An introduction
Jun 14, 2022
Welcome to the first day of this blog. I hope you enjoy it, and learn something from it.
Traditionally, Amateur Radio Operators are a part of a large and long-time group of “Preppers” and “Survivalists”, though this is not a phrase we use for ourselves, and there are perhaps a few of us who would not like the term being applied to our community.
However, the Amateur radio operator has literally been around since the very first days of radio communications, as soon as the “common person” discovered they could build and send signals to others around the world.
Amateurs (also called Hams) have been helping since the beginning of time – or at least the beginning of time for us, which is around the late 1800s. Our history is long, and storied. Hams were pressed into service in WWI and WWII as the professional communications persons they truly are.
Over the years, this author has been involved in Emergency Communications for large fires in Colorado, and Skywarn programs to assist the National Weather Service in observation of storm systems they couldn’t observe with radar due to terrain constraints in the mountainous regions of the Western States. Storm spotting by Hams is a very important aspect of public safety.
Hams go to events such as bike and car races, marathons for runners and other sporting events to assist Emergency medical crews, police, and fire personnel in safety matters.
Our training is such that many (not all) hams can usually collect and pass official Heath and Welfare, as well as emergency message traffic on voice, Morse Code, Packet Radio (a form of digital communications) as well as other modes of operation on many different frequencies.
One of our mottos is “When all else fails, Amateur Radio!” – and we are there during disasters, emergencies, and public events to help.
The Amateur Radio Service (and it is a Service) is there to assist.
This makes us, by default, “Preppers”.
Not all of us are Preppers in the way some of you might be, but most are prepared with everything from first aid, to training in some aspect of first aid, we can direct radio traffic to the right people to get help, and we have been there for things like floods to rescue people. Training of most Hams does NOT include rescue, but some are.
The Amateur Radio Operator is, most importantly, a person who can get or find information from sources most can’t. And they can communicate your needs via radio, when phones aren’t available, or other resources can not be found.
This blog is here to assist you in becoming an Amateur, or at the very least, learning about radio theory, about prepping and communications.
I’ll introduce a few concepts soon for the public to read. Give me a little time to collect my thoughts and get it down in a format that is easy for you to grasp.
This substack account was created at the behest of others, so that I might pass along knowledge. I’m not here to make money, or get you to buy products, I’m here to give you information, and knowledge.
(On the same order I have written a couple of books which can be found on Amazon, but I’m not here to advertise them, but I’ll certainly give you links if you request them.)
Until the next message,
73
Rick, N0NJY
