Richfield Amateur Radio Club

Important discussion…

How To Coordinate With Your Two-Way Radios For Major Events. An Opinion Article.

Recently, our group worked at three very large annual public events.

What was very obvious right from the start, was that no one gave a thought about coordinating two-way radio communications. Yep, not one thought.

Here are some of the problems that were encountered:

1) All different radio types where the owner had no clue how to operate it other than to; turn the power switch on and to use the push-to-talk button.

Remedy – Learn your radio! Don’t expect others to show you how to operate your own radio while out in the field during the actual event. It’s time consuming and a major waste of other people’s time. Learn your own radio.

2) All different radio bands being used at the event. Example; Amateur 2 Meters, Amateur 440 MHz, Commercial VHF Hi-Band and Commercial UHF.

Remedy – Bring at least two radios to the event. One for VHF Hi-Band (140 MHz – 170 MHz) and One for UHF (400 MHz – 470 MHz. If you have a dual band radio, all the better. This way you are flexible depending on what band the event is using for communications. Also; know the radio frequencies being used before hand at the event.

3) Radios that weren’t field programmable. Example, Motorola and other commercial radios.

Remedy – If your going to show up at an event with radios that aren’t keyboard programmable or are commercial radios, then carry a small computer or have some way to program them out in the field. Don’t expect other agencies or personnel to configure their radios to your now ‘brick radio’. Can’t configure your radio out in the field, then leave it home as it’s worthless during a major event.

4) Radios that were field programmable, but the operators have No Clue How To Program Them Without The Use Of A Computer.

Remedy – You should know how to program your radio without the use of a computer. Read the radio manual and practice programming out in the field without the use of the manual.

5) People yacking on their radios way too much, as though they wanted to hear themselves talk.

Remedy – No single transmission should last more than 10-15 seconds in length. Leave 4-5 second pauses between each transmission. If your transmitting more than 10-15 times during a 1 hour period, your talking way too much. Stay off the radio unless it’s absolutely necessary.

6) Incident Command. Some using it, some not.

Not enough personnel to effectively use it correctly. Something to be said for just using Plain English Communications.

Remedy – Get everyone on the same page. Either use Incident Command Structure or Don’t. Get everyone your working with on the same page and don’t have two different communications structures going at the same time.

7) Some people having loads and loads of certifications but never actually putting them to the test out in the field by actually using that knowledge during a major event. This was a huge problem…

Remedy – Train/Work with other groups out in the field as much as you can. Use what you know and have been taught with that certification you received. Book work means nothing unless you actually use it.

8) People having radio knowledge but no medical knowledge and visa-versa, but being located in a First Aid Tent.

Remedy – Be of more value. >>> Cross Train to do multiple jobs if possible, as your more valuable that way to other agencies and organizations.

9) Some using repeaters and others using simplex.

Remedy – Unless absolutely necessary, use simplex. You don’t need the entire world listening in to your communications at the event. It just invites hackers and jammers to cause problems with your radio communications. If the event activity is being held within a square mile, use simplex. If you need to get a hold of someone further away, then switch to a repeater temporarily to communicate with them or the dispatcher who is off-site from the event. ONLY use a repeater during a wide coverage event including multiple cities or involving long distances between two-way radio units.

On the bright side.

** Luckily, we carried enough extra radios to lend to the other agencies and operators so that everyone could communicate on the same frequencies and bands. But, this creates another problem if the radios get damaged or walk-away after the event. It can get expensive to replace radios.

It all comes back to the operator and ‘their’ responsibility to have good operating radio equipment, well charged radio batteries, knowledge of their radios, how it works and how to program them. Most of all, ‘common sense’ and ‘plain english language, no codes’ when communicating on those radios during an event.

Just my opinion from working hundreds of general public events and working with public safety organizations at events.

Dan W0EIB.

Corrections, Additions, or Comments all appreciated.

We all learn from sharing what we know 🙂

Sub Notes by Don KC0TJ..

This definitely bothers me to see these challenges on an event day. As Pres & a member of RARC I have made a pledge to help all members to learn radio basics & radio programming every meeting & during most activities. This article is from a dear friend of mine and his personal experiences. I wish that all members of RARC set some time to ask me or other members to be more prepared for the what ifs events and activities. Our experiences will make the hobby grow by being involved in drills, events, and by asking questions to our members and Elmer’s. This is also is why Sept 19th RARC’S net is an “All call Net” to be more prepared and be better then the article above. We also support club events like Field Day, GOTA, and 4th Wednesday events to help practice and share our craft. Again, this is why we are a club is to help other groups and events with our hobby.

Last note.. This article has nothing related to any of our members at Dan’s events, but is to encourage our members to get involved by learning from others.

73 KC0TJ Don

Monthly RARC Club Meeting August 21st, 2019

Please join us for the Wednesday, August 21st, 2019 meeting at the Richfield Community Center, 7000 Nicollet Ave S, Richfield, MN 55423 at 7:00 p.m.

There will be a presentation on digital modes such as DMR, DSTAR and mesh node.

Paul KE0QXV

RARC Secretary

RARC June Meeting notes

6-19-2019 Richfield Amateur Radio Club monthly meeting.

Called to order at 1910.

Don talked about logging software for Field Day 2019, N1MM+.

May meeting notes accepted at 1920.

Old business, 4th Wednesday informal gathering at Perkins on 494 and France Avenue. All are welcome, it is an informal gathering, we just ask you order a menu item.

If you are interested in running the Thursday night RARC net, please send an email to the club and we’ll connect you with the person in charge. It’s easy and fun. More information is on the website.

Prepper minute: Test your equipment monthly.

New business: Entering a vehicle in the 2019 City of Richfield Independence Day parade. The officers of the club will be unable to participate this year, but if anyone has the resources to enter a float in this years parade to publicize the club, let us know.

We are looking for interest in hands on soldering and kit assembly as club activity. If you would like more information, please send an email to the club.

Field Day Chairs. Jeff, activity director, Brian, refreshments.

Meeting adjourned at 2010.

Respectfully submitted

Paul KE0QXV

Secretary RARC

Wednesday, June 19th RARC meeting at the Richfield Community Center.

The Monthly RARC meeting 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 19th at 7000 Nicollet Avenue South, 55423. Agenda will include preparation for the 2019 Field Day. Louis will be taking orders for his BBQ dinners, $15 per person. Field Day will take place from noon Saturday, June 22nd through midday Sunday, June 23rd. Set up will begin at 9:00 a.m. The public is invited to visit the lower level of the community center from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. So invite your friends and family.  Also, if time permits, we will discuss interest in hand soldering practice and projects, day and time that will work for everyone.

Notes from May 15th, 2019 Richfield Ameteur Radio Club.

Meeting called to order at 1915.

The May GOTA event will not be held this month so we can focus on preperation for the June 2019 field day, which will be held on June 22nd into June 23rd at the Richfield Community Center at 7000 Nicolette avenue south, Richfield, MN 55423. More details to follow. Instead, the Richfield Historical Society will be performing property improvements on Saturday, May 25th 2019, 9:00 a.m., at 6901 Lyndale avenue south, Richfield, MN 55423. Carpentry skills and tools will be useful to build a boardwalk on the property. www.richfieldhistory.org

We have an informal gathering at Perkins restaurant on 494 and France avenue south in Bloomington, MN at about 7 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month. All are welcome to join us.

A weekly net is held on the W0RRC UHF repeater on every Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. The repeater details are linked from the home page. All licensed radio operators are welcome to join in.

To all members: Please take time to take the radio club survey to help us serve the club better.

Motion to close, seconded and approved at 1957.

Respectfully submitted

Paul KE0QXV,

RARC secretary

May 15th meeting

TO All,

Our monthly meeting is this Wednesday, Topics are “NET Training” This will have role playing examples of many variations of nets and being interactive. Our goal is to have fun and know the different types of nets (formal (closed, or All Calls), informal (Normal Nets, or Gaming Nets), & Round Tables (Tech Nets, informational, or Discussion Nets). We will cover terms, the how to’s, & Q&A’s. We hope everyone feels comfortable to help us with our weekly nets by the end. 

2nd Part… Is a brief look at the Field Day event. We need a (Go To Person) or a (Go To Group). Field Day in briefest summary is… The biggest ham event that happens annually. This year is on June 22-23 weekend that is a Get-On-The-Air Event in a 24 hour period and is open to all. We only charge people if they want a rib dinner made by one of our members for his expenses. We do many side activities including non-alcoholic refreshments and snacks donated by members. Most of our event is already setup.
*** WE ASK ALL HAMS TO JOIN A FD LOCATION! ***    

12/97 members have finished our club’s survey This is not tracking any emails. We are trying to improve RARC by using this survey. We will be closing this survey Wednesday before the meeting. We are going to review the greatresponses at the meeting. CLICK HERE! 
May 22nd @ 7pm… 4th Wednesday is our Informal Gathering having 12 chairs set together at Perkins (494 & France Ave.) The 1st person arrives needs to make the setup. We ask everyone orders a menu item. Perkins doesn’t have any advance reservations, but will setup for 12 people anytime. Please use RARC “Rock!” when reserving a space so people can find us!Family’s are welcome, Next month we might change locations.
May 25th… Get-On-The-Air needs a new location, or change to June 1st, but we will need someone to take lead.

Finally remember every club meeting we will try to revisita Basic Ham Radio related topic that we might have forgotten or was not in the test, Help with your Radio Programming Questions, and an Emergency Preparedness minute.

I will see you soon, 
Don Pres KC0TJ

Nets every Thurs @ 6:30pm 444.475+ PL Tone 118.8

Formal Meetings every 3rd Wed of the month from 7-9pm (7000 Nicollet Ave S)

Informal Gathering every 4th Wed starting at 7pm at a restaurant (Must buy a menu item.)

RARC’s Calendar  This is a realtime calendar all members should join
RARC’s Reflector All members should join

RARC’s & BARA’s Free Study Group License Exam Study Group (Needs a new Chair) 

RichfieldRadio.com Our website

facebook.com/w0rrc/ Like us on FB

w0rrc.rarc@gmail.com Our club email

Post April meeting & events

TO All,

A couple updates & events…

Our Bylaws & Constitution was passed and will be updated to the web soon.

Still need more people to take our survey nets dates might change based on 6 members responses.

Richfield Historical Society still needs help with spring clean-up & boardwalk building April 27 starting at 9am. (6901 Lyndale Ave.) Please call 612-968-8074. (The Historical Society hosts our 1st permanent club station.)

We will meet at Perkins (4201 W 78th St, Bloomington) April 24th 7pm for a very informal gathering for all. We will setup for 12 people to sit together. We ask people to order a food or a drink item, & RARC will not be paying for anyone’s orders. We have no advance reservations, but ask for “RARC (Rock)” when entering to find us.

MAY 15th next meeting… “Net Training and Pre-Field Day planning.” We need a Chairperson or Co-chairs for FD…

Next “Get On The Air Event” will be on May 25th 10am – 2pm… (Unknown Location)

Finally Happy Easter,
Don KC0TJ

4-17-2019 Meeting Change

We are sorry… but APRS will be rescheduled per things beyond our control. we will be still voting on the club Bylaws & Constitution. However We will be help you Program Your Chi-Com Radios.

PLEASE BRING YOUR CHINESE PROBLEM RADIO!!!

Bylaws & Constitution proposed changes

Constitution

Bylaws