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eHam Forums / Emergency Communications / Alaska "Emergency Frequency" / Fixed Service
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on: March 26, 2013, 02:26:15 PM
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Good day, Everyone...
I wasn't quite sure which forum to put this in, but since the word "Emergency" was used, I figured I'd start here.
I'm wondering if anyone knows where any reference in the FCC rules and regulations, OTHER THAN Part 97, to this "Alaska Fixed" or "Alaska Emergency" service can be found. I've made a reasonably diligent search and can't find it. Or is it in the NTIA's rules? Has anyone actually used it before?
Any help / info / directions would be welcomed, here or at stevenrobeson@yahoo.com.
Thanks and 73
Steve, K4YZ
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eHam Forums / Licensing / RE: Can someone get a living relative's former call sign?
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on: November 22, 2012, 06:34:04 AM
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Hey Chas...
Congrats and welcome to Amateur Radio.
One caveat on applying for your living relative's former call...BE CAREFUL to NOT, repeat NOT use the "deceased relative" or "former holder" options on the FCC form 605. As another poster said you'll be applying for an available Vanity call like anyone else, but the FCC will eventually catch the mistake and sends you one of those nasty letters to "show cause" why you applied the way you did, then make you go through a confusing paperwork drill to get it right.
73
Steve, K4YZ
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eHam Forums / QRP / RE: 6 meter ssb QRP
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on: August 21, 2012, 01:01:36 AM
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I used a Ten Tec 6-to10 meter transverter on a Yaesu FT-757GXII. Eight watts out to a small hand rotatable dipole got me solidly into New England, southern Texas and Mexico. I sold it in a fit of "shack cleaning", but wish I had it back!
73
Steve, K4YZ
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eHam Forums / CW / RE: What do you do when SSB in CW portion?
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on: February 18, 2012, 09:30:04 PM
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So, having said that - what do the rest of you do? Do you just operate on top of them, call it a night, squeeze closer to other stations?
Just wondering - right now, I just QSY and do the best I can - but sometimes that is getting harder and harder - so I drop to 80m - but slower code is harder to scare up there (it is still there, just not as plentiful)....
Assuming you're talking about legitimate foreign stations (as opposed to bootleggers/out-of-banders) or KL/KP/KH stations that are allowed to operate below 7125kHz, operating "on top of them" is a bust of Part 97! They're allowed to be there too, you know!
Come on up to 30 meters! I for one welcome new or returning CW ops and will gladly answer QRS CQs. Also, if anyone hears me calling CQ, feel free to answer me at the speed you feel comfortable at, and I'll QRS.
Thirty meters is the jewel in the crown for CW ops of all speeds, in my not so humble opinion!
73
Steve, K4YZ
Winchester, TN |
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eHam Forums / Emergency Communications / RE: ICS-213 vs. Radiogram
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on: December 04, 2011, 04:01:18 PM
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The Tennessee State Guard has recently taken a big communication's support role for TEMA. In order to cut down on the extraneous paperwork, all I did (for 4th Regiment purposes, anyway) was to make a copy of ICS-213 with the ARRL header typed into the top line of each block...If we need it, fine, if not, just ignore it.
73
Steve Robeson, K4YZ
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eHam Forums / Emergency Communications / RE: Government grant money need For American Ham radio manufactures
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on: January 23, 2011, 12:17:25 PM
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Here's a clue for you -- the US Government has ALREADY spent way more money than they should have on SDR -- it's called the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS).
Look it up. And look at how many ZEROES are in the appropriations. It is obscene.
73,
john W3JKS/AAT3BF/AAM3EDE/AAM3RE/AAA9SL
If you really want to choke on your lunch...Do a little research on the Civil Air Patrol's recent expenditures...They've spent over $75M of your tax dollars since 2003, yet they are exponentially less capable of supporting their own internal communications, let alone effect support of a 'served agency'...
That works out to about $1,350 per each and every CAP member on the rolls, cadet and senior, active and inactive.
The Lion's share of that money was spent on several hundred Motorola QUANTAR repeaters that were allowed to sit in a Virginia warehouse while thier warranties expired because CAP and the Air Force didn't have the appropriate frequency coordination before making the purchases...
And not one dime was allocated for upgrading the repeater sites themselves, many of which have coax, antennas and power supplies that are themselves 10-15 years or more old...That's like parking your new Ferrari in a chicken coop.
Absolutley idiotic.
Steve Robeson, K4YZ |
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eHam Forums / Emergency Communications / RE: Government grant money need For American Ham radio manufactures
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on: January 23, 2011, 12:05:42 PM
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Give me a break.
The last thing the general public needs in an emergency is a bunch of overweight duffers in orange vests all yelling into a HT, "can you hear me now". From time to time some one with ham gear will perform a public service but for that matter our track record is no better than truckers with CB sets.
Hams cannot handle the large amount of digital traffic necessary in an emergency. We have poor interagency skills and for the most part are not available in large scale when the need arises. Ask any ARES responder their exact function with the city government and emergency services and they can't tell you.
One cell phone channel can handle more data than 100 repeaters. Fifty years ago ham equipment we a viable option but our traffic capacity has remained unchanged.
Technology has moved on.
After Hurricane Katrina left town the cell phone companies had 80% of the cell system back on line in New Orleans by the end of the eight day.
The only purpose Ham radio serves in an emergency is for human interest stories on the 5 O'clock news.
And yet another clueless anti-emergency service flamer steps up to the plate, eyes the pitcher, takes a wink, swings....and he MISSES!
In those seven days before the cell companies could only get 80% of the net up, Amateur Radio operators were doing exactly what they said they'd do...Provide necessary emergency communications for essential users...
Don't take my word for it...Ask the American Red Cross...And FEMA...And the Department of Defense...And the Salvation Army...And the Governor of the State of Louisiana...Among others...All of them issued various statements of appreciation and praise for the services rendered by ARES and other groups using, ahem, Amateur Radio, during the Katrina / Rita evolution.
Why do people like K6AER insist on making such ill-advised and obviously inherently untrue statements when it is so easy to debunk their rants via un-indictable third party resources...?!?!
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh.
Steve Robeson, K4YZ |
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eHam Forums / Licensing / RE: Code/No Code CW-Do we need it?
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on: November 24, 2010, 07:18:48 PM
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On the other hand, lots of old, greying Extras NEED to boast of their code skill to please their own egos. Kind of like a government subsidy for their emotional well-being (or maybe its a "health plan" in disguise?). Not to worry, the League (which is also old and greying) will protect you and help boast and boost morse code skill.
73, Len K6LHA
Your ignorance of the current state-of-affairs of both the League and modern Amateur Radio are overwhelming, Lennie. Of course if you were active in any other practical aspect of the Amateur service (other than pages-long rants on 'learning to kill' before you could use HF in the military here in eHam...watta classic!) you'd know better...Not that you'd admit it, of course...Although you do it frequently, you do hate to be wrong...
Too bad you couldn't have been at the Huntsville Hamfest this year...Literally dozens of under 30 Amateurs there, not to mention the Young Ham of the Year award made. It was heartwarming to see so many young new Amateurs there.
Perhaps you should stick to the mutual glad-handing you and Keith seem to enjoy since you stopped spamming USENET and have since moved to eHam. However I see that no matter how graciously or politely Jim Miccolis and others address you, you're still 'all about' diminutives when addressing others.
Nothing changes.
(Interesting, too, that "Keith" uses the eact same derisive and diminutive language you do...Are you ghost-writing his stuff for him?)
BTW...Are you REALLY an ACTIVE Amateur at all? Got a rig yet? I mean OTHER than that old IC-R70 receiver and tube CB you used to brag about on USENET? Made any QSO's at all? Or are you still 'just' an SWL who ALMOST passed a pre-solo check-ride and chatted on air-to-air VHF-AM once in the 60's?
Double BTW: Don't bother responding. The questions were rhetorical. Everyone who's ever read your diatribe knows the answers already.
No 73 for you.
Steve, K4YZ |
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eHam Forums / Company Reviews / RE: Is it just me, or is MFJ QC way up?
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on: November 24, 2010, 05:08:31 PM
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The last several items we have purchased from MFJ have worked flawlessly- SNIP
I bought some MFJ items in the 70's, and the quality then was "marginal, but usable". But they were a new company then, and I think the 'reputation' they've gotten over the years is morbidly unfair. The moniker of "Mighty Fine Junk" is not only rude, but unwarranted, in my experience.
I've owned and/or used a multitude of MFJ products over the years, including their 20M SSB and 2M SSB rigs, and always felt as if my money was well spent.
Personally, I'd like to see them expand even further. There's no reason they couldn't partner with someone like the Elecraft folks to provide a plug-and-play version of the K1 or K2 under license, for example. I've even wondered why they haven't offered a crystal controlled version of their SSB rigs for 60 Meters. I'd buy!
Just my $.02 adjusted for inflation!
73
Steve, K4YZ |
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eHam Forums / Licensing / RE: OLD CALLS
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on: November 24, 2010, 05:06:47 AM
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Interesting but confusing. Yes. I am stuck in Connecticut now and I'm sick of every every every contact having to talk about Alaska. well..you jerk..why not get a n1 
W1GCM is available. Nice sounding call if you ask me! No ambiguity in the sound of the letters...Very robust and easy to understand. Classic call, too!
If you like CW at all, it's an easy call, too!
73
Steve, K4YZ |
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eHam Forums / CW / RE: i dont do as im told
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on: November 23, 2010, 10:15:13 PM
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I work mobile CW everyday. Operation takes place on the interstate where traffic is not dense. With practice it integrates well with driving in light traffic.
It's about as distracting as listening to the AM/FM radio, no more distracting than talking on the cell phone, and certainly much less distracting than texting while driving.
If traffic gets heavy it's easy to stop copying or send AS.
And more power to ya, David...
There are folks that drink-and-drive, speed, and otherwise do things with-and-in an automobile they shouldn't every day, and get away with it...For now. The odds always catch up with you.
I hear it every day..."I've been driving for years and never had an accident doing that before..."
But like I said, don't let anyone tell ya ya can't do it! You're an American and it's your 'right'...besides, like I said, ER/T Nurses need job security too!
73
Steve, K4YZ |
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eHam Forums / CW / RE: i dont do as im told
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on: November 23, 2010, 12:55:17 AM
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Hi James,
Well, first of all, congratulations on making it to 30WPM. I'm steady in the mid 20's, and can hit higher in contests, but that's only 'cuz I pretty much know what's coming next. And ironically, I am only 30 minutes north of your former Alabama address...Small world, eh...?!?!
As for doing CW while driving, don't let ANYONE tell you you shouldn't be doing it, ESPECIALLY while you're driving!
While I certainly can't speak on behalf of my Australian colleagues, I can tell you that in these hard economic times, even the Nursing profession has been hit hard, and any irresponsible act performed in a moving vehicle by the driver that keeps the warm bodies coming through the door, well, I'm all for it! I have to get up, get dressed and go in, so I might as well be doing something that helps pay the bills...right?
I encourage anyone predisposed to do so to do CW, text, surf the web, apply make-up, read the paper, etc, while driving, but I do ask that you not do it in school zones or residential areas...Afterall, who's gonna bury us if we thin the gene pool prematurely?
So go right on ignoring your friends, family members and club buddies! Help keep your local EMS squad Paramedics and Trauma Center Nurses working and employed!
(And by the way...you DO carry adequate Accident and Liability, don't you...?!?!)
Thanks!
73
Steve, K4YZ
An ER Nurse and Former Paramedic
(Submitted with a wry smirk and sarcastic tone...)
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eHam Forums / Company Reviews / RE: GigaParts
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on: September 08, 2010, 03:29:02 AM
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Just wanted to let everyone know that GigaParts is an outstanding place to do business with. I ordered a Yaesu FT450 from them and it was bad out of the box. They have a seven day return policy and they gave me full credit on trade in on a FT897. They were very nice and professional on the phone and in their e-mails. If you need to buy something, there prices are very good so give them a try. Not affiliated with them, I'm just a very SATISFIED customer.
Thankfully, I live less then 30 minutes from them. (They're in Alabama...I'm in Tennessee)
I've ordered numerous items from them and never waited any longer than it too UPS to get it to my doorstep. I've never had a service issue or returns issue with them.
Also, GigaParts will ship free for orders over $200.00.
Plus the Sweepstakes program is a lot of fun!
73
Steve, K4YZ |
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eHam Forums / Elmers / RE: "Not QSL worthy" he says
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on: September 04, 2010, 04:43:14 AM
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By popular demand (about a dozen emails) as well as the requests here, I have decided to reveal who this club and person is, so that no one else will waste a buck of their money on a station who does not QSL. I think I would have handled this in a different manner...
While I share Patrick's angst over the 'rejection' of a QSL request, and I think the other correspondent's initial response was curt, to say the least, it shouldn't have been posted here without the other party's consent.
I agree with everyone else that the apology rendered was a milestone of great ethical character. Bravo!~
And although it's a well-heralded tradition of Amateur Radio to QSL, it's by no means mandatory or 'required'. A simple note with the returned card "sorry, OM, unable to QSL, GL es 73" would have been more collegial. I say this with a bit of reservation because I am actively QSLing for several awards, and the return rates (not to mention turn-around time, even with SASE) 'ain't the greatest'.
A correspondent in another thread has suggested, and perhaps it would be worth a letter writing campaign, to ask Fred, AA7BQ, to add some kind of a 'flag' to QRZ listings so those who specifically don't want to participate in QSLing can be by-passed. I know there are three QSL'ing options noted there, but perhaps a simple red or green star next to their address?
As for anyone working K4YZ, your QSL card will be greatfully replied to in kind! No SASE for XE / US / VE needed! SWL cards welcomed. BURO cards returned direct.
73
Steve, K4YZ
Winchester, TN
PS: Has Amateur Radio been outlawed in South Dakota? Any SD that will QSO/QSL for 40M CW award would be appreciated! RSVP via QRZ.com CBA e-mail adr. 73 de K4YZ |
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eHam Forums / Licensing / RE: Apprentice licensing structure
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on: July 18, 2010, 09:06:03 AM
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The solution that came to mind was to offer a limited apprentice license. It would allow them to operate on a limited set of bands (ie. 2m) and maybe limited power to something like 50 watts. Many states require a person to get a "trainee" license/permit and work as an apprentice before becoming an electrician, plumber, etc.. In most states these permits expire after 1-2 years and they must meet certain requirements to renew their permit such as taking a class. One solution would be the requirement to join a club and/or participate in some activity like field day. The idea is that they would eventually learn the theory and become a fully licensed ham, but it would be a learn as you go process.
Any thoughts? Is this a stupid idea?
"Quotes" from here are those of Lennie Anderson, "K6LHA" I don't think it is stupid at all. If anything, you are getting INTO the subject and may not realize it has already been done and it was called the Novice class license...roughly a half-century ago. For ten years there have been no new Novice class licenses granted...by law from the "restructuring" order of 2000. But that's not what you said in almost two decades of USENET rants, Lennie. You were very consistent and very frequent in your rants against any suggestion of a stepped licensing structure, and adamant for a one-size-fits-all license.
You even insisted on a lower age limit for licensees, effectively limiting Amateur Radio access to almost anyone under 18!
See things a bit differently now that you have a ticket, do you?
For those of you who wish to see Mr. Anderson's other face, search your "USENET" engine of choice and look for "Lenof21" and "Lenover21", among others, and witness his other side.[/B] Amateur radio is not a union, a guild, or a craft. It was always a hobby activity and done without any monetary compensation for any radio communication services. That is why Amateur radio is called "amateur." Trying to install an apprentice-journeyman-master grading just defeats the purpose of it being a hobby. First of all, Amateur Radio is a "service" that permits indivduals with access to the radio spectrum for a multitude of purposes. No where in Part 97 does it state that Amateur Radio is "just" a hobby.
And "trying to install an apprentice-journeyman-master grading" defeats nothing. In fact, it provides an opportunity for the un-knowledgeable and un-skilled to gain appropriate practice and experience without giving them carte-blanche access to priviliges that may be potentially harmful to that new operator or other radio service users.The Technician class and General class amateur radio license tests each have only 35 multiple-choice questions. Questions and answers are free from www.ncvec.org, the folks who make up the USA amateur radio license exams. Nothing in any of the exams is "complicated" technically. The only "hard" part is remembering regulations and their proper answers. All one has to do to pass them is get over the idea that tests are so HARD that you won't pass. A lot of these OT zombies like to make up stories of how "bad" everything was when they were young and, for some perverse reason, try to frighten away newcomers. Those OTs are just dipsticks. I took all of my amateur radio license exams on the same day at age 74 and passed all of them with about 95 percent correct. Despite a bit of broggadacio that you'd pass with a 100% with your eyes closed. What happened to that, Lennie?I used the same mental concentration to get my first commercial radio license in 1956 at the first try, about 51 years before I took my first amateur radio license test. It is up to the individual to have the confidence to DO IT. How ironic...Passed that "first commercial radio license in 1956", yet it took you almost 60 years to pass the Amateur exams, even without a Morse test since 91 and open question pools.
How unimpressive.
I see you've found a whole new audience to "impress" with your "wisdom" and "wit", Lennie. Of course, it won't be long until they get to know the real you.
Steve, K4YZ |
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