[karc] Two-Metre Activity in Kingston
- From: Phil Somers <pwsomers@xxxxxxxx>
- To: KARC FreeList <karc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:20:05 -0700 (PDT)
Two-Metre Activity in Kingston.
Amateur
radio has always been known for the high quality of ham radio
communications. This quality was maintained through a comprehensive
exam structure and well-defined on-air operating procedures. Most of
the operating was done on HF where good radio discipline and procedures
were required to operate through difficult propagation conditions and
over DX distances. However,
amateur radio has changed over the years. Many hams these days do not
operate HF and may not even have an HF rig. The world of commercial,
menu-driven VHF rigs and repeaters seems to have brought a considerable
different style of operating that in some ways is eroding the way hams
communicate. The following suggestions, mainly for two-metres, are
offered with the sincere goal of improving the quality of operating
procedures and techniques. Some of the points are personal preferences,
and not everyone will agree with all of the points or even with the
sentiment of the suggestions.
Callsigns.
I
believe that the correct use of callsigns is one of the key components
of high quality amateur radio communications. Everyone has a personal
callsign which he/she is justly proud of. It would seem important to
operators to state their callsign slowly and clearly each time they use
them, using standard phonetics when appropriate. The use of
non-standard phonetics seems to cheapen ham radio. The recognised
standard phonetic alphabet adopted by the International
Telecommunications Union, and general used by hams world wide, is on
the RAC website. On VHF, callsigns are frequently given very quickly
and are very often difficult to distinguish, especially while mobile.
Unfortunately, the VE and VA callsigns are often mistaken for each
other, unless they are spoken very clearly. Often callsigns are spoken
too quickly after the operator pushes the push-to-talk switch, and the
first part of the callsign is lost. It takes some finite time for rigs
and repeaters to start to transmit. A good procedure is to push-to-talk
and pause ever so briefly before speaking. That pause often allows
sufficient time for the brain to start transmitting also.
Clear QSOs.
QSOs
on HF often involve conversations with someone new in some other part
of the world. So there is lots to talk about and the QSO proceeds back
and forth with rather longer transmissions. Two meter operation is
usually with well-known friends and tend toward shorter transmissions
between "overs". So it is perhaps more casual, and that's fine. So the
more formal procedures of HF tend to change into much more of a chat
mode. But clear, strong and easily understandable speech should still
be used to ensure that the communications is easy to grasp. It is too
bad that two-metre rigs don't have an output modulation meter of some
sort like SSB to ensure that operators are speaking loudly enough but
not too loudly. A recent recording of the KARC 2m net showed that a
number of operators were modulating much less than all the others. It
is often a good idea to ask from time to time if you are under or over
modulating, especially after getting a new rig or a new microphone.
Repeaters.
There
is no doubt that repeaters are very convenient and enable excellent VHF
communications, including mobile, subject of course to the outcome of
the new Ontario mobile operating law. In any case, drivers should be
extra vigilant to ensure safe driving, and to be quite prepared to
suspend talking when they encounter more complex traffic conditions.
Clear and concise voice and callsigns make it easier for mobile
operators, and thus safer. One personal preference in mobile operation
is the pronunciation of "mobile". Standard usage in normal conversation
is "mo" plus "bile". It seems strange that some hams change that when
driving to "moble" or worse, "mobeel". There is no doubt that the
advent of tones on the KARC repeater has improved the repeater
experience in Kingston, especially if your rig also has tone activated
squelch on receive. Gone are most of the unwanted distant repeaters and
the local noise beeps and burps. However, the "mad kerchunker" is alive
and well, unimpeded by tone access. This character chooses to test his
rig and the setting of his volumn control and squelch by transmitting
briefly without identifying, just to hear the reassuring kerchunk
coming back from the repeater. Very annoying. There is still far too
much kerchunking on the Kingston repeater. It soon becomes apparent who
the kerchunkers are.
Use of the KARC Repeater.
Certainly
the Kingston repeater is under-utilised. Most activity occurs around
the nets and rather not much at other times. Out of town hams tend to
have difficulty talking to anyone as they pass through Kingston. Many
calls go unanswered. Calls from IRLP and Echolink to the repeater often
go unanswered. That is either because not enough hams are monitoring
the repeater, or not enough take the time to answer these calls.
Everything reasonable should be done to encourage more monitoring and
more use, including keeping unnecessary distractions, such as time
announcements, to a minimum. As well, all too often the repeater
identification interferes with QSOs, including the ID switch to CW.
Nets.
Local
nets seem to be the most popular 2m activity in Kingston. The regular
net controllers are to be commended for their excellent service, week
in and week out, to run these nets. We should do as much as we can to
ensure that the nets remain an interesting and enjoyable part of the
local 2m activity. People who check in should try to offer something of
interest to the group. There is not nearly enough technical and
"amateur radio" discussion on the nets. A favorite bugbear is the
operator who hasn't used his rig in a week who checks into the net only
to say that he has nothing to say, and that he only wants to "add a
bean to the pot". It doesn't take long to think of something of
interest to the group, even if you have to look back in your logbook or
glance on the Internet. But please, no more beans for the pot. For some
reason, check-ins are often encouraged to give their callsigns,
preferably with phonetics, and if they want, their name and location,
and for the ARES nets, if they have any traffic or not. That procedure
is a sure recipe for doubling, which occurs all too frequently. A
clear, crisp callsign, with phonetics if the net controller may not be
familiar with your callsign, works best. Then when it comes your turn,
that is the time to give the rest of the information. That is a
fundamentally sound operating procedure. The net controllers do a great
job. Let them control the net. Avoid unnecessary break-ins and "help".
Let the net controllers control whose turn it is, and ask and get
permission to talk directly to other check-ins. Minimize this
one-on-one chat during net time. Arrange to meet after the net if
necessary. Again, give you callsign clearly and distinctly each time
you speak during a net. It makes it easier for the net control and it
ensures that the net doesn't disintegrate into a mess. Again, pause
briefly after push-to-talk so that your first few syllables aren't cut
off, adding to confusion. The best nets, although they tend to be
rather long, are the nets where the net controller offers comments back
to the check-ins, and goes an extra round with the check-in. Much
friendlier and more interesting.
So
these comments are offered in the spirit of making the local two-metre
activity more enjoyable for all. Discussion and further comments are
welcomed and encouraged.
... Phil VE3HST
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