Putting things in perspective, complete with one or two statistics. None of this has shown up in the news media and none of it will. http://tinyurl.com/naysyyg
Please check www.arpse.org for ham radio service opportunities. There are lots of races, bike rides, parades, fire works shows, etc. that need ham radio operators for communications.
Power brown-outs are dangerous to anything in your house or office that has a motor. Referigerator, air conditioner, computers, furnace, heat pump, etc. If a brown out occurs, you need to shut off all devices with motors. Best to just go outside and pull the main power switch.
When the power comes back on, don't be too anxious to turn your power back on. Often the power cycles a few times before it comes on and stays on. Those cycles are not good for anything in your house that is electrical.
Also, when power is restored, a LOT of devices come on at once in the affected area and that causes spikes and valeys in the power until it all settles out. You don't need to subject your devices to that level of electrical stress.
If you are going to connect a generator to your house, consider a power transfer switch. When power goes off, a power transfer switch will disconnect your house from the main power line and connect it to the generator. When power is restored, the transfer switch disconnects the generator and reconnects your house to the commercial power lines.
If your generator is not one of the automatic ones, get a manual power transfer switch. Lots cheaper and just as effective.
Are the batteries in your LED flashlights good to go? There have been a number of power outages during the evening thunder storms we have been having lately.
During an actual disaster, if you are a communicator in an area where conditions become unsafe, LEAVE! You are a communicator 2nd. Life and property trump communication. EVERY TIME! Check your part 97 rule book, this rule is in there!
During a disaster there may be riots, looting and violence. Unpleasant, but the "group mind" of a large number of people is capable of doing things that many of the individuals in the group would NEVER do on their own. BE SAFE!
Until next time.
N7OZH
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
ERC/MARA Post for 07/10/2013
18 wheel trucks are really big, right? Nope, their just kids toys compared to this monster that is hauling a 1.9 million pound generator and they do it with only 576 wheels. There are four big rig cabs, two pulling and two pushing, each with 10 tires themselves. NOW you've seen a big truck!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0663asT5xY
Harbor Freight Fire Starters - blog has a link to YouTube videos showing the correct method of using the Harbor Freight magnesium fire starters. They work just fine! [June 12, 2013 posting]
COSTCO has a set of THREE LED HeadLamps, each with 10 LEDs and a set of three is only $9.99 with batteries.
Some features of our radios are going to see more use during emergencies than they ever will see during normal day to day operations. During an emergency, the SCAN feature will probably get a real workout as some are assigned to monitor for other emergency traffic. You may need the scan feature just to find working repeaters after a disaster or to find the frequency of the temporary repeater set up for the emergency. A crib sheet showing how to get into and out of various scan modes is something that every emergency communicator is going to need.
1. Radio Scans
Entire Band
Entire Band based on frequency currently in the VFO.
Portion of band based on frequencies in two memory channels
Portion of band based on two VFO frequencies
All Memory Channels
Only Memory Channels in the currently selected band.
ONE Memory Group
Very useful for scanning FRS/GMRS frequencies to detect people calling for help.
A selected set of Memory Groups
3 scan modes
Carrier (Hang Time [pause before scan resume] is programmable on some radios)
SOME FRS/GMRS radios can do this scan mode. VERY HANDY in an emergency.
Time (For example, 10 seconds - radio starts scanning again in 10 seconds even if a qso is still going on)
Seek and Hold - radio stops on a busy frequency and exits scan mode - requires operator intervention to start scanning again.
CTCSS Scan
Radios with this feature can scan an active repeater to determine the correct CTCSS code and program it into the VFO or current memory channel.
2. Everybody who does emergency prep needs a better antenna than the one that came with your HT. Look for antennas that are optimized for the two or three main ham bands of your radio and that have some GAIN!
3. Emergency Prep communications REQUIRE an alternate power source for your radio. You will not last very long just running on the battery that came with your radio. During an emergency you will probably NEVER have a time when you are not hearing other traffic or transmitting traffic. The battery drains quickly under this type of load. Think about it, just to be NCS on a typical ham radio net you need external power. Your HT battery will not even get you through the net if you are NCS. Emergency situations result in a LOT more ham radio activity than any net.
Summer Heat and Outdoor Antennas
Extreme heat can soften SOME cable dialectric to the point that the center conductor "sags". No longer a 50 ohm impedance.
In the most extreme cases, the center conductor comes into contact with the shield braid and shorts the cable.
You can compensate for minor center conductor drift with an antenna tuner.
Yes, they make antenna tuners for 2 meters and 70 centimeters (1.25 meters also). MFJ and others manufacture them.
Until next time - 73 from N7OZH.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0663asT5xY
Harbor Freight Fire Starters - blog has a link to YouTube videos showing the correct method of using the Harbor Freight magnesium fire starters. They work just fine! [June 12, 2013 posting]
COSTCO has a set of THREE LED HeadLamps, each with 10 LEDs and a set of three is only $9.99 with batteries.
Some features of our radios are going to see more use during emergencies than they ever will see during normal day to day operations. During an emergency, the SCAN feature will probably get a real workout as some are assigned to monitor for other emergency traffic. You may need the scan feature just to find working repeaters after a disaster or to find the frequency of the temporary repeater set up for the emergency. A crib sheet showing how to get into and out of various scan modes is something that every emergency communicator is going to need.
1. Radio Scans
Entire Band
Entire Band based on frequency currently in the VFO.
Portion of band based on frequencies in two memory channels
Portion of band based on two VFO frequencies
All Memory Channels
Only Memory Channels in the currently selected band.
ONE Memory Group
Very useful for scanning FRS/GMRS frequencies to detect people calling for help.
A selected set of Memory Groups
3 scan modes
Carrier (Hang Time [pause before scan resume] is programmable on some radios)
SOME FRS/GMRS radios can do this scan mode. VERY HANDY in an emergency.
Time (For example, 10 seconds - radio starts scanning again in 10 seconds even if a qso is still going on)
Seek and Hold - radio stops on a busy frequency and exits scan mode - requires operator intervention to start scanning again.
CTCSS Scan
Radios with this feature can scan an active repeater to determine the correct CTCSS code and program it into the VFO or current memory channel.
2. Everybody who does emergency prep needs a better antenna than the one that came with your HT. Look for antennas that are optimized for the two or three main ham bands of your radio and that have some GAIN!
3. Emergency Prep communications REQUIRE an alternate power source for your radio. You will not last very long just running on the battery that came with your radio. During an emergency you will probably NEVER have a time when you are not hearing other traffic or transmitting traffic. The battery drains quickly under this type of load. Think about it, just to be NCS on a typical ham radio net you need external power. Your HT battery will not even get you through the net if you are NCS. Emergency situations result in a LOT more ham radio activity than any net.
Summer Heat and Outdoor Antennas
Extreme heat can soften SOME cable dialectric to the point that the center conductor "sags". No longer a 50 ohm impedance.
In the most extreme cases, the center conductor comes into contact with the shield braid and shorts the cable.
You can compensate for minor center conductor drift with an antenna tuner.
Yes, they make antenna tuners for 2 meters and 70 centimeters (1.25 meters also). MFJ and others manufacture them.
Until next time - 73 from N7OZH.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
MARA Net 06/19/2013
As was announced on the net tonight, MARA will not be putting up a field day station this year. However, you can attend UARCs doings at Payson Lake or go to the Davis Amateur Radio Club set up. More info on the Davis doings HERE.
Tomorrow, Thursday the 20th, is the VHF/IRLP RACES net. If you have a RACES number, feel free to check in between 8PM and 9PM Utah time. Scan the local repeaters to find the one nearest you that is carrying the checkins.
A LOT more information will be added to this post tomorrow, the 20th.
N7OZH
Tomorrow, Thursday the 20th, is the VHF/IRLP RACES net. If you have a RACES number, feel free to check in between 8PM and 9PM Utah time. Scan the local repeaters to find the one nearest you that is carrying the checkins.
A LOT more information will be added to this post tomorrow, the 20th.
N7OZH
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
FootHill Net 06-18-2013
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will not be setting up a field day station at the Stake Center this year. However, here are some excellent YouTube videos of people working PSK31 and others showing how to set it up and giving tips on good practice.
PSK31 Intro PSK31 Intro
LOTS of PSK31 videos here PSK31
PSK31 was going to be our major demo at the field day site, now you can get the same info in the comfort of your own home with the air conditioner running.
To hear actual sounds of ALL the digital modes and find out more info on them, go to this amazing ham radio site. WB8NUT Ham Radio
N7OZH
PSK31 Intro PSK31 Intro
LOTS of PSK31 videos here PSK31
PSK31 was going to be our major demo at the field day site, now you can get the same info in the comfort of your own home with the air conditioner running.
To hear actual sounds of ALL the digital modes and find out more info on them, go to this amazing ham radio site. WB8NUT Ham Radio
N7OZH
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
6/12/2013 MARA - A Few Important Things and A Few Handy Things and A Few Interesting Things
If you follow MARA on Twitter, you should have received a Tweet around 8PM reminding you of tonight's net. There are ham radio operators all over the USA and some foreign countries following @MARA_SLC on Twitter for EmComm Radio.
It was reported on the ERC net last night that the Harbor Freight magnesium fire starters do not work. They do if you follow correct procedures. Thanks to Scott/W7OXZ for the following link to a YouTube video showing how to do it right. The demo is done with a Harbor Freight Magnesium Fire Starter. You can see it HERE.
There are lots of other YouTube videos showing people trying to use the Harbor Freight Magnesium Fire Starter and other magnesium fire starters the wrong way and concluding that they do not work. I have 10 of the Harbor Freight models. Mine all work.
IW5EDI has a nifty QSL maker for your computer. You can see it HERE.
He also has lots of interesting Ham Radio articles on his HOME PAGE.
You need to ID every 10 minutes. I often forget. Here is the solution for THAT.
Useful Ham Radio Links HERE.
Misc Ham Radio Software HERE.
Baofeng Radio Prices and Reviews HERE.
One commentator said that the Baofeng is a Chinese $200 radio that is subsidized by the Chinese government to sell for under $50 so that the Chinese can damage the Japan radio market and then take it over. That's one person's opinion - I don't have any facts to support it.
Why Ham Radio For Disaster Management? HERE.
An excellent article that you could print out and give to your Stake Presidency to get them on board with a stake net and annual emergency drill if they do not already have one.
More on the net and then this will be updated.
-N7OZH-
It was reported on the ERC net last night that the Harbor Freight magnesium fire starters do not work. They do if you follow correct procedures. Thanks to Scott/W7OXZ for the following link to a YouTube video showing how to do it right. The demo is done with a Harbor Freight Magnesium Fire Starter. You can see it HERE.
There are lots of other YouTube videos showing people trying to use the Harbor Freight Magnesium Fire Starter and other magnesium fire starters the wrong way and concluding that they do not work. I have 10 of the Harbor Freight models. Mine all work.
IW5EDI has a nifty QSL maker for your computer. You can see it HERE.
He also has lots of interesting Ham Radio articles on his HOME PAGE.
You need to ID every 10 minutes. I often forget. Here is the solution for THAT.
Useful Ham Radio Links HERE.
Misc Ham Radio Software HERE.
Baofeng Radio Prices and Reviews HERE.
One commentator said that the Baofeng is a Chinese $200 radio that is subsidized by the Chinese government to sell for under $50 so that the Chinese can damage the Japan radio market and then take it over. That's one person's opinion - I don't have any facts to support it.
Why Ham Radio For Disaster Management? HERE.
An excellent article that you could print out and give to your Stake Presidency to get them on board with a stake net and annual emergency drill if they do not already have one.
More on the net and then this will be updated.
-N7OZH-
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
06/11/2013 Foothill & ERC Net - 3 CRUCIAL Things
If you plan to work as a ham radio communicator during a major disaster, there are three things you MUST have or you will be of very limited usefulness.
1) The first is EXTRA BATTERIES. The batteries in your HT will only last for a very limited time under the heavy traffic of an emergency situation. In the early stages, you radio will probably not ever be silent. You will be at a middle level power drain almost constantly. [NOTE: Power drain levels when the radio is ON - LOW - silence, squelch is unbroken, nobody is talking - MIDDLE - the squelch is open and other operators are talking - the audio driver circuits consume a lot of power - HIGH - you are transmitting].
If you are going to work in a shelter or command center using a mobile rig, how will you power it? Mobile rigs draw a LOT more power than HTs and they do not come with batteries. If the power is out (a VERY likely scenario) you are going to need a way to get your own power. A good idea is to have cables that will plug into the mobile rig and have Anderson Power Poles on the other end. With this set up you can then use alligator clips or a cigarette lighter plug to connect to any available 12 volt power source.
2) A LONGER ANTENNA with gain for your HT. The antenna that comes with your HT is technically a "rubber attenuator". It is designed to be VERY broad band so that the radio can "hear" signals across its entire spectrum. That spectrum includes LOTS of stuff outside the ham bands. With many radios this includes the AM and/or FM broadcast bands, the Weather Bands, the FRS/GMRS bands, and more, all in addition to the specified ham bands. That antenna is a "jack of all trades, master of none".
3) An antenna that you can mount 20 to 30 feet in the air. This includes the mast and a tripod and some guy wires and tent stakes for the guy wires. This is an absolute necessity if you are going to be the communicator at a command center or shelter that was selected at the last moment. This happens a LOT in major disasters due to the planned command center or shelter being damaged in the disaster. You aren't going to get out very well on simplex using just an HT and its little rubber attenuator. This antenna setup is something you can keep handy in the garage where it is easy to grab and move quickly to your assigned station.
These are not things you need to get all at once, but they should be on your "gotta have it" list. You can acquire the antenna that goes up 20 or 30 feet in stages. Get the tripod or other mount, then get the mast elements and finally the actual antenna, etc.
4) OK, there's actually a fourth thing. You must have a "CHEAT SHEET" for your radio. You may be asked to operate in cross band repeat mode using frequencies you are not familiar with. You could be required to use squelch tones with a new temporary portable repeater on frequencies you have never worked before (SLC emergency services has at least two of these). You could be required to use tones to ignore all transmissions except those with the proper tone/signal on the carrier. There are many modes that your radio is capable of that you never use. In an emergency you could be asked to get your radio in and out of modes you've never worked before.
You can buy pocket reference manuals and special abreviated full size manuals from dealers like AES Ham and also on eBay. They are CRUCIAL in an emergency situation. If you can find the manual that came with your radio, you can also make your own using your computer. I strongly suggest that you laminate it if you do make your own.
-N7OZH-
1) The first is EXTRA BATTERIES. The batteries in your HT will only last for a very limited time under the heavy traffic of an emergency situation. In the early stages, you radio will probably not ever be silent. You will be at a middle level power drain almost constantly. [NOTE: Power drain levels when the radio is ON - LOW - silence, squelch is unbroken, nobody is talking - MIDDLE - the squelch is open and other operators are talking - the audio driver circuits consume a lot of power - HIGH - you are transmitting].
If you are going to work in a shelter or command center using a mobile rig, how will you power it? Mobile rigs draw a LOT more power than HTs and they do not come with batteries. If the power is out (a VERY likely scenario) you are going to need a way to get your own power. A good idea is to have cables that will plug into the mobile rig and have Anderson Power Poles on the other end. With this set up you can then use alligator clips or a cigarette lighter plug to connect to any available 12 volt power source.
2) A LONGER ANTENNA with gain for your HT. The antenna that comes with your HT is technically a "rubber attenuator". It is designed to be VERY broad band so that the radio can "hear" signals across its entire spectrum. That spectrum includes LOTS of stuff outside the ham bands. With many radios this includes the AM and/or FM broadcast bands, the Weather Bands, the FRS/GMRS bands, and more, all in addition to the specified ham bands. That antenna is a "jack of all trades, master of none".
3) An antenna that you can mount 20 to 30 feet in the air. This includes the mast and a tripod and some guy wires and tent stakes for the guy wires. This is an absolute necessity if you are going to be the communicator at a command center or shelter that was selected at the last moment. This happens a LOT in major disasters due to the planned command center or shelter being damaged in the disaster. You aren't going to get out very well on simplex using just an HT and its little rubber attenuator. This antenna setup is something you can keep handy in the garage where it is easy to grab and move quickly to your assigned station.
These are not things you need to get all at once, but they should be on your "gotta have it" list. You can acquire the antenna that goes up 20 or 30 feet in stages. Get the tripod or other mount, then get the mast elements and finally the actual antenna, etc.
4) OK, there's actually a fourth thing. You must have a "CHEAT SHEET" for your radio. You may be asked to operate in cross band repeat mode using frequencies you are not familiar with. You could be required to use squelch tones with a new temporary portable repeater on frequencies you have never worked before (SLC emergency services has at least two of these). You could be required to use tones to ignore all transmissions except those with the proper tone/signal on the carrier. There are many modes that your radio is capable of that you never use. In an emergency you could be asked to get your radio in and out of modes you've never worked before.
You can buy pocket reference manuals and special abreviated full size manuals from dealers like AES Ham and also on eBay. They are CRUCIAL in an emergency situation. If you can find the manual that came with your radio, you can also make your own using your computer. I strongly suggest that you laminate it if you do make your own.
-N7OZH-
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
More Neat Stuff (06/04/2013 Foothill/MARA postings)
Go to NiteIze.com to see some cool LED lights AND the most amazing guy wire tightner available today. It is called the figure nine rope tensioner. They sell these at the ACE Hardware on 4th South and on eBay. Prices vary widely, so it is best to shop around.
The figure nine device comes in three sizes. Here is the link to the Small one which is the one that is most handy for use on ham radio guy wires. Guy wires that are not metal can and do stretch. This gadget fixes that. Here is the link for the SMALL unit.
An amazing cleaning solution can be brewed up using a product that is in grocery stores, camping stores, and lots of other specialty stores. It is citric acid (as in lemon juice). However, this works better than lemon juice, especially if you heat it and add a little salt. It not only cleans brass, but it "passivates" the brass to prevent future tarnish. It will clean your sterling silver in the blink of an eye. Mix it stronger and it will remove rust. It has an amazing number of uses. Also available on eBay.
NOTE: This is NOT harmful - it is weaker than lemon juice and is biodegradable. In the stores it is known as LEMI SHINE and comes in a small yellow box. It is on the top shelf in the soap and cleaner section at our neighborhood Fresh Market store. WallMart has it also. Google this stuff and prepare to be amazed at all its uses. Definitely something to add to your emergency planning.
WARNING: Never put a rubber band around sterling silver or real silver. Rubber bands contain Sulphur. Sulphur attacks silver. Placing a rubber band around sterling silver for any length of time guarantees that when you remove the rubber band there will be NO silver under it! Pure silver will be pitted and tarnished by rubber bands. Who knew?? Learn something new every day!
-N7OZH-
The figure nine device comes in three sizes. Here is the link to the Small one which is the one that is most handy for use on ham radio guy wires. Guy wires that are not metal can and do stretch. This gadget fixes that. Here is the link for the SMALL unit.
An amazing cleaning solution can be brewed up using a product that is in grocery stores, camping stores, and lots of other specialty stores. It is citric acid (as in lemon juice). However, this works better than lemon juice, especially if you heat it and add a little salt. It not only cleans brass, but it "passivates" the brass to prevent future tarnish. It will clean your sterling silver in the blink of an eye. Mix it stronger and it will remove rust. It has an amazing number of uses. Also available on eBay.
NOTE: This is NOT harmful - it is weaker than lemon juice and is biodegradable. In the stores it is known as LEMI SHINE and comes in a small yellow box. It is on the top shelf in the soap and cleaner section at our neighborhood Fresh Market store. WallMart has it also. Google this stuff and prepare to be amazed at all its uses. Definitely something to add to your emergency planning.
WARNING: Never put a rubber band around sterling silver or real silver. Rubber bands contain Sulphur. Sulphur attacks silver. Placing a rubber band around sterling silver for any length of time guarantees that when you remove the rubber band there will be NO silver under it! Pure silver will be pitted and tarnished by rubber bands. Who knew?? Learn something new every day!
-N7OZH-
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
All About Propane, Butane and MORE!
As an emergency communicator you are probably going to be responsible for your own food and water. If the emergency happens during winter, you are also going to be faced with keeping yourself warm. Let's look at some simple ways to do this.
Those of you that go camping a lot are probably already familiar with some of the items listed below. For those that do not go camping, all of this is probably unknown territory and a valuable resource that could save your life or at least make it a lot more comfortable and convenient.
First, a SMALL STOVE that is very inexpensive.
http://tinyurl.com/newe7gm
I am showing this on Amazon, but they are available at WallMart and many local stores and gun shops. Any place that sells camping or emergency supplies will have the items listed in this post. Prices will vary greatly, so it is best to shop around.
A LARGER STOVE
http://tinyurl.com/qawyaju
You will notice that both of these are meant to mount on top of a small 4 ounce propane/butane mixture in a 3 inch tall cylinder. However other fuel sources are available and there are even adapters that will allow you to use pure butane with these stoves.
ADAPTERS
These allow you to use your butane canisters with the little hiking/camp stoves that normally use pure propane or a propane/butane mixture. Get one of these and you can run your little single burner stove off of up to three different fuel sources.
http://tinyurl.com/pln98zo
http://tinyurl.com/nhco4pn
SINGLE BURNER STOVES
Lots of people have coleman stoves, but single burner stoves are more portable and they are ideal for quick use. During an emergency these can be left set up until the emergency is over.
http://tinyurl.com/ogyrojh
PROPANE ADAPTER HOSE
Lots of propane devices are designed to use the little 1 pound propane tanks, but maybe you want to run longer. There is a hose available that will adapt a 20 pound tank for use with many stoves designed only for the one pound canisters. The interfaces are not the same, but this hose takes care of that.
http://tinyurl.com/pddkk9s
PROPANE HEATERS
There are versions of these to work off of the 20 pound tanks and versions to work with the 1 pound canisters.
http://tinyurl.com/nuwmbvb
Can't decide between a stove or a heater? How about one device that does both?
http://tinyurl.com/ofytsal
There are also heater/cooker devices that mount directly on top of a 20 pound cylinder. Two functions, one device.
PROPANE DISTRIBUTION POST
Maybe you want/need to hook more than one device to your 20 pound propane tank? Got that covered, too.
http://tinyurl.com/qeqn34x
PROPANE SAFETY
There's a lot to know about propane and using/storing it safely. Fortunately, there is some expert info on the internet.
http://tinyurl.com/qzsljd3 (Part One)
http://tinyurl.com/q6pt7le (Part Two)
Please pay particular attention to the warnings about liquid propane and propane flash fires that can destroy your lungs instantly and leave you dead in about 15 minutes. Here is a real life example.
"If you connected a one pound canister to a camp stove, with the canister either over-filled or upside down, so that the output is liquid, instead of gas: Liquid propane could jet out of the burners, it will quickly expand to a large cloud of gas just when you’re trying to light it and something’s going to go Boom! With any luck, the only thing that will get singed is your eyebrows, but you could also destroy the equipment and even suffer eye injuries that will be painful and take a long time to heal, just when you don’t have the time to waste.
But, if it was a huge cloud of flame and you happened to be sharply inhaling at the moment, such as from surprise at the huge cloud of flame that’s currently enveloping your face, you’ll end up literally breathing in the flame into your lungs. When you burn the lining of your lungs, they will start oozing liquid to the point of filling up and you will probably die of pneumonia within 15 minutes, if you’re lucky. If you’re not lucky, it will take even longer.
I can promise you that it will be the most miserable 15 minutes of your life. In a slightly different scenario, this actually happened five years ago to someone for whom I cared a great deal, and Julie did die, alone, on the floor of her kitchen, with her traumatized dog lying by her side. The memory still makes me ill. So, I’m here to tell you that that this type of deadly injury really can happen."
=====================
You can fill 1 pound propane cylinders from 20 pound cylinders and vice versa. Complete instructions and pictures of the needed adapter and safe methods of doing so are in the articles. I hope you will take the time to read them. The adapters are available at Harbor Freight and any store that sells camping supplies. Wasatch Propane also has them. This time of year, even the Smith's Super Stores have them in their camping section.
There are many places to get propane tanks refilled. Some of them are rip off artists and some are VERY incompetent. The only source in Salt Lake City that I can recommend is Wasatch Propane.
Wasatch Propane
Address: 201 W 2700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Phone:(801) 467-3722
The methods used to refill tanks at service stations resulted in a large number of fires, explosions, and deaths. That resulted in Congress mandating the use of OPD style tanks. These problems never happened with tanks filled at places like Wasatch Propane, but sometimes result with service station refills. Basically, the service stations were filling the tanks too full (in cold weather) and the campers were then going to warmer climates to use the tanks. Once "warmed up", the liquid propane began to convert some of its mass to gas (always does when temperatures go up). The overfill by the service station did not leave enough "free" space in the tank for the expansion, so it went out the safety pop-off valve. Propane is odorless and heavier than air (1.5 times as heavy) so you can be standing in two feet deep propane gas and not know it.
When that gas cloud moves to a flame source (or even a static electricity source) death and destruction quickly follow. If you lay down in your ground level sleeping bag where there is a propane cloud close to the ground (or if one later developes), the propane will displace the oxygen and you will suffocate.
Read the article and stay safe.
PROPANE/BUTANE MIX (4 ounce containers)
You probably noticed that the small camp stoves at the beginning of this post were mounted on the small 3 inch tall 4 ounce canisters containing a Propane/Butane mixture. These are only designed for single use and if filled with pure propane may explode because they are designed for a lower pressure Propane/Butane mixture. Use ONCE and then throw them away.
http://tinyurl.com/oume3ap
SIZES OF TANKS AVAILABLE.
20 Lb Cylinders
8 Lb Cylinders (lighter to carry and more convenient)
1 Lb Cylinders
Butane Canisters
A lot of this stuff is available at WallMart and the 20 pound (actually 18 pound) tanks are available at Costco, also.
NOTE: The trade in canisters you see in cages at many stores (including Home Depot) are a rip off. They are NEVER full by design. All of them have special outlets on them that prevent being refilled except by the manufacturer. Go to Wasatch Propane and pay about $2.75/pound for a propane refill. Do a trade in at a local hardware store and pay about $4.95 per pound.
TIP: You can sometimes get old propane tanks for free or no more than $5. Professional refurbishers like Wasatch Propane will give you $10 or $15 or $20 for a trade in toward a new canister with an OPD valve.
Propane and butane may be your only sources of fuel (other than wood) during a disaster, especially a prolonged disaster. It is a good idea to have some around, but if you don't know the safety rules you could wind up destroying your house or garage or killing members of your family. I hope the info in this post helps you prepare and stay safe.
-N7OZH-
Those of you that go camping a lot are probably already familiar with some of the items listed below. For those that do not go camping, all of this is probably unknown territory and a valuable resource that could save your life or at least make it a lot more comfortable and convenient.
First, a SMALL STOVE that is very inexpensive.
http://tinyurl.com/newe7gm
I am showing this on Amazon, but they are available at WallMart and many local stores and gun shops. Any place that sells camping or emergency supplies will have the items listed in this post. Prices will vary greatly, so it is best to shop around.
A LARGER STOVE
http://tinyurl.com/qawyaju
You will notice that both of these are meant to mount on top of a small 4 ounce propane/butane mixture in a 3 inch tall cylinder. However other fuel sources are available and there are even adapters that will allow you to use pure butane with these stoves.
ADAPTERS
These allow you to use your butane canisters with the little hiking/camp stoves that normally use pure propane or a propane/butane mixture. Get one of these and you can run your little single burner stove off of up to three different fuel sources.
http://tinyurl.com/pln98zo
http://tinyurl.com/nhco4pn
SINGLE BURNER STOVES
Lots of people have coleman stoves, but single burner stoves are more portable and they are ideal for quick use. During an emergency these can be left set up until the emergency is over.
http://tinyurl.com/ogyrojh
PROPANE ADAPTER HOSE
Lots of propane devices are designed to use the little 1 pound propane tanks, but maybe you want to run longer. There is a hose available that will adapt a 20 pound tank for use with many stoves designed only for the one pound canisters. The interfaces are not the same, but this hose takes care of that.
http://tinyurl.com/pddkk9s
PROPANE HEATERS
There are versions of these to work off of the 20 pound tanks and versions to work with the 1 pound canisters.
http://tinyurl.com/nuwmbvb
Can't decide between a stove or a heater? How about one device that does both?
http://tinyurl.com/ofytsal
There are also heater/cooker devices that mount directly on top of a 20 pound cylinder. Two functions, one device.
PROPANE DISTRIBUTION POST
Maybe you want/need to hook more than one device to your 20 pound propane tank? Got that covered, too.
http://tinyurl.com/qeqn34x
PROPANE SAFETY
There's a lot to know about propane and using/storing it safely. Fortunately, there is some expert info on the internet.
http://tinyurl.com/qzsljd3 (Part One)
http://tinyurl.com/q6pt7le (Part Two)
Please pay particular attention to the warnings about liquid propane and propane flash fires that can destroy your lungs instantly and leave you dead in about 15 minutes. Here is a real life example.
"If you connected a one pound canister to a camp stove, with the canister either over-filled or upside down, so that the output is liquid, instead of gas: Liquid propane could jet out of the burners, it will quickly expand to a large cloud of gas just when you’re trying to light it and something’s going to go Boom! With any luck, the only thing that will get singed is your eyebrows, but you could also destroy the equipment and even suffer eye injuries that will be painful and take a long time to heal, just when you don’t have the time to waste.
But, if it was a huge cloud of flame and you happened to be sharply inhaling at the moment, such as from surprise at the huge cloud of flame that’s currently enveloping your face, you’ll end up literally breathing in the flame into your lungs. When you burn the lining of your lungs, they will start oozing liquid to the point of filling up and you will probably die of pneumonia within 15 minutes, if you’re lucky. If you’re not lucky, it will take even longer.
I can promise you that it will be the most miserable 15 minutes of your life. In a slightly different scenario, this actually happened five years ago to someone for whom I cared a great deal, and Julie did die, alone, on the floor of her kitchen, with her traumatized dog lying by her side. The memory still makes me ill. So, I’m here to tell you that that this type of deadly injury really can happen."
=====================
You can fill 1 pound propane cylinders from 20 pound cylinders and vice versa. Complete instructions and pictures of the needed adapter and safe methods of doing so are in the articles. I hope you will take the time to read them. The adapters are available at Harbor Freight and any store that sells camping supplies. Wasatch Propane also has them. This time of year, even the Smith's Super Stores have them in their camping section.
There are many places to get propane tanks refilled. Some of them are rip off artists and some are VERY incompetent. The only source in Salt Lake City that I can recommend is Wasatch Propane.
Wasatch Propane
Address: 201 W 2700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Phone:(801) 467-3722
The methods used to refill tanks at service stations resulted in a large number of fires, explosions, and deaths. That resulted in Congress mandating the use of OPD style tanks. These problems never happened with tanks filled at places like Wasatch Propane, but sometimes result with service station refills. Basically, the service stations were filling the tanks too full (in cold weather) and the campers were then going to warmer climates to use the tanks. Once "warmed up", the liquid propane began to convert some of its mass to gas (always does when temperatures go up). The overfill by the service station did not leave enough "free" space in the tank for the expansion, so it went out the safety pop-off valve. Propane is odorless and heavier than air (1.5 times as heavy) so you can be standing in two feet deep propane gas and not know it.
When that gas cloud moves to a flame source (or even a static electricity source) death and destruction quickly follow. If you lay down in your ground level sleeping bag where there is a propane cloud close to the ground (or if one later developes), the propane will displace the oxygen and you will suffocate.
Read the article and stay safe.
PROPANE/BUTANE MIX (4 ounce containers)
You probably noticed that the small camp stoves at the beginning of this post were mounted on the small 3 inch tall 4 ounce canisters containing a Propane/Butane mixture. These are only designed for single use and if filled with pure propane may explode because they are designed for a lower pressure Propane/Butane mixture. Use ONCE and then throw them away.
http://tinyurl.com/oume3ap
SIZES OF TANKS AVAILABLE.
20 Lb Cylinders
8 Lb Cylinders (lighter to carry and more convenient)
1 Lb Cylinders
Butane Canisters
A lot of this stuff is available at WallMart and the 20 pound (actually 18 pound) tanks are available at Costco, also.
NOTE: The trade in canisters you see in cages at many stores (including Home Depot) are a rip off. They are NEVER full by design. All of them have special outlets on them that prevent being refilled except by the manufacturer. Go to Wasatch Propane and pay about $2.75/pound for a propane refill. Do a trade in at a local hardware store and pay about $4.95 per pound.
TIP: You can sometimes get old propane tanks for free or no more than $5. Professional refurbishers like Wasatch Propane will give you $10 or $15 or $20 for a trade in toward a new canister with an OPD valve.
Propane and butane may be your only sources of fuel (other than wood) during a disaster, especially a prolonged disaster. It is a good idea to have some around, but if you don't know the safety rules you could wind up destroying your house or garage or killing members of your family. I hope the info in this post helps you prepare and stay safe.
-N7OZH-
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Foothill Stake and MARA Nets - 2013 Field Day
========= FIELD DAY 2013 =========
For 2013, the ARRL Field Day is June 22 and 23. It is always the fourth full weekend in June.
Same location as last year, the pavillion next to the Foothill Stake Center. Times of operation will be posted later.
This year we are going to do Field Day using DIGITAL MODES of communication. If you've been wanting to see what that is like, plan to drop by for a while.
The rules for Field Day 2013 can be found HERE. (This link will open in a new window - close that window and you are right back here.
===========
One of our intrepid members decided to get the big $32 Harbor Freight "Battery Charger / Engine Starter / Trickler" rather than the little $14.99 one. It not only charged the battery, it also produced lots of noise in the radio audio. Stick with the little one, it produces no radio hash.
==========
Harbor Freight is having several overlapping sales right now and the annual tent sale is next month (June).
The Dollar Days Sale - May 14-27 - going on NOW.
For 2013, the ARRL Field Day is June 22 and 23. It is always the fourth full weekend in June.
Same location as last year, the pavillion next to the Foothill Stake Center. Times of operation will be posted later.
This year we are going to do Field Day using DIGITAL MODES of communication. If you've been wanting to see what that is like, plan to drop by for a while.
The rules for Field Day 2013 can be found HERE. (This link will open in a new window - close that window and you are right back here.
===========
One of our intrepid members decided to get the big $32 Harbor Freight "Battery Charger / Engine Starter / Trickler" rather than the little $14.99 one. It not only charged the battery, it also produced lots of noise in the radio audio. Stick with the little one, it produces no radio hash.
==========
Harbor Freight is having several overlapping sales right now and the annual tent sale is next month (June).
The Dollar Days Sale - May 14-27 - going on NOW.
The current 24 page brochure recently mailed to those on the Harbor Freight mailing list includes many items which are DOUBLE DISCOUNTED. That means that they give the normal sale markdown and then add another discount on to the normal sale price. Never seen them do this before. That sale ends May 31st. If you are not on their mailing list, you are missing out on some great deals!
Finally, there is a multi-page sale brochure that you can pick up in the store with still more items on sale.
==========
-N7OZH-
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
RACES and Covering Your Stake In An Emergency.
May 14th, 2013
===== Another Ham Radio Blog =====
Another ham radio blog of interest can be found HERE.
===== RACES =====
Hopefully all who are reading this are members of RACES. If not, you could be told to listen but not transmit during a major disaster.
If you are not a member of RACES, here is where you can get an application blank:
RACES Application
You can join the Utah State RACES e-mail list using Yahoo Groups.
RACES NETS
There are state wide RACES nets on both HF and VHF/UHF. The following are the details of each net.
HF Net
Date: 3rd Saturday of odd numbered months
Time: 8:00 am
Frequency: 3920 kHz
VHF/UHF Net
Date: 3rd Thursday of even numbered months
Time: 8:00 pm
Frequency: Intermountain Intertie and other linked repeaters (See the Utah VHF Society members directory for more details on the Intermountain Intertie.
============= Stake Emergency Communications Nets =================
Does your stake have an Emergency Communications Net? Does it meet on the air weekly? A few years ago during one of our Stake Emergency drills, we dispatched ham radio and FRS operators to collect information just as they would during an emergency. Teams of two or more people (One with a radio) went along every street and reported on every house.
We quickly learned that 5 watt handy talkies on battery power (and FRS radios with even less power) could not communicate from one end of the stake to the other. Wards that were the greatest distance from the Stake Center could neither hear the command center or be heard by the command center.
Our communications plan was quickly modified to place two radio operators in a vehicle using a mag mount antenna with gain in the approximate center of the stake boundaries. These two mobile operators could communicate effectively with all the other ham radio and FRS operators in both directions. They then relayed communications to the Command Center in the Stake building. Messages from the Command Center were also relayed out to the remote teams.
Has your stake been tested to see if you can effectively communicate with the central command center from the most remote locations in your stake? Do you have a contingency plan to overcome any problems? If you can't communicate in real time with your roving teams that are collecting information and reporting on houses and individuals that need immediate help, your effectiveness is compromised and your help may come too late.
Another problem we discovered was that a neighboring stake was using the exact same simplex frequency as our stake. Normally their radio net meets on a different night so there had never been a conflict. In a wide area disaster, both stakes would be communicating at the same time. Big Problem. The solution is to use tactical calls that will identify which stake the information belongs to. For example, "The is Foothill Team 6c" indicates that this is a report from the sixth ward in the Foothill Stake and that the reporting team is team #C.
There will still be communication overlaps, but at least the messages will go to the intended recipients and not to the wrong ones (or to both at once). Dispatching help to an area in your stake when the problem is actually in another stake and ward is a waste of resources and time.
If your stake has not tested the ability to communicate over your entire stake area, from corner to corner, it would be a good idea to schedule such a test. It is also advisable to contact neighboring stakes and find out now if there is going to be a frequency overlap. During an actual disaster is NOT the time to discover and deal with these types of problems.
N7OZH
===== Another Ham Radio Blog =====
Another ham radio blog of interest can be found HERE.
===== RACES =====
Hopefully all who are reading this are members of RACES. If not, you could be told to listen but not transmit during a major disaster.
If you are not a member of RACES, here is where you can get an application blank:
RACES Application
You can join the Utah State RACES e-mail list using Yahoo Groups.
RACES NETS
There are state wide RACES nets on both HF and VHF/UHF. The following are the details of each net.
HF Net
Date: 3rd Saturday of odd numbered months
Time: 8:00 am
Frequency: 3920 kHz
VHF/UHF Net
Date: 3rd Thursday of even numbered months
Time: 8:00 pm
Frequency: Intermountain Intertie and other linked repeaters (See the Utah VHF Society members directory for more details on the Intermountain Intertie.
============= Stake Emergency Communications Nets =================
Does your stake have an Emergency Communications Net? Does it meet on the air weekly? A few years ago during one of our Stake Emergency drills, we dispatched ham radio and FRS operators to collect information just as they would during an emergency. Teams of two or more people (One with a radio) went along every street and reported on every house.
We quickly learned that 5 watt handy talkies on battery power (and FRS radios with even less power) could not communicate from one end of the stake to the other. Wards that were the greatest distance from the Stake Center could neither hear the command center or be heard by the command center.
Our communications plan was quickly modified to place two radio operators in a vehicle using a mag mount antenna with gain in the approximate center of the stake boundaries. These two mobile operators could communicate effectively with all the other ham radio and FRS operators in both directions. They then relayed communications to the Command Center in the Stake building. Messages from the Command Center were also relayed out to the remote teams.
Has your stake been tested to see if you can effectively communicate with the central command center from the most remote locations in your stake? Do you have a contingency plan to overcome any problems? If you can't communicate in real time with your roving teams that are collecting information and reporting on houses and individuals that need immediate help, your effectiveness is compromised and your help may come too late.
Another problem we discovered was that a neighboring stake was using the exact same simplex frequency as our stake. Normally their radio net meets on a different night so there had never been a conflict. In a wide area disaster, both stakes would be communicating at the same time. Big Problem. The solution is to use tactical calls that will identify which stake the information belongs to. For example, "The is Foothill Team 6c" indicates that this is a report from the sixth ward in the Foothill Stake and that the reporting team is team #C.
There will still be communication overlaps, but at least the messages will go to the intended recipients and not to the wrong ones (or to both at once). Dispatching help to an area in your stake when the problem is actually in another stake and ward is a waste of resources and time.
If your stake has not tested the ability to communicate over your entire stake area, from corner to corner, it would be a good idea to schedule such a test. It is also advisable to contact neighboring stakes and find out now if there is going to be a frequency overlap. During an actual disaster is NOT the time to discover and deal with these types of problems.
N7OZH
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Emergency Preparedness Fair at Home Depot on Highland Drive April 27, 2013.
I went to the emergency fair planning to only be there about 30 minutes. Two hours later I left with armloads of literature. I saw things there that I have never seen at ANY emergency show in Utah before.
There was a new type of fuel puck for emergency stoves (The little ones that fold up).
There was a new type of Solar Oven that I had never seen before. This got me to thinking about solar ovens again. I have a book that tells how to build several different designs of solar ovens, but lately I have been seeing some very clever ones using new designs.
Here is a link to a new solar oven web page that I discovered today - click HERE.
And here is a really useful packing crate that somebody has modified to create a really great solar oven - click HERE. You may have to scroll down to see the pictures.
If you Google Solar Ovens you will find all sorts of info on building and using solar ovens. A very easy way to cook food in an emergency when there is no electricity, no propane, no nothing. And the sunlight is free!
To see pictures and prices of the most unique solar oven at the fair, cllick HERE. They also have a short visual presentation of the oven showing how to set it up and how to cook food in it. Fascinating.
Literature from the Emergency Prep Fair
100+ page book listing services for anyone over the age of 55.
www.55plusbook.slco.org
Fascinating fire starter or wood substitute.
www.instafire.com
Various brochures and helpful tips from the Unified Police Department of Salt Lake.
www.updsl.org
Emergency tips and products. Click HERE
The Red Cross also had a response to the "Triangle of Life" by Doug Copp. Their position is that the building codes in use in the USA means that we will have very few "pancaking buildings" in an earthquake and that the methods taught by the Red Cross are better in this country. You'll have to make your own determination. I'm just glad to know of alternate ways to stay alive.
Be Ready Utah had an excellent handout about Employee Workplace Emergency Kits and also School Student's Book Backpack. All good advice. I'll try to get these two copied and onto the web site.
Finally, go to BeReadyUtah.gov to download LOTS of brochures and forms including a family contact kit.
Woody gave training tonight on Greenwich Mean Time, also known as Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) which you can always get from radio station WWV and WWVH. Utah is always UTC minus seven hours (now) or UTC minus six hours when the next time change comes along.
That's enought for today, more next time.
N7OZH
There was a new type of fuel puck for emergency stoves (The little ones that fold up).
There was a new type of Solar Oven that I had never seen before. This got me to thinking about solar ovens again. I have a book that tells how to build several different designs of solar ovens, but lately I have been seeing some very clever ones using new designs.
Here is a link to a new solar oven web page that I discovered today - click HERE.
And here is a really useful packing crate that somebody has modified to create a really great solar oven - click HERE. You may have to scroll down to see the pictures.
If you Google Solar Ovens you will find all sorts of info on building and using solar ovens. A very easy way to cook food in an emergency when there is no electricity, no propane, no nothing. And the sunlight is free!
To see pictures and prices of the most unique solar oven at the fair, cllick HERE. They also have a short visual presentation of the oven showing how to set it up and how to cook food in it. Fascinating.
Literature from the Emergency Prep Fair
100+ page book listing services for anyone over the age of 55.
www.55plusbook.slco.org
Fascinating fire starter or wood substitute.
www.instafire.com
Various brochures and helpful tips from the Unified Police Department of Salt Lake.
www.updsl.org
Emergency tips and products. Click HERE
The Red Cross also had a response to the "Triangle of Life" by Doug Copp. Their position is that the building codes in use in the USA means that we will have very few "pancaking buildings" in an earthquake and that the methods taught by the Red Cross are better in this country. You'll have to make your own determination. I'm just glad to know of alternate ways to stay alive.
Be Ready Utah had an excellent handout about Employee Workplace Emergency Kits and also School Student's Book Backpack. All good advice. I'll try to get these two copied and onto the web site.
Finally, go to BeReadyUtah.gov to download LOTS of brochures and forms including a family contact kit.
Woody gave training tonight on Greenwich Mean Time, also known as Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) which you can always get from radio station WWV and WWVH. Utah is always UTC minus seven hours (now) or UTC minus six hours when the next time change comes along.
That's enought for today, more next time.
N7OZH
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Ohm's Law and Battery Life
Remember Ohm's Law? Tonight we are going to use it to learn a few things about battery operated radios and battery life. In the following calculations no allowance is made for the power consumed by the radio itself. All calculations assume the radio itself consumes no power and that all power used is converted into the transmitted radio signal.
You remember that P=V*I or Power equals voltage times current. We will be solving for current, so the formula will become I=P/V.
First let's figure the power consumption for a radio producing 5 Watts with various batteries.
5 WATTS
VOLTS AMPS
12V 0.42A
7.4V 0.68A
6.2V 0.81A
5.4V 0.923A
Actually, most hand held radios only produce 5 Watts when they have 12 volts coming in. Many radios that are capable of 5 Watts and advertised as such produce only 4 Watts or less when the input voltage is less than 12 Volts. Let's run the numbers for a 4 Watt radio.
4 WATTS
VOLTS AMPS
12V 0.333A
7.4V 0.54A
6.2V 0.65A
5.4V 0.74A
Notice that for ANY amount of power output by the radio, the lower voltage batteries draw more current. The lower the voltage, the greater the amps consumed. Ohm's Law wins again!
What this means is that for any given radio at any given power setting, the lower voltage batteries are going to run out of "oomph" faster than the higher voltage batteries because of greater current drain.
Remember, a battery can sit around for weeks producing 12 volts at its terminals with no load attached. Attach a load and the instant result is current drain. It is that current drain that "exhausts" the battery and pulls it down into a state where it requires a recharge.
This is why you want hand held radios that have a jack on the side that will accept 12 volts. Your 12 volt battery (with the exact same current or AmpHour rating) will last longer than the built in battery. Add a 12 Volt battery with a much higher current rating, such as a 12 Volt 7 AmpHour Gel Cell, and you GREATLY increase your potential on air time!
How do you get this 12 volts? Most modern radios have an optional battery replacement back that has a cord coming out of it with a cigarette lighter plug on the end. Others have an actual 12 volt jack on the side.
If at all possible, get an emergency 12 volt source for your radio for use in emergencies.
Also, remember that your radio operates at THREE different power levels. 1) Power on but no audio, squelch is unbroken. 2) Power on and audio is being received. 3) Power on and the operator is transmitting (key down mode). You can attach an external power source with a current meter in the circuit to find out the actual current draw for your particular radio. It is educational.
N7OZH
You remember that P=V*I or Power equals voltage times current. We will be solving for current, so the formula will become I=P/V.
First let's figure the power consumption for a radio producing 5 Watts with various batteries.
5 WATTS
VOLTS AMPS
12V 0.42A
7.4V 0.68A
6.2V 0.81A
5.4V 0.923A
Actually, most hand held radios only produce 5 Watts when they have 12 volts coming in. Many radios that are capable of 5 Watts and advertised as such produce only 4 Watts or less when the input voltage is less than 12 Volts. Let's run the numbers for a 4 Watt radio.
4 WATTS
VOLTS AMPS
12V 0.333A
7.4V 0.54A
6.2V 0.65A
5.4V 0.74A
Notice that for ANY amount of power output by the radio, the lower voltage batteries draw more current. The lower the voltage, the greater the amps consumed. Ohm's Law wins again!
What this means is that for any given radio at any given power setting, the lower voltage batteries are going to run out of "oomph" faster than the higher voltage batteries because of greater current drain.
Remember, a battery can sit around for weeks producing 12 volts at its terminals with no load attached. Attach a load and the instant result is current drain. It is that current drain that "exhausts" the battery and pulls it down into a state where it requires a recharge.
This is why you want hand held radios that have a jack on the side that will accept 12 volts. Your 12 volt battery (with the exact same current or AmpHour rating) will last longer than the built in battery. Add a 12 Volt battery with a much higher current rating, such as a 12 Volt 7 AmpHour Gel Cell, and you GREATLY increase your potential on air time!
How do you get this 12 volts? Most modern radios have an optional battery replacement back that has a cord coming out of it with a cigarette lighter plug on the end. Others have an actual 12 volt jack on the side.
If at all possible, get an emergency 12 volt source for your radio for use in emergencies.
Also, remember that your radio operates at THREE different power levels. 1) Power on but no audio, squelch is unbroken. 2) Power on and audio is being received. 3) Power on and the operator is transmitting (key down mode). You can attach an external power source with a current meter in the circuit to find out the actual current draw for your particular radio. It is educational.
N7OZH
Thursday, March 07, 2013
MARA Net Mar 06 2013
You can get 12 volt 7 Ah gel cells from Amazon. Very reasonable prices ( $16.89 with free shipping). Check here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002QGVWBW/ref=dra_a_cs_mr_hn_it_P1300_1000?tag=dradis-20
12 VDC 30A power supply
Available on eBay. Various prices. Best deal I found was $29.95 including shipping. It ships from Portland, Oregon and generally arrives about 2 or 3 days after your payment clears. Search eBay for seller richard0596022762011.
You can see his eBay ad here:
http://tinyurl.com/b5n2jsf
Sources for Wouxon, Beofang, TYT radios and QJE Power Supplies
(as well as other ham gear.)
Universal Radio Inc.
www.universal-radio.com
Lentini Communications
www.lentinicomm.com
Austin Amateur Radio Supply
www.aaradio.com
Radio City, Inc.
www.radioinc.com
Associated Radio
www.associatedradio.com
Quicksilver Radio
www.qsradio.com
PowerWerx
www.powerwerx.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002QGVWBW/ref=dra_a_cs_mr_hn_it_P1300_1000?tag=dradis-20
12 VDC 30A power supply
Available on eBay. Various prices. Best deal I found was $29.95 including shipping. It ships from Portland, Oregon and generally arrives about 2 or 3 days after your payment clears. Search eBay for seller richard0596022762011.
You can see his eBay ad here:
http://tinyurl.com/b5n2jsf
Sources for Wouxon, Beofang, TYT radios and QJE Power Supplies
(as well as other ham gear.)
Universal Radio Inc.
www.universal-radio.com
Lentini Communications
www.lentinicomm.com
Austin Amateur Radio Supply
www.aaradio.com
Radio City, Inc.
www.radioinc.com
Associated Radio
www.associatedradio.com
Quicksilver Radio
www.qsradio.com
PowerWerx
www.powerwerx.com
PowerWerx is also your PRIME source for genuine Anderson Powerpole products and tools. Some of the eBay sellers are substituting other brands which sometimes do not meet specifications.
There is some interesting Ham Radio Emergency Preparedness information here:
Here are the Emergency Preparedness suppliers who were showing their products at the recent gun show at the SouthTown Expo Center.
1st Survival Gear
867 So. Bluff St.
St. George, Utah 84770
Toll Free phone # 855-212-3816
Call them to find out where and when they are exhibiting in Salt Lake again. They have complete first aid kits and they also sell all the supplies individually.
Ready Now Survival sells all sorts of survival gear and supplies.
Wild West Jerky sells all sorts of Jerky and other smoked meats.
Got Preparedness Supplies sells a wide variety of emergency preparedness supplies. They are in Orem and you can reach them by phone (801-769-6181) or on the web.
============================
The next Crossroads of the West Gun Show is at the South Town Expo Center on April 13th and 14th. More info here: http://www.crossroadsgunshows.com/calendar.php
The other gun show is the Rocky Mountain Gun Show. Their next show is March 30 and 31 in Layton. More info here: http://rockymountaingunshow.com/component/dtregister/?controller=event
The next Crossroads of the West Gun Show is at the South Town Expo Center on April 13th and 14th. More info here: http://www.crossroadsgunshows.com/calendar.php
The other gun show is the Rocky Mountain Gun Show. Their next show is March 30 and 31 in Layton. More info here: http://rockymountaingunshow.com/component/dtregister/?controller=event
============================
CyberGuys has TONS of items for cable management, data storage and general electronics. They add hundreds of new items each month. This is a fascinating web site to browse through. You'll find tools and gadgets to solve problems you didn't even know you had!
http://www.CyberGuys.com
Here is a gadget I have purchased several of for use with ham radio and also with computers.
http://www.cyberguys.com/product-listings/?categoryid=588
Here is a gadget I have purchased several of for use with ham radio and also with computers.
http://www.cyberguys.com/product-listings/?categoryid=588
SMA to BNC Adapters
SMA connectors were never intended to be used on ham radios or any other type of radios. They break off too easily and are notorious for twisting off the center pin on your HT radio antenna. The majority of antennas are available for BNC connectors. The solution is to get an adapter which ads strength and also makes it easier to connect your HT to an outside antenna. Here is the unit you want on eBay:
And here is an eBay ad showing the type of SMA to BNC connector that you NEVER want to use on your ham radio. Using one of these is GUARANTEED to break off your antenna connector because it does not have a wide, stable base.
EComm Hamfest in Ogden April 20
Utah Amateur Radio Club
Utah VHF Society
LOTS of ham radio information on this site as well as a listing of Utah Repeaters, info on linked sytems throughout the western United States, the Utah VHF/UHF bandplan, Utah Simplex Frequencies, D-Star info and LOTS more. A valuable and useful resource.
Here's your chance to win a free OOMA Telo and cut your home land line phone bill to just $3.73 per month. Just go to this website and "Like" OOMA on facebook and you are entered to win.
Want to know more about OOMA? Go here: http://www.ooma.com/
HARBOR FREIGHT
Harbor Freight is having their GIANT parking lot sale this weekend. Don't miss out - the savings are huge. More info here: http://tinyurl.com/clm3xdw
At the bottom of their ad you can sign up to have coupons and news of special sales mailed to you. This is how you get the best prices. It is an interesting experience to be in line at the register and see someone in front of you buying the same item you have, but he is paying 75% more because he does not have the coupons that come in the mail!
Something Different
Here's something totally unrelated to anything we have discussed here tonight. Hope you enjoy it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvfjIY-THZE
Something Different
Here's something totally unrelated to anything we have discussed here tonight. Hope you enjoy it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvfjIY-THZE
That's enough for today - more next week.
N7OZH
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
MARA Net 02/20/2013
R&L Electronics is giving away 12 free radios. One a week for 12 weeks starting on March 4th 2013. More details at http://www.randl.com. They will give away 4 Kenwood TM-281A mobile rigs, 4 Yaesu FT60R dual band handhelds and 4 Alinco DJ-C7T pocket size dual band hand held radios. You can't win if you don't enter.
Excellent article in QST on page 59 about EMI noise on the Broadcast and MF/HF bands. The root cause is some halogen light for use under the kitchen counters that use a 20Khz transformer in the 120V to 12V power supply. They generate so much noise that DX on 160 meters through 80 meters is impossible. If you are a ham operator or scanner enthusiast, you do not want these units in your house. Sold locally by Home Depot, Costco and others.
Don't forget the Utah VHF society swap meet on Saturday, the 23rd. More info on the Utah VHF society web site or in the previous post on this blog.
Also, Eugene N7OVT and Carol KC7LLW still need more hams for the Scouting For Food drive on March 23rd. They are trying to get 50 hams singed up and currently have 10 according to the listing on ARPSE.ORG. Go there to add your name to the list.
If you have old ham gear or manuals or magazines lying around, the ARRL museum is trying to collect all types of old ham stuff (even old QSL Cards) for their museum. Go to the ARRL web site for more info.
Three MAJOR changes have come to ham radio gear in the last few years and the trend is still speeding up. The three are: 1. Computer connections to allow saving/restoring your settings and in some cases also allow programming the radio. This is true of HF rigs, mobile radios and even HTs. 2. Radios with memory card slots so that you can add a micro SDHC or standard SD card and back up all your radio settings. Now you can restore lost radio settings without having a computer on hand. Just plug in the memory card, make a menu selection and your settings are instantly (almost) restored. The Third change is in battery chemistry. Current ham radio batteries include Alkaline, Lead-Acid, NiCad, NiMh, Li-Ion, Cobalt and Manganese-Phosphate. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses and we will discuss those on tonight's net.
Gotta go set up the rig. See you on the net. -N7OZH-
Excellent article in QST on page 59 about EMI noise on the Broadcast and MF/HF bands. The root cause is some halogen light for use under the kitchen counters that use a 20Khz transformer in the 120V to 12V power supply. They generate so much noise that DX on 160 meters through 80 meters is impossible. If you are a ham operator or scanner enthusiast, you do not want these units in your house. Sold locally by Home Depot, Costco and others.
Don't forget the Utah VHF society swap meet on Saturday, the 23rd. More info on the Utah VHF society web site or in the previous post on this blog.
Also, Eugene N7OVT and Carol KC7LLW still need more hams for the Scouting For Food drive on March 23rd. They are trying to get 50 hams singed up and currently have 10 according to the listing on ARPSE.ORG. Go there to add your name to the list.
If you have old ham gear or manuals or magazines lying around, the ARRL museum is trying to collect all types of old ham stuff (even old QSL Cards) for their museum. Go to the ARRL web site for more info.
Three MAJOR changes have come to ham radio gear in the last few years and the trend is still speeding up. The three are: 1. Computer connections to allow saving/restoring your settings and in some cases also allow programming the radio. This is true of HF rigs, mobile radios and even HTs. 2. Radios with memory card slots so that you can add a micro SDHC or standard SD card and back up all your radio settings. Now you can restore lost radio settings without having a computer on hand. Just plug in the memory card, make a menu selection and your settings are instantly (almost) restored. The Third change is in battery chemistry. Current ham radio batteries include Alkaline, Lead-Acid, NiCad, NiMh, Li-Ion, Cobalt and Manganese-Phosphate. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses and we will discuss those on tonight's net.
Gotta go set up the rig. See you on the net. -N7OZH-
Monday, February 18, 2013
MARA 02-13-2013
A reminder from KC7RUF - UT VHF Society Swap Meet - Feb 23RD - Legacy Convention Center - 151 SO 1100 West Legacy Center - More info at UTAHVHFS.ORG
A reminder from N7OVT - March 23rd is the "Scouting For Food" drive. 50 ham radio operators are need to coordinate trucks, drop off points, collection points, the Food Bank, etc. More info and sign up at ARPSE.ORG
Ham radio repair is available in Bountiful at PRECISION Electronics run by DON WOOD 454 NO 1100 West in Centervile - Call before you drop by - 801-292-4474
Where is the safest place to be if you hear the police yelling, "open up, police" followed by lots of gunfire?
The answer depends on what part of the country you are in.
Ans = 1. In the bathtub lying flat. 2. Downstairs up against a concrete wall. Specifically up against a concrete wall on the same side of your house as the gunfire across the street or next door. If a shot is accidentally fired downward toward where you are, it would have to go through lots of dirt and then concrete. Not even armor piercing bullets can pull that one off.
Big Lots
Cell phone chargers that will allow you to use (and charge) your cell phone using AA batteries.
LOTS of new LED lights of all sizes.
Wall Mart (Parley's Way) - LOTS of LED lights of all kinds including the Life Gear LED Glow Sticks. Different colors are different prices. Most places have all colors at the same price.
Enable emergency alerts on your cell phone. Capability varies from phone to phone and between carriers. You will be notified when there is an emergency in your neighborhood.
Wouxon and others now have mobile radios and power supplies, all at much lower prices than the established name brand radios.
Powerwerx.com & www.qsradio.com sell genuine anderson power poles. PowerWerx also sells Wouxon radios and
Anytone Radios, TYT radios and QJE power supplies
LED light bulbs at Costco and Home Depot - including ceiling "CAN" lights. Also eBay. FEIT now producing LED lights at a more reasonable price and they are dimmable. Lights of America is another reliable manufacturer. There is NO MERCURY in LED lights.
Located at 1730 So Redwood Road is TruckLite. They have 12 volt LED Truck lights. Also available at trailer supply. LED Strips at Raelco, Home Depot & eBay. You can get 5 meters of LED strip lights on eBay for about $10. They can be cut and connected to power at every third bulb so that you can cut them to any desired length. If you have any old 12 volt Wall Wart power supplies laying around they can be used to power LED strip lights. Great for under the counter lighting, display case lighting, etc. Also great in your portable operating box for light.
N4TRS - said that you can connect a bicycle or Schwinn AirDyne to a generator. Can produce up to 1000 RPM on the generator. Years ago there were articles in magazines like popular science about families that connected the TV to a bicycle power generator so that the kids would have to get some exercise if they wanted to watch TV.
Take a look at StartPage.COM - It is an alternative to Google
73s until next time - hope to see you at the UT VHF society swap meet.
A reminder from N7OVT - March 23rd is the "Scouting For Food" drive. 50 ham radio operators are need to coordinate trucks, drop off points, collection points, the Food Bank, etc. More info and sign up at ARPSE.ORG
Ham radio repair is available in Bountiful at PRECISION Electronics run by DON WOOD 454 NO 1100 West in Centervile - Call before you drop by - 801-292-4474
Where is the safest place to be if you hear the police yelling, "open up, police" followed by lots of gunfire?
The answer depends on what part of the country you are in.
Ans = 1. In the bathtub lying flat. 2. Downstairs up against a concrete wall. Specifically up against a concrete wall on the same side of your house as the gunfire across the street or next door. If a shot is accidentally fired downward toward where you are, it would have to go through lots of dirt and then concrete. Not even armor piercing bullets can pull that one off.
Big Lots
Cell phone chargers that will allow you to use (and charge) your cell phone using AA batteries.
LOTS of new LED lights of all sizes.
Wall Mart (Parley's Way) - LOTS of LED lights of all kinds including the Life Gear LED Glow Sticks. Different colors are different prices. Most places have all colors at the same price.
Enable emergency alerts on your cell phone. Capability varies from phone to phone and between carriers. You will be notified when there is an emergency in your neighborhood.
Wouxon and others now have mobile radios and power supplies, all at much lower prices than the established name brand radios.
Powerwerx.com & www.qsradio.com sell genuine anderson power poles. PowerWerx also sells Wouxon radios and
Anytone Radios, TYT radios and QJE power supplies
LED light bulbs at Costco and Home Depot - including ceiling "CAN" lights. Also eBay. FEIT now producing LED lights at a more reasonable price and they are dimmable. Lights of America is another reliable manufacturer. There is NO MERCURY in LED lights.
Located at 1730 So Redwood Road is TruckLite. They have 12 volt LED Truck lights. Also available at trailer supply. LED Strips at Raelco, Home Depot & eBay. You can get 5 meters of LED strip lights on eBay for about $10. They can be cut and connected to power at every third bulb so that you can cut them to any desired length. If you have any old 12 volt Wall Wart power supplies laying around they can be used to power LED strip lights. Great for under the counter lighting, display case lighting, etc. Also great in your portable operating box for light.
N4TRS - said that you can connect a bicycle or Schwinn AirDyne to a generator. Can produce up to 1000 RPM on the generator. Years ago there were articles in magazines like popular science about families that connected the TV to a bicycle power generator so that the kids would have to get some exercise if they wanted to watch TV.
Take a look at StartPage.COM - It is an alternative to Google
73s until next time - hope to see you at the UT VHF society swap meet.
N7OZH
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Gun Control LIES and FACTS
NOTE: This post updated on Jan 31st, 2013.
There is a great deal of missinformation floating around from Washington these days as regards Gun Control. By the way, ALL of the people who have done mass shootings in the last 10 years or so have been on psychotropic drugs.
Anyway, you hear a lot of terms being tossed around. Here are some facts.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/25/the-assault-weapon-myth/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/27/the-high-capacity-magazine-myth/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/29/the-cop-killer-bullet-myth/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/30/the-gun-show-loophole-myth/
And here is something surprising:
http://cnsnews.com/blog/charlie-daniels/encouragement-time-grave-fear
This is an important issue, but it can only be discussed intelligently if you have the FACTS.
OOMA - Get your home phone for just $3.75 per month in Utah! You can disconnect your house phone lines and get VOIP phone via the internet. TODAY is the last day to get $40 off of the list price. In Utah, the monthly cost will be $3.75 - for LIFE!. It's called an OOMA. Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/abxp7j3
-O. D.-
There is a great deal of missinformation floating around from Washington these days as regards Gun Control. By the way, ALL of the people who have done mass shootings in the last 10 years or so have been on psychotropic drugs.
Anyway, you hear a lot of terms being tossed around. Here are some facts.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/25/the-assault-weapon-myth/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/27/the-high-capacity-magazine-myth/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/29/the-cop-killer-bullet-myth/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/30/the-gun-show-loophole-myth/
And here is something surprising:
http://cnsnews.com/blog/charlie-daniels/encouragement-time-grave-fear
This is an important issue, but it can only be discussed intelligently if you have the FACTS.
OOMA - Get your home phone for just $3.75 per month in Utah! You can disconnect your house phone lines and get VOIP phone via the internet. TODAY is the last day to get $40 off of the list price. In Utah, the monthly cost will be $3.75 - for LIFE!. It's called an OOMA. Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/abxp7j3
-O. D.-
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
MARA Jan 23, 2013
All of my notes from the January 16, 2013 net were lost in a computer crash. This post is for 01/23/2013.
(NOTE: The Jan 16 notes have been recovered - see addendum at the end of this post.)
Here are some links for HSMM-MESH and Echolink. These are tutorials that will get your feet wet.
Broadband Over Radio Wireless Mesh Network Experimentation for Emergency Communications
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAFptGn1k1E (12 Minutes)
Dayton Hamvention presentation on HSMM-MESH (27 MINUTES)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCHD9DAUgGc
Explaining Super Wifi Mesh Network (4 Minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgnBtCw3Lmw
Echolink Settings for Simplex link.(4 Minutes 57 Seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg56coygnCI
Echolink Demo (9 Minutes 34 Seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTe3eH19ngs
Scouting for food - March 23rd - they need 40 to 50 ham radio operators. Check postings on http://www.arpse.org/
The 2013 Utah VHF Society Swapmeet will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013 in Farmington at the Davis County Fair Park Legacy Events Center, building #2. Doors will open for the general public at 8 AM with setup for sellers to start at 7 AM.
This is NOT the same location as previous years' swapmeets!
More info HERE.
If you have an Android phone or an Iphone, there are a number of ham radio related programs that you can download from either the Google Play store or the IPhone store. Almost all of them are free. There are also echolink programs for Android and Iphone that let you use your phone (via internet or WiFi) to talk on Echolink. Search Google for more info.
Other Android/IPhone programs include police scanners that allow you to pick a country, state, county and city and listed live to various public safety dispatchers on your phone. Some of these are also available for your computer. Two of my favorites are "Scanner Radio" and "Police Scanner". Similar programs are also available for your computer. Very handy during an emergency for monitoring the doings of the public safety folks.
Want an inexpensive cell phone service? It is called BYOD - Bring Your Own Device. Any old Verizon phone you have laying around will work (NO Verizon Prepaid Phones). This includes basic flip phones or Smart Phones. You can pick up old Verizon phones off of eBay and KSL Classifieds. The cell service ranges in price from $30 per year up to $55 per month depending on what features you pick. For more info, click on the banner and check out the available plans.
There is also a forum where all things relating to cell phone service are discussed. The link is here, Kitty Wireless Forum.
And if you want to read about all the money some other people have saved with this deal, check out this forum POST.
***** The following is from the Jan 16th Net. Some of the notes were recovered *****
You can download software and other info from the following links:
www.echolink.org
www.hsmm-mesh.org
The 146.76 repeater has EchoLink capability.
Most of the HSMM-MESH nodes are done with WRT54G routers running DD-WRT software. You can find them very inexpensively on eBay.
For a great resource of ham radio info, visit this site www.wesconntraffic.net/resources.html
Take a look at the articles by N8UT. They are both funny and informative.
Two final things. In October of 2012 (Halloween) we shared a DesNews article about the toxicity of Cyalume Light Sticks. The Cyalume Light Sticks sold by Emergency Essentials are NOT toxic.
KD7UM says that MARA will look into placing an EchoLink node on the 146.74 repeater. The current repeater is a converted commercial radio. Adding EchoLink would probably require an entirely new repeater with built-in EchoLink capabilities. More info as it becomes available.
N7OZH
(NOTE: The Jan 16 notes have been recovered - see addendum at the end of this post.)
Here are some links for HSMM-MESH and Echolink. These are tutorials that will get your feet wet.
Broadband Over Radio Wireless Mesh Network Experimentation for Emergency Communications
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAFptGn1k1E (12 Minutes)
Dayton Hamvention presentation on HSMM-MESH (27 MINUTES)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCHD9DAUgGc
Explaining Super Wifi Mesh Network (4 Minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgnBtCw3Lmw
Echolink Settings for Simplex link.(4 Minutes 57 Seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg56coygnCI
Echolink Demo (9 Minutes 34 Seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTe3eH19ngs
Scouting for food - March 23rd - they need 40 to 50 ham radio operators. Check postings on http://www.arpse.org/
The 2013 Utah VHF Society Swapmeet will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013 in Farmington at the Davis County Fair Park Legacy Events Center, building #2. Doors will open for the general public at 8 AM with setup for sellers to start at 7 AM.
This is NOT the same location as previous years' swapmeets!
More info HERE.
If you have an Android phone or an Iphone, there are a number of ham radio related programs that you can download from either the Google Play store or the IPhone store. Almost all of them are free. There are also echolink programs for Android and Iphone that let you use your phone (via internet or WiFi) to talk on Echolink. Search Google for more info.
Other Android/IPhone programs include police scanners that allow you to pick a country, state, county and city and listed live to various public safety dispatchers on your phone. Some of these are also available for your computer. Two of my favorites are "Scanner Radio" and "Police Scanner". Similar programs are also available for your computer. Very handy during an emergency for monitoring the doings of the public safety folks.
Want an inexpensive cell phone service? It is called BYOD - Bring Your Own Device. Any old Verizon phone you have laying around will work (NO Verizon Prepaid Phones). This includes basic flip phones or Smart Phones. You can pick up old Verizon phones off of eBay and KSL Classifieds. The cell service ranges in price from $30 per year up to $55 per month depending on what features you pick. For more info, click on the banner and check out the available plans.
There is also a forum where all things relating to cell phone service are discussed. The link is here, Kitty Wireless Forum.
And if you want to read about all the money some other people have saved with this deal, check out this forum POST.
***** The following is from the Jan 16th Net. Some of the notes were recovered *****
You can download software and other info from the following links:
www.echolink.org
www.hsmm-mesh.org
The 146.76 repeater has EchoLink capability.
Most of the HSMM-MESH nodes are done with WRT54G routers running DD-WRT software. You can find them very inexpensively on eBay.
For a great resource of ham radio info, visit this site www.wesconntraffic.net/resources.html
Take a look at the articles by N8UT. They are both funny and informative.
Two final things. In October of 2012 (Halloween) we shared a DesNews article about the toxicity of Cyalume Light Sticks. The Cyalume Light Sticks sold by Emergency Essentials are NOT toxic.
KD7UM says that MARA will look into placing an EchoLink node on the 146.74 repeater. The current repeater is a converted commercial radio. Adding EchoLink would probably require an entirely new repeater with built-in EchoLink capabilities. More info as it becomes available.
N7OZH
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
MARA 01/09/2013 - More grab and go Info.
Check out the 72 hour Emergency Kit checklist by Rachael Woods at http://lds.about.com It is an excellent list and you can check off things as you acquire them and mark out things that do not apply to you. You can also Google "72 Hour Emergency Kit" and get a few thousand more ideas for things to consider.
How recent is your home/car/office first aid kit? The items in it do have expiration dates and need to be checked on a regular basis (maybe twice a year?) to be sure that they have not dried up and lost their effectiveness.
Have you Googled "Ham Radio Mesh" yet? This is going to become another way to handle emergency traffic over an area such as a LDS Stake. It is very inexpensive to get into and provides us with another opportunity to move emergency traffic when needed.
N7OZH
How recent is your home/car/office first aid kit? The items in it do have expiration dates and need to be checked on a regular basis (maybe twice a year?) to be sure that they have not dried up and lost their effectiveness.
Have you Googled "Ham Radio Mesh" yet? This is going to become another way to handle emergency traffic over an area such as a LDS Stake. It is very inexpensive to get into and provides us with another opportunity to move emergency traffic when needed.
N7OZH
ERC Net 01/08/2013
1. Food & Water in grab & go kit. Smartphone or Google calendar to send you reminders to rotate it. Granola bars are one of the best long term foods to put in your grab and go radio kit.
ERC-ARES-MARA-CERT - which one do you work with? Most of us belong to one group, some to two groups. In an actual widespread disaster, you might wind up working with or interfacing with all four. Don't limit your usefulness by assuming you will only work with your "favorite" group.
2. Cheat sheets for your radios. During an emergency, repeaters will be brought up on frequencies that you do not normally talk on except on simplex. Most of these will also have a squelch tone required for access. You must be able to enter a NEW frequency and TONE pair into your radio on short notice. You can buy cheat sheets (QST, eBay, etc) or you can build your own. They are just handy, they are ESSENTIAL! I guarantee you, speaking as the voice of experience, that without a cheat sheet you will find yourself isolated in an actual disaster if you cannot get your radio into and out of some modes that you normally NEVER use. The two most valuable in a disaster are Cross Band Repeat and New Repeater with Tone.
3. CERT and Ham Radio - The Department of Homeland Security lists ham radio as a key communications component of any major disaster or disruption. See the following articles for more information and how we can help in these areas. January QST page 85 - Beyond our bands. QST Aug 2012 pg 70 - QST Nov 2012 pg 89-90 Public Safety Moves Toward 22nd Century Communications
4. 29 % of Americans have not prepared at all and over 60 percent expect to rely on emergency responders in the first 72 hours. That's not going to happen in any large or extreme disaster. These statistics tell us that, on average, 89% of those around us will be unprepared and will have no idea what to do or how to do it.
Lets look back at the 1974 power failure in the 13 western states - our stake had been doing emergency preparedness seminars for some time. I was amazed at the number of people in our area who were totally unprepared. Most did not even own a candle or matches to light it with. We gave out candles and matches up and down our street. We used our battery powered radio to monitor emergency traffic on the commercial AM bands. Emergency preparedness is still being taught in our area and I suspect that most neighborhoods are not much more prepared now than they were in 1974.
We live and breath Emergency Preparedness. Most of our neighbors do not even know it exists. You have just two choices: 1) Educate them on Emergency Preparedness or 2) take care of them during a disaster.
I prefer #1. It is easy to organize an emergency group for your street. Get it going, but let somebody else be in charge. You will be busy doing radio stuff in the actual disaster and will likely not be around to marshall the group. Weekly or monthly printed handouts with lots of internet links will keep them informed and involved. Consider quarterly in-person meetings to check on progress.
You might be surprised to find that some of the non-members in your area have already started a group. Link up with them and make them aware of the role that Ham Radio will play.
Until next time - 73 from N7OZH
======================
ERC-ARES-MARA-CERT - which one do you work with? Most of us belong to one group, some to two groups. In an actual widespread disaster, you might wind up working with or interfacing with all four. Don't limit your usefulness by assuming you will only work with your "favorite" group.
2. Cheat sheets for your radios. During an emergency, repeaters will be brought up on frequencies that you do not normally talk on except on simplex. Most of these will also have a squelch tone required for access. You must be able to enter a NEW frequency and TONE pair into your radio on short notice. You can buy cheat sheets (QST, eBay, etc) or you can build your own. They are just handy, they are ESSENTIAL! I guarantee you, speaking as the voice of experience, that without a cheat sheet you will find yourself isolated in an actual disaster if you cannot get your radio into and out of some modes that you normally NEVER use. The two most valuable in a disaster are Cross Band Repeat and New Repeater with Tone.
3. CERT and Ham Radio - The Department of Homeland Security lists ham radio as a key communications component of any major disaster or disruption. See the following articles for more information and how we can help in these areas. January QST page 85 - Beyond our bands. QST Aug 2012 pg 70 - QST Nov 2012 pg 89-90 Public Safety Moves Toward 22nd Century Communications
4. 29 % of Americans have not prepared at all and over 60 percent expect to rely on emergency responders in the first 72 hours. That's not going to happen in any large or extreme disaster. These statistics tell us that, on average, 89% of those around us will be unprepared and will have no idea what to do or how to do it.
Lets look back at the 1974 power failure in the 13 western states - our stake had been doing emergency preparedness seminars for some time. I was amazed at the number of people in our area who were totally unprepared. Most did not even own a candle or matches to light it with. We gave out candles and matches up and down our street. We used our battery powered radio to monitor emergency traffic on the commercial AM bands. Emergency preparedness is still being taught in our area and I suspect that most neighborhoods are not much more prepared now than they were in 1974.
We live and breath Emergency Preparedness. Most of our neighbors do not even know it exists. You have just two choices: 1) Educate them on Emergency Preparedness or 2) take care of them during a disaster.
I prefer #1. It is easy to organize an emergency group for your street. Get it going, but let somebody else be in charge. You will be busy doing radio stuff in the actual disaster and will likely not be around to marshall the group. Weekly or monthly printed handouts with lots of internet links will keep them informed and involved. Consider quarterly in-person meetings to check on progress.
You might be surprised to find that some of the non-members in your area have already started a group. Link up with them and make them aware of the role that Ham Radio will play.
Until next time - 73 from N7OZH
======================
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
MARA 01-02-2013
There are some excellent posts today on the SLC Foothill Net blog. Scroll down to see the 26 lessons learned from hurricane Sandy. Excellent info. Here is the link: http://www.slcfoothillnet.blogspot.com/
There is also some good information on one of Dave's other blogs, http://slcfoothillnetham.blogspot.com/
There is an excellent write up on there about a book called "Radio To Go" that is an excellent resource for new hams as well as experienced hams.
=====
More and more of the things in our lives involve passwords. Here are some facts that were published today by Avast AntiVirus software.
Time required to hack your password
myThomas987654321 .. 3.6 seconds
Martin8569 .. 12.01 seconds
21Everest .. 2 minutes
mammamia .. 3 minutes
896rUU .. 2 hours
The 7 most used passwords
welcome
password
Welcome1
welcome1
Password2
123456
Password01
=====
The Utah VHF Society swap meet is in a diferent location this year. Here is the info. You can use MapQuest or Google Maps to build a map from your house to the actual location.
Utah VHF Society Swap meet
February 23, 2013 at 9am
Davis County Fairgrounds
151 S 1100 West
Farmington, UT
Vendors get in an hour before visitors so that the vendors have time to get set up. Wear something with your call sign if possible. You'll find people coming up to introduce themselves whom you have only talked to on the radio and never in person. Stay till the end (about 11 AM) and you may win a ham radio or other great prize. Members of our group have been winners in the past.
=====
Congress has decided to raise taxes now and cut spending, well, maybe later or some other time. We don't have a tax problem, we have a spending problem. The government refuses to live within its means. Several financial analysts have pointed out that NO country has ever recovered from the level of debt that the US now has. (Debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product). The next disaster might not be an earthquake or a flood or a storm, it may be hyper-inflation like Germany had just before World War II. We live in interesting times. The best advise, I think, is to batten down the hatches and make sure that you have an emergency supply of the things you would need to sustain yourself in ANY situation.
See you on the net!
N7OZH
-O. D. Williams-
There is also some good information on one of Dave's other blogs, http://slcfoothillnetham.blogspot.com/
There is an excellent write up on there about a book called "Radio To Go" that is an excellent resource for new hams as well as experienced hams.
=====
More and more of the things in our lives involve passwords. Here are some facts that were published today by Avast AntiVirus software.
Time required to hack your password
myThomas987654321 .. 3.6 seconds
Martin8569 .. 12.01 seconds
21Everest .. 2 minutes
mammamia .. 3 minutes
896rUU .. 2 hours
The 7 most used passwords
welcome
password
Welcome1
welcome1
Password2
123456
Password01
The anti-hacker guys ALL tell us to NEVER use any word that is found in a dictionary as part of a password. Of course, if you are using a tool like KeePass (free) to generate your passwords, then no problem. KeePass and similar products generate passwords that would take centuries to crack. Personally, I use KeePass because it is simple to operate and is an Open Source product. This means that the source code to the program is in the public domain and anybody can look at the source code and determine that there are no trojans in the password generator itself.
Here's the KeePass link: http://keepass.info/
NEVER use a "proprietary" password safe or password generator. Proprietary means that the source code is secret and you have no way to find out if the program is "clean" or if it sends a copy of your login, password and URL to hackers in Russia every time you generate a new password.
One security expert says that the best password is a sentence. It's a fascinating concept and very similar to one I have been using for years. The details are here: http://tinyurl.com/5su4xbc
Also, here is an excellent article on how to easily generate your own passwords that can take eons to crack.
Secure Password Generator
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The Utah VHF Society swap meet is in a diferent location this year. Here is the info. You can use MapQuest or Google Maps to build a map from your house to the actual location.
Utah VHF Society Swap meet
February 23, 2013 at 9am
Davis County Fairgrounds
151 S 1100 West
Farmington, UT
Vendors get in an hour before visitors so that the vendors have time to get set up. Wear something with your call sign if possible. You'll find people coming up to introduce themselves whom you have only talked to on the radio and never in person. Stay till the end (about 11 AM) and you may win a ham radio or other great prize. Members of our group have been winners in the past.
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Congress has decided to raise taxes now and cut spending, well, maybe later or some other time. We don't have a tax problem, we have a spending problem. The government refuses to live within its means. Several financial analysts have pointed out that NO country has ever recovered from the level of debt that the US now has. (Debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product). The next disaster might not be an earthquake or a flood or a storm, it may be hyper-inflation like Germany had just before World War II. We live in interesting times. The best advise, I think, is to batten down the hatches and make sure that you have an emergency supply of the things you would need to sustain yourself in ANY situation.
See you on the net!
N7OZH
-O. D. Williams-
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