RE: [Elecraft] Elecraft Rigs in Emergency Service...
At 01:19 PM 09/29/08, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: I'm deeply sorry to hear about the Amateur operators who clearly couldn't be bothered with a distress call until they were asked. They are not qualified to be Hams and should have lost their licenses. I believe that as there is less and less emphasis on the service aspect of ham radio, and less attention paid to the history of the hobby, coupled with the ease of obtaining a license, there are/will be many hams who have no concept of their responsibilities. I wonder how many of us would continue in the hobby if we had to certify and give an example of operating in the Public Interest, Convenience or Necessity ? Thom k3hrn ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Rigs in Emergency Service...
Several years ago (10+) during a contest, probably phone sweepstakes, I heard a marine emergency calling and calling. I first thought it was somebody messing around, BAD IDEA. After I listened for a couple of minutes, I believed it. The contesters were ignoring it or not hearing it and I tried to talk to the guy but couldn't hear him reliably because of the contest and finally asked several times to please clear the frequency because of a marine emergency and gladly it happened. I still had trouble hearing everything he was saying and asked if anyone else had a better copy than I did. One of the big stations came on and took it over, got the information of his location and that he was dead in the water, called it in, and went back to him and told him that it had been reported and that they were on the way. He wasn't using SOS and do not recall if he used anything else or not as I have never heard of pan pan or QRRR until now. I am a new ham and it wouldn't have meant a thing to me. He was just calling for help, repeatedly, and describing his situation and requesting somebody to make a call for him. Just interesting and glad to be involved even though it was just to get somebody else to actually help him. 73, de Jim KG0KP - Original Message - From: Stephen Brandt [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, September 26, 2008 11:19 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Rigs in Emergency Service... A very good idea. I'll bet not very many know about it unless they are old timers. A lot of people were preoccupied with the Washington State Salmon Run last weekend. Most activity was on 80 and 75 because of the skip. I wonder how many would have taken time out to help if they had been aware of what was going on. Contesters are good operators. I am one myself. But, emergenies first. Constesting second. 73, Steve Brandt N7VS Portland, Oregon I wonder if the Ham injured in the mountains knew to use QRRR? I wonder how many Hams today know what it means? Perhaps he got lucky hearing that guy tune up and getting an answer to his call before he needed it. Ron AC7AC I wonder if he would be advised to use QRRR, if most hams don't know what it means? Rick Dettinger K7MW ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Elecraft Rigs in Emergency Service...
Often plain language is best. The special calls are for *trained* operators who recognize them quickly even buried in QRM. Every marine or aircraft operator will tell you there's nothing more arresting than suddenly hearing SOS pounded out in Morse or Mayday on voice. Even listening to playback of a distress call makes my skin crawl. You know there someone in mortal danger at the other end of the message. But that's true only if you know what the call means. I'm deeply sorry to hear about the Amateur operators who clearly couldn't be bothered with a distress call until they were asked. They are not qualified to be Hams and should have lost their licenses. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Several years ago (10+) during a contest, probably phone sweepstakes, I heard a marine emergency calling and calling. I first thought it was somebody messing around, BAD IDEA. After I listened for a couple of minutes, I believed it. The contesters were ignoring it or not hearing it and I tried to talk to the guy but couldn't hear him reliably because of the contest and finally asked several times to please clear the frequency because of a marine emergency and gladly it happened. I still had trouble hearing everything he was saying and asked if anyone else had a better copy than I did. One of the big stations came on and took it over, got the information of his location and that he was dead in the water, called it in, and went back to him and told him that it had been reported and that they were on the way. He wasn't using SOS and do not recall if he used anything else or not as I have never heard of pan pan or QRRR until now. I am a new ham and it wouldn't have meant a thing to me. He was just calling for help, repeatedly, and describing his situation and requesting somebody to make a call for him. Just interesting and glad to be involved even though it was just to get somebody else to actually help him. 73, de Jim KG0KP ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Elecraft Rigs in Emergency Service...
About 15 yrs ago, I traveled up into the mountains in CA with my TenTec Argonaut for a one man FD operation. I arrived a bit before the start of the event and noticed the hillside across the valley from me was burning. I placed a help needed here call and finally got a person in the area. I asked him to contact authorities to report a fire and he said OK. That was it. I have no idea if the fire got reported or anything. It left me feeling very unsatisfied. I suspect, however the fire was already known about. - Keith N1AS - - K3 711 - ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Elecraft Rigs in Emergency Service...
Good going Keith! An experienced operator would have closed the loop for you with a service message informing you of the outcome. I've relayed such traffic and the first thing the fire service wants to know is where the person who reported it is located. They want to confirm that he/she is not in the danger zone and the status of any others in the area. (Even if not in the fire danger zone, many people don't realized a fire drives all the wildlife away from it. I've heard of people watching a fire from a 'safe' distance when suddenly bear, cougar and lots of other animals not particularly friendly to humans come charging right at them.) The RACES manuals say how to handle emergency traffic in the Amateur Service. Basically, you reply adding SVC to the message number when closing the loop with the originator. It presumes a *written* message. Special forms aren't needed. It's strongly recommended Hams know how to properly format messages on a plain piece of paper. Even if the originating station in the middle of the emergency doesn't take the time to write one, the relaying station should to make a written, time-stamped record of the exact contents of the exchange in a message format. Most commercial licenses in the USA (radiotelegraph, radiotelephone, GMDSS, etc.) require the applicant to demonstrate how to behave when involved in emergency communications even though a person might spend a lifetime operating without using it. It sounds to me like the Amateur licenses should require the same. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- About 15 yrs ago, I traveled up into the mountains in CA with my TenTec Argonaut for a one man FD operation. I arrived a bit before the start of the event and noticed the hillside across the valley from me was burning. I placed a help needed here call and finally got a person in the area. I asked him to contact authorities to report a fire and he said OK. That was it. I have no idea if the fire got reported or anything. It left me feeling very unsatisfied. I suspect, however the fire was already known about. - Keith N1AS - - K3 711 - ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Rigs in Emergency Service...
I wonder if the Ham injured in the mountains knew to use QRRR? I wonder how many Hams today know what it means? Perhaps he got lucky hearing that guy tune up and getting an answer to his call before he needed it. Ron AC7AC I wonder if he would be advised to use QRRR, if most hams don't know what it means? Rick Dettinger K7MW ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Elecraft Rigs in Emergency Service...
Good question. That's why I asked it :-) In that situation I think I'd use, alternately, QRRR and SOS if I couldn't raise someone directly, sort of like McBride did from the Titanic back in 1912, sending alternately CQD and SOS. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- I wonder if the Ham injured in the mountains knew to use QRRR? I wonder how many Hams today know what it means? Perhaps he got lucky hearing that guy tune up and getting an answer to his call before he needed it. Ron AC7AC I wonder if he would be advised to use QRRR, if most hams don't know what it means? Rick Dettinger K7MW ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Rigs in Emergency Service...
A very good idea. I'll bet not very many know about it unless they are old timers. A lot of people were preoccupied with the Washington State Salmon Run last weekend. Most activity was on 80 and 75 because of the skip. I wonder how many would have taken time out to help if they had been aware of what was going on. Contesters are good operators. I am one myself. But, emergenies first. Constesting second. 73, Steve Brandt N7VS Portland, Oregon I wonder if the Ham injured in the mountains knew to use QRRR? I wonder how many Hams today know what it means? Perhaps he got lucky hearing that guy tune up and getting an answer to his call before he needed it. Ron AC7AC I wonder if he would be advised to use QRRR, if most hams don't know what it means? Rick Dettinger K7MW ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
