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 14.17           DATE: April 27, 2014
SUBJECT: DO YOU LOCK YOUR RADIO?

Does your radio have the ability to lock the frequency so it can't be changed until you unlock it?  If you're involved with some kind of activity that may require you to be available at a moment's notice, you can be sure you're on the right frequency if you lock it there.  New state of the art radios have so many bells and whistles, it's possible to accidentally change frequencies or even go simplex without even knowing it.  If it's a Walkie-Talkie and you carry it in your back pocket, or on your belt, you might bump one of the buttons, and presto, you're on another frequency.  Many mobile radios may have a channel select knob that is easy to turn, and your microphone cable my turn it just by brushing by it, and presto, you're on another frequency.

Both mobile radios and Walkie-Talkies that have a microphone buttons that allow you to change frequencies, can also be a problem.  Your microphone might fall on the floor or you might bump one of the up/down buttons, and presto, you're on another frequency.  If your radio has the ability to lock the frequency, learn how it works and use it as often as you can.  Most of the time you'll only be using one frequency, so why take a chance of accidentally moving off frequency when the communications you may be providing may be very important.

Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV