Our Finest Hour?
Daniel J. Sullivan (KO1D)
on
January 16, 2005
Website:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/01/04/2/?nc=1
View comments about this article!
I know people here have conflicting views of the League, but while posted on the League's site it is not about the League. Rather, this is an article listing all the fine press giving a true representation of what this hobby of ours can accomplish. Some of the articles have been mentioned here, others, at the bottom of the article on the list, have not.
We have had a lot of disasters requiring our help, 9/11, hurricanes, tornadoes, but never anything on this scale. Never anything in this difficult an area I would argue. I think it can be said there is an argument that this is the world ham community's finest hour.
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/01/04/2/?nc=1
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Our Finest Hour?
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by K0BG on January 16, 2005
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I'm not sure you could call it amateur radio's finest hour. Learning how to handle health and welfare traffic by the baptism-by-fire method is suspect at best. I'd venture to say there isn't one amateur in 100 who can properly fill out an NTS form. Or properly pass the message for that matter.
Amateur radio's finest hour will come when everyone of us can handle H&W traffic as easily as pushing the mash-to-mumble switch.
Alan, KØBG
www.k0bg.com
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Our Finest Hour?
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by KB7LYM on January 16, 2005
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The finest hour ?
Nah ! I worked an Emergency RACES network every Sunday . I than after the roll call switched to an other frequency so that those behind some mountains could get the message. During one of those Emergency meetings it was debated. Answer from the Old Timers... They are just a bunch of CB operators.Good luck to them ! This is true the guys on the logging trucks are using CB's but are also Hamradio Operators. As soon as the bickering, back stabbing and self glorification is set aside then we will have our finest hour.
KB7LYM
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by K8MHZ on January 16, 2005
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<I'd venture to say there isn't one amateur in 100 who can properly fill out an NTS form>
So what? I had to use NTS on a search and rescue effort. They were tedious to fill out, slowed down comms and did nothing to help the effort. They were such a problem in fact, we stopped using them. That being said, we were using voice. It seemed to me that the forms were meant to be used with CW which is slow enough that filling out an NTS form wouldn't make much difference in speed.
And they still pulled it off! Practice or not, NTS or not, they still got the messages through.
Hopefully we will see more operators going for training as this recent disaster illustrates the possibilities we may face.
Training is important, but we need to keep up with the times. NTS needs to be replaced with something more efficient or not used at all, at least when using voice.
A look at how messages get passed in real life should applied to any type of standardization we use. NTS may be great for CW, but to use it for voice is wrong, IMHO.
As I have been hearing, hams have and are still doing a pretty good job for a group of hobbyists. Alan, you may get joy in putting them down, but I for one am not embarrassed to be a ham radio operator and I think that the other folks with Amateur tickets are great and deserve a little respect when they step up to the plate.
73,
K8MHZ
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Our Finest Hour?
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by NOREPLY on January 16, 2005
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The following excerpts are taken from a newspaper article in a country that is heavily involved in the tsunami relief operations:
"Winston Churchill didn't say 'this is OUR finest hour' in the middle of World War II's Battle of Britain.
He said if Britain should prevail, men will say 'this was THEIR finest hour'.
[...]
By all means, let's welcome [rescue workers] appropriately when they return. [...] But we must also remember that we didn't lose whole villages and towns. We didn't have whole families wiped out. And we are not the ones facing the prospect of having to pick up the pieces and rebuild our lives.
Thus, we must guard against anyone - here or from the multitude of other countries that sent in men and machinery - making use of this tragic episode to bolster their image.
[...] no one should hijack someone else's tragedy and try to turn it into his own 'defining moment'.
We should be content in the knowledge that when tragedy struck, we responded as friends, neighbours and fellow human beings. That we helped make someone's life better the day after is reward enough."
This comes from a country that has done infinitely more than the few contributions hams were able to make (and, per capita, probably more than any other country in the world). I think it would be wise to learn some humility instead of once again presenting radio amateurs to the world as self-aggrandizing braggarts.
Meanwhile, a certain radio club in Connecticut not only advertises ham radio by dreaming up a role in the tsunami relief that ham radio never had, but doesn't even refrain from using forged sound bites implying that the club radio station was directly involved in the relief operations. I think it is a fairly safe bet that this will not be seen as slightly embarrassing, but outright disgusting by many.
To K0BG: the "N" in "NTS" stands for "national". Third party messages relayed by amateur radio are illegal in many if not most countries in the world.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by GHOSTRIDERHF on January 16, 2005
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"Finest Hour"??!! -- oh my God here we go -- instead of just saying that a couple of our fellow hams did a good job and pitched in to help out in a tedious situation now somehow it becomes that we collectively as Ham operators are the saviours of the world??
I am just getting tired of every time -- bar none -- that something happens -- from tsunami to a volkswagon having a flat tire in the Freeway -- we have to hear that "This was our finest hours .. that without us that everything in the world would have stopped exsiting .. that somehow every single other mode of communication was down except the nerd with his 2meter HT that saved us from the CAT V tornado singlehandedly!!!"
what's next -- all ham operators should get the Presidental Medal of Freedom upon receiving their FCC hobby certificate ???
And you state "We have had a lot of disasters requiring our help, 9/11, hurricanes, tornadoes, but never anything on this scale." -- WRONG -- it should read:
"We have had a lot of diasters that a very small percentage of the hams in that area helped out in although at no times were we actually required but basically jump in to assist where we could!!"
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by N1JAO on January 16, 2005
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GHOSTRIDERHF-
"a couple of our fellow hams did a good job and pitched in to help out in a tedious situation now somehow it becomes that we collectively as Ham operators are the saviours of the world??"
Since when did 160,000 deaths become a "tedious situation?" What are you drinking, and where can I get a case of it? A little over reaction don't you think? Wow, what a silly statement to make. The poster did not say one thing about hams being " saviours of the world." He is merely proud of the hobby and the people in it who rose to the occasion, ok? Now, relax.
Robert (I have a call sign) Marotta
N1JAO
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Our Finest Hour?
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by K0RGR on January 16, 2005
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For those keeping score, so far it is:
Nattering Nabobs of Discontent - 6
Ham Radio Cheerleaders - 1
I think that the hams in the disaster area are getting the recognition and publicity that they have earned, and they are doing a fabulous job. I hope it leads to a great deal of growth. There aren't nearly enough VU stations on the air!
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by K4JF on January 16, 2005
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Y'all should stop giving credit where credit is due. You're embarassing us.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by K4JF on January 16, 2005
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<And you state "We have had a lot of disasters requiring our help, 9/11, hurricanes, tornadoes, but never anything on this scale." -- WRONG -- it should read:
"We have had a lot of diasters that a very small percentage of the hams in that area helped out in although at no times were we actually required but basically jump in to assist where we could!!" >
WRONG, HF. The original was correct.
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Our Finest Hour?
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by WA6BFH on January 16, 2005
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Well now, I think that if we get some good press from any such communication or relief that we can provide, that is a good thing. Ham radio quite typically only ever receives any recognition at all because of aiding in disaster communication.
Having said that, I wish that we would on occasion (lots of occasions) get recognition for scientific and technological contributions to society. Of the five sub-parts of FCC 97.1, I am best in accord with parts B, C, and D. There is nothing wrong with the ideas contained in A, and E, I just favor our origins!
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KB7LYM on January 16, 2005
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Only after the Big Wave we hear all that good stuff like... Help is on the way, Resque teams from the US have it together, Bush pledged millions in aid ( A nice gesture but worth about the price of a single sheet of Generic toilet paer. In Iran 30,000 death in an Earth quake. Millions being slaughtered in Sudan Somalia etc. And where are the Hams ??? Sitting behind their shiny brass tickers,warm and well fed ticking away to get all that glory.To help is one thing but to come back from a country like those and never mention a word of what you did...Now that is your finest hour.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by GHOSTRIDERHF on January 16, 2005
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N1JAO
I am not saying that 50,000 deaths in a tsunami are trivial (the number you quote is from the UN that is trying to make the numbers high so they can milk more money from the US for thier swiss bank accounts)
WHAT I AM SAYING IS -- ONCE AGAIN -- THAT THERE IS NEVER ANYTIME THAT A HAM CAN JUST HELP -- IF A HAM HELPS THEN HE SOMEHOW WANTS SUPER DUPER CREDIT FOR HIS ACTION ...
Hell a ham on this forum and other ham sites can't have a decent bile movement without wanting someone to give him credit for saving the world by taking a shit...
this is a hobby -- it stopped being a "service" along time ago -- and so sayeth the FCC, maybe not in words but by their actions... if you want the glory then actually go out there and DO SOMETHING -- firing up a radio and passing a message ain't it...
But hang on -- I have to go and do a quick radio check -- now when i come back I need for everyone to tell me what a great job i did doing the radio check becuase when all the comms in the world goes down I alone will be ready to take over for destroyed federal and military and local govt radio and comms systems that never seem to be adequate -- but boy my ICOM can get through every time...
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by G3SEA on January 16, 2005
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More like finest HOURS for the VU4 team. Let's give credit where it's due.Their HF emergency comm's were being streamed over a VU2 EchoLink node in New Delhi, India and was both heartening but sad as they relayed
news of survivors ( and non survivors ) to their relatives.
Namaste' to the VU4 Gang
KH6/G3SEA
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by K4JF on January 16, 2005
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All those with a grip on reality DO respect and honor those who are giving service to our fellow man.
My guess is that there are some on here who do not wish to participate in public service. (That is their right, of course.) But instead of just saying "I'm not interested in that aspect of ARS.", they deny it even exists in a vain attempt to justify their non-participation. Gentlemen, you do not need to justify your non-participation. Nobody is requiring that you participate. Just leave it alone, and let us honor those who serve their fellow man. They have earned it by their actions. They are a small percentage of us, and they deserve the respect of all the rest of us. If you can't give them that respect, just shut up.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by NOREPLY on January 16, 2005
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K4JF wrote:
> All those with a grip on reality DO respect and honor
> those who are giving service to our fellow man.
I do respect people who do good for the sake of others. My respect is however greatly diminished if someone, after having had the opportunity to be helpful, runs around telling the world what a great benefactor s/he is. It makes me wonder if that person acted for the sake of his fellow humans, or simply for his/her own glory.
In this case, some folks in Asia (who are first and foremost humans, and only quite a bit after that also happen to be radio amateurs) do good, and US amateurs claim "we" have "earned" a pat on the back for this.
Along the same lines are some folks who sign as or advertise their positions as "coordinator/director/whatever" of ham "relief" organisations whose main contribution appears to be designing web pages touting their own importance - and presumably doing very little that would actually help (being a ham in the US doesn't put one in a situation to be of much help in a disaster on the other side of the planet). The most effective way for a ham in the US to help the tsunami victims is very likely to donate money to relief organisations, even if that doesn't give you the opportunity to appear on the ARRL front page.
People throughout the world may have different cultural/religious/ethical backgrounds, but some values are surprisingly common among them. Here is one of these values, in the formulation from a book that is familiar to people in a culture dominated by christianity. Other religions and/or philosophy systems, including atheist ones, likely have equivalents:
"Matthew 6
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:
otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have
glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand
doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret
himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they
love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that
they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."
If you don't see people doing "public service", give them the benefit of doubt. There are people who talk a lot about it, and people who rather do it. The latter I respect a lot, even if I don't know who they are.
vy 73,
NOREPLY
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Our Finest Hour?
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by WA2JJH on January 16, 2005
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Hats off anyway. To all tha participated.
In EMT training first 2 things they told you..
1)Your not going to save the world
2)patients do die
3)You cannot chage 1 or 2
Goatslider...I gave you 3 hours on 14.200. Care to try CW?
you really come off like a freebander!
As for the other negative, unproduceful people, if
you do not like Eham so much.....LEAVE!
eHAM USED TO BE SO MUCH BETTER IN THE BEGINNING!
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by K4JF on January 16, 2005
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<In EMT training first 2 things they told you..
1)You're not going to save the world
2)patients do die
3)You cannot chage 1 or 2 >
Not just EMT training, but emergency response training of many types have the same lessons. I used that when I was training for chemical spill response, first responder, and others. (Before I retired...)
Good things to remember. Not new, but valid just the same.
(Hope you don't mind that I corrected the spelling above - I'm sure you meant "you're".)
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by K4JF on January 16, 2005
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< I do respect people who do good for the sake of others. My respect is however greatly diminished if someone, after having had the opportunity to be helpful, runs around telling the world what a great benefactor s/he is. It makes me wonder if that person acted for the sake of his fellow humans, or simply for his/her own glory.>
Can't disagree with that. Best to let the deeds speak, rather than the mouth.
My objection is to those who claim that it never happened, simply because THEY were not involved. Or because they didn't see it on MSNBC.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by GHOSTRIDERHF on January 16, 2005
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NOREPLY
Great response. I think you hit the nail ont the head.
I am just so tired of ham folks that think by simplying SAYING they are doing something or because the create a web or write in this forum actually diminishing the great job of silent warriors in the field actually doing something.
You see these guys all driving around with all these antennas on the car and their scanners blaring and 2m HT hanging off their raggy clothes and orange vests hanging on the front seat that says "POLICE" or "EMS COMMUNICATION", etc etc and it just pisses you off that these wannabes wants to take the same credit as those guys that are actually doing this 24/7 and then get upset on this website when you dont pay or even question their hommage.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by WA2JJH on January 16, 2005
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rUMPROAST rider HF Freeboner have you ever given CPR?
I have many times. Sad case when I gave CPR LAST TIME.
I brought her back to life.
It was sad that she was without CPR for a few minutes. he died 2 days later in ICU.
no ass hole, I do not do ride alongs. I agree they are stupid.
Get you facts down before you open your scum filled mouth.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by NOREPLY on January 16, 2005
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K4JF wrote:
>My objection is to those who claim that it never
>happened, simply because THEY were not involved. Or
>because they didn't see it on MSNBC.
My perception of these postings is somewhat different: I see them as attempts to put things into perspective after reports on the importance of amateur radio have been greatly exaggerated.
I suspect that for every case where ham radio saves a life or helps in an emergency, there are thousands of cases where other means of communications, including the much maligned cell phone system, do the same.
A few days ago, on QRZ.com, an amateur from Sri Lanka wrote that the role of ham radio in the tsunami as reported on the ARRL and other web sites was, to put it mildly, incorrect, and did not correspond to information provided by the Sri Lankan radio association.
Extolling the virtues of amateur radio without a mention of, or worse, while denigrating other systems, will cost us credibility and ruins our respectability. In the interest of preserving the hobby, I think we should fight this temptation. I do not think the "emergency communications" argument is credible enough to solely justify our frequency allocations. We may fare better by being accepted by the general public as decent people with a technical (and harmless) hobby that sometimes can come in handy rather than emergency service wannabes who take themselves way too serious.
I believe society at large has a much better grasp on our significance than we may think and will recognize our PR stunts as the emperor's new clothes.
A lot of posters denigrated as trolls, naysayers, or called by even more nasty names may actually do what they do because they want to preserve amateur radio. Just because their view on things may contradict official ARRL doctrine doesn't mean they don't honestly care. Plurality of opinions promotes discussion that is essential to keep amateur radio relevant. While, unfortunately, such discussions tend to degenerate into flamewars, I believe they are more important than feel-good articles on which everyone agrees.
Finally, let me add that respect for amateur radio operators may not only come from what we do with our radios, but how we discuss with each other. It would be nice to have controversial discussions that do not degenerate into name calling for a change.
Vy 73,
NOREPLY
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Our Finest Hour?
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by WA2JJH on January 16, 2005
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I am sorry that I like to help people. If it makes you feel better FREERIDER-HF, IF I KNOW IT WAS YOU CODING OUT....I WILL JUST WATCH YOU GO CYANOTIC THEN DIE AND GO TO HELL!
If you do not really know somebody, do not generalize.
I do not like the ""BUffs" either! They have their h-ts
like toys. The Police and fire hate them too.
However they really hate low life perp skells like you! LET ME GENERALIZE. I SEE YOU AS THAT SLOB WANNA BE
EASYRIDER. YOU THE SCUM THAT HANG OUT AT ACCIDENT SCENES AND HECKLE.
Sorry, I AM a biomedical engineer too! Because people like you...your not worth making better articial limbs.
Hope you get glail cell carcinoma, you piece of trash!
I am doing tissue engineering right now.
Be real funny if you got full thickness burns over 80% of you body.
LIKE I SAID ASS HOLE....GET YOUR FACTS FIRST MORON.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by WA2JJH on January 16, 2005
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Very interesting.....Google and Nexus lexus confirmed
who is a freebander!
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by AE6IP on January 17, 2005
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> My objection is to those who claim that it never
> happened, simply because THEY were not involved.
Then you have no objection, at least here, since no such claims has been made so far.
On the other hand, my objection is to those who have over-stated the cases for the ham involvement to the point where they give or take credit for such outrageous statements as "No one else could [provide the coms]".
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by KY1V on January 17, 2005
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WA2JJH...
So, are you saying that you would let a person die because you don't like them?
What if the person is a biker laying there dying? A gay? An Arab? A black person? An eHam contributor that you disagreed with?
I hope I never need assistance in your area. You truly scare me!
Get some help. It's not too late.
David ~ KY1V
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by AE6IP on January 17, 2005
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given the extent to which echolink was used, i would think you would be calling it the internet's finest hour.
73
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Scary
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by KA4KOE on January 17, 2005
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Mike don't need no stinkin' help. He's just on a roll....wouldn't hurt a hair on a cute kitten's little head.
Yes, Mike is scary...that is, if you're a perp.
Go get 'em TIGER!!!
PHILIP
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Our Finest Hour?
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by EHAM_GUEST_001 on January 17, 2005
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Ham radio operators just can't get over the fact that cell phones, satellite phones, public servant's digital coms and yes, even CB radios still out number them in assisting others in emergencies but yet they are the ONLY ones who ever want the spotlight. I’ve never even seen the cell phone companies get on television and blow their own horn saying “Joe Cell saw a bus crash into a bridge on his way home from Burger King, he immediately dialed *911 for help on his Cingular wireless phone and saved the day”.
I may not have the statistics 100% accurate, but you always hear a bunch of bozos saying "cell phones failed or didn't work on 9/11" but in reality there were about 30,000+/- calls per hour that actually got through. Hard to call that a "failure" unless you've suffered too much RF exposure or you were dropped on your head when you were born.
Here's an idea, call or email Time Magazine and brag to them how ham radio, CW and NTS forms can save the world.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KC8VWM on January 17, 2005
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"The poster did not say one thing about hams being " saviours of the world." He is merely proud of the hobby and the people in it who rose to the occasion,"
Well Said.
"Help is on the way, Resque teams from the US have it together, Bush pledged millions in aid ( A nice gesture but worth about the price of a single sheet of Generic toilet paper."
...Agreed,
What I find rather amazing is that there are suddenly all these "groups" soliciting your so called "help" for the victims but there are very few avenues available to actually going over there and provide direct help to the many victims in need.
I always wondered how throwing rolls of green colored toilet paper at people is somehow supposed to actually help them? ...Sounds like someone is attempting to capitalize on the current situation and line thier own pockets if you ask me.
Let's not firget that it really takes people to help other people in distaster situations like these.
Amateur radio is playing an excellent role ensuring that health and welfare information is getting through to the many individuals that are concerned about family members.
73
Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by GHOSTRIDERHF on January 17, 2005
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WA2JJH - Mike
Just to let the world officially know -- If I am ever hurt to the point I need CPR from you I think I would rather die !!!
---
It must be difficult to be a Biotech Engineer, work EMS ambulances and operate your HT all at the same time.
But you are right though -- if I come up on an accident and I am the first one there I whip out the cell phone instead of the HT and call 911 and then wait for the professionals like you that not only have the capability to articulate the English language so eloquently but also to save folks lives.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by GHOSTRIDERHF on January 17, 2005
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NOREPLY stated
"I suspect that for every case where ham radio saves a life or helps in an emergency, there are thousands of cases where other means of communications, including the much maligned cell phone system, do the same.
A few days ago, on QRZ.com, an amateur from Sri Lanka wrote that the role of ham radio in the tsunami as reported on the ARRL and other web sites was, to put it mildly, incorrect, and did not correspond to information provided by the Sri Lankan radio association.
Extolling the virtues of amateur radio without a mention of, or worse, while denigrating other systems, will cost us credibility and ruins our respectability. In the interest of preserving the hobby, I think we should fight this temptation. I do not think the "emergency communications" argument is credible enough to solely justify our frequency allocations. We may fare better by being accepted by the general public as decent people with a technical (and harmless) hobby that sometimes can come in handy rather than emergency service wannabes who take themselves way too serious."
---------
-------
--
I agree with you 10000%.
If you listen to the actual hams that are in the tsunami areas they say that their roles were small -- mainly village message traffic -- (in fact the dreaded ECHOLINK is the true hero if any) but other hams that weren't there that are trying to extract monies from folks for their own pockets in the name of "relief" are making it sound as if the roles these hams played are gigantic.
Even the ARRL has knowingly misrepresented what the hams in SriLanka told them to make hams seem like vital parts of the infrasructure.
I think that most organizations, both good and bad, saw that they could make 100s of millions instantly since 9/11 with every emergency. I mean look at the United Way -- one of the first things that the executives did after 9/11 and the money started pouring in was give themselves raises ... and the same is happening to the tsunami relief .. some of these agencies say that only 20 cents of every dollar makes it to the countries -- the rest is ADMINISTRATIVE costs...
give me a break...
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KF4VGX on January 17, 2005
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As Amateurs we can only offer our help.
By using any means of communications within our grasp.
If millions of hams offer their help, and we save but one life, then we are well worth our license and efforts. We agree to save a life is better than to lose a life . That is our finest.
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by KB7LYM on January 17, 2005
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Hamradio Operators USED to be in Control when helping during disasters. ARES, RACES. Now they are under control of FEMA.
Soon Hams are the ones when something go wrong with the communications of FEMA. And we all know, that when the Government is in charge, there will be many Scapecoats needed.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by NOREPLY on January 17, 2005
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KC8VWM wrote:
>What I find rather amazing is that there are suddenly
>all these "groups" soliciting your so called "help" for
>the victims but there are very few avenues available to
>actually going over there and provide direct help to the
>many victims in need.
There are reputable relief organisations that have been around for a long time, like the Red Cross/RedCrescent, Medecins Sans Frontieres, Oxfam, etc. Most of them welcome dedicated volunteers. There are also civil defence programs in many countries that volunteers are welcome to join.
Traveling to a disaster area as individuals may not be that useful. A significant problem in the relief efforts appears to be coordination between the multitude of various aid groups/agencies.
Do you speak the local languages? Are you familiar with the local culture? Climate? Immunized against Malaria and Dengue Fever? Know how to deal with the local flora and fauna? Ready to work between the fronts in rebellion/civil war areas (Aceh and Sri Lanka), rigged with mines?
If not, you might be more of a liability than an asset.
>I always wondered how throwing rolls of green colored
>toilet paper at people is somehow supposed to
>actually help them?
Things cost money. Let's look at getting relief goods (e.g. drinking water or clothing) to the affected population:
You could send donated stuff from the US, much of which will be inappropriate as we lack familiarity with the culture, climate, and general requirements in the affected areas. And you have the logistic nightmare of getting all that shipped halfway around the world.
Or, you send green "toilet paper" that enables relief organisations to procure what is needed and appropriate locally (and at much better prices than one could get in the US.)
> ...Sounds like someone is attempting to capitalize
>on the current situation and line thier own pockets >if you ask me.
That will certainly occur. Still, if only half of the money arrives where it is intended for, it will be vastly more useful than a bunch of individuals whose only qualification is that they hold a radio license.
Vy 73,
NOREPLY
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KT0DD on January 17, 2005
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The important fact is that hams are helping, period. The bickering / complaining etc. like what you see on here is wasted energy and serves no purpose. Getting public recognition is nice, but not that important. The people who are actually helped by us will remember, and their word of mouth will do more good than a puff piece on TV.
Also, NTS traffic handling is important, but in emergencies, the old basic protocol of " Where are you?", Who are you?" and "What is your situation?" will be more useful in the immediate post disaster response. Formal traffic handling comes later, after some semblance of organization has been established. 73.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KC8VWM on January 17, 2005
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No Reply,
You make some good and interesting points that I am aware of and I do agree that it is a complex situation.
However, I still can't help but wonder about the fact that while many of these volunteer opportunities are suposed to be available through the Red Cross and other agencies, It seems quite aparent that the US based agencies in particular are "severly limiting" a persons ability to volunteer to the point that no one can actually participate in the recent disaster.
Read this revealing statement if you have any doubts:
"Thank you for your interest in the American Red Cross. In regards to volunteering internationally the Red Cross has a team of selected members who are trained to respond in different areas, including water and sanitation, technical assistance, and family linking. Additional trained response personnel are on standby. At this time there is not a current need to expand this group, but we thank you for your interest.
(Here's the section I like best:
Hurry, send in your money and credit cards today!)
If you would like to donate financially to the international disaster you can contact 1-800-HELP-NOW or visit our national web site at www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp."
Source:
http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_3880,00.html
Now the article sounds like they are "strongly discouraging" anyone from offering any direct assistance if you ask me.
After reading this, what this would translate to mean for volunteers such as myself is;
"You are a fully qualified medical practicioner but since you don't speak the local native language (Who really would anyways unless you actually lived there?), then you are not qualified to provide any assistance based on your medical background qualifications or any other valuable skills you may have - therefore, we don't need you, unless you carry a gold card.
"Speak thier native languages, practice thier local cultural beliefs??" etc. etc...
... C'mon give me a freakin break.
Why is it that I can openly volunteer in a country like Australia, to help these victims, but I am somehow severly limited by certain "qualification standards" if I offer my volunteer services from here in the US ?
http://www.australianvolunteers.com/home/tsunami/help
Interesting huh?
We are talking about helping people in a disaster situation to rebuild the local infrastructure, not practice in the fine art of local conversation or attending local religious events and rituals in the local community. These qualifications should be "optional" or a "desired asset" not the "rule"
Seems to me like they really don't need that much help then, unless of course, you are sending them a roll of your U.S. greenstamps that would be gladly accepted with open arms.
BTW, US money is printed using the American English language. ...How will they ever cope?
Hurry..., send in your plastic today!
73
Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KC8VWM on January 17, 2005
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"The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting
relief operations.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW"
http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/
FAQ Section:
Q: I want to volunteer in the tsunami disaster relief. Can I?
A: Volunteer opportunities in disaster settings are extremely rare, and are usually limited to people with prior disaster experience and technical skills (such as health, engineering, etc). The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is through monetary donations to humanitarian organizations.
.... "Extremely Rare?"
Source: http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/content/about_usafc/newsroom/announcements_dynamic.asp?ID=840#4
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KT0DD on January 17, 2005
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Charles / KC8VWM:
The reason monetary donations are so important is that the infrastructure has been decimated, and having funds to pay locally for relief materials and labor helps their local economy rebuild. Efficency is important in these matters, and helping the locals earn an income while doing their own re-building is more efficent than paying for round trip plane tickets & providing food and lodging etc. for a foreign aid worker.
If someone is wealthy enough to pay all of their own expenses for their whole trip, then just book a flight, show up on their doorstep and offer your services. Once your there, they would most likely find something for you to do. But don't expect the relief agencies to support your trip just so you can volunteer your time. It's cheaper to use local labor, & more beneficial. 73.
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New Playmate
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by KA4KOE on January 17, 2005
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Mike...
Sounds like you and your new playmate are having loads of fun. Let me know how the martial arts workout with him goes.
I am oh so happy for you!!!!!
PHILIP
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Our Finest Hour?
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by K1CJS on January 17, 2005
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"My objection is to those who claim that it never happened, simply because THEY were not involved."
My objections are those who are not ham radio operators (or who won't admit it) putting down those that are and that try to help out. If those people are not able to get ther ticket or just won't, or who just refuse to post under their call would stop their namecalling, I'd bet there would only be one or two responces on this article.
If you don't want to participate in emergency communications, please don't criticise those who do. I have a couple of people in my area who refer to those who "play emergency communications" when we are on the air keeping our skills sharp. They've been reported for jamming. Too bad a report can't be filed for jamming this article!
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by GHOSTRIDERHF on January 17, 2005
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KT0DD
good points.
To fly over to the tsunami area, then make your way into the area probably costs the relief folks at least 1000 a person on air fare... that 1000 could easily be given to the local folks to buy things there...
then if an american vounteer gets hurt somehow then we would probably be the first to sue the relief organization -- LOL
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Our Finest Hour?
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by WA1RNE on January 17, 2005
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The hams who participated in passing health and welfare traffic in the affected areas did what they had to do under severe conditions....exactly what we are supposed to do in times of emergency.
Why shouldn't these people be acknowledged as having performed a valuable service?
Who cares if they can or can't send a message in the proper format. DO YOU THINK THE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES CARE?
It is pathetic - and continues to be embarassing to hear the same hams being critical of others just for the sake of being critical - probably because they are jealous they weren't there themselves to do the same thing.
Even more pathetic and predictable is that if these pathetic "borocrates" were on the seen, they would probably be writing and calling the ARRL and every press agency to make sure their name is headlined.
If any of us in our lifetimes provide just 1/2 the emergency related communication services that these hams did in unbelievable conditions, you too can confidently say that you deserve a pat on the back and sincere thanks for being available to help others using a skill that not everyone has.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KC8VWM on January 17, 2005
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"The reason monetary donations are so important is that the infrastructure has been decimated, and having funds to pay locally for relief materials and labor helps their local economy rebuild. "
Of course this is the reason. Understood.
I was just wondering about the intent and manner they were using in this recent wake and thier "cry for help"
Wording like, "What can you do to assist the victims?" only seems to translate to "How much money can you send us." recently.
In other words, the focus seems primarily on the money matters and not on the actual victims.
Do you actually know what the needs actually are?
Do they have enough Doctors, Nurses?
Do they need people to build shelters or people to help look after the elderly victims, the homeless?
Point is, I sure haven't heard anything specific to this during all these monetary pleads for my gold plastic.
While money is an important attribute for rebuilding any devastated infrastructure of this magnitude, I feel they may seriously lack the number of actual volunteers that are required.
Could it be possible that they don't want just ordinary civilian volunteers to assist in the relief efforts?
Why do I say this?
My feeling is that they only want( Union people if you will ) consisting of only certain professional engineering firms, certain US based "disaster and relief devastation R us agencies" and other types of "businesses" in there providing the help at an inflated expense to the American taxpayer..
I mean, could this be possible?
I think Volunteers in there cleaning up the union shop would surely affect the bottom line for these businesses wouldn't you think?
Whatever happened to "People helping out people"?
I think hams strong point right now is the fact that they are truely "volunteering" and helping out regardless of whatever their intended role is supposed to be, or level of importance during this event.
They are providing what I consider to be the only true and most valuable volunteer service.
Kudos to the many amateur radio volunteers.
73
Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by K4JSR on January 17, 2005
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Ghosty-toasty-HF said, "Hell a ham on this forum and other ham sites can't have a decent bile movement without wanting someone to give him credit for saving the world by taking a sh*t..."
What does having a "bile movement" have to do with
giving a sh*t? No need to get "BOWELigerent", inquiring minds want to know!! Just want to see if if you have the GALL to get all of your GUTS in a row!
:-) After all, we just can't let you leave the SPLEEN of the accident!
Please have a nice day and DO get the GUTS to get a
real identity for Eham, other than your Freeband Handle.
73, Cal K4JSR
Bethlehem, Ga.
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The FCC needs to mail out Valium with each license
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by WB4M on January 17, 2005
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I am amazed at how a simple posting can inspire grown men to go completely ignorant. From the postings I have read in here today, this is Amateur Radios's WORST hour.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by WA2JJH on January 17, 2005
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GHQOASTRIDER IS ALSO THE NAME OF AN ASSOCIATION OF FREE-BANDERS.
I WLL START PULISHING THE LIST. ASK PHILIP or a few others, that all the web and lexus nexus had text of peple with the same handle on a freeband mag. same writting style. They have been playing ham here for a while.
FRustrated they cannot learn 5 WPM, THEY JOIN THAT HIGH FREQUENCY ASSOCIATION that brag about how much power and which ham rigs they use 24mhz-30mhz
ALSO RUMP ROAST RIDER, you really are a moron.
Who's call are you bootlEging with on 20M.
I ASKED YOU 3 TIMES TO MEET ME ON 14,200SSB OR CW.
YOU LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH TO ME TO MAKE A 40 MILE OE LESS.
14..200
CONTACT.
Were you the moron that tuned up and whistled?
This list took me a few months of spare time. There are anons that are freebanders.
ALSO ALL DATA MINING I DID WAS LEGIT.
GHost-riders are a term for free banders.
What are you hidding from!!!! I can see by your topics, your a free-boner.
I also know which NCT;S ARE freebanders too.
I sent that sheet to a few real hams here.
I would chose a anon name that did not lead web pages
for free-banders.
AND FOR THE 3ERD TIME NOT ALL EMT'S ARE BUFF LOOKING FOOLS. I DID IT TO GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL.
rEMEMBER YOU OPENED THIS CAN OF WORMS!!!!!!!!
I am a peacefull dude, we all do not need your negative crap, will your.
I KNOW WHICH ANON EHAMS ARE REAL HAMS AND DECENT PEOPLE.
You did fake us out for a good long time.
Oh triage is always goes by viabiliry.
LETS END THIS TONIGHT. STAY OUT OF MY FACE, I WILL DO THE SAME.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KA4KOE on January 17, 2005
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One more word....just pray that Mike isn't bored and decides to do a quick coup de grace instead of a long, drawn out play session.
Hee-heee
P
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Gorns......
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by KA4KOE on January 17, 2005
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"...Kirk! I grow tired of the chase. I will be quick and merciful. Meet me by the clearing. Stop running!!!!
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RE: Gorns......
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by KF4VGX on January 17, 2005
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KA4KOE on January 17, 2005
"...Kirk! I grow tired of the chase. I will be quick and merciful. Meet me by the clearing. Stop running!!!!
...........................
A duel has been declared ! Gentlemen choose your weapons .
No Guns or knives or word slander !
You must operate on a mode you desire less.
The one with the most contacts in a 24 hour period wins the dispute .
Good luck ! Time and date at your leisure .
Or was that an old Startrek episode?
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by W6TH on January 17, 2005
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Seems to be the old saying "The only helping hand you will find will be at the end of your own arm".
Yes, this is a changing world and these posts certainly prove it.
Let those that are interested in helping do so and then leave the rest to the professionals.
We ain't what we used to be.
.:
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by K4JF on January 17, 2005
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<> My objection is to those who claim that it never
> happened, simply because THEY were not involved.
Then you have no objection, at least here, since no such claims has been made so far. >
Not on this particular thread. But it HAS been the case in prior discussions elsewhere.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KC8VWM on January 17, 2005
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K4JF says it so eloqently,
"Gentlemen, you do not need to justify your non-participation. Nobody is requiring that you participate. Just leave it alone, and let us honor those who serve their fellow man. They have earned it by thier actions"
- Well said.
Kudos to the few that are helping the many.
73
Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by WA2JJH on January 17, 2005
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MORON FREEBANDER
SOME CRAP ABUT HT, BU , AND BIO-TECH
YOU DO NOT KNOW ME JERK.
1)EMT YEARS AGO. LOOKWS GOOD TO GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL
I NEVER CARRY AN H-T
THE BIOMEDICAL ENGINNERING IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN DOING A FEW YEARS.
KNOW YOUR FACTS FREEBANDER
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by WA2JJH on January 17, 2005
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yes folks it is true. any of the ANONS freebanders.
I have a list thT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO GET ON GOOGLE
IT IS A FREEBAND CLUB CHARTER.
I HAVE REAL NAMES, addrs, teclo numbers and what illegal rig they are running.
One dude has a minivan that runs 6kw mobile
There were many references to a GHOST RIDER.
1) A FREE BANDER WITH P.O. BOX
FIRST AND LAST NAME AND TELCO NUMBER
I HAVE ABOUT 40 MEMBERS ON THIS LIST
Many refer to a dude called Ghost rider that designs these high poer systems for cars to run 1kw from the car. CLASS C AMPS.
A GAVE PART OF THE LIST TO philip, cal, and a few
ohers.
One copy is with an attorney.
ANY IDea who I should give this list too. any one the list all had ham equipment.
I will send out THE freebanders that play ham.
I beieve people like ghostrider types that ruin eham
for all.
reuyi
EHAM HAS DEAL
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This "Bugs" me!!!
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by KA4KOE on January 18, 2005
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If you challenge us, by proper procedure, we get to choose the weapons.
Better start looking for a Vibroplex, my friend!
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KB3KAQ on January 18, 2005
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not sure how letting friends and family outside of the disaster area know the status of a loved one or relative is something to jump up and down about while claiming a "finest hour" accolade.
sure, you could argue it helped ease the mental distress of the relatives or friends, but in the end, it is little more than a feel good gesture to help those half a world away connect to the event.
i have stayed off the air after hearing several stations claim they had official tsunami nets in progress and then proceeded to detail the structure of the net and what would happen _IF_ they had some traffic or vital information to pass. and then they passed it around for a few discussions on the local weather in Nantucket and Topeka and who had what radio and tower. seems odd they only had US stations on the net.
it was the finest hour of those directly involved and any proclaimation beyond that only cheapens the actions of those directly involved. sending a test message over a net is not the same as sending a message to the mainland with a resources required list.
-steve
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by OLDFART13 on January 18, 2005
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Here is a website for the following radio Ops (some hams, some not):
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tommy2watt/keydown-cb/keydown-cb.html
It is losers like VE3HBD, Ghostrider, NoReply, and N3JFW that are an embarrassment to ham radio. They have a website dedicated to how the majority of hams are old, fat smelly and socially inept cretins. They get pics from different sources including the internet. They modify these pictures with photoshop and make it appear as if the pics are of real hams. They do this to make hams look bad. A lot of their members are Cbers and Freebanders without a ham license at all. There are a couple of them that have studied enough to miraculously pass the exams to get a license.
When I confronted them on this issue they modified my post to make it look like I made some statements that I liked men and was gay. I then pulled their punk card on this issue and told them how it was and bamn; these losers revoked my posting privileges. These little crybabies are always complaining about how QRZ modifies posts or ban people from their form who don’t agree with them, but when I gave them a piece of my mind they all acted like little spoiled babies.
The moderator of the site edited my posts to make me look bad, and then when I called him out on it he banned me from the site. I at no time used any vulgarities or untruths but the truth was more than these little wanabees could handle.
These are the REAL LOSERS of RADIO. The worst part is that some hams go to their site and support them.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by GHOSTRIDERHF on January 18, 2005
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OLDFART13 --
If "we" are the big losers then why do you happen to be the only one that seems to know about these CB sites and their URL ???
Now be honest -- which picture in there is yours???
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RE: This "Bugs" me!!!
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by KC8VWM on January 18, 2005
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"Better start looking for a Vibroplex, my friend!"
You can even build one if you have to defend yourself.
pg. 40 Feb. 2005 QST
Charles, VWM
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KC8VWM on January 18, 2005
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Now be honest -- which picture in there is yours???
Well Ghosty, here's mine if you really want to know...
(ooo000 naw, Clinton or Mike would probobly be forced to ban me from eham for posting it here..lol)
N2MG, your not in here reading this now are you?
:)
KC8VWM
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by AE6IP on January 18, 2005
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> If any of us in our lifetimes provide just 1/2 the
> emergency related communication services that these
> hams did in unbelievable conditions, you too can
> confidently say that you deserve a pat on the back
> and sincere thanks for being available to help
> others using a skill that not everyone has.
I don't offer my services for a pat on the back. I don't want a pat on the back when I perform them. If what you accomplished wasn't enough for you, all by itself, then you should carefully reevaluate your motives.
IMHO, the largest part of what is wrong with ARES is that too many people involved care more about the pat-on-the-back than they care about what they might accomplish.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by AE6IP on January 19, 2005
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>>> My objection is to those who claim that it never
>>> happened, simply because THEY were not involved.
>> Then you have no objection, at least here, since no >> such claims has been made so far.
> Not on this particular thread. But it HAS been the
> case in prior discussions elsewhere.
This may be. But it is more than balanced by the 'only hams can' absurdity of the other extreme.
One grows tired of the outrageous and excesive claims made about hams helping out during the world trade center cleanup, for example. The oft-repeated claim is that the cell system 'failed', and 'hams were there.' The reality is that a small number of hams proovided a small amount of health-and-welfare traffic, and the cell system, rather than failing, handled double the traffic it was designed for.
Similarly, the ARRL PR machine is crowing about hams helping out in the tsunami, and people on this and other forums are making outrageous claims about 'only hams can'. The reality is that a small number of hams provided a small amount of health-and-welfare traffic, and even that relied heavily on the internet.
Is it surprising that in the face of this outrageous hyperbole, one occassionaly finds negative hyperbole that attempts to soar to the same height? hardly.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by AE6IP on January 19, 2005
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> Kudos to the few that are helping the many.
Indeed:
To the handful of hams who provided a small amount of health and welfare traffic, kudos.
To the estimated ten thousand stranded tourists who chose to stay and help rather than return to their native lands, kudos.
To the estimated hundreds of thousands of area natives who are helping their neighbors rebuild, even when their own homes were spared, kudos.
To the millions of people world-wide, who collected and contributed, kudos.
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Our Finest Hour?
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by WA2DYA on January 19, 2005
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Well, it took me about an hour to read through these posts. I can't say that It was a very fine hour.
--- CHAS WA2DYA
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by K4JF on January 19, 2005
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<The reality is that a small number of hams provided a small amount of health-and-welfare traffic, and even that relied heavily on the internet.><
Actually, in both cases cited, there was quite a bit more than that. There was a significant amount of coordination of operations of agencies (before regular links are established) and other factors, besides just health-and-welfare traffic, which is DOWN the list of priorities. Think SATERN and Red Cross/Red Crescent operations.
It was also interesting that a DXpedition turned immediately into a comm link for an island otherwise isolated for several days. Good that they were there at that time, as it enhanced the viability of ham radio in the eyes of that particular administration.
While (I agree that) the subject is sometimes overplayed, let's at least give credit for work actually done.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by NOLICENSEASOFYET on January 19, 2005
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This..........is some of the worst behavior by what are suppose to be grown adult people. Its pathetic.
I think you all should get together and beat each other about the head and neck area.
please post video of it.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by W5HTW on January 19, 2005
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It would HAVE to be a video. Too many of the people trying to write, can't. Some are completely incoherent. (That means, It doesn't make sense.)
And these are the folks who are saving the world? Some of them can't even spell 'world.'
Over on another popular ham site, a native ham in a native country of the region that was hit (I am not going to identify him, but you can find his posting if you try) pretty well said the US hams are being completely fooled. He said none of the hams in his country lost their equipment to the storm, none of them lost communications. Internet and phones were working, and electrical power was working. This was in one of the hardest hit areas. His advice? Stay home. Don't send radio equipment, don't send radio operators.
Kinda reminds me of the Mexican earthquake a couple of years ago. The Mexican hams asked US hams to 'stay out of it.' They had it under control, no external help needed.
Same during the floods in Honduras. Local Honduran hams in the area provided regional communication, but US hams weren't needed or wanted.
Once in a while, such as during the series of hurricanes this past summer, a ham somewhere is needed, and that's great. I think it was in Bermuda - or maybe the Bahamas(!) - where one ham stayed on emergency power and checked into the hurricane net with the kind of information that really is valuable.
I believe at least one ham was useful in the hurricane caused floods in the Carribean, too. But almost all - if not all - of the communications was regarding weather conditions, not health and welfare traffic.
SATERN? For health and welfare traffic, they refer you to the internet. No one handles H&W traffic anymore. Such traffic can reach Mamma back in Sacramento, or Aunt Judy, in Fargo, ND, faster on the internet than it ever can on ham radio. And probably more reliably, and with less mistakes. Most of the time, within minutes, and with IM, or chat, instantly.
Listen to the Maritime Mobile Service Net. They invite "deployed military" to join in, and offer toll free calling anywhere in the US. I'm not sure anyone has taken them up on that offer in years. Deployed military personnel don't need phone patches; they have internet access, and in most cases, live chat capabilities. The MMSN does indeed do a good job of assisting private boats at sea, and has been instrumental in saving several lives in the past few years. But as a matter of routine, no, it doesn't happen.
American hams absolutely INSIST they must rush into these affected areas. After all, "We Are Americans; the bestest with the mostest, so get out of our way." One from around here just left for three months there, in the tsunami area, to set up WI-FI communications. Ah, so - so they have WI-FI capability? The phone lines are working? There's electric power? ISP?s I bet he could do just as much contributing the money he spent to get there, to the Red Cross. Maybe more.
Sorry, folks. Ham radio is years out of the business of saving the world.
Ed
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by NOLICENSEASOFYET on January 19, 2005
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.. / .- --. .-. . . / .-- .. - .... / - .... .. ... / .-.. .- ... - / .--. --- ... - .-.-.- / .. / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / .... .- ...- . / - --- / ... .- -.-- / - .... .- - / - .... .. ... / -... .. -.-. -.- . .-. .. -. --. / .- -. -.. / .. -- .- - ..- .-. . / ..-. .. --. .... - .. -. --. / .. ... / .- / .... --- .-. .-. .. -... .-.. . / .-- .- -.-- / - --- / .-. . .--. .-. . ... . -. - / .... .- -- / .-. .- -.. .. --- .-.-.- / .. - / .... .- ... / -... . . -. / - .... . / --- -. . / -- --- ... - / ... .. -. --. .-.. . / - .... .. -. --. / - .... .- - / .... .- ... / - ..- .-. -. . -.. / -- . / --- ..-. ..-. / - --- / -... . .. -. --. / .- / .... .- -- .-.-.- / --... ...--
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by W2DUG on January 19, 2005
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.-.. --- --- -.- --..-- / .. / -.-. .- -. / ..- ... . / .- -. / --- -. .-.. .. -. . / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / - .-. .- -. ... .-.. .- - --- .-. --..-- / - --- --- .-.-.- / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .--. .-.. .- -. / - --- / -.- . . .--. / - .... . / .-. .. ..-. ..-. -....- .-. .- ..-. ..-. / --- ..- - / -... -.-- / ..- ... .. -. --. / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / -.. .. -.. -. .----. - / .-- --- .-. -.- .-.-.- / .-- .... .- - / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / .--. --- ... ... .. -... .-.. -.-- / -... . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .--. --- .. -. - --..-- / -. --- .-.. .. -.-. . -. ... . .- ... --- ..-. -.-- . - ..--..
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KC8VWM on January 19, 2005
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Sure Ed.
I see your point about the idea that the military has more advanced comm systems that we might really think or ever imagine.
After all, how much tax money goes into the US military for advanced communication equipment these days?
I bet it's probably more money spent than all of us have sunk into every one of our ham shacks combined.
However Ed, my point is that those hams that are helping out in this event at least deserve something for their efforts don't they?
That is not to say they we should pin gold service medals on their chests, or brag about them like superheros wearing capes and saving the entire planet from the invaders attacking from krypton.
It's seems rather in the fact that hams should simply be recognized as being humanitarians. Perhaps, we need to do this in such a manner that it reflects our human spirit rather than counting each heroic effort made as a mission for another purple heart to hang beside our WAS certificates.
I think hams are making the right efforts alright. I just think we need a better PR effort to combat this common perception we seem to have of instant heroism - just add tsunami water, syndrome.
Thanks for listening.
Charles - KC8VWM
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Our Finest Hour?
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by AC7CW on January 19, 2005
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After the Northridge quake in the early 90's hams in Los Angles County were able to cut a sweet deal regarding tower regulation. If one lives in the county, and not in a city or other governance, one gets a fast track permit with minimum hassle and can build a 75 foot tower anytime they want. It has to have a motorized-crank-down-to-65 foot ability but hey, most people complaining are not going to be able to figure how tall the thing is anyway.
This is because hams did a lot for the people living in the county and then they capitalized on their success while it was still in everybody's memory. That is success upon success in my book and I feel that hans should do that all the time.
Max
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by JRUING on January 19, 2005
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So... if I was new at all this, and wanted to participate in emergency radio assistance in my community, ... like... er....ah... where would I go, and what can I read, to learn how to do it right?
Thanks // JH Richards - Grand Rapids, Mich //
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KC8VWM on January 19, 2005
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JH,
You can contact a local ARES chapter in your area assuming that you have a callsign, you may be able to participate in emergency communications in your area.
You can probobly join the club and they will help you get a license if you dont have one already.
Grand Rapids Amateur Radio Association
Website: http://www.w8dc.org/
You might want to also join SKYWARN of Grand Rapids MI.
Skywarn volunteers support their local community and government by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports via amateur radio.
Here's the SKYWARN link
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/grr/skywarn/what.php
Also see:
MICHIGAN GRR/NWS SKYWARN DISTRICT STAFF
http://www.k8sn.org/grr_warn/district.html
Good Luck and contact me if you have any questions!
73 Charles - KC8VWM
kc8vwm@arrl.net
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by NOLICENSEASOFYET on January 20, 2005
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To W2DUG
- .... . / . -..- .- -.-. - / .--. --- .. -. - / - .... .- - / -.-- --- ..- / .--- ..- ... - / -- .- -.. .
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by W9WHE-II on January 20, 2005
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W5HTW writes:
"American hams absolutely INSIST they must rush into these affected areas. After all, "We Are Americans; the bestest with the mostest, so get out of our way."
You know what, the USA is the world's 911. No other country CAN DO what we can. No other country WILL DO what we do. No other country HAS EVER DONE for others what we have done for the rest of the world. And frankly, I'm more than a little tired of people bashing the USA because we do get involved.
W9WHE
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Our Finest Hour?
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by W1DUD on January 20, 2005
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Is that CW at 5WPM?...tonite it's pasta ...the pizza was good the night before....for lunch it was cheeseburger with provolone, fried onions and mushrooms, in the oven , washed it down with a ginger ale....yummy!!! "73" W1DUD (ex KB1IVU)
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KD8AKU on January 21, 2005
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I never will understand the vitriol and hate that fill people's minds, and allows them to post such things as this:
"IF I KNOW IT WAS YOU CODING OUT....I WILL JUST WATCH YOU GO CYANOTIC THEN DIE AND GO TO HELL!"
"Hope you get glail cell carcinoma, you piece of trash! I am doing tissue engineering right now."
"Be real funny if you got full thickness burns over 80% of you body."
I'm sickened by the thought that such violence comes so easily to people.
And while I quoted just a single post, that is by no means the only example in this thread. Those of you that spew this sort of trash should all be ashamed of your childish behavior.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by W9WHE-II on January 21, 2005
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John:
Try to understand. Under liberal philosophy, there is no judging others. Liberals don't want ANY limits or standards of personal conduct. Anything goes. The results of their philosophy is the vitriol you cited. But don't feel too bad, when you look at the unbrideled hate, the outrageous lies and the sick, demented attacks launched at President Bush, the hate directed at you pales in compairison!
Remember. Liberals are inherently emotional. Their emotions overcome their abillity for rational discourse and they resort to personal attacks. Its just how they are. And, if you follow their philosophy, its not their fault. ITS SIOCIETY'S FAULT!
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by W2DUG on January 21, 2005
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> I never will understand the vitriol and hate that
> fill people's minds, and allows them to post such things as this:
>
> <SNIP>
>
> I'm sickened by the thought that such violence comes so easily to people.
>
> And while I quoted just a single post, that is by no means the only
> example in this thread.
--------
Actually, it's not as bad as you think. These kinds of irrational remarks tend to be made only by our unstable friend WA2JJH, who is clearly in need of an adjustment to his lithium dosage. Someone really got him worked up into a lather on this thread.
Let's try to be optimistic: Maybe allowing people to vent here in this forum keeps them from going home and kicking the dog or thrashing the wife and kids...
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by K4JF on January 21, 2005
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Y'all should be watching Travel Channel. Tonight there was a segment on the search for Amelia Earhart(sp?), that featured a group of hams in a very positive light. Even showed one in his shack with QSLs all over the wall, and another in his mobile. They are employees of Rockwell-Collins and are using radio data to try to pinpoint where her plane went down. Interesting, and shows some of our guys doing GOOD with stuff they learned from Amateur radio!!
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by AE6IP on January 21, 2005
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Amelia's such an ironic choice, since much of her trouble seems to have stemmed from her unwillingness to use the balky HF gear of the time.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by K4JF on January 22, 2005
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The point was, she did use the HF gear, and there are records, including signal strength data. The hams reconstituted the signals, used their ham-acquired knowledge of HF propagation, and helped pinpoint an area where she probably went down. If they are right, she was headed directly for Howland Island and was only 50 miles out when she ran out of fuel.
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by KF4WXM on January 22, 2005
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KD8AKU: You are exactly right. All this negative name calling crap gives all of us a bad name. Any medically trained person that would not treat a person in need isnt a very good example of a volunteer. Not to mention all of the threats and such. Look if some of you are so adament about Freebanders and such then do something about it. Use your considerable radio skills, which I am sure you are sure you have, and triangulate and locate these "violators" and turn them in to the local authorities or the FCC. The internet is a great place for talkers to talk the talk but there is no place on the internet to walk the walk.
Now for the rest of you. Lets not forget that many if not most hams started out on CB. My much loved and much missed uncle and ham radio operator was originally a CB radio operator. He owned and operated a CB shop back when CB operators had call signs too. Many of us have owned and still own CBs and many of them are not exactly legal. I personally know 3 or 4 that love to talk on 38 lsb, the superbowl of sideband, and do it with more than 12 watts. Where do you think new ham operators are going to come from in this world of cell phones and wireless everything. Many of them are going to be kids or young adults that were fascinated by being able to talk to their buddies for free on CB radios. Many freebanders are atleast learning the technical know how to comunicate with voice over long distances. Talking illegal freeband over great distances is no easier than talking on 10m the same way. I bet many of them will or would get their ham radio tickets if they didnt see ham operators as stuck up know it alls. I have grown very tired of the know it all attitude that is prevalent in my area among ham operators. If you dont have the latest radio or if you dont build your own fancy antenna or if you dont belong to one of the local know it all clubs in the area then you are not one of them and even though they say they encourage amatuer radio use and even though they support open repeaters they still talk down to you because you are not one of them. Personally, I would contribute to the up keep of local repeaters but I would never join one of those clubs. For the first year or so after I bought my first mobile radio I used/monitored it all of the time but now because I am sick of the attitude among ham operators I just leave it off unless there is a weather event or something that I can help with. The only reason I help at all is for the good of the public not to make the hobby look good. I have one friend that sold all of his equipment after one year because he couldnt stand how local amatuers treated one another.
We should all try to encourage the use of amatuer radio but not by saying look how cool you could be or look how important you could be or look how smart I am and you could be too if you become a HAM. When I see a teenager with a CB I think it is great that he is interested in CB instead of just using his NEXTEL. I like to see inovative CB operators that squeeze a little more performance out of a 4 watt CB. When I talk to them about CB I also mention HAM radio and most are very interested. They like the idea of having "big radios" that are legal. That is until they listen in for a while and realize that they dont care for the "I'm a technical expert and I know the only right way to do it", attitude of some amateur operators.
I am just a regular guy. I help out when I can. I hope that Amatuer Radio is around for a long time to come. However, if Amatuer Radio doesnt change with the times and realize and embrace the fact that there are many more and easier means of wireless communication it is going to go the way of wooden teeth. I am glad that my uncle was the kind of man that a true HAM should be... helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and humble. He knew that I had a multi hundred watt CB setup and thought it was great that I cared enough to figure out how to pick and tune an antenna and properly wire and ground a radio. Whenever I had questions about my CB he answered them and used the occasion to show me one of his HAM radios and explain to me how repeaters worked and how wave propagation worked. Because of him I decided to get my ticket and check out HAM radio and I will try to do the same for anyone that I meet who is interested in anykind of radio communications.
Thanks for the forum and the chance to offer my opinion, John
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RE: Our Finest Hour?
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by N2MG on January 25, 2005
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C'mon folks. It's getting really ugly in here. I really don't want to have to start deleting posts all over the place.
Thanks.
Mike N2MG
webmaster
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Our Finest Hour?
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by W4TAI on February 2, 2005
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Interesting... HAMS HAVE A FINEST HOUR EVERYTIME THEY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS ON THE AIR....
Here is something that was awarded to me and what I had to say about it.
==========================================
from http://www.mainattraction.net.
COMMENTARY - Ray Sabb, Staff Writer
AMERICAN RED CROSS HONORS
January 30, 2005
I am flattered, I am honored and I am humbled by the American Red Cross.
Thank you! However, my efforts and volunteerism was not a heralded achievement for me personally.
In the course of events that followed the wrath of Charley; I only did what anyone else would have done. And that was help those who needed help. I am not a hero, I am not a special volunteer and I certainly am not an invaluable asset as Mr. Moss infers.
What I was, was a neighbor helping my neighbors. Taking some of the "ouch" out of the sting. What I did do was provide services that were needed, indeed, but so did a bunch of even more dedicated professionals, neighbors and strangers do the same.
So on a personal note I want to thank all those HAMS, RACES, ARES, SATERN, American Red Cross, FEMA, National Guard, the Power Companies, the Utility companies and yes, my neighbor for helping bring some sensibility to a mangled neighborhood. Our neighborhood, the one we live in, work in and play in.
Let's hope that we don't have to go through this kind of upheaval in the future, but my instincts tell me we will. But WE WILL BE PREPARED....
-Ray
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Our Finest Hour?
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by N2CTZ on September 5, 2005
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It could be our finest hour if
Fox news and CNN would have some stories about our volunteer efforts and the reliability of amateur radio in disasters.
so where is the Arrl PR people,races,MARS on the cable news channels??
still waiting to see you guys...
and tio all hams out there-now you can see how the feds respond when they know a disaster is coming
If i were you i would prepare your own supplies now before the next disaster happens.
god bless america
www.thebarbecuemaster.com
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