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 Previous: Surfin': Another View of APRS |  Next: Ham Radio Kept Bermuda Connected When All Else Failed |
By Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM
Contributing Editor
September 6, 2003
Getting involved in Amateur Radio public service and additional opinions from youth regarding the 5 WPM Morse code testing requirement are among the topics this time.
Youth and Amateur Radio Public Service
When the average person hears the words "public service," they probably think of something like picking up trash and litter along the roadside. While this is an excellent community service, most probably would agree that it is not necessarily fun.
However, through Amateur Radio, there are many exciting opportunities to do much more. Have you ever taken part in an Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) net during a disaster or emergency? Have you ever ridden in a police car with the police chief and mayor? (Doing so while under arrest doesn't count.) Have you ever saved someone's life? Have you helped out with a charity walkathon or similar event by providing communication on ham radio? Have you demonstrated Amateur Radio to your peers? (OK, that's more recruitment or public relations than public service, but I wanted to see if you were paying attention.)
Youth can--and do--participate in these and other public service activities.
 Your editor and ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director Sandy Donahue, W4RU, at the 2001 Peachtree Road Race. [KF4PWI Photo] |
One of my most rewarding experiences occurred early one July 4. I was acting as 70 cm net control for the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia. After rising at 4 AM and reporting to duty at 6 AM, I was ready to go. Sandy Donahue, W4RU--the former Georgia Section Manager and now ARRL Southeastern Vice Director--was net control on 2 meters. He sat next to me in the radio trailer. My job was basically to relay messages from the 70 cm net to the 2 meter net and vice-versa.
At one point, I was asked to relay a message that resulted in an ambulance being dispatched onto the racecourse. It was not until later that evening, while watching the local news, that I found out how important that simple message had been. Apparently the man to whom we had sent the ambulance had suffered a heart attack. He later underwent heart surgery.
Knowing that I helped to save a person's life gave me an excellent feeling!
Now, let's hear from some other youth:
"When I participated in the MS Walk, I worked as a 'sag wagon' (the meaning
soon will become clear) operator," says 14-year-old Logan Beebe, KC0JZO, of
South Dakota. His job was to listen for calls to the sag wagon, then let the
driver know where to pick up the exhausted walk participant.
 Logan Beebe, KC0JZO, was a communications volunteer at the MS Walk. [N0LPO Photo] |
"It really was a lot of fun," he recalls. "The best part, besides helping a great cause, was when we got to eat at the end of the day. They had pizza and ice cream. There were also mascots from the local sports teams." He has also participated in the MS 150 bikeathon, again as a sag wagon operator, and during Minnesota's MS 150 in a number of roles.
"It is great to be able to get around to the different areas and see
what all it takes to put something that big together," he concludes. "It's also
great to see how all these people come together to work for a common goal."
 Dana Beebe, KC0MKF, also helped with communications at the MS Walk. [N0LPO Photo] |
Logan's 11-year-old sister Dana, KC0MKF, also helped out at the MS Walk as a sag wagon operator. "I told the driver when someone needed to be picked up," she writes. "There was a lot of food! At the MS 150, I rode with the bike mechanic. People told me that a bike mechanic was needed, and I told the driver."
Dana and Logan Beebe's dad is Richard, N0PV. All are ARRL members.
Now that you have a feel for how much fun public service can be, you might want to know how to become involved. First, try your local radio club (you do belong to a local club, don't you?). Chances are there will be a public service event or two every month or so. If you look--or, better yet, ask--opportunities to volunteer your Amateur Radio talents will not be hard to find.
My predecessor as youth contributing editor, Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, also discussed this topic in a column "Our Significant Role as Youth in Amateur Radio" in 2001. His advice remains valid.
Contesting in a Club Devoted to Kids
On August 9 and 10, Andrew Kelly, K3ASK--a member of Maryland's Anne Arundel Radio Club Jr--was among the many participants in the Maryland QSO party.
 Joey operating the radio with control operator K3ASK (not shown). [KB3ATI Photo] |
"Wow! What a weekend it was. Another year has come and gone for the Maryland QSO Party, and we survived again," says Kelly. With four HF stations and one VHF station operating, the club's goal was to contact all counties in Maryland. AARC Jr participates in several operating events each year. They had a plan for this one, but the rest was up to time and propagation.
"We ran two stations outside, due to exam testing being conducted in the clubhouse," he said. "The weather was hot--above 90 degrees with high humidity--but hey, it's August in Maryland, so it's to be expected." The group decided to focus on 40 meters, although propagation was not exactly in their favor.
Not only did they contest, but they also "elmered" new hams. "As more of the kids showed up, we set up yet another HF and VHF station outside," he said. The team also got to demonstrate ham radio for those leaving the examination session. Once the testing was concluded, the team was able to move indoors to air-conditioned comfort, too.
From afternoon to evening, they went from having 25 counties left to only 12. However, the Eastern Shore was difficult to work, and Garret County--Maryland's westernmost--was hiding. At midnight, they had nine countries to go. Early Sunday morning, the group decided to activate its master plan. The adults gassed up their vehicles and headed to the hard-to-get counties. When the contest resumed at noon, the young ops were ready. Although they did not work them all, they did get most of those remaining on their wanted list.
"As the end of the contest approached we were short five counties, and we missed our goal, but we had a lot of fun participating in the Maryland QSO party," Kelly summed up. Although the results have not been officially released, the group more than doubled its score from last year (34,340), which resulted in AARC Jr taking second place in the club category.
Wherever they finish in the final count isn't as important as knowing they placed first in the "having fun" category while getting to show off a little for the visitors leaving the examinations on Saturday. "Isn't that what it's about?" asks K3ASK.
In just a few months, AARC Jr will be participating in the ARRL November Sweepstakes (SSB), so be listening for KI3DS--"KIDS" with a three in the middle.
By the way, if you're interested in talking to other young hams on HF, try the North American Youth Net (NAYN). Stop by on Mondays and Fridays from 2300 to 2330 UTC on 14.329 MHz. Also, check out the net's Web site.
The Great Morse Debate, Part Deux
The debate about the 5 WPM Morse Code requirement continues. To date (September 5), seven unrelated petitioners have requested the FCC to make changes to the Amateur Service rules (Part 97) that relate to Morse code in some way. Most petitioners want the FCC to delete the requirement that applicants pass the 5 WPM Element 1 Morse code test to gain HF access. The FCC has just invited public comment on these petitions. The ARRL Web site has more information. See "FCC Invites Comments on Six Morse Code-Related Petitions" and "Mystery Solved: 'Missing' Petition was No-Code International's".
My last column included some input on the Morse code issue from some of Amateur Radio's youth--all of it pro-Morse code. This month, we continue our very informal survey. Unlike last month, we now have youthful opinions from both sides of the issue.
Once again, I welcome further comments from youth on either side. Here's a sampling of what we received this time.
 Mike DeChristopher, KB1FWN (right), who commented about the Morse Code requirement, and Jeff Coopee, NX1X (ex-KB1GJR), at the Hampden County Radio Association 2002 Field Day in Granby, Massachusetts. [N1RL Photo] |
"If the very simple and very easy to pass Morse Code requirement is taken away for operation below 30 MHz, it would be an insult and an outrage," writes 14-year-old Mike De Christopher, KB1FWN, who shared his posting on the Hampden County (Massachusetts) Radio Association's (HCRA) e-mail reflector. "HF without code is like 18 holes with a pitching wedge, or camping without a tent, or skiing without boots. It is like sneezing without a tissue or bathing without soap. I even venture to say that it is like operating without an antenna. In fact, it is like operating without a license--which in fact it darn well is."
He apologizes to all of the Technicians looking forward to becoming Generals but feels that they need the code. He further notes that it took him numerous tries to pass his code test, and he barely got by when he did, thinking, "Who needs code?"
He feels there should at least be a 5 WPM requirement. "It is the best thing we can do to keep our airwaves clean and make it just that much harder to get, and that much better a feeling when you do get it," he sums up.
Recently licensed Eric Richardson, KB1JVI, also on the Hampden County Radio Association e-mail reflector, wrote: "I am learning code, and I feel we should still have it as a requirement. Many lives can be saved by CW," he asserted.
One anonymous ham had another opinion. He notes that when the Morse Code requirement was originally created, CW was really the only mode used. Voice modes "were pretty exotic in the old days, so knowing code was the only way to communicate. It made sense to limit entry to those that knew code. It's not that way today," he said.
A smattering of other unattributed opinions from youthful amateurs:
Another anonymous young ham recommended the following Web sites. Try visiting the Hamquick.com site and the Beginners Guide to Ham Radio site.
(No Longer Summer) Reading
Reminders!
Some Final Notes
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this column in some way. Don't be discouraged if I do not use your contributions immediately, as I may save them for a future column.
Do you know of a young ham who volunteers, participates in emergency communications, or serves as net control? Or, do you do any of those things yourself? If so, please get in touch and tell me about it. Your photographs of youth-related activities are also welcome; we'd like to share them with others via this column.
Editor's note: Fourteen-year-old
Extra-class operator and ARES Member Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, resides in
Lawrenceville, Georgia. Her Amateur Radio activities include public service,
kit building, hamfesting, and operating SSB, CW and digital modes. Amateurs
with youth-related news and photos are invited to contact Andrea via e-mail
with the subject line "Youth Column."
| Previous: Surfin': Another View of APRS | Next: Ham Radio Kept Bermuda Connected When All Else Failed |
