I'll check with the local red cross chapter in my area. The problem that I'm running into is that there is an emergency comm group in my area, which is mainly just skywarn and is called HAMRAD. They only deal with very local things, like reporting weather events and I'm looking for something a little bit broader, but whoever I ask at the IOWA level, I get referred back to the group in my county, so that's where I'm stuck.

Thanks,

Zakir

Sorry. I don't know what I was thinking when I posted that.... the main problem that I am having is that I'm not sure what EOC to even contact about working with in the future.

EOC?

That makes sense... I have also replaced things in the standard first aid with things of my liking... I have CPR and first aid training from Red Cross, I just wanted to know what was generally expected.... Next question... What do people carry their go kits in? A bag, or rubbermade container? Something on wheels? a duffel bag?

The HAMRAD Group, the lcoal emergency comm group in my area doesn't have IDs and I all the kits that I saw say that you should include your ID... I assume that having an ID is necessary... What are recommendations about having an ARES ID?

Gracias!

Zakir
KC0VAA

Everyone has a first aid kit, but how big is necessary? Have people ever wanted to theirs to be bigger in some situation?

I'll add another question! The local Comm group in my area only does very local stuff, in one specific county in Iowa.

They aren't an ARES group, from what I can tell, and I would like to work with a larger ARES group in the future... I would like to become more trained and involved. Who would I contact about doing this? Are there larger ARES groups which I could become involved with?

Thanks,

Zakir
KC0VAA

I'm starting to become involved with some emergency radio stuff and I'm curious about what people keep in their 'go kits'... for future knowledge on creating my own...

Thanks,

Zakir
KC0VAA

I opted to put GFCI outlets in my workshop before working with ham radio... because I do a lot of work with electronics, which are sometimes faulty... and they have probably saved my life several times.

Zakir
KC0AAA

Okay... Another question... I'm thinking about putting up a large whip to play with. It would go directly into the Yaesu FC-40 tuner... I would want to protect the tuner from lighting as well as my radio in this situation, meaning that putting a lightning anneatur (sorry, I have no idea how to spell that!) in between the tuner and the radio, where there is coax, would it be possible to put something between the tuner and the antenna, which is just a wire connection? The other half of the tuner goes to ground.

Thanks,

Zakir
KC0VAA

I meant seperate from the radio..... I realized that they could be used for RTTY etc.... While studying for my general exam, I also read about software which would allow you to calculate the MUF etc.

The first thing that came to my mind was audacity.

I'm just getting into ham radio, but have been using computers for a long time and am computer technician at a local university. I'm just wondering what people use their computers for with ham radio... i've heard people talk about logging software, and antenna design software, but not a whole lot else... what else is out there?

Thanks,

Zakir

Okay, now I'm 100% sure that it is a UHF connector I'm dealing with... I just rememeber reading about N connectors and not UHF connectors... oh well, thanks for the advice!!! Mainly, are the UHF connectors used on most radios and antennas?

Thanks,

KC0VAA

Thank you so much for your help... I did mean, how many amps the PSU would pull from a 120 volt outlet... but I didn't know how to word my question... yes I know power is measured in watts!

As for amplifiers, the reason I was vague, was because I don't know anything. I have no idea what exists with amps and I doubt I'll use one for a long time, but was a little curious about what was necessary, in comparison to what a 25 watt PSU @ 13.8 volts would take.

I am currently using GFCI outlets in my work area because I do a lot of computer and electrical repair and when something fails... They have probably saved pieces of equipment and my life multiple times; I had just heard a lot of bad things about them from other hams on eham.

Okay. Another question, is there a difference between 'N' connectors and UHF connectors or are they the same? I'm looking at a getting a few converters, SMA <-> BNC and BNC <-> UHF/N... Which ones do people often use? The pictures look more like the UHF connector than N for the antenna that I have!