TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 13.10 DATE: March 10, 2013 SUBJECT: IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST
Have you ever been sitting at your home, monitoring a radio, or maybe working on your computer, and all of a sudden someone comes on the repeater that you're monitoring, and they are in the middle of a conversation with whomever. You listen for more, but never hear them again. You change the frequency on your radio and find them on another repeater in the area. Whoops! They must have touch a channel button accidentally and changed the frequency just as they were keying up to answer the other station.
Later you hear the Central Communications Dispatcher advise a Public Safety unit that they have just called for their headquarters on the wrong frequency. Or maybe it has happened to you! You have your radio on a different frequency, and forget to change it back to your frequency, and make a call on the wrong frequency. Or, accidentally give your amateur call while operating on a public safety frequency? That's my favorite.
However, once is enough, and all you can do is hope it doesn't happen again. Just remember, when you hear someone else goof, don't be upset or angry, because you might be the next one to do it. We're only human, and we all make mistakes.
I believe there are only two types of radio operators. Those who have goofed up, and those who will. If you are authorized on public safety frequencies, you have to be very careful and remember what band you're on. Believe me, it can be embarrassing.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV