TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 09.10 DATE: March 8, 2009
SUBJECT: CHECK THE SIMPLE THINGS FIRST
Have you ever had a problem with a piece of equipment that you just purchased or received? Did it come with an instruction manual or sheet? Are you sure that it worked before you received it? Most of the time the instructions say to read them completely before using the equipment.
If it didn't come with instructions, but you think you know how to use the equipment, always check the simple things first, it may keep you from being embarrassed. If you have a problem right off the bat, check to be sure you know what you are doing with it before you start making telephone calls.
There are so many examples that can be used, but I'll just give one. A friend of a friend purchased a new electronic type telephone, and it didn't seem to work right. They were able to make telephone calls out okay, but they couldn't receive any calls.
They talked to several friends who thought they could help. The friends gave several suggestions, but none of them worked. It was thought the telephone ringing voltage from the telephone company might be either too low, or maybe too high.
After several attempts to find a solution, the owner of the new telephone called the Public Service Commission and asked for a contact number for the telephone company. The Public Service Commission couldn't give the number, but said they would have the telephone company contact them. After several conversations with the telephone company, they decided to send a service technician to see if they could figure out why the telephone wouldn't ring.
Here's the bad part, when the technician got to the house, he looked the telephone over and turned the ringer switch on. To keep the switch from being turned off again, he placed a piece of tape over it. Don't get embarrassed, be sure you check the simple things first.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator