TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 19.43 DATE: October 27, 2019
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 activities 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 against it, and presto, you're on another frequency.
Both mobile radios and Walkie-Talkies that have a microphone buttons on the top, or on the front 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 can 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 anyway, so why take a chance of accidentally moving off frequency when the communications you are be providing may be very important, and you don't want to miss that call. You may also be transmitting on a wrong frequency if you don't look first.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV