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Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthodox Hobby:
from
marshfieldnewsherald.com
on
June 27, 2009
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Local Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthodox Hobby:
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Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthodox H
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by K4RAF on June 28, 2009
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Instead of "unorthodox", how about quickly becoming "irrelevant" in the whole "field day" scenario?
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RE: Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthodox H
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by WS4E on June 28, 2009
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Maybe you can argue irrelevant from the whole 'disaster training' part of field day...although I still think it could be argued its good training for a 'last line' of communications ability.
But, personally I think field day has lots of value just being a fun contest for the whole club to participate in, rather than the typical sit-at-home in the shack type of contests where everyone competes individually.
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RE: Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthodox H
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by N4KC on June 28, 2009
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K4RAF, I suppose one could argue that your interest in broadband communications on 900 mHz is "irrelevant," too. But you enjoy it and others learn from it, so it is decidedly worthwhile. I could say the same thing about Field Day.
I really liked the tone of this newspaper article, especially as it addressed the "I can talk by cell phone or chat room with anybody in the world" argument.
Don Keith N4KC
www.n4kc.com
www.donkeith.com
www.facebook.com/donkeith
www.n4kc.blogspot.com
(An open blog about rapid technological change and its
effect on society, media and amateur radio)
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Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthodox Hobby:
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by KC2WI on June 28, 2009
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K4RAF, don't be so negative.
Field Day is certainly not irrelevant!
Yes, it is unlikely that there will be such a large disaster or emergency that we'll have to set up elaborate Field Day type stations to use HF ham radio to communicate across the country. Yes, public and private communications systems are more robust and redundant than they used to be. However, ham radio emergency communications are not irrelevant.
The Friday before Field Day, I participated in a central New York regional hospital communications exercise, set up by the state, not the hams. The planners requested we participate. The scenario was a loss of regular telephone and Internet communications. The hospitals were supposed to test two backup communications methods - satellite phones and amateur radio. Guess which one worked? It was definitely not the satellite phone.s Most hospitals reported they didn't work during the exercise, and in fact that as a general rule, they onlyworked about 20% of the time. However, we had over 25 hospitals, county EOCs, and the state emergency management office in our net and all traffic was efficiently handled.
Field Day is a great opportuity for technical and procedural training. Maybe it is even more important now that it is so easy to just buy radios and operate in "appliance operator" mode. Having to set things up under less than ideal circumstances, improvise when things don't work as planned or you forget some tool or piece of equipment, make field expedient repairs, operate and exchange specific information efficiently under what might be somewhat chaotic conditions, etc. is all good experience. And finally, getting a bunch of people organized, and all the other logistaical tasks, is also good experience.
And if that weren't enough, the event builds camraderie and generates enthusiasm for the hobby. It's a great excuse to get together and socialize. It gets new hams out to meet others and work with different equipment and modes instead of just talking on the local repeater.
Field Day is a great event.
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RE: Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthod
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by K4RAF on June 30, 2009
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Don & Peter,
Field Day has certainly become irrelevant because our most "efficient" technology is NOT a mobility based platform & 25+ years old. As digital takes its' place as the buzz in EMCOMM communications, our solution is either too heavy, too restrictive [3rd party hand holding] or just plain too slow for say a VoIP connection.
As far as wireless broadband, it is far from irrelevant when you look over the landscape & find MILLIONS of users & 100's of applications. Hams have missed the best opportunity yet to become "mainstream" by denying the connection between radio, packet radio & today's evolving broadband wireless. I speak from experience...
Raf
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RE: Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthod
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by N4KC on July 1, 2009
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Raf, the New World Dictionary defines "irrelevant" as: "Unrelated to the matter being considered." In this article, the matter being considered seems to me to be hams performing an activity that:
> Gives them an opportunity for fellowship and a fun event.
> Gives amateur radio exposure in public places where there might be some curiosity (and is a great excuse to get on the media and talk about the hobby) and
> Gives an example of how amateurs might be able to set up and operate in a truly widespread emergency situation, and offer some practice in doing so.
How real-world is the emcomm part of that exercise? I doubt we'd have basket trucks out to hang antennas and put up towers as many groups did. Or weeks to plan the menu, arrange for power, or plot out operating positions.
But I know amateurs who went to disaster zones for weeks at a time...areas where there was very little communication, practically no cell service, and absolutely NO broadband. A third-world country? No, right here in the USA, in hurricane-ravaged areas.
By the way, I said in my post that your interest in wifi and broadband in ham radio "might be considered irrelevant" by some, but that I disagreed. If those guys who went into the maw of those storms had some of those capabilities you mention, and could have set up VoiP via ham radio or reliable packet circuits, it certainly could have made communications better. (Note that I do a blog at www.n4kc.blogspot.com on subjects exactly like this...rapid technological change and its effect on society, media and amateur radio...and I'd love for you to post there.)
But I still don't see how any of that makes Field Day irrelevant.
Don Keith N4KC
www.n4kc.com
www.donkeith.com
www.facebook.com/donkeith
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Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthodox Hobby:
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by KG4ZVA on July 2, 2009
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This article doesn't even mention field day, so these arguments FOR field day are irrelevant.
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RE: Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthod
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by K4RAF on July 5, 2009
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Don,
With all due respect to you, ham radio in general communications is "Unrelated to the matter being considered."
Several ironies:
1) KA9Q wrote most of the TCP/IP specifications
2) a 6-lander (call escapes me) wrote OFDM
3) 802.11[x] uses most of the very same parameters as AX.25 packet did, 25 YEARS AGO!
4) If you know RF, there is no need for amplifiers so there is little desire for Part 97 operation
5) Currently operating 802.11 under Part 97 requires a full time lawyer
I have gone over this on eHam & Twitter, ham radio is no longer at the forefront for communications technology. Look around & consider the sheer numbers, not altruistic intentions with self inflated importance.
It is no longer the ham radio of my youth. It has become irrelevant...
See you on you blog,
Raf
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RE: Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthod
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by K4YZ on July 7, 2009
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K4RAF...
Amateur Radio has become irrelevent to YOU.
The Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the American Red Cross and countless other emergency and disaster relief organizations have deemed it VERY relevent in today's world.
That it has also become part-and-parcel to international emergency communications is even further evidence of it's "relevence" in today's world. You should keep up on news in other forums other than reading your own posts.
FYI: I observed a roll-over MVA only a week ago in a cell-dead area. Guess how I called EMS/Fire-Rescue? Hint: It wasn't on CB-19 nor did I drive around looking for a pay-phone.
That you are able to cite several great technical advances authored by Amateurs only further exemplifies it's "relevence" in today's world in that it was important enough for those authors and engineers to participate in.
Steve, K4YZ
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RE: Ham Radio Operators Go Whole Hog with Unorthod
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by K4YZ on July 7, 2009
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Several ironies:
1) KA9Q wrote most of the TCP/IP specifications
Why is this "ironic"? Why would someone holding a federal license in a technically-oriented radio service NOT write a technical specification in some other discipline?
2) a 6-lander (call escapes me) wrote OFDM
And it would have been less ironic if it had been an 8-lander? Four? Seven?
3) 802.11[x] uses most of the very same parameters as AX.25 packet did, 25 YEARS AGO!
So? Does it not work? Do you not like it? Write your OWN specification, run it up the flagpole and see who salutes it.
4) If you know RF, there is no need for amplifiers so there is little desire for Part 97 operation
If you know propagation on 80 and 40, sometimes amplifiers are ABSOLUTELY needed. Last I checked, those bands fall within the RF spectrum, too. Also, the folks running EME will tell you the difference between 10 watts and 1000 watts is often the difference between success and being an also-ran. Neither Part 15 nor Part 95 allow that kind of power. Shall we innundate the FCC with Part 5 Experimental licenses everytime we want to operate more than 100mW?
5) Currently operating 802.11 under Part 97 requires a full time lawyer
Why? Are you violating Part 97?
Steve, K4YZ
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RE: Ham Radio Unorthodox
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by K4RAF on July 8, 2009
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RAF: "Currently operating 802.11 under Part 97 requires a full time lawyer"
YZ: "Why? Are you violating Part 97?"
No, to run off tin-horned "professional amateurs" like yourself, who insist on arguing the inane legalese of "current" Part 97's vs actual implementation vs Part 15 freedom, numbers & mass...
Never let the technology advancements get in your way.
Go fly a kite Stevie!
Raf
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RE: Ham Radio Unorthodox
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by K4YZ on July 8, 2009
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>>RAF: "Currently operating 802.11 under Part 97 requires a full time lawyer"
>>YZ: "Why? Are you violating Part 97?"
>>No, to run off tin-horned "professional amateurs" like yourself, who insist on arguing the inane legalese of "current" Part 97's vs actual >>implementation vs Part 15 freedom, numbers & mass...
>>Never let the technology advancements get in your way.
>>Go fly a kite Stevie!
I see you are unable to answer the questions put to you in a mature and adult-like manner, "Raf". (BTW: Is that short for "riff-raf"? It seems appropriate)
There's nothing "inane" about complying with the regulations of the radio service in which you are a licensee. In case you haven't read the back of your station license, it's a condition of licensure.
If you feel the constraints of the service aren't keeping up with technology, you're welcome to submit a petition for rulemaking with the FCC to accomodate your idea of what is not inane. Or apply for a Part 5 STA. Otherwise, it's just whining on your part.
You're dismissed.
Steve, K4YZ
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