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 20.12 DATE: March 22, 2020
SUBJECT: GET IN A HABIT
You would think that in today's electronic world everything is instantaneous, but that's not the case. You flip your light switch up and your lights come on, but when you push the level on your toaster down, it takes time to warm up.
Radio equipment can be instantaneous. When you push the transmit button, it starts putting out a signal, and you can start taking. Just because you can start talking, doesn't mean you should. You should wait a second or so to make sure everything is ready. Sometimes you may be using a repeater, and it may take a second for the repeater to recognize the signal coming in before it starts repeating.
Sometimes repeaters, and other transmitters, are designed to delay transmitting for other reasons. In any case, it’s best to delay talking for a second or so after you push the transmit button, to let everything get settled down. You should make it a habit to delay calling, answering, or talking after pressing the transmit button.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV