I just saw the "shortness" in the various HAM related threads. I think we'll agree that an enthusiast (paid or not) will do a better job than someone just showing up. As a tax-payer, you sure would hope that those you're paying to do the job are doing it better, but there's by no means a guarantee of that. Unfortunately, no one knows how good or bad a system is until the SHTF. True, the most egregious of problems are found during drills, but they're not 100%.
----- Mike Hammett Intelligent Computing Solutions Midwest Internet Exchange The Brothers WISP ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lewis Bergman" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 7:56:33 AM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Tessco Show You would be as justified to say there are a wide variety of professional skill levels of radio people as I am in saying the same about HAM's skill sets. But I will say, on average, a person paid and tested daily on a subject should be better at those tasks than someone doing them when they have spare time. I think we agree more than you might think. My apologies if I struck a sensitive chord. On Thu, Feb 25, 2016, 7:14 AM Mike Hammett < [email protected] > wrote: Having seen many "professional" systems, I'm not sure that's much of a benchmark. ----- Mike Hammett Intelligent Computing Solutions Midwest Internet Exchange The Brothers WISP From: "Lewis Bergman" < [email protected] > To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 7:07:36 AM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Tessco Show While I have had many bad experiences I also employ several HAMS. The question at hand was "Why don't emergency personal involve HAMS in their operation readiness exercises?". I was merely offering a reason. These public safety officials are professionals, not amateurs, and are typically being evaluated during these exercises. The only HAM's I have issues with are the ones that cannot accept they are amateurs. Just like flying a drone doesn't qualify you to fly a 747, being a HAM doesn't qualify you to design a public safety radio system or run an EOC. Some HAM's are qualified, but many are not. With proper training, as someone mentioned in a different thread, there is a real place for them that can benefit public safety. We just installed a P25 radio system in a hospital EOC and as part of it We installed additional coax lines so that HAM's could more easily be integrated into the operations there. So, I do work with them. I only have issues with two types of HAM's or anyone around a specific industry. 1. freeloaders - Don't ask me to give you something free just because you like doing it. this is my business, not my hobby. 2. Know it all - I have been in the radio business officially since I was 9 (first FCC license issued). I am a paid, highly trained professional with a lot of education and experience in the field. Just because you read a book and took a test doesn't mean you know everything. I don't know everything either, by I recognize it. These things cross all boundaries. I also didn't like some geek telling me how I should configure my large IP topology because he once configured a Linksys router at his grandmother's house so his XBox would function and it worked. Know your place, that is all I am saying. On Wed, Feb 24, 2016 at 9:00 PM Mike Hammett < [email protected] > wrote: <blockquote> I'm guessing Lewis and one or two others have had some sort of bad dealing with a HAM and now hate the all forever for any impractical reason. <blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote>
