I’ll keep this short as we all have had a busy few days and the next few may provide a new set of fun things to do.
First, we have had multiple activations that have been very active and yielded a great deal of information. Accurate, timely and well received. You folks have trained for these and done an admirable job. I have received recognition praising your work that included our OEM Director, NWS, County Judge and Fire Marshals. As you all know we use radios and once it’s out there it’s open for anyone to hear. Our ARRL Section folks have been listening in order to facilitate their awareness and congratulated you on a job well done. The ARRL Section has been at work with the State EOC just as we have been here. They were very complimentary of your work and effectiveness.
Second, personal experience: we need to very careful while operating as a mobile. On more than one occasion I found that while I was focused on the clouds other vehicles had parked or moved close to mine while I was parked. As I started to move away, I had to pay close attention to the other vehicles. Please try to set up so you don’t have to back up. My past construction work experiences taught us to park so we didn’t have to back up. Our backing accidents dropped significantly.
Third, the Legislation. HB 2722 was a bill recently introduced in the Texas Legislature which, among other things, would have made it illegal for hams to have mobile antennas installed on their vehicles unless they were working for an emergency service group such as we do during an ARES or SKYWARN activation (it also would have outlawed rooftop lights, grill guards, and other forms of vehicle-mounted equipment that are used not only by services such as ambulances, police and fire departments, but also by many companies and private individuals in the course of their day-to-day work and livelihoods). After much discussion with our local representative, the restrictive issues regarding all those items were deleted from the bill via an amendment. As it now reads we as hams are pretty much no longer a factor, except for using the word “emergency” on a sign. And that’s covered by the first couple of paragraphs of the bill as long as we are working for SKYWARN and/or our OEM. I have talked to local officials, and as the intent of the bill is to stop unscrupulous persons, we are not going to draw attention with our typical ARES work. Your efforts in contacting Representative Phillips to share your concerns are appreciated all the way up to the Section Manager.
Fourth, we had a radio fail at the EOC, the TM-V71. Thanks to fast actions of our OEM, its replacement was delivered today (the 12th) and Wade wants to have it operational Wednesday. This may help with some of the low audio issues we have had on Echolink and NWS communications.
Again, thanks for all you do to make our ARES team respected in our county and now throughout the state!
73
Rick
K5ECX