Two-way basics 102

1

• Two-Way Radio
• Basics 102

Presented by the Saratoga Amateur Radio
Association June 5, 2010
Follow-on to the Two-Way Radio Basics class
conducted on April 10, 2010
2
Agenda

• Questions and Answers
• Answers to questions from the April 24
  Saratoga/WVC Disaster Excercise
• Cheat Sheets
• The Sunday Night Net
• CERT Communications Plan
• The Rest of the Story (Rob Vance)
• PL/CTCSS Tones
• Response to EOC Outage
• Frequencies for Contingency Operations

3
Questions Answers

• How do I know if Im getting into the K6SA
  repeater?
• There are three possibilities.
• Press and release the PTT switch
• If the repeater hasnt been used for a while, it
  will respond with a verbal message or a CW ID.
• Listen for the squelch tail and/or the courtesy
  tone.
• Ask for a communications check
• This is AE6PM for a communication check anyone
  out there?

4
Questions Answers

• How do I change the HT transmitter power level?
• The power level can usually be selected by using
  the keypad.
• The choices are usually Low/Mid/High.
• Lower power equates to longer battery life.
• See the Cheat Sheet or manual for your radio.

5
Questions Answers

• How do I tell if I am operating simplex or
  duplex?
• If you are operating simplex, you transmit and
  receive on the same frequency.
• If you are operating duplex, you transmit on one
  frequency and receive on another.
• Watch the frequency display on the HT.
• If it changes when you press PTT, you are
  operating duplex.
• If it doesnt change, you are operating simplex.

6
Questions Answers

• What happens when more than one person transmits?
• If the signals are of equal strength, youll hear
  a growling sound and not be able to understand
  either one.
• If one signal is stronger than the other, you
  will only hear the stronger signal. You will not
  hear the weaker signal at all. This is called
  the capture effect.
• (We are using FM. Its different than AM or
  SSB.)

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Questions Answers

• What can be done to improve the antenna?
• Portable
• Longer/resonant whip antenna on the HT.
• Add radials to the HT.
• Fixed or mobile
• Magnetic mount antenna for the car or countertop.
• Hanging antenna made from twinlead.
• Ed Fongs DBJ-1.
• SVECS J-Pole.

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Cheat Sheets

• A simplified and condensed set of instructions
  for configuring the HT.
• Borrow or make one for your HT.
• Many are available for downloading
• http//www.cupertinoares.org/projects/radio-cheats
  heets/index.html
• http//www/specsnet.org/Csindex.htm
• Practice with it.
• Laminate it.

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Cheat Sheets

• Use what we covered on April 10 for guidance

Parameter Duplex Simplex
Frequency Always Always
Offset Always Never
PL Tone Always Sometimes
Power Level Optional Optional
Yaesu WIRES Disable it Disable it
See http//www.scc-ares-races.org/YaesuWIRES.pdf
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The Sunday Night Net

• 146.655 MHz, negative offset, 114.8 Hz PL
• Sunday, 900 P.M.
• Check into the net whenever possible.
• Verifies communication readiness
• HT still functions.
• Battery is OK.
• Settings for using the repeater are still valid.
• You can reach the repeater from your location.
• Provides some practice using the radio.
• Keep up with local ham radio events.

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CERT Communications Plan

• The written Saratoga CERT Communications Plan
  includes the following topics

CERT Radio Communications Overview Saratoga CERT Amateur Radio Deployment
Implementation Radio Communications Equipment Initialization
Orientation and Training Communications Procedures
Notification and Activation Practice Drills
Communication Equipment Interference Mitigation
Expendables and Maintenance Spontaneous Volunteers
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The rest of the story .

• Rob Vance will address
• The why and how of the PL/CTCSS tone.
• How to respond to an EOC outage.
• Frequencies for contingency operations.