Almost 100 views that I assume correspond to the number or reads and two responses.  Two responses that illustrate the pair of most disparate opinions as to the place and purpose of amateur communications in public service recreational events.  As a group we are unable or unwilling to define our role, the people we work for or rather along side cannot define our purpose and confusion is the general result--you get what you get when you get it WST spandex events.

Many thanks to AD6KA and KC0SHZ and the anonymous 100 or so that stopped by.  it's a whole lot clearer to me now.

I worked a 'public service' event last year. My post was a portable rig near a rest and food stop during a century bike ride.  Once again the season for these events is upon us.  This past Sunday I did patrol duty at another century ride.  It was a great time with a lot of good people and I had a ton of fun.

Here is my request:  I'm looking for other amateurs to share their experiences (good and bad).  Basically, I'd like to compile a list of good operating ideas and things to avoid.  Especially important would be information from operators experienced in planning and running communications for walk,run,bike or similar large scale participant endurance events-even those say using horses and leather rather than spandex.

Vent if that's what you have to offer but know I'm specifically looking for positive information.  Planning and organizing tips, developing relationships, really anything related to hams helping at these events.  A list of 'credits' will be compiled so if you have a particular idea that you want named in your honor...

Add to this topic, I'll keep checking until it stops being interesting to others or gets locked due to bad karma.  My email address is available in my QRZ look-up for those desiring a private contact.

Thanks in advance,
73
John

Most all the radio clubs in my area claim some sort of 'standing' as a 'special service club'.  As near as I can figure somebody (ARRL???) sanctions such a designation and it means that the club members assist as volunteer communicators at events that span more a than a single large field or that are in motion: bike rides and races, balloon fly-in or outs,  cross country or backroads events with horses or horsepower.

On the surface this seems noble and admirable, but is it relevant?

As I very new to amateur radio type I wanted to see what such an event was all about-I wanted to observe the hams and see where and how I might fit in once I've acquired a bit more equipment.  I got my chance this past weekend.  I didn't attend any planning or organizing events but rather just joined in on the day of the event at one of the radio check-points and observed to my hearts content.  And I know one event cannot be adequate to base a judgment-I'm aware of the obvious.

The radio stuff was good to very good.  The net control operator was organized, articulate and professional.  With the exception of one operator who seemed to have all the 'priority' traffic, the rank and file operators were efficient and fast to respond to event conditions and needs.  They found the off course riders, got the resupply going in the right direction in a timely manner and gave fair warning to stations about the imminent arrival of 'need'.

But.


The organizing side of the event was pitiful.  Short on logistical elements, especially critical supplies like water and first aid.  Lacking a cohesive command and control structure including simple things like name tags and route signage as well as no effective participant management.  Finally a completely non existent understanding of how to manage human assets, including the radio operators.

A very obvious 'commercial driving force' from the main event sponsors/organizers and their 'one size fits all events' approach seemed from the start to be a disaster in the making rather than a fun filled and wonderful experience---at least for someone.

So my questions are simple:  is this normal?  Are you involved in public service and how can amateur radio be fully utilized? Who assumes the lead?  Share with me you most recent or most memorable event, I'm still undecided on how to proceed.

Yes of course: KISS.  The foundation of good engineering and AMATEUR practice.

Keep in mind though, that I had NO amateur privileges prior to May 14 just past.  I didn't jump from a 2m technicians HT/with rubber duckie to tower concept.   I jumped from NOTHING to the idea of something blotting the clear view up over the house.  Even I wasn't clear what it might be.  I had only an old dream of what is was "supposed to be".

Ham radio is a big change for everybody in the house.  I don't usually talk to myself, but talking to an unseen distant amateur does appear to be talking to oneself if the voice carries into an adjacent room but the radio noise doesn't.  Even the dog cocks her head with all the squeals and pops coming from the radio and she certainly has no concept that I'm not talking to her!


We purchased one of those fix-er-up houses.  Mostly it was landscape problems.  Grass, shrubs, gardens are all simple concepts, but tell me again why we need a tall vertical flag pole instead of the usual angled bracket on a corner of the porch.  Or why we need to string all those copper wires under the lawn, or .....   Any of a dozen things.  Ham radio is foreign to most everyone in my family and circle of friends.



On the front though, there is good news.  The workbench is mostly cleared.  I found all the materials for my copper cactus J-Pole and I already had many of the tools.  It passes the 'wife' test as to size and eventual placement, so I'm making progress.

73
John
AE5RY

You have my most sincere apologies, sir.  I truly misread your reply and your 'smilies' as something of a jest on your part.  I try to learn from my mistakes and I'll not assume anything in your posts except what you actually deliver.


I am from both a different generation and a different mindset.  My wife and I view things as a partnership, a combined effort towards a single mutual happiness.  Perhaps this is a subject more suited to forums other than ham radio.

I've mostly identified my mistake as the opposite of this; I went for broke and got busted.  I should have built an 'extendable' mast.  Start it at the roof-line.  In a couple months add a few feet and just ignore any 'notice' or 'comment' she might make as if it's all her imagination.  Finally, I push it up to truly neighborhood shocking height and just pretend it 'grew'--it's a wood mast, right.  These things happen!  It's the pull of the moon, sunspots and 'I don't know what'.

We, as in me and the Mrs., have 27 years of mostly happy marriage.  I don't micro-manage her in any way---it's my way.

I am completely envious of both your 43 years of bliss and your imagined independence .  I'll keep your secret.

If on the off chance you REALLY did get that one in a million spouse who doesn't have a whip and a collar with a short leash engraved with your name---then I'm envious of that too .

With Susan-my wife-it's all about fairness and compromise.  I'll save my pennies, wait my time and strike when she slips that new pair of shoes or a dress or another $300.00 purse onto the credit card.  Then I'll spend my cash to cover her new stuff and the antenna I want and presto, it's done.  Then I live with the little 'looks' until she moves on to her next purchase.

Thanks for the sympathy folks.  I've been married long enough to know better but I still step in it every now and then.

We made one more tour after dinner and found two more stations.  The first was another tangled wire mess strung among four flimsy inch and a quarter conduits 'lashed to the fence--literally!  Ten foot sections of thin conduit, twist-tied to a short 3 or 4 foot chain link fence.  Flag pole halyard type setup to hoist the wires---pathetic and funny!

The second guy was a lot better (one of seven is pretty good luck).  He had a trio of short masts with a multi-band vertical, a J-pole and a semi-home brew VHS vertical arraigned neatly on the roof and around the perimeter of the roof.  All the coax was neat and controlled.  His wife was unloading groceries and she called him out to chat.  He does OK with the low height and seemed rather satisfied with his set-up.  My wife was pleased too; sent me to the home center for copper tubing with her blessing.  One copper cactus awaits assembly in the garage!


Strange day yesterday.  Got enough courage to finally push the PTT button and get on the air!  Did the antenna oddness and ended with one of my own.  If you ever visit Albuqueque and have some time, look me up.  If you just want a really different dessert treat go for Ice Cream at "I scream, ice cream" near Carlisle and Indian school (roads).  A proper portion for a reasonable price.  The place is 'decorated' with memorabilia from one mans lifetime of swap meets and flea markets; the proprietor is a real gas too.

Hi,

I'm one of those one day wonders but before you write me off here are some other facts:  I'm an engineer so the math in the test elements was rather trivial; I'm middle aged, so the rules were 'all too typical' and easy for me to memorize; the procedures are something I've studied since the early seventies when I first dream't of being a Ham, and I have the study materials and some example tests from back then to prove it...

What does all this have to do with antenna's and antenna restrictions?  Probably nothing but I didn't write any other introduction before my 'issue's' came up so I just included some bio stuff here so you'll could see things from my point of view.

I've always longed for a big tall tower-one several guys could climb at one time--or rather one which required several guy to climb all at one time.  Realistically a nice 40 foot tower would probably do.  Ok, how about two ten foot sections of inch and a half conduit?  A guy's gotta have aspirations!

Well, I'm still new to the whole hobby so I got a copy of the Simple and Fun Antenna book and started dreaming.  And of course, there is the internet.  I surveyed the property and decided on a nice little spot just off the corner of the workshop/ garage where a 30ft wooden tower (from the book) and a copper cactus J-pole (from a google search on the internet) would fill my uhf/vhf needs (temporarily) and I set about convincing the wife that this was needed for my new hobby.

Now I live in a nice middle class neighborhood where lots of fine by nosy neighbors also reside and while there is some wording about building a 'habitable structure' less than 1.5 stories it would appear that an antenna is not 'habitable' by the property deed paperwork.  The city has a 60 foot clause in use variance but I'll be safely below that altitude (above ground-Albuquerque is a mile high).  By nosy, I mean they watch me come in and go out whether it be to work, the store, church or just out to water my lawn.  And they got an association that rewards those who do as they think things should be.

I'm a stay at home and stay off my lawn type of guy.

A thirty foot mast and a 6 foot antenna, my back yard, painted to match the house-no problem.  I can see it plain as day when I look at the prospect location.

But the wife cannot.  How much is thirty feet?  How much taller than thirty feet will it actually be?  On and on....


So, hey, I'm a smart guy-I are an engineer!  I've been QRZedding all the local repeater guys call signs and I grab a half dozen addresses and say to her, "Let's go look".  This seems to make her happy and I should have known better.

Address one is nearby and we soon arrive.  To a big disappointment.  He's all stealthy and it takes us a few minutes to spot a couple wires strung in the trees framing his house.  There is a commercial vertical clamped to a toilet standpipe and we finally find a cluster of three coax cables dropping down on one side and snaking through a small window.  How does he sound so good with so little sky-hook?

Address two is an equally bad disaster.  A telescoping mast cozy-like with a forty foot tower, both looking like WW1 surplus-rusted and bent.  Goes well with the flashy light on the vanity plated SUV in the driveway.  I see my dear wife's eyes do the bug-out and roll up and over in rapid succession.  "NO" is all she can say.

Getting to stop three is interrupted by the ominous looking wrought iron of a gated community--this is BAD, real BAD.  We can see the house, the solar panels on the roof and only a flagpole.  Dear wife is ecstatic!

Stops four, five and six are all busts.  Tiny little commercial verticals, clamped to various standpipes or mounted off the side of the eaves of the houses.  None much higher than a typical fireplace chimney.  One in fact, is lower than the long forgotten TV antenna!

My dreams of even a short, small homemade mast are dashed.  I can still have the j-pole (if I really want, but those whippy things are 'so cute') and we settled on a piece of ten foot conduit topping a five footer in a clump of concrete off the house and in a little used area out next to the side wall.

So now you see my problem.  I got this shiny new license, a real nasty mean streak just dying to torment my neighbors with some hideous aluminum monstrosity sporting a gob of wires hanging down with some sort of 'space' antenna perched atop and all I get is a potted plant.


I hope your day was better.

73
John
AE5RY