March 2000 QST

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officials and the hundreds of trained spottersproviding the “ground truths.”In a November 27, 1999, letter of commendationto the team, the National WeatherAssociation cited one example of the team’sservice: “A measure of your great success wasdemonstrated on the evening of April 26,1994, when an F4 tornado tore through theheart of Lancaster, Texas (population 26,000).Spotter reports were crucial to the warningprocess, and could not have been as effectivehad not the amateurs efficiently relayedthat information to the forecasters. TheSKYWARN team has also been strong contributorsin cases of flash floods, winterstorms, and during periods of communicationsloss of the NWS office. Your SKYWARNteam has also invested their own resourcessuch as radios, modems, duplexers and antennas.They have driven through raging stormsto get to the office and have had their personalvehicles damaged by large hail while onvolunteer duty, all without monetary compensation.”TENNESSEE AMATEURS HONOREDThe Tennessee Emergency ManagementAgency (TEMA) has honored a group of AmateurRadio operators for providing invaluableassistance during the January 1999 tornadostrike at Clarksville, Tennessee. TEMA DirectorJohn White presented a framed certificatesigned by Governor Don Sundquist to theClarksville Amateur Transmitting Society(CATS) emergency services group in earlyNovember. Accepting the award were CATSDisaster Team Leaders Hank Koebler Jr,N3ORX; Albert Furlow, KA1FFO, and clubPresident Jerome Warburton, KB0OTW, aswell as team members Jack Byrd, AA4TA, andHank Koebler III, KF4UXR. White said whendisaster strikes and knocks out communications,“You turn to dedicated people like themembers of this group.” He said some 90 hamsput in some 1200 hours of volunteer service ina nine-day period, making it possible for firstresponders, volunteer organizations like theRed Cross and victims to communicate witheach other. Amateur Radio was the only reliablemeans of communication for the first 12hours or so after the tornado struck. Membersstaffed the Montgomery County EOC for thefirst 72 hours and shadowed responders. Inaddition, CATS members assisted in stormcleanup and aided the Red Cross in damageassessments.—thanks Jerome Warburton,KB0OTW and TEMA for this reportARES AND RACES TOGETHERIN SANTA BARBARAThe Santa Barbara Section comprises threecounties (Ventura, Santa Barbara, and SanLuis Obispo) with each serving as an ARES/RACES District. The Section is widely variedin topography and demographics, presentingsome unique communication challenges.Emergency communicators are faced withproblems of mountains and distance to providecommunication for localized winterflooding, summer forest and grass land fires,and the always threatening earthquake.In all three Districts (counties) ARES andRACES function together. They not only coexist,they are fully integrated and thrive. Eachcounty has designated the ARES DEC as thehead of RACES and he/she has effective controlof the field operations for RACES with84 March 2000supervision from the county. Each county haseither executed a Memorandum of Understandingwith ARES to perform RACESduties, or has designated the ARES structureand personnel as the RACES structure andpersonnel when RACES is activated. Eachcounty and many of the cities encourage andsupport both ARES and RACES activities.They include ARES/RACES as integral partsof their disaster plans.Why such sharing? The answers are simpleyet compelling: necessity and attitude. Whenpersonnel and other resources are limited,you have to share. To survive, you have tocooperate. If you are a rural county or acounty with evolving needs, you have to go toan established resource and use it. If you are astruggling ARES group, you don’t have theluxury of competing with another group forlimited resources.A dozen years ago, the ARES group in SanLuis Obispo county was struggling andRACES essentially did not exist. A nuclearpower plant necessitated special emergencyplans and provided extra funds and incentivesfor having the local Amateur Radio communityinvolved. Several dedicated amateursformed a coordinating group. With the countystaff, they pulled various resources together.County Emergency Plans were written, rewritten,or modified to include Amateur Radio andgive operators a bigger role. The amateursestablished standard operating proceduresand the ARES group was revitalized. Thecounty reviewed the ARES structure andconcluded that this structure was also the bestfor RACES.The system, as it now exists, is the productof this initial excellent work, along withfine-tuning to the procedures and expansionof technical resources. General countywidemembership meetings are held nine times ayear and the support group meets monthly toaddress logistical needs. County staff is consultedand contacted as needed and often attendmeetings to lend support and assist withthe work. County sponsored exercises are heldat least once a year and ARES/RACES exercisesare held as often as possible.The ARES and RACES written proceduresare combined with support materials to makeup an Operations Manual. Emergency communicationcenters have been established inkey locations throughout the county alongwith portable equipment pre-staged and heldby Emergency Coordinators or AssistantEmergency Coordinators. Several repeatersare maintained by the county, or by individualswho are members of, or who stronglysupport, ARES. ARES remains active constantly.RACES is activated when needed. Atypical incident will have a request forARES support from the Red Cross and/or theSalvation Army with RACES being activatedby the county as needed to support governmentalagencies.The above demonstrates what can happenif everyone cooperates. This is not theory. It isa system that has worked well for years. Nothingspecial beyond a firm commitment tomake it happen was needed.Unfortunately, we have seen in other partsof the country reluctance to combine ARESand RACES, thereby splitting personnel resources,splitting technical resources, duplicatingefforts, and confusing the public andserved agencies. To be successful with amateuremergency communication activity, I sincerelyfeel that if we check our egos at thedoor, and emphasize cooperation and coordination,we stand the best chance of helpingpeople when they really need it. That is thecase in Santa Barbara.—R. Jack Hunter,KD6HHG, Santa Barbara ARES SectionEmergency CoordinatorA NOVEL CONCEPT?Recently, the Arizona State Department ofEmergency Services conducted a preparednessdrill. I operated a crossband repeater, setup in the Town Council chambers at TownHall. I was in communication with GilaCounty Office of Emergency Managementthrough a county RACES repeater about 72miles away, across mountainous terrain.I used my pickup truck’s mobile unit (anAlinco transceiver in crossband mode),parked on a plate supporting a 25-foot mastwith a beam antenna. Inside town hall I useda handheld unit, with external mike and 4-inchexternal speaker, so all present could hear thetraffic. The link to my truck was on UHF, andfrom the truck’s unit to the repeater the linkwas on VHF.While waiting for traffic, it occurred to methat this concept should be used more often inemergency communication. One vehicle withcrossband capability can support severalhandhelds within a geographic area and communicationto a distant repeater can be accomplishedwith each handheld.I e-mailed a description of this approach tothe Red Cross Communications Coordinatorin the aftermath of the Oklahoma tornado,when the disaster crews were going into destroyedsubdivisions. They would not permitvehicles, except official Red Cross units, somany were on foot using handhelds. The problemwas that these handhelds could not reachthe repeater in Oklahoma City.The Red Cross told me that my suggestionwas implemented and worked extremely well.The technology is here—we need to apply itas much as possible to these increasinglyoccurring disaster situations.—Chuck Heron,KD7BWG, Gila County ARES and RACESCREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUEJanuary QST’s Public Service columncarried a photo of Hurricane Floyd’s floodwaters nearly covering a Bound Brook, NewJersey street sign, but credit wasn’t given forarea hams’ relief efforts. Pat Howard, K2PAT,reported, “While all regular and cellularphones in Bergen County were down for days,hams provided a channel from county AmericanRed Cross chapters to the lead Princetonchapter.” (Most chapters have installed,thanks to a government grant, a 2-meter rigpre-programmed for hams to carry out theNew Jersey Red Cross Plan.) Kip Burnett,KB2EGI, Mercer County Emergency Coordinatorstated: “Volunteers did a wonderful job,and club support of ARES was terrific.” —Rosalie White, WA1STO
Public Service StatsARRL Numbered RadiogramsThe letters ARL are inserted in the preamble in the check andin the text of a radiogram message before spelled out numbers thatrepresent texts from this list. Note that some ARL texts includeinsertion of numbers. There are two groups of ARRL NumberedRadiograms: Group One for relief emergency use and Group Twofor routine messages. Only the first twenty Numbered Radiogramsare shown here. We will continue the list in a future column.Group One— For possible “Relief Emergency Use”ONEEveryone safe here. Please don’t worry.TWOComing home as soon as possible.THREEAm in _______ hospital. Receiving excellentcare and recovering fine.FOUROnly slight property damage here. Do not beconcerned about disaster reports.FIVEAm moving to a new location. Send no furthermail or communication. Will inform you ofnew address when relocated.SIXWill contact you as soon as possible.SEVENPlease reply by Amateur Radio through theamateur delivering this message. This is afree public service.EIGHTNeed additional _______ mobile or portableequipment for immediate emergency use.NINETENELEVENTWELVETHIRTEENFOURTEENFIFTEENSIXTEENSEVENTEENEIGHTEENNINETEENTWENTYAdditional ______ radio operators needed toassist with emergency at this location.Please contact _______. Advise to standbyand provide further emergency information,instructions or assistance.Establish Amateur Radio emergency communicationswith _______ on _______ MHz.Anxious to hear from you. No word in sometime. Please contact me as soon as possible.Medical emergency situation exists here.Situation here becoming critical. Losses anddamage from _______ increasing.Please advise your condition and what help isneeded.Property damage very severe in this area.REACT communications services also available.Establish REACT communication with_______ on channel _______.Please contact me as soon as possible at_______.Request health and welfare report on ______.(State name, address and telephone number.)Temporarily stranded. Will need some assistance.Please contact me at _______.Field Organization ReportsPublic Service Honor RollDecember 1999This listing is to recognize amateurs whose public serviceperformance during the month indicated qualifies for 70 ormore total points in the following 8 categories (as reported totheir Section Managers). Please note the maximum points foreach category: 1) Checking into a public service net, usingany mode, 1 point each; maximum 60. 2) Performing as NetControl Station (NCS) for a public service net, using anymode, 3 points each; maximum 24. 3) Performing assignedliaison between public service nets, 3 points each; maximum24. 4) Delivering a formal message to a third party, 1 pointeach; no limit. 5) Originating a formal message from a thirdparty, 1 point each; no limit. 6) Serving as an ARRL fieldappointee or Section Manager, 10 points each appointment;maximum 30. 7) Participating in a communications networkfor a public service event, 10 points each event; no limit.8) Providing and maintaining an automated digital systemthat handles ARRL radiogram-formatted messages; 30 points.Stations that qualify for PSHR 12 consecutive months, or 18out of a 24-month period, will be awarded a certificate fromHQ on written notification of qualifying months to the PublicService Branch at 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 following stations qualified for PSHR during the monthof November 1999, but their scores did not appear in thiscolumn last month: KC7ZZB 98, KC7SGM 83, KC7SGL 78.Section Traffic Manager ReportsDecember 1999The following ARRL section traffic managers reported: AL,AZ, CO, CT, EMA, ENY, GA, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MDC, MN,MI, MS, MT, NC, NFL, NH, NLI, NNJ, NTX, NV, OH, OK, OR,ORG, SBAR, SC, SD, SDG, SFL, SNJ, STX, TN, WI, WMA,WNY, WPA, WWA, WY.Section Emergency Coordinator ReportsDecember 1999The following ARRL section emergency coordinatorsreported: ENY, CT, IN, KY, MDC, MN, NLI, OH, SD, STX,TN, VA, WMA, WV.Brass Pounders LeagueDecember 1999The BPL is open to all amateurs in the US, Canada and USpossessions who report to their SMs a total of 500 points ora sum of 100 or more origination and delivery points for anycalendar month. All messages must be handled on amateurfrequencies within 48 hours of receipt in standard ARRLradiogram format.Call Orig Rcvd Sent Dlvd TotalWX4H 0 847 1395 20 2274NM1K 786 310 1005 8 2109KK3F 40 930 890 15 1875N2LTC 0 726 758 28 1512N7BDU 119 552 638 22 1331K9JPS 0 592 33 577 1202W1PEX 1 77 1027 6 1111KT6A 0 569 506 0 1075W6DOB 2 408 570 68 1048W9IHW 2 452 79 422 955KF5A 19 412 465 0 896WA9VND 40 476 347 16 879K4FQU 273 157 404 7 841W5SEG 12 408 387 0 807W4EAT 3 396 372 16 787W6IVV 17 341 373 0 704N5IKN 0 392 88 277 684KA2ZNZ 27 296 242 117 682WA1TBY 5 317 337 16 675W3KOD 0 385 251 5 641W9RCW 0 313 2 312 627W9YPY 0 281 322 0 603W2MTA 2 354 234 1 591K7VVC 24 245 303 4 576KA4FZI 6 293 209 62 570NR2F 2 290 271 6 569N2YJZ 0 253 281 22 569W7TVA 67 214 189 92 562W2CS 3 288 265 4 560KA2GJV 0 264 265 0 529W7AMM 37 12 244 31 524KF1L 4 243 271 6 524AB4XK 0 257 258 2 517KK1A 189 72 248 8 517BPL for 100 or more originations plus deliveries: K9GU 199,K8LJG 196, N5JZ 153, KB2WII 122, W7EP 118, N1LKJ 104.March 2000 85
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March 2000 Volume 84 Number 3David
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THE AMERICAN RADIORELAY LEAGUE INC
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Get to Know Your Section ManagerThe
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Senate CommerceChairman andPresiden
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GEORGE DOMINICK, W4UWCLooking for a
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CORRESPONDENCEYour opinions count!
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By Stephen Stuntz, N0BFImagine ridi
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By David A. Rosenthal, N6TSTDXing W
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It was a ham’s dream, sitting onM
Page 36 and 37: always start at the beginning of me
Page 38 and 39: An insideview of theQRSerprototype.
Page 40 and 41: Kits and BoardsWhile the original T
Page 42 and 43: TT2 PerformanceKeying quality with
Page 44 and 45: Figure 1—Schematic of the meter-m
Page 46 and 47: Figure 1—Schematic of the Simple
Page 48 and 49: tacts I had while using this transm
Page 50 and 51: chandisers are free to develop “s
Page 52 and 53: WORKBENCHPROJECTS AND INFORMATION F
Page 54 and 55: THE HELP DESKSchematic Symbols52 Ma
Page 56 and 57: paddle. This can be done with eithe
Page 58 and 59: creator) was providing free PSK31 s
Page 60 and 61: By H. Ward Silver, N0AXTest Your Kn
Page 62 and 63: HINTS & KINKSA SIMPLE ANTENNA FLIPP
Page 64 and 65: By Dave Patton, NT1N2000 Annual Mee
Page 66 and 67: The Board welcomed three new Vice D
Page 68 and 69: Craigie nominated Mr. Butler. Mr. B
Page 70 and 71: D.C., with the specific responsibil
Page 72 and 73: Table 1Elecraft K2, serial number 0
Page 74 and 75: two inductors. Don’t let this hap
Page 76 and 77: Like most transceivers these days,
Page 78 and 79: Table 2Alinco DJ-V5TH, serial numbe
Page 80 and 81: FCC NewsENHANCED AMATEUR ENFORCEMEN
Page 82 and 83: tem is not legal to use as it’s c
Page 84 and 85: chance to do it. It may be several
Page 88 and 89: THE WORLD ABOVE 50 MHZDr. Ernest K.
Page 90 and 91: EME AnnalsEME (moonbounce) standing
Page 92 and 93: DIGITAL DIMENSIONWinLink 2000: A Wo
Page 94 and 95: From the Mailbag…Throughout the y
Page 96 and 97: AT THE FOUNDATIONSpringing with New
Page 98 and 99: (156.7 Hz), 146.52. Adm: $2. Tables
Page 100 and 101: It is with deep regret that we reco
Page 102 and 103: CONTEST CORRALFeedbackIn the 1999 A
Page 104 and 105: By Dan Henderson, N1NDContest Branc
Page 106 and 107: Affiliated Club Competition Results
Page 108 and 109: 1999 IARU HF WorldChampionship Resu
Page 110 and 111: N5XU (+KA5WSS,KM5FA,N3TNN)390,104 8
Page 112 and 113: RW4AA 1,299,804 2121 172 ARW3GU 879
Page 114 and 115: Revised 1999 June VHF QSO Party Rov
Page 122: has been around for some time, is a
Page 126: 154, WB5ZED 232. Tfc: K5WOD 4, NOKW
Page 130: Bethpage, NY. Bob Wexelbaum, W2ILP,
Page 134: NEW HAMPSHIRE: SM, Mike Graham, K7C
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136longtime member N6DOC. Installat
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tion of the digital network within
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DEC, EC, ASM, and cabinet member at
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148agencies have had a working rela
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CALL SIGN NAME BADGES. Club logos o
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COMPUTERS - WANTED early Pre-1980 m
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Index of AdvertisersADVERTISING DEP
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March 2000 QST

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