http://www.daily-times.com/ci_12706786
“HAM radio operators practice emergency response skills”
By Elizabeth Piazza The Daily Times
Posted: 06/28/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT
FARMINGTON —
SNIPPET: “The use of HAM radio is instrumental for communicating during disasters. San Juan County Emergency Management, along with licensed HAM radio operators, participated Saturday in Field Day, a nationwide 24-hour preparedness exercise.
“HAMS are another vehicle for us to communicate when all else fails,” said San Juan County Emergency Manager Don Cooper.
Operators practiced setting up and testing emergency equipment and communicating with operators across the country, simulating what might happen during an emergency.
The operators set up and establish emergency communication using only auxiliary power.”
SNIPPET: “For emergency management nationwide, HAM radio operators are the shining stars in communications, Cooper said.
HAM radio was on the back burner and seen only as a hobby until disasters such as Sept. 11, 2001, and Katrina.
Prior to Katrina, FCC rules forbid operators to use HAM radios for commercial purposes. Following the disaster, HAM radios can be used in the course of emergency services, Cooper said.
“One of the big advantages of HAM radio operators is that there are so many of them and they’re all over the world,” Cooper said.”
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktMGQivZfcE
“Man powered generator, Ham radio field day, Harris Hill 2009”
Video Description - Quote:
mi6customfab
June 27, 2009
Ham radio field day at Harris hill in Horseheads NY, June 27th 2009. I made a man powered power sourse to power a dual band Kenwood radio. The object being, making contacts on 2m to qualify for field day points for human powered radio transmission. It’s made from an old Bicycle, a salvaged alternator from an old GM school bus and a small 12v emergency light battery to jump start the field in the alternator, without the jump start, the alternator will not produce any voltage. Once the field is energized, we disconnected the start battery. We had some issue when N2EUS keyed up the radio on low power {5w} The load created increased the effort hand cranking the bike. Our main object was to prove we could do it with an alternator. We made two very clear contacts through the repeater. My next one will be made using a copier motor.
Category: Science & Technology
Tags: Ham radio field day man powered generator