Greetings everyone, welcome to "Dale's Tales"
for April, 2016.
UPDATE for AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT: This subject moves to the front of the column
as
or Senate. I am
not attempting to say the deal is done, it is not and
we remain steadfast that hams are to be treated fairly in
installing an outside antenna. Opposing
that single issue can be a deal breaker as it is the basis for the entire
bill. You can find more information at http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act. Thanks to so many of the Great lakes Division
hams who have sent letters supporting the legislation. If you have not done so, you can find a
sample on the listed web page. Please be
sure to route your letters through ARRL Headquarters for personal delivery:
ARRL, Attn: Amateur Radio Parity Act grassroots campaign, 225 Main St.,
Newington, CT 06111. We will hand deliver
the letters, thus avoiding delays caused by the postal inspection system in DC.
SPRING: It is now
upon us and along with it, the frequent severe weather that hits the
Midwest. Many regions are well underway
with their annual spotter training programs, certainly an important item on the
calendar. Recognition of what
constitutes a funnel cloud vs virga can be a lifesaving measure. While our ARES members train in storm spotting,
these sessions also offer an opportunity to work on net procedures. Knowing what to report and how best to convey
the information on a busy net (with an overworked net control) insures
efficiency and accuracy, again, potential lifesaving measures. We need to ask ourselves "Who uses our
reports? What data do they need? How it is best presented to them? Can your local Emergency Management people
use a spotter report in the same form as the National Weather Service?
What is the best method to get the report to your partner
agency?"
Certainly, many more questions need answers, so meet with
partner agencies now, well before severe weather sets in, to work out the
details so our ARES programs are viable and incorporating the Best Practices to
serve the public.
NPOTA: I am
receiving a lot of positive input about National Parks on the Air. Here we
are with spring is only a few days upon us and the bands are busy with NPOTA operations. Warmer weather will bring even more operators into the field and more of the National
Park System locations on the air.
Remember if you have the opportunity to set up and operate, check in at
the park office and let them know your plans.
Many are willing
to assist with PR and even help you put up a suitable sign to let the public know who you are. Let's make the best of the show.
TOM'S COMMENTS:
Comments from our Vice Director Tom Delany W8WTD
As I’ve noted here before, I really enjoy being able to
connect with people throughout the Division and find out what projects they are
working on, and from time to time, sharing progress reports with everyone. So
it’s been good to be able to get to some hamfests in Kentucky and Michigan.
Next up is the granddaddy of them all, the Dayton Hamvention®. Hope to see many
of you there.
I spent many years volunteering with Red Cross,
especially in planning and preparing communications of all types for disaster.
I’m still involved, as a matter of fact. So when I see possibilities for new
things in ham radio, I’m really encouraged as well. There are all sorts of good
activities going on in the Division with regard to emergency communications. We
have groups working on digital data, from the MESH networks to the various
digital nets; there is an upcoming NVIS antenna day, sponsored in Ohio, but
open to participation from Michigan and Kentucky; and there are efforts in
digital voice. I have to admit that I’m partial to the DMR technology, but I
know D-Star has a lot of dedicated enthusiasts, and Fusion has some promise,
particularly with all the new repeaters out there.
Lately, I’ve been chatting back and forth with the folks
in Mansfield, Ohio, where they just put up a new DMR repeater. The statewide
talkgroup offers promise for coverage in an emergency. Now I realize that some
people will argue that the internet may be down in a big disaster, so why
bother with something that is so internet based?
But my answer would be that as long as the system is out
there, we may as well experiment with it, and use it. When it comes to
communications in an emergency, you can never have too many systems. True, you
don’t know which ones will work and which ones won’t, so that’s why it’s
important to have options. The one you don’t expect to use may be the one to get
you through the worst of the disaster.
Hams don’t often need encouragement for new technology.
When we find something we like, we go for it. We get involved, and make new
things happen. If there’s any advice to offer, it would simply be this –look
for the possibility your favorite mode might have for emergency communications,
and help develop that along with all the other god things it does.
As I mentioned, D-Star has been around and has
well-established nets. DMR is rapidly advancing. What are the plans for
interconnecting the Fusion repeaters? How soon can we count on them for digital
coverage of a state or a region?
Disasters can happen at any time. But Spring is often the
season for weather-related emergencies throughout our Division. So let’s do what
we can to be prepared again this year.
73, Tom W8WTD Vice
Director, Great Lakes Division
HAMFESTING: Here
is the current Great Lakes Division ARRL Sanctioned Hamfest Schedule for the
next few weeks. These swaps have
received their sanctioning approval from ARRL HQ at the time of this
publication. We have approximately 65
hamfests each year in the Great Lakes Division.
I do encourage each Hamfest Chair to register early for ARRL
Sanctioning. It is never too early to
register your hamfest with Headquarters.
Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set. Help avoid date conflicts, do it early!
Apr 2 - Portsmouth - Portsmouth, OH
Apr 9 - Cuyahoga Falls - Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Apr 19 -
Letcher County - Whitesburg, KY
April 23 - Jackson County - Jackson, OH
Apr 24
- Athens - Athens, OH
May 7 - Cadillac - Cadillac, MI
May 14 - Chassell Hamfest
- Chassel, MI
May 20-22 - Dayton HamVention - Dayton, OH
May 28 - Ashland -
Ashland, KY
73, See you on the bands.
Dale Williams WA8EFK
Director
Great Lakes Division
