Can't sign in.... get an error message.

P.S.: Do they call you "Duckie"? (I'm a big NCIS fan).

<G> I was actually put off by the title, but you make a good point.

I sent out invitations to all licensed hams in our county to join our ARES group and got back more than one reply from the spouse of a silent key asking if we knew what to do with "all this equipment".

It would be nice to specify in a will that it go to a club, or a school radio club, or be distributed to new hams, or sold by a knowledgable executor (rather than have it sold off in a garage sale for two cents on the dollar to who-knows-who)!

I STRONGLY second the motion to get a programming cable and use your computer to do the work. This is especially helpful if you want to program a lot of repeaters or other frequencies into your unit.

The only drawback is this... with the hand-programming so tedious the only way to learn how to do it is by doing it repeatedly. The advantage to being able to hand-program an HT (or any other transceiver) is that when you're away from your computer and something changes (your rig's memory gets wiped or you need to access a new repeater) you can adjust. No computer = no changes.

(But using a computer is SO much simpler!!!)  

OK... let's pick some interesting nit (actually, I think this discussion about Morse's code is kind of interesting, and I do agree that in common usage "CW" and "Morse code" can be interchangeable)...

Morse's original code is now referred to as "American Morse code" or "railroad code" and is no longer what we use in CW. What we use now is what was standardized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as International Morse code.

..-. -...

-.. .  .- .--- ....- -.. .--

Here here.... I definitely second VTU's advice about getting a drycell pack. AA batteries are easily available all over (including all over the world) and it's a great backup for that reason. As long as you're ordering save some shipping and get a drycell pack at the same time.

I've had good luck w/Batteries America... check out the reviews section of eHam for info on specific batteries (there are links to Batteries America and other companies there):
http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/58

We're considering the same for our CERT trailer. I haven't been on the CB bands since the 60's... how much is CB-SSB actually used? I ask because it seems that you have the choice of SSB *or* access to the  weather channels, but not both (and a weather receiver might be a good thing for a CERT to have along).

Tom;

Sorry that you misunderstood. I wasn't calling anything RACES/ARES, I was looking for a source for large decals for both ARES and RACES. I hold credentials for both and am eminently aware of the differences.

BTW... you're right, that webpage is an excellent source of information about the differences bewteeen the two (and I do endorse the ARRL). Everyone who's interested in EmComm should read it. Perhaps the differences can be better understood if we remember that amateur radio was halted during the world war and RACES was developed as a way to avoid wasting all that talent and equipment. So the restrictions are of a neccessity related to a situation where the War Powers Act has been declared active, which is why RACES stations can only talk to other RACES stations (or governmental stations), etc etc.

Carl AJ4DW
SC Area 3 DEC

An NVIS antenna does not need to be more than about 5 feet above the ground and should be ideal for what you're describing (getting over mountains)... it works like a mortar, near-vertical angle up, scatters down.

Check out this website for a description of the emergency NVIS antennas we use during field days... very low to the gorund:

http://www.w2ik.com/W2IK_ANTENNAS.html

(It's about 1/3 of the way down this L-O-N-G webpage)

I've seen this as well... the alphanumeric display is no wider than the normal railroad tracks, is oriented within the tracks, does not go across the waterfall, and is not one of the Hell modes.

I've also been looking to find it as it might potentially be of use for EmComm (OK, for contests as well).

Skip KH6TY, who designed DigiPan, sent me a NBEMS program that has the capability, but I can't find the right option choice. Perhaps it was in one of the non-PSK modes (MST63???)

There are some digital programs which will allow you to incorporate graphics at the beginning (or end?) of your waterfall display.

We're incorporating digital modes into our ARES bag of tricks and I was thinking that being able to ID the particular waterfall stream visually might be useful.

Does anyone recall which programs (Digipan etc) can do that and what the setting is called? I appreciate your help.

Someone was kind enough to provide me with thelink (and put me out of my misery). So, for anyone who's interested here it is:

http://www.kb8wow.com/Download_Now.htm

The program could be very beneficial for EmComm. It would, of course, be less useful once (if) the emergency shut down text messaging (which is the last thing to go on cellphones) and interfered with landline phones/internet access. But at the very beginning of most problems it could have a nice spot.

-------------------- YES!!!!! -------------------

Thank you so much, it was driving me crazy... I was checking all my old mail, couldn't find a thing (embarrassing, as I had spoken to club and ARES members about it but couldn't find it, their first thought undoubtedly dealt with senility).

Thanks again.

Carl AJ4DW  
       

Stephen (RNV);

I contacted ARRL and there's no problem, as I am a member of ARES. If you could contact me via e-mail I can get you the info. Many thanks for the offer!!

Carl AJ4DW

chlopez@w4cae.org