PHONETIC IMPROFECIENCY: A SUGGESTION FOR THE ARRL

Using proper ITU phonetics well takes practice. It’s a fact. Using correct phonetics is an acquired skill, and it takes much repetition to both send and receive words phonetically.

You probably have heard the axiom: Practice makes perfect. That is quite simply, not true. Practice DOES NOT make perfect. Practice makes permanent. Practice something the wrong way and you will tend to do it less than perfectly. Furthermore, you will tend to continue to do it poorly. And… When and if the decision is made to do it correctly, you will find it more difficult to fix the errors because… Practice makes permanent. In order to use proper ITU phonetics, a radio operator must at all times avoid using incorrect phonetics. Right?

Well, I’m not so sure. The short answer is of course, yes. However, while I certainly would agree that a good radio operator should always avoid using non-standard phonetics, I learned something recently while I was serving as a NCS for a Local Traffic Net.

I was cruising along very comfortably taking check-ins when one of our local guys, whom I know to be a very proficient operator, checked in with a Foxtrot Zanzibar Tijuana… What???!! I recognized the voice, so I knew who it was… But… My brain went into a sudden state of confusion, and my pen seemed to be overtaken by some strange Ouija board force as it left an unintelligible scrawl across my up-until-that-moment fairly neat Net Roster page.

Some of the Net regulars, along with me, got a chuckle out of this “severe breach” of “proper net procedure”. How could such a well trained operator fall off of the correct Net discipline wagon? Everyone knows there is to be no “clowning around!! This is serious training!!! Well... most of the time; HI HI. Later that evening… sometime after the Net was closed, as I was considering my own incompetence, the fact of which allowed me to be so easily knocked off balance by a little bit of unexpected phonetics, my mind went back to Field Day 2010.

Every station was coming to the Traffic Net with radiograms; hoping to score a few more points. The problem was that all of our normal “thru” traffic handlers were out of town. So… not only was I the only person on the Net able to take the “thru” messages, but I was also the NCS. I assured all stations that I would take their traffic if they would just be patient… and they were, and I did. It was a long night.

But, the thing that I most remember was that the vast majority of the outgoing traffic was being brought by stations that did not normally handle radiogram traffic. Likewise they were not at all proficient in using correct ITU phonetics. The result: I had to deal with a multitude of strange and unfamiliar Tijuanas, Kilowatts, Japans, Marys, Bobs, and Igloos.

Here is what I have learned. The ARRL has its team of silent “Observer” stations whose task it is to monitor frequencies for errors; right? Well, I think that a team of operators should be recruited to go out into TrafficNetLand with the mission of purposely using incorrect phonetics… to make errors. Why? To keep guys like me from becoming lazy. To keep guys like me on my toes. To keep guys like me proficient in handling traffic coming from stations manned by ops that are not familiar with standard phonetics. To give guys like me the opportunity to take traffic from stations that in the pressure of E-COM conditions won’t know a Tango from a Tijuana… a Bravo from a Boulevard. We need a dedicated official ARRL team of Confusers. Where do I send my suggestion?

All of this is to say: Thanks to my Foxtrot Zanzibar Tijuana friend. Thank you for making me aware of my weakness. Thanks for waking me up!

OMG!!!

What has happened to communication? What has happened to simple, plain, spoken language? I realize that language is a fluid and moving reality. I am aware that each period of time is marked by its unique adaptation of language. New words are created, while others lose favor. Dictionaries need to be routinely updated to keep up with the changes in usage and understanding of vocabulary. But… What has happened to uncomplicated, simple, coherent language?

A few years ago, I was speaking to a group of parents. They were shocked when I began to explain the meaning of the letters: POS, WTF. Their teenagers were using a new language… a new vocabulary. This method to communicate to each other was a natural response to the new technologies being offered. While the use of acronyms is certainly nothing new, I would suggest that we are experiencing a major change in way we will communicate for years to come. IHMO, some of us, like me, if we are unwilling to acquire this new verbiage, are on the verge of experiencing that classic piece of celluloid eloquence from “Cool Hand Luke”: “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”

Each organization has its own unique acronyms. The military has both its unique official and unofficial abbreviated vocabulary… including everything from NCO to FUBAR. The sphere of business likewise, has its share of acronyms: CEO, CFO, and TGIF. Each vocation, each hobby, every activity has it own unique abbreviated language. Certainly included in this list is Amateur Radio. We have our own formal and informal abbreviations… everything from QNI and QSL, to XYL and 73… Oh, I almost forgot… the ARRL.

However, NOTHING prepared me for what I was about to experience when I began the required studies for membership in the Wayne County, Michigan, ARPSC. OMG!!!!!

One of the identified problems that became clear as a result of 9/11 was that a multitude of government agencies were not communicating and cooperating with each other. The conclusion was formed that if there had been a single, centralized, and shared database, not only might have the attacks been prevented, but our response to the catastrophic disaster could have been greatly improved. As a result, the government responded with yet another agency tasked with the job of creating a system which would enable many different agencies and jurisdictions to better cooperate in the event of a large scale attack or disaster. That agency was The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which in turn, through the already established Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) created the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) which provides online education to all interested parties.

OMG!!!! So, I needed to take a couple of tests. No big deal… that is, until I went to FEMA’s EMI website. OMG!!!! If the desire of DHS was the creation of a simple, uncomplicated system which would facilitate the synchronization of multiple agencies, resources, and assets into an expeditious and effectual apparatus from which to respond to a crisis… In the famous words of the “Lost in Space” ROBOT: “Danger, Will Robinson. Danger… This does not compute.” Nowhere have I ever encountered such a multitude of snarled, intertwined, convoluted, incongruent nonsense. I have no idea how much time and tax payer dollars were wasted in the development and production of this project, but dare I say that if we are trying to reduce the over $14 TRILLION national debt… Never again should we allow a government agency to try to simplify ANYTHING!!

If we thought that a well north of 2000 page Health Care bill was a monstrosity… Well, it is a pimple on a gnat’s backside in comparison to the thousands upon thousands of pages of unintelligible, organizational dung known as the NIMS and the NRF. These projects appear to be more interested in job titles and flow charts than getting the job done. They demand that cooperating organizations use plain English, yet all of the administrative and operational documentation is filled with incoherent alphabet-soup gibberish. Nothing proves my point more clearly than in the overuse of acronyms... ICS, NIC, HSPD - 5, 7 and 8, NGO, IAP, EOC, ICP, MACS, MAC, DOC, PIO, JIC, JIS, CSG, DCO, DSCA, EMAC, ESF, IMT, DRC, HSEEP, IMAT, JTF, NCTC, NDMS, NJTTF, SFLEO… ad infinitum. One of FEMA’s EMI study courses features an Appendix with 34 different acronyms; another 22.

I will complete my studies. I will do what is required for membership in the Wayne County ARPSC. I will gladly play along, and fulfill whatever specific assignment that I may be asked to accomplish. However, I can’t imagine that I will ever be convinced that this organizational monstrosity created by the government will in any way whatsoever be the cause of a prompt and proper response to a crisis.

We all witnessed the appalling and illogical response of the government to the BP Oil Spill Crisis in the gulf. The basics principles outlined in NIMS and NRF which call for local control and simplicity were clearly not applied to this crisis. Why would we believe that things should be any different in the next disaster? We have all witnessed the alarming failures, the nonsensical strategies, and the unconstitutional invasions of privacy that are commonplace within the daily work of the TSA. Why should we think that FEMA will operate differently?

And yet, one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me as a Ham came from a TSA Agent. I was traveling with my 2 meter Go-Box through Detroit Metro Airport, and as you might well imagine, my equipment caught the attention of the Airport Security. Two Agents pulled me and my gear aside and asked me to “open” my box. As they peered inside, the older of the two looked up and with a smile responded, “Looks like we’ve got a MacGyver here.” I’m not sure if it was meant as a complement or insult, but it proves my point.

At the end of the day… what matters most is PERSONAL preparedness, not GOVERNMENTAL preparedness. It seems to me that at the very heart of Amateur Radio beats the rhythm of personal preparedness. Those of us in the Amateur Radio community must always be ready to guard and preserve the very thing that enables us to respond “when all else fails”, and that is NOT some mutant Godzilla (think: HSPD -5… think: NIMS and NRF), whose gigantic size and inherent clumsiness ultimately becomes its greatest weakness. But rather, it is the importance of the individual Ham Operator and his quirky, homebrew, MacGyverish compilations of antennas and radio gear.

So… After having completed over a dozen EMI courses, my conclusion is this: If FEMA, and the NRF and MIMS gets any praise at all… it should be from their basic guiding principal that all emergency response begins at the lowest possible level: the individual. In that one point, I couldn’t agree more.

SPAMMUNITION

Everyone knows what spammunition is. It is ammunition used by the military and police for training purposes. You say you’ve never heard that terminology before… that it doesn’t make any sense. Well, I agree with you. But some ham radio ops do not… Taking into consideration the derogatory way in which they use the term, spamgrams, which is given to commonly sent / received radiogram traffic, such as those which wish hams a happy birthday. Or, perhaps those messages that are friendly reminders of upcoming license expirations.

I may not have the strongest signal in the pile up, but I think I know what the term spamgram is intended to imply. It is intended to somehow suggest that many of the radiograms relayed on traffic nets are nothing better than the annoying unsolicited emails that we receive each day that promise to make us rich, or young, or attractive. I would like to point out that there is a clear difference between a lie that promises to make me into a 20 year old stud, and a stranger wishing me a happy birthday.

I will admit that I haven’t been around this game very long, but I’ve been around long enough to, on a couple of occasions, get sucked into the drama that some would like to create concerning that which is a prevalent part of the normal daily load of radiogram traffic. And to be honest with you… I just don’t get it. Some guys really get fired up about it, and you can color me stupid if you want, but I just don’t get it.

I have had more than ample opportunity to listen to what most hams call rag-chewing. Most of it is harmless and generic chatter between stations. I would guess that the ARRL probably has data on this, but my unscientific observation would conclude that most rag-chewing is about ham radio stuff… antennas, radios, nets, antennas, contests, tuners, amps, antennas, towers, power supplies, antennas... mostly, antennas. Next in line would probably be the weather, then ham festivals… then the last 10% would be a mix of just about anything you can imagine.

My first point here is that it is all voluntary. Every discussion, every subject… it’s all voluntary. I may participate. I may just listen. Or, I can keep scanning for something different. Whatever the case may be, each station voluntarily decides what they want to do.

Likewise, it is the same with how any ham chooses to respond to the National Traffic System. I’ve both received and passed hundreds of radiograms, and not one time… I repeat… never has anyone forced me to participate. I can or not participate at my pleasure. It is all voluntary.

Secondly, none of the voluntary rag-chewing does anything to help protect and preserve the limited and precious “air spectrum” that we are allowed to use. On the contrary the passing of radiogram traffic is directly connected by a calculation that bean-counters in Washington D.C. measure in dollars and cents to a value that is placed in direct competition with other businesses and organizations for “radio spectrum”. And, as I understand it, the economic law of supply and demand is forcing that value higher and higher as more and more people are vying for the same limited space.

So, it would seem to me that, if for no other reason, those who currently oppose “spam-grams” would do a great deal of good for themselves and our common enjoyment of this hobby, if they would “join” us instead of opposing us. It is kind of like those who oppose hunting because they love animals… It has been proven many times over that the best thing they could do to protect animals is to buy a hunting license. Do you want to promote animal conservation? Buy a hunting license. The largest source of money that is used for the protection of animals comes directly from license revenue. So as distasteful and contradictory as that may seem to some people, the logic cannot be denied.

So, for those of you that hate spamgrams, if you love ham radio… if you want to preserve the hobby… the most logical, albeit personally repugnant thing you can do is create and send as many spamgrams as you possibly can. Nothing else you can do for the preservation of Amateur Radio will be easier done or reap as much personal long term gain. It is quite simply the most logical thing you can do.

My third and final reason for sticking my neck out on this issue is, for me, the most important of all. And that is the “spammunition” argument. Day after day, those who serve us in the fields of law enforcement and the military train again and again for the day when it becomes necessary for them to actually unholster their weapons.

They create elaborate test ranges to simulate the kind of blind chaos that may very well be the deadly reality they face on the streets and upon the battlefields. They drill… they train… they shoot up box after box of ammunition because… they all know that the day after day boredom that is so very typical will certainly be shattered by the cacophony of the live-fire gun battle. It is not a matter of if… but when it will come. And, their lives depend upon how consistently they trained for exactly this type of moment.

The reality is that the officer who used up the most spammunition gets to go home at the end of the gunfight and hug his wife and see his kids grow up. No one who escapes a real life gunfight goes home and says to his wife: “I really regret all that ammunition I wasted on the firing range.” And mark this: When the time comes that you use your skills – skills honed by the night by night boredom of a typical Traffic Net – to relay life saving information out of or into a disaster area, you won’t be thinking that all those repetitive ARL SIXTY YOUR BIRTHDAY messages were illegitimate or wasted.

There is no deception in radiogram traffic. Is not the vast overwhelming majority called Routine? However… and this is my most important point of all… it is not a matter of “if”, but rather “when” the time will come when “all else fails” and the Amateur Radio National Traffic System will be the ONLY system still standing. And this simple truth will rule that day: The ham radio op that handled the most spammunition will win.

I have made friends with stations all over America. My hope would be that none of us will ever have to use our traffic handling skills in a time of crisis; however, though no one talks about it… we all know that the time is coming… and when it does, we will be ready. I have learned their voices… I have learned the cadence and the style of their sending traffic… I have learned to interpret their accents and dialects. I have learned how to pick their voices out of the noise… out of the static crashes. I am ready… and so are they.

For those of you that enjoy handling traffic… Do everything you can to handle as much as possible. Make a point of seeking out difficult conditions in which to operate. Don’t wait for band conditions to improve. If possible, intentionally make your job more difficult. Every once in a while, move off frequency a bit as you receive traffic. Hunt out a distant station to which you can relay traffic. If you hear a difficult relay taking place, copy it down as if you were the receiving station; you may need to act as a "stand in the middle relay"... be prepared. Plus it is good training. Don't be afraid of delivering a message that turns out to be an SK. This too is good training. What kind of messages do you think you might very well have to deliver in a real life disaster situation?

Do everything you can to be the best you can be… and be certain of this: the day will come when your traffic handling skills will be highly sought out… most likely by the very ones who were the most critical of our Traffic Nets. And it will be then… that you will smile a little private grin… and then you will do what you trained to do: you will be a public servant. You will, with integrity, professionalism, promptness, and accuracy, serve the public good.

DUB’YA DEE TO WHY PEE… A new trick to keep voice transmission rates at a reasonable copy speed.

I am not so far from my first days on the radio that I have forgotten some of those initial experiences. For example: I well remember my first several nights trying to check into my local Traffic Net. Nervous Sweat and Frustration were my constant companions. It took me several days to first figure out that the repeater required a “tone” input… and then (more frustration), to determine how to manipulate the menus on my 2 meter rig accordingly.

However, long before I ever checked in to that Net, all I did was listen. For many nights, I would simply listen; nothing else… just listen. I was allowing my ears, or more correctly, my brain to become accustomed to a brand new language. This new “radio” language was filled with new terms, abbreviations, acronyms… I had to learn a new “foreign” language. So, I just listened.

After many weeks, with a new legal pad of paper on my lap, I began to write/copy everything I heard. If a radiogram was being sent, I used blank radiograms that I had produced on a copier. I don’t know how many messages I copied, but I am confident that it was many dozen. I was handling traffic long before I handled traffic.

One of the most difficult to copy were call signs. It was hard enough when I heard them spelled phonetically; but, trying to do it without the help of phonetics was impossible. All I heard was: KATE BE OATEE or INDY ATE JAY ESSO, or KAYBE ATE O CUTIE, or DUB’YA DEE TO WHY PEE… And I felt good about getting even that close! But most of the time, all I got was: K$##%%8QX*&!!!

One other thought: If you have an FX in your call, be careful... To the untrained ear, at best it comes out Fecks… but sometimes, it comes out F*cks !!! So, for example: N8FXD comes out NATE F*CKS DEE!!! I am certain that the FCC does not approve… Hi Hi.

But, despite feeling completely overwhelmed I pressed on… night by night… listening and writing.

Today, hundreds of radiograms later, I still sometimes get frustrated with copying traffic. The reason: varying voice delivery rates. There are some traffic ops, from whom I receive radiograms, that cause me to begin to sweat even before they begin sending. Why? Because I know what is coming… Buddy, you better get your pencil sharpened and ready. (Actually, I use a ball point pen. I find it faster.) Their delivery speed is darn near reading speed. And, reading speed is not good copy speed… unless perhaps, you are typing your received messages. I know with CW ops that sending speed in something of which everyone is well aware. Well, I am here to say, it is also very important with Voice/Phone operations.

As I result, when the day came that I began to pass traffic, I made a conscious effort to be aware of my “voice” sending rate. I’d like to think that I continue that awareness yet today. I still find myself drawing my finger across every word of a message, while imagining myself writing it as I speak it.

Today, however, I was reading again the ARRL NTS Methods Practices and Guidelines and I came across this suggestion:

A useful trick to overcome the natural tendency to speak too rapidly is to say a group or phrase, pause, spell it to yourself as though you were writing it, and continue when you visualize that the receiving operator is also finished. KC3Y, Maryland Slow Net NM, teaches actually writing it out while voicing it.

Wow!! Why didn’t I think of that? KC3Y’s method is brilliant. I am definitely going to keep this in mind. If ever I am called upon to work in a high Pucker Factor situation, I may very well pull this out of my bag of tricks to insure that, in the pressure of E-COM operations, I keep my sending rate down to copyable speeds.

73

2 METER "GO BOX"

Here is my 2 meter “go” box project.

I have never had a “base” station for 2 meter... not technically speaking. The only thing I have ever had is a “go” box that I moved from the car to the shack. However, I probably need to explain what I mean by “shack.”

I have seen pictures of other’s “shacks”… just let me say, my ham “shack” is NOTHING like what I have seen. In the beginning... when I first started, my mobile 2 meter rig was setting on top of the clothes dryer with a coax running out the door to a copper j-pole mounted on a tripod. I couldn't afford a "real" antenna, so I went online and found plans for making a 1/2 inch copper j-pole. For a few bucks, a little effort, and some horrible soldering, I was on the air. It was powered by a 12v battery that I stole out of my boat.

My next big step was to get a “box”. I got one of those aluminum cases that you can purchase at Home Depot. I was moving up… With a smaller 12v battery, and a 15 amp power supply (Christmas gifts) I could move wherever I wanted. I finally purchased a mobile whip antenna and my shack became my car. Most of the time I was mobile / stationary. Using Anderson Powerpole connectors (again, a Christmas gift - who would have thought that Santa made big boy toys too??) I was able to easily get power from the car or from the power supply or virtually any 12v source.



During the fall of ’09 and the spring of ’10 I began to make some major "elbow grease" improvements to my man cave / garage. My 2 meter box would find a new home. However, I came to a point where I wanted to make changes to the “box”. What I was using was working, but it had a lot of drawbacks. The main problem was a lack of storage. Assorted wires, tools and such could not travel in the box. What follows is an account of that change.

The box I chose to use was a 10 x 12 x 18 inch Dry Box that I purchased from Gander Mountain. Its side walls were not quite as thick as I would have liked, but I knew that a partition wall that I was planning for the interior would provide considerable strength and stability.

After placing the box in several different locations (car / man cave) to determine what area inside the box would be occupied by the 2m Yaesu FT2800, I decided an end rather than side location would work best. This was not the most efficient use of interior space, but it was the most appropriate for how I would be placing the box. The new Go-Box has a lot of capacity, so I knew I could afford this "less-than-perfect-usage-of-space" location for the radio.

I also had to think about the best location for my cooling fan (which I stole from an old non-working computer CPU. The mounting bracket that I had made previously was slightly modified so that it now mounted to the original radio mounting bracket. I wanted to make sure that I didn't stifle air circulation around the massive heat sink that is so prominent on the FT2800.


Next was to figure out where to mount the 7.5 amp/hr battery and the 15 amp MFJ power supply. While picking up some cable ties at the Depot I spotted some “mounting bases”. I determined that these would work well to secure the battery to the base of the box. I wanted to use epoxy instead of the sticky tabs on the bottom of the bases. I drilled 3/32 holes in the corner of each base so that the epoxy would ooze up through the holes and provide a better attachment.




The divider wall was made from a small plastic “serving tray” that I found at GFS. My first attempt was to use a thin sheet of plexi glass. That ended badly, but the brown serving tray worked perfectly as my raw material for what would become my wiring/switch panel/box support bulkhead... you get the idea.


My power distribution box was a plastic electric utility box cut to accommodate a small Anderson Powerpole chassis mount fixture. This became basically a poor-man's RigRunner.


The antenna connection was made by using a “thru-the-box” mounting. Because of the wall thickness of the box, all through the wall holes were “washered” appropriately to give the necessary support.


Two switches were needed. The one on left is for power distribution. Center position is “off”. Left provides power from the 15 amp power supply. Right position provides power from the 12v battery. The switch on the right controls the cooling fan. The FT2800 has a tendency to get hot when TXing for long periods at 65 max watts. When it gets hot, signal quality has a tendency to deteriorate. I don’t use the fan when just listening, but when I start moving a lot of traffic, it is always on. Because the fan was designed to be used in conjuction with computer electronics, it is very clean electronically. I have never heard any complaints about my signal with regards to fan related noise.


The final assembly is done and is working as expected. As with anything connected to Amateur Radio, I am already thinking of improvements. But, I am satisfied with the project as it is now. It suits my needs better than my previous box, and I now have the additional storage room that was needed.

BIO

One of the things that I strangely like the most about Amateur Radio is the lack of a picture. Years ago, I hosted a weekly AM Radio broadcast. I always enjoyed having nothing but my imagination with which to paint the picture of my audience. So it is with Ham Radio. My mind fills in the blanks… and just so you know, everyone I talk to is young, healthy, and good looking…. Just like me!

In an effort to allow you to get a more detailed picture, I thought it might be fun to post a little personal “bio”.

I married my high school sweetheart; we’ve been together for 36 years. Because I so very much like to “screw” with people, I will normally introduce her as “my first wife”. I love to watch people’s expressions as they try to figure out what I mean. We have 2 daughters and currently 4 grandkids. Our most recent granddaughter was the 2009 American Heart Association Heart Child. You can read her amazing “story” at www.emmasmiracle.blogspot.com.

I have spent the last 23 years as a Pastor. This has afforded us with many rewarding friendships and challenges. Our first Church was what they call a “pioneer” Church; which means there were no people. We went to a community, found a vacant building, and started from scratch. Those first years really were some of the very best years of my life.

I have never been one of those people who likes to set around and watch… I like to do. Over the years I have enjoyed the opportunity to pursue several different challenges. Although I am not current, I hold a Private Pilot’s Licence. I am a Certified Underwater Diver. I have been both a Journeyman Meat Cutter and a Journeyman Tool and Die Maker. I enjoy slalom water skiing and boating… Piloting an 88 ft Houseboat on Lake Cumberland is one of my favorite summer vacations. I enjoy riding my motorcycle… I really enjoy this. Riding the “Tail of the Dragon – 318 curves in 11 miles” was a ton of fun. During the Summer of ’09, I enjoyed completing my first “Iron Butt” ride: 1000 miles in 24 hrs. I would one day like to attempt the “Coast to Coast in 50” ride; Jacksonville to San Diego in 50 hours!

Oh, I almost forgot... I often ride with the "Patriot Guard Riders" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G10T_Ih222E . If you happen to pass by a funeral for a fallen veteran, look for me standing there among the gnarly, scruffy, leather-clad bikers.

So whether it is Skydiving in a 120 mph Wind Tunnel, or butchering a calf on a Jamaican hillside, or riding on some twisted mountain road… I am willing to give just about anything a try, my primary goal is to NEVER have an “empty” Bucket List.

However, if you find me on the Radio, you will probably find me handling traffic. This has given me a very simple and enjoyable way to expand both my knowledge and experience. It has given me the “challenge” that my mind needs. It also gives me a great way to disconnect from the many pressures that I handle on most days. I absolutely love passing traffic on HF when conditions are horrible. Turn up the QRN, QRM, and QSB… I am QRV. Ultimately, it gives me the ability to build a network of reliable “radio” friendships, that when (not if) the communication infrastructure collapses, I will be able to communicate with my family which is scattered across the midwest.

I owe a tremendous “THANKS” to Morley / N8JU, who helped with that all important first licensing test… Thanks to Morley’s friends who helped him help me… Thanks to Jeff / WB8WKQ, who has made room for me, and helped me advance my skills. Thanks to Ben / K8KV, who has no idea how much he inspires me. Others like AF8CS, WB8FBG, and KC8SFH… the list is a long one and I know there are others whose call sign is missing; thanks for your encouragement.

I'LL NEVER DO THAT...

How many times have you said, “I’ll never do that… I have absolutely NO interest in that… I just don’t understand why anyone would do that… Those people need to get a life…”?

I have said those very things more times than I care to admit. And, as I have grown older – I may have to get older, but I don’t have to mature – some of the very things that I said I would never do, I have ended up not only doing, but enjoying it as well. So it has been with Amateur Radio.

Over the years, I have known a few Hams. Some were very good friends. But, to be completely honest, I just didn’t get it. I understood to some extent what they did; I just didn’t understand why.

For those who care to know what happened… it began with a book.

I have always had a bit of interest in a self-reliant lifestyle. Back in the 1970’s, when the price of electricity spiked – I believe in was in the winter of ’77 – I was making $165 / week and I had a monthly electric bill of $368!!! That was the genesis moment… I began to get “off the grid”. Growing up in the farming communities of north central Indiana had instilled in me the knowledge of how to grow stuff and to “can and freeze” the fruit of the land. We converted our “total electric” home to 100% wood heat, got a subscription to “Mother Earth News” and began making changes. However, at that time, I had no need for a self-reliant form of distance communication; for, everyone that I needed to talk to lived within a couple of miles. We purchased CB radios. If the phone quit working, it was no big deal. Oh, we looked into Amateur Radio, but you had to know Code… and there was NO way I was going to mess with that.

As the years / decades passed… I became a Grandpa… with 4 of the most wonderful grandkids in the world. HERE WAS THE FIRST STEP toward my interest in Amateur Radio. My grandkids live 800 miles away.

THE SECOND STEP was a re-awakening of the need for personal self-reliance brought about by the knowledge of just how fragile and interdependent the national infrastructure had become. If one little piece goes down… the potential for the house of cards to collapse was becoming more and more obvious.

THE THIRD STEP was a very severe ice storm in southern Missouri that resulted in the call up of the Missouri National Guard and a temporary blockade of the region in which my kids live. Power was out… phone service was sporadic… and Grandpa panicked. There and then I knew I had to figure out a way to be able to communicate with my kids “when all else failed”.

The FOURTH step came coincidentally about the same time as the Third Step; I was reading the book “Patriots” by James Rawles. “Patriots” is the story of survival after a massive economic collapse. In the story, the main characters tell of hearing about what was happening only by means of listening to ham operators on a short wave radio.

The pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place… and the mission was on. I would need a license first. The rest is now history and here I am 14 months after I got my Technician license – now with a General license – writing my first post for my Amateur Radio Blog.

One must be very careful saying, “I would never do that…”.