Hattiesburg Amateur Radio Club 2008 Field Day

[brianinms]

The Hattiesburg Amateur Radio Club will be having their 2008 Field Day on June 28th and 29th in front of Wesley Medical Center. They will be located around the pavilion in the walking park section of the hospital grounds.

During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio – often called “Ham radio” - was often the ONLY way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer “hams” traveled south to save lives and property. When trouble is brewing, ham radio people are often the first to provide critical information and communications. On the weekend of June 28-29, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with these ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, hams from across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.

This annual event, called "Field Day" is the climax of the week long "Amateur Radio Week" sponsored by the ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and back yards around the country. Their slogan, "When all else fails…”is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 34,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event.

"We hope that people will come and see for themselves, this is not your grandfather's radio anymore," said Allen Pitts of the ARRL. "The communications networks that ham radio people can quickly create have saved many lives in the past months when other systems failed or were overloaded.”

[brianinms]

YouTube - Amateur radio today

[drake]

I've always been interested in amateur radio, but never got involved for some reason. Guess I didn't know where to start.

[dollfus46]

The Hattiesburg Amateur Radio Club will be having their 2008 Field Day on June 28th and 29th in front of Wesley Medical Center. They will be located around the pavilion in the walking park section of the hospital grounds.

During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio – often called “Ham radio” - was often the ONLY way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer “hams” traveled south to save lives and property. When trouble is brewing, ham radio people are often the first to provide critical information and communications. On the weekend of June 28-29, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with these ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, hams from across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.

This annual event, called "Field Day" is the climax of the week long "Amateur Radio Week" sponsored by the ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and back yards around the country. Their slogan, "When all else fails…”is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 34,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event.

"We hope that people will come and see for themselves, this is not your grandfather's radio anymore," said Allen Pitts of the ARRL. "The communications networks that ham radio people can quickly create have saved many lives in the past months when other systems failed or were overloaded.”
Do the amateur radio clubs down there have nicer members than the Pr**K-heads up here? I'd like to get involved if you all are.

[brianinms]

I've always been interested in amateur radio, but never got involved for some reason. Guess I didn't know where to start.

The easiest way to start is to buy this book [1] and then you pay 14 dollars to take the written exam that is offered once a month here in Hattiesburg. Upon passing the exam you will be issued a license in 7-10 days from the FCC. You are more then welcome to come visit during the Field day activities and get all your questions answered.

1.Amazon.com: Technician Class: Gordon West: Books

[brianinms]

Do the amateur radio clubs down there have nicer members than the Pr**K-heads up here? I'd like to get involved if you all are.

Yes, the vast majority of the guys in the Hattiesburg club and as well as the Lamar County Club are very inviting as well as helpful. They have allowed me to borrow equipment so I could get started, and provided assistance when I was preparing for my tests. Additionally I have made new friends that even assist me with matters outside of amateur radio.

[dollfus46]

Yes, the vast majority of the guys in the Hattiesburg club and as well as the Lamar County Club are very inviting as well as helpful. They have allowed me to borrow equipment so I could get started, and provided assistance when I was preparing for my tests. Additionally I have made new friends that even assist me with matters outside of amateur radio.
That's what I was hoping to do up here, but it's apparently a closed shop. Several in the area. All are snots, as if I learned something then I'd know as much as they do and their ego's couldn't handle that.:smt009

[brianinms]

That's what I was hoping to do up here, but it's apparently a closed shop. Several in the area. All are snots, as if I learned something then I'd know as much as they do and their ego's couldn't handle that.:smt009

There are a few different clubs up there around Greenville. Perhaps you can check with these others and see if they are more inviting.

Name: BLUE RIDGE ARS INC (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/detail.html?master_id=0004000766)
Specialties: General Interest, Repeater, Digital Modes, Public Service/Emergency Comms, VHF/UHF
Call sign: W4NYK
Services: Help for newcomers, Entry-level classes, Other
Address: PO BOX 6751
GREENVILLE, SC 29606-6751
Contact: JOHN R KIRKPATRICK, AJ4RK
Web: http://www.brars.org (http://www.brars.org/)


Name: LAURENS AR (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/detail.html?master_id=0007102503)
Specialties: General Interest, Contest, DX, Repeater, Digital Modes, School/Youth, Public Service/Emergency Comms, VHF/UHF
Call sign: K4LSC
Services: Help for newcomers, Entry-level classes, Higher-level classes, Other
Address: GLEN SCOTT
341 COLONIAL ACRES RD
LAURENS, SC 29360-6017
Contact: MELVIN W DEITZ, KE4ZWF
Phone: (864) 682-4633 (D) (864) 684-2956 (N)
Web: http://www.dsmlabs.com/k4lsc
E-mail: k4lsc@aol.com



(k4lsc@aol.com)
Name: GREER AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/detail.html?master_id=1000127938)
Specialties: General Interest, Contest, DX, Repeater, Digital Modes, Public Service/Emergency Comms, VHF/UHF
Call sign: W4IQQ
Services: Help for newcomers, Other
Address: 948 FARGO ST
MAULDIN, SC 29662-1845
Contact: CHARLES E GRAYDON, WA4PKL
Phone: (864) 963-9160 (D)
Web: http://greerarc.org (http://greerarc.org/)
E-mail: wa4pkl@charter.net



Name: SPARTANBURG ARC, INC. (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/detail.html?master_id=0004000830)
Specialties: General Interest, Contest, Repeater, School/Youth, Public Service/Emergency Comms, VHF/UHF
Call sign: K4JLA
Services: Help for newcomers, Entry-level classes, Other
Address: 104 GARNER RD.
SPARTANBURG, SC 29303
Contact: ARTHUR C PATTERSON III, KE4EAN
Phone: (864) 474-3444 (D) (864) 474-3444 (N)
Web: http://www.teleplex.net/sparc
E-mail: ke4ean@bellsouth.net

[StormyRadio]

Ok here's a weird question in the same arena I think. We will be utilizing ham radio ops in our stormwatch plan here in radio-land, but the question came up about CB radios. Will they work if we have another Katrina situation? Is there an active group of CB radio enthusiasts around the PIne Belt or did we all fade away with the sideburns and bellbottoms? LOL- I know.. lots of questions- but some of us were wondering if it's an investment to make.

[brianinms]

Ok here's a weird question in the same arena I think. We will be utilizing ham radio ops in our stormwatch plan here in radio-land, but the question came up about CB radios. Will they work if we have another Katrina situation? Is there an active group of CB radio enthusiasts around the PIne Belt or did we all fade away with the sideburns and bellbottoms? LOL- I know.. lots of questions- but some of us were wondering if it's an investment to make.

Not really, as with Chicken Band err um I mean Citizen Band radio your choice of power, antenna, and propagation are extremely limited. Thus you would be talking to someone in your immediate area area which wouldn't be very productive in a post hurricane environment.

Additionally before, during and after an event such as a hurricane a amateur radio operator will be stationed at the EOC in the event emergency communications are needed. The Hattiesburg area already has a Skywarn net that runs on the 145.370 repeater during severe weather and provides ground truth information to NWS.

After a hurricane you will find amateur radio operators at ...
Red Cross Shelters
Forrest and Lamar County EOCs
Wesley
Forrest General

In the event that the county radio systems fail, amateurs will be positioned at fire stations and provide call dispatch as needed.

[StormyRadio]

Not really, as with Chicken Band err um I mean Citizen Band radio your choice of power, antenna, and propagation are extremely limited. Thus you would be talking to someone in your immediate area area which wouldn't be very productive in a post hurricane environment.

Additionally before, during and after an event such as a hurricane a amateur radio operator will be stationed at the EOC in the event emergency communications are needed. The Hattiesburg area already has a Skywarn net that runs on the 145.370 repeater during severe weather and provides ground truth information to NWS.

After a hurricane you will find amateur radio operators at ...
Red Cross Shelters
Forrest and Lamar County EOCs
Wesley
Forrest General

In the event that the county radio systems fail, amateurs will be positioned at fire stations and provide call dispatch as needed.

We will also have more than one stationed here at our stations, as we did after Katrina. Plenty of food and sleeping bags around and it was very helpful to have them working with our engineers and thei 2-ways. Thanks for letting me know about the CB's. I really just wanted one for the fun of it- haha!

[brianinms]

We will also have more than one stationed here at our stations, as we did after Katrina. Plenty of food and sleeping bags around and it was very helpful to have them working with our engineers and thei 2-ways. Thanks for letting me know about the CB's. I really just wanted one for the fun of it- haha!


Don't get me wrong, they were useful to communicate with truck drivers that were bringing in emergency supplies, but other then that they had limited purpose. I didn't work in any logistic capacity, thus I didn't need one. :)

If you are interested in true emergency communications then I would recommend both 2m and HF, but I am sure you already knew that. :smt023

[StormyRadio]

Don't get me wrong, they were useful to communicate with truck drivers that were bringing in emergency supplies, but other then that they had limited purpose. I didn't work in any logistic capacity, thus I didn't need one. :)

If you are interested in true emergency communications then I would recommend both 2m and HF, but I am sure you already knew that. :smt023

Thanks so much for the info. I really don't even have to have a radio since I will either be stuck on the air or in the corner of the basement at the eoc- LOL.

[brianinms]

Just a reminder that this event is this weekend.

Additionally this week is Amateur Radio Week in MS.

http://www.arrlmiss.org/GovProc2008.pdf

[brianinms]

Just an update on this past weekends activities.

Although we had to deal with less than optimal operating conditions this weekend due to the weather, I am glad to report fun was had by all those who attended. It was a true test of operating under less than ideal conditions and provided for some exciting moments.