Here are the three links I promised on the net.
The Chile earthquake info podcast is at http://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/EmergencyDisasterServicesPodCast.php,
then click on "Field Report: Chile Earthquake Operations". (Thanks to AD7LO for the info).
Folks who live near the ocean say that earthquakes are really Tsunami Warnings. After an earthquake, the residents head for high ground while the tourists say, "That was interesting, we just had an earthquake". If you are ever near the ocean and there is an earthquake, move to high ground as fast as you can.
There is a fascinating web site where you can listen to live audio from various public agencies or ham repeaters. You can select the items you are interested in by State or City. Here is the link.
http://www.radioreference.com/
The ARRL's W1AW radio station is due for an update. If you want to help with this endeavor, you can donate to W1AW at the following URL:
www.arrl.org/arrl-donation-form
W1AW publishes propagation reports and transmits radio bulletins and code practice sessions on a daily basis. The schedule is in every issue of QST or online at www.arrl.org.
I've been researching the new HT radios for emergency use and I am saddened by what I have found.
Only about half of the available models can take a 12 volt input for operation or charging.
Most have SMA antenna connectors which are not designed for that type of application and which break off easily. Adapters to convert SMA to BNC or PL239 are rare and hard to find. BNC is the ham radio standard for good reason.
All the "pocket" size radios have poor heat dissapation capability and would be almost worthless as an emergency radio where traffic would be virtually constant.
About the only thing the newer HTs are good for is to use on low power to input a signal into a mobile radio operating in Cross Band or Locked Band Repeater mode.
Mobile radios are currently the ONLY ham radios suitable for emergency use where you can expect to be doing a huge amount of transmitting.
Contrary opinions are welcome, but be prepared to back it up!
Harbor Freight in Salt Lake City has the 12 volt trickle chargers on sale for a great price. They also are selling a package of two LED flashlights with batteries (9 LEDS in each flashlight) for $3.99. If you are on their mailing list, you might have a certificate for $2.99 for the same package of two or you might even have a certificate for a FREE 9 LED flashlight with batteries.
In Google, if you type in the phrase "AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY", and then scroll to the bottom of the resulting page, you will find live links to all of the following:
ARES ham radio
ARRL ham radio
SKYWARN ham radio
ham radio disaster
Homeland Security amateur radio
RACES ham radio
ham radio nets
ham radio clubs
That's a LOT of information for emergency preparedness or emergency training.
Some of you have asked questions about Utah repeaters and emergency frequencies. The best and most reliable source for this information is on the Utah VHF Society home page. Just Google Utah VHF Society and then click on the repeater list link. They also publish a book with similar information and a map of the Intermountain Intertie system and the Cactus system.
Until next time, 73s from N7OZH, O. D. Williams
