Emergency Communications Driving Increase in Amateur Radio Operators

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Emergency Communications Driving Increase in Amateur Radio Operators
Hams standing by and ready to help during disasters or other events.

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More Americans than ever have been licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as amateur radio operators, and those in the know say that emergency communications is driving their passion to be “hams.”

“There has been a tremendous amount of interest in emergency preparedness since 9/11 and Katrina, and this is true for the amateur radio community as well,” said Mike Corey, the emergency preparedness manager for the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). “Emergency communications is a gateway into amateur radio, and many join our ranks through an interest in being better prepared themselves and as a way to serve their community.”


Read more: http://www.govtech.com/em/disaster/...ving-Increase-in-Amateur-Radio-Operators.html
 
Interesting, thank you for sharing the link. I'll admit that (personal) emergency preparedness was a large impetus towards my desire to become a ham operator. It just so happens that in the process I found that I enjoyed the hobby.

Still, I think that there are a lot of people who get licensed for this reason, buy a $25 Baofeng and stick it in their faraday cage and they're going to be sorely disappointed if they ever have to use that skill and equipment. Case in point, my wife is licensed and she had a brief QSO with another local (female) ham and she was so nervous she flubbed getting her call sign right. Imagine what would have happened if you added the stress of an emergency?

I base this on the observation that in High Point and Greensboro we've had a few new hams every week, but I've only seen a fraction of them on the air. The majority of those newbies are technician clas, so they're not on the HF bands, meaning if they're not on the local VHF and UHF channels, they're not on the air.

Since becoming a ham, I have been wanting to join ARES. I think the small investment is worth the advantages of being plugged into the emergency communications networks., for obvious reasons.
 
Sorry, no, DRONES are driving this wave. The amount people are learning about radio and electronics is staggering. Radio shack closed too early. They should have gone into the drone business. I've never soldered so much in my life. Addicting it is.
 
With FPV (first person view) flying booming, most of the newer hams are just getting tech level license so when they are using their video tx and 433 tx on the controller they are legal for the most part.

Some do actually get into amateur radio. But most don't
 
I'm that guy that bought the $60 Baofeng and stuck it in a drawer. I started studying for the tech license but other commitments got in the way.
 
I'm that guy that bought the $60 Baofeng and stuck it in a drawer. I started studying for the tech license but other commitments got in the way.
$60 dollars!?! Did someone have compromising pictures on you or something?

On a serious note, believe me, I understand that things get in the way. I worked on getting my tech license for over 20 years. The sticky thread has the right approach: read the non nonsense guide and study the flash cards. I'll bet if you utilize the time you spend in the "reading room" every day you'll be ready to take the test in a month.

My wife took the approach of going to a class which went through the rule book and then did the flash cards. Don't underestimate the value of the cards. She passed the test with a 100% but started without even understanding ohms law.
 
I wonder if you could attach a small 50w repeater to a drone? Send it up 2000 ft. Line of site forever.
 
I wonder if you could attach a small 50w repeater to a drone? Send it up 2000 ft. Line of site forever.
Kind of like what I've heard they want to do in Africa: put wifi hotspots on balloons or sonething to that effect.

Actually, a lot of good wide area repeaters are up about 2000' with the TV transmitters.
 
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I wonder if you could attach a small 50w repeater to a drone? Send it up 2000 ft. Line of site forever.

Too heavy due to battery requirements. At some point, I do want to hoist my crossbanding HT to one of my drones and take it to 400 feet for a test. BTW, 50 watts would be the output of your average stationary repeater. Repeaters are not high powered, they are high altitude.

Here is a a product to allow tethered drone flight for extended periods.

 
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