Tag Archives: Amateur Radio

Amateur Radio Saves Family in Death Valley National Park

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Death Valley National Park is in a remote desert in southern California, where mobile phone networks are spotty at best. On Saturday, April 6, a radio amateur and his family were enjoying the park when their vehicle became stuck in mud in a dangerous area. Without access to a cell network, the ham called for help on the 10-meter band.

According to a news release from the Black Swamp Amateur Radio Club, Caleb Gustwiller, KD8TGB, jumped into action.

Gustwiller was monitoring from Ohio when he picked up the distress call. He was able to hear the call sign and the general location of the ham in distress. He lost the signal to the noise, so he wrote a post in the Parks on the Air® Facebook group asking for other hams to listen for the calls.

Several hams contacted emergency officials in southern California, which led to the ham and their family being rescued within a few hours by park rangers. The club stated in their Facebook post: “Without Caleb hearing this distress call, it could have quickly become a very deadly situation for the operator and his family.”

2023 SET Exercise to Test Skills and Emergency Preparedness for Amateur radio

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The SET is ARRL’s annual national emergency exercise designed to assess the skills and preparedness of Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) volunteers, as well as those affiliated with other organizations involved in emergency and disaster responses. The SET is open to all radio amateurs and partner organizations, in addition to national, state, and local officials. Besides ARES volunteers, those active in the National Traffic System (NTS), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), National Weather Service’s SKYWARN® Storm Spotter program, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and a variety of other allied groups and public service-oriented radio amateurs are needed to fulfill important roles in this nationwide exercise.

During the exercise, volunteers can assess equipment, modes, and skills under simulated emergency conditions and scenarios. Individuals can use the time to update a go-kit for use during deployments and to ensure their home station’s operational capability during an emergency or disaster.

SET guidelines can be found here. To get involved, contact your local ARRL Emergency Coordinator or Net Manager.

Annual Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Test Set for May 7 – 8

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NATIONAL — The US Department of Defense will host this year’s Armed Forces Day (AFD) Cross-Band Test, Friday and Saturday, May 7-8, in recognition
of Armed Forces Day on May 15. The event is open to all radio amateurs. For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have taken part in this exercise, designed to include amateur radio and government radio operators alike.

The AFD Cross-Band Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communications between military and amateur radio stations, as authorized under FCC Part 97 rules. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly controlled exercise in which military stations will transmit on selected military frequencies and will announce the specific amateur radio frequencies being monitored.

The schedule of military/government stations taking part in the Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Test and information on the AFD message is available on the MARS website at, http://www.dodmars.org/home/armed-forces-day-2021.

KA6LMS – Special Radio Event

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The Last Man Standing Amateur Radio Club is joining with a team of seasoned special-event operators across several states to present a multi-band, multi-mode special event celebrating the prime-time network TV show for its positive and accurate portrayal of amateur radio. During its nine seasons, the Last Man Standing ARC also operated as KA6LMS from real radios on the set during production breaks, making thousands of contacts with the show’s amateur radio fans.

The special-event team includes the Long Island, N.Y. – based Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club, the 12 Days of Christmas and the K2Heroes teams, and a number of guest operators and podcasters.

KA6LMS and a number of affiliated stations will livestream their operations. At times, the Amateur Logic team will pick up video feeds from active stations to provide commentary and context.

The event will start at 00:00 UTC on March 24, 2021 and end at 23:59 UTC on March 30, 2021, the last day of shooting for the show, which is concluding its long, successful run.

The event will feature guest operators with special 1-by-1 call signs in most call sign areas. The 1×1 calls will act as Bonus Stations qualifying contacts to be able to download a “Clean Sweep” certificate. The KA6LMS call will also be used with a /(Call Area) attached to give access around the country.

The intent is to operate on as many bands and modes as possible. Satellite and repeater operation is also encouraged. We want to thank the PAPA Repeater system and Georgia DSTAR. We’ll be running on REF012A DSTAR and a DMR TalkGroup via PAPA and REF030B via Georgia DSTAR.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions, operations from the set will be limited to crewmembers at times the stage is otherwise empty. Operations will always be spotted online.

Route 66 On-The-Air again

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Route 66 is on the air.

FLAGSTAFF — Once again the amateur radio operators along Route 66 take to the air waves for the annual Route 66 On-The-Air event. Amateur radio operators, also known as “Hams,” will try to make contacts with other amateur operators from around the world. The event runs from 5 p.m. this Friday, September 11 until 3 p.m. Sunday, September 20 MST.

Glen Davis, KG7YDJ, on the air in Bellemont in 2019.

Amateur radio operators conduct contests and events throughout the year to test equipment by trying to make as many contacts as possible in a specified amount of time. Operators who make contact with all of the Route 66 stations can receive a “QSL” card from each. When they are put together, they make a map of Route 66.

Ron Gerlack and Andrew Gissel WA7DPS work Route 66 On-The-Air in Bellemont last year.

Some of the stations are stationary at the homes of various amateur radio operators and some are rovers that go to different places along Route 66. In the Flagstaff area, Ron Gerlack KG7OH of the Northern Arizona DX Association—the amateur radio club that works the event—takes the Coconino Amateur Radio Club trailer with various amateur radio equipment to various locations along Route 66. The call sign for this roaming station is W6T.

In the past, Ron has set up at Williams, Bellemont, the Grand Canyon Caverns, Twin Arrows, Seligman and a number of other places. This year he plans to set up at Bellemont, again, and along the “S” curve in Parks, Arizona.

At Twin Arrows in 2018.

What is this Amateur Radio?

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Glen Davis, KG7YDJ

An amateur radio operator, Yvette Cendes, KB3HTS. Wikipedia photo

You might have heard of Amateur—or “Ham”—radio, but do not really know what it is about. You may be familiar with Citizens Band, or CB, radio and have seen it in movies. Perhaps you purchased those bubble packs of walkie-talkies off of the shelves at Walmart. These are nothing compared to amateur radio. This article will attempt to explain the differences between these radio services and how you can obtain a license.

We should explain where you can find the rules about the radio services, first. The radio services and radios mentioned above are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. The regulations are found in the Code of Federal Regulations. You can simply search for 47 C.F.R. and you will find all of the FCC regulations. Part 97 of those regulations cover Amateur Radio and Part 95 of those regulations cover CB and other radio services. “In the business,” we simply refer to Part 95 or Part 97.

We will start with a brief explanation of Part 95. The regulations for Citizens Band, General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and Family Radio Service (FRS) are covered in Part 95. There is another little used radio called Multi-Service Radio Service (MURS). CB, FRS and MURS are “licensed by rule.” That means that you can use these services without getting a “hard copy” license from the FCC. If you break the rules in Part 95, however, the FCC can track you down and fine you and order you to stop using them.

You are required to get a license from the FCC to use the GMRS frequencies. Even if you have those walkie-talkies you purchased from Walmart a few years ago. On some of those radio they combined FRS and GMRS channels. To use the GMRS channels, you are required to get a license. The reason is that GMRS uses more power than the other services and can use some features found in amateur radio. A ten-year license costs $75. Only the head of the household needs to obtain the license and all family members can use the same call sign assigned by the FCC.

The difference between the aforementioned radio services and amateur radio is power. Amateur radio uses more power and a broader spectrum of frequencies. You are not allowed to modify Part 95 radios discussed above. In amateur radio, however, you can modify radios for special uses and even build your own radio.

Amateur radios can be used to control radio controlled planes, robots, cars, boats or whatever. Although you cannot use the full power of amateur radio for this purpose, you can use more power than the controllers that come with normal models you put together giving you longer range.

Amateur radio can be used with the Internet to allow you to connect to different locations around the world. With the appropriate license, you can use amateur radio frequencies and power to contact people direct. You can also use radio frequencies and equipment to send and receive digital messages and send emails. You can use a simple handy talkie (HT)—what amateurs call walkie-talkies—to talk through satellites.

Amateur radio operators set up a trailer in Flagstaff to continue emergency communications as the Museum Fire threatened communication facilities on Mt. Elden.

There is more to amateur radio, but on a more practical level all of these radio services can be used in an emergency. In fact, anyone can use any radio service to call for help to prevent “…the immediate loss of life or property.” Amateur radio is used at the Emergency Operation Center in Flagstaff. At the beginning of the Tinder Fire in 2018, cell phones were useless. An amateur radio operator sent evacuation notices from the scene to the Emergency Operation Center in Flagstaff.

There are three-levels of amateur radio licenses. From lowest to highest they are Technician, General and Amateur Extra. You are NOT required to learn Morse code for any of the licenses. Most people are happy with a Technician license because you can do a lot even though you are limited in frequency privileges. The General license gives you access to most of the frequencies available in the amateur radio portion of the spectrum. The Amateur Extra is much harder to obtain and gives you just a few more frequency privileges over the General.

We should point out that you are not allowed to use any of the radio services if you have a felony conviction on your record. If you get your rights restored, however (which is not difficult to do), you can obtain a license. It might take a little longer.

Another thing about amateur radio is you are NOT required to join any club or participate in emergency communication programs, such as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, to use the radio. Once you are licensed, you can use the frequencies appropriate to your license level. It is intended, first and foremost, as a fun hobby.

For more information you can consult the following web sites:
Amateur Radio Relay League
Bill Williams Mountain Radio Club
Coconino Amateur Radio Club

Flagstaff and Lowell Observatory to celebrate 50th Anniversary of the Lunar Landing

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FLAGSTAFF – On July 20, 1960, a small module—called the Eagle—separated from the Command Module of Apollo 11 to set the first men on the moon. Long before that historic event, astronauts trained around Flagstaff including Meteor Crater approximately 37-miles east of Flagstaff. The City of Flagstaff and Lowell Observatory is celebrating their participation in the event with a year long event known as Lunar Legacy.

The Northern Arizona DX Association (NADXA) is an amateur radio group that will participate in the Lunar Legacy event by having four special events through out the year at places where the astronauts trained; Lowell Observatory, Sunset Crater, Meteor Crater and the Grand Canyon.

The NADXA will be setting up radio equipment to make contact with amateur radio operators around the world to promote the event. Amateur radio operators often set up special events to promote historic events or places. They participate each year in an event celebrating Route 66, known as Route 66 On The Air sponsored by the Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club

The operation begins with a special event this Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m. near the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

To find the event, drive north on highway 89 to Forest Road 776 about 7-miles north of Flagstaff. Look for the OHV cinder hills area sign. Turn right off N89 and drive 3 to 4-miles. On Saturday, the NADXA will post yellow paper signs showing “Special radio event-Lunar Legacy” with arrows on FR 776 starting about 3 miles off of N89.

Go to flagstaffarizona.org to find out more about the Lunar Legacy event.

Winter Field Day in Williams hailed a Success.

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The Coconino Amateur Radio Club and Bill Williams Mountain Radio Club set up for Winter Field Day in the Visitor Center parking lot.

WILLIAMS – Every year on the last full weekend in June, the amateur radio community conducts an operation called Field Day to practice setting up emergency operations and introduce people to amateur radio. The summer exercise is conducted by the Amateur Radio Relay League. Another group of amateurs felt it was just as important to be able to set up in winter conditions. They formed the Winter Field Day Association and held the first Winter Field Day January 13 and 14 in 2007.

On Saturday January 26 and Sunday January 27, the Coconino Amateur Radio Club (CARC) and Bill Williams Mountain Radio Club (BWMRC) combined talents to conduct the first Winter Field Day in Coconino County. Williams was selected as the location and it was set up in the Williams Visitor Center parking lot.

“Thanks to the City of Williams, our first Winter Field Day was a success,” said Glen Davis KG7YDJ. “It was a short notice operation and they worked with us to get this thing going.”

Jacob Miller KI7WNS, who organized the event said, “Thank you all for a great Winter field day. Over 200 contacts were made and we couldn’t have done it without your help and support setting up, maintaining that generator, and breaking down. ”

“We definitely learned a number of lessons from this winter field day and look forward to more winter field days for years to come,” he added.

Joe Hobart W7LUX shoots a fishing line over a lamp post to raise one end of the antenna used for the operation.

A high frequency antenna is strung from one lamp post to another across the parking lot. This antenna allows operators to make contacts across the country.

During these Field Day exercises, amateur radio operators set up amateur radios and try to make as many contacts as possible through all of the frequency ranges that amateur radio, or Ham, operators are allowed to use. During actual emergencies, amateurs have the capability and latitude to operate outside of their normal frequencies. For example, transmitting on general mobile radio serive (GMRS) frequencies with an amateur radio is illegal during normal conditions. In an emergency situation where there is a possibility of loss of life or property, however, anyone is allowed to use any frequency to summon and respond to a summons for help.

Volunteers from CARC and BWMRC set up the CARC emergency trailer for the Winter Field Day. The trailer is set up to perform several modes of communication.

Amateur radio emergency communications has existed almost since amateur radio began in the early 1900s. During the cold war, the Federal Communications Commission developed the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) to respond with emergency communications in the event of a nuclear engagement. RACES required special licenses and training and only responded to nuclear war. The Amateur Relay Relay League established the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES Pronounced air-ease) to respond to all emergency situations. The special license requirement for RACES has been dropped over time and their role has expanded. ARES and RACES groups now work together toward the same goal.

Coconino ARES members provide emergency communications in a variety of situations. They provide emergency communications for different events, such as the Lion’s Club Route 66 Labor Day run in Williams and the 100 mile Stagecoach race from Flagstaff to Tusayan. At the beginning of the Blueridge Fire, cell communications were unavailable. Amateur radio was used to communicate with the Emergency Operations Center in Flagstaff to relay evacuation notices which was credited with saving lives.

The next ARRL Summer Field Day will be held June 22-23, 2019.

Volunteers from CARC and BWMRC set up the CARC emergency trailer for the Winter Field Day. The trailer is set up to perform several modes of communication.

Joe tests the radios during the set up phase of the Winter Field Day.

Morgan Conklin KI7WTS and Jacob Miller KI7WNS start making contacts for Winter Field Day.

Amateur radio satellite Fox-1D (AO-92) now commissioned

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AMSAT Vice President-Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, has
declared that Fox-1D (AO-92) is now open for general Amateur Radio use. That word followed an announcement from AMSAT Vice President-Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, that AO-92 had been commissioned and formally turned over to AMSAT Operations.

Initially, the U/v FM transponder will be open continuously for 1-week. After that, operation will be shared among the U/v FM transponder, L-Band Downshifter, Virginia Tech Camera, and the University of Iowa’s High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument (HERCI).

AO-92 was launched from India on January 12. For the past 2 weeks, the AMSAT Engineering and Operations teams have been testing the various modes and experiments on board. Testing has shown that both the U/v FM transponder and L-Band Downshifter are working well. The Virginia Tech camera has returned photos of Earth and data from HERCI has been successfully downlinked.

AMSAT thanked the 178 stations around the world that used FoxTelem to collect telemetry and experiment data from AO-92 during the commissioning process.

AMSAT News Service, AMSAT-BB, AMSAT’s Twitter account (@AMSAT), the
AMSAT-NA Facebook group, and the AMSAT website will report any updates.

Amateur radio operators prepare to activate Amateur Radio Emergency Service

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FLAGSTAFF – The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES – Pronounced air-ease) is a component of the Amateur Radio Relay League. They activate in times of natural or man-made disaster. ARES in Flagstaff is operated by the Coconino Amateur Radio Club. There has recently been a move to create a group in Williams.

ARES was not activated during the recent Christmas eve storm, but may be activated by Coconino County Emergency Management Friday and Saturday in preparation for what may occur during the upcoming storm.

SKYWARN weather spotters are also encouraged to report snow fall amounts and unusual weather conditions. SKYWARN is sponsored by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). You can also monitor the NOAA weather frequencies available on most FRS/GMRS radios. You can learn more about SKYWARN at their web site.

ARES operators in Flagstaff and Williams will monitor the ARES repeater located on Mount Elden in Flagstaff. Williams operators will also be monitoring the repeater located on Bill Williams Mountain operated by the Bill Williams Mountain Radio Club for emergency traffic. GMRS channel 22 will also be monitored for emergency traffic. Unless you have a GMRS license, you may only use channels 15-22 of FRS/GMRS multi-use radios to call for help to prevent loss of life or property according to FCC regulations.

There are no provisions currently in place to monitor citizens band Channel 9.

The Bill Williams Mountain repeater operates on Frequency 146.780, tone of 91.5 with a standard negative offset of 600 hertz. The ARES repeater operates on 146.980, tone of 162.2 with a standard negative offset. In Williams, operators have agreed on the frequency of 146.940 for SIMPLEX communications. The cooperation of amateur operators in keeping these free for emergency traffic if ARES activates is appreciated.

The operators attempting to form an emergency communications group has a Facebook page for more information.