Bob Kenyon – K8LJ
1- Make sure
your radio is in top operating condition: Small problems (such as loose antenna
connections, bad microphones, intermittent operation, etc.) may be just
annoying during casual operation, but WILL cause major grief
under the continuous/severe service of net/emergency operations.
2 - Don't
operate your handheld with it clipped to your belt: Using the radio while
it's strapped to your waist reduces your effective radiated power by at least
10 dB. That's a 90% reduction in power. Hold the radio in your hand, with the
antenna in the clear.
3 - Regarding
antennas: Those 3" rubber dummy loads may be cute, but you're throwing
away 3-6 dB of power when using one. (As a math exercise, compute the % power
loss of a 3" rubber dummy load used on a belt-clip). A telescoping
half-wave has a gain of as much as 10 dB over a 3" rubber duck and a
quarter-wave provides a 4-6 dB improvement. A longer rubber duck, say 12” or
so, will boost your signal by 3-6 dB over the 3" ones. Remember that one
dB can mean the difference in whether or not a critical message gets through.
4 - Have
charged batteries and spare battery packs: If you also have a dry cell
battery case, fill it with alkaline batteries and have extras to carry you
through, even on high power should that become necessary.
5 - Use
headphones or an earphone rather than a speaker/mike: Most earphones
will plug directly into your HT. Low cost stereo headphones are widely
available and will work perfectly with your HT using a mono to stereo adapter.
The headphones also have the advantage of concentrating the audio in your ears,
while partially shutting out the outside noise. Headphones or an earphone will
also prolong battery life by allowing the radio to operate at lower audio
output. A speaker/mike is the worst thing you can use --- it doesn't cut the
outside noise, it doesn't save batteries, and where is that HT while you're
using the speaker/mike?? (Hint --- see No. 2 above). It can assist in
transmitting, however, to hold the HT above your head and in the clear.
6 - Speak
slowly and clearly when transmitting! You make take pride in your
ability to speak very rapidly, but the station on the other end may be in a
noisy environment and may not receive your message. Slow down!
7 - Check out
your ability to use simplex: Even if the operation is being conducted on a
repeater, there may be "dead spots," the repeater may go down, or,
sad to say, there may be jamming. Even if you can only work the two or three
stations closest to you, a message can still be relayed. To maximize your
simplex range, please refer back to No. 2 & 3 above.
8 - Listen to
net control and direct all communication through him/her: Identify
your station when calling net control and keep all communications direct and to
the point.
9 - If you
must leave the radio or the area to which you have been assigned: First
seek permission and acknowledgement from the net control station, make your
"time off" as short as possible, and check back in with NCS
immediately upon your return.
10 - Project a
good image to the non-hams around you that are part of the
event/emergency: This means acting professionally, dressing appropriately
for the situation, practicing good hygiene, etc.
The
above draws heavily from an article by William L. Continelli, AB2CA, which
first appeared in the ARRL Field Forum; Volume 13 Number 2; April-June 1997
Edition.