Marshall ARC

For Immediate Release
For additional information contact:
Kelly G. Spencer
President, Marshall Amateur Radio Club
903-930-1985
kd5s@arrl.net
“Radio Hams” From Marshall Join In National Deployment
Public Demo of Emergency Communications June 27 – 28
Marshall, Texas (6/21/09) – Marshall’s “hams” will join with thousands of Amateur Radio operators who will be
showing off their emergency capabilities this weekend. Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham
radio operators providing critical communications during unexpected emergencies in towns across America
including the California wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and other events worldwide. 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, Amateur Radio’s people are
often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communications. On the weekend of June 27 – 28, the
public will have a chance to meet and talk with Marshall’s 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 backyards around the country. Their slogan,
“When All Else Fails, Ham Radio Works” 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 30,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year’s event.
“We hope that people will come and see for themselves, this is amateur radio in the 21st century,” said John
Wheeler, KC5AV, Marshall Amateur Radio Club’s Field Day Coordinator. “The communications that ham
radio operators can quickly create have saved many lives when other systems failed or were overloaded. And
besides that– it’s fun!”
In the Marshall area, the Marshall Amateur Radio Club (MARC) will be demonstrating Amateur Radio at the
Marshall Center for Applied Technology (2660 S. East End Blvd.) on June 27-28 beginning at 1:00 p.m. on
Saturday. They invite the public to come and see ham radio’s new capabilities and learn how to get their own
FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes.
There are over 650,000 Amateur Radio licensees in the US, and more than 2.5 million around the world.
Through the ARRL’s Amateur Radio Emergency Services program, ham volunteers provide emergency
communications for thousands of state and local emergency response agencies, all for free.
To learn more about Amateur Radio, go to www.emergency-radio.org or www.marclub.net. The public is most
cordially invited to come, meet and talk with the hams. See what modern Amateur Radio can do. They can
even help you get on the air!

On Friday, March 20, President Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate Democrat FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein to serve as Administrator for the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), of the United States Department of Agriculture; the nomination will need to be confirmed by the US Senate. It is speculated that Adelstein will not leave the five-member Commission until at least one of the three Commissioner vacancies is filled, since his departure would leave the FCC without a quorum.

According to his FCC biography, Adelstein, a “a life-long public servant…has dedicated his career to fighting for the public interest. As a Commissioner, his approach is guided by the key principle that the public interest means securing access to communications for everyone, including those the market may leave behind. Adelstein is a particularly strong advocate for media diversity and localism, and works diligently to encourage increased voices on the airwaves to support a well-informed citizenry. He has worked to promote access to telecommunications and media outlets by minorities, rural and low-income consumers, people with disabilities, and non-English speakers.” As RUS Administrator, Adelstein would be responsible for distributing $2.5 billion in broadband stimulus grants.

Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps congratulated Adelstein, saying he will “bring a depth of knowledge, experience and commitment to the job that will enable him to make a huge contribution to advancing the well-being of rural America. He knows the issues and challenges inside-out and will be able to hit the ground running, which is exactly what’s needed since RUS has been given such extraordinary responsibilities by the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Simply put, Jonathan’s years at the FCC have been dedicated to advancing the public interest across the wide gamut of telecommunications and media issues. He’s been a true leader, an eloquent spokesman, and a delight to work with. I look forward to continuing to work with him on the issues we both believe in and to continuing the friendship that we and our families share.”

Commissioner Robert McDowell — who, along with Copps and Adelstein, currently serve as FCC Commissioners — said in a statement that the “RUS will benefit greatly from [Adelstein's] leadership and decades of experience in public service. Although I will miss having Jonathan as a colleague on the Commission, I wish him the best as he transitions into this new opportunity. I am confident that rural America will be well served by his commitment to service.”

Before joining the Commission in 2002, Adelstein served for 15 years as a staff member in the US Senate. For his final seven years, he was a senior legislative aide to then Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), where he advised Senator Daschle on telecommunications, financial services, transportation and other key issues. Previously, he served as Professional Staff Member to Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman David Pryor (D-AR), including an assignment as a special liaison to Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and as a Legislative Assistant to then-Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (D-MI). Prior to his service in the Senate, Adelstein was a Teaching Fellow in the Department of History, Harvard University, while studying at the Kennedy School of Government. Adelstein also was a Teaching Assistant in the Department of History, Stanford University where he received an MA in History and a BA with Distinction in Political Science. He also served as a Communications Consultant to the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

In December 2007, Gary Mitchell, WB6YRU, President of the Northern California Packet Association (NCPA), filed a Petition with the FCC, asking for the Commission to clarify the definition of a repeater. According to Part 97, Section 3(a)(39), A repeater in the amateur service is “[a]n amateur station that simultaneously retransmits the transmission of another amateur station on a different channel or channels.”

Mitchell sought clarification on the word “simultaneously,” asking if it referred to the signal information being retransmitted, or to the fact that the receiver and transmitter must both be active at the same time while acting on the same signal information. On March 23, 2009, the Commission clarified that even if there is a slight delay between what is received and what it transmits (as in the case of D-STAR and other digital repeaters), it is considered simultaneous if the receiver and transmitter are both active at the same time.

Mitchell pointed out in his petition that while the Commission’s Rules specify on which bands amateur repeaters may operate, “some amateur repeaters are operating on bands other than set forth in Section 97.205(b) with systems that are essentially voice repeater stations, but that digitize and retransmit the user’s voice, on the theory that because there is a small delay in retransmitting the signal of another amateur station, the signal is not ’simultaneously’ retransmitted and, therefore, the system is not a repeater.”

In its reply, the Commission pointed out that prior to 1994, a repeater was defined as “[a]n amateur station that automatically retransmits the signals of other stations.” This, the Commission told Mitchell, was revised to clarify “that certain accommodations for message forwarding systems do not apply to other operating activities such as repeaters and auxiliary stations.” The Commission proposed to define a repeater as “[a]n amateur station that instantaneously retransmits the transmission of another amateur station on a different channel or channels,” but ultimately replaced “instantaneously” with “simultaneously” because commenters noted that there is always a small propagation delay through a repeater. As one commenter explained, “The word ’simultaneously’ in this case means that the repeater is receiving and transmitting concurrently, whereas each signal might be slightly displaced in time between receive and transmit.”

To be able to repeat another station’s transmission, the Commission said that a repeater “must be able to receive a transmission from another station and retransmit it. Because the word ’simultaneously’ in the definition is used to modify ‘retransmit,’ we believe it refers to a repeater station’s transmitter being active when retransmitting the signal received by the repeater station’s receiver from another amateur station. We conclude, therefore, that ’simultaneously’ as used in the definition of a repeater refers to the receiver and transmitter both being active at the same time.”

From ARRL.org

The term of FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, a Republican from Tennessee, came to an end on January 3 as the 111th Congress convened for the first time. Originally selected by President Bush to fill the unexpired term of then-Chairman Michael Powell, Tate joined the Commission in 2005. In June 2007, Bush announced his intention to nominate Tate to a full five year term, but when the Senate failed to confirm her nomination by the close of the 110th Congress, Tate’s tenure as a Commissioner came to a close.

“My term as a commissioner is at an end,” Tate said, “and I would like to express what a great privilege and honor it has been to serve our country and the Federal Communications Commission over the past three years. I am grateful to President Bush for his appointment and for his confidence in my ability to make important decisions on behalf of the American people.”

Tate said that she plans on advocating for children and families both in this country and abroad. She said she will also dedicate herself “to protecting our stories and storytellers, and to opposing the economic and moral harm of piracy.” She also plans on launching a formal mediation practice “that will utilize the skills I have practiced daily at the Commission to develop resolution, consensus and collaboration in the communications sector and beyond.”

Chairman Kevin Martin thanked Tate for her service to the Commission, saying her “good nature and distinct personality” will be missed. “Based on her experience as an effective state commissioner,” Martin said, “Commissioner Tate demonstrated strong leadership during her tenure as Chair of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, and the Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations. As Chair, she led the effort to address [these two] critical components of the telecommunications framework set forth by Congress. Commissioner Tate embraced the difficult task of trying to reach consensus between federal and state members on these very technical and complex issues.”

Tate thanked the Commission’s professional staff, calling them “the finest, most honorable group of civil servants in our government. They are viewed as the ‘gold standard’ by our international colleagues and I appreciate their dedication, integrity and commitment. All Americans should be proud of their work.”

From ARRL.org

Six members of the February 2009 KP5 Desecheo DXpedition team met in Puerto Rico the week of December 17-21. According to team co-leader Bob Allphin, K4UEE, the team visited US Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in Boqueron and met with the Chief Refuge Manager and law enforcement personnel in preparation for the DXpedition, set to start February 12.

Desecheo currently sits at number 7 on DX Magazine’s Most Wanted list; the island is the second most-wanted DXCC entity in Asia and third most-wanted in Europe. Desecheo is a small uninhabited island in the Mona Passage, 14 miles off the western coast of Puerto Rico. It is part of the USFWS’s national wildlife refuge system administered by the Caribbean National Wildlife Refuge Complex (CNWR).

“After an evening with local DXers and members of the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League for dinner and a night of fellowship, DXpedition team members underwent UXO (unexploded ordnance) training,” Allphin said. “On December 19, we accompanied US Fish and Wildlife law enforcement and UXO personnel to Desecheo Island. In the three hours we were there, the campsite and antenna fields were thoroughly swept for UXO and several areas were found suspicious. These areas were clearly marked, mapped by GPS and declared off limits for the DXpedition.”

Allphin said that the USFWS will allow antennas on the ridge above the helicopter pad, providing a clear shot to Europe, North America and Japan. Other antennas will be located on the beach below the helicopter pad. While on Desecheo, the team conducted a test for the 2 meter link to Puerto Rico.

“Logistics and staging of equipment is ongoing and will be complete before the team arrives in Puerto Rico on February 7.” Allphin said. “The team will transit to Desecheo on February 12 to begin the two week operation. Eight HF stations, plus 6 meters, will be operational. We have planned an incredible array of antennas. Transportation and logistics have been arranged for a fast deployment and quick appearance on the air. As soon as we land on Desecheo, two stations will be immediately activated. Stations will continue to operate until the final moments of departure on February 26.”

Allphin told the ARRL that stepping onto Desecheo for the first time “was a dream come true. After working on this project for so many years — to actually be there and with the blessing of the USFWS — was truly emotional for me. The recon trip to the island was absolutely invaluable: We were able to see exactly what terrain issues we were faced with and be able to design the antenna types and locations to maximize our signals into the target areas. The amateurs in Erope and Asia will be pleased with our signals. The cooperation of the USFWS has been extremely cooperative and helpful.”

Per USFWS rules, only 15 operators will be allowed on the island at one time. “We have arranged with USFWS to allow a shift change about half way through the DXpedition,” Allphin told the ARRL. “This has allowed a number of hams on our waiting list an opportunity to participate in this DXpedition.”

DXpedition co-leader Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, said the team will be running CW, SSB and RTTY on 160-6 meters. “We’ve had tremendous support from DX organizations all over the world and from numerous equipment and antenna manufacturers,” he told the ARRL. “We are diligently working on the propagation studies to reach our hard-to-work areas of Asia and Europe. This plus our planned antennas, we should knock Desecheo off of the Most Wanted List for a long time to come.”

From the ARRL:  On Monday, October 20, the ARRL filed a Petition for Modification or Cancellation of Experimental Authorization (Petition) with the FCC with respect to WE2XRH. According to the FCC, this experimental license — issued to Digital Aurora Radio Technologies (DART) — proposes to “test digital transmissions in 4.50-5.10 MHz, 7.10-7.60 MHz and 9.25-9.95 MHz for a terrestrial digital radio service to the citizens of Alaska.”

The League’s Petition states that DART’s hopes that this experimentation “will lead to a terrestrial, high-frequency (HF) digital aural (domestic broadcast) service in Alaska. Ostensibly to study the operation of this ’shortwave’ system at high latitudes, and apparently in order to roll out this domestic broadcast service, DART specifies exceptionally high power operation in various segments of the HF spectrum. ARRL’s interest in this matter is limited to the fact that the experimental license includes the band 7.1 -7.3 MHz…allocated domestically exclusively to the Amateur Radio Service.”

“It is astonishing that the FCC would grant this experimental license for operation at such a high power level in a band that is allocated exclusively to a service with which such operation is clearly incompatible,” said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. “The only possible explanation is that it was an error; the only reasonable step for the FCC to take is to correct its error immediately, either by cancelling the license or by amending the frequency ranges to delete 7.1 -7.3 MHz.”

It is the ARRL’s view that “Simply stated, there is a 100 percent certainty of severe, continuous, harmful interference from operation of the DART facilities as authorized by the Commission to ongoing Amateur Radio operation at 7.1 to 7.3 MHz. This authorization must be modified immediately (if not cancelled completely), so as to delete the band 7.1-7.3 MHz” from DART’s experimental license application.

The ARRL ascertains that DART has been permitted operation in the 7.1-7.6 MHz band using a 20 kHz bandwidth digital emission at a transmitter output power of 100 kW and an ERP of 660 kW within a radius of 1500 kilometers of Delta Junction, Alaska. In the Petition, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, points out that while DART says it will coordinate with the High Frequency Coordination Conference (HFCC), “[i]t does not propose any coordination with any individual or entity in the Amateur Service. There is no showing whatsoever how DART proposes to avoid interference to Amateur Radio operation at 7.1-7.3 MHz. In fact, there is no indication that DART is even aware of the allocation.”

Calling the 40 meter band “perhaps the most heavily-utilized Amateur HF band in the United States,” the ARRL states that it can see “no compatible use that DART can make of this band in any state or territory of the United States, at any time of the day or night” and will cause “preclusive interference” to amateurs using that portion of the band. “The entire 7.0 – 7.3 MHz band is used heavily within Alaska, especially by radio amateurs located in its remotest areas, at all times. It is particularly critical in times of emergency due to its daytime and nighttime propagation characteristics. The band is also used at all times of the day and night for worldwide communications by radio amateurs.”

The League’s Petition points out that the FCC’s Rules at Section 5.83(b) state that experimental license grants are subject to change or cancellation by the Commission at any time without hearing if in the Commission’s discretion the need for such action arises: “ARRL submits that this application should never have been granted as applied for in the first place, and there is an urgent need to prohibit operation of the DART high power transmitters in the entirety of the 7.1-7.3 MHz band. It is likely that DART has been under a misapprehension that the band is among the international broadcast allocations, because, in ITU Regions 1 and 3, the band is allocated to that Service. However, in Region 2, in Alaska, it is not.” After March 29, 2009, 7.1-7.2 MHz will not be available for broadcasting anywhere.

The League goes on to say that Section 5.85 of the Commission’s Rules governs the selection and use of frequencies by holders of experimental authorizations and adamantly states that “there is no justification submitted by DART for the use of the frequency bands requested, particularly with respect to 7.1-7.3 MHz. It is unclear why such large segments of spectrum were specified by DART, given its stated course of experimentation, and given its narrow occupied bandwidth” and notes that DART “should have been required to conduct its frequency coordination efforts in advance of the filing of its application.”

The ARRL contends that DART’s proposed facility cannot meet the FCC’s requirements, as outlined in the Commission’s Rules, Section 5.111(a)(2), “and there is no showing that the transmitter power is the lowest practical value consistent with the program of experimentation. Nor has it even taken Amateur Radio operation into account.” This portion of the Rules state that when transmitting, the experimental licensee “must use every precaution to ensure that the radio frequency energy emitted will not cause harmful interference to the services carried on by stations operating in accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations of part 2 of this chapter and, further, that the power radiated is reduced to the lowest practical value consistent with the program of experimentation for which the station authorization is granted. If harmful interference to an established radio service develops, the licensee shall cease transmissions and such transmissions shall not be resumed until it is certain that harmful interference will not be caused.”

Calling for DART’s WE2XRH experimental license to “be cancelled entirely, or at least modified so as to delete the reference to any Amateur HF allocation,” the ARRL reminded the FCC that DART failed to make any showing as to how it would avoid interference to Amateur radio operation at 7.1-7.3 MHz: “ARRL submits that such a showing could not be made in any case.”

When Scouts want to meet young people from another country, they usually think of attending a quadrennial World Jamboree. But each year, more than 400,000 Scouts and Guides “get together” over the airwaves for the annual Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA). This year, JOTA celebrates its 51st anniversary. JOTA follows a 48 hour schedule beginning at 0000 local time on Saturday, October 18, continuing through 2400 local time on Sunday, October 19.

JOTA is an annual event where Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides from all over the world speak to each other by means of Amateur Radio. Since the first Jamboree-on-the-Air was held in 1958, millions of Scouts have met each other through this event. Many contacts made during JOTA have resulted in pen pals and links between Scout troops that have lasted many years. With no restrictions on age or on the number of participants, JOTA allows Scouts to contact each other via ham radio. Many Scouts and leaders hold licenses and have their own stations, but the most participate in JOTA through stations operated by local radio clubs and individual radio amateurs.

There are many resources available on the ARRL’s JOTA Web site for Scouts to use as they prepare for JOTA. Scout leaders can also access the ARRL’s Scouting Web pages that list resources to help teach the Radio Merit Badge, conduct a foxhunt, build an antenna or provide other activities to explore the excitement of Amateur Radio.

Last year, the ARRL introduced a JOTA feature that proved to be such a success that the League is bringing it back for this year’s event. The JOTA Storyboard is a place where Scouts from all over the world can post stories and pictures on how they participated in their JOTA activities. Let other Scouts read your stories and catch the excitement of Amateur Radio and Scouting.

Stations that participate in JOTA should call “CQ Jamboree,” or answer stations doing so. Any authorized frequency may be used. The World Scout Bureau recommends that stations use the agreed World Scout Frequencies:

• 80 meters — 3.690 and 3.940 MHz (SSB), 3.570 MHz (CW)
• 40 meters — 7.090 and 7.190 MHz (SSB), 7.030 MHz (CW)
• 20 meters — 14.290 MHz (SSB), 14.060 MHz (CW)
• 17 meters — 18.140 MHz (SSB), 18.080 MHz (CW)
• 15 meters — 21.360 MHz (SSB), 21.140 MHz (CW)
• 12 meters — 24.960 MHz (SSB), 24.910 MHz (CW)
• 10 meters — 28.390 MHz (SSB), 28.180 MHz (CW)
• 6 meters — 50.160 MHz (SSB), 50.160 MHz (CW)

In addition to local Scouts getting on the air for JOTA, national Scouting associations around the world fire up their rigs for the event, too. National organizations that have participated in JOTA in recent years include:

• HB9S — World Scout Bureau, Geneva Switzerland
• K2BSA — Boy Scouts of America National Office, Dallas, Texas
• JA1YSS — Boy Scouts of Nippon National Office, Tokyo, Japan
• PA6JAM — Scouting Nederland National Station, Sassenheim, Netherlands
• 5Z4KSA — The Kenya Scouts Association, Paxtu Station, Nyeri, Kenya
• VK1BP — The Scout Association of Australia National Station, Canberra, Australia
• GB2GP — The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, London, United Kingdom
• XE1ASM — Boy Scouts of Mexico
• DX1BSP — Boy Scouts of the Philippines
• TF3JAM — Scouts of Iceland

JOTA is not a contest; the idea is not to contact as many stations as possible during the weekend. Radio operators run their stations in accordance with their national licensing regulations. Check the ARRL Web site for a review of control operator rules.

All groups participating in JOTA are asked to send a report of their activities to their National JOTA Organizer (NJO) and to the ARRL JOTA Desk after the event (find the name and e-mail address of your NJO here). NJOs then forward their national JOTA reports to the World Scout Bureau for the World JOTA Report, published by the World Scout Bureau.

Although the worldwide JOTA is organized in October, Scouts can meet on the air at other times during the year. Regular Scout nets (a pre-arranged time and frequency when operators meet) are organized nationally or regionally. An updated list of these nets can always be found in the latest World JOTA Report.

AO-51 to be Used for JOTA

AMSAT-NA has announced that they are again supporting JOTA by dedicating AO-51 operation to the event. According to AMSAT Vice President for Operations Drew Glassbrenner, KO4MA, the satellite will be configured as a single channel V/U repeater. He asks that users limit QSOs to those between or involving at least one JOTA station during this weekend. The frequencies used for this weekend will be 145.880 FM uplink, and 435.300 FM downlink, no PL tone required. The mode change should occur at  around 0000 UTC on the 18th (Friday evening in the US) and run for approximately 48 hours.

JOTA DX Stations On the Air

Bernie McClenny, W3UR, of The Daily DX, reports that the following DX stations will be on the air for JOTA:

• The Tunisian Scout Amateur Association (CAST) will be on the air with the following stations on October17-19: 3V8SM (Djerba Island AF-083); 3V8CB; 3V8SQ, Monastir, and 3V8ST, Tunis. QSL via the bureau. Do not send dollars or other money.
• David Hutchinson, GI4FUM/EI4DJ, is expected to begin in Swaziland as 3DA0DJ on October 17, with activity until the October 27. He will use 3DA0SS (Swazi Scouts) during JOTA. He will be operating from a station in Hawane.
• The Yongsan US Military Garrison, HL9BSA, in South Korea, will be on from Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea during JOTA. McClenny said they will be on 10-40 meters on CW, SSB and limited satellite operations (and possibly RTTY). Both American and Korean hams plan to operate. Send QSLs via Harry Rudolph, WX8C, or direct.
• In Egypt, hams will be using special call SU8JOTA at the Cairo International Scout Centre. Activity will be on the HF bands on CW and SSB, including 160 meters and their VHF network to EchoLink. Send QSLs via Said Kamel, SU1SK.

US Boy and Girl Scouts who participate in JOTA may purchase a JOTA patch to wear on their uniforms. These patches are available from the respective Scouting organizations, not the ARRL. Information on purchasing the patches can, however, be found on the ARRL’s JOTA Web page.

From The Marshall News Messenger:  http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/063008_web_ham.html

Ham radio enthusiasts gather for 24-hour broadcasting event

Providing, in many cases, the lone link in communications during some of this nation’s most horrific catastrophes such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the massive California wildfires, amateur radio — or ham radio — operators continue to stand ready at a moment’s notice to provide what may be the only working lifeline between disaster victims and care providers.

Harrison County residents can rest assured the members of the Marshall Amateur Radio Club (MARC) stand ready and are fully trained in their role as providers of critical communication — no matter what.

Courtney Case/News Messenger (ENLARGE)

John Wheeler of Marshall checks his radio before logging the station he found during the Marshall Amateur Radio Club’s Ham Radio Field Day Saturday at the Marshall Center for Applied Technology.

MARC held their annual Ham Radio Field Day for 24 hours starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Marshall Center for Applied Technology to better prepare themselves and to educate the public.

“Our Field Day serves as a dual purpose,” MARC president Kelly Spencer said. “It is a great opportunity for the ham operators to test their capabilities and locations where they may not normally operate as well as for the public to be able to come out and see what is going on with ham radio.”

With each amateur radio being fully independent and not requiring electricity or telephone lines to transmit a signal, ham radio is almost always viable despite adverse conditions.

“One of the mottoes of ham radio is ‘When all else fails, there’s ham radio,’” Spencer said. “Ham radio serves as a great back-up utility for communication in case other forms of communication fail. Often in a natural disaster you have no cell phone service or repeater capabilities for government agencies. Ham operators can move into areas of devastation quickly and set up operations to get information flowing to the authorities as well as families of those affected across the globe.”

Local resident Don Wade, a disaster specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), dropped in Saturday afternoon to participate in the activities, having recently arrived home after working tornado recovery missions in Georgia. He outlined the vital role ham operators play in disasters and how they interact with his agency.

“Ham operators and FEMA usually partner in the first part of the disaster,” Wade said. “The ham operators talk to the local folks who are affected and relay information to the appropriate authorities, usually the Red Cross initially and then, following a presidential declaration, FEMA.”

The Ham Radio Field Day capped the weeklong Amateur Radio Week sponsored across the United States by the National Association for Amateur Radio.

More than 30,000 amateur radio operators across the country took part in the association’s radio events last year.

More than 650,000 amateur radio enthusiasts hold licenses throughout the country, and more than 2.5 million are licensed worldwide.

Other more routine functions that amateur radio operators provide are transmitting ground-level weather reports of events that are missed by Doppler radar to the National Weather Service.

“We always enjoy the opportunity to serve the public agencies and this (event) also allows us the opportunity to show the capability of amateur radio in the Marshall community,” Spencer said.

Stations active during ARRL Field Day — June 28-29 — are eligible to receive 100 bonus points for copying the special Field Day bulletin transmitted by W1AW (or K6KPH on the West Coast) according to the schedule below. You must include an accurate copy of the message in your Field Day submission. The Field Day bulletin must be copied via Amateur Radio; it will not be included in Internet bulletins sent out from Headquarters and will not be posted to Internet BBS sites.

W1AW Field Day Bulletin Schedule

W1AW will operate on the regularly published frequencies. The special PSK31 bulletin will be transmitted on the regular W1AW teleprinter frequencies.

CW frequencies: 1.8175, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675, 28.0675 and 147.555 MHz.

Teleprinter frequencies (includes PSK31): 3597.5, 7.095, 14.095, 18.1025, 21.095, 28.095 and 147.555 MHz.

Phone frequencies: 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390, 28.590 and 147.555 MHz.

K6KPH Field Day Bulletin Schedule

The Maritime Radio Historical Society’s K6KPH will transmit the 2008 W1AW Field Day message for the benefit of West Coast stations on 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975 and 21.0675 MHz, CW only. The frequencies for K6KPH Teleprinter (RTTY and FEC AMTOR) will be 7.095 and 14.095 MHz. The K6KPH schedule is accurate as of June 17, 2008.