I thought I might share a couple of observations I've made regarding the
Amateur Service; the situation in other locations may differ.

Based upon my adventures last year in Florida when we got pounded by three
hurricanes I was interested in finding out the utility of my Ham two meter
transceiver by taking advantage of Field Day (simulated emergency test) in
June. I raised a collinear with an advertised gain of 7 dB to thirty feet
and powered my transceiver with a deep cycle battery. Operating on the
'National Simplex Calling Frequency' 146.52 MHz with 75 watts output power I
attempted to find out how many stations I could contact and the extent of my
operating range during the test. From my numerous calls I was able to
contact NO ONE! Not one person responded to my Field Day calls throughout
the day and I heard NO ONE calling Field Day! Not one Ham could I find
operating Field Day on the two meter National Simplex Calling Frequency! Yet
to my surprise, I was able to consistently 'key-up' repeaters from
Jacksonville to Palm Bay---approximately 2/3's the length of the state of
Florida. And to consider, this is an amateur service simulated emergency
test in Florida occurring only 10 months after the destruction of Charley,
Frances, and Jeanne. It made me wonder just how interested Hams are in
emergency communications. I did have a nice conversation with a fellow 100
miles away via his repeater.

With regard to the Alaskan Emergency Frequency of 5167.5 kHz. As the FCC
recently granted amateurs five channels in the HF (60 meter) band: 5332,
5348, 5368, 5373, and 5405 kHz, it would seem to me that the ARRL would have
taken an interest and evaluate those frequencies for channelized emergency
operations. The frequencies between the 75 and 40 meters bands might offer
propagation characteristics of both bands and make those channels
particularly useful for short and long haul message handling.
Furthermore, the Alaskan Emergency Frequency channel might be added to the
new assignment for emergency use in the lower 48. Ideally, the 60 meter
amateur band might become an important part of an emergency response
provided by the amateur service. But, I just don't see any interest by the
ARRL and those frequencies, every time I check them, remain unused.
A citation from the ARRL's Petition for Rule Making to the FCC
concluded, in part, "An Amateur Allocation in this band (60 meters) would
improve the Amateur Service's already exemplary record of providing
emergency
communications during natural disasters when even modern communications
systems typically fail." Perhaps the ARRL may take a break from their
publishing activities someday and investigate its possibilities.

Additionally, its odd about the amateur service that proclaims itself to be
devoted to emergency service but dropped its distress frequencies. Until
the 1960's the ARRL had specific calling frequencies reserved for distress
and safety in the HF bands for radiotelephone and radiotelegraphy. These
frequencies were regularly printed in its journal 'QST'. I haven't found
out why the ARRL dropped them. Its beyon my comprehension that a
communications service, world wide in extent, that doesn't assign
frequencies,
routinely monitored, for distress signaling and calling. Similarly, some
years ago,
a manufacturer hardly wanted to discuss the necessary modifications of my
transceiver so I could access the, FCC authorized, 5167.5 kHz amateur
service Alaskan Emergency Frequency. It was only through the force of my
professional credentials did they finally agree and sent me the service note
I required. I like to point out that until recently, as far as I know,
Yaesu, (FT-857 and FT-817 for example) is the first amateur equipment
manufacturer to provide amateur equipment capable of accessing the Alaskan
Emergency Frequency without equipment modification. If the amateur service
is so concerned with emergency communications why did it take so long for
this to occur?

After nearly forty years as an amateur radio operator, these are some of the
issues that make me reconsider the utility of the amateur service as an
emergency communications provider . Although the amateur service has
played a significant role in handling emergency communications in the past,
the changing face of technology has relegated the amateur service to
a position of little consequence---possibility, with better leadership,
the amateur service can regain its former stature.

I sincerely think, that with the devastation of Charley, Frances and Jeanne
last year, and Katrina this year, the ARRL really needs to get off their ass
and come up with a serious emergency communications plan. I suspect that
the ARRL is a 'has been' organization and a new vision for amateur radio
(emergency communications) needs to take their place.

"TOM" wrote in message
...
I thought I might share a couple of observations I've made regarding the
Amateur Service; the situation in other locations may differ.

Based upon my adventures last year in Florida when we got pounded by three
hurricanes I was interested in finding out the utility of my Ham two meter
transceiver by taking advantage of Field Day (simulated emergency test) in
June. I raised a collinear with an advertised gain of 7 dB to thirty feet
and powered my transceiver with a deep cycle battery. Operating on the
'National Simplex Calling Frequency' 146.52 MHz with 75 watts output power
I

ok, so you don't know about the modern field day. today field day is not
about emergency communications, its a time to get out in the woods, drink
some beers, tell war stories, and maybe make some contacts... since vhf
isn't a place to make lots of contacts most field day operations are on hf.


As the FCC
recently granted amateurs five channels in the HF (60 meter) band: 5332,
5348, 5368, 5373, and 5405 kHz
every time I check them, remain unused.

ok, so you aren't checking them at the right time. they are used, though
lightly since many radios need modifications, lots of people don't have
antennas for them, and the channelized requirements are rather odd so lots
of people aren't really interested in them... especially since there are no
operating events, contests, awards, or other reason to be there if you
aren't interested in propagation exploration.

A citation from the ARRL's Petition for Rule Making to the FCC
concluded, in part, "An Amateur Allocation in this band (60 meters) would
improve the Amateur Service's already exemplary record of providing
emergency

yeah, yeah, what else did you expect them to say? thats probably
boilerplate they put on every memo they send to washington or gettysburg.

Additionally, its odd about the amateur service that proclaims itself to
be
devoted to emergency service but dropped its distress frequencies. Until

this might be nice to have, but then again there are so many frequencies
claimed by so many different nets and organizations that finding some place
to do this would be a real pain. then it would end up being a constant
battle between those who want to keep it clear and those who want to use any
clear frequency they can find. emergency frequencies are easily proclaimed
for short periods by the fcc and as seen in recent hurricane operations they
are relatively well respected world wide and very well utilized.

out why the ARRL dropped them. Its beyon my comprehension that a
communications service, world wide in extent, that doesn't assign
frequencies,

the arrl is not a communications service. they are a membership body, if
the members aren't interested it won't get done. world wide allocation of
frequencies would have to be done via the iaru and then would only have the
force of a recommendation on each of the member countries since each one has
its own regulatory body like the fcc who may or maynot add the force of law
to such recommendations.

transceiver so I could access the, FCC authorized, 5167.5 kHz amateur
service Alaskan Emergency Frequency. It was only through the force of my

i thought you were in florida? anyway, mods for most radios can be found
easily on-line these days. and for radios like the ft-1000mp its just a
matter of pressing a few secret button combinations and you can transmit
anywhere, right out of the box you could receive anywhere anyway so you
could monitor those frequencies.

Although the amateur service has
played a significant role in handling emergency communications in the
past,
the changing face of technology has relegated the amateur service to
a position of little consequence---possibility, with better leadership,
the amateur service can regain its former stature.

then why are they now recruiting for relief operators to go in to the
katrina and rita areas to continue operating with fema and other agencies?
if we were of so little use why do they still want our help? and apparently
will want it for a while yet in just that area??



I sincerely think, that with the devastation of Charley, Frances and
Jeanne
last year, and Katrina this year, the ARRL really needs to get off their
ass
and come up with a serious emergency communications plan.

have you talked to your section emergency coordinator recently, that is the
starting place? he/she should be able to provide you with the local plans
and links to training courses and all the other stuff you want to know.

Dave wrote in message
news

"TOM" wrote in message
...
I thought I might share a couple of observations I've made regarding the
Amateur Service; the situation in other locations may differ.

Based upon my adventures last year in Florida when we got pounded by
three
hurricanes I was interested in finding out the utility of my Ham two
meter
transceiver by taking advantage of Field Day (simulated emergency test)
in
June. I raised a collinear with an advertised gain of 7 dB to thirty
feet
and powered my transceiver with a deep cycle battery. Operating on the
'National Simplex Calling Frequency' 146.52 MHz with 75 watts output
power
I

ok, so you don't know about the modern field day. today field day is not
about emergency communications, its a time to get out in the woods, drink
some beers, tell war stories, and maybe make some contacts... since vhf
isn't a place to make lots of contacts most field day operations are on
hf.

yea... your are right---poor leadership and vision. The simulated emergency
is not a simulated emergency test but more of a sales opportunity for ARRL
pins and tee-shirts. HOW ABOUT AN FD IN WINTER?



As the FCC
recently granted amateurs five channels in the HF (60 meter) band: 5332,
5348, 5368, 5373, and 5405 kHz
every time I check them, remain unused.

ok, so you aren't checking them at the right time. they are used, though
lightly since many radios need modifications, lots of people don't have
antennas for them, and the channelized requirements are rather odd so lots
of people aren't really interested in them... especially since there are
no
operating events, contests, awards, or other reason to be there if you
aren't interested in propagation exploration.

A citation from the ARRL's Petition for Rule Making to the FCC
concluded, in part, "An Amateur Allocation in this band (60 meters)
would
improve the Amateur Service's already exemplary record of providing
emergency

yeah, yeah, what else did you expect them to say? thats probably
boilerplate they put on every memo they send to washington or gettysburg.

Yea... that's why I provided the cite


Additionally, its odd about the amateur service that proclaims itself to
be
devoted to emergency service but dropped its distress frequencies.
Until

this might be nice to have, but then again there are so many frequencies
claimed by so many different nets and organizations that finding some
place
to do this would be a real pain. then it would end up being a constant
battle between those who want to keep it clear and those who want to use
any
clear frequency they can find. emergency frequencies are easily
proclaimed
for short periods by the fcc and as seen in recent hurricane operations
they
are relatively well respected world wide and very well utilized.

yea... a screwed up mess---amateur radio. If I needed to pass distress I'd
go military/commercial instead of trying to convince a bunch of knob
twisters that I am legit traffic.


out why the ARRL dropped them. Its beyon my comprehension that a
communications service, world wide in extent, that doesn't assign
frequencies,

the arrl is not a communications service. they are a membership body, if
the members aren't interested it won't get done. world wide allocation of
frequencies would have to be done via the iaru and then would only have
the
force of a recommendation on each of the member countries since each one
has
its own regulatory body like the fcc who may or maynot add the force of
law
to such recommendations.

yea... how many decades of proclaimed emergency service---CFR Title 47,
Part 97 Amateur Radio Service


transceiver so I could access the, FCC authorized, 5167.5 kHz amateur
service Alaskan Emergency Frequency. It was only through the force of
my

i thought you were in florida? anyway, mods for most radios can be found
easily on-line these days. and for radios like the ft-1000mp its just a
matter of pressing a few secret button combinations and you can transmit
anywhere, right out of the box you could receive anywhere anyway so you
could monitor those frequencies.


yea... besides hobby lobby radio I worked global communications for numerous
military/commercial telecommunications circuits at locations thoughout the
world. Yea... no internet back then, picked up new rig and headed
overseas---needed info not BS.


Although the amateur service has
played a significant role in handling emergency communications in the
past,
the changing face of technology has relegated the amateur service to
a position of little consequence---possibility, with better leadership,
the amateur service can regain its former stature.

then why are they now recruiting for relief operators to go in to the
katrina and rita areas to continue operating with fema and other agencies?
if we were of so little use why do they still want our help? and
apparently
will want it for a while yet in just that area??

yea... last I heard FEMA was phasing them out and besides, what took the
ARRL so long to respond (many comments). Furthermore, what was the state of
affairs of comms in NO---hams said practically everything was down.




I sincerely think, that with the devastation of Charley, Frances and
Jeanne
last year, and Katrina this year, the ARRL really needs to get off their
ass
and come up with a serious emergency communications plan.

have you talked to your section emergency coordinator recently, that is
the
starting place? he/she should be able to provide you with the local
plans
and links to training courses and all the other stuff you want to know.

I'm trying to raise and interest outside of 'normal' channels---SEC's
haven't shown any initiative---can't get out of their wheelchairs.


Isn't this a poor way of responding to a post? Thanks Dave for your
comments though.

"TOM" wrote in message
...

Dave wrote in message
news

"TOM" wrote in message
...
I thought I might share a couple of observations I've made regarding the
Amateur Service; the situation in other locations may differ.

Based upon my adventures last year in Florida when we got pounded by
three
hurricanes I was interested in finding out the utility of my Ham two
meter
transceiver by taking advantage of Field Day (simulated emergency test)
in
June. I raised a collinear with an advertised gain of 7 dB to thirty
feet
and powered my transceiver with a deep cycle battery. Operating on the
'National Simplex Calling Frequency' 146.52 MHz with 75 watts output
power
I

ok, so you don't know about the modern field day. today field day is not
about emergency communications, its a time to get out in the woods, drink
some beers, tell war stories, and maybe make some contacts... since vhf
isn't a place to make lots of contacts most field day operations are on
hf.

yea... your are right---poor leadership and vision. The simulated
emergency
is not a simulated emergency test but more of a sales opportunity for
ARRL
pins and tee-shirts. HOW ABOUT AN FD IN WINTER?



As the FCC
recently granted amateurs five channels in the HF (60 meter) band:
5332,
5348, 5368, 5373, and 5405 kHz
every time I check them, remain unused.

ok, so you aren't checking them at the right time. they are used, though
lightly since many radios need modifications, lots of people don't have
antennas for them, and the channelized requirements are rather odd so
lots
of people aren't really interested in them... especially since there are
no
operating events, contests, awards, or other reason to be there if you
aren't interested in propagation exploration.

A citation from the ARRL's Petition for Rule Making to the FCC
concluded, in part, "An Amateur Allocation in this band (60 meters)
would
improve the Amateur Service's already exemplary record of providing
emergency

yeah, yeah, what else did you expect them to say? thats probably
boilerplate they put on every memo they send to washington or gettysburg.

Yea... that's why I provided the cite


Additionally, its odd about the amateur service that proclaims itself
to
be
devoted to emergency service but dropped its distress frequencies.
Until

this might be nice to have, but then again there are so many frequencies
claimed by so many different nets and organizations that finding some
place
to do this would be a real pain. then it would end up being a constant
battle between those who want to keep it clear and those who want to use
any
clear frequency they can find. emergency frequencies are easily
proclaimed
for short periods by the fcc and as seen in recent hurricane operations
they
are relatively well respected world wide and very well utilized.

yea... a screwed up mess---amateur radio. If I needed to pass distress
I'd
go military/commercial instead of trying to convince a bunch of knob
twisters that I am legit traffic.


out why the ARRL dropped them. Its beyon my comprehension that a
communications service, world wide in extent, that doesn't assign
frequencies,

the arrl is not a communications service. they are a membership body, if
the members aren't interested it won't get done. world wide allocation
of
frequencies would have to be done via the iaru and then would only have
the
force of a recommendation on each of the member countries since each one
has
its own regulatory body like the fcc who may or maynot add the force of
law
to such recommendations.

yea... how many decades of proclaimed emergency service---CFR Title 47,
Part 97 Amateur Radio Service


transceiver so I could access the, FCC authorized, 5167.5 kHz amateur
service Alaskan Emergency Frequency. It was only through the force of
my

i thought you were in florida? anyway, mods for most radios can be found
easily on-line these days. and for radios like the ft-1000mp its just a
matter of pressing a few secret button combinations and you can transmit
anywhere, right out of the box you could receive anywhere anyway so you
could monitor those frequencies.


yea... besides hobby lobby radio I worked global communications for
numerous
military/commercial telecommunications circuits at locations thoughout the
world. Yea... no internet back then, picked up new rig and headed
overseas---needed info not BS.


Although the amateur service has
played a significant role in handling emergency communications in the
past,
the changing face of technology has relegated the amateur service to
a position of little consequence---possibility, with better leadership,
the amateur service can regain its former stature.

then why are they now recruiting for relief operators to go in to the
katrina and rita areas to continue operating with fema and other
agencies?
if we were of so little use why do they still want our help? and
apparently
will want it for a while yet in just that area??

yea... last I heard FEMA was phasing them out and besides, what took the
ARRL so long to respond (many comments). Furthermore, what was the state
of
affairs of comms in NO---hams said practically everything was down.




I sincerely think, that with the devastation of Charley, Frances and
Jeanne
last year, and Katrina this year, the ARRL really needs to get off
their
ass
and come up with a serious emergency communications plan.

have you talked to your section emergency coordinator recently, that is
the
starting place? he/she should be able to provide you with the local
plans
and links to training courses and all the other stuff you want to know.

I'm trying to raise and interest outside of 'normal' channels---SEC's
haven't shown any initiative---can't get out of their wheelchairs.

there is nothing outside of 'normal' channels. and about all you are going
to get for posting those comments in here are 2 things... more 'amen'
messages from arm chair complainers like you, or 'get bent' messages from
others. like it or not the arrl is as close are you are going to get to a
nationwide organization that could do anything about what you are
complaining about. if your sec can't do the job, then find their boss and
convince them that you can do a better job... don't think their boss works,
then try to take their job. you obviously have the experience, so get in
there and do it.



Isn't this a poor way of responding to a post? Thanks Dave for your
comments though.

which other response would you like... a hollow 'amen' that does nothing, or
a nasty 'get bent' that just stirs the pot with the same result?

On Sat, 01 Oct 2005 18:20:03 +0000, TOM wrote:

I thought I might share a couple of observations I've made regarding the
Amateur Service; the situation in other locations may differ.

Based upon my adventures last year in Florida when we got pounded by three
hurricanes I was interested in finding out the utility of my Ham two meter
transceiver by taking advantage of Field Day (simulated emergency test) in
June. I raised a collinear with an advertised gain of 7 dB to thirty feet
and powered my transceiver with a deep cycle battery. Operating on the
'National Simplex Calling Frequency' 146.52 MHz with 75 watts output power I
attempted to find out how many stations I could contact and the extent of my
operating range during the test. From my numerous calls I was able to
contact NO ONE! Not one person responded to my Field Day calls throughout
the day and I heard NO ONE calling Field Day! Not one Ham could I find
operating Field Day on the two meter National Simplex Calling Frequency!

Well FM on 2, 6 or 10m is not used for Field Day, I don't know why but its
not,

However if you had gone to 2M SSB you would of had better luck.
In North Texas we usually work just over 100 stations on 2 quite a few more on 6m.
In fact 6m was open most of field day and we worked most of the USA that
day.

Over all the years going to field day I can only remember working 1
station on 146.52 on field day and that was a accident as we were using it
as a local calling channel and happened to hear another Field Day group
doing the same thing some 300 miles away.


--
Korbin Dallas
The name was changed to protect the guilty.

Korbin Dallas wrote in message
news
On Sat, 01 Oct 2005 18:20:03 +0000, TOM wrote:

I thought I might share a couple of observations I've made regarding the
Amateur Service; the situation in other locations may differ.

Based upon my adventures last year in Florida when we got pounded by
three
hurricanes I was interested in finding out the utility of my Ham two
meter
transceiver by taking advantage of Field Day (simulated emergency test)
in
June. I raised a collinear with an advertised gain of 7 dB to thirty
feet
and powered my transceiver with a deep cycle battery. Operating on the
'National Simplex Calling Frequency' 146.52 MHz with 75 watts output
power I
attempted to find out how many stations I could contact and the extent
of my
operating range during the test. From my numerous calls I was able to
contact NO ONE! Not one person responded to my Field Day calls
throughout
the day and I heard NO ONE calling Field Day! Not one Ham could I find
operating Field Day on the two meter National Simplex Calling Frequency!

Well FM on 2, 6 or 10m is not used for Field Day, I don't know why but its
not,

However if you had gone to 2M SSB you would of had better luck.
In North Texas we usually work just over 100 stations on 2 quite a few
more on 6m.
In fact 6m was open most of field day and we worked most of the USA that
day.

Over all the years going to field day I can only remember working 1
station on 146.52 on field day and that was a accident as we were using it
as a local calling channel and happened to hear another Field Day group
doing the same thing some 300 miles away.


--
Korbin Dallas
The name was changed to protect the guilty.

Howdy Korbin:

Back decades ago it was not uncommon to operate FD on 2 meters---only
simplex exchanges are allowed (we let the novice operators use the club
call). Of course, back in the 1970's and 80's there was much more 2 meter
activity than now.

I couldn't think of a better frequency that the 'National Simplex Calling
Frequency' to make my FD calls on. As you suggest, 2 meter SSB might have
proven better but I was interested in common FM (base/portable/mobile)
operation.

From the ARRL website:

[snip]
Field Day 2005 Rules

2. Object: To work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands
(excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12-meter bands) and in doing so to learn to
operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. A premium is
placed on developing skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness
as well as to acquaint the general public with the capabilities of Amateur
Radio.
[snip]

"Korbin Dallas" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 01 Oct 2005 18:20:03 +0000, TOM wrote:

I thought I might share a couple of observations I've made regarding the
Amateur Service; the situation in other locations may differ.

Based upon my adventures last year in Florida when we got pounded by
three
hurricanes I was interested in finding out the utility of my Ham two
meter
transceiver by taking advantage of Field Day (simulated emergency test)
in
June. I raised a collinear with an advertised gain of 7 dB to thirty
feet
and powered my transceiver with a deep cycle battery. Operating on the
'National Simplex Calling Frequency' 146.52 MHz with 75 watts output
power I
attempted to find out how many stations I could contact and the extent of
my
operating range during the test. From my numerous calls I was able to
contact NO ONE! Not one person responded to my Field Day calls
throughout
the day and I heard NO ONE calling Field Day! Not one Ham could I find
operating Field Day on the two meter National Simplex Calling Frequency!

Well FM on 2, 6 or 10m is not used for Field Day, I don't know why but its
not,


FM is not good for long distance or weak signal work most of the time. SSB
and CW beat it hands down.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Korbin Dallas wrote:
On Sat, 01 Oct 2005 18:20:03 +0000, TOM wrote:

I thought I might share a couple of observations I've made regarding the
Amateur Service; the situation in other locations may differ.

Based upon my adventures last year in Florida when we got pounded by three
hurricanes I was interested in finding out the utility of my Ham two meter
transceiver by taking advantage of Field Day (simulated emergency test) in
June. I raised a collinear with an advertised gain of 7 dB to thirty feet
and powered my transceiver with a deep cycle battery. Operating on the
'National Simplex Calling Frequency' 146.52 MHz with 75 watts output power I
attempted to find out how many stations I could contact and the extent of my
operating range during the test. From my numerous calls I was able to
contact NO ONE! Not one person responded to my Field Day calls throughout
the day and I heard NO ONE calling Field Day! Not one Ham could I find
operating Field Day on the two meter National Simplex Calling Frequency!

Well FM on 2, 6 or 10m is not used for Field Day, I don't know why but its
not,

not entirely accurate given the properties of it isn't very prodcutive
however at any great range

but using them and the number of FM units out there

they should be tried more than they are, if Field Day is realy any
kind of emergancy drill, indeed the club here I was the first person in
years to 6m SSB let alone any FM work

Korbin posted:

"Well FM on 2, 6 or 10m is not used for Field Day, I don't know why but
its
not."

First, likely I missed in in the original post, but I don't recall him
mentioning the use of FM modulation. In every field day and emergency
preparedness I have ever participated in, a.m was the accepted
standard.

Second, the use of a 75-watt transmitter with a collinear raised
30-feet above the ground on field day? Evidently TOM doesn't grasp the
spirit of the event which combines with the fact that he isn't a very
experienced ham operator. Then too, the ham community has eroded
considerably since these exercises were devised. In fact, a competent
ham should have been nearly able to work multiple states with the rig
he has described.

Anybody left alive here that remembers the 2M Gooney Box, the rig that
was the standard for ham emergency communication for more years than I
personally care to remember? Its final was a 2E26; Its antenna was
typically a quarter-wave stub (a piece of stiff wire poked into the UHF
connector on the top of its box or an antenna consisting of a half-wave
piece of tv twin line. Its output was anywhere from 5-watts to 10-watts
run into that improvised antenna. When battery powered on field day,
the output of the rig was arguably between 3 and 5-watts.

Still on field day exercises conducted in preparation for an emergency,
even the low power rigs with a minimal antenna could garnish at least
50 contact on field day, but this was during the 1970s. Ham radio has
seriously declined since that time. This is why I ceased to renew my
K2JEZ General Class license around 1982.

Read into my above comments what ever you want.

Harry C.

On 1 Oct 2005 19:05:09 -0700, wrote:

Korbin posted:

"Well FM on 2, 6 or 10m is not used for Field Day, I don't know why but
its
not."

First, likely I missed in in the original post, but I don't recall him
mentioning the use of FM modulation.

He talked about 146.52 simplex which might as well be mentioning FM.

In every field day and emergency preparedness I have ever participated
in, a.m was the accepted standard.

It's been decades since you've participated, then, because FM pretty
much took over the 2M band in the '70s. There's still a lot of weak
signal work--SSB and CW, but AM? It can hardly be found. And it hasn't
been the accepted standard since the '60s, maybe.

Second, the use of a 75-watt transmitter with a collinear raised
30-feet above the ground on field day?

What are you talking about? Neither of those parameters sound at all
out of line at FD. For VHF you definitely want the antenna as high as
possible. The only thing wrong with the 75 watts is the power required
to make it run. 25 watts would be more than enough.

Evidently TOM doesn't grasp the spirit of the event which combines
with the fact that he isn't a very experienced ham operator.

Apparently neither are you.

Then too, the ham community has eroded considerably since these
exercises were devised. In fact, a competent ham should have been
nearly able to work multiple states with the rig he has described.

I rest my case. With no enhancement, there are a lot of places where
you'd be hard pressed to work out of state with the setup you think is
too much. South Florida would certainly be one of them.

Anybody left alive here that remembers the 2M Gooney Box, the rig that
was the standard for ham emergency communication for more years than I
personally care to remember?

There were probably more Twoers than Gonsets in the '60s. Yes, I
remember.

Its final was a 2E26; Its antenna was
typically a quarter-wave stub (a piece of stiff wire poked into the UHF
connector on the top of its box or an antenna consisting of a half-wave
piece of tv twin line. Its output was anywhere from 5-watts to 10-watts
run into that improvised antenna. When battery powered on field day,
the output of the rig was arguably between 3 and 5-watts.

And you're saying you were able to work multiple states with that
without enhancement?

Still on field day exercises conducted in preparation for an emergency,
even the low power rigs with a minimal antenna could garnish at least
50 contact on field day, but this was during the 1970s. Ham radio has
seriously declined since that time. This is why I ceased to renew my
K2JEZ General Class license around 1982.

K2, huh? New York City? That explains why you were able to work
"multiple states." You have, what, six of them within 100 miles? Try
that in any state west of the Appalachins.

Read into my above comments what ever you want.

Whiny old timer, out of touch with reality, loss of memory of old time
ham radio, ****ed because of Incentive Licensing, lets other people
determine his enjoyment of a hobby, still hanging around the amateur
radio newsgroups despite being unlicensed for nearly a quarter
century.

Yeah, what a credible story.

--
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997