Minutes of the June 1, 1996 Meeting
The United States is preparing for the 1997 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-97. One of the WRC-97 agenda items includes consideration of possible additional frequency allocations for the mobile-satellite service. A list of "candidate bands" for these little LEOs (Low Earth Orbiting satellites) was presented which included 144-148 and 420-450 MHz. ARRL representatives strongly urged the committee to remove the bands from the list. The response received was unsatisfactory. In effect, they were told the little LEO industry would consider our views but that until their spectrum needs are satisfied, all bands must remain under consideration.
Comments by e-mail should be sent to: wrc97@fcc.gov. Written comments, with an original plus one copy, should be sent to: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554. Each comment should include at the top, "Reference No. ISP-96-005" and "Advisory Committee Informal Working Group 2A." Please educate and persuade, not intimidate. We don't need to. The facts are on our side.
RACES activation of the Fire Patrol occurred on July 4th and 6th. Radio and TV coverage of the event was extensive. Thanks to all participants.
Station 4 was installed after the June 1 meeting. Nine stations are left. We will arrange for press coverage for the last station, which will probably be the new station 24. Inviting Oakland hams to a hot dog BBQ by postcard was suggested as a way of increasing participation.
Training: About a dozen members brought in their go-packs. These kits hold radio/food/clothing supplies to set up a station for a day. All levels of preparedness were welcome, whether it consisted of a baggie with items crammed in just hours earlier or a strap-to-the-back everything-but-the-kitchen-sink like Chris, KE6SSW, Lisa, KE6BYI and Ted, W6NPB showed. Thanks to Bob, KE6IUE who turned his notes into a newsletter article later in this issue.
Liaison: Tim, KD6CTG has discovered numerous ARES/RACES groups in the Bay Area.
Administration: Welcome new member: Eileen, KF6CEA and Harry Hartman , City of Alameda Red Cross Liaison.
We now have promotional brochures available to hand out during special events. Side 1 explains what ARES/RACES is. Side 2 explains how to get a license. A mail-in coupon simplifies joining. Mike, KD6PLN will bring a supply to the meeting.
Field Day: Over 300 contacts were made during Field Day. About 100 of those were on CW! About a dozen hams worked the radios for 24 hours on emergency power. Check the next newsletter for an in-depth look at the event.
Baker to Vegas: This annual law enforcement footrace is a great training exercise, employing temporary repeater setups, mobile emergency power operation, and APRS location tracking using computers and global positioning systems. Jim, KB6MVY passed around a signup sheet for April, 1997.
National Night Out: Chris, KE6MQW proposed amateur radio participation in a street safety program called National Night Out. This event will happen on August 6 from 7-10 PM. More info in the next newsletter.
You sit back and relax after a long day at work. The house shakes; you dial up 146.88. San Jose hard hit, and we're mobilizing to provide a net for logistics staging areas north and west of San Jose. How soon can you go?
To help answer that question the June meeting featured a presentation of our go-packs and ideas for go-packs; the container you can grab and take out the door in an emergency that has everything you think you'll need. Some people are prepared to walk out the door with their packs. Others need 30 minutes or more to collect their kits. Some focused on radio equipment, others concentrated on supplies necessary to get along in a non-supportive environment. Here's my attempt to present some guidelines and provide specific examples of what our effort identified.
Readiness is anchored in pre-planning, making lists and keeping your go-pack up to date. One approach is to divide the planning into two categories: radio and non-radio. To set up a complete station you need everything from a gel-cell to a tripod for the j-pole. If you are operating an existing station, you might bring your electrical tool kit, fuses, a tester circuit, various connectors and adaptors and extra cable. And let's not forget our our HT and batteries, batteries, batteries.
Regarding non-radio items, there are two key questions when you mobilize to a remote location: length of operation and degree of independence. If you're going 15 minutes away for a 4-hour shift, you can safely forget clean socks. If you are going to an open field overnight, you'll probably want more than your penlight flashlight. One approach is to break it down into five broad categories:
Sustenance: utensils, paper plates, napkins, sponge, cups, thermos, plastic baggies, candy bars, peanuts, instant soups, boxed juices, bullion cubes, instant coffee, tea bags, sugar, peanut butter, crackers, water and a way to heat it (propane camping stove); Health/personal: tissues, toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and brush, sunscreen, insect repellent, handi-wipes, water purification system (tablets), first aid kit, pain medication, extra eye-glasses, contact lens supplies, your personal medications; Tools : soldering iron and solder, drill, screwdrivers, pliers, versatile tool knife, wrench (and gas shut-off wrench), plastic ties, Velcro mounting tape, colored tape, mesh bags, work gloves (and rubber gloves), duct tape, light sticks, flashlight that can be mounted somewhere (like on your hardhat), rope; Office supplies : clipboard, paper, pads, pencils (sharpener), pens, large magic markers, push pins, erasers, highlighter, post-its, stapler, paper clips, scotch tape; Clothing/shelter : sleeping bag, clean socks and underwear, jackets, hats, tent, windbreaker, tarp, rain gear, hard hat, long underwear, wool gloves, sunglasses.
There's a final catch-all category of items you'll want, whether or not they are in your go-pack: your Instant Trainer manual, maps, personal identification, FCC license, camera, binoculars, money, an AM radio, an alarm clock, a book to read, and an identifying badge and holder (a fishing license carrier works well).
Being totally self-sustaining in an open lot requires a lot more than what you'll need to operate from a fire station. The key is to be prepared for either, whether it means actually having a pack ready to go, or having lists so that you can be ready in 30 minutes in a crisis.
As a group we should focus on our tactical mission: to go somewhere and run a radio, constantly review what that entails, and share our ideas with each other, as we did at the June meeting. I think a lot of go-packs got upgraded and/or diversified as a result of this simple exercise. Good work and thanks to all, from the fully outfitted to those with virtual go-packs and good intentions.
Ham Radio Saves Earth: After an invasion by aliens disrupts land and satellite communications, what is left? The summer blockbuster Independence Day has a brief scene showing hams worldwide using straight key CW for the last resort mobilization against the enemy. If you go to see ID4 don't expect great dialog or a complex plot. Go for the entertainment and special effects, and bring ear plugs for the explosions. Mike, KD6PLN
Oakland Antenna Ordinance: Good news: article 14 exempting ham radio antennas remains intact.
The Oakland ARES meeting came to order at the Oakland Red Cross at 9:00 AM. Present were:
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Lisa Askew |
KF6BYI |
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Tim Ingham |
KD6CTG |
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Barbara Pickering |
KF6CWW |
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Debbie Barragan |
KE6MRK |
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Roger Jung |
KE6STB |
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Jim Ploss |
KB6MYV |
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Adele Bertaud |
KE6HKY |
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Marvin Kay |
K6GHE |
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Mike Pompa |
KD6PLN |
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Herbert Bowen |
WA6CUY |
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Paulette Leston |
KE6CFW |
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Deborah Reisman |
KE6MQV |
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Chris Burgardt |
KE6SSW |
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Bob Mayes |
KE6DVT |
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Theodore Stewart |
W6NPB |
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Willie Denninger |
KE6EMX |
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Cherie Morris |
KE6MRB |
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Donald Street |
K6EHQ |
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Bob Firehock |
KE6IUE |
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Gerald Morris |
AC6GF |
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Mark Violet |
N6RCG |
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Curtis Floray |
KA6MJO |
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Eileen Norberg |
KF6CEA |
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Hal Wine |
KE6QZN |
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Richmond Harding |
EL2BG |
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David Otey |
WB6NER |
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Lalita Witt |
KE6WPI |
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Harry Hartman |
ARCBA |
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Chris Peeples |
KE6MQW |
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Meetings are normally held on the first Saturday of each month.
The next meeting will be Saturday, July 13, 1996 at 9:00 AM
at the Red Cross Headquarters, 2111 E. 14th Street, Oakland 535-2800