The EmComm Rag Chew

EmComm Rag Chew Podcast: February 13th, 2019 Digital Operations FLDIGI

FLDIGI is probably the most powerful application for sending and receiving digital communications.  Its also one of the more complicated applications.  FLDIGI will send and receive almost all the common digital modes.  It will automatically detect digital signals and can even switch if you are in the wrong mode.  You can have more than one digital signal on the same frequency as long as your band width doesn’t interfere with another transmission.

EmComm Rag Chew Podcast: February 6th, 2019, Digital Operations WinLink

It’s been a while since we talked about various digital modes.  I am going to take the next couple of weeks to talk about the three major digital communications methods used in Georgia for Emergency Communications.  They are WinLink, FLDIGI, and DRATS.  Tonight we start with Winlink.  This is email over the radio, and everyone can use it.  You only need an FCC call sign to get started.  You can use the system with VHF/UHF, or HF radio. 

EmComm Rag Chew Podcast: January 23rd 2019

To quote the famous Captain Ron.  “If anything is going to happen, it's going to happen out there.”  Some of you are scratching your heads, but it’s a line in a movie.  The movie is named Captain Ron and the point of the quote is that the best way to find out what might happen, is to take your boat out into the ocean, and see what happens. 
Find out the lessons we learned while deployed.

EmComm Rag Chew Podcast: January 16th 2019 Bonus episode

This is a bonus podcast to keep the podcast more or less in sync with the live radio nets.  For those that are jumping in early, our January 9th live net was cut short because the Stone Mountain repeater was down.  We tried to do a QSY using Facebook to share the new frequency, but that didn’t work well.  We only had 2 people make the switch, so we decided to hold off on presenting the Part one on planning your off grid power needs

EmComm Rag Chew Podcast: January 9th 2019: Planning your off grid power needs Part 1

Tonight we will talk about planning a solar system and calculating your loads, and things you can do to limit your power needs.  For example, leave that electric coffee pot at home and break out the propane stove.  This will be far from comprehensive, but it’s going to be a great place to start as you plan your power needs for a deployment or maybe to just keep your shack off the grid. 
 

EmComm Rag Chew Podcast: January 2nd, 2019, Planning for Grid down communications

During our last net, the discussion after the main presentation included a topic of how we could reach out to our fellow hams should repeaters go down.  Now this isn’t impossible.  The people around the coast of Florida, where Hurricane Michael hit experienced a large area where ham repeaters were knocked out.  While not likely that a hurricane will take out the repeaters here in Atlanta, it’s not impossible that something could take out the repeaters. 

EmComm Rag Chew Podcast: December 19th, 2018, What's on your Christmas list?

This is supposed to be a little more fun and get you talking a little more.
Getting gear for EmComm covers a large array of things.  It can be everything from Radios and Antenna’s to camping gear and a trailer.
I figured I would share what I put on my Christmas list this year and tell you a little about why I selected these items.  Then I would like to hear if you have anything on your Christmas list that is EmComm related.

EmComm Rag Chew Podcast: December 12th, 2018. Taking advantage of winter downtime

We are in the family season of the year.  We have already gone through Thanksgiving, and now we are in Hanukkah and Christmas time.  These are the times when your families gather to share with each other.
It’s also a time when it’s getting colder and you don’t want to spend much time outside.  There is a natural slow down in a lot of activities. 

EmComm Rag Chew Podcast: December 5th, 2018.: Expanding capabilities – Improving your Antenna’s

Over the past couple of weeks we have covered cross band repeat, adding email, and expanding your privileges.  This week we are going to look at your antennas.
When you have a radio you have already locked yourself into certain things.  The frequency range, and the power outputs are the biggest things that can effect range.

EmComm Rag Chew Podcast: November 28, 2018, Expanding Capabilities, Expanding Your Privileges

We have covered cross band repeat, and adding email.  This week we are going to look at your amateur radio license privileges so we can get the most out of our allocated bands, and we can look to upgrade our licenses to add to our privileges.