we each do have something to hide, and should probably keep hidden from most people. On the other hand, we also realize that much of our personal information is available on the internet, if somebody really wants to find it. But that's our battle to fight.

If you're entrusted with somebody else's personal data, however, how much of it should you broadcast on the radio, if ever? Most will react quickly, and say that we should never give out personal information on the radio. Then again, if you're serving in an emergency radio capacity, and you're asked for the information by an official, should you freely broadcast it to the crowd who might be listening in? Most of us know that nothing on amateur radio is private, and in fact, there are always ham radio operators who are constantly scanning the frequencies for any kind of chatter.

There might indeed come a time when you're asked for sensitive information on the radio. These can include a person's name, age, gender, race, weight, nationality, address, phone number, medications, medical condition or history, extent or type of injury, location of incident, identifying marks, and much more. We have what's known as HIPAA (or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) laws in place, that attempt to keep some of this data private. Then again, we also have Good Samaritan laws that offer legal protection to those who give reasonable service to others in need. So the bottom line is, you should do your best to keep other people's information private, but you're most likely protected, if you ever need to give it out.

If at all possible, ask that you take the conversation to cell phone. If you can't, because maybe you're helping out with a remote rescue or you're trapped, you need to use good judgment. Sometimes, it helps to be creative and use general terms, such as young woman or not from our country or above average weight or in the northern Pleasant Grove area to hide the details. Some have suggested encoding the message by some cryptographic means, but keep in mind that amateur radio rules prohibit the encoding of messages for the purpose of obscuring them. One way to possibly get around some of this today is to use a digital mode of radio operation, such as DMR, YSF, or D-STAR, which only a small number of radio operators can use. In time, however, that minority will likely turn into the majority, and digital will not be as "private" as it seems now.

So, what are your thoughts on radio privacy? Let's hear from you.
Net Control is your friend [link] [PDF]
Some of us are the types who question everything, from science to the law, from religious doctrine to civic authority, and often with good reason. On one hand, it's good that we question things, so that we can become better educated. On the other hand, it's just best to follow instructions, if the situation requires your attention.

Purpose of Net Control
The reason we have one person in charge of a net is so that we can have an orderly exchange of communication, whether that's for training or for an actual incident. The point of this training is to help you and me understand that we should always do our best to follow the directions given by Net Control.

Please understand that Net Control has no real authority, and should not make any decisions, except those that relate to the net itself, such as the choice of frequency, mode of operation, type of net, and so forth. But, it's possible that Net Control is shadowing an overseeing authority, and is simply conducting the net or passing along policy as it's given. This is the primary reason for us to accept and follow the instructions voiced by Net Control.

Serving two masters
In the world of CERT, we learn a principle known as unity of command, meaning that each participant in the entire chain answers only to one leader. However, we do find occasionally that we end up answering to two or more masters, due to our involvement or allegiance to different groups that could be directing the activity at the moment. For example, say Net Control asks you to communicate a message to a utility manager, but your religious leader tells you to hold off with that message. Should you ignore your religious leader and make the communication, or obey your religious leader and hold off passing the message? Eventually, you're going to have to make that decision; however, keep in mind that Net Control might be shadowing an official, whose directives take precedence.

The buck stops with Net Control
Back to questioning everything. Should you ever question the instructions given by Net Control? If you truly feel that you have important information to offer, go ahead and make a suggestion, but once Net Control has heard your suggestion, you should accept and follow the subsequent decision. For example, say Net Control has asked all people to gather at the nearby elementary school. You might want to remind Net Control that it's summertime, and that the school is closed, but if Net Control returns and tells you that the city has given him or her the key, then the topic is closed, and you need to follow the original instructions. Then again, if Net Control determines that you have updated information he or she wasn't aware of, then you should follow the new instructions that Net Control gives you.

Any other thoughts about following Net Control? Let's hear from you.
You are not a cop [link]
In many ham radio groups throughout the US, we might find ourselves involved with non-ham officials as communicators for parades, marathons, bike races, and other civilian-sponsored events. Once in awhile, however, we might also have the opportunity to work alongside medical teams, search-and-rescue, and even law enforcement. Either way, participating in these events helps sharpen our operating skills while providing a needed service.

The disciplined professionalism demanded by some of these more government-sposored groups can place our amateur mindsets in a state of rigid and efficient operation, often making the organized way public safety does things seem quite attractive. However, this can also tempt us to feel or believe like we're one of them, and this feeling can carry over into regular amateur radio operations. As a result, we might justify taking charge, giving orders, or assuming leadership that we shouldn't, and maybe even treating others like they're subordinate to us.

An outward expression of this feeling sometimes extends to the need to wear official-looking apparel, complete with stars, badges, and harnesses often seen on true law enforcement officers. This mimicry of public safety can be confusing to some civilians, who tend to automatically and rightly pay great respect to one that appears to be a policeman. Furthermore, speaking or acting like one on the radio is not only unnecessary, but somewhat pretentious, and maybe a little deceptive.

One symptom of this law enforcement behavior is the insistence of using the one and only acceptable phonetic alphabet, and ignoring or failing to acknowledge a net participant who uses an alternate word. Another symptom is the feeling that we must correct a net participant for a minor infraction in one thing or another. Honestly, if it's not truly important, just let it go, without any comment or criticism from you.

You are not a cop. Well, in fact, some of you might actually be members of law enforcement, but the point is that we shouldn't act, talk, or treat others like we are, while acting in an amateur role. We can operate in a professional manner, yet we should not insist that others perform in a particular way. Allow them the freedom to operate the way they're accustomed to, while we set an example of kindness and acceptance.

What are your thoughts about not pretending to be a cop on the radio or when serving at events?
How to handle an additional volunteer [link]
During an incident in which you might need to set up your station to maintain communication ability for yourself or others, you might find that most people are not only safe and in good health, but are also looking for ways to help out. If one of them approaches you and wants to know how they can contribute to the solution, it's a good idea to have a few tasks for them to work on. But like doing what?

It might be easy for you to think of some sort of busy work to keep them occupied, but they're likely looking for something meaningful, to make their effort more worthwhile. Here are a few suggestions, to help volunteers help you in a purposeful way:

• Ask for a short skills assessment, and find out whether they have any experience with
  • medical or first-aid
  • handyman or construction
  • psychology, to help talk victims through the trauma, especially children
  • law enforcement, traffic control
  • fire fighting
  • holding other helpful certifications
• Find out whether they're physically fit enough to walk or run to a home or another station, or strong enough to perform some heavy lifting or shoveling
• Document the incident, including dates, times, places, and people involved
• Ask them to "buddy up" with a person who is serving alone
• Ask them to check to certain homes or canvass locations and return with an assessment on
  • food and water situation - do they have enough?
  • safety situation - is their home safe?
  • the elderly
  • special needs and disabilities
  • trapped people or pets
  • whether they can volunteer and help as well
  • whether they can donate water, food, clothing, blankets, and other needs
• Help handing out water and other supplies
• Bring you extra supplies, such as water, snacks, paper, batteries, warm coat, extra chair, lights, umbrella, and hard hat
• Learn how your station is set up, so they can help when needed
• Set up a private shelter tent, with a cot and blanket
• Help you educate and update vitcims, passers-by, and the public
• Manage crowd-control
Understandably, some of these will require time on your part, to train the volunteer on one or more particular tasks.

Finally, don't be afraid of turning people away if you truly don't have anything significant for them to do at the moment. But if you do send them home, be sure to collect their contact information, then ask them to return to your station in a few hours, in case the situation has changed or one of the other helpers need to be relieved due to fatigue.

There are no doubt tasks and opportunities you might be aware of, that we haven't covered here. What are your thoughts about how to direct volunteers?
Be the leader [link]
During a disaster, or even a mild incident, people look for leadership, whether that's the authorities, like the police or fire chief, or somebody that obviously has some sort of charismatic leadership quality. You know what I'm talking about: when he or she speaks, people listen.

You too can provide that leadership, whether you believe it or not. In the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program, one subject some of us love to teach is Leadership Training. It involves selecting somebody in the class to be the Incident Commander, then helping the student go through all the necessary motions of setting up a command structure from scratch. Then, we have the person repeat the entire process, only this time without our interference.

But being a leader doesn't come naturally to everybody. So, how do you become a leader? Do your best to calmly and objectively understand the situation, piece it together, and develop some sort of action plan, even a small one, then deliver it with confidence. Practice encouraging people without criticizing them. Learn to offer instructions instead of giving orders, but be open to suggestion and freely admit mistakes. No matter the situation, as difficult as it might be at times, be kind.

Even before all of this, however, involve yourself in training. Check into nets, become well-versed in your ham radio equipment, take a CERT course. In spite of all this training, you're still going to be rattled and nervous when the day arrives to actually put your skills to use, but at least you'll have some idea of what to expect and how to deal with it, because you are the leader.

Most of us would rather let somebody else be the leader of an emergency situation, and it's alright to feel that way. So, what's the point of this training? It's because you know that the first person upon the scene of an incident is in charge, and that might be you. And part of your incident training tells you that you're free to turn over the reins of leadership to somebody who's better qualified to lead the effort. But if that policeman tells you that you're doing great, and to carry on because there are other groups to check up on, the leadership job will remain your burden until you're told otherwise.

What are your thoughts about stepping up and being the leader?

Emergency training topics

What kind of grab-and-go bag [link]
When you need to leave your home in a hurry, you'll also need to take with you as much as you can reasonably carry in a grab-and-go backpack, to free up your arms to do other tasks. But the kind of backpack you get might not help you as much as you'd like if you select one that doesn't have the features to accommodate your needs. The two biggest backpack concerns are typically size and utility.

Size
You'll want your backpack to be large enough to hold everything you need in a grab-and-go bag, such as clothing, food, water, first-aid, toiletries, flashlight, batteries, and hundreds of other things that are important to you. But if you get one that's too large, you might be tempted to over-fill it, and the pack can become awkward and difficult to carry. One thing to think about is whether your backpack is large enough to expand outward from your body, rather than just upward (taller.)

Utility
The word utility refers to your pack's usefulness. If possible, your backpack should contain multiple full-sized storage spaces and plenty of large and small pockets. It should also have plenty of hooks, straps, or other means of attaching items to the exterior of your pack, such as those on a MOLLE or tactical style backpack.

Other features
Other useful features you might want to consider in a grab-and-go backpack are hydration bladder and hose, plastic (rather than metal) zippers, carrying handle, adjustable straps, strap hooks, chest straps, rubber or plastic feet (to set it down without wearing it out), in-pack frame, back padding, bottom hooks or straps (to attach underneath, like a tent or sleeping bag / pad), water resistance, cover or hood, outer webbing or mesh pockets, side pockets (for your water bottle or other), hidden pockets, locking waistband, double-stitching, and zippered expansion.

Location
Finally, you'll need to decide where to store your grab-and-go backpack, which might actually help you decide what kind to get. Place your pack in a coat closet near your front door or other exit, where you believe you'll most likely leave from your home if you need to. This allows you the convenience of checking and re-stocking your bag regularly right in your home. Some place it in their garages for the same reason, because they plan to escape by vehicle. Still others keep their backpacks inside their vehicles at all times. Just some food for thought.
What should belong in your grab-and-go bag [link]
Every person should have two things they have stashed near an exit-way in the event of a true disaster during which they might need to evacuate: a 72-hour kit and a grab-and-go bag. Some folks are resourceful enough to figure out how to combine these, but many of us are not. The 72-hour kit should contain everything we need to sustain life away from home for 72 hours, including water, water purifier, food, medicine, toiletries, TP, blankets, first-aid kit, flashlight, headlamp, batteries, candles, lighter, raincoat, and dry change of clothing.

The grab-and-go bag should contain your CERT vest, CERT helmet, radio, antenna, radio batteries, tools, paper forms, pens, markers, non-latex gloves, work gloves, emergency tent, emergency sleeping bag, and wipes. One thing that can make all of this easier to haul is a collapsible wagon, assuming your disaster terrain is flat enough for one. And if you do have a wagon, I would add a portable toilet.

With all of this, you're minimally prepared to serve your community in a CERT capacity. But let's take a look at the radio you've packed in your grab-and-go bag. First, is your radio already programmed with useful frequencies? These should include the following:
• your Area Simplex Frequency (mine is 147.480 MHz)
• your City Simplex Frequency (mine is 145.770 MHz)
• several local ragchew repeater frequencies (ours are 146.760- MHz and 146.780- MHz)
• your local ARES repeater frequencies (ours is 147.340+ MHz)
• your ERC repeater frequency (mine is 147.020+ MHz)
• 146.520 MHz simplex, the 2-meter National Calling frequency
• a local weather frequency (ours is 162.550 MHz)
• KSL radio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM (the designated Statewide Emergency Broadcast frequencies)
• many like to program local police frequencies, but no real need for that, especially since most radios can't be programmed to them.
Finally, your radio batteries needs to be alkaline, not rechargeable. Store your pre-programmed radio with a disconnected sled of alkaline batteries and a disconnected Signal Stick or telescopic antenna.
What frequency to monitor, to be of most help [link]
You want to be as helpful as you can be when the need arises, to render some assistance to others. So, what frequencies should you tune to during an incident, especially if cell towers become damaged or otherwise unavailable? Here are some suggested ones, roughly in order:


• Your Area frequency if you're near your home neighborhood. Your Area is the geographical location defined by local religious leaders. And you know your Area frequency because it's the one that's held weekly by the predominant faith, and you don't have to be a member of the faith to participate. You should be able to locate yours on noji.com/nets.
• Your City frequency if you're within your home city, and is one of those used by your city during a city-wide drill
• Your ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) repeater frequency. For Utah County, that's 147.340+ MHz (100.0 Hz tone).
• If you're LDS, your ERC (Emergency Response Communications) repeater frequency; for the Lindon Bishops' Storehouse (Utah County), that's 147.020+ MHz (103.5 Hz tone)
• The 2-meter National Calling Frequency, which is 146.520 MHz simplex, and part of the Wilderness Protocol (for the 70 cm band, it's 446.000 MHz simplex)

These are provided, so that you can stay informed on the events as they're unfolding, to relay to others who need the peace-of-mind that information brings:


• The designated Statewide Emergency Broadcast frequencies, which for Utah is KSL radio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM
• Any or all of several police, sheriff, fire, and EMS (emergency medical services) frequencies, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
  
  
  • 154.860 MHz : North Utah County Sheriff
  • 156.135 MHz : South Utah County Sheriff
  • 153.950 MHz : Utah County Public Safety
  • 155.235 MHz : Utah County Search and Rescue
  • 851.600 MHz : Utah Public Safety (fire, EMS, police, chopper, ambulance)

Finally, and possibly counter-intuitive, be sure to program your radios with a few ragchew repeater frequencies. That is, frequencies of the nearest repeaters that are the most often used. For Utah County those would likely be 146.760- MHz, 146.780- MHz (100.0 Hz tone), and 146.620- MHz. If you're trying to help, and monitor one of these repeaters, chances are fairly good that somebody who needs help will be calling out on one of these frequencies.
How to answer a call for help [link]
As a CERT member, you know that your community service is very needed when there's an incident or emergency. You've been trained on really valuable skills, like Triage, Minor Medical, Light Search and Rescue, and the Incident Command System, all of which can help save lives when your help is needed. One thing we don't always get much training on, however, is how to answer a call for help.

First, when you hear a request for assistance, you might not recognize it as a call for help. That's because you're listening for a smooth, trained voice who's used to talking on ham radio. The person on the other end might actually sound frantic, high-pitched, and hyperventilated. It'll take everything you've got to remain calm, even if the other person isn't.

Second, the other person might not have ever heard of a call sign, let alone have a license. It'll be up to you to ask the other person a few questions, to help keep him focused, to keep him talking to you as long as you could, until help arrives, if it does. Ask what his or her name is, call him by his name every chance you get. A person tends to feel more calm, assured, and like you're really listening, when you repeat his or her name often.

Third, find out about his environment, whether he's in a safe place. Is he alone, or are there others nearby? Are they alright? How old is he or she? If it's a child, where are the parents? Are there power lines down near him? Does he smell gas? Is there broken glass on the floor near him? Is there water on the floor or spraying in the air? Are the lights on?

Finding out as much information as you can will help in three ways: it'll provide the caretakers (like police or fire or parents) more info to assess, it'll help calm the other person, and surprisingly, it'll help calm you as well. There's often a lot of talk about protecting privacy, but when a child's life is in danger, the child's privacy is probably not the first priority.
Your emergency gathering place [link]
When disaster strikes, it's helpful to know that you can gather with others at a temporary physical location, for help with your needs, to help with their needs, for information, and for moral support, even when it's not necessary to evacuate. There's comfort in knowing that others nearby understand what you're going through, and might be able to vocalize what you yourself are thinking. Depending on the situation, it might not always be practical or even possible for a group of people to gather at one specific location, but if it is, you should. Of course, that opens up a lot of questions, like where you should gather, where to go if your meeting place is no longer accessible, and who determines all of that.

Predetermined gathering place
To keep things simple, you should have a place to gather near your home, and another near your work place or school.
• For your home location, approach somebody in a neighborhood leadership position, such as your bishopric if you're LDS, or your Association if you live in an HOA. Ask them where you could gather during an emergency. Many will never have thought about it until you've brought it up.
• If neither of these apply to your situation, you take the leadership role, designate a reasonable gathering place, and inform those in your neighborhood. The Block Captian program provides some suggestions for grouping, but they're primarily for the accounting of people, and they tend to favor sheltering in place rather than gathering as neighbors.
• Approach your employer or school official, and ask about an emergency evacuation plan, including an outside location where people can gather.

Unplanned place to gather
Some situations require some quick thinking and a little pre-planning on your part, such as when you're shopping or traveling. When a disaster strikes, it might be up to you to designate a safe place to gather. People will find a little peace-of-mind, knowing that somebody has taken the initiative to do something for their safety. If another person steps up and devises a plan or location different from the one you had proposed, unless it's clearly dangerous, use your leadership skills in a different way by supporting the other person, instead of insisting that your way is the right way or the only way to do things.

Make a contingency plan
In the event that your primary home, work, or school gathering place becomes inaccessible for one reason or another, it's often wise to ask about or pursue a secondary meeting location. Downed tree limbs or power lines, broken-up roads, flooded landscapes, or even pathways that have been barricaded for emergency vehicles, might prevent you and your neighbors from collecting at your predetermined meeting place. Have a Plan B in mind, just in case.

What to take with you
Keeping in mind that this gathering place is temporary, but somewhat close to home or work or school, there are a few things you might want with you, but you don't want to go overboard either. Here are some ideas (smartphone and keys to your home and vehicle are assumed):
• Your grab-and-go bag, which might include bandages, water, toilet paper, lighter, headlamp, and batteries
• Warm clothing and jacket
• Laptop with important documents and passwords
• Your handheld radio, programmed with important frequencies, such as your Area frequency, your City frequency, the local ARES frequency, and the most popular local repeater frequency
• If you have the time and luxury, toys and games for the little ones, mementos (such as photographs, jewelry, and sentimental keepsakes), snacks to tie you over for awhile
Your two-minute warning [link] [PDF]
You hear a loud knock at your door, Fire department...you have two minutes to leave your house! In the November 2019 issue of Reader's Digest, several homeowners recount hearing those very words during the devastation of the July 2018 fire that ravaged houses in a suburb of Redding, California, in which more than 38,000 were forced to evacuate their homes. If you had only two minutes to leave your home and property, what would you take with you? In most cases, you might not need to evacuate your home at all, but let's stop and consider a situation that might require you to vacate with little notice.

People and animals first
Your first concern is for the people in your household, and then your animals. Your animals can be domestic pets, service animals, or livestock. Plan a way for people and animals to escape quickly. Take into account age and disabilities, and how long it will take to evacuate people who might need extra assistance.

A grab-and-go bag is essential
Stored in a closet right by your front door is your grab-and-go bag, which contains all the personal and family items you had planned for an evacuation just like this, long ahead of time. You've stored away bandages, water, toilet paper, over-the-counter medicine, lighter, headlamp, batteries, clothing, ham radio, and other things your family might need. The convenience of such a bag cannot be overstated, since all your essentials can be picked up in that bag and taken with you in seconds. Remember to rotate out expired medicines and other perishables every six or so months.

Maintain a communication method
Taking your smartphone with you goes without saying; it's going to be your primary lifeline to the rest of the world. In a widespread disaster, however, cell towers become easily overloaded, so you need to have a backup plan, which should include ham radio. Be sure to take a handheld ham radio with you as you evacuate your property. And if you've already stashed one in your grab-and-go bag, that's one less thing to think about collecting.

Other important items to take along
Here are some things to think about:
• Keys to your house and vehicle
• Warm clothing and jacket
• Laptop with important documents and passwords
• Cash, credit cards, other forms of payment
• If you have the time and luxury, toys and games for the little ones, mementos (such as photographs, jewelry, and sentimental keepsakes), snacks to tie you over for awhile

You'll probably have a lot more than two minutes
In a widespread disaster, such as the California wildfire just mentioned, you and your family will most likely have known about the quickly moving flames, how close they were to your place, and the ensuing general evacuation order, long before the two-minute warning is sounded. If you haven't already collected the things you need for your evacuation, those warnings alone should give you a chance to re-adjust your priorities and start gathering your needed items. On the other hand, an earthquake might not give you much warning at all. And if this training topic will do any good, it might help you get a start on that list of items today, plenty of time before any such disaster has occurred.
Your primary communication line [link]
Unless you're face-to-face with the person you need, your primary line of communication should be your smartphone. Yes, ours is a craft, a net, and a training that concentrates on ham radio, but with all of that focus, it's easy to sideline the most important tool at our disposal. Your smartphone should be the first device you turn to, for communication during an incident.

A smartphone contains features, apps, and built-in abilities that are unrivaled in any other device, and I'd like to mention a few of them, as they apply to emergency communication. These include a phone book, a note pad, a flashlight, GPS, and so much more. The trick is knowing how to use them at a moment's notice.

Try calling first
Once disaster strikes, and it's convenient, use your smartphone to call somebody. If you or a person nearby is injured or in immediate danger, call 911. If you're not in immediate danger, call a friend or a co-worker or a clergy member. After that, call your out-of-state contact, if you believe the incident is large enough, like an earthquake or flood or chemical spill. Your call might not go through, but you need to try.

Try texting next
You might find that twenty thousand others are trying to use the cell towers in your city the same time as you. Even though you show five full bars, your fully charged phone might seem to be dead. If it does, your next step is to resort to texting those same people. Your voice call requires quite a lot of bandwidth, and cellular systems will quickly limit connections if they get overloaded, and they tend to get overloaded quite easily. Your text message will often get through when voice calls cannot.

Learn to take notes with your smartphone
Your smartphone will typically have a built-in app for taking notes. Learn how to quickly bring up the app and begin jotting down information. You might want to record the date, the time, any injuries, people's names and phone numbers, contact information, and more. If you need to communicate this to EMS, they might ask you about vitals, such as bleeding, breathing, heart rate, and awareness. The information you note can be stored on your smartphone for quite a long time. Those of us who have had training in ARES, CERT, and AUXCOMM know of the numerous forms that need to be filled out and submitted for one reason or another. Chances are, you won't have any of those paper forms when an incident happens, but you can still note the same information on your smartphone app.

Take notes by email
One handy way to take notes on your smartphone is by opening an email app, as though you're composing an email to somebody, like to yourself. As long as you've got the email app open, it'll automatically save the information you've entered so far, even if you don't actually send the email. This way, if your smartphone battery dies, all your notes are safely stored.

Practice
Just like with ham radio, all of this takes practice. Ok, you probably have plenty of practice making calls and texting, but do you have your out-of-state contact in your phone book? Can you bring up your notes or email app quickly, and are you pretty handy at using the editors on them? Do you have a backup battery charger for your smartphone? And finally, be sure you know how to use your ham radio if you aren't able to get a call or text through.
Learn to use your phone as an emergency tool [link]
We amateurs love to tell people that when all else fails, amateur radio can save the day. While that might be true, we shouldn't become so narrow-minded as to believe that radio is all we have when things go wrong. One of the most important tools you have is your phone, and for a moment, I'd like to focus on using your phone as a tool for more than just talking.

It might not be obvious right now, but it's wise to prepare for an emergency using your phone. For example, one of the problems we often read about in the aftermath of some disasters is the fact that people easily get lost; that is, major landmarks that existed prior to a hurricane or earthquake no longer look obvious afterwards. Learn how to use Google Earth or another app to show you your location, even your GPS coordinates, which could become a huge help to rescue workers who are searching for you.

Take advantage of our current moment of peace and security to educate yourself on how to use your phone as an emergency tool. Learn and practice how to take notes, how to copy coordinates into messages that you can text to somebody, how to take pictures, with and without a flash, how to play music, how to magnify what you're viewing, how to turn on your flashlight, record a video, and more. And if you don't believe your phone can do one of these things, chances are that there are free apps you can download to your phone to perform those functions. Install the Everbridge emergency alert app, for example, which can alert you to potential dangers such as earthquake aftershocks, extreme weather, shelter-in-place instructions, evacuation routes, and more.

When a disaster strikes, you sometimes have no idea how long you have until power is restored. For that reason learn how to place your phone in battery-save mode and other ways to reduce battery consumption. Reduce your phone display intensity, change your display to a darker one, shorten the time before your screen goes to sleep, adjust the power settings on power-hungry apps, and turn off data roaming and location services until you really need them.

Learn how to place your phone in an out of Airplane Mode, how to insert an emergency message on your lock screen, how to record a voice message, and how to share messages and pictures with another phone. Finally, learn how to use ham radio along with your phone. On one hand, you shouldn't feel like you need to use one or the other. On the other hand, using both can be a bit of a juggling act, so it'll take some practice.

What are your thoughts about using your phone as a lifesaving tool?
Consider CERT training [link] [PDF]
If you've ever been involved in a large-scale incident, such as an earthquake, hurricane, chemical spill, or terrorist attack, you would have seen right away that the situation can escalate into chaos quite rapidly. In general, people are unprepared for such events, and their reactions to them quickly reveal a mindset of fear, panic, and hysteria arising mostly from a lack of knowledge or training. CERT, or Community Emergency Response Team, is a voluntary program that helps ordinary citizens become better prepared for disasters by arming them with a set of life-saving skills, then training them on their use.

The purpose of CERT is to help you become more self-sufficient during a disaster. During normal times, when we call the police, fire department, or for an ambulance, the emergency personnel often arrive in plenty of time to save us or a loved one from further injury or an otherwise untimely death. If the incident is large enough, however, resources such as police, fire, EMS (emergency medical services), and rescue workers will likely be stretched beyond their limits to effectively serve every person who needs them, if at all. While it's not always possible, it would be helpful during those moments to know how to help yourself, instead of being dependent on outside services.

Organization
CERT is a training program that's organized by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in the interest of helping people help themselves. Each city or county can sponsor a CERT program of their own, as guided by FEMA, to promote the program and hold training classes. FEMA will often aid the sponsor by supplying them with training material and information.

Content
The CERT program trains its members on how to quickly form a working organization, complete with leadership skills. It trains them on basic first aid, light search-and-rescue, fire safety, when it's alright to enter a damaged building, and communication by radio and runners between all the involved teams, including a recording and reporting process. CERT helps its members to understand the stress and psychological burden that's felt by both the victim and the rescuer during a crisis. The program teaches how to acquire and improvise resources that are not normally available. Along with all this activity, CERT also teaches that you should never involve yourself in any situation that compromises your safety.

Scalability
Whether you're caught in an incident alone, or involved with an entire community, CERT can give you the training you need to survive, communicate, and get the help and support you and your neighborhood might need at a critical time. The organization, structure, and methodologies within CERT are all adaptable to the situation at hand, and can be modified to fit a few or many helpers, in a small or large disaster. CERT is also scalable as far as personal ability can allow. This is because your neighborhood can include people with little or no emergency training, and people who are physically fit or handicapped in some way. No matter the ability level, ordinary folks can help, so CERT training is meant for all.

Activation
Those who have been CERT-trained can also volunteer to be part of activations. When a sponsoring city or county deems it necessary and appropriate, it can activate its CERT volunteers, by asking them to help emergency services in providing manpower, time, and other resources toward an incident. Your participation in an activation is completely voluntary, and can involve searching for a lost person with dementia, helping with communication in a city parade, and so much more.

Finally, CERT members are not the police; they're not going to arrest people. They're also not doctors; they won't be able to diagnose illnesses or prescribe medications. They're a team of ordinary citizens who can be a source of strength and comfort during a really bad time. And you can become part of that team.

Any thoughts about CERT that you'd like to share? Let's hear from you.
CERT activation [link]
Some of you have been CERT-trained, meaning that you've gone through all the necessary learning and practice to help out effectively as a community participant, in case your neighborhood or city needs your help. You're not a professional, like a fireman, policeman, or paramedic, so you only act in the capacity of a citizen. Once you achieved CERT-certification, you were likely asked whether you wanted to be on a CERT activation list. Having learned what an activation is, that probably excited you, since you knew that it gave you an opportunity to help out by putting both CERT training and radio to work at the same time.

Most people who get involved with CERT never get licensed as a ham radio operator, and that's alright. It's just fortunate that you and I can serve in both capacities. Several years ago, a group of CERT-certified locals got a phone call from the city, alerting them to a CERT activation, indicating that their radio skills were needed in searching for an autistic child, and they required more eyes and ears than they already had from their police and fire crews. The city asked whether the CERT members could gather their necessary equipment, including vest, ham radio gear, hoodie, and headlamp, and meet at a designated spot.

Many of them responded to the activation, and when they arrived at the contact point, the Incident Commander, who was a police officer, put one of them in charge of a net, and told them to get organized. The net control shadowed the police officer, while organizing the rest into teams whose names became tactical call signs, Red Team, Green Team, Yellow Team, and so forth. The cop showed them the map where they were assigned to search, and their net control assigned them all a simplex frequency and then split them up appropriately.

As they started searching, they reported their findings to net control every few minutes, referring only to their tactical call signs. Every ten minutes, of course, net control asked everybody to ID, so they all announced their FCC call signs at the same time. Toward nightfall, they never did find the boy, so Incident Command called it a day, and net control asked all the volunteers to close the net and return to the base. And in case you feel that a disabled person is unable to help out, it might surprise you to know that the net control operator in that activation was in a wheelchair.

A person does not need professional training to help out in a CERT activation, nor does he need to be licensed as an amateur radio operator. In fact, your CERT training is primarily to teach you how to serve your community during a disaster, relying as little as possible on resources outside your immediate reach and neighborhood. So, most CERT activations don't require ham radio skills, but when you do show up with your equipment, ready to serve, that's just one more piece of help that's available to the Incident Commander.

By the way, the same is true for other skills, if you happen to be an EMT, handyman, nurse, climber, or can operate heavy machinery, for example. Other, more subjective skills, such as leadership, stress management, outdoor survival, and emergency management, are not always necessary in an activation, but can also be valuable, depending on the need at the moment.

What are your thoughts about CERT activation?
Have a backup plan [link] [PDF]
Have you ever volunteered to help during a drill or an event, only to find that you have a dead battery or a broken antenna? On one hand, it's our goal to keep our preparation simple. On the other hand, it's often wise to have a backup plan, or at least some idea of what equipment you can take with you, to fortify your existing gear.

What we're talking about are extra pieces of equipment that you might bring with you, over and beyond what you might already be taking. I suppose you can bring two of everything, and your backup plan will be complete, but is that reasonable? If not, here are some extra things you might want to consider collecting before heading out:
• Spare batteries or power supply and cords
• Additional pre-programmed radio
• Extra coax or pigtail
• Connectors, adapters, extenders
• Spare or better antenna
• Can of gasoline
• Spare headlamp
• Another hoodie for somebody else
• Spare gloves for another
• Extra chair
• Hand microphone
• Pen and paper
• Alternate radio frequencies (simplex and repeater)
• Radio programming cable and laptop
• Umbrella (for rain or shine)
• Duct tape
• Extension cord
• Rope, string
• Different location or time
• People (operator, logger, helper)
• Footwear (shoes, boots)

As you can see, your backup plan doesn't have to be confined to your needs. Another person, maybe the one you're serving with, can use an extra hand at times too. Also, If the situation renders your activity unwise (competing activity), insensitive (death in the family), or unsafe (bad storm brewing), the best backup plan might be no plan at all. There's no shame in canceling an event, especially if moving forward with the activity might jeopardize people's well-being.

Anything else you might consider in your backup plan? Let's hear from you.

For other training net opportunities

Radio-related training topics

Setting up a net at your work place [link]
With all the nets that people have, it might be nice to set up a net at work. This way, our work place could become better prepared for an incident, it might make a good daytime distraction, and it could be a vehicle to invite others to get licensed. But, like with any other amateur endeavor, there are rules.

You can indeed hold a weekly net at work, and even invite licensed co-workers to check in, and even non-licensed folks to look on. But during a drill or an incident, you won't be able to use ham radio to communicate, because you're getting paid to do so. Not even if you're a policeman, a fireman, a medic, or even the governor. After hours, there's not a problem, because you're not getting paid to do ham.

The one exception is if you're teaching ham radio as a paid professional educator. The rules permit teachers to teach ham radio and get on the air with their students, and still get paid to do all of this. This falls under incident to classroom instruction and can apply to other professions if they are also teaching ham radio in a classroom setting during working hours.

So, setting up a regular net at work is good practice, as long as you and your co-participants understand that the object is not so you can do ham radio during working hours, unless life or property is at risk.
Exercise: manually changing frequencies on demand [link]
[Note to the trainer: before your net starts, research two frequencies that you can use for this training; locate one that's coordinated as a simplex frequency (this training uses 147.600 MHz as a placeholder) but not scheduled to be used during the time of your net. Locate another frequency, one that's coordinated as a repeater output frequency (this training uses 147.220 MHz as a placeholder), but not being used by a repeater accessible in your area]

Every so often, you might find out that you need to change frequencies on your radio, especially to one that's not already programmed into it. This can happen because you're traveling to an unexpected location, because all the stations you have programmed are busy, or because Net Control has asked you to change to a particular frequency during a drill or incident. For these and other reasons, it's good practice to know how to manually change to an unprogrammed frequency.

Now that check-ins have been taken on this net, I'm going to ask everybody to change to another frequency, then I'll ask for you to check in again. Once check-ins are completed on that frequency, we'll return to this one, our home frequency, where I'll ask for you to check in once more. I'll then ask you repeat that process on yet another frequency that might cause some to stumble. At the end, we'll all return to our home frequency and take a final check-in and conclude the training.


• On your home frequency :
  Everybody please change frequency to 147.600 MHz simplex. KI7ABC, QSY to 147.600.
• On 147.600 MHz :
  This is KI7ABC, Net Control for this training moment. Please go ahead and check in now.
• On 147.600 MHz, once check-ins are complete :
  Thanks, everybody, for your check-ins. Please now change back to the net frequency. This is KI7ABC, QSY.
• On your home frequency :
  This is KI7ABC, Net Control for this training moment. Please go ahead and check in now.
• On your home frequency, once check-ins are complete :
  Thanks, everybody, for your check-ins. Please now change frequency to 147.220 MHz simplex. Note that this is recognized by many radios as a repeater frequency, which might require you to force your radio into simplex mode when you change to this frequency. This is KI7ABC, QSY to 147.220.
• On 147.220 MHz :
  This is KI7ABC, Net Control for this training moment. Please go ahead and check in now.
• On 147.220 MHz, once check-ins are complete :
  Thanks, everybody, for your check-ins. Please now change back to the net frequency. This is KI7ABC, QSY.
• On your home frequency :
  This is KI7ABC, Net Control for this training moment. Please go ahead and check in now, one last time.
• On your home frequency, once check-ins are complete :
  Thanks, everybody, for your check-ins.

This training item was not meant to humiliate you, but to give you a little practice on manually changing frequencies at a moment's notice. If you find yourself in a difficult situation that requires radio contact, knowing how to manipulate your radio can keep you in contact, or maybe even be a life-saver.
Keeping your devices cool in summer [link]
One day last summer the temperature outside hit a hundred degrees again. And as the mercury rose, I started to think about the poor devices cooking in my car. Even with the windows cracked and shades over my dash, it's a veritable oven in there. So, when summer creeps up on us, how can we keep our sensitive electronic devices safe from the heat?

One obvious way to keep our radios, GPSs, phones, MP3 and DVD players, and other gear from roasting is by removing them and taking them inside, where it's typically a lot cooler. But that's not always practical, especially if you have a lot of stuff in your car, and especially if some of it's installed permanently. What if I run my A/C the entire time I'm out of the car? I don't think so.

I used to carry handheld radios in my car, and then put them under my seat when I left my vehicle, but remembering to do that's a chore, and I often forgot. These days I no longer stow handy-talkies in my car, because I have a mobile radio. And my mobile radio has a separated control head, so that most of my radio is in back, out of direct sunlight, while my control head is mounted up front on my dash. I still have to keep the control head cool, so I need to remember and put up my sunshield when I get out of the car.

But not everybody can afford a mobile radio, especially one that comes with a detachable control head, although most new models do have that feature nowadays. So, what's the best solution? I suspect there are as many good ideas as there are listeners, so I'd like to hear your thoughts. How do you keep your electronic gear safe from the melting heat?
Keeping your devices warm in winter [link]
It might seem obvious to most of us to keep our radio and other equipment from burning up in the heat of summer. But should we also be concerned about keeping them warm enough in the winter as well? It turns out that most of our gear has a minimum operating temperature rating as well as a maximum. That means the manufacturers of your gear recommend that you only use them between those two extremes for best results and possibly to keep from voiding your warranty, if any.

One reason to keep your equipment from getting too cold is that it might collect condensation because of dew. The water that collects on sensitive components can short them out when you go to turn them on, or even damage them in other ways when you don't apply the power. Wetness on a speaker or a microphone, for example, can easily render it inoperable rather quickly.

You might also find that cold power cords, microphone cables, and coax can become brittle and easily crack or split if you stretch or bend them too quickly. At first, a cracked cable is easily overlooked, but if moisture should ever invade the jacket, that could spell the end of the cable, especially the coax. And if enough of the coax braid is exposed, it could give you an RF burn if you came in contact with it while you're on the radio transmitting.

Batteries, especially sealed lead acid batteries can also become a concern when they're left in a cold environment. They can collect condensation and short out the terminals, prematurely draining the battery. If it becomes completely discharged, you'll need to examine it to determine whether it can be brought back to operation, because not all batteries can. If your battery casing is cracked or split at all, be sure to dispose of the battery as quickly and safely as you can, and make sure you don't puncture it any further while moving it. And never, ever throw a dead battery in your trash.

One final effect of cold temperatures I'd like to mention is warm temperatures. When it gets cold outside, even in our vehicles, you might be wise enough to take proper steps to keep your equipment warm. But on a nice, sunny day, if the outside thermometer starts rising, the gear being protected in our vehicles might ironically be subjected to extra-warm temperatures, just one more thing to keep in mind.

Have I covered it all? If not, I'd love to hear from you.
Keeping your equipment clean [link]
Several Field Days ago, I learned a valuable lesson. It was very warm and a little dusty, so that when a breeze kicked up, some of the dust blew into the screen tent I set up for our GOTA (Get On The Air) station. Didn't think it was much of a problem at the time; I just wiped down whatever dust landed on my rig, tuner, power supply, the table, and our station was good to go. That is, until I got it all home after the event.

At first, the big VFO knob (tuning knob) on my HF rig seemed to grind just a bit, then it became more difficult to turn, and finally it froze altogether. After taking the knob apart, I discovered that the bearings had become full of dust, so I cleaned it out. But my cleaning job wasn't very professional, and after several laborious days and $40 later, I ended up replacing the knob. I had learned my lesson, expensive in terms of both time and money.

Dirt and oils
Most of us don't spend a lot of time cleaning our radio equipment, which is not normally a problem. But over time, dust, oils from our hands, dirt, and other unsavory substances build up on our equipment due to use, which is a good problem to have; I would rather see my radios get dirty from being operated, than collect dust by sitting on some shelf. So, try and protect your radio gear from excessive exposure to dusty environments, if possible. Within reason, clean your hands before picking up your microphone.

Germs
I wouldn't actually say I'm a germophobe, but I'm a little leary of using other people's cell phones and placing my hand on restroom door handles. You likely believe that you're relatively germ-free, but others might not share your belief, and would rather not touch your equipment until they feel it's been wiped down a bit. Back to Field Day, I kept a canister of disinfecting wipes near my GOTA station equipment, in case people want to wipe the microphone or mic stand or even the face of my rig, before they started using it.

Smells
One day I purchased a used desk microphone, only to open the box and fill my room with smells of bourbon, gin, and beer. When Billy Joel said his microphone smelled like a beer, I now know what he was talking about. That made for an interesting guessing game, but it was no fun to clean, having to take it apart and even throw the metallic housing and base into the dishwasher. You might not think that you actually spit on (or into) your microphone, but in fact you do that and more. It's another good reason to talk across your mic face rather than puff directly into it.

Cleaning agents
One word of caution, however. You might want to test a spot of your display, for example, before cleaning the entire rig with some disinfecting wipes or harsh chemical. Most equipment manuals state that you should only use water with mild soap to clean your hardware. And avoid using paper towels, which can scratch your display and rub your radio's lettering and labels right off. While you're at it, you might also want to vacuum or blow the dust out of the fans in your power supplies and radios.

The benefits of a clean rig
As a side benefit, you might actually find that keeping dust and other flying debris out of, and off of, your radio can actually extend its life, because dust and dirt are abrasive, and can wear out small moving parts, like your microphone or knobs. Also, some dust is a little conductive, and combined with a little moisture, can present low-impedance shorts in your small electronics.

Finally
The point is, you really should keep your radio gear clean, as we had discovered during Field Day. In the end, you want a clean radio that you can rely on if you're in a hurry or need to help out during a small emergency.
Take good care of your equipment [link]
Chances are, you've spent some hard-earned cash on your ham radio gear; after all, it's a good investment for preparedness, practice, and maybe even a little fun. But things happen; stuff gets broken, dropped, or left out in the rain. What are some precautions we could take, to help ensure our equipment will last us a while? This checklist might help:
• Avoid stretching a microphone cord to its limit; always leave some hanging slack when using it
• Never let the knobs on your radio strike or lay against anything hard; their strong shafts are typically connected to delicate circuit boards
• Unless your radio's display is a touch screen, avoid touching it, to prevent scratching or damaging it, which can result in permanent lines
• Avoid stacking anything on your radio; even laying innocent papers on your radio invites heavier objects and prevents proper air flow
• Shield your knobs, sliders, microphone holes, speakers, and displays from dusty environments, which can be abrasive
• Turn off the power to your equipment when not using it overnight
• Check the batteries for leakage, even rechargeable ones
• Transport your equipment in wrapped (bubble, fabric, etc.) or boxed containers
• Try not to carry too much of it, just to save a trip
• Keep your stuff away from pets and pests
• Avoid unnecessarily loaning out your gear
• When not using it, store your radio equipment in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, excessive dust, and moisture

Finally, don't pack away your radio so securely that it becomes a real pain to get it out and use it when you want. Use some creativity to figure out how to protect your gear while making it convenient for you to use.

Let's hear from you. Anything you'd like to add?
How weather affects radio propagation [link]
One question that surfaces occasionally, especially following storms, is how weather affects ham radio. There are many weather-related influences that can act upon station operation, such as temperature, wind, lightning, and barometric pressure, but this topic focuses on conditions resulting from moisture, because of its conductive nature. Remember that "propagation" means how well a radio signal retains its integrity as it travels along its path. In general, moisture from weather affects HF propagation very little, VHF propagation a little more, and UHF propagation much more noticeably.

Moisture-laden conditions such as rain, snow, fog, clouds, or high humidity tend to partially refract radio signals or reduce its strength, depending upon frequency, sometimes requiring you to get your antenna higher or increase your power output to maintain good communication. Under most circumstances, you will not notice a large change in transmit or receive signal strength or integrity, regardless of weather changes. But, there are exceptions.

Inversion
One of the activities many of us get involved with, is helping out with aid station communication for marathons, bike races, and other events that take us up the mountains or into canyons. And yet toward the end of any of these, as the sun is setting in the valley, one phenomenon that seems to always catch us by surprise is the effect that dusk has on 2-meter propagation.

An inversion, caused by a layer of cooler air on the ground being trapped by a warmer layer above it, creates a moisture density "boundary" that actually refracts radio signals. As well as from the typical wintertime inversion, this phenomenon can be experienced as the summer sun sets, and the air closest to the ground cools faster than the air above it.

During this dusk inversion, 2-meter signals originating from under the inversion boundary tend to travel farther due to tropospheric ducting, which allows the signals to repeatedly reflect off the ground and the underside of the inversion. By the same phenomenon, 2-meter signals originating from over the inversion (like from on a hill overlooking the valley floor) tend to refract off the inversion and head off into space, while very little of the signal gets through to the ground below.

Wet antennas and feed lines
When antennas get wet, iced, or blanketed with snow, they appear to be shorted out by water, but in reality they are not, because what can appear to you like a DC short is not always an AC short, and antennas function using AC. On one hand, there's no need to go to any lengths to protect your antenna from wet weather. On the other hand, you need to make sure your connectors are waterproof and will not allow any moisture to get into the coax.

Other weather-related situations
While we're talking about the weather, it might be worthwhile to mention a few other weather-related items of interest, two of which do not always involve moisture:

Trees
Because of their water content, live trees can also alter how well radio signals get from one place to another. A few trees won't affect your signal much, but a forest can partially or completely block your signal from getting very far. For most amateur frequencies, the few trees in your back yard will typically have little effect on your ability to be heard. But if you're surrounded by a dense forest, especially one covered in snow or drenched in rain water, you might find your signal to be noticeably degraded.

Wind
If your coaxial cable is free to swing in the breeze, even slightly windy conditions can result in erratic signal reports, and can even work antenna joints and connectors loose. Be sure to secure your feed lines, structures, and antennas to sturdy anchoring posts or buildings. Make sure store-bought vertical antennas have wind ratings (often labeled wind load) that can withstand your largest local gusts. Don't underestimate the power of air movement.

Lightning
Collective lightning crashes from thunderstorms many miles away can be heard on your HF receiver as atmospheric noise, and can present anything from a minor nuisance to a complete inability to communicate. Related to lightning, excess static build-up due to air movement can discharge not only on your antenna, but on nearby chain-link fences and buildings, often heard on your radio as loud static pops resembling a crackling fire.

This training is more of a heads up than how to resolve weather-related problems, due to the extra time it would take to cover all of that. The point is, most weather won't affect ham radio operation very much; just don't be too surprised if you start getting unfavorable signal reports when the sun starts setting.
Get involved with Field Day [link] [PDF]
Throughout the year, ham radio enthusiasts participate in a variety of activities, such as club meetings, nets, contesting, elmering, antenna-building, exams, and just plain chatting on the radio. But one of the largest annual amateur events, and the one many of us look forward to with eager anticipation, is Field Day.

On the fourth full weekend in June, those who participate descend on an agreed-upon location, set up their HF radio stations, and get on the air for 24 hours, attempting to make as many contacts with other participating hams as possible. They log (in other words, record) their contacts in software during that time, then submit their logs to the ARRL afterwards. A person can participate in Field Day alone, by using his or her own call sign, or with a club, using the club's call sign. And each participant can get on the air for a short time, or for the entire 24 hours.

The original purpose of Field Day was to demonstrate emergency deployment readiness, and many of today's rules governing Field Day reflect that. Eventually, a system of points was developed, as an incentive to keep the station as primitive as possible. For example, extra points can be earned by working completely on emergency power, which means battery, generator, or solar. A Field Day location can be distant, in a nearby park, or right at home, with greater points awarded for setting up away from home. Also, part of the readiness demonstration is the requirement that the operators must not set up their stations until a few hours before the official start of Field Day.

Operating an HF station is not the only activity available at Field Day, especially when people get involved as a club. There are many supporting tasks that need to be considered, such as securing permits, transportation of equipment, setting up the stations, testing, logging contacts, mentoring new hams or unlicensed folks, repairing antennas and coax, safety, publicity, tearing down, and food preparation, as applicable.

Field Day is not everybody's cup of tea, but it's one more fun activity that can stretch and test our amateur radio abilities, and another way to get together with other hams and geek out. It's also a time many operators use as a goal to create and then test a new antenna, try out a new radio, or take advantage of the opportunity to get out of town and hear what hundreds of voices sound like, without all that city noise. It challenges many of us to go just a little above and beyond what we normally do, in the name of readiness, and have fun in the process.

Let's hear from you. What are your thoughts about Field Day?
Amateur radios that can transmit outside the amateur bands [link]
Every so often, we see questions or statements posted online about using your radio to transmit on frequencies outside of the amateur bands. Granted, many of our radios won't even allow us to do that, but many do, and people wonder whether they're allowed to use those frequencies, since they're available on a ham radio, after all. Before I go any further, let me say right out that our amateur radio license only permits us to transmit on amateur frequencies, and those within the privileges granted to us by our particular license class.

On the other hand, we also know that, in the event of an actual emergency, we can use any communication means available, if our lives or property are in immediate danger. I don't want to hinder anybody's rescue if their life is truly at risk, but allow me to say that, if you ever find that you really need to communicate outside your privileges, by all means do so, but be prepared to defend your definition of an emergency. You might need to explain why you thought your situation warranted that emergent status, and why you needed to use the communication method you chose, to save your life or property.

Now then, back to your radio. You might have discovered that your HT will allow you to transmit outside the amateur radio frequency band, and that this feature might come in real handy if you need to alert somebody official, such as the fire department or police. But, if you don't hold a license to transmit on those frequencies, your transmissions will not be legal. Furthermore, if you transmit on one of the license-free bands, such as FRS, MURS, CB, or others, using your handheld ham radio, those transmissions will also not be legal, because the radio you're using is not authorized for those bands. Moreover, even if you do hold a Maritime, Air, Commercial, or other license, your transmissions on those respective bands using these ham radios will also not be legal, for the same reason, because the radio is not authorized for them.

In the amateur radio world, we've been given quite a bit of latitude as far as equipment goes, so that none of our equipment needs to be authorized or certified (formerly "type accepted") before we can use them to transmit. But again, our transmissions are confined to the amateur bands. So, why don't manufacturers simply prevent us from being able to transmit outside the amateur bands? Well, some actually do, but many do not. I mean, why don't automobile manufacturers prevent our vehicles from exceeding the speed limit? Maybe someday they will, but meanwhile, the responsibility to drive legally falls on our shoulders. The same should apply to amateur radio.

To summarize, during an actual emergency, we're given a lot of freedom. Many of us have radios that can take advantage of that extra latitude, but if we exceed our license privileges, we should be prepared to defend our actions. And just because we can violate the rules doesn't mean we should.

Let's hear your thoughts. Did I omit some important facts?
Amateur radio and other services don't always mix well [link]
There are a number of good, well-meaning people who find it difficult or inconvenient to obtain an amateur radio license. Other license-free or exam-free services such as FRS, GMRS, MURS, or even CB radio seem to suit them better than amateur radio. FRS and GMRS radios are often the walkie-talkies you can purchase at a retail store and use for short-range family hikes, road trips, and amusement parks.

Many also find these other radio services convenient for nets, drills, or event participation within small geographic areas. Some have discovered, however, that many modern ham radios can transmit on frequencies that belong to those non-amateur services, and may have even used them in this way. According to the FCC, the only radios that can legally be used to transmit on non-amateur services are those that have been "certificated" to do so. At the present time, no amateur radios have been certificated to transmit on FRS, GMRS, MURS, or CB radio frequencies.

Still, a few choose to use ham radios to transmit on frequencies outside the amateur bands, some deliberately and many out of ignorance. Some also feel that this action is not enforced by the FCC, yet most amateurs want to follow the rules, and strive to do so in all our activities, making the need for enforcement rather irrelevant. Our amateur radio licenses authorize us to transmit on amateur frequencies only. They also authorize us to modify equipment to transmit on amateur frequencies, but when we modify a radio that's been certificated for another service, we may still use the radio to transmit on amateur frequencies, but the modification now renders the radio invalid for use on its originally intended service.

The exception to all this is a true emergency, for which you are fully authorized to use any piece of equipment and any frequency available in the case of immediate threat to life or property. That means you may use an amateur radio to transmit on a non-amateur frequency to request assistance if your life or somebody you're helping is in immediate danger. Keep in mind that there might be a difference between an actual threat to your life and believing that a situation is an emergency, so use good judgment to distinguish them.

Finally, using FRS and GMRS radios still have their place in nets and drills for citizens and block captains to report status and welfare, for example. A listening amateur licensee can reply with an FRS radio to acknowledge or ask questions, then use a ham radio to relay the check-in and information to those in control.

What are your thoughts on the use of FRS frequencies on ham radios?
How to carry your handheld radio [link]
You might have fallen deeply in love with your little HT, or handheld transceiver. It's loud, powerful, convenient, and it just works. When you're driving, it's easy to stow your HT in your vehicle somewhere, but not as convenient when you're walking or hiking. You might also have found that keeping one in your hand can be tiresome, clumsy, and renders you one-handed. There's got to be a better way to carry an HT without tying up one of your limbs full-time.

Most HTs come with a belt clip, which allows you to hook it onto your belt while you're walking around. That can be convenient, as long as you can still hear it that far away from your ear. If you use an earphone, that'll take care of the hearing issue, but you'll still need to speak into the radio. For both hearing and talking, many HTs come with earphones that also have microphones built into their cables, and you simply press the little cable microphone button and speak into it.

On the other hand, not many people wear belts these days, and if you clip a radio to your pants, it can pull down on one side, giving you the appearance of a gangsta or wardobe malfunction. I suppose you can slip the radio into your pants pocket, which might support your HT better, but can produce this huge bulge on one side. And if you place it in your shirt pocket, the weight can tear the pocket. I recommend a couple of alternatives, one for when you're hiking or walking, and another for driving.

One convenient radio carry option is by a radio vest, which can carry one or two radios on or near your chest. This setup keeps your hands free while holding your radio near your face. Some vests have radio pockets that carry your HT at an angle, while others position your radio vertically upright. Many radio vests also come with straps or hooks to accommodate your hand microphone or earpiece.

Another HT carrying method involves connecting to a shoulder microphone, kind of like how the police wear theirs. The HT itself can be attached to your belt or be stashed inside your vest or backpack. Furthermore, the microphone doubles as a speaker, known as a speaker-microphone. And some speaker-mics even come with an antenna connection, allowing your HT antenna to stick up over your head. To use one of these, just turn your head toward the speaker-mic, press the PTT, and talk away.

You can also carry your HT in your backpack, in a shoulder bag, in a small box. You might also be able to locate a Bluetooth solution for your HT, to feed into some earphones, but again, they'll need to be two-way.

Any other ways to carry yout HT? Let's hear from you.
Keep your radio gear free of insects [link]
One thing that might require your occasional attention is whether your amateur radio equipment is free of insects or other bugs. While your HT might get a lot of use because it's not fixed to a permanent station, it might be wise to check your other gear for insect intrusion every so often. As unpleasant as it might sound, it's quite possible for little critters to have built a nice, little home in the warm confines of your enclosures.

Because your ham radio equipment might be sitting undisturbed for long periods, like months, that's often plenty of time for new arrivals to settle in and make themselves at home. And this equipment might include, not only your mobile or base radio, but also your power supply, amplifier, tuner, SWR meter, and anything else you might have sitting around, waiting for something to crawl inside.

Spiders and roaches can make their way inside your radio and lay eggs that might not be very visible. By the following spring, their numbers could multiply, preventing you from wanting to bring that desk microphone or headset near your face. But not only is the thought of those creaures unsettling, their little bodies can actually short out your electronics or change the characteristics of your antenna or tuner.

Ok, maybe I'm preaching to the choir, and you already keep your ham radio equipment perfectly free of invaders. But you still might get surprised when your purchase of some piece of used gear came with its own surprises, in the form of earwigs or mouse droppings. Even if you inherit some equipment from a close friend, it's a good idea to examine it for bugs and their nests.

So, how does one go about cleaning ham radio gear? If you're handy with tools and tinkering with radios, you probably know a lot about keeping your stuff clean. If possible, take it apart and examine the interior. However, if you don't feel comfortable tearing open your expensive radio, ask an elmer or another friend for a little help.

Besides keeping your gear free of bugs, regular cleaning comes with other benefits. Removing accumulated dust can provide for better ventilation, extending the life of your electronic components. It might be wise to invest in a spray can of air, to blow out dust, pet hair, lint, and debris from hard-to-reach places under printed circuit boards or behind coils.

Any other tips on keeping your gear free from insects? Let's hear from you.
Advantages of being a lazy ham [link] [PDF]
Face it. We hams are lazy. The term labor-saving is our middle name. Memorizing test answers, using duct tape, saying partial call signs; you know, always trying to take the easy road. And proud of it. Being the innovative, clever, and creative hams we are, we always seem to be looking for ways to cut corners, save time, be more efficient without sacrificing effectiveness.

Some nets held on repeaters ask you to change to simplex once a month, but what a pain! You have to get into the dreaded menu, find the shift direction, and disable it, or worse on some HTs. Then you have to reverse the process afterwards. Instead, the lazy ham doesn't bother, and simply programs two adjacent channels for the net, one for the repeater and the other for simplex. That way, she's on one or the other with one press of a button. Sheer laziness.

Anybody can install a decent transmitting HF antenna, whose signal can be heard across the ocean and more. For receiving, however, your antenna needs to reach up in the sky and catch every little radio wave it can. But that takes work and energy and too much thinking to correctly install one. So, what does the lazy ham do? He abandons any thoughts about receiving people's HF signals, and simply turns down the volume during contests. Then he turns on his computer and gets onto the WebSDR, whose antenna will do all the listening for him. I mean, how lazy can get you get?

And speaking of contests, many of us are so lazy that, instead of endlessly calling CQ! CQ! Keelo India Seven Bravo Wisskey Delta! CQ! we simply record that phrase once into the HF radio (that supports such a recording) and let it do all the calling for us. And if nobody answers for several calls, we can kick back and enjoy a soft drink while the rig does all the work. Just lazy, I tell you!

When Morse code was required for amateur radio exams and some circumstances, we found ways to prevent sore wrists, tired hands, and even carpal tunnel syndrome by creating abbreviations for many words. Admittedly, many Morse code abbreviations were created out of cost per character that a telegraph operator was paid to send messages. For example, PSE for please, THX for thanks, and 73 for I wish you well. Amateurs are not paid to transmit, but the abbreviations persisted out of pure ham laziness.

To justify ourselves, and if it makes us feel better, we claim to be efficient rather than lazy. Ok, fair enough; often our object is to do more with less, especially less time, less material, or less money. Some say you get what you pay for, but is that true if you pay more for an identical item?

Because of our knack for efficiency, many of us get accused of being appliance operators, meaning people who are so lazy that they would rather go to the store and buy something than build their own. I'm not sure how many people today can actually build their own iPhone, but by those standards everybody seems to be an appliance operator. There are antennas that cost $10 online but $40 to make yourself. On one hand, building your own antenna can provide a unique and valuable education. On the other hand, it's hard to argue with $10

Ok, so are these tips, tricks, hacks, and techniques the result of a lazy ham? Or are they the genius of a smart ham? In some ways it's hard to tell, so you be the judge.

Let's hear from you. Are you a lazy ham?

Personal training topics

Practice being the communicator [link]
During a time of emergency or moment of great alarm, you're breathing hard and fast, you're in a hurry, and so is everybody else. At a time like that, you don't want to offend anybody, but you might speak quickly, directly, and expect a quick response. And when you don't get what you want right away, you might get frustrated, irritated, or even angry.

Most hams are very understanding and patient, but if you don't feel you're at that point yet, this is the time, when your adrenaline is low, to train yourself to be kind, thoughtful, and grateful. That's why we have nets like the New Ham Net and your own stake or area net, to practice taking control and experiencing what it's like to be nervous and hesitating under stress. Then, with a little practice, maybe after a few times at being Net Control, you slow down, ask carefully planned questions, and present a voice of understanding and welcome.

So, here are a few tips that might help:
• Volunteer to help be a communicator at outdoor events, like the Squaw Peak 50, the Kat'cina Mosa 100, the Freedom Festival, the Art City Festival, or Orem Summerfest
• Take it up a notch, and volunteer to run a net as Net Control
• When you're on the radio, slow down your speech and enunciate your words; it might take you only five seconds to say something slowly, or twenty seconds for you to a) say something quickly, b) have Net Control ask you to repeat that, then c) another five seconds for you to repeat it slowly like you should have, to begin with
• Try to remember the others are just as nervous as you, and are doing their very best
• Be kind to them, and never criticize any of them
• Offer advice only if it's asked for, or if you believe it's truly helpful or necessary at the moment
• If you feel like you're starting to get upset or angry, take a deep breath and then speak thoughtfully and in a friendly manner
• People under stress often say seemingly non-sensical things on the air; try your best to understand what they're really trying to say, and ask them to repeat if necessary; maybe it's your brain, not their mouth, that's making nonsense

It's easy to take the short path to criticism, and berate, belittle, or sound condescending. Always do your best to be kind and understanding, readily admit your mistakes, and know that the others are freely giving their time as volunteers, and that they might have other or better things to do, than endure your attitude. Remember that an apology is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Anything you can add to this list? Let's hear from you
Practice common courtesy [link]
Most hams are very kind, helpful, and courteous to others. Still, it's easy to forget to use common courtesy on the air if we don't make that practice a constant part of our hamming. Furthermore, being from a variety of backgrounds, many of us might not always agree on what's courteous and what's not. Here are some DOs and DON'Ts that might prove helpful:

DOs

• Make it a natural habit to say please and thank-you and no problem liberally
• Be polite, welcoming, kind, positive, helpful, and forgiving
• Be quick to sincerely praise the other operator; look for opportunities to put the other person on a pedestal
• Be just as quick to admit to mistakes and own up to your faults; accept correction with humility
• Give the other operator the benefit of the doubt; that is, assume they mean well, and did not intend to offend
• Try to listen more to the other person than insist that they hear you; people need to know that their input is valued by you

DON'Ts

• Try not to convey a negative attitude or feeling on the radio; if you're in a sour mood, or you feel too angry, sad, or painful, you should probably wait until later, to get on the air
• Avoid criticizing anybody and anything, even the weather or the gubmit, but especially the other operator on the radio
• Refrain from foul language
• Avoid speaking sharply at others, and do your best to not raise your voice in anger or frustration; remain calm if at all possible
• Don't point out faults or shortcomings about other people; there are other avenues besides ham radio to vent that kind of frustration
• Try not to provoke another operator by using cutting remarks, spiteful language, or by bringing up a sensitive topic particular to the person
• Don't talk down to people and believe that you're smarter or better than they are

There you go: common courtesy. Then again, I didn't need to remind you of any of that, right? That's because all these principles are already part of your ingrained habit.
Focus more on others [link]
Without a doubt, you are the world's most interesting person. Any intelligent soul on the planet would love to hear every word you have to say about yourself. Your life history, your adventures, your love life, and your aches and pains. At least, that's how we often make it sound like, when we go on and on about ourselves. And then we wonder why nobody wants to talk to us.

It's well-known that a person's most favorite word in the whole world is his or her own name. By the same token, a person's most favorite topic tends to be something about that person. Ask your contact questions about family, employment, school, favorite foods, vacation spots, TV shows, and what makes life enjoyable. It's easy to focus on the negative, so ask about happy moments and experiences and people they're close to.

Try this experiment: next time you're on the radio or cell phone talking with a friend, silently count the number of times you say "I". If you can mentally multi-task, also count the number of times you say "you" and then compare the two. If you find that your conversation is peppered with a lot more "I"s than "you"s, that's only human nature, but it seems that we can overcome the natural man, in order to become better conversationalists.

Of course we want to talk about ourselves, and we have a lot to share. But the important thing is that the other person does too, so why not turn your focus to their concerns and things that excite them? Most of the time, it takes practice to think of others over ourselves, and to dominate the conversation with their point of view or their opinions and adventures, rather than our own.

Be genuine and thoughtful in your questions and concerns as you talk with others. Do your best to understand their struggles, to empathize with their feelings, even if you don't agree with them. This approach to conversation will help others look forward to talking with you and opening up a little.

Is this topic really all that important? Well, maybe not as much as other things we might discuss, but picture this: If you ever find yourself talking somebody through a crisis or a lonely time, placing your focus on him or her will go a long way towards comforting the person and helping them feel like you're interested in understanding and being a friend. Eventually, they'll start warming up to you and maybe even trust you a little.

It might take a little practice, but focusing our conversations on the other person might not only win you a friend, but future friends who are silently listening in.
Amateur radio license plates [link]
Not to be confused with a vanity call sign, an amateur radio license plate is a personalized vehicle license plate that displays your current amateur radio call sign as its number, whether or not that call sign is a vanity. And hams wonder whether they should get one, but some are concerned about privacy or confusion, and still others are torn between getting one for amateur radio, or another, favorite organization, such as the Boy Scouts of America or Search and Rescue or In God We Trust.

When we encounter another vehicle that displays ham radio license plates, we often feel an immediate sense of connection and camaraderie with the person, even when we have no idea who the person is. Well, personalized license plates are optional, but there are a number of reasons why you might want to put ham radio plates on your vehicle, and some reasons why you might not, so let's list some PROs and CONs of getting them, and then let you decide.

PROs

• It's a fun way for traveling hams to recognize a fellow ham
• In an emergency or special event, it can help officials recognize you as part of the solution (some will actually allow you access to incident areas where they might refuse others)
• It can give you a greater sense of responsible driving and public example (you might be surprised to find just how true this is)
• It can give you a sense of belonging
• It might make it easier to explain why you're parked on a dark hill with a carload of electronics
• It shows your willingness to answer questions about ham radio (because you know people will ask about them)
• All the cool kids are getting them
• Shows just how much of a geek you really are

CONs

• Alerts thieves that you have ham radio equipment in your vehicle
• Stalkers might be able to track your plates to your home address easily
• It costs money ($23 one-time fee in Utah)
• You might want to change your call sign in the future, and plates seem rather permanent
• Shows just how much of a geek you really are

If you're interested in getting amateur radio license plates, contact the DMV in your state, and most states support them and can help you. For Utah plates, go to dmv.utah.gov and sign up there.
Correcting others over the radio [link] [PDF]
You've been listening to two people talking on the radio. Things were going well, but suddenly you heard one of them make a mistake. He accidentally said, "10-4" or said, "broadcast" instead of "transmit" or he let loose with a swear word, or he hadn't given his call sign in eleven minutes. For some of us, our inclination might be to jump on and let the person know what he did wrong, because we are righteous, we know best, and we're trying to set the record straight by casting that first stone.

Alright, that's a little extreme, but we do find that, occasionally, we feel the need to correct somebody's mistake in front of two hundred other listeners. Still, is there ever a time when it's appropriate to correct somebody over the radio? Well, yes, especially if the facts being conveyed might hold some significance, and it's important that all listeners understand the correction, like the time or date of an event, or the address of an incident, or a life-threatening detail omitted from a verbal report.

The first rule to correcting others on the radio is, just don't. If the information you're attempting to correct is not that important, or the correction can be made by somebody else, just take a deep breath and let it go. Chances are, the person who made the mistake already knows he made the mistake. You're not the ham police, and he's likely not a ham criminal. Furthermore, you should decide by your listening audience, whether you are the person who should announce the correction, or leave that to somebody else, whose job that is.

The second rule is to use good judgment. Ask yourself whether this a correction that really needs to be made, especially in the earshot of many others. On one hand, it's easy to justify making a correction about a vital piece of information that was announced inaccurately, such as a phone number, a medical need, or the name of a contact official. On the other hand, if a person accidentally uses a CB or police term, did not leave much space before he keyed up last time, or sings a stanza of "Happy Birthday," it's probably best to overlook and ignore the terrible offense. At other times, you might want to announce the correction in the spirit of being helpful, like "I believe your WIRES is turned on" or "Sounds like your battery might be running low," or "Could you please repeat your call sign phonetically?"

If you need to correct somebody, and the rest of the amateur radio population needs to hear it, proceed to make the correction using only facts, and do so tactfully. If you lack the social skills to make corrections in a kind and gentle way, be patient, and let somebody else make it. It's an art form that takes a little practice to get right. Also, it's easy to blur the line between correction and criticism, so make your suggestion without criticizing the person. Instead of "You sound terrible," maybe say, "I only caught about half of that last transmission."

Finally, if you're the person who made the mistake, accept the correction with humility, take ownership of the problem, and freely admit to your mistake, if it's appropriate. Avoid making excuses, like "Nobody's perfect," and never retaliate, like saying "Well, your audio sounds just as bad." Be the bigger adult, and thank the person who gave you the correction, and let it end there.

Let's hear from you. What are your thoughts about correcting others without criticism, when the information to be corrected is important?
Make use of QRZ.com [link] [PDF]
When you received your FCC license, a website known as QRZ.com (or simply, QRZ, and pronounced cue-are-zed) created a web page as a courtesy to you, free-of-charge, containing only information it gleaned from the FCC public record. It provides a convenient way for other hams to look up your name, home location, and license class. QRZ also displays your email address, your photo, and a personal description, if you've populated your page with those.

Create a login
As a new ham (or even if you've been around a while), it's in your best interest to create a login on QRZ, to help people know how to contact you off the radio. After you do, you can use QRZ to look up other hams quickly, find how to contact them, and see their photo and biographical info if they've posted it.

Use QRZ to search for other hams
You can use QRZ.com to search for other hams by call signs, names, or location. In the search box, you can enter a complete call sign, to display that person's QRZ page. You can even enter a partial call sign and a wildcard character ("*") to search for a group of call signs. For example, you can list all hams that have call signs starting with "KJ7" and ending with "H" (because, maybe, that's all you heard on the air), by simply entering "KJ7*H" in the search. You can list all hams named "Steve" who live in "Provo" by entering "Steve Provo" in the search, then select by Name/Addr in the drop-down.

Use QRZ as an online logging program
You can log your contacts using QRZ.com, for any amateur band. It's a convenient way to keep track of friends, special events, and faraway stations you want to record permanently. People who look up your QRZ page will be able to see your contact list, a feature no other logging program provides. (It's an easy way to show others the contacts you've made.) And when the appropriate contacts are confirmed, QRZ will display the associated award (WAS, WAC, Grid Square, etc.) at the top of your page.

Use QRZ as a flea market
QRZ.com has an online garage sale, of sorts. You can post your own ham radio equipment for sale, or peruse the thousands of used items for sale by others. Hover the Swapmeet tab, then select Ham Radio Gear for Sale to display the world's largest listing of ham radio equipment for sale.

There's more
QRZ.com is probably the largest repository of call signs in the world. It was made originally for American call signs, but today contains the call signs of numerous hams from many countries. QRZ also posts announcements, alerts you when your license is about to expire, and contains a popular forum.

It's not actually required of you to pay QRZ for your page on their website. But available only through a paid ($17 annual) subscription, they have many useful features, such as unlimited call sign lookups, the online Swapmeet, and the Web Contact Log.

Let's hear from you. Any comments or questions about QRZ?
How to get people interested in ham radio [link] [PDF]
Once people become immersed in the world of amateur radio, it's only natural for many of us to want others to share the excitement. We've also learned by experience that coaxing, reminding, and especially pushing a person to get licensed simply does not work, and often has the opposite effect. Setting up a ham radio demo, class, or other ham radio event rarely arouses interest in the normal person; often a heavy investment with little return. So, how does one go about getting more people interested enough in ham radio to get licensed?

Attract instead of preach
The solution lies in attracting them, not pushing them. They have to want to get involved, and that means they need a reason to even go there, and that reason is not ham radio itself. The two biggest reasons people get into amateur radio are utility and hobby. While a few people become attracted to the craft for both, most typically get into ham radio because of either one or the other. The hobby side of amateur radio often attracts people without much convincing, so this focuses on the utility side.
• People are interested in problems, because each gets them thinking of how they might approach it. Set up an event that features something besides ham radio, but that uses ham radio incidentally (as a secondary activity), to showcase how it's operated to solve an interesting problem. Then, people enjoy seeing how you go about solving it. And if that solution includes ham radio, then suddenly you've got their amateur attention, possibly in a way they haven't thought of.
• Set up a preparedness fair, in which you present classes on food storage, water collection, sanitation, emergency handyman skills, communication, and sheltering in-place. During the communication and shelter-in-place classes, you can demonstrate how to use various forms of communication to either keep current with events or to request assistance. And while you're attempting to request assistance, you can show how effective amateur radio is over other forms. This approach tends to generate a lot of questions.
• Try setting up a CERT class. The class should focus on the seven major points outlined by FEMA. During the Organization portion, you can demonstrate that runners can be given orders by Incident Command to be sent to the Triage team. The runners rush to the Triage team in, say, ten minutes, deliver the orders, receive requests and questions about procedure from the Triage team, run back to Incident Command in another ten minutes, receive answers to the requests and questions, return to the Triage team in ten more minutes, only to find that the victim only had 25 minutes to live, and the running took 30 minutes. On the other hand, if both Incident Command and the Triage team had ham radios, their communication would have been almost instant, potentially saving the victim's life.

Tell them stories
People love stories, especially those with a good ending. At the risk of sounding preachy, give people instances in which ham radio was used to save the day, but only after they show interest. The following are examples:
• Your family sets out on a road trip. About 170 miles into your vacation and no bars on your phone, yours is the vehicle bringing up the rear, and you become involuntarily separated by traffic. You encounter a fork in the road. Take the right or the left? You've brought your walkie-talkies, and try to communicate, and you know the one in the front vehicle is on, but nobody answers. You can demonstrate that, with ham radio, this situation could have turned out differently.
• If you need to get a message to somebody, it's pretty easy to do with your phone. But, that can be challenging if you or they are not near a cell tower, or are trying to send it to somebody who's outside of internet service. You can do just that with HF (high frequency) ham radio, as long as both you and your target have HF radios and HF antennas.

Finally
In the end, if a person says No to amateur radio, then drop it and let it be. From that point on, let your example be the only invitation they see; don't try and keep ham radio in their face, and don't mention it, or it'll become a sore spot. Let them casually see you enjoy your hobby without you trying to pressure them into any ham activity.

What about you? Care to share any secrets on how to get people interested?
Give people the benefit of the doubt [link] [PDF]
In all your online adventures, you might have come across somebody who has asked a very rudimentary question, like What frequencies can I use on ham radio? Your first inclination might have been to answer the person by drawing from your own deep pool of wisdom and experience. But after a second or two, you might have begun to wonder where this question came from. I mean, shouldn't he already know this? Didn't he take a ham radio course like the rest of us? Wasn't that question on the exam?

When we do encounter a question as seemingly simple and fundamental as this one, we have two options: 1) offer a helpful and intelligent answer, or 2) let somebody else answer. When we choose to answer the question, we should give the person what we call the benefit of the doubt. That old phrase means that, since we might not know the origin or background of the question, we should presume the person asking does have some baseline knowledge of the topic, and maybe is looking for further information.

In college, we're taught that we should write essays and articles geared toward a particular audience. We can't know exactly what our audience will know in advance, while writing the paper, so we're taught that we must presume that our readers are intelligent but uninformed. When answering people's questions, our habits should reflect that same approach and attitude, that our listeners are intelligent but uninformed.

What this means is, belittling or berating a person for asking a seemingly fundamental question is completely inappropriate in any kind of forum. Telling the person to RTFM, or read the fine manual, or to Google for the answer, or to get licensed, is not in keeping with the spirit of amateur radio. It's much better to point out in the manual where you got the information, or what links to visit. Often, a person who's new to the craft might not even know what questions to ask, let alone know what to Google for.

For the question that was asked above, What frequencies can I use on ham radio?, it's very possible that the person is unlicensed, and is investigating whether the hobby is right for him, maybe to satisfy a communication need. It's possible that the questioner is disabled, very young, or elderly, and does not have the same access to information that you do. It's also possible that his native language is not English, or that he has a learning issue.

Finally, it's possible that the person has passed the exam, but missed this particular question. I mean, did you get a perfect score on the exam? If so, congratulations! But the overwhelming majority of normal candidates did not. And why not? There can be a number of reasons, but again, I will presume that it's because they are intelligent, but were uninformed...or just forgot.

Let's hear from you. Other thoughts about giving people the benefit of the doubt?
Don't take it personally [link] [PDF]
We're surrounded by a great community of ham radio operators, who tend to be helpful, friendly, and kind. There are times, however, when we might become a little offended at something another person has said to us. We've had training topics that have helped us be more patient and understanding on the radio, but this time, let's focus for just a minute on how we might react when we're on the receiving end of the offense.

We're intelligent beings, yet with that intelligence comes sensitivity; our egos are fragile and bruise easily, especially in today's world. Furthermore, people can be thoughtless and careless with their words, and many don't even know that their speaking habits can be abrasive to others.

You can't really help how you feel, because your feelings are the cocktail result of culture, up-bringing, past experiences (including toxic treatment by others), and your mental health, including possibly your anxiety levels, fears, and trauma.

No, it's not always easy, but here are a few things you can do, if you feel that another person has hurt your feelings, or even mistreated you, on the radio or elsewhere:
• Take a deep breath; if necessary, take a brief time-out
• Calmly ask for a clarification; a misunderstanding is often more likely than a direct insult
• Don't assume the worst; give the other person the benefit of the doubt
• Ask yourself whether the person truly meant to say what he or she said
• Never react by lashing back with unkind words; retaliation only places you on the same level with the offender
• Although it might have been hurtful at the time, ask yourself whether the offense was truly that important, and whether you can turn the other cheek and let it go

Ham radio is not made from a single personality type, but instead is a community of a very diverse set of customs, habits, and languages. We've all come together for the common cause of amateur radio, yet the craft has attracted good folks from all walks of life, good folks like you.

Let's hear from you. If I've offended you, please don't take it personally!
Do you enjoy tinkering? [link] [PDF]
Are you one of those folks who can't help but get your nosy fingers into the workings of something? When you encounter a piece of gear, are you tempted to disassemble it beyond recognition, just to find out what makes it tick? If so, some say you might have the knack, while others claim that you're a hopeless tinkerer.

Tinkering can mean exploring, modifying, adjusting, fixing, reviving, enhancing, or investigating a new or curious device. Using American slang, it can also mean fiddling, poking, tweaking, and messing; you get the idea. While tinkering can apply to things that are not quite as tangible, such as software, literature, and designs, the focus of our tinkering tends to be physical gadgetry.

For many of us, tinkering is what we do. We can't let a fine chunk of machinery be, and not wonder how it looks and works under the hood, so to speak. We can't take any piece of equipment for granted; we are driven to open it up and explore. Curiosity might kill the cat, but it's what keeps us tinkerers young and alive.

And speaking of young, if you admit to playing with the DIY toy set that is named for our very weakness, the Tinkertoy, you'll be dating yourself. It was the Lego of yesteryear, created more than 110 years ago, partly in an effort to inspire kids to use their imaginations. Another tinkering toy called the Erector Set was created around the same time, and became hugely popular in the US because it was one of only a few toys that allowed the little tinkerer to couple a small electric motor with the construction.

Since those days, numerous other construction toys have emerged, such as Lincoln Logs, Legos, K'Nex, Snap Circuits, and many more. These have encouraged and expanded the minds of young tinkerers for many years.

But wait, there's more

Tinkering for fun, for curiosity, or to troubleshoot a problem is a terrific vice, but you can take it one step further. Use your tinkering mind in the service of others; let your curious mind help those who are not so fortunately blessed, by teaching them, mentoring them, and setting an example of a true elmer by sharing your wonder and your enthusiasm.

Many people shy away from opening a device or trying to fix a problematic piece of equipment out of fear. They often don't have your tinkering background, and are afraid of making a bad problem worse. You, on the other hand, have long since cast off your doubts and inhibitions, and are ready to put your skills to the test. But, instead of doing it for them, have them do the repair or installation, which will help them learn by first-hand experience and gain some tinkering confidence.

Clubs and social groups are always looking for people just like you to not only participate in assembling a project, but to show the rest of us how it's done. The next time you learn of a home-brew night, a DIY meeting, or other ham radio event (such as a fair, a hamfest, special event station, and so forth), volunteer your time and talents, and show off your tinkering wizardry and allow others to feel the same excitement!

Let's hear from you. Have you shared your tinkering knack with others?
Avoid comparing people [link] [PDF]
It seems like we're always after the best information we can find on a topic from the best people we can get it from. Whether it's deciding on which new radio to purchase or which antenna to install, we want to avoid making the mistake of paying too much or investing too much time in something that might not work well. So, we ask around and rely on the experience and opinions of more knowledgeable folks to fill that need. But, in our world of choices, we often encounter differing recommendations, even between experts.

The result is to compare the opinions and recommendations we read or hear, which helps us arrive at a more informed decision that's applicable to our particular needs. The potential problem, however, is to tempt the people of differing opinions to confront each other by saying something like, But so-and-so said such-and-such is better. This is known as pitting, in that we're attempting to pit one person against another. Pitting is combative, contentious, and serves little positive purpose. In most cases, the maturity of the potential combatants will cause them to recognize this situation and stand down from the fight. It's just best that you don't stage the fight to begin with.

Also, openly comparing people on the radio or online is considered poor social etiquette. In other words, announcing that you feel one person is better at something than another, or knows more about a topic than another is considered a criticism and is not welcome in the amateur world. Instead, praise the knowledge or expertise of one person without stating any judgment about the other person. Your readers and listeners are intelligent enough to arrive at their own conclusions.

Alright, are there times when it's appropriate to make comparisons between people? Maybe, if you use good judgment and let kindness be your guide. For example, a friend might ask you which of several stores is the best to purchase a piece of equipment. As long as you remain positive and say that you prefer one of them, that can be helpful. But as soon as you resort to criticizing one of the owners, you've crossed an inappropriate and unnecessary line. You might indeed have strong feelings about one of them, but your purpose is to be sensitive and remain as positive as you can.

What are your thoughts about comparing people? I'd love to hear your opinion.
Where not to do ham radio [link] [PDF]
In the craft of amateur radio we love to tell people that we’re able to operate and communicate in places where other services might fail. For example, there are numerous remote locations in which phone service is simply unavailable, but where a person with a ham radio might still be able to connect with another person. Even though we can communicate, there appears to be locations and situations in which it might not be wise to use ham radio.

Many newly licensed hams proudly announce that they've installed a radio in their bedrooms, and leave their radios on in case an important request comes through. If you're married, I highly recommend against installing ham radio in your bedroom, even if you and your spouse are both licensed. It won't take long before that distraction drives a wedge between you. If you're not married, I still do not recommend it in your bedroom, because I believe the noise will slowly lead to sleep deprivation and will change your daytime mood and work habits, and not for the better.

Another place you might want to reconsider if you're planning on portable work is outdoors when it's raining, especially when you can hear thunder. It's much safer to run your portable operation during a thunderstorm in an RV than in an outdoor shed or pavilion, but the best place is in a building.

While there’s nothing really wrong with using ham radio in your bathroom or restroom, as they say, it's the thought that counts. If you don't share your bathroom radio with others, people probably won't mind that you use it there, but the ick factor might still turn some away from you.

If you're considering some travel, you might want to keep in mind two things. One is that there are countries that might not permit ham radio. For example, although allowed today, an American licensee was at one time not permitted to communicate by ham radio to people in Yemen or North Korea. Furthermore, your American amateur radio license does not grant you the privilege to communicate by ham radio while visiting another country unless that country honors a reciprocal agreement with the US to do so. Some cruise liners also prohibit ham radio equipment, so be sure to check with them ahead of time.

Even if you're planning to visit or communicate with friendly nations, you might want to check on travel restrictions for ham radio. Generally, radios placed in checked luggage are permitted, but because many contain lithium batteries, you might also want to verify their airline-specific restrictions as well.

Ham radio can be a fun hobby, and many of us want to share the excitement we feel with friends and loved ones. When we leave our radios installed or sitting in plain sight of family members, however, that constant reminder can become a sore spot for the family. They probably appreciate the fact that you have a hobby at all, but for you to rub their noses in it can leave a bad taste in their mouths, and can actually do more harm than good by turning them against your newfound love. I recommend using good judgment and keeping your toys out of sight.

Any other thoughts on where ham radio might not be appropriate? Let's hear from you.

Protocol training topics

Announce that you're portable or mobile when traveling [link]
Eventually, you're going to find yourself traveling. And when you do, I hope you find the occasion to bring along a little ham. As in, radio. Whether that's a handy-talkie or a mobile unit, it's a good idea to take something with you. Turns out that, most of the time, people who bring their radios with them on vacation never use them. But you never know when one might come in handy.

In another training topic, we discussed how to locate and connect to various repeaters as you're traveling from one place to another. And we want to connect with repeaters because that's where the majority of active hams hang out. But now, let's mention something that might get the attention of people who are monitoring these repeaters. And you want to get their attention because, for every ham who's actively monitoring or using the repeater, there are dozens of others listening in.

These good folks just leave their radios on and tuned to the local repeater, while they eat, work, exercise, clean, or even watch TV. A few even keep their radios on when they sleep, which I don't recommend, because of how it might disrupt your deep sleep cycle. At that moment, when many might be listening, but nobody's talking on the repeater, say your call sign, followed by portable 7 and see what happens, as in
This is KI7ABC, portable 7
Experienced hams might be tempted to pick up their microphones and respond, asking whether you're traveling, and where you're from. Most new hams have never heard of this, and might ask you what the heck you're talking about. (Because when you travel near home, like within your own county, you typically say, This is KI7ABC, mobile)

The term portable simply means that you're traveling away from home, that you're transmitting with a portable radio. The 7 means you're from the 7 Calling Area, which is none other than the contiguous states of Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The 7 Calling Area means that, when you first get licensed, and you register a mailing address with the FCC from within one of these eight states, you'll automatically be assigned a call sign with the numeral 7 in it, like KI7ABC.

So, announcing portable 7 on the air is kind of fun. If you're traveling outside the 7 Calling Area, people can recognize that you're from out of town. Yet if you're traveling within the 7 Calling Area, it might seem pointless, but you'll find that it's still a fun QSO-starter. Besides, if you ever get in trouble where there's no cell, grabbing the attention of a few friends might come in real handy.
How to handle a bootlegger, and more [link]
One day you might be listening on a repeater, and hear somebody come on the air, possibly announcing that he wants to know if this thing works, and whether there is anybody listening. It might become obvious that the person is unlicensed. Back in *the day* this unlicensed person using a ham radio frequency was called a bootlegger. So, how do you answer a call like that? And, should you?

According to the rules, it's clear that we're prohibited from communicating with anybody on an amateur frequency if we know the other party is unlicensed. Still, there are exceptions. Such as, when the other person's life is in danger, or he's involved in some other emergency. We can communicate with an unlicensed person if he's in the presence of a person who does have a license, like we do during Field Day. Also, we're authorized to communicate with him for the purpose of explaining how to get licensed, or directing him to a club meeting. In any case, you should still be kind and respectful, and not jump to any conclusions.

One way to answer a bootlegger is by being friendly, and asking for his call sign. And if he doesn't have one, that's not the time to berate him or rehearse the rules. Let him know that you and he are using a ham radio, and that you have a license to use such a device. Then tell him he can easily get a license of his own, and that you'd be happy to help him learn how to get one, if he's interested.
Bootlegger : Hello. Is anybody out there?
You : Hello, my name is Nancy. What's yours?
Bootlegger : My name is Harold. I got this walkie-talkie from my grandpa, and I thought I would try it out.
You : Well, that's really nice of your grandpa to give it to you. We call it ham radio, and I have a license to use one of these. My call sign is KI7ABC. What's your call sign?
Bootlegger : Um, I'm not sure.
You : If you're interested in getting a license to use this radio, I'd be happy to help you find out more about a good website and how to take the exam, to get licensed.

At that point, the unlicensed person will either get the clue that he needs to get off the air, or pursue a license. Either way, you've explained how he could get licensed if he wanted to go that direction, you've satisfied the rules, and you were a terrific example of how friendly a typical ham radio operator is. Should the unlicensed person ever decide to get a license, he'll most likely remember your positive and helpful conversation. Win-win-win.

Ok, there's more. How would you handle a deliberate or malicious kerchunker? Maybe somebody who not only keys up momentarily, but might take an opportunity to play a short music clip on the air, broadcast arbitrary animal sounds, or blurt out an obscenity? This kind of interference tends to make our blood boil, but if we come on the air and chew out the person or tell him he's doing something illegal, he'll most likely have achieved his cheap thrills from provoking you into making an angry outburst. So, what can you do about that one?

Probably the best thing you can do is ignore him; change to a different frequency or turn off the radio. Sometimes he's difficult to ignore, especially if he constantly attempts to key up over your conversation with somebody. But if you really want to engage him, you should still remain friendly and be the mature one. Don't criticize his behavior, don't call him names, and don't lie to him, by telling him that the police is coming after him, for example. You can try this:
Bootlegger : <buzz>...<pop>...<kerchunk>
You : Hello, this is Nancy, KI7ABC. Can I help you with anything?
Bootlegger : <kerchunk>
You : Just so you'll know, this is called ham radio, and I can tell you how you can get licensed to use one of these things.
Bootlegger : <thhhptptpt>
You : Well, just let me know. We have friends who can help you get started, if you like. Good luck. KI7ABC.

It's unfortunate that we sometimes have to face situations like these, but in every case, keep your cool and be kind and friendly. You never know...it's possible that the person making those weird sounds might actually be calling for help, and is simply experiencing a dying battery.
Handling somebody interrupting your net [link]
You're in the middle of your weekly net, and somebody who's not participating in your net decides to try engaging a friend of his on your net frequency, and calls out for him. Or worse, during a real emergency, a person comes on your net frequency and asks what's going on, and whether this is a net. What's the best way to handle such an intruder to your net?

This very thing occurred a couple of years ago during the Provo Freedom Festival parade, which was already under way. The parade communication was well-organized, involving three dozen ham operators and others. Then, during the parade net we all heard the following dialogue, as near as we can recollect:
Outsider : This is KI7ABC, I hear people talking about asking for reports. Is everything alright?
Participant : Hello, I'm KI7XYZ, and this is a net for the Provo Freedom Festival parade. May I help you with something?
Outsider : Oh, sorry, I didn't know. Can anybody check in to this net?
Participant : If you first report to Net Control at 950 N University Avenue, they can help you with that.
Outsider : Oh, ok. KI7ABC
Participant : KI7XYZ
What a terrific example of understanding, helpfulness, and maturity! The participant didn't order the outsider off the air, didn't scold him, and wasn't rude to him. Instead, he briefly explained what the net was for, and how to learn more, and in a polite way. At the same time, the net participant promptly ushered the outsider off the air, so that he no longer interfered with their net.

Always assume that the person who's interrupting your net, is doing so innocently. Most will gladly vacate the frequency when told that a net is in progress. No matter what the intruder says or how he says it, remain calm, kind, and unreactive to his comments.

So, what if the outsider doesn't vacate your net, after you've kindly informed him? As much as possible, carry on with your net the same as you were previously. It's not your job to be the net police, and you've already done what you could to help the outsider, politely. Finally, keep in mind the possibility that the interrupting station might be asking for help, but is nervous and doesn't know how.
Making a general announcement without broadcasting [link]
In amateur radio, each ham transmits a communication to one other person in a two-way exchange between two people. Then again, there are occasions when one might want to communicate a message to more than one person, and there are several legal ways to accomplish that. Most of us know that the rules are clear about broadcasting, which is the one-way transmission intended for the general public. What's not always clear, however, are the exceptions to the broadcasting rule, and there are indeed exceptions.

This training topic is not intended to help you violate the rules, but to learn how to get a message out to multiple people within amateur rules. For example, you're permitted to transmit to the general public in an emergency, meaning that life or property is in immediate danger. Here are other exceptions:

Calling out to make a contact
The rules say that it's permissible to call out to many others, if your intention is to establish a one-on-one contact.
Hello, this is KI7ABC...is anybody available to chat?
or if you're on single sideband, like you would typically be on HF (please, not on FM, like on a repeater)
CQ! CQ! CQ! This is KI7ABC. CQ!

Calling out to gather people for a net
It's also permissible to call out to many others, if you're getting their attention in order to start a net or other on-air activity, like a contest, a QSO party, or special event station.
QST! QST! QST! Attention all hams! The net will start in five minutes.

Redirecting listeners to another frequency
At times, it might be necessary to direct their attention to another frequency.
Attention all hams! Please change frequency to 146.520 MHz simplex for further instructions.
or, if you're attempting to redirect a subset of listeners
Everybody who's part of the preparedness project, please change frequency to 146.540 MHz simplex, to avoid interfering with the city net, which is already in progress.

Making a public announcement or warning
It's not permissible to make public announcements, because your communication must be one-on-one, so simply make the announcement to one person. In this example, it's not actually known by the caller that KI7DEF is on the road; it's only necessary that he or she is listening:
KI7ABC : KI7DEF, KI7ABC
KI7DEF : This is KI7DEF. Go ahead.
KI7ABC : Just wanted to make sure you're aware of a crash on north-bound I-15 near Lehi Main Street. Looks like about a mile of delays, but you can avoid that by getting off at Pleasant Grove.
KI7DEF : Roger that. Thanks for the heads up! KI7DEF
KI7ABC : KI7ABC

So, while it's not legal to broadcast a non-emergent message to the general public, there are legal ways to get a message out to more than one person on the air.

What are your thoughts about making announcement? Are there other ways?
How to ham in an HOA [link] [PDF]
If you live in a house or apartment that's part of an HOA, you might be aware of the great benefits it can provide for your home and property, such as maintenance and management services, communal security, recreational amenities, and insurance coverage. But these come with a price, and in the interest of amateur radio, sometimes by way of antenna restrictions due to rules regarding appearance.

Before moving into an HOA-governed home, you're usually required to sign a legally binding contract, in which you agree to abide by the rules specified in that contract. Because the agreement is binding, the HOA can legally fine you or even foreclose on your home if you violate the conditions of that agreement.

You might have found that the HOA rulebook is way too long to completely read through it before signing the agreement. As a result, you might not be aware of obscure limitations, such as the color of your mailbox, what kinds of dogs they allow, and whether antennas are permitted on your house exterior. To be sure, once you sign the agreement, you’re bound by it, regardless whether any of it conflicts with another statute, even a federal one. So, you promise to abide by everything in the book regarding antennas.

Many have asked what kinds of effective antennas they can install to appease the HOA, in spite of these prohibitions. Still others wonder whether the HOA, a local body, has the legal jurisdiction to enact rules contrary to activities protected by the amateur radio service, a federal body.

If you decide to approach the HOA with your request to install an antenna, they’re obligated to give you one answer, and it's likely spelled out in that rulebook, whether the representative you talk with is a friend or a ham or neither. They don't want to have to read you the riot act. So, one way to approach this dilemma is how many of them prefer it: 1) be reasonable about the type of antenna you want to mount and 2) just go ahead and install it anyway. Being reasonable typically means that your antenna should not be so large or unsightly that it disrupts the neighborhood beauty, and that it's fairly easy to install and remove if needed. So for now, no tower, no Yagi, and no hex beam.

Later, if the HOA asks you to remove your antenna, simply take it down, and all is forgiven. It typically takes more than one request or written warning before the HOA takes any kind of action against you, such as a fine, for violating the agreement. Do not resist them or point out some obscure law they're unaware of, because if you fight them, you will lose. Be the good tenant and comply with their demands.

For those who would rather visit the dentist than face possible confrontation by sneaky neighbors or a suspicious HOA president, there are some compromise antenna setups that might allow you to operate on some bands without advertising that fact. One solution is a flagpole antenna, which allows you to mount your antenna on a flagpole mast, or make the mast your antenna itself. Another is the HOA Buster, which creates an antenna out of your rain downspout. Yet another is running a wire, such as part of an end-fed half-wave antenna, across and a few inches over your roof by stand-offs. Another possibility is to install one in your attic, if it has the room, as long as your attic isn't surrounded by stucco or other metal. And there are others.

What are your thoughts about doing ham radio in an HOA?
Gethering news information for distribution [link] [ARRL]
As you're out serving the world in one capacity or another, you might just get contacted by somebody who wants you to gather information for an event and distribute it to a news agency, such as an online network. That person probably knows you and trusts you, and believes that you'll do a great job. Well, they could be right, that you might do a great job, but if somebody ever makes this kind of request of you, politely and kindly turn down the offer, and let the person know why.

One of the practices we as licensed amateurs have agreed to avoid is broadcasting, which means spreading information to the general public. More than that, we are also asked to not gather news items to be passed to news agencies, unless the nformation is directly related to the immediate safety of human life, and that normal means of broadcasting that information have been disrupted. If news reporters want to interview you about your amateur radio operations, that's perfectly fine, as long as neither they nor you use amateur radio to air the interview.

One point of confusion arises when we abide by the rules to avoid broadcasting, yet we seem free to share news that we've gathered, and announce that to an entire net of listeners. Well, that's a good point, and we don't want to give the appearance of breaking any rules. Still, there are exceptions in the rules to broadcasting. Attempting to communicate some information to a group of licensed amateurs is permitted, while doing the same to the general public, who is not licensed, is not permitted.

So, if you're ever asked or challenged to collect information to give to a news agency using ham radio, or are asked to distribute the information to the general public, politely refuse the request, because it falls outside the purpose and acceptable use of amateur radio. But if a reporter wants to interview you, feel free to accept the offer, as long as the interview is not broadcast on amateur radio.

What are your thoughts about information collecting for news?
Comments not related to the incident [link]
While operating during an emergency or even a drill, probably the only thing on your mind is the event at hand, complete with all the tension and stress that go along with it. Chances are, there'll be plenty of moments when you could be sitting, waiting for messages and instructions, maybe hours. During those times, would it be appropriate to talk on the radio about something unrelated to the event, such as a personal occurrence that day, a short story about a family situation, or even a joke?

Well, the answer is that it's ok to mention something over the radio that's off-topic during a serious event, as long as you use good judgment. That means you should keep your side comments brief, and remain ready to return to the original event the moment you're needed.

Occasionally, a humorous short story can be a welcome distraction from the otherwise stressful situation. But interjecting a little humor requires both good taste and good timing. In fact, if during the event you find yourself becoming so serious that your sense of humor has left you, that might be a good time to try and lighten up a little, and say something funny, as long as your humor doesn't detract too much from the task at hand.

It's also possible that, during the course of an event, another problem could arise, unrelated to the emergency at hand, which we saw happen many times during Hurricanes Sandy and Harvey, for example. In those cases, the operators had to be a little flexible, and choose which event was the most urgent to focus on, or even to accommodate both of them when needed. It might seem simple on paper or even during a net training topic, but once your mindset is moving in one direction to achieve some urgent outcomes, people can find it difficult to quickly pivot and entertain a new agenda.

What are your thoughts about making unrelated comments during an incident?
How to perform a Final 7-3 [link] [PDF]
Many ham radio operators enjoy saying the shortcut "seven-three" which means "I wish you well" or "good luck" when signing off or leaving the conversation. Also, we will all eventually pass away, meaning we'll be leaving the air waves for good, which will make it even more important for others to want to offer a "seven-three" to us one last time.

When a beloved ham passes away, many find it awkward to say something about the person on the air, and so we tend to avoid mentioning anything about the now silent key. You might instead want to honor him or her by a small ritual called the Final 7-3. It's an on-air ceremony patterned after the way police and public safety do it. Here's a recommended version, all spoken by a single person (Net Control, who is KI7XYZ), often as part of a roll-call net, or sometimes during an appropriate moment in a funeral service (it's traditional for all to stand.)

Key up, and say the following slowly, clearly, and reverently (in red):


In honor of our good friend, John Doe KI7ABC, who is now silent key <un-key, then pause three seconds>
KI7ABC, John Doe <un-key, then pause three seconds>
KI7ABC, John Doe <un-key, then pause three seconds>
No contact. John Doe, KI7ABC, silent key. May you rest in peace. Seven-three. KI7XYZ.

And that's it.

Emergency training topics

What frequency to monitor, when you're the victim [link]
You want to be as helpful as you can be when the need arises, to render some assistance to others. But what if you are the person who needs the help? No doubt you've learned about and prepared many things to be self-sufficient during a critical moment, including with communication. So, what frequencies should you tune to during an incident, especially if cell towers become damaged or otherwise unavailable? Here are some suggested ones, roughly in order:


• Your Area frequency if you're near your home neighborhood. Your Area is the geographical location defined by local religious leaders. And you know your Area frequency because it's the one that's held weekly by the predominant faith, and you don't have to be a member of the faith to participate. You should be able to locate yours on noji.com/nets.
• Your City frequency if you're within your home city, and is one of those used by your city during a city-wide drill
• Your ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) repeater frequency. For Utah County, that's 147.340+ MHz (100.0 Hz tone).
• If you're LDS, your ERC (Emergency Response Communications) repeater frequency. For the Lindon Bishops' Storehouse (Utah County), that's 147.020+ MHz (103.5 Hz tone).
• The 2-meter National Calling Frequency, which is 146.520 MHz simplex, and part of the Wilderness Protocol (for the 70 cm band, it's 446.000 MHz simplex)
• The designated Statewide Emergency Broadcast frequencies, which for Utah is KSL radio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM
• Any or all of several police, sheriff, fire, and EMS (emergency medical services) frequencies, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
  
  
  • 154.860 MHz : North Utah County Sheriff
  • 156.135 MHz : South Utah County Sheriff
  • 153.950 MHz : Utah County Public Safety
  • 155.235 MHz : Utah County Search and Rescue
  • 851.600 MHz : Utah Public Safety (fire, EMS, police, chopper, ambulance)

Finally, and possibly counter-intuitive, be sure to program your radios with a few ragchew repeater frequencies. That is, frequencies of the nearest repeaters that are the most often used. For Utah County those would likely be 146.760- MHz, 146.780- MHz (100.0 Hz tone), and 146.620- MHz. If you're in need of help, and call out on one of these repeaters, chances are fairly good that somebody will be monitoring and will answer your call for help.
Importance of scanning [link] [PDF]
Before they became hams, many had learned about searching through public safety and other emergency frequencies for alerts, incidents, and other things that were going down at the moment, using scanners. This way, they were usually the first to know about what's going on, and then stayed informed with updates to a situation. Using a ham radio, it turns out that you can do something similar. After programming your radio with important frequencies, you can scan them for information and pertinent chatter.

Most of today's handheld and mobile ham radios are capable of scanning two different ways. One is to scan all frequencies in the band, incremented by the amount set by the STEP menu setting, which can be 5 kHz, 10 kHz, and so forth. Avoid scanning by searching all the frequencies this way, because of the time it takes to traverse the entire band. Chances of missing important announcements are high, and the scan stopping on noisy or irrelevant frequencies, like the seven weather channels, will occur way too frequently, costing you precious time if you're looking for real information. On the other hand, if you're traveling and aren't familiar with the local repeaters, scanning the entire band might actually be a better option.

The other is to scan only the frequencies you've programmed into memory, but that'll require you to do a little research on what set of frequencies you'd like to scan, to be of most help to you during an incident. For these, I recommend a combination of local repeater, useful simplex, and some public safety frequencies. Many of the public safety frequencies will be part of trunked systems, so you'll likely hear only part of the conversation on them, but it's better than nothing, and you'll often catch the majority of the information by context.

Once these are programmed into memory, you can start the scan by the press of a button or two. While scanning, if the radio encounters a carrier signal on a frequency it tunes to, it momentarily halts the scan, to allow you to hear it long enough to decide whether that signal is of interest to you. Furthermore, depending on your radio model, you might be able to select how your radio should behave when it encounters a signal. For example, you can set the scanning function in your radio to continue scanning after a few seconds, or remain on the frequency until you direct the radio to continue the scan.

You might have frequencies programmed in your radio memory that you want excluded from the scan, because of irrelevance. To do this, you can mark the frequency by SKIP, so that the scanning function will skip listening to that frequency for a signal. You can do the same for a noisy frequency, because it's a digital signal, or you're near an LED sign, or you use a charger that gives off a lot of noise on that frequency.

After your memory channels are set up, and the noisy ones marked for skipping, you're all set for scanning. Once an incident occurs, and you've taken appropriate steps to ensure your safety and check in to a local net, you can start the scan going, to listen for relevant traffic or life-saving information bulletins.

What do you think? Other thoughts about scanning? Let's hear from you.
How to call out for help [link] [PDF]
When you're in real trouble, calling out for help could mean life or death for you or the people with you. And knowing how to get people's attention to obtain that help isn't always obvious.

Use your phone to call for help
Your phone will be your primary lifeline in most cases. When you find your life, health, or property in immediate danger, call 911. There are times when a phone call might not be available to help you, because many others are calling for help the same time as you. In that case, try texting for help; texts will often get through an overloaded cell tower when a call will not.

Use your radio to call for help
If your phone battery is dead, or cell service becomes unavailable, resort to radio. When you really need help right away, hopefully you'll have your grab-and-go bag handy, and it'll contain your ham radio. And if you've managed to escape by car, hopefully you'll have your ham radio installed in your vehicle. Here are steps you can take to call for help by radio: (Except for the call sign, the following are not limited to ham radio, and so can be used on walkie-talkies, CB, and other radio types as well.)
• Listen on your Area frequency (if you're near home), City frequency, and Emergency frequency, for a net or communication already in progress. (Your Area frequency is typically organized by your local religious body or geographic area of citizens. Your Emergency frequency is organized by the county ARES group, but can also be the National Calling Frequency, if you're following the Wilderness Protocol.)
• At an appropriate moment, break into the ongoing net or conversation and announce that you have a problem that needs to be addressed immediately
• If you don't hear any communication taking place on any of your frequencies, set your radio to scan all the frequencies in memory. When the radio stops on a valid conversation, go back to Step 2.
• If all else fails, change your radio to your Area, City, or Emergency frequency, and say
  "This is KI7ABC, and I need help right away."
  or
  "This is KI7ABC. Could somebody help me right away?"
  or
  "This is KI7ABC. Could somebody get me an ambulance right away?"
• Avoid using the words "emergency" or "break", since many hams are too used to equating these words with drills or simulated exercises, even though they're reserved for true emergencies.

Use any means at your disposal to call for help
If you're experiencing a true emergency, you can do just about anything relatively safely to get the attention of others, especially those who can access the help you need.
• Make a loud noise with these (three times, wait five seconds, then repeat)
  • emergency whistle
  • banging metal, such as pots
  • shouting
  • anything else to grab attention, such as a loudspeaker
• Post signs, ideally in large, red print
• Send a runner to get help
• If you're outdoors, clear the area, then set three fires spaced evenly apart in a line
• Smoke signals (do you know how to do this? it has nothing to do with Morse code)
• Anything else? Use your creativity safely.
When deciding to use any means at your disposal, make sure you balance how much of a danger you're in, with reason. Use your head, and keep safety first in your mind, in spite of the adrenaline coursing through your veins.
Handling a missing parent [link]
It might seem more intuitive to ask how to handle a missing child, but that implies you're searching for a child you haven't met, probably a topic for another day. But in this case, you've encountered a child who's become separated from the parent, or a child has found you, while in search of the parent. This means it's the parent who's missing, not the child. Also, this can apply to an adult with diminished mental capacity, in which case you might be helping to locate a missing caretaker. Ok. So, now what do you do?

This training is quite relevant, because we ham radio operators serve during many public events, such as parades, festivals, marathons, and carnivals, and in each event, often more than one child gets separated from his parent in the crowd. Nearly all of these incidents have ended well, with the child being successfully reunited with the missing parent. But what could we do, to ensure a successful reunion?

Contact the authorities
Get on the phone or radio promptly, and let authorities or at least somebody else know that you're with a child who's been separated from his parent. If you're part of a net in an event, be sure and inform Net Control of the same right away. If it appears that searching for the child's parents will take longer than a few minutes, and you aren't able to locate the police just yet, focus on searching for the authorities rather than the parents; you'll likely waste a lot more time and effort looking for individuals than for the police, fire, or EMS personnel.

Don't be alone with the child
As quickly as possible, get another person to accompany you with the child. Having multiple adults in the company of the child helps protect both you and the child. Even the call you make to the police is a big step toward not being alone with the child. At the same time, make sure the child is not left alone. In other words, don't abandon him while you go off looking for the police.

Help reassure the child
As much as you know how, befriend the child. Find out his name, and call him by his name often. Let him know that you're going to do everything you can, to find his parents or get help. Don't make up things by saying that everything's going to be alright, or that he'll be with his parents soon, because you don't know that. Ask him how he feels. One of the best talents you can muster at a time like this is the ability to listen. A word of caution: only hold or hug the child if he invites the touch; otherwise, avoid physical contact with him, except an occasional pat on the shoulder or elbow. Playing a game in an open area with people nearby or with others involved can go a long way to help calm the child.

Find out what you can from the child
Without interrogating the scared youngster with a hundred rapid-fire questions, casually ask him what his mom's name is, where he lives, what his favorite food is, what video game he likes to play, as it's appropriate for his age. If possible, find out where he and his parents were, when they got separated, and what they were doing at the time. Find out how old he is, what school he goes to, what his teacher's name is. Take note of the child's age, size, and what he's wearing, his eye and hair color, and if possible, record that information.

Turn over the child intelligently
Before handing the child over to a complete stranger, look for clearly open clues that the child recognizes the parent. Get the parent's name and address and number, then report all the details you can, to the police or other proper authorities. You have no right to restrain the child in the presence of his parents, and the parents have probably been worried sick looking for him, so this moment can be a little awkward for all of you.

Your judgment
How all of this turns out will often result from you using good judgment, and each child and situation is different from the next. The good news is that you were there, right when a child needed you. Neither the child nor his parents will likely remember what you did for them, but you probably will.

Ok, let's hear from you. Anything you could add, or you would do differently?
Getting involved with emergency communication [link] [PDF]
One of the reasons you got your ham radio license is for preparedness, because you've probably heard that this form of communication is more reliable and less expensive offgrid than others. But now that you’ve come this far, your goal is to not only help yourself, but others in your community, and maybe even your state. So, is there some organized way for you to put your new-found skills to work, and be of help in your community? Will those in charge actually feel they can confidently call upon you to provide essential emergency services? Turns out it is indeed possible for us amateurs to get called upon as *volunteer* emergency services communicators. However, there is an organized way for you to get involved and help.

ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service)
Sign up and become certified by your local ARES group, which in most cases is at the county level. They are likely working with your AUXCOMM team, if you even have one (most places do not yet), to help train you in procedure and protocol, and will let you know when and where to help in an official capacity, if needed. A callout is a formal request by organization leaders for your voluntary help during an actual incident. Depending on your ARES certification level, you might get called out to help with communication, in conjunction with a wildfire, flood, severe storm, or other incident with which the ARES leadership feels you can safely serve.

RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service)
Sign up and become accredited with your RACES organization, which in most cases is at the state level. They are also likely working with your AUXCOMM team, again, if you have one. The RACES folks tend to leave much of the training up to the AUXCOMM folks, but if you’re new to emergency communication, you should start with your local ARES team.

Area
Get involved in your local (religious, community, area) net, and volunteer to help out as a communicator. Their leaders will likely keep a list of volunteers, along with their skill levels, and call upon your help as they see the need.

Family
You are free to help out your own family and neighbors without any sort of training, position, or direction, as long as you're a) representing yourself (not any organization), and b) your self-deployment activities don’t interfere with emergency coordination efforts being done by other groups.

Volunteer
Offer your services in the ARES and local (religious, community, area) groups by offering to run their nets, present a training topic, or host a simulated exercise (a *tabletop exercise*, not a mock disaster). If you don’t volunteer your time and services, the organization leaders might not realize that you want to help out at all.

Related to volunteering, stay up-to-date. Get on the ARES mailing list, and make sure you’re receiving their updates. Keep informed on upcoming events, such as meetings, training, simulated exercises, callouts, and more. Find out how to increase your expertise by advancing your certification level.
Getting involved with ARES [link]
If you're interested in using both your radio and your brain to help out with local emergencies, in a group that already has a training regimen and leadership organization in place, ARES might be for you. They're willing to help you not only learn how to use your radio and during an incident, but make use of skills you already have, and maybe learn some new skills. Skills like emergency medical, snow and ice survival, backpacking for rescue, temporary minimalist living, emergency power, and more.

ARES, or Amateur Radio Emergency Service, is a service organization program of the ARRL, and consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communication duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Any licensed amateur can apply for ARES membership, and neither ARRL affiliation nor posession of special equipment is required.

ARES members are trained to assist with emergency communication in behalf of local government (such as the County Sheriff), public service (such as the Red Cross and hospitals), and relief agencies (such as the LDS Church and Salvation Army), when requested. They can serve according to their training level, as indicated by their certifications, which are bestowed by the ARES leadership upon completion of specific training requirements.

ARES activation
An ARES team can become activated by order of the Public Safety or other emergency personnel in charge, through the ARES leadership. Once activated, ARES members are notified of their assignments and duties, but participation is voluntary. Those who are able and willing to participate in an activation might be asked to provide specific items, such as a special radio, a pickup truck, batteries, or gasoline, if it's available to you. The ARES leadership then asks the volunteers to show up at a particular command post or Emergency Operations Center for further instructions.

ARES membership
ARES typically recruits their members from within a geographical boundary, many of them within a specific county. Any licensed amateur is eligible for ARES participation, and can apply for membership with the local ARES leadership. To apply in Utah County, visit ucares.org, and download the ARES Membership form, and submit the completed form to the local ARES leadership. For Salt Lake County, visit slcoares.net, scroll down to Join ARES and click membership page.

ARES training
Most ARES teams provide weekly training for their members, by holding nets, gatherings, and simulated emergency exercises. Training topics are often discussed on the regular nets. Communication and equipment handling proficiency are promoted through certification levels, which can be achieved through increasing stages of training. Members are informed of special or unique training opportunities by listening to the nets or attending intreface meetings.

ARES nets
In many locations, ARES teams hold monthly if not weekly nets. These regular on-air check-ins not only inform members of news and events, but also provide training by presenting a relevant topic of discussion, and encouraging members to run the net themselves. The Utah County ARES team holds nets each Tuesday at 9:00 pm on the 147.340+ (100.0 Hz tone) repeater. The Salt Lake County ARES team helds theirs each Wednesday at 8:30 pm on the 146.700- (100.0 Hz tone) repeater.

ARES resources
As mentioned, one way to learn of important training opportunities and skillset upgrades is by attending the monthly interface meeting. In Utah County, these are held on the first Tuesday monthly 7:00 pm at the Utah County Sheriff's Office North Annex in Spanish Fork on even-numbered months, and the Lehi Fire Station #83 (3870 Traverse Mountain Blvd) on odd-numbered months. In Salt Lake County, the same meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday monthly 6:30 pm at the IHC facility (5121 S Cottonwood St) in Murray. Besides online manuals and instruction materials, ARES also has specialized vehicles at their disposal, outfitted with radios for different agencies, antennas, and other communication gear.

Your assignment
Once you reach a relatively proficient point in your ARES training and certification, you can be assigned an appropriate liaison post, which is typically an EOC, or Emergency Operations Center, located in a hospital, city building, or county facility. When disaster strikes, and ARES is activated, you might be asked to attend to your voluntary assignment if you and your family are safe, and it is safe in your judgment for you to travel there and serve.
Getting involved with RACES [link] [PDF]
Many modern forms of communication, including broadcast, two-way, wifi, cell phone, satellite, television, and more, can trace their roots back to amateur radio. Due to innovations made by amateurs through the past one hundred-plus years, government and military have been able to communicate during times when it's most crucial, such as natural disasters, search-and-rescue, and international conflict. Those sparks of creativity only prompted more experimentation by amateurs, and the airwaves in the early days of radio became flooded with the trials and errors of many projects.

At the onset of World War I, it quickly became apparent that the military could not compete with the huge army of amateur hobbyists for the available radio frequency spectrum. In response, the US Congress ordered all amateur radio operation to cease. After the end of the War, amateurs had to fight to get back on the air, but operate they did. Then came World War II, and the familiar but unfortunate scene happened all over again, with all amateur radio ordered shut down nation-wide.

What is RACES
It was during World War II that the US Congress drafted the War Powers Act of 1941, which provided for an amateur radio service to continue operating, in spite of the invocation of the Act and a resulting shutdown of amateur radio by the President of the United States. Today, this service is known as RACES - the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, and is governed primarily on the state level. Regular amateurs can apply for RACES credentials, permitting them to continue operating, but in a RACES capacity, when the President activates the War Powers Act.

RACES accredits amateurs, conducts nets, holds training, hosts conferences, and more. Its purpose is to provide a body of proficient communication volunteers who can use their own equipment, skill, and time to aid with communication during a crisis that's large enough to warrant the activation of the War Powers Act or other large-scale disaster. Once a person is accredited, RACES issues a unique number to the person, to be used along with the FCC-assigned call sign, for identification. Should the War Powers Act become activated, only those with a RACES number can transmit on amateur frequencies.

RACES activation
Presidential invocation of the Emergency War Powers Act is not the only trigger that can activate RACES. State governors and Public Safety officials can also activate a RACES operation if they deem the incident scope to be large enough to warrant the use of amateur communication, because the official communication infrastructure is inadequate or damaged. During an activation, Public Safety officials will send out a notification to RACES members, requesting their help and explaining the scope of the need.

RACES accreditation
Any amateur whose license has never been suspended can apply to RACES to become accredited, but they decide who can eventually earn the accreditation. To become part of RACES in the state of Utah, you must visit the Utah Department of Public Safety website and download the registration form PDF. Fill out the form, sign it, and send it to the address provided. You must agree to a background check, must not be a convicted felon, and must hold a valid amateur radio license.

RACES nets
Once you're assigned your RACES number, you can check into one of the monthly RACES Nets. In Utah, the RACES VHF / UHF nets are held at 8 pm of the third Thursday of even-numbered months on the Intermountain Intertie, Sinbad, Skyline, and other repeater systems, which become linked together state-wide. The RACES Nets are also held at 8 am of the third Saturday of odd-numbered months on 3.920 MHz, which is 80 meters, and therefore requires you to hold a General class license unless you're accompanied by a General or higher licensee. Another aspect of the RACES nets is that many official government agencies open their EOCs (Emergency Operation Centers) to allow RACES members to check in from their physical locations.

RACES training
The Utah Department of Public Safety typically holds brief RACES trainings during the monthly nets. These are often topics you likely know well, but can also include new or updated information intended for RACES members. More detailed and in-depth training is held annually on the first Saturday of November at the State of Utah RACES Conference, and consumes much of the day. The conference training is free-of-charge, often hands-on, engages most of the attendees, and is very worthwhile.

Your responsibility, your opportunity
On the RACES registration application, you assert that you will ...serve to the best of (your) ability as requested..., but this is not a military commitment, or anything close. Your volunteer service is welcome and appreciated, yet optional. Still, being one of a few who can operate a radio during wartime or other crisis is big, and your service can mean saving lives.
Unlicensed or under-licensed radio use [link]
Many of us already know that a person can use whatever rational means is necessary, to communicate when there's an emergency, and when normal means are unavailable. The problem we sometimes run into, is the definition of an emergency. An emergency is a situation in which a person's life is at risk. During that moment, a person without a license can legally use a ham radio in an effort to save somebody's life. Knowing how to turn it on and use it to call out for help might be another thing, but it's legal nonetheless.

Much less known is the fact that an under-licensed person can do the same. In November 2013, when Typhoon Haiyan (pronounced high-YAN) struct the Philippines, the LDS Church had a mission home in Cebu (pronounced seh-BOO) City, at which the mission president, who is a licensed amateur, set up a ham radio station months before, as a disaster preparedness measure. When Haiyan struck, the only operator nearby was an American missionary, who happened to have a Technician license.

The missionary turned on the station and starting sending distress calls on 20 meters, hoping to get the attention of the LDS Church's monitoring stations anywhere. Technician licensees do not have privileges on 20 meters, so the operator was not unlicensed, but under-licensed. Was his operation legal? Since this was a time of emergency, absolutely. Although amateur radio rules are different between our two countries, policies regarding emergencies are similar. He was able to contact help in California and Australia. The folks in California relayed the messages to Salt Lake City, and the next thing you know, the missionary was talking with Salt Lake, reporting stats and coordinating help.

Slow down and speak loudly and clearly
Chances are, in an actual emergency, your adrenaline is rushing through your bloodstream, you're hyperventilating, and you might be talking 30 miles over the speed limit, at two octaves higher than your normal voice. Breathe deeply and slowly. Slow down. Dial it back a notch. You're much more helpful if you take five whole seconds to report something, than if you were to say the same thing in two seconds, have the other station take two seconds to ask you to repeat what you just said, and then have you repeat it all in five seconds, taking a total of nine precious seconds.

Try lowering the pitch of your voice, and enunciate your words, only a little louder than you normally speak on the radio. The other station will appreciate your clarity and loud transmission, especially if you speak close to the microphone. The entire purpose of your communication is to get help, and sometimes that means attracting attention, and if that means being obnoxious, interrupting an ongoing conversation, or pressing random buttons, by all means, do so. Many ambulances and police recognize what's known as "long-tone-zero" in which you hold down the zero (0) key for five whole seconds, indicating the following transmission is an emergency alert of some sort.

You will likely be held accountable
Understand that, even though you did everything correctly and legally, you might actually need to justify your emergency transmissions later. I don't mean to the police, or even to the FCC, but to fellow hams, who feel for your situation, but are concerned about following the rules, like you are. If one of your listeners is somebody who might not agree with your justification, that ham might just report you to the FCC. But that's alright, since you're fully prepared to explain the situation and put them at ease, if they should ask you about it.

What are your thoughts about unlicensed emergency operation? Let's hear from you.
Broadcast radio during a disaster [link] [PDF]
With all that we discuss regarding two-way radio, especially amateur radio, is it possible that broadcast radio might also be useful during an emergency? Broadcast radio is the one-way AM/FM radio we're used to hearing in our cars or personal headsets. And it turns out that broadcast radio could be a life-saver during a disaster or other widespread incident.

In most US states, government agencies have agreements with a few local broadcast radio and television stations to issue bulletins, alerts, or updates for large-scale incidents such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, chemical spills, and even terrorist attacks. They use these news outlets to disseminate much-needed information regarding evacuations, sheltering in place, danger spots, food and medical locations, and much more. They can tell you when the air has cleared, whether it's safe to venture outside, or of other places you can shelter and receive the food, help, and care you might need. Broadcast information might be able to offer next-step instructions on how to navigate the current crisis and help you move to safety, or to simply provide you and your family some peace-of-mind.

Research and collect in advance a list of local and state-designated radio stations you can turn to in emergencies. Often, stations across the state will be linked together to provide nearly statewide coverage, depending on the incident. Either program them into your radio or store the list with your radio.

Portable broadcast radios can be very small and inexpensive. Chances are, they'll run on a couple of small batteries, so you'll need to keep that in mind when you're storing one. And if you purchase one with a hand crank, you'll have nearly unlimited power available for it. Every few months, like when you check your grab-and-go bag and smoke detectors, turn on your broadcast radio that you've packed away, just to be sure it's still operational.

So, while you're planning for a disaster with ham radio in mind, be sure to include broadcast radio as part of that plan. Besides, broadcast radio can provide music, talk, sports, and other entertainment that might give worried people a small distraction from the emergency at hand, and lift the spirits of otherwise unhappy or anxious children.

Let's hear from you. What are your thoughts about broadcast radio?
Know your location [link]
Several years ago a news agency reported the aftermath of a tornado, and interviewed a woman who had survived it with her two children in their basement. When she emerged, she was shocked to find her house and those of her neighbors gone, replaced by some unknown debris. The woman knew her neighborhood well, and started walking around, looking for help. But after walking for what seemed like only a couple of blocks, it took her well over an hour to find her way back to what remained of her property, because she didn't recognize any of the normal neighborhood landmarks, including the streets, which were torn up.

The effects of a disaster, such as an earthquake, hurricane, bombing, or even tornado could render the area around you unrecognizable. If you need to communicate your location to emergency personnel or a friend or loved one, you might need to resort to other means of identification to tell others where you are. Some landmarks, such as hills and rivers, can be helpful because they tend to outlive most disasters, but it might be difficult to depend on others, especially man-made ones such as buidings, towers, roads, and signs.

You might feel that you always know where you are, but after a large event, you might also be surprised to find just how confusing your surroundings seem. Before that day, it might be a good idea to become acquainted with how to read your GPS location from your phone, which will likely still work, even if cell towers are down. To get the GPS coordinates from your phone, go to the Maps app and press and hold your finger on the blue dot, which indicates your current location. The app will then popup your GPS coordinates. Then again, if you press and hold any point on the Map app, it'll display its coordinates. This can be useful to help others identify nearby landmarks and their locations while they're searching for you.

Without a phone or GPS, you might still be able to describe your approximate location to others by triangulation. Go outside your home and look for permanent landmarks, and be prepared to say something like "To my east is Mount Mahogany, Mount Timpanogos is to my southeast, and the Murdock Canal is about a quarter-mile west of me." By looking at a map, your searchers can get some idea about your location.

Let's hear your thoughts. Do you know of better ways of telling where you are, at any time?
Your out-of-state contact [link]
If you're ever caught in the middle of a large-scale disaster, such as an earthquake, chemical spill, bombing, or severe weather event, the ability to communicate with local help, relatives, or friends can be a lifeline for your family. But if the same local help, relatives, and friends are also affected by the disaster, their ability to help could be very limited. In that case, it's very beneficial to maintain a line of communication with somebody who lives outside the affected area. We call this person your out-of-state contact or out-of-area contact.

Identify a friend or relative who lives outside a potentially affected area of a widespread disaster where you and your family might be living, working, or going to school. Just how far outside depends on the incident, but generally at least a hundred miles from the problem zone is a reasonable starting distance. Help the person understand the reasons behind your request, then ask whether he or she would be willing to be that contact. Ask whether the person is also willing to be the center collection point of information, and post the updates on social media in behalf of you and other family members.

If your relatives or friends live several states away, and they learn of a large earthquake, riot, or tornado where you live, they might worry whether you and your family are alright. Contacting them can offer peace-of-mind not only to loved ones, but to others they inform. So after a disaster, contact them periodically until the incident is clear; telling them there's a problem, and then neglecting to keep them informed can cause them undue concern, and is simply not very thoughtful.

So, how will you get hold of your out-of-state contact? You can first try your phone, which is typically the most available means of communication, even during a disaster. But if your call can't get through, try texting your contact, which will often work when the phone system is overloaded. The old adage about land lines surviving cell phones is a myth, since nearly all of today's land lines depend on the internet for voice over IP. You can use ham radio, but will your contact be licensed? If not, will your contact know how to use a ham radio in an emergency? You can use a satellite phone, which can be very effective once the storm has passed, but can be difficult to get a signal indoors. Also, maintaining the expensive satellite phone subscription while awaiting a disaster might not make financial sense.

Let's hear from you. Do you have an out-of-state contact?
Preparing for a drill [link]
You've got a communication drill or SET (simulated emergency training) coming up, and you want to make sure you have everything ready to go ahead of time. It would be nice to have a brief checklist of things to do and gather in advance. This one might help:
• Be sure to know where your drill location is, and how to get there
• Learn what basic equipment you'll need for the exercise, and start collecting it, to allow you to leave quickly
  • Radio and good antenna (leave your rubber ducky at home)
  • Batteries
  • Water and snacks
  • Pen and paper
  • Headlamp or table light
  • Chair or stool
• Make sure all the necessary frequencies are programmed into your radio
• Consider whether your restroom and medical needs will be taken care of
• Find out whom you'll be serving with, and get in contact with the person
• On the morning of the drill, charge the batteries to your radios, lights, and other gear
• If the drill involves the Block Captain program, text your own block captain your status before the start of the drill to prevent overwhelming the person and because you'll likely forget to later, due to all the stress
• If you're a net controller, be sure to announce This not an emergency, only a drill or something similar every ten minutes or reasonable amount of time
• If you use phonetics to spell out a name or call sign, say it slowly because people are not used to hearing phonetics spoken quickly
The two major keys to preparing for a drill are 1) prepare early and 2) keep it simple. It's great to be prepared for anything that might come up, but it's not necessary to bring all your equipment, just in case somebody else forgot something. Allowing others a chance to fail is one good learning purpose of a drill.

Anything else you'd like to add to this list?

For slightly more technical training nets

Radio-related training topics

An excessively low SWR can kill you [link]
When a person obtains a ham radio license, it's not long before the ham learns about SWR, which stands for Standing Wave Ratio. It's the ratio between the reflected voltage waves and the transmitted voltage waves on your coax, which boils down to the ratio of your antenna impedance to your coax impedance, which should be 50 ohms. Well, our antennas aren't always as perfect as we'd like them to be, and so many of us are always trying to tweak this, or adjust that on them, in search of that elusive perfect 1.0:1 SWR.

Many hams become concerned if they discover their antenna system SWR is not perfect, and sometimes take time-consuming steps or great expense to bring a non-ideal SWR down to perfection. Some repeatedly climb up on their roofs, even in the snow, in an effort to achieve that elusive measurement, even at the peril of their lives. Here's a news flash: your antenna system does not need to have a 1.0:1 SWR to function well.

The two typical reasons hams want to reduce their SWR are 1) they don't want the reflection due to the high SWR to burn up the final power transistors on their transceivers, and 2) they want to ensure that all the power they send to the antenna goes out the antenna. If they're running a really old rig, I can understand the first reason to a point, but number 2 is a fear based largely on myth.

First, most modern transceivers (as in, commercial rigs made in the 21st Century) are outfitted with a circuit called foldback, which will automatically reduce the output power of the transmitter if it detects that the reflected voltage is above a particular threshold. If you attempt to transmit to an antenna with high SWR, the reflected voltage will trigger the foldback to reduce the transmitter's transmitted signal into the transmitter output transistor, thereby protecting it from overload due to too low or too high of an antenna impedance.

Second, even though some of the power is reflected by the antenna because of mis-matched impedance, that reflected signal is not lost, but will get re-reflected by the transmitter, and back out to the antenna. Like a big echo chamber, this whole situation will be repeated until all the signal power is either transmitted out the antenna, or consumed by the coax. And this is why you want to use low-loss coax, to ensure that more of your signal actually makes it to your antenna.

So, how high of an SWR can you live with? Typically, a modern VHF mobile transceiver can handle a relatively high SWR without initiating foldback, and can work comfortably with an antenna system exhibiting an SWR of, say, 3.5:1 or lower. A typical HF transceiver can handle a moderately high SWR, but will start limiting its output power at about 2.0:1 SWR, reaching its minimum output when it detects around 3.0:1 to 4.0:1 SWR.

With this much tolerance, it's not really necessary to reduce your antenna SWR if it reads 2.1 on your analyzer across the target band. Even at full power, your radio will be protected and most of your transmitter output will be sent to your antenna. There's no need to climb on your roof and risk your life to fine-tune your SWR down to perfection, especially if perfection can't reasonably be reached.
Using the correct bandwidth setting [link]
One piece of ham radio information we don't seem to talk about much is bandwidth, and maybe rightly so. It's a radio setting and a signal configuration that's important, but by default, most of our radios set that appropriately, and we never concern ourselves with it, so most amateur radio life goes on without us ever being aware of its presence. Still, if you use one bandwidth setting, and attempt to communicate with another station that's on another bandwidth setting, you might sound to the other station like you have a bad cold, or like you're making Donald Duck impressions.

Bandwidth is simply the amount of frequency spread your signal is taking up while talking or the amount of frequency spread your radio is set to listen for. There are two primary bandwidth settings in the VHF and UHF world, where you and I are talking right now, and they're just referred to as narrow and wide. Some radios also include a third setting, but we'll focus on the two primary ones. When you're using your radio to communicate on simplex, as long as you and the other station are using the same bandwidth setting, that should work fine for you. The problem typically exhibits itself only when you're trying to communicate through a repeater. An incompatible bandwidth setting won't hurt your radio; it'll just make you sound funny, that's all.

In Utah, all repeaters are mandated by the Band Plan to use the wide bandwidth setting, meaning that your radio should also be set to the wide bandwidth setting to communicate through repeaters here. However, the policies in other states might differ from what you're used to, and you'll need to be aware of their bandwidth setting requirements before attempting to travel there and use their repeaters. One useful online tool for locating repeaters in a particular location, and discovering their bandwidth requirements, is RepeaterBook.com, which also has a free app you can install on your phone.

As mentioned, the default bandwidth setting for most VHF and UHF radios is for wide. But while programming your radio manually or by software, and you're forced to choose between the two, always select the wide setting, if you're not certain which you really need. When preparing to travel out-of-state, be sure to research the bandwidth settings of the repeaters you intend to contact. This also applies more to HTs, but can apply to VHF / UHF mobile radios as well.

Let's hear from you. Do you have a different opinion or experience concerning your radio's bandwidth setting?
Pitfalls of a receive tone [link]
No doubt you understand the role of a tone, once known as a PL tone, to communicate through a repeater. In fact, most repeaters require them, to prevent possibly interfering with another nearby repeater. To use those repeaters, your radio must transmit a sub-audible tone, which is sent along with your voice. The repeater detetcts the presence of the tone, and activates the repeat function. To make your radio do that, you locate the transmit tone selection in your menu or programming software, and set it to the appropriate tone frequency.

But you might also be aware of a receive tone setting in your radio, and have wondered what that is, and whether it's important to you. In short, it is indeed important to you, but mostly important to avoid. That's because when your radio is set to listen for a receive tone, you won't hear anything that does not send you that tone.

A receive tone is sent by a station to you, to allow you to hear only the station that's sending the receive tone, whether that's a repeater or a simplex station. However, if the other station doesn't transmit a tone, you won't hear anything from it, if your radio's receive tone is set. In fact, you might find that most repeaters do not transmit a receive tone, and again, if your radio expects a receive tone, you won't likely hear much from them.

So, unless you're certain that the other station transmits a receive tone, your radio should always default to not expect a receive tone.

Let's hear from you. Do you have any other thoughts about receive tones?
Is your net ready to go digital? [link]
With the march toward increasingly newer technology, amateur radio has begun to embrace the world of digital communication. Currently, however, digital radio is still in its infancy, leaving many challenges to overcome and questions to answer. Still, it seems to be the wave of the future, so shouldn't we be trying to help each other move to greater technological advancement?

The benefits of digital radio, while still being able to communicate by voice, include the ability to send and receive text messages, email, photos, drawings, and other documents. Some brag of cleaner audio, while others complain that today's digital radio is not as clear as the hype makes it out to be.

Among the challenges and questions, are which digital format we should use, who should be expected to support it, and whether we really have a practical reason to move to digital in the first place. Another is the digital operation itself; that is, quite often a digital communication is either on or off, due to the thresholds set in the radio receiver. This means, while you might be able to hear a scratchy analog signal by listening closer or turning your squelch off, with a digital mode, once the incoming signal drops below the internal threshold, you won't be able to hear it at all.

Communicating by digital radio often requires one to purchase a radio that's capable of a digital mode. These new digital radios can be expensive, but as they become more widely available, they're also becoming less expensive and easier to use.

So, now that you know know a little more about digital radio, is our net ready to make the jump to the digital world? The most common answers to that question seem to be, Not yet or Let's wait and see. Then again, some nets report that they're ready to move partly to digital radio. For example, a sub-section of net members might join a separate net made just for digital radio, but that can seem a little segregated, excluding some good members.

What do you think? Are we ready to go digital? Or have I painted an unfair picture? Let's hear your thoughts.
Be aware of atmospheric inversion [link]
There might come a time when you're traveling up the canyon late some summer afternoon, talking on the radio with a friend, maybe through a repeater. While snaking your way up there, you might hear his voice become noisy, then unintelligible, then it might disappear altogether. You've experienced this before, and know that as you round the next bend, his signal will likely return, and you can resume your conversation. But this time, as you move farther up, you're still not hearing him. You reason that you're simply too far into the canyon to get a good signal.

But, it dawns on you that when you did this same thing yesterday at lunchtime, you could hear your friend really well a lot farther up. As far as you could tell, the only difference between the two events was the time of day. How could the time of day affect your signal this way? Well, it's very possible that your signal was the victim of an atmospheric inversion, also known as a temperature inversion.

An inversion, caused by a layer of cooler air on the ground being trapped by a warmer layer above it, creates a moisture density "boundary" that actually refracts radio signals. This phenomenon can be experienced as the summer sun sets, and the air closest to the ground cools faster than the air above it.

During this dusk inversion, 2-meter signals originating from under the inversion boundary tend to travel farther due to tropospheric ducting, which allows the signals to repeatedly reflect off the ground and the underside of the inversion. By the same phenomenon, 2-meter signals originating from over the inversion (like from on a hill overlooking the valley floor) tend to refract off the inversion and head off into space, while very little of the signal gets through to the ground below.

Inversions are not limited to summertime; they can happen any time of the year. During summer, inversions tend to come and go with nightfall and morning. In winter, however, the inversion tends to remain in place for days at a time. Furthermore, inversions can also occur in more open places, such as valley floors, out in the desert, or even in town, wherever it's possible for cooler air to get trapped under a warm layer.

So, what can you do to mitigate the effects of an inversion? The truth is, aside from keeping on the same side of the inversion layer as your repeater or your contact, not a whole lot. So, simply knowing that this phenomenon exists can be one more helpful tool to understanding how things can go wrong, in case you encounter it.

What about you? Have you ever experienced the propagation effects of an inversion? Let's hear your thoughts.
Working near trees and other vegetation [link] [PDF]
People who have several tall or leafy trees in their yards sometimes wonder whether the plants can interfere with their signals, either transmitted or received. Also, you might have asked before setting up a station in the woods, like for a race or a special event, whether doing so will work in spite of the surrounding vegetation.

On one hand, trees, shrubs, and other vegetation can affect radio signal performance. On the other hand, just how much it affects its ability is density-dependent and frequency-dependent. While radio signals do not seem to be impeded much by wood, it’s attenuated (reduced in signal strength) much more so by moisture content. So, leafy trees will tend to interfere more than a bunch of bare branches, and in wintertime, evergreens tend to absorb radio signals more than other tree types.

If you have a few trees on your property, your VHF and UHF signals are not likely to be affected by them, even if your antenna is installed right on a tree itself. If your station is set up within a forest of trees, your VHF and UHF signal can be affected much more, especially if the trees are covered with snow or fresh rainwater.

If your radio signals are lower in frequency such as in the HF range, the plant life should have little effect on your signals. But running at higher than 1 GHz, especially on microwave frequencies, even sparse vegetation can absorb your signals, producing a profound attenuating effect on them.

If you do discover that your VHF or UHF radio signal has been compromised by vegetation, you can often overcome its effects by installing a better antenna. Rather than relying on a simple whip antenna for your HT, try connecting it to an external half-wave antenna, such as a J-pole, or a mobile antenna set on a ground plane. You can even improve on those by using a colinear vertical antenna. And if that’s still not enough, you might need to use a Yagi antenna, which exhibits high gain, but at the cost of directivity.

You can also get around some vegetation interference by raising your antenna higher and / or increasing your transmit power. Keep in mind that changing your transmit power will do little for your reception. If you find it difficult to get your antenna above the tree canopy, mounting it at a location that’s a little higher up on a nearby hill slope might help your signal tremendously.

Another way to reduce interference imposed by trees and shrubs is by narrowing the bandwidth of your signal. Most VHF and UHF radios have a Narrow bandwidth setting that might prove useful, as long as radios on both ends of the signal use the same bandwidth setting. On an HF rig, using a narrow-band filter can produce like results, such that CW communication can penetrate a forest a lot easier than a similarly powered single-sideband signal.

Have you ever tried working through a bunch of trees? Let's hear about your experience.
Desensitization ("desense") [link] [PDF]
When trying to talk with somebody on the radio through a repeater, and both of you are in the same building, you might have found that you both sound garbled or one can't hear the other at all. If so, you two were probably the victims of a phenomenon known as de-sen-si-ti-zation, or desense for short. It's an issue that can catch an operator off-guard, prompting the person to check the offset, the tone, the squelch level, and other settings that seem to be adjusted correctly.

Desense can occur when a transceiver is attempting to receive a strong signal in the presence of another strong signal on a nearby frequency. For example, say you and a household member both have handhelds that are set to the 146.780 repeater. While you listen on 146.780 MHz, the repeater output, your household member presses the PTT and communicates to the repeater on 146.180 MHz, the repeater input. While your handheld is attempting to demodulate the repeater signal on 146.780 MHz, the other signal from your household member on nearby 146.180 MHz is much closer to your handheld, and much stronger than the repeater signal.

The stronger signal over-powers your radio, causing it to prefer the stronger signal, even though it's off-frequency from the one you're listening to. This can result in you hearing the stronger, off-frequency signal, sounding garbled, and maybe even a little bit mixed with the weaker signal arriving from the repeater. Desensitization is not confined to handheld radios, and can also be experienced by mobile radios in two adjacent vehicles rolling down the highway, both tuned to the same repeater.

Because both the stronger nearby signal and the weaker distant signal of two of the same frequencies don't tend to exhibit this effect, desense is not typically a problem when communicating on simplex. But it can still occur on HF, which is typically only simplex, especially during a contest, in which strong, nearby-frequency signals are competing for your attention with another that you're tuned to. It's just that FM repeaters, and therefore our transceivers, require a much larger bandwidth to communicate, making the problem more obvious.

So, how do you solve the problem of desense? Probably the most immediately easy way is by separating the receiving and transmitting radios by some distance, like a hundred or more feet. If that's not easy or possible, try lowering the output power of the transmitting radio. And if that's not practical, set the receiving radio on reverse, so that it's listening on the repeater input, placing your two radios essentially on simplex with each other.

Anyjthing else you'd like to share regarding desensing? Let's hear from you.

Protocol training topics

Calling CQ on single-sideband [link]
This training is meant for those of you who work single-sideband, which is the voice mode most often used on HF and 6 meters. If your operation is confined to VHF or UHF, you can still glean a lot of good information from these tips, since some contests also involve VHF using single-sideband.
[Note to Net Control (or whomever is presenting this training): call signs listed here as
K-I-7-A-B-C
should be spoken in the training by you phonetically, as in kilo india seven . . ., while call signs listed as
KI7ABC
should be spoken in the training by you in letters, as in K I 7 . . .]
I mention single-sideband because it's not recommended to call CQ on an FM repeater, where you're not trying to attract the attention of somebody who's casually tuning his receiver across the band.

The traditional way to transmit a non-distress call on single-sideband, inviting anybody who might want to chat with you, is by calling CQ:
CQ! CQ! CQ! This is KI7ABC. CQ!
The primary purpose of calling CQ this way is to draw the attention of anybody who might be looking for a contact, but might not be on your frequency. If you talk fast or you don't feel like you're getting enough attention, you might want to add the band name:
CQ 20! CQ 20! CQ 20! This is KI7ABC. CQ 20!
Procedure

• Change to a frequency that's a 1 kHz multiple, such as 7.257 MHz or 7.258 MHz, and avoid 7.2573 MHz, for example
• Listen for a few seconds, to make sure the frequency is not in use (which can be difficult during a contest, but not impossible)
• Start calling CQ
• Acknowledge the responding station phonetically:
  K-I-7-A-B-C, go ahead
  or
  K-I-7-A-B-C, you're 5-9 in Utah
Tips

• If more than one person answers your call, you'll need to work the pileup; listen closely and attempt to distinguish one call sign from the others
• If another person is calling CQ, you're free to respond to his call phonetically:
  K-I-7-A-B-C
• When calling CQ in a contest or Field Day, use the word contest or Field Day in your announcement, along with your call sign in phonetics, to let others know you're inviting responses from those primarily involved in the particular activity, and not a general CQ to everybody:
  CQ contest! CQ contest! K-I-7-A-B-C. Contest!
  or
  CQ Field Day! CQ Field Day! K-I-7-A-B-C. Field Day!
• By the same reasoning, when you hear a station calling with contest or similar, do not waste their time responding, unless you're participating in the contest or event, or want to help them add points to their event, because they're not usually interested in engaging in a casual conversation
• The same goes for an international contact. If you'd like to contact somebody only outside your own country, say CQ DX:
  CQ DX! CQ DX! K-I-7-A-B-C. CQ DX!
• And when you hear somebody call CQ DX from within your own country, do not respond to the invitation

Be the helpful ham
Finally, if you announce CQ contest or CQ DX or similar, and a station who's not participating in your selected event responds, treat the person kindly and with respect. He or she is likely either new to ham radio or to contesting in particular, and would probably appreciate your brief education on what the event is, and how to properly respond, offering them the necessary information to complete the exchange.
No need to always repeat your entire call sign [link] [PDF]
There are times, especially when operating on SSB (single sideband), that a station has a difficult time copying you, for whatever reason. He might have heard your call sign prefix well, but not the rest of it, for example. Does he need to hear your entire call sign again, or just the part he missed? The answer is, only the part he said he missed, unless he specifically asks for your full call sign again.

Let's say your call sign is KI7ABC, and the other station says
keelo india seven alfa something, what was the rest of your call?
At that point, you have a choice. If you state your entire call sign, like
keelo india seven alfa bravo charlie
then he'll be unsure, because he thought he got the first part correctly, but now you're indicating that even the first part was wrong, because the protocol is to only repeat what needs correcting. He believes he heard the first part of your call sign again, since it matches what he had heard before, so he says
keelo india seven alfa, what's the rest of your call?
And if you give your full call sign again, he'll might get a bit frustrated, and give up making the contact with you altogether, because he just couldn't hear you well enough to copy your entire call sign.

To remedy this, only repeat the portion that your contact indicates is the problem. For example, when he says
keelo india seven alfa something, what was the rest of your call?
it's best to only say
bravo charlie, bravo charlie, bravo charlie
and that gives him the ammunition he needs to piece together your call sign correctly:
keelo india seven alfa bravo charlie, QSL?

Now, you need to respond appropriately once again. If you then repeat your call sign, he'll be forced to start over, believing he still got something wrong. If he got it right, the only thing you should say is
roger, roger, QSL
and nothing else.

Your potential contact might ask for a missing numeral by saying
keelo india question mark alfa bravo charlie
Your reply should be
seven, seven
and if he still can't hear it, say
seven, seven, five six seven
and once again, that can help him piece your call sign together correctly.

It's very possible that the other person is running with a little power, and is using a monster beam antenna, so you're able to hear him really well. Psychologically, that situation tends to make us believe that he could hear us as well as we could hear him. But the reason he's asking you to repeat part of your call sign is because your signal is difficult for him to copy you. By only repeating what's asked of you, and not your full call sign, you can prevent confusion and make your exchange a little smoother and less frustrating.
The meaning of numerical signal reports [link] [PDF]
When people ask us on the radio for s signal report, it's perfectly acceptable to say that they sound good, clear, loud, or something a little more technically meaningful. In law enforcement or the military, you might hear them say something like "five-five" or "five-by-five". In the world of amateur radio, we like to say "five-nine" for a perfect signal, but what does that mean?

The numbers come from the RST System which stands for "readability, strength, and tone". Readability means how clearly understandable the sound is being received, and is rated from "one" to "five", with "five" being the clearest. Strength means how strongly the signal is being received by your radio, and has little to do with how it sounds. It's rated from "one" to "nine", with "nine" being the strongest signal detectable by your radio.

Many hams confuse the signal strength with audio loudness, and might offer that report as a reflection of how loud it sounds, and because of sheer usage, we take that confusion for granted. Tone refers to the quality of the Morse code dits and dahs. So, if you're not listening to CW, then you simply omit the tone report, and just use the first two. That way, when you hear somebody say "five-nine", they're reporting the best signal possible.

Another thing about reports is when giving them to people who are talking through a repeater. The "five" can be legit, but the "nine" is simply the strength of the repeater signal. It's probably best to say, "full quieting into the repeater", which means "I can hear you clearly as it's being received by the repeater".

The readability report can only go from "one" to "five", but the signal strength report can go much higher. Even though "nine" is the strongest signal on the RST scale, actual radio signals can be much stronger, and we report them as the number of decibels greater than "nine" or "over nine". If your radio registers a signal ten times the strength of the RST scale, we say it's coming in at ten over nine. If it's a hundred times as strong, we say twenty over nine and so forth.

This, in turn, has forced us to quantify exactly what a "nine" report means, and today we calibrate our S-meters at 6 dB per whole graduation. This means a strength report of S8 is 6 dB over, or four times the strength, of an S7 signal, for example.

Any other thoughts about numerical signal reports? Let's hear from you.
Benefits of upgrading to the Extra license [link] [PDF]
As you ponder upgrading your license, you might have glanced at the ARRL graphical band chart or a similar representation of the license privileges among the bands. You might also have noticed that an Amateur Extra Class licensee possesses only a little more frequency privilege over that of a General Class licensee, and have wondered whether studying for the Extra license is worth that small addition of the spectrum.

Indeed, while the General exam is a little tougher than the Technician exam, the Extra exam is much more difficult than the General exam. The General exam question pool contains just over 400 questions while the Extra pool contains just under 700 questions. Likewise, the General exam presents the candidate with 35 questions while the Extra exam presents 50 questions. So, for a large amount of study and examination, upgrading to Extra seems to provide very little benefit. If that's the case, then what other benefits does upgrading to Extra provide?

The Extra-only frequencies can be useful in several ways. For example, the General portions of some bands can get very crowded during contests, so moving to the Extra-only segment can sometimes offer a little breathing room to make contest contacts or to carry on a normal conversation.

The Extra-only segments are designed technically to reside in the lowest segments of the 80-, 40-, 20-, and 15-meter bands to allow farther reach of signals to the more trusted Extra licensees when conditions for a given band are marginal. Additionally, some of those lower-frequency segments contain what's known as DX windows, or designated frequency ranges where operators agree to focus on international (DX) communication.

On one hand, as an Extra licensee, you no longer need to be chaperoned during Field Day or any other activity in which your club needs to potentially use all amateur frequencies for contacting. On the other hand, you could be the licensee who holds the privileges necessary to allow others to make contacts on any amateur frequency, whether or not they hold a license at all.

There always seems to be a need for more VEs (volunteer examiners) to help out at exam sessions, so General Class licensees are needed to test unlicensed candidates for the Technician license. But once the candidate passes the Technician exam, the VE team must rely on the Advanced or Extra VE to test them further. Holding an Extra Class license removes that restriction and allows you to administer exams of all classes.

One great benefit of upgrading to Extra is the additional knowledge you might have sought about the mysteries of radio science. It turns out that while studying for the Extra Class license exam, you couldn't help but learn many of the concepts you'll be tested on, even though you find yourself memorizing much of the exam pool.

The prestige of the Extra Class license tends to attract people to you, allowing others a degree of confidence in your level of knowledge and experience, and providing you with the opportunity to serve as a mentor, or elmer. With the greater privilege, however, comes greater expectations of knowledge and understanding, and possibly greater skill at teaching the same. The path to an Extra upgrade can help you live up to that expectation.

Any other benefits of upgrading to Extra? Let's hear from you.

Equipment-related training topics

A good solar-powered solution [link] [PDF]
There might come a time when you'll need to leave the comforts of your home for longer than just a day or two. And if you're caught up in a long-term incident, such as an earthquake, you might not have easy access to electrical power for your radio and other (lighting, phone, medical devices) needs for several days. It'll be very convenient, therefore, to have solar power available to you during daylight hours, even when it's cloudy. So, let's explore the kinds of equipment you'll need, to accommodate a basic solar setup.

Your solar equipment should be light-weight, sufficient, reliable, and easy to use. I'd like to add inexpensive, but quality is often compromised as the price of your solar gear goes down, so the best we can usually hope for is a happy medium we can live with. To best achieve those goals, here are some solar solutions that might work for you:

Solar panel
Probably the most important parameter of a solar panel is its output wattage. Other factors, such as weight and rigid or flexible frame are also important, but make sure you get a panel or set of interconnected panels that can provide you with the power you need. For a basic VHF / UHF radio, lighting, and cell phone needs, I recommend no less than a total of 80 watts, preferably 100 watts. A high-quality solar panel will also maintain a high output during cloudy or even overcast days.

Charge controller
A charge controller is a device that regulates the rate of current flow through (and often the voltage level presented to) your battery, to prevent damaging your battery, while providing sufficient charge rate for it. Many modern solar panels have charge controllers built onto them. An MPPT charge controller will charge your battery to its maximum capacity by automatically monitoring that battery's charge level without the need of manual monitoring. Your charge controller input voltage should match the range supplied by your panels, and its output voltage should match the range specified by your battery. Also, I highly recommend one that's capable of handling 20 amps.

Battery
Use a battery that's made for solar, especially a sealed battery for portable use. Because of the daily charge-and-discharge routine, I highly recommend a 12 volt deep-cycle AGM battery. Be sure your battery voltage matches that of your charge controller output. Battery capacity is noted by amp-hours (Ah), meaning that it can deliver a steady current for a limited amount of time. I recommend one that is rated at a minimum of 35 Ah (meaning it can deliver 1 amp of current for 35 hours, or 5 amps for 7 hours, etc.), and preferably more, like 100 Ah. Typically, however, the larger the battery capacity, the heavier it is, although lighter options are being developed all the time.

Connectors
On one hand, the connector of choice between large (home) solar panels is the MC4 connector, but your charge controller might simply require a bare wire for its input from the panel or output to your battery. For easy and quick connection / disconnection, I recommend Anderson Powerpole™ connectors between your battery and everything it connects to, such as your charge controller, power distribution block, and accessories, such as your USB converter, radio, and lighting.

Education
Before jumping blindly into a solar solution, do some reading, watch some videos, and try out some gear. Talk with friends who have gone the solar route, and find out what their experience is, with type of gear, quality, portability, weight, and cost.

Use it
Become acquainted with your gear and its limitations. Repeatedly practice hauling it to some reasonable location out of town, and setting it up. Try charging your phone, running your laptop, or powering your mobile radio and asking for signal reports as you make contacts. Time yourself, to see how quickly you can deploy and set it up in case you really need to. Actually using your solar setup this way will help you understand what it can do and what it can't do, which is exactly the feedback you need for future improvements.
Basic lightning protection [link] [PDF]
As most of you know, there aren't many parts of our country that are immune to lightning strikes. As a result, people who have antennas installed on their roof tops wonder whether they should do something to prevent damage to their equipment from the effects of lightning. On one hand, some hams run to their radios when a storm approaches, and disconnect their coax. On the other hand, if they're away from home, that's not always possible or practical. Should you simply keep your coax disconnected, until you need to get on the air?

Repeater station
If you visit a repeater site, you'll likely find a ham radio a lot like your own, located in a small building. Attached to the radio is a length of coax, that connects it to an antenna, which is typically installed up on a tower, whose base is just feet from the building. Because the tower is on top of a mountain, it gets struck by lightning numerous times throughout the year. So, when a lightning storm approaches the mountain, do you think there's somebody who races up the mountain each time, and disconnects all of the repeater's coaxial cables?

In fact, nobody flies up to the repeater each time it starts raining, that we know of. Instead, a repeater is connected by coax to an antenna and tower that's properly grounded. This proper grounding diverts most of the lightning energy to ground, protecting the repeater and all of its associated gear. Can the same grounding methods be applied to your home station, to protect it from lightning damage? Well, yes, but you really don't need to, or even want to. You don't need to install a commercial-grade grounding system, because chances are, your home will never receive a direct lightning strike. And you don't want to, because the cost of doing so is very high, beyond the reach of mere mortals.

What are the odds?
First, it's much more likely that lightning will strike a few blocks away from you, than right at your house. Is it possible for it to strike your house? Sure it is, but highly unlikely, because your house doesn't offer the cloud much reason to complete an electrical path. Yes, it would be nice to protect your home and all your gear from a direct lightning strike, but in reality what you're trying to protect it from is either a nearby strike or static buildup, which are much more likely.

Second, when lightning does strike nearby, or if static builds up because of wind or blowing dust or moving clouds, that static can collect on your antenna. And once enough charge builds up, that electrical imbalance needs to find a path to ground, and often that path is through your equipment. The object, then, is to give that static buildup a place to go before it reaches that critical level.

Minimal lightning protection setup
Here are some practical and inexpensive things you can do, to apply some basic lightning and static protection into your antenna system:
• Drive two eight-foot-long half-inch ground rods into the dirt about a foot away from your house, one just below your antenna, and the other about half-way around your house to the electrical service box
• Connect a length of 4 gauge or 6 gauge bare copper wire between the two ground rods, then connect another length of 4 or 6 gauge bare copper wire from the electrical service box to the ground rod closest to it
• Connect a length of 4 or 6 gauge bare copper wire from the base of the antenna or its mast (if the ground part of the antenna is electrically connected to the mast) to the ground rod below it
At this point, your grounding system should protect your equipment adequately if your antenna is a J-pole, because the ground on a J-pole is typically higher in elevation than its signal element. If your antenna is any other type, chances are, its signal element will be higher in elevation than the ground portion, leaving the signal side with little or no connection to ground. If or when you're ready to ground the signal portion of your antenna, do this:
• Install a lightning arrester onto the ground rod below your antenna
• Connect a length of coax from your antenna to the lightning arrester, then another length of coax from the other side of the lightning arrester to your radio

There are more things you can do, towards making your antenna system completely lightning-proof, but that's not the purpose of this brief overview. If you really want to install a commercial-grade site, and you have the means to do so, it should be able to weather just about any storm. The basic installation I've described here should provide your equipment with some adequate protection from most typical storms and static charge buildup.
Install a lightning arrester on your coax [link] [PDF]
People who are new to ham radio don't always appreciate the benefit of erecting an outdoor antenna, until others complain about their signals, or until they themselves realize that people can't hear them very well. Some wonder whether putting up an outside antenna will attract lightning. When we encourage people to install an outdoor antenna, one that's above their roofs, however, we should also tell them to ground the antenna coax through a surge protector, also called a lightning arrester.

Lightning is a strange beast, and although it's electricity, it doesn't seem to act the same as the electricity we use from our wall sockets or batteries. We often refer to the kind we generate for running things, as current electricity, while the kind that nature provides as static electricity, even though all electricity follows the same laws of physics. Current electricity is produced by moving electric charges that reside within an electronic band of a metallic atom. They remain in that band until an electromotive force pushes them. Static electricity is produced by friction between insulating materials, such as glass, cloth, rubber, air, a cat, dust, and clouds.

When enough friction occurs, the static begins to accumulate, until the total voltage presented by the difference between the accumulation and a nearby opposite voltage contact, such as the ground, is great enough to overcome the distance (indeed, about 3000 volts per millimeter!) When this happens, the space between the two becomes ionized by the electric field, which creates a temporary and erratic, but effective conducting path between them. When the ionized path is complete, the accumulated charges travel within the ionized path very suddenly, creating a very high temperature discharge, in turn resulting in a very incandescent, blinding flash.

The purpose of a lightning arrester is to route static charge to ground relatively slowly. With one in place, the lightning is less likely to have to discharge quickly. So, will your rooftop antenna attract more lightning? Possibly, but if its coax is fed with a lightning arrester, the discharge will occur much slower than without one, and you might never notice the benefit.

If the water behind a large dam exceeds its rated capacity, the dam could burst, and the resulting torrent could cause quite a lot of desctruction downstream. But if the water was released much more slowly, the damage could be largely avoided. Lightning is deadly and damaging because it's a very quick movement of a lot of static charge. By slowing the rate of this discharge, the damaging effects of lightning can be reduced. A surge protector such as a lightning arrester does just that, and provides a relatively slow drain of the charge, instead of completely blocking the charge until it becomes too large to hold back.

Some people advocate unplugging your coax during every lightning storm, and if that works for them, then I'm happy for them. Those people should keep in mind, however, that if the lightning jumped 500 feet to reach their antennas, the measly six feet of separation made by unplugging the coax is probably not going to stop it, even if the coax end is sitting in a glass jar.

What do you think? Any personal experience with lightning or thoughts about lightning arresters? I'd live to hear from you.
You might want to invest in a large battery [link]
In an effort to be a little more independent from commercial power, we often look for ways to supply electrical power to our devices by other means. Achieving this independence will require us to evetually turn our attention to electrical power storage, and depending on our predicted need, that storage might be substantial. We have a lot of power-hungry devices that require electrical energy, so to narrow down this discussion, let's focus on supplying power to our power-hungry radios, by dividing them into two categories: HTs and others.

Handheld radios
Our HT radios typically require either rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries. It's true that they can be powered by household AC using their charging cradles, but that's neither typical nor recommended. Non-rechargeable batteries are a great source of immediate power, but you need to keep a respectable supply on hand for any long-term use. Rechargeable batteries require periodic recharging, depending on your usage. They can be recharged by using commercial power, which we're trying to be independent of. Your two remaining reasonable options are solar and a big battery. Solar can last almost forever, as long as your demand doesn't require nighttime activity. But if you want continuous, reliable electrical power, you need to purchase a large battery. And the large battery can still be charged by the sun during the day, or by commercial power when it becomes available.

Mobile and desktop radios
Mobile and desktop radios, which often act as base stations, tend to require a lot more electrical power than HTs, and so typically puts them out of the reach of non-rechargeable batteries. We can reasonably supply them the necessary power by a generator, a large battery, or solar, which will still require the large battery. Portable generators are very convenient and are often outfitted with their own inverters, but they can be noisy, and most require access to liquid fuel. While a generator has its advantages, once again, a large battery can supply you the power you need, noiselessly, and solar recharging can make it a sensible choice.

How large is large?
Obviously, how large a battery you'll need, will depend on how much power your radio (and other devices) will require. Assuming the worst case, which means running your HF radio at 100 watts on 50% duty cycle for 20% of the time, you should get a battery that's rated for at least 100 amp-hours. If you know you're only going to power your mobile radio, get a battery that's rated for about 35 amp-hours, but keep your radio set to transmit at 20 watts, unless you really need the higher output power. And the CCA (cold-cranking amps) rating is only a consideration if you want to start a car with it.

Battery types
Assuming the above conditions, your large battery should be an SLA, or sealed lead-acid type, which is spill-proof. Furthermore, your usage could further benefit from the battery being a marine or deep-cycle type. But lead can get very heavy, so if you can afford it, you might consider getting a LiFePO₄ battery instead, with the same rating. Also, your mobile and desktop radios likely require 13.8 volts, but don't be afraid of using 12-volt batteries for them.

Beware of inverters
If you plan to use your large SLA battery to provide AC power through an inverter, keep in mind that many inverters generate RF noise that can interfere with your signal. Also, inverters can be inefficient, wasting a lot of the stored electrical energy as heat. As much as possible, power your radios directly from your large battery, instead of going through an inverter. Wall power adapters are also hugely inefficient, so avoid them unless it's truly necessary.

Let's hear from you. What are your thoughts about getting a large battery?
How much more beneficial is drilling a hole in my car really? [link]
No doubt you've been told countless times that placing an antenna on your car by drilling a hole in its body can give you the best mobile signal. One question that seems to arise periodically is whether it's really worth the benefit over other ways of mounting your antenna. Let's take a look at the most popular mounting methods, and compare.

Drilling options
First, let's make sure we understand what we mean, when we refer to drilling a hole in your vehicle. This hole is typically large enough to fit an appropriate connector type, to allow the connector mount to slip into it and clamp or pinch around the hole in some way. One of the most popular mounts is the NMO mount, which is about 3/4" in diameter, and can be drilled into the center of a metal roof, through the metal bumper, or any sheet metal section of your vehicle, such as the fender, qurter-panel, hood, or trunk lid.

No-drill options
Next, in comparison, there are several vehicle mounting options that do not require drilling a large hole. These include a magnet mount, lip mount, glass mount, and bracket mount. A mag-mount is probably the least invasive, and simply sticks to your steel body anywhere. A lip mount pinches onto a trunk lid or hood by a couple of set screws. A glass mount uses an adhesive to stick to the inside of your vehicle window, and a corresponding piece on the outside opposite the inside piece. A bracket mount is actually drilled into your car body, but under your trunk lid or hood, so that the small sheet metal screw holes are invisible.

How they compare
All of the different vehicle mounting methods work, but with varying degrees of success. You might actually find that, if you're only interested in communicating through local repeaters, they'll all work wonderfully, if they're installed correctly. On the other hand, once you start trying to communicate with more distant repeaters or with a station on simplex, it becomes apparent which mount options work better for you. In fact, you might discover that all of the drilling options, including the bracket mount, work well, even on your bumper, because of the direct connection between your coax shield and your car body or frame.

For the others, unless you have two antennas mounted by two different methods on your vehicle, and you can switch between the two, it might be difficult to make a fair comparison. But in case you have that luxury, move to the point where your simplex signal starts sounding sketchy by one antenna mount, then switch to the other mount, and make note of the difference.

Receive quality
After all the mounting and testing and comparing, one question people tend to ask is whether the antenna mount in question will perform just as well for receiving as it does for transmitting. And due to a principle of physics known as reciprocity, yes, it should, but you'll never really know for certain until you test it.

Conclusion
So, to answer our first question, will drilling a hole in my vehicle reall be that much better than not drilling a hole? Your personal experience might reveal that it really doesn't make much difference, but judging by the experiences of the many who have tried using several methods, drilling a hole will indeed make your mobile voice heard better farther away.

What are your thoughts about drilling a hole in your vehicle?
Is an RF choke necessary? [link] [PDF]
Every so often, you might have seen a photo of a rooftop antenna with a large coil of wire or what appears to be a length of leftover coax under it. That strange coil is known as an RF choke, and might be something you need, if you install an external antenna (one that's attached to your radio through coaxial cable), even if that antenna is inside your house. But what is it, and do you need one? And if you need one, where could you get one?

What it is
Most conventional (dipole-type) external antennas present two conductors, known as antenna elements, to the air, so that during each half of the AC cycle, the transmitter sends an electrical signal to one element, the other element captures the signal, then the signal is returned to the transmitter. But many antennas do not possess this other conductive path back to the transmitter, meaning they have to return the signal some other way. Unfortunately often, that return path is the outer shield of the coax.

When coax is used to transfer the RF energy to the antenna, much of the electrical signal is conducted through the outer-most layer of the center conductor and the inner-most layer of the conductive shield. This is known as skin effect, which becomes more pronounced at higher signal frequencies. The resulting current flowing in the center conductor is always equal and in opposite direction of that flowing through the shield, and is known as differential-mode current.

When the RF signal returns by the coax shield, it will often be carried on the outer-most layer of the conductive shield, meaning that the total coax signal is no longer balanced, but will now have two currents being returned to the transmitter, the extra outside signal known as common-mode current resulting in an interference called shack RF. There are other ways that common-mode current can get into the transmitter, but very commonly through the coax outer shield. This extra current tends to generate local noise in your computer speakers or your neighbor's TV set. It can also sound like a hum, often mistaken for house current AC.

You can reduce the amount of common-mode current traveling on the outer shield of your coax by using an RF choke. The purpose of an RF choke is to suppress or reduce the common-mode current flow in coax to a minimum for the given frequency. There are a variety of different kinds of RF chokes that can be used, depending on frequency, power, and amount of common-mode current to be suppressed. Also, you can either purchase store-bought RF chokes, or you can make them yourself.

Where you can get one
You can create your own RF choke quite easily, depending on the frequency. To make one for 2 meters and 70 cm, tightly (meaning unable to see daylight between the turns) coil six turns of RG-8X coax in an eight-inch diameter. The coil does not need to look perfectly neat, and can have turns overlapping or crisscrossing each other, and will still work perfectly. This geometry is *somewhat* optimized for 2 meters, but will actually be an effective RF inductor for a very wide range of frequencies.

Then again, if the shack RF appears to be excessively strong, or your coax is thick, like with LMR-400, you can still make one yourself, but with a toroidal core instead. If you're using RG-8X, wrap eight to ten turns of the coax around a ferrite toroid. If you're using LMR-400, use an RF isolator in-line instead. The RF choke should be installed as closely as possible to the feed point of the antenna. It does not matter how you install the RF choke or where you mount the coil, as long as it's not next to the antenna radiating element itself. If you make your choke by a different number of turns or a slightly different diameter, it will be just as effective.

Conclusion
So, does your antenna system need an RF choke? It might if people complain about a hum in your signal through an external antenna, or if yours is an end-fed antenna or J-pole. But if you do, it's easy to purchase one or make one of your own.

Ok, let's hear from you. What are your thoughts about RF chokes?
Use Anderson Powerpole™ connectors [link] [PDF]
If you're ever in a hurry, and grab a radio plus the necessary gear, then start setting up, only to discover that your DC power cables have different connector types from each other, or do not mate because of gender mis-match, you're not alone. One way to make your DC power connections just a little simpler is to agree on a single, reliable standard that connects and releases quickly, and installs easily. One standard recommended by both local ARES groups and the ARRL is the Anderson Powerpole (or Powerpole for short), which is very convenient.

What it is
A Powerpole connector is a two-conductor, snap-together pair of shaped metal tabs located in a plastic housing, often color-coded to indicate electrical polarity. They're gender-neutral, meaning that there is no separate plug and socket; each connector is both a plug and a socket that can mate with any other connector. Also, Powerpole connectors are inherently safe because they present no exposed electrical parts that can be contacted by a person or anything near the connector.

For those of use who are hobbyists or experimenters, the Powerpole connector is convenient if you need to repeatedly connect and disconnect your DC power, such as your battery or other power supply, to your radio, or other devices. For the many who are involved with portable radio work, such as emergency communication, field work, or even instructional demonstrations, this convenience can be a real time-saver, knowing that you can count on any of your equipment being able to connect its power requirement to any source, without worrying about connector types.

Installation
You can purchase Powerpole connectors for generally three wire gauges, named for the current-carrying capabilities of the intended wires, the 15-amp, 30-amp, and 45-amp sizes. In spite of their different wire and tab sizes, their housing exteriors are all the same size, and connect with each other. You can also purchase a 75-amp size, but their large housing cannot be connected to the housings of the other three. While you can connect any appropriate wire to a Powerpole connector, it's convenient to use zip cord, which is a two-conductor pair of stranded wires for your needed gauge, easily identifiable by their characteristic red-and-black insulation.

When you install an Anderson Powerpole connector pair onto a pair of wires, it's recommended that you crimp the tab onto the wire, and not solder it. Once you crimp the tab onto the wire, you can install the housing vertically, with the positive over the negative, or horizontally, with the positive on one side or the other. The current convention is to install them horizontally, with the positive on the left if you look into the connector end, and with the tab cups facing downward. The housings typically come in different colors, and it's recommended that you use red for positive and black for negative.

Where you can get them
You can purchase Anderson Powerpole connectors from Amazon, eBay, or at the source, from Powerwerx.com. Just make sure the conductor size matches the gauge of wire you intend to install them on. And if you don't already have a pair, be sure to purchase the Powerpole connector crimp tool, but beware of ill-fitting imitations by also purchasing them from Powerwerx.

What do you think about Anderson Powerpole connectors? Let's hear from you.
The "ish" of ham radio [link] [PDF]
Several years ago, a ham mentioned that he had homemade a copper J-pole. But he said that he accidentally cut one of the elements about a quarter-inch too short, and asked whether that boo-boo will affect his antenna's performance. I told him that, even if he had tripled that mistake, it would work perfectly. My friend was puzzled, because the drawing he read specified element lengths down to sixteenths-of-an-inch. Furthermore, when he got it on the air, he received nothing but perfect signal reports, even on simplex into the next county. How was it that the plans for the antenna were so detailed, yet still worked, and worked well, even after its actual dimensions deviated from the specifications?

Precisely
To be sure, there are indeed times in which some degree of preciseness is required in amateur radio. But the reason many designs and instructions contain such detail for building stuff is to help get our dimensions within the ballpark, and then it's up to us to fine-tune them for actual use. In other words, ish, which in our context means roughly or close enough. This means most of the parameters we can control, do not require the fine detail we often imagine.

Line-of-sight
For example, many will tell you that VHF is useful only by line-of-sight; that is, only when the two stations are within sight of each other. Yet experience will show that line-of-sight does not always guarantee a clean communication, and a lot of contacts can be made away from the line-of-sight. So, does VHF require line-of-sight? Not always.

Power supply voltage
Can we use a power supply or battery listed at 12 volts, when our equipment specifies a requirement of 13.8 volts? Most of the time yes, because our equipment voltage requirement is often accompanied by a tolerance, typically around 15%, and 12 volts is within that tolerance for 13.8 volts. So, will your 13.8-volt equipment work with a 12-volt supply? Pretty much.

1.0:1 SWR
Many seem to always be looking for that elusive 1.0:1 SWR in their antennas. An SWR greater than 2.0:1 might force your transceiver to reduce its power output, so you should try and keep it below that level. But, as long as the SWR is low enough to keep the transceiver's output power amplifier from reducing its output power, will an SWR of 1.9:1 work for you? Sure it will.

Radials
A few HF ham operators get caught up in the confusion about radial and counterpoise lengths. Some of them go to great pains to cut them to precise fractions of wavelengths for each intended band, when in reality, no such precision is required. If you install radials, cut them all the same length if possible, at least a quarter-wavelength of the lowest frequency you plan to use. For example, if your vertical supports 80, 40, 20, and 10 meters, install eight to sixteen radials, and cut all of them about 66 feet long each. If you need to cut a few shorter, that'll still work just fine.

And what if you can only install 13 radials? Or what if you have to bend some of the radials around an obstacle? Or what if your yard is just too small? Is there any hope of you being able to work distant stations under those conditions? Of course.

Car antenna placement
If you were to install an antenna on your car, you're likely told that you should you stick it right in the middle of the roof. That's good, if it's possible, but sometimes there are obstructions, such as roof ribbing, side air bags, and a moon roof. Will your antenna still work if it's not located in the dead center of your roof? Of course it will.

Antenna orientation
And if your antenna orientation is a few degrees off, will that affect your signal performance? Probably not.

Dipole height
You've also been told that you must get your 40-meter dipole at least 66 feet above ground, to work effectively. Will it work if you can only get it up 50 feet? You bet. Or will your NVIS antenna work if it's a little too low-to-the-ground? Quite possibly.

Operating behavior
If you don't speak very loudly, or if you have an accent, or a mild speech impediment, will those keep you from being an effective ham radio operator? Probably not. Or what if you're a little shy, and hesitate, and trip over your words...should I stay off the radio? Absolutely not!

Let the facts speak for themselves
So, in spite of precisely engineered and calculated directions, it's still possible for you to compromise on some measurements, yet work ham radio effectively. Many of us have installed imperfect antennas, using imperfect feed lines, imperfect radials, imperfect power supplies, and imperfect radios, with less-than-perfect operating habits, and yet enjoy amateur radio about as much as the ham with the finest setup.

What do you think about the "ish" of ham radio? Let's hear from you.
There's probably nothing wrong with your radio [link]
When an operator gets hold of a ham radio for the first time, the buttons, knobs, menus, and myriad settings can be intimidating. What if I touch the wrong thing and mess up my radio? The truth is, they're easy to get wrong, and the radio's manual might not always be as helpful as you'd like it to be. You or your friend might just be one mouse click away from sending the allegedly defective radio back to the manufacturer.

Well, before you return your radio, let's see whether it really needs to be swapped out. It turns out that, when a licensed operator seems to have discovered a problem with his or her transceiver, the problem is more than likely something else. Because radios are physical devices, they have lifetimes, and so they do go bad, but experience shows that examining the symptoms a little closer can more often reveal a problem elsewhere.

So, before taking the time and pain to return your transceiver, here are some things that you can look into first, that can make it only seem like your radio has bitten the dust:
• Your radio has a receive tone set, meaning it won't receive any signal that's not accompanied by the specified tone
• Your radio might be off-frequency or is missing the repeater tone or does not have the correct offset or correct shift direction
• Its battery could be on its last leg; if you've just recently charged your battery, it's possible that your charger is defective
• The antenna might be disconnected or loose
• If your antenna is connected by coax, one of your connectors might be damaged or corroded
• You might be operating from a difficult location, such as in a building with metal walls or studs (many newer homes have aluminum siding or stucco, which can make strong shields against your signals)
• Your antenna location might be too low to the ground, or even in your basement
• If you're operating HF, it's possible that your transceiver squelch is turned on; if you're operating VHF, your squelch could be set too high
• Also with HF, your RF gain might not be set correctly, or your microphone gain might be set too high
• If you're attempting to communicate through a repeater with another operator from within the same building as him, you could be desensing each other
• Your little microphone hole could be blocked
• Your transceiver output power might not be set high enough
• Finally, the problem might not be on your end at all, and your friend on the other end might be experiencing one or more of the abovementioned issues.

This list doesn't include everything that can go wrong with your communication, but does give you a few things to examine before deciding that your radio has fallen into disrepair. Once again, it is possible for your transceiver to lose its life or become damaged, but before you throw in the proverbial towel, give your investment the benefit of the doubt, and make sure you've eliminated possible error sources elsewhere first.

What do think? Have you encountered a defective radio?
How to test your HT [link] [PDF]
If you've ever suspected that there might be something wrong with your HT (handheld transceiver), you might also have wanted a way to test it and be sure it's working as it should be. Seems pretty simple; just turn it on, push the PTT, and ask for a signal report on the air. But, it can be difficult to know that your radio is working if nobody answers you. Here are a few things you can do, to help you be sure, not necessarily in any order:

Set yourself up for success
• Ensure your battery is fully charged
• Check that your radio menu settings can be changed and set
• Make sure you don't have a receive tone set
• If you're using a Baofeng HT, be sure its squelch settings are correct, which can only be set by computer; they don't come from the factory properly pre-set, so it'll be up to you to get them set up, or your HT won't receive as perfectly as it should
• If you're going to transmit to a repeater, be sure the offset, shift direction, and tone are set correctly
• Be sure your HT is not on reverse
• Start out by using a good antenna, one that's better than the stock antenna your HT came with
• Arrange for a friend to listen for you and let you know on the air how you sound
When you making a test transmission
• Turn on your HT and go ahead and call out for a signal report; avoid using "CQ" or "break" or "testing" (if you use the word "testing" it's understood that you don't want to be disturbed by a reply while you're making a test transmission)
• Be sure your volume is turned up sufficiently to hear somebody answer you
• If you transmit into a repeater, you should be able to notice that your frequency changes when you press the PTT, and then you should be able to hear the repeater's courtesy tone or a squelch tail afterwards
• You can listen for your own transmission by using a second radio to listen to, or by EchoLink if you have that set up
• There might be a nearby VHF or UHF WebSDR you can transmit into, then hear yourself on your computer
• Listen for a reply, for another operator, for the repeater, to yourself; but listen

What you're after here is not how well you sound, but whether you can be heard at all.

Any other ideas about how to test your HT? Let's hear from you.
Be careful when using a long HT antenna [link] [PDF]
If a newer operator has difficulty hearing others or being heard on an HT, there are a number of remedies the person can try out, to improve handheld performance. One of them is to install a larger or longer antenna, which is a great suggestion, but a long HT antenna has at least one concern that should be considered, and that's the strain it can place on your radio antenna connector.

The amount of torque and stress a long antenna can place on your HT's internal circuit board can be enough to crack the circuit board right at the antenna connector, especially with today's tiny SMA connectors. If you use a quarter-wave antenna, such as a Signal Stick or a Nagoya, its length or weight will not likely overburden your HT. But a half-wave antenna, such as a Smiley telescopic or ABBREE tactical, can place a large amount of stress on your HT's circuit board if you don't use it carefully.

A good way to use a longer HT antenna while relieving some of the strain due to the antenna length or weight is by cradling the HT in your hand, such that your palm is holding the HT body while your index finger and thumb are supporting the weight of the antenna at its base. Another way to help support your longer antenna is to install a washer or other wide mount between the antenna base and your HT, so that when the antenna sways, its base will remain rigid with the HT body.

Another way to improve the reception and transmission of your HT is by connecting it to a rooftop antenna by means of coax. But this also poses a strain on your HT circuit board by excessive sideways tugging on your connector as you move around while your antenna remains stationary. As much as possible, try and remember to hold still while using your HT in this way.

So, using a longer antenna is a great way to overcome signal difficulties with your HT, as long as you understand the strain it can place on your little radio. If you're careful, the larger antenna can work well for you while keeping your radio safe.

What are your thoughts about using a long HT antenna?

Other training topics

Decibels [link] [PDF]
A number of applications in amateur radio use decibels to express a relationship or change in value. These include antenna gain, feed line loss, noise, amplifier boost, signal strength, and more. But to many of us, decibels seem a little mysterious, or at least a little outside our experience, and so we hesitate when using them, if we understand them at all.

A decibel is basically a logarithmic comparison between two values. So, when we add or subtract in decibels, we are actually multiplying or dividing the values. Let me explain, using the two decibel values that might be the most important ones we tend to use. These are 3 dB and 10 dB.

When a signal doubles in strength, we say it increased by 3 dB. Negative 3dB therefore means that its strength was cut in half. When signal strength increases ten-fold, we say it increased by 10 dB. Negative 10 dB therefore means that its strength is one-tenth what it was at the start. And that's it.

You might find that many dB values are made from these two. For example, if my antenna has a gain of 6 dB, it's able to boost my signal by 3 dB plus 3 dB, or in other words, it can double the signal, then double it again. So, an increase of 6 dB is a two times two equals four-fold signal boost by my antenna.

Two more simple examples. If I'm comparison-shopping and find an antenna advertising a 12 dB gain, how much will that boost my signal? Well, 12 dB equals 3 dB plus 3 dB plus 3 dB plus 3 dB, which equals two times two times two times two, or a sixteen-fold increase. But if a competitor antenna brags a 13 dB gain, how much greater will that one boost my signal? 13 dB equals 10 dB plus 3 dB, which equals ten times two, or a twenty-fold increase.

From these, you can easily calculate antenna gain, signal loss, and a lot more. So, if I have a radio transmitting 100 watts on a particular frequency, how much power will my antenna put out? The output power of my transceiver is called PEP, or peak envelope power. Say my antenna advertises a wonderful 9 dB, with respect to a dipole, which we call dBd. But let's say my coax loses 3 dB of my signal, due to its type and length at my frequency of choice. This means my antenna will output 100 watts minus 3 dB plus 9 dB, or 100 watts plus 6 dB, or in other words 100 watts plus 3 dB plus 3 dB, or 100 watts times two times two, equals 400 watts at that frequency! By the way, we call this ERP, or effective radiated power.

A little off-topic, but where did that extra 300 watts come from? The answer is that the antenna only appears to be putting out 400 watts, because that's the definition of gain, the focus of the power you do have, in one direction more than another, much like a flashlight reflector dish concentrating light more in one direction.

Any thoughts about decibels? Let's hear from you.
Using the WebSDR [link] [PDF]
As a new General Class ham, you might have discovered that it can be a little challenging to make single sideband contacts on HF. One of the difficulties might be that it's often hard to hear the other stations, due to all the noise, even if your signal is being picked up well by them. Perhaps a stronger pair of ears could help.

That stronger pair of ears is now available in the form of what we call a WebSDR, meaning a software-defined radio that's available to internet users. Somewhere in a distant land, one or more benevolent individuals has taken the time and expense to erect a large receive antenna and provide access to that antenna through some software that you and I can use by simply getting online to its website. It just so happens that in Utah we have one of the most widely used WebSDRs in the nation, partly because of its large amateur coverage.

Here's how a WebSDR can benefit you
• You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a huge antenna (or any antenna at all, for that matter) that can bring in the entire world to your shack
• In fact, anybody who has internet access can use the WebSDR free-of-charge
• Even though the WebSDR is receive-only, its omnidirectional receive pattern allows you to pick up distant signals almost without regard to direction of origin
• One useful aspect of the WebSDR is the unique ability to listen to what you sound like as you're transmitting from your own station, in case people complain of distortion or other issues from your signal, for example. This also allows you to test your antenna or compare different antennas you might be experimenting with.
• Viewing the WebSDR online can give you an idea of band conditions. If its waterfall shows few to no conversations taking place, chances are the conditions are not favorable for SSB on that band.
• Instead of calling out and asking whether a frequency is in use, you can see right awa that it might be in use, although it's still a good habit to verbally ask anyway
• If your station is plagued by noise, whether that's from your home or from a neighbor's solar inverter, the WebSDR will not likely be affected by the same noise problems
• The WebSDR allows you to record the audio you hear on it, so you can play it back at another time at your leisure
Tips on how to use the WebSDR
• If you find a station that reports they have a good copy on you, but you could hardly hear them, turn down the volume (labeled "AF") on your own rig all the way, then locate the same frequency on the WebSDR.
• You can drag the waterfall right or left to see what kinds of signals are being picked up the WebSDR antenna. While hovering over the waterfall, you can also expand and contract your viewing region by scrolling your mouse wheel.
• When somebody approaches your phone or computer, you can click Mute to silence the audio or drag the volume slider to the left to better hear your guest.

Get to the Northern Utah WebSDR by going to sdrutah.org any time of day. Its resources can be used free-of-charge. More than 170 WebSDRs have been installed world-wide, most of them accessible to anybody with an internet connection. A complete listing of the WebSDRs can be found at websdr.org

Do you have anything to share about using the WebSDR?

Even more training nets

Equipment topics

You might want to use an ear piece or head phones [link]
Admit it...your spouse doesn't like it when she has to listen to your friends call out to you on your little HT with that irritating, government-sounding audio. So you take it into the next room, where the signal might be sketchy, or outside where it's freezing cold. But to communicate, you need to hear the other person talk to you. And if that other person has a soft voice, is talking too far from his microphone, or has a staticky signal, you find yourself turning up the volume and running your family out of your house.

What you need is something that will let you hear the other person, but that silences your radio so that your family can't hear the people on the other end. There are several things you can purchase, that will fit the bill, like headphones, earphones, a head-piece, and earbuds. Problem is, unlike regular stereo equipment, you can't always go to Walmart and purchase what you need. More often than not, you need to get an ear piece that has a plug, maybe even a double-plug, that fits only your radio model.

Ok, so if others don't want to hear you, simply take it outside, right? Well, if you're able to brave the shivering cold, the better signal will help the other person hear you, but you might have a more difficult time hearing him, because of all the outdoor noise, from cars on the street, from people, and from the breeze. An ear piece can focus all the audio you want to hear from your radio into your head, often in spite of surrounding noise, while still taking advantage of a good location.

But just as importantly, you really should get an ear piece for your radio, to help free up your hands if you're serving during an incident. With an ear piece, you can usually hear the other person on the radio pretty well, without forcing you to get the unit close enough to your ear to hear it, possibly dropping it on the sidewalk. Just attach your radio by a belt clip to your pants, your vest, or backpack, and then you can move the weight of your unit from your hand to your body.

Some ear piece options to consider include those with a speaker and microphone combination, those with a handy PTT switch, maybe near your head, or those that support VOX, or voice-activated transmit. One I like is a speaker-microphone that also has an antenna connection, placing my antenna above my shoulders, and the speaker-microphone on my lapel. Of course, the drawback to speaker-microphones is that people around you can still hear the other person, and you might still be plagued by street noise if you take it outside.

Purchase an ear piece that has a plug or connector made for your particular radio. Clip your radio to your clothing or vest. Route the ear piece wiring under your vest and over to your radio, such that your head is able to move freely, and your hands can move around without getting tangled in the wiring. Test it, then test it again. With this kind of setup, you'll feel a little more free to help injured victims, while being able to communicate.
An external speaker might help [link] [PDF]
Your radio likely came outfitted with a good built-in speaker, to let you hear the operators on the opposite end and other sounds. If you and others nearby want to hear what your radio's receiving, then your little speaker is probably more than adequate for your needs. Still, there seem to be times when it's better to listen to what's coming across your radio loudly or in a more naturally sounding voice. For that, you might think about getting hold of an external speaker to do the job.

An external speaker is one that you can attach or plug into your transceiver, to modify the sound or place or direct the sound somewhere other than straight out from your radio. On many mobile or HF base radios, the internal speaker is mounted such that it points straight up in the air, or worse, straight down onto the table. This positioning often makes the audio sound muffled or quiet. Also, the typically small size of their internal speakers can make the audio sound tinny or enclosed in a can.

You don't need to purchase anything expensive for your external speaker. Of course, you can get a nice speaker that appears to complement your radio look or style if you want to, but a cheaper, aftermarket one will perform the same if you don't care as much about how it looks. You can often find good-quality external speakers at a local thrift store for less than ten dollars. Be sure each is labeled with an "8-ohm" impedance rating.

You'll likely need to attach your choice of mono, not stereo, connector on the wires extending from the speaker, since most modern transceivers are outfitted with mono audio jacks. For your handheld radio, it might require a little research on your part to find out what kind of external speaker is appropriate for it, due to its unique connector type. One way to solve that problem is to purchase an inexpensive speaker-microphone, cut off the microphone, and attach the correct wires to your external speaker.

The wooden box that your external speaker is mounted in can help your received audio sound deeper and richer. And you can point your external speaker in any direction you wish, like toward some students for whom you're trying to demonstrate your station setup. During times like at Field Day, an external speaker allows you to share your experience with nearby listeners in a slightly noisy environment.

What are your thoughts about an external speaker?
Storing liquid or pressurized gas fuel [link]
In the interest of preparedness, it might have occurred to you that you'll need to store liquid or gaseous fuel for your generator, your RV, your lights, your camp stove, and other appliances. Some of the fuel we might want to store includes gasoline for our generators, butane and propane for heaters and camp stoves, alcohol, lighter fluid, and white gas. While other kinds of fuel, such as wood and Sterno, have their issues to consider, liquid fuel can be problematic if it's not stored properly. Safety is perhaps the greatest concern, but there are others.

Because most liquid and gaseous fuels are quite flammable, safety tops our list of worries when considering how to store it. Be sure to store fuel away from open flames or within proximity to the very appliances it needs to supply, or even their igniters. Because of how heavy a five-gallon can full of gasoline is, it's both tempting and convenient to set it right next to your generator, but that's also a dangerous practice.

Storage safety also means keeping liquid and gaseous fuels away from children and pets. A curious kid can often find ways to get into your fuel containers more quickly than a master jewel thief. If you can't easily secure them on the floor, you might need to raise them above their reach; that'll likely be a pain in the neck for you, but that small inconvenience might just save the life of a young one.

Some fuels, such as gasoline, should not be stored for long periods, because they can self-transform into chemicals that can damage your motors or appliances. If you plan to store gasoline, find a way to use it up before allowing it to sit around for six months or longer. Also, your gasoline engines, such as those on your generator, should be run at least every three or four months. This helps preven the fuel from sitting inside and clogging the components that come in contact with the gasoline, such as the fuel line or carburetor.

Most liquid fuels are petro-chemical, making them excellent solvents for plastics and other materials made of synthetic fibers. When they come in contact with synthetic fabrics, such as carpeting, clothing, or shelving, your fuel can dissolve them and make a mess. Be sure to separate your fuel cans from these synthetics by a fuel-safe shield, such as a catch basin, a pallet, or shelving. And after coming in contact with any liquid fuel, be sure to wash your hands with soap before touching your clothing.

Check periodically for leaking. Most fuel containers, especially metal ones, are very well-protected from leaking. Still, leaking propane and butane bottles happen. If left uncheck, a leaking fuel bottle can poison your family, or worse. But PLEASE don't go checking for the leaks by using a match! Use your ears and your noise, and if you sense the odor, remove the container immediately.

Let's hear your thoughts. Have I missed anything?
Head lamps [link]
While preparing to serve at one of the local scout camps as an assistant scoutmaster one day, I purchased a head lamp that I thought would be much better than the dim battery-operated table lamp I had used the year before. It was advertised with "5000 lumens" emblazoned across the top of the package, which was the highest I had seen up to that time. At the end of that first day of camp, I pulled out my new head lamp and turned it on. What I discovered was that the light was so bright, I couldn't see much of anything, for the whitewash. And it didn't have a lower-intensity setting, so my new head lamp ended up being nearly useless.

A head lamp is a wonderful tool, because it frees your hands while illuminating something of interest, such as a notepad you're scribbling on, a hiking trail, or a dangerous obstruction ahead. So, what kinds of features are meaningful in a head lamp that's suited for your needs?

Usable light
Today's head lamps nearly all use LEDs instead of light bulbs, so they're much lighter and use much less energy for even more light. Therefore, one of our first head lamp concerns tends to be its brightness, measured in lumens. You need to either purchase a head lamp that can give off your needed amount of light, or can be adjusted to various intensities, and avoid the problem I experienced at scout camp.

Head lamp run time can give you an idea of how long it can deliver usable light. The old standard measured how long your light lasted until its intensity is reduced to that of usable light. The new standard uses ten percent of a light's original brightness as the end of usable light. So, if you find two similar headlamps with a big difference in run times, one of them might simply not be using the new standard just yet.

Some newer head lamps use what's known as regulated output, meaning that, rather than allowing the light to dim with reduced remaining charge, the brightness remains fairly constant. The advantage, of course, is consistent lighting during its life. The obvious disadvantage is that, when the batteries fall below the regulated threshold of charge, the light turns off without warning, potentially leaving you scrambling to replace batteries in the dark.

Features
Today's head lamps can run on rechargeable batteries or alkaline batteries, which are not rechargeable. Lithium and NiMH batteries tend to perform better than alkalines in cold weather, but they tend to lose their charge when sitting idle, while alkalines can sit for years without losing their edge. And along with battery variety comes weight, which is quite a concern for many, and tend to be heavier with longer-lasting batteries. Some heavier head lamps are intended for specific applications, such as climbing or search-and-rescue, rather than social or routine adventures.

Other features might include the following:

• water resistance, important if you plan to hike in the rain at night
• shock, important if you climb or you often impact your light accidentally against passing objects
• tilt, allowing you to point your light in an important direction
• switch lock, to prevent accidentally switching on while pressed in your backpack
• a red light mode, which can illuminate objects ahead of you, while preventing your pupils from shrinking the way white light does
• narrow and wide beam selection, important if you're hiking a long, narrow path or doing close-up repair work, another feature that could have been useful to me at scout camp

Finally, if you hesitate to use head lamps because they might be bulky or mess up your hair, keep in mind that their purpose is often as much for others (like Search and Rescue) to see you, as it is for you to see nearby objects.

Any of your own thoughts on head lamps? Let's hear from you.
Buyer be aware [link] [PDF]
Shopping online for ham radio gear can save you a ton of money, or it can sink your hard-earned cash into things you might not need or understand. So, arming yourself with a little knowledge can go a long way toward making a winning purchase.

If you're looking to purchase new, be sure to buy it from a reputable store or dealer. You can typically trust ham radio gear purchases from Ham Radio Outlet, Gigaparts, Ham City, or R and L. If you have problems with the purchase or need to return it, they'll often work with you to keep you as a happy customer. If you shop on Amazon or eBay for new items, be sure you can tell whether the seller has a high rating and a good history of satisfied customers.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when making transceiver purchases:
• If the rig is an HT, make sure it comes with the charger, plus a battery that can hold a full charge; if it's a mobile or base, make sure it comes with the DC power cable to an appropriate connector
• If the unit is an HF rig, make sure it comes with a mic and working mic cord; if it's a mobile, both mic and mounting bracket
• Make sure it's not been used or stored in a smoking or pet environment, if that's important to you
• Might be good to know whether the rig was ever installed in a vehicle, exposed to physical shock or inclement weather, or has ever been modified in any way
• If it has a digital display, be sure it has no lines on the display and that the entire face backlights; in other words, no bulbs are burnt out

Here are some tips for purchasing other kinds of equipment:
• If you're looking at an antenna, be sure you know whether its gain is listed in dBd or dBi, if gain is important to you; if it's listed as simply “dB”, you have to assume it's dBi
• When purchasing a power supply, be sure you know whether it's a linear or a switching power supply; switching power supplies tend to be lighter and less expensive, while linear power supplies tend to present a cleaner signal and might provide a higher amount of current
• The success rate of purchasing used coaxial cable or other types of feed liine, such as ladder-line, is fairly low; buy brand new instead
• If the price seems unusually low, be aware that it might be listed as-is or in other words, not working, or for parts only
• Most of the time ads that say, I'm not a ham, and I don't know much about this equipment my spouse left behind are telling you the truth; however, once in awhile it really means, This equipment does not work at all, but I want to sell it to you at half the working price
• A photo is worth a thousand bucks, especially if it shows the unit in operation, and not just a stock photo, or if it shows signs of damage and severe weathering not mentioned by the seller

So, the point is, buyer be aware. Be careful what you shop for and how it's being presented to you. It's your money, so you have the right to be skeptical of deals that don't give you enough detail to help you feel comfortable with the purchase, or sound just a bit too good to be true.

Maybe you've encountered some tips I haven't listed. Let's hear from you.
Dust on your equipment [link] [PDF]
Not long ago, a local ham asked for help to figure out why her radio signal doesn't get good reports anymore. Turns out, her coax connector that plugs into her radio was coated in dust, so once we cleaned off both connectors, she was back in business. Seems that she and her husband had recently installed some cabinetry in the room where her coax laid disconnected, allowing the drywall mud dust to settle on everything in the small space.

Dust is a common nuisance that typically doesn't require constant attention, so its presence is often overlooked, sometimes leading to less-than-favorable effects on your equipment. We lead busy lives, and playing with our radio equipment is not likely something we do daily, so an undesirable layer of dust tends to make its home on our expensive gear as a result. Often, that dusty layer is only an eyesore, and gives your equipment a slightly vintage appearance, but that same dust can also damage your equipment.

Probably the most common problem with collecting dust is its effects on radio displays. You can easily wipe the dust collected on your display, so that you can see your little screen once again, but that actually causes another problem. As you wipe the dust off a display, you might not realize just how abrasive the dust is, and indiscriminately scratch your display with each wipe, eventually rendering the soft plastic (or even glass!) face to become increasingly unreadable. To more gently remove dust from a display, use a slightly damp cotton cloth. Not a tissue, not a paper towel, and certainly not your finger.

Dust can harm your radio equipment by collecting on air vent or fan openings, preventing proper ventilation, leading to premature equipment failure by overheating. Instead of wiping or dismantling your fan or vent openings, try vacuuming out the dust.

Finally, dust is typically non-conductive, and when deposited between contacts, can create partially open connections. like in the above example. However, dust can also contain metallic or partially conductive materials. When deposited across components, it can actually create a mild short, which can route too much electrical current into the wrong path, possibly resulting in component failure or even a fire.

So, does all this mean you need to keep your equipment perfectly dust-free? Of course not, but it might be wise to occasionally check for excessive dust on surfaces whose appearance or operation might be affected, then clean them appropriately. It might not hurt to keep your radio gear in a dust-free container or under a dust cover.

Any other thoughts about dust hazards? Let's hear from you.
What to keep dry when operating outdoors [link]
Occasionally we might find ourselves operating our equipment outside, often exposed to the elements. Fortunately, some of our gear is water-resistant or even weather-proof, but not all of it's protected from a rainy day. So, which pieces of our apparatus should we keep from getting wet? We're trying to identify which pieces of equipment should be kept out of the weather; how to keep them dry will be left to you and which thing you're trying to keep dry.

If you're using coax outside, be sure to keep your connectors covered or dry, because once water has had time to work its way in, it can swell the jacket or dielectric, especially if it gets frozen.

Many of our handheld and other radios have paper cone speakers built into them, and they can be destroyed by water. If you use an external speaker connected to your transceiver, the same thing could happen to it. The same goes for your hand microphone, if you use one; they typically are not weather-proof, and should be kept dry.

Batteries tend to be ok to get wet, but it's still best to keep their terminals from shorting out due to rainwater, especially if they're Lithium batteries. Also, keep your generator dry if at all possible, by placing it on a flat, raised platform and by keeping a tarp over it without shutting off its oxygen. Then, drip-loop the power cords to it, to prevent rainwater from following the cords down to your generator.

While it's probably alright for most solar panels to be placed out in the rain, try and keep your solar charge controller from getting wet. Some newer charge controllers are made to get wet, but many are not, and even a little water can destroy your controller.

How about yourself? Is it important to keep yourself dry while outside operating your radio? There are three reasons for you to stay relatively dry, even if you enjoy being out in a little rain shower. 1) If you transmit on a handheld radio with your wet hands touching the charging terminals on back, you might feel a little shock from it. 2) If your body or your hair gets wet while you're exposed to the elements, you risk mild hypothermia. 3) If it's raining on you, there's a good chance that you're also exposed to lightning. Even if you don't hear thunder right away, it doesn't take long for a lightning storm to gather and pose a danger to you, since it might take you more than a couple of minutes to take your equipment down and out of the rain.

Other, non-radio gear might also require your weather-proofing attention, such as writing paper, toilet paper, electric appliances such as lights, and your phone.

Did I miss anything? What else should we keep dry?
Avoid brand bias [link]
One of the first decisions presented to a newly licensed ham operator is the choice between which radio to purchase. Often, the prospective buyer has no idea which one is better suited for his or her needs than another. The disadvantage, of course, is that the operator might end up with a radio that's not right for the intended usage or costs too much for the few features the ham really needs. The advantage, however, is that the prospective buyer doesn't have any preconceived bias toward one brand of radio over another.

We humans are funny beings, because our equipment purchase decisions are easily influenced by our friends, by advertisements, and even ourselves. And when we do make the purchase, we might find that, instead of making an informed purchase, we often buy stuff based on emotion, rather than accurate information. For example, once you purchase a Yaesu radio, and it seems to work well for you, you tend to be more inclined to buy a Yaesu radio for your next purchase, a tendency known as brand bias. To a point, this bias is unavoidable, because a positive experience can reinforce a purchasing direction.

You might have heard a person say, "I'm an Icom man myself," indicating that he will likely only purchase equipment made by Icom. While Icom manufactures many good products, this kind of closed-minded or blinded purchasing can lead the person to miss out on good products made by other manufacturers, or worse, pass on his bias to others that heard him make that statement. A negative emotion can result in a much more powerful effect, due to our personal reaction to the comment. For example, when we hear somebody say, "I will never buy a Kenwood piece of junk," we tend to silently commit to never purchasing a Kenwood radio, for fear of possible ridicule or public shame, regardless how good most Kenwood products really are.

Brand bias is not limited to manufacturers and brands, but can extend to retailers, distributors, and more. We might favor one amateur radio outlet over another because of their fast delivery times or free shipping, while turning away another that actually sells products better suited to our circumstances. The same goes for making purchases directly from people, like a friend or relative. If you buy a radio as-is from your cousin, and the radio starts exhibiting problems, you might hesitate before making the next purchase from him. You know, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

To illustrate how deeply ingrained brand bias is in our heads, a recent study by Search Engine Land and SurveyMonkey showed at the start of a survey that twelve percent of respondents admitted that they were biased toward one brand or another for a particular set of product types. On a separate survey involving a different set of people, and after educating the respondents on the meaning of purchasing bias, the survey revealed that just under seventy percent admitted to brand bias. This shows that we often make purchasing decisions based subconsciously on something other than facts.

So, how could we battle brand bias? One way is to consider your purchases based on facts, rather than emotion, by taking time to think through the purchase and understand why you chose a particular brand over another. Does it have more of the features you need, or do you simply "feel good" about the radio? It's alright to rely on your feelings, but try and take some time to figure out whether those feelings are based on trustworthy information.

Today, it seems like we're busier than we've ever been in our lives, thanks to instant access to volumes of information. It's no wonder, therefore, that we don't prioritize the need to overcome our personal biases by investing the time to do our homework and make better informed purchase decisions. But good or bad, they're your decisions, and it'll be up to you to live with them and either enjoy or suffer their consequences.

Let's hear your thoughts on brand bias. Do you feel your purchases are always objective?
Too good to be true [link] [PDF]
One day while searching online, you come across an advertisement about an unusually small antenna that can support all ham radio bands. What's more, it's priced under thirty dollars. Your first thought might be, Wow, what a steal! or Finally, somebody has developed the miracle antenna! Then, reality begins to return, and you catch yourself before you've fallen for another scam.

As the saying goes, If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Most of us know some good exceptions to this so-called rule, such as penicillin and free electricity from the Sun. When it's apparent that a proposed device violates the laws of physics, such as a perpetual-motion machine, however, then you have every right to be skeptical or question its integrity. When that violation is not obvious is when we often get into trouble.

Most of us are fairly well-educated, or we wouldn't have passed the ham radio exam. Still, we can get fooled, sometimes by our lack of experience. When it seems like a product is unbelievably fabulous or low-priced, ask around. Because of pride, we might feel foolish asking questions, because it seems that we should already know the answers, but the fact is that we don't always know. There's no shame in asking even the dumbest questions, but there might be if you don't ask. While Google can be your friend, a kind elmer that doesn't mind your basic questions can be an even better one. Lowering your pride and asking questions of others can save you even more embarassment and money than if you hadn't.

Just so we're clear, there are no miracle radios, no miracle antennas, and no free lunch. It's true that some antennas do perform better than others, and it's true that you can get a wonderful handheld radio for under twenty dollars. It's just that when you hear of a six-inch-tall antenna that can let you talk around the world, you need to wonder whether that's even possible.

On social media, people are sometimes quoted as saying You get what you pay for, but do you? In other words, does paying more get you more? Keep in mind that the opposite might also be true; that is, just because a product comes with a high price tag, it doesn't mean that somehow the high price magically makes the radio a scientific marvel. It might host extra features and higher quality than a lower-priced brand, but a handheld radio, for example, can only do so much, and paying more doesn't always make it do more. Therefore, paying less doesn't always mean the radio's junk either.

Let's hear from you. Have you heard of a deal that seems just too good to be true?
Avoid simply telling people to read the manual [link] [PDF]
When you're confronted by a problem with a device you're using, or simply want to learn how to operate a particular feature with it, you might pull out its manual and search its contents. Today, most manuals are thankfully in digital format, like PDF, often making it easier to search for the topic of concern.

Once in a while, however, the answer to a question can elude you, even after scouring the manual, forcing you turn to others for the answer. Unfortunately, the less-than-helpful response you sometimes receive is RTFM, or read the fine manual, typically indicating a level of irritation or frustration on the part of the responder.

Here are some reasons why you should never simply tell a person to go read the manual:
• They have probably already thought of that (give them the benefit of the doubt)
• Even after reading the manual, the reader might be looking for additional insight or another point of view that isn't always laid out in the manual
• Simply telling a person to read the manual typically only helps you, not them (you might only be trying to get the questioner off your back under the pretense of appearing helpful)
• It's not the kinder approach (it's often better to help them find the text that answers the question)
• The manual might be poorly written or a little too technically advanced for the reader
• The manual might be worded in an unfamiliar way (English might not be the reader's native language)
• If you truly are irritated or frustrated, leave the answering to others, or refer the inquirer to another person

You might feel that new hams, especially the youth, are lazy, and that they won't lift a finger and take the effort to find their own answers. If you think they're always trying to take the easy road, maybe you should look at yourself. Simplt telling somebody to read the manual is your way of taking the easy way out of answering a question by evading responsibility and placing the entire burden of research on the inquirer. So, now who's the lazier one?

On the other hand, there are times when it's appropriate and even helpful to refer a person to the manual if you do so in a kind way, but that might require a little effort on your part. For example, look up in the manual where the information is located, then offer the link, the chapter, and the verse of the answer to the inquirer. You might find that the person is unable to locate the manual, or didn't even know what to search for.

Let's hear from you. Was it helpful when somebody told you to read the manual?

LDS Church-specific topics

Role of the ERC [link] [PDF]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has established a world-wide communication network they call the ERC (Emergency Response Communications), whose purpose is to provide basic communication to gather information during times of widespread disaster. This network, while global in scope, extends down into the area, stake, and ward levels as well.

How it's organized
Under the direction of the Stake President, each stake establishes a communication plan, led by the High Councilor assigned to Welfare. He can further designate a Stake Emergency Communication Specialist to organize the communication side of the Stake Emergency Preparedness Plan. Ideally, that Stake Specialist is a licensed ham, who designates a Stake Net Manager to organize a regular stake net. In each ward, the Bishop designates a Ward Emergency Preparedness Specialist, who establishes a Ward Communication Plan, including members who have radio gear and can help out if the need for emergency communication arises. This radio gear is not limited to only amateur, but can also include FRS, GMRS, CB, MURS, and cell phone text messaging.

The weekly ERC net
To aid in training this army of radio communication volunteers, the Church has established a regular ERC net in many Bishops’ Storehouses around the US, plus in some other countries. In Utah County, the LDS Church ERC net is organized by the Lindon Bishops’ Storehouse, and hosts an amateur radio net each Tuesday (except the first Tuesday) at 8:00 pm on the 147.020+ MHz (103.5 Hz tone) repeater. On the first Tuesday of each month, the net is held on 147.020 MHz simplex. Any person with an amateur radio license is welcome to check into that net, but the net is organized primarily to train those with ward and stake communication callings.

During the course of each weekly net, the ERC also hosts a training topic that addresses one aspect of amateur communication within the ERC structure. These topics help you understand the role communication plays in disaster preparedness, and your role in using the ERC to help your family, your ward, and your stake.

The ERC in action
During an actual emergency or even a simulated incident (such as a drill), the ERC activates its net on its repeater, and invites all amateurs to check into the net, if they wish to do so. Besides communicating with your city and your ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) group, you can also communicate your well-being to the ERC, and obtain situation information from them as well. Be sure to check in with your Block Captain, report your well-being to the City, and then check in to the ERC net in progress.

As mentioned, your stake should have a weekly net for the ham operators in your stake to check into, for training and to promote familiarity with amateur protocol. So, does it? If your stake holds a regular net, it might be listed on the stake net website. If it’s not, then ask your stake leaders to start one. If they don’t start one, you’re fully authorized to start one yourself, but call it an Area net, not a Stake net, because you won’t be properly representing the LDS Church. You can see a list of things you can do, to start your own net, on the New Ham website. Then, tell us about your net!
Make use of the ERC [link]
No matter where you live in the US and many other parts of the world, you'll often find that a local religious body has organized aid for its members and their neighbors in the event of a widespread disaster. Nearly all of these include a communication plan, known as Emergency Response Communications, which allows for two-way information gathering and reporting with local citizens, regardless of religious affiliation.

In the event of an actual emergency or wide-scale disaster, the ERC might activate its emergency protocol, connecting local religious leaders with those at a more general or global level. Their purpose is to report status and accounting of members within the religious organization, but to also communicate information for those affected within the boundaries of the ERC reach.

The ERC Net
Most of these ERC groups establish a regular net you can check into, for practice, for training, and to familiarize you with them by maintaining an open channel of communication. The predominant faith in the state of Utah, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has set up ERC nets by roughly county boundaries, centered on what's known as Bishops' Storehouses. The one for Utah County is the Lindon Bishops' Storehouse, and they've established a regular net Tuesdays at 8:00 pm on the 147.020+ MHz (103.5 Hz tone) repeater. The ERC also runs an HF net, but I'm going to omit that one in this discussion, to keep things simple.

How to use the ERC
You can take advantage of the opportunity to use the ERC by asking whether you can check into their emergency net, or participate in some way. If you're able to participate, inform others about the net, and check into it yourself and listen for information bulletins, updates, and instructions. Keep in mind that the team that runs the ERC does not necessarily stock supplies for you or your neighbors, but they can communicate your need to a leader or team who does.

Be proactive
Find out whether your local ERC is planning to hold a net during a particular drill or simulated emergency. If you find that they will not activate, try contacting their leadership offline, and ask them if there's a reason they don't activate during drills. It's possible that they don't have the manpower, or their equipment is in disrepair, or that they were simply unaware of a particular exercise. Inform them of the exercise, and invite them to participate, as another avenue of contact, simulated for an actual event.

The ERC can help
It's very possible that the ERC has connections to relief materials and supplies that the government might have exhausted, such as food, water, medicine, bedding, living quarters, and light. In addition, the ERC might be able to get you in contact with a unique source of help: a spiritual leader. To many, a word of comfort, an ordinance or ritual, or even a scripture or prayer, can go a long way to help many remain calm in an otherwise chaotic time.
Three ham radio policies [link] [PDF]
From time to time, three topics regarding amateur radio seem to surface often enough, that I thought I'd summarize some online statements made about them by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm hoping that this training will save a few from a little heartburn, going forward.


• MARA is not associated with the Church
  Prompted by the Teton Dam disaster of 1976, the Church created an emergency communication network known as MARA, or Mercury Amateur Radio Association. After it was discovered that hosting and funding such an organization might have violated Part 97.113(a)(3) and 97.113(b), the LDS Church in 1990 decided to divorce itself from MARA, and create another emergency communication team called ERRS, which was renamed in 1995 to ERC, the Emergency Response Communications we have today, often located at bishops' storehouses in many parts of the US.
  
  MARA was a highly organized group of skilled hams, who also had a lot of knowledge, with memberships in local emergency teams as well. The problem is, a few still hold on to the notion that MARA is a radio arm of the LDS Church, and pass that idea on to new hams. MARA is still a good, active, and worthwhile organization to be involved with today, especially if you're interested in improving emergency communication skills. The point is, MARA is not associated with the LDS Church in any way, and I personally invite all LDS amateurs, especially those with Emergency Preparedness callings, to embrace the ERC as the LDS Church emergency response communication arm, like most are doing already.
  Link to the MARA website
  
  
• Amateur radio associations are not permitted to use Church property
  The LDS Church does not permit amateur radio clubs or associations, including MARA, to use Church meetinghouses or grounds to hold meetings or events, according to a published statement. This includes ARES, UVARC, TERT, RACES, and others. However, when the LDS Church cooperates with an external entity, such as Utah County or the City of Lindon for example, church members can use Church property for the purpose of drills and emergency exercises in conjunction with those events, if approved by the stake that oversees the property.
  Link to the Church statement
  
  
• Wards and stakes are not permitted to purchase or install amateur radio equipment on Church property
  A number of people have told me that their bishop or stake president has outfitted their wards with ham radios, for use in drills and emergencies. I'm fairly certain that much of that was done out of ignorance to the policies. LDS Church wards and stakes are not permitted to purchase or accept donated satellite phone equipment or amateur radio equipment of any kind, for emergency use or for installation in or on a meetinghouse. Furthermore, no amateur radio equipment or antennas may be permanently installed in any Church meetinghouse or on Church property, according to another published statement.
  
  There are a few hams who have noted that their stakes have grandfathered-in some equipment allowance, by virtue of some previous arrangement. I don't know enough about the applicable law, or the Church's policy on that, to have an opinion; I only know of the current official policy, which I can provide. Also, it's been noted that the Church itself does indeed purchase and install amateur radio equipment, such as repeaters and antennas. This is true, but all falls under the direction of the ERC and Welfare arms of the Church, not individual wards and stakes.
  Link to the Church statement

In summary, MARA is not associated with the LDS Church, we're not allowed to hold ham radio meetings on LDS Church property, and wards and stakes are not permitted to purchase or install ham radio equipment, or even accept donations of them.
Don't wait for priesthood authority [link]
[Note: this training is not specific to any particular religious organization, so the word "priesthood" could be replaced by the word "religious" or "ecclesiastical" as the case might be]

In 1994, a stake in California had leadership who caught the vision of communication preparedness to the point of getting people licensed, establishing regular nets, and training their members on protocol and best practices. They understood the block captain program and had people in place to communicate the status of local citizens, especially church members.

Then it happened. The Northridge Earthquake. People jumped into action, prompted by their training. They knew that, once their families were taken care of, they could use their knowledge and skills to assist others. Many set up ham radio stations, and numerous others took action according to their responsibilities. The members of the Van Nuys Stake then waited for direction from their priesthood leaders.

And they waited.

And waited.

The stake leaders could not be located. Were they still alive? Was there a plan in place, in case they weren't? Even though a local net was in progress, and a few stake members were communicating, many felt paralyzed, afraid to make decisions, for fear of over-stepping the bounds of their limited stewardships. Should they open the stake center for possible sheltering needs by affected citizens? Was it within their authority to mobilize the Relief Society and others, to help out? Should somebody make a general call to stake members to collect blankets, water, food, and other supplies? Who should make those decisions?

According to CERT philosophy, the first person on the scene of an incident is in charge, regardless of political or religious position. That would be YOU. Yes, you are in charge, if you're up to it. Any by the way, CERT training can help you feel more confident about the challenge. CERT philosophy further states that you shold remain in charge until a person with greater skill or secular authority arrives and wants to assume the role. This might be the police or fire captain, for example.

In the Northridge Earthquake, it turns out that the stake leaders were helping their own families, as they should have been, and taking them away from the affected areas. They were reportedly so overwhelmed with securing the safety of their families, that they had forgotten about their radios. The problem was that, even though these good stake leaders were doing exactly the right thing at the moment, they hadn't left many people to take over in their absence.

You are fully empowered to act in a leadership capacity, even if you don't hold a particular religious position, or belong to any religious group at all. It's not necessary for you to wait for the go-ahead from your church leadership, before you perform your assigned or even assumed function, because people's lives are at stake. It might be the scariest thing you've ever done in your life, for you to jump into a leadership role, especially after being taught to respect priesthood authority for so many years. But as one person put it, training might be a priesthood event, but an incident is a secular event.

What are your thoughts? Should we wait for guidance, or proceed with or without it?
Serving two masters [link]
In the world of CERT, we learn a principle known as unity of command, meaning that each participant in the entire chain answers only to one leader. However, we occasionally find that we end up answering to two or more masters, due to our involvement or allegiance to different groups that could be directing the activity at the moment. In most cases, you can follow the instructions from both or all of your leaders without any problems. But which leader should you obey if you happen be handed conflicting instructions?

The principle that should guide your decision is that an actual emergency is a secular activity. What this means is, no matter what political, religious, social, or family organization we've sworn allegiance to, we're subject to the laws of this land, which is governed by secular authority. Your favorite church group or club has likely invested a lot of time and resources to train you on how to handle yourself during an emergency, and you feel a great obligation to them as a result. During one of their drills, it's perfectly acceptable to follow the instructions of their chain-of-command, but when it's time for an actual incident, your training will become apparent as you redirect your obedience to secular authority.

For example, say your stake president asks you to direct all displaced families to the stake center, which is just two blocks away, but the fire chief tells you to direct them to the elementary school, which is much farther away. Which should you obey? As difficult as it might be, you must obey the orders of the fire chief, even if it goes against the wishes of your stake president. The reality is that your stake president will likely already know to follow the guidance of the fire chief, so that you won't be faced with that decision. There might be times, however, that the fire chief and stake president did not get a chance to communicate with each other. One thing you can do when faced with this decision is to let the fire chief know what the stake president has ordered, then let the fire chief make the final decision now that he's a little better informed. But once the chief has made the decision, the discussion is over.

How about when the conflicting orders come from Net Control instead of the fire chief? I mean, the net control station is a mere volunteer with no special calling, just like you. In that case, keep in mind that the net control station might be shadowing the police or some other secular authority. This situation might seem a little more difficult to navigate, but even then you should follow the orders of net control. It might be tempting to demand who is giving net control his or her orders, but this is why we hold these trainings, to help you decide how to act long before the moment arrives.

What are your thoughts? Which should we follow?

Abbreviated (really short) training topics

Radio-related training topics

How far from your head to safely keep your radio [link]
You might have heard people warn about the possible dangers of transmitting on an FM handheld radio that's near your head, so just how far away should you keep it? The fact is, it's your antenna that you need to worry about, and both the FCC and ARRL have performed numerous tests to investigate radio signal exposure effects on human tissue. Their findings show that the minimum distance depends on the signal frequency, its output power, and duty cycle. In general, keeping your HT antenna at least eight inches from your brain and reproductive organs for normal conversation is the best rule.

Here's a quick reference that summarizes their recommendations for regular conversation on an FM handheld radio:
• 5 watts on VHF : 8 inches
• 5 watts on UHF : 10 inches
• 10 watts on VHF : 14 inches
• 10 watts on UHF : 18 inches

Comments?

Personal training topics

Avoid holding people accountable for exam material [link]
Once in a while you might read a question somebody has posted on social media or a forum, to which another answers with something that reminds the poster that they should have known the answer because it was on the exam. Even if followed by helpful information, that kind of comment is inappropriate and not in harmony with the true spirit of amateur radio. Chances are, you are not that kind of person, but this might help you understand their fallacy.

The exam only presents a person with thirty-five to fifty questions out of the pool of hundreds, so the chances of two different people seeing the same exam questions are small. Furthermore, we can't assume that two different people will see the same exam material either. Some will study quite a lot of it, some only a small subset, and many none at all. And of that material that a person might have studied deeply, how much of it did the person absorb completely? And of that amount absorbed, how much did the person actually remember at exam time?

Finally, did the critic pass the exam with a perfect score? If so, congratulations to him...he was luckily presented with the few questions whose answers he actually knew! And if not, then why did he miss any of them? Shouldn't he have known their answers?

The critic is a detractor who might feel the need to voice his opinion, out of frustration over a person's lack of knowledge or apparent lack of effort. The detractor should examine why he feels the way he does. Often, it's due to an insecure lack of control over others, and intolerance for their imperfections.

Comments?
How to help an overwhelmed new ham [link]
You've likely encountered a newly licensed ham who's excited about jumping into this big, new world of amateur radio. That person might want to do everything that's been talked about on the nets, in club meetings, and social media. You, the experienced and wise amateur understand that this new person might actually become overloaded and maybe overwhelmed if they did tackle everything envisioned, so how would you help that person?

Let them know that they don't need to do it all right now, and that it's probably wisest to take it a little at a time. Join a club, check in on a net, talk to a few friends on a repeater, maybe even participate in a ham radio activity.

When the new ham asks a question, avoid saying it depends, even though that's often the truth, because that phrase doesn't offer the person anything helpful. Instead of compounding his overload, suggest one or two radios you believe will serve him well. Help him understand that the antenna plays a major role in successful communication. If you feel he's far enough along, introduce him to ARES and how that group can help feed his hunger.

After that, stay in touch with the new ham; check in with him or her every so often, and let them know you haven't forgotten them.

Comments?
Avoid using absolute and blanket terms [link] [PDF]
An absolute term is a word such as always, never, everybody, all, none, and so forth; they're words that are intended to exclude every other possibility.

Before using an absolute term, ask yourself whether your statement is truly a fact, or simply a high probability of several possibilities. For example, it might be tempting to say, My radio always makes a hissing sound, but is that really true all the time? Insttead of using absolutes, try using words such as often, sometimes, or rarely.

A blanket term is not unlike an absolute one, and is often used to make a generalized statement about something.

Phrases using words like is, are, do, and their negatives can also be blanket statements when used in simplistic contexts like ham radio is fun. In other words, is ham radio fun for everybody? Try using words such as might be or tends to instead.

Comments?

Protocol training topics

People aren't hearing you well [link]
When people report that you're cutting in and out, you're not holding the repeater, or that you're otherwise difficult to hear, you have two options: either say your call sign and get off the air, or fix the problem. To continue transmitting without making the attempt to improve your signal is wishful thinking at best and inconsiderate at worst. Take the time to do one or more of these, if possible:
• If you're using an HT
  • move a foot or even a few inches
  • get near a window
  • step outside
• increase your radio output power
• check your antenna connection
• go grab a better antenna

If you're transmitting because of an emergency, then by all means remain on the air, but do your best to fix the problem.

Comments?
How to get a QSO confirmation [link]
There are several things you can try, but in the end, it'll be up to them whether they're willing to confirm your contact. Still, if you're intent on contacting that one operator, here are a few tips, short of stalking the person:
• Look on their QRZ pages (qrz.com) after you look up their call signs, and if their email addresses are listed, try emailing them
• Take the chance that they are ARRL members, and try sending emails to @arrl.net (if their call sign is six characters long, some might even have addresses like @gmail.com)
• Locate their local clubs and ask for help finding that person
• If all else fails, since you have their mailing addresses from QRZ, try sending them your QSL card or snailing them a letter with a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) enclosed

It's quite possible that the person you're trying to confirm doesn't use the same logging program you do, or even use one at all. Chances are, there are plenty of other hams who live in the state you need. You can contact others during an annual state QSO Party to increase your chances of reaching somebody from that state.

Comments?
How to handle rules violations [link]
When you hear or learn of somebody who has violated amateur radio rules, you first need to assess whether the violation is serious or minor. Serious violations include
• Making death threats on the air
• Deliberate use of public safety frequencies by those who are not authorized to use them
• Intentional interference with emergency communications
If you hear a death threat, of course call 911 immediately first. Once you've determined that the violation is serious, report the offense to the FCC.
Minor infractions are those such as
• Failure to timely announce their call sign, or saying the wrong call sign
• Temporary, accidental illegal transmission, such as by an unlicensed person or by a licensed amateur on an out-of-band frequency
• Transmission of music, singing, or swearing
If the offense was minor, do these three things:
• Do NOT publicly inform the violator about the offense over the radio
• Do NOT take the violation personally; assume they did not intend to offend you
• Be kind, understanding, and overlook the mistakes
If you're unsure whether a violation is serious, report it to a more experienced amateur operator off the air (by text, email, or PM, but not on a publicly seen social media post) and leave it to them; let it go.

Comments?
How to request a signal check, not a radio check [link]
There are times when you want to know whether your signal is sufficiently reaching others. It's difficult to hear yourself, so request a signal check or signal report by saying
This is KI7ABC. Could I please get a signal check?
or
This is KI7ABC, looking for a signal check.
or for a longer, drawn-out transmission (to give the listener a real chance to hear what you sound like, in case you want the details,
This is KI7ABC, looking for a signal report. One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
It's appropriate for some groups to ask for a radio check, but that's not encouraged in the amateur radio world. On the other hand, if you happen to hear others ask for a radio check, treat it like a signal report request, and don't correct the operator.

Comments?

Emergency training topics