I am a fan of Chameleon Antennas. I already own several and have another on order. I like them because they work as advertised and are exceptionally well made. If I need to rapidly deploy a field station that I am confident the Chameleon's will do the job irrespective of conditions. The L.E.F.S antenna is so named because it is a Light End Fed Slopoer. It is designed to be a be used without a tuner on multiple bands. In the video Julian OH8STN puts the antenna through it's paces. I think you can see how such a versatile and usable this antenna could be in a temporary emergency field station.

So what do you do after a (very) successful commercial software career? John Walker, part of the Autodesk/autocad story. moved to Switzerland and runs a very interesting website. One of his interests has become "Tools for Online Privacy.
You can explore the whole fascinating site at

https://www.fourmilab.ch/

or go directly to the tools for online privacy at

https://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/online_privacy/

Peter VE3BBN

Topic Black Friday

Net for Gbarc November 17, 2021

VE3MIO Maureen
KO4DXQ Bob
VE3GIO LARRY
VA3KOT John
VA3TS Tom
VE3RQY Greg
VE3FP Adam
VA3MFO James
VA3EAC Janet
VE3VCG Marvin
VE3RWY Rob
VE3EFQ Bradley Paul
VE3WI Dave
VE3OZW Richard
VY2NX Bob

As HAM's when we talk about Emergency Communications the conversation usually is focused on radio gear, power supplies or operating methods. It is my contention that these things are only a part of the story. After all you can't be useful to others if you have no food or water. If we have learned nothing else this year it should be that supply chains can be disrupted. The complex nature of our just in time delivery system can leave us vulnerable to shortages when the system breaks down. When those shortages impact food deliveries empty shelves will be a major problem for everyone. Keeping a station on the air will not be a priority if you are scrambling to find your next meal.

If food delivery is disrupted the immediate concerns of food security will obviously impact, everyone. Naturally then it makes sense to provide for your own food security, as well as for loved ones. Doing that requires thinking ahead and taking steps to stockpile enough food to sustain yourself and others through a crisis. The following video offers some ideas about how to maintain a reliable supply of food for just such times.

I encourage everyone to check out the video, but also to take action now to ensure your own food security whileConcerns for the welfare of family and friends will be the top priority

it is still possible to do so.   In other words, consider buying more beans instead of beams.    Starving in a cold dark shack is generally a bad idea.

Some members have issues with Zoom quality. Some of it could be due to several conditions.
Here are some remedies that may improve your Zoom experience.

1. Zoom running on outdated hardware which may not be a bandwidth problem. 
    - try another device, cell phone or tablet which is more current.

2. Close other applications using memory while using Zoom.

3. Hardwire your device to the router and avoid wireless connection.

4. Disable HD video by unchecking HD video check box in video settings

5. Disable your video by clicking on video icon or just just show a static image instead.

6. Disable other devices using the router during Zoom meeting.

Internet bandwidth is improving everywhere but not fast enough. I didn't think I would see reliable bandwidth in my lifetime at my QTH here in the country but we are now in the process of getting Fiber to Home. The fiber is all coiled up at the house and as long as the company doesn't run into financial problems we should have plenty of bandwidth. Keeping my fingers crossed. 

In this video Rob demonstrates the rig and software setup he has for doing FT8. This is a very nice clean efficient setup which produces excellent results. FT8 is a fun simple digital mode and a good introduction to digital HF operations. I called it a gateway digital mode because, for some like me, it opens the door to explore the many other digital modes like JS8Call, PSK, FSK, Olivia etc. However, here Rob is only demonstrating FT8.

ditital

The Great Shake Out Simulated Emergency Event was just completed in the US. Many US ARES stations took part. This video outlines what was done and why as well as results of the SET.

You might wonder why we should have any interest in such an event here in Eastern Canada. After all this area is not prone to earth quakes. This is entirely true. We do have some earthquake activity here, but it's minor and pretty rare. However, my interest is in the exercise itself. The organization of such an event takes a lot of planning and coordination. Just setting up the event provide a valuable lesson in how groups can work together. In a real emergency this then kind of rapid deployment of an organized response is key to maintaining communications, irrespective of the kind of emergency.

Yes, I can already hear the discordant tones of those saying, but this is an American event and things in Canada are different. What I am looking at here are first principals and common issues, not differences between countries. ARES or ACS groups on both sides of the border will face exactly the same problems in the event of an emergency call out. The organizational structure of exact operating protocols might vary somewhat but these matters will be less important than the ability of a group or groups to work out problems within an evolving event or series of events.

I take information from any source that provides me with a foundation on which to build my own organization. In order to understand what works or does not work it is useful to see how others do things and learn from their experiences, successes and/or mistakes.

The Great Shake Out 2021 is another opportunity to learn. In sharing it I hope others will benefit as I have from this SET.

Oh yes, and perhaps one day you might wish to volunteer to help after a major earthquake event. It is not unthinkable to Canadians ARES / ACS volunteers may find themselves assisting at some US disaster site, or perhaps in another part of the world, like Tibet or Mexico. So then, the more you know, the better prepared you will be to be useful in such a situation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYuTQv85rjk

I participated in the one hour CW Slow Speed Test ("slow speed" means 20wpm or less) again yesterday. I enjoy this weekly mini-contest and participate nearly every week. I missed last week due to the clocks changing. The contest runs on UTC and started at 4pm local time through the summer. Forgetting about the clocks changing, I tuned in just before 4pm and caught just the last 5 minutes!

Anyway, I got another personal best yesterday; 20 QSOs worth 340 points. I started on 20m but conditions were not great. I logged 4 stations in California, Florida, Arizona and Nebraska. Then I switched to 40m which was in fine shape. I logged another 16 stations, mostly in the northeast. I heard a station from the UK calling. "Not much chance there" I thought to myself. "He probably has a full blown contest station and I have only 100w into a simple wire antenna." I called him anyway and he responded right away. Bingo. Canada to the UK on 40m has been a rare catch during the solar minimum for those of us with humble stations. Maybe things are looking up on the bands.

By the way, the UK station was G3WZD in Cornwall, England. The operator's name was Mac. It occurred to me that a radio signal was once sent from Cornwall, England to Canada by an Italian gentleman over a hundred years ago, and it caused quite a sensation at the time. It also involved huge antennas and a lot of money. Thank goodness it isn't that difficult these days.

found a good article about using ham messenger using vhf.https://spectrum.ieee.org/ham-radio-text-hacking

AuxComm explained.
Video follows my comments: I recommend that you read my comments, but if you want to skip down to the video, that's fine too! It's all good in the end.

After taking over as the Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Bruce County I’ve been playing catch up. In fact I’ve been hip deep in trying to get my head around the state of Emergency Communications in Canada, past, present and future. I’m sharing some of what I’ve learned as well as my understanding,such as it is, of where things are going.


First I need to provide a little background and simplify some of the more complicated issues surrounding what may be an unfamiliar term. AuxComm, short for Auxiliary Communications is a catch all phrase used to describe the blending together of differing communications technologies, systems and methods into a single more unified system.


One simple and very limited aspect of the AuxComm concept is the standardized use of ICS forms for emergency communications. The objective is to have any radio operator or emergency manager trained in the use of these forms as a standard method of communicating. Standardized operating methods is really at the heart of the AuxComm concept.


Another AuxComm concept is that all those involved with emergency communications will also understand the Emergency Management and Incident Management System. This understanding will then mean that anyone working in an Emergency Operations Centre will understand the hierarchy or organization of the emergency management team and what part they will play within that organization.


Once again, the AuxComm principles that apply are to have a standardized and uniform method of doing emergency communications within the context of an operational Emergency Operations Centre. There for the principles of concepts of AuxComm will incorporate the services of amateur radio volunteers with those used in professional public safety communications systems.


This should not be confused as making amateur volunteers into part of the public safety communications system. Amateur radio volunteers in an EOC will still be a distinct and separate segment of emergency communications. The equipment and skill set of amateur radio communications are unique to amateur operations as are the conditions of the licensing under which we operate.
To the best of my understanding, AuxComm methods will help ACS operators better integrate into the professional operating environment of the agencies we serve. On the revese side of that coin, the overarching uniformity of AuxComm principles will help served agencies better understand and use the services amateur radio volunteers offer.


What I am sharing here is information I have gleaned from various sources. This is an overview which I admit is incomplete at this point in time. I continue to study and research and will share any new information which I think is worthy of sharing.


I am advised now to expect a proper roll out of the newly minted Auxiliary Communications Service in mid January 2022. It is my understand that this roll out will involve a series of zoom presentations for ACS EC’s such as myself.
Emergency Communications vs ACS

Needless to say I am looking forward to having a clearer view of what we can expect from the new ACS organization. I will keep everyone informed as things move ahead.


While I recognize that the video I am sharing below is American I believe the basic principles of AuxComm will be the same on both sides of the border with notable exceptions for differences between Canadian and US government structures. Having said all that, please watch the video.