Thanks to Richard VE3OZW and Marvin VE3VCG for volunteering as Net Control Stations. That is 6 now, so that means just one time every 6 weeks. Who else wants to help out...
As a new HAM I got a lot of help, and inspiration from other HAM's. There's a lot to learn and all the experience of others is useful in figuring out how best to get on the air. Aside from interaction with members of GBARC I found a lot of really good HAM radio websites and youtube channels. One of my favorites was and is, 100 Watts and a Wire.
I really like this website because it focuses on really basic operating using simple gear. When just starting out in the hobby keeping things simple really is the best way to go. Mastering simple operations really helps when learning the essential fundamentals and how they apply to every aspect of radio. Getting well grounded (no pun intended) helps give one confidence. This site in particular is one place were getting grounded in the basics of amateur radio while having fun is actively encouraged.
Even if you've been a HAM for years, this site is a fun place to visit. However I can't recommend it highly enough for anyone who's just newly licensed. Following is a link to the site 100 Watts and A Wire
Those who missed my Zoom Community Mesh Network presentation may be confused by references to LoRa based community mesh-networks. Simply, LoRa are low powered radio devices which can be linked in a mesh-network. This devices can, using clear line of sight links communicate over long distances.
Cell phones can be paired a LoRa device and using free applications such as "Meshtastic". This application then allows text messages to be sent to the LoRa device for re-transmission to any other LoRa device within range. LoRa devices will automatically connect to near by devices in a self-discovering network and self-healing network. Self-discovery occurs each time a new LoRa device is activated within range of other LoRa devices. Self-healing happens when a LoRa device is removed from the network.
The are numerous projects community mesh-network projects under development in various place now. However I don't wish to cover those in this post. The point of this post is to share a video in which LoRa devices are used to create a very simple table top Mesh-Network. Real world application of this technology can involved solar powered LoRa devices in weather proof housings. With some imagination it is easy to imagine a number of such LoRa devices distributed across a community. Such a network would allow for real time communication in the absence of phone services, as might happen after a disruption to grid power.
In the attached video, an engineer explains the events and circumstances which brought about the near collapse of the Texas power grid in February 2021. His video presents a very clear explanation which should be useful to everyone, engineers and non-engineers alike. This is not a political video, its focus is primarily about the physical causes of grid failure. I feel it is well worth the time to watch.
Those who are engineers, or have had professional experience with the operation of the power grid will find this especially interesting. Not all of the problems related to why Texas had their loss of power will directly translate to our grid here. Texas of course is not the only weak link in the power grid chain. I feel that owing to the interconnected nature of the grid, it should be obvious that problems elsewhere can and have in the past impacted us here. This will continue to be the case in the future.
I took special note of the fact that, in this video it is mentioned that Texas was less than 5 minutes from a total grid collapse. That collapse, had it occurred, may have taken down the entire grid and required months to bring back on-line. Months without grid power, seems unthinkable but, in my opinion is the very thing all EmComm operators should put at the top of a very short list of priorities.
Yes, I am beating the drum again about vulnerabilities to the power grid. My apologies for continuing to focus on this subject. My only defense is that, having studied the issue closely for several years I really do believe its a subject which should be of interest to all HAM's.
The report I'm offering here, can be downloaded for free. It is an older study but the fact reinforces the fact that the threats described still exist and in fact have increased in scope, complexity and potential. Grid security is being tightened and enhanced, but there is an ongoing foot race between attackers and security forces. Recent sophisticated and successful attacks on the actual security software used to protect vital infrastructure prove the point that the grid is vulnerable.
For HAM's there are two basic elements to consider with regard to a operating during a wide area, long duration disruption to grid power. 1) Our ability to operate off-grid for a sustained period, 2) Physical operator support including food, water, shelter, heat etc.
As I have made clear from my interest in Community Mesh Networks, I believe we can do a good deal to promote sustainable long term communications within communities. Communications are of the very centre of any emergency response and so, I feel that devising such community base emergency communications networks can go a long way towards helping people, help themselves.
As HAM's we form a unique community which could be essential to our communities in a major blackout event. Not only would such an event challenge us to support served agencies, but also to support each other as well as our immediate communities.
For those who have not researched how the 2019 California wild fire experience impacted communities in the affected areas, I encourage you do so. Countless valuable lessons were learned about how quickly gasoline for generators became unavailable. Given that example alone I think that building an emergency plan based around having gasoline for generators might not be flawed. There are options to gas generators which I'll be sharing in future posts and not all are solar.
The example of how many people coped in California with a prolonged loss of power should not be wasted. There are many such examples which can be found all over the world, especially in less developed countries where living without power is a daily reality.
Net Control VA3TS Tom
VHF
KO4DXQ Bob
VE3DGY Douglas
VE3RQY Greg
VE3VCG Marvin
VA3KOT John
VE3BQM Bernie
VE3WI David Leslie
VE3OZW Richard
VE3MTV Norman
VA3MFO James
HF
VA3KOT John
VE3VCG Marvin
VA3MFO James
VE3OZW Richard
VE3RQY Greg
VE3WI David Leslie
VE3PCP Robert Wayne
VE3FJN Colin
Hi All,
I have a Kenwood TM-271A with an issue I am hoping someone can diagnose and correct for me.
Anytime I key the radio to transmit, the power shuts off briefly. If I hold the PTT key it will re-power before releasing the key. I have tried three different power supplies, all exhibit the same problem while the radio is connected. To add some excitement to this problem, this is not a constant problem, just a "most of the time" problem.
Are there any club members who would like to take a crack at figuring this dilemma out? It has been going on for maybe a couple of years now and seems to be getting worse.
Thanks,
I got this email today. Some of you probably got it as well. Seems to me that even if storm reports are coming in via Twitter, they should be coming from people who know what they're observing, but I am kinda old-fashioned.
They sent along a tip sheet, which I've attached.
73
Dave, VE3WI
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- As you know, due to COVID, last year we were unable to offer the same CANWARN training program that we have offered for many years: training sessions in many regions of the province covering severe weather spotting and reporting. We did experiment with webinars in a few cases, but we recognize that many of you were unable to participate in them.
This year, our travel restrictions will continue, at least in the short term. Meanwhile, the technology that has enabled much of the digital revolution has also changed weather spotting. Social media, in particular, has become ubiquitous and is now the primary means by which meteorologists gather storm information from the public. Furthermore, the work of meteorologists at Environment and Climate Change Canada is changing as we move increasingly towards more impact-based forecasting.
For these (and other) reasons, we have had to make hard choices about our limited resources. With respect to CANWARN, we have decided to prioritize our provincial, municipal, and other emergency management partners. As a result, for this year at least, we will no longer be organizing CANWARN training sessions as we did in the past. However, at the invitation of our emergency management partners, we will be pleased to provide them with training sessions tailored to their needs; in a few cases, they may be opened to members of the public. This will allow us to support our partners in their community emergency preparedness while raising the awareness of weather safety among new audiences.
We regret making this decision, and we know this will disappoint many of you. Some of you have been faithful weather spotters for years, even decades. We are grateful for your support over the years and we want to assure you that we will continue to monitor your severe weather and damage reports sent by e-mail or via Twitter. That will not change. To assist you in continuing to send us your weather reports, we are attaching a tip sheet here. Thank you.
Sincerely, Geoff Coulson, Peter Kimbell, and Gerald Cheng Ontario Warning Preparedness Meteorologists March 22, 2021 PS: In case you are not aware, Environment and Climate Change Canada has a weather app (WeatherCAN), released in early 2019, available for both Apple and Android devices. This app represents the most direct way to receive our severe weather alerts. The app can be found in the App Store or Google Play.
Would anyone be interested in a daily morning 2m "ragchew" net? The VE3OST link appears to be holding up well (yes, my fingers are crossed.) I have heard of several clubs having a daily morning net. I usually hang out in the shack in the morning, drink coffee, listen to, check in to, or net control on ONTARS 3.755 and then spin the VFO knob looking for DX on the bands or check in to other nets (ECARS, SCARS, Wingnuts etc). The Elmira club has a daily net that is very informal and doesn't last much longer than 30 minutes. Maybe it has already been attempted with GBARC in the past and wasn't successful.
That is 6 now, so that means just one time every 6 weeks. Who else wants to help out...
