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 20.39 DATE: September 27, 2020
SUBJECT: KNOW YOUR RADIO
Do you really know your radio? Do you know what it is capable of, or how to operate it? Most people know how to turn their radio on and push the button on the side to transmit and release it to listen, but there is more to it than that.
Do you know what frequencies are programmed in it, or how to program it in a hurry? Most of the new radios takes hours to figure out how to program, if not days. If you were to need a new frequency, would you be able to do it without trouble?
Most of the radio that are manufactured now days can be programmed with a computer, but if you are out in the field away from your computer, you may have a problem. One way to program you radio in a hurry is to program it in the VFO mode. If you just learn how to program your radio in the VFO mode, you should be able to get on the frequency you need quick. Don't worry about getting it saved in one of the memory channels, just get it to transmit and receive.
Make up a short instruction card that will tell you how to program in a frequency in the VFO mode, so you can start talking. If you think you will need the same frequency later, write down the information and program it when you get near a computer. Just try to know your radio enough to be able to use it in an emergency.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV