Reported again
I reported again for AmateurRadioNewsline today.
You can find a link to the right of this post.
Personal Emergency Communications
I found this publication very interesting. I guess my real interest in being a Ham is being of help in an emergency.
Of course to be of help means that one (a Ham, KI7UP,me) must have the equipment in working order and the ability to operate it when the power is out and the normal public communications systems are over loaded with traffic or not working at all.
My handheld is working but my HF is less it’s antenna. That sure helps.
If I’m honest with myself, if the commercial power goes out my HF station is useless. But I do keep my Yaesu FT-60 charged and available to work quite a few VHF and UHF ham repeaters in the Valley of the Sun, metro Phoenix area.
I guess I should put in some effort and find out more about the organized groups of hams who have already set up plans for emergencies.
Arizona has a new Section Manager
Robert Spencer, KE8DM is the new Section Manager for the ARRL here in Arizona.
He replaces Tom Fagan, K7DF who held the post for 8 years.
Welcome Robert!
Happy Easter!
TDMA
Amateur Radio Newsline has a story read by myself ,
affecting Ham’s and the use of TDMA.
Heard on the air.
My wife takes her dog, Henry J for a walk most afternoons.
While she is “walking the dog” I take my Yaesu FT-60/r and listen for activity and even have been know to carry on a conversation on a local repeater.
Sunday, she took Henry for his walk and I was in the front yard with my radio. Put it in scan mode and up came a repeater that is located on White Tanks Mt on 146.940. And for the very first time I heard an on the air broadcast of Amateur Radio Newsline.
I have been a “reporter” for ARN for close to 8 years, maybe more and I have never heard it on a repeater.
I sat there listening away to the program until Karen and Henry J returned home.
No Excuse.
I have to admit I really have no excuse for not writing posts for ARD.
There is no reason other than I just haven’t taken the time to sit down in front of the computer and type away about what’s going on with me as an amateur.
My antenna is down, so no HF for now. I do each afternoon while my wife takes her dog for a walk, go out in front of our house and monitor the local repeaters that I have programed into my Yaesu FT-60.
Most of the time, there is no activity or on one repeater I have heard several afternoons two hams conversing as if it’s a private intercom. No breaks for traffic. No call signs.
Oh well, I do hear the Arizona Department of Safety (Highway Patrol) on one of the frequencies. That at least is interesting.
Not on the Air
Since my wire antenna blew down, I have not been on the air or even listening to HF.
I have been listening to my VHF/UHF handheld and have had several conversations there.
I have also added a couple of new frequencies and plan to add some more in the up coming weeks.
Yes, I take my own sweet time.
Antenna Down
Here in Scottsdale Arizona we have had some windy and rainy weather the last few weeks Last Thursday however was clear and my wife and I took advantage of the nice weather to soak up some Arizona Sun.
While sitting on our backyard patio we noticed that half of my wire HF antenna was no longer connected to the pole that is mounted on the West end of the house.
I had noticed that I had not been able to hear any activity on the bands but never thought to look at the antenna. Lesson learned.
Now I just need to find someone who can get it back up, or maybe I should just wait until I put up the vertical antenna I have been looking at. That would add at least two more bands.
14 HAPPY YEARS TOGETHER.
Today marks 14 Happy Years for Karen and I. Yesterday someone must have told Taco Bell about it as just look at the Verde Salsa they gave us.
