"labtech_one" wrote in message
...

I've heard this crap about 'in case of disaster HAM radio is there', what
exactly
can a HAM do that someone with a CB, cell phone, or smoke signals can't ?

A few years ago there was a hurricane that disrupted the area around
Louisiana and Mississippi called Katrina. Amateur radio did a pretty good
job of helping out the

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9228945/

http://www.computerworld.com/securit...104418,00.html

http://radio.about.com/od/amateursho.../aa090405a.htm

http://technocrat.net/d/2006/2/28/985

I'm sure you could have handled it better with your CB radio and cell phone
that had no service.

"brad" wrote in message
. ..


SNIP

I'm sure you could have handled it better with your CB radio and cell
phone
that had no service.

Quoted from one of your articles:

"On Monday, Aug. 29, a call for help involving a combination of cell
telephone calls and amateur radio led
to the rescue of 15 people stranded by floodwaters on the roof of a house in
New Orleans.
Unable to get through an overloaded 911 system, one of those stranded called
a relative in Baton Rouge.
That person called another relative, who called the local American Red
Cross."


Sounds like they had 'CELL SERVICE' to me ......

"labtech_one" wrote in message
...

Quoted from one of your articles:

SNIP

Sounds like they had 'CELL SERVICE' to me ......

Sounds like you were lucky to have it if you had any at all:
http://www.interesting-people.org/ar.../msg00008.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...0/ai_n15654915 -
References the cell service being only restored to 50% after 5 days.

http://www.washingtontechnology.com/...1/27380-1.html

I'm sure you cell will do fine for you. They worked great in seattle during
the earthquake we had- as long as you did not need to communicate with
anyone.

"brad" wrote in message
. ..

I'm sure you cell will do fine for you. They worked great in seattle
during
the earthquake we had- as long as you did not need to communicate with
anyone.

yeah, I've already 'heard' about that one, they were down for 4 or 5 hours,
hardly a big deal. Usually when they are going to be out longer than that,
they bring in portable cell sites ( generator powered ), and can cover the
majority of the effected area.

Don't think it really hurt anyone to wait for the few hours to call
relatives,
and tell them they were OK.

And from what I understand, the Red Cross and some other agencies had
'hams' operating their ( the agencies ) radio equipment since they were
short
handed, and assumed that the hams already knew how to operate a radio.
( which is a really HARD job, considering, you just push a button and talk,
then release the button and listen ) Its not like the old days when HAMS
really knew how to build, work on, and actually OPERATE a radio
( which years ago was actually some what complicated ). As it is now,
90+% of hams BUY a radio, take it out of the box, and if it needs service,
they take it to the service tech.

Amature radio contributed alot, in years past, many new radio designs were
credited to ham's, when there was JUST land lines ( and they were poor ),
if they went down, hams could call to the next city, county, or state.

But like I posted earlier, its like the mail service ..... its outdated.

"labtech_one" wrote in message
...

yeah, I've already 'heard' about that one, they were down for 4 or 5
hours,
hardly a big deal.

Not at all- especially if you need medical aid.

Usually when they are going to be out longer than that,
they bring in portable cell sites ( generator powered ), and can cover the
majority of the effected area.

Good point- You should invest in one of those to pull behind your fiero.

Don't think it really hurt anyone to wait for the few hours to call
relatives,
and tell them they were OK.

Who cares about those calls? Emergency communications dude- reporting
critical ****. Telling mom you are alive is not emergency comms.

As it is now,
90+% of hams BUY a radio, take it out of the box, and if it needs service,
they take it to the service tech.

Fine by me.

But like I posted earlier, its like the mail service ..... its outdated.

No doubt- but it still has a role- especially when all the non-outdated
equipment fails when the **** hits the fan.

"brad" wrote in message
. ..

Not at all- especially if you need medical aid.

chances of a ham radio operator being 'at hand' at that time,
is about the same as flagging down a squad or a police car.

Usually when they are going to be out longer than that,
they bring in portable cell sites ( generator powered ), and can cover
the
majority of the effected area.

Good point- You should invest in one of those to pull behind your fiero.

The Fiero is getting a new exhaust system, but the Corvette is running
fine,
thanks I'll bear that in mind. (2 seater plastic cars, you gotta love them )

"labtech_one" wrote in message
...

chances of a ham radio operator being 'at hand' at that time,
is about the same as flagging down a squad or a police car.

I'm sure you have the statistics to back that up. It's obvious you see no
value in the ham radio system as it is today- that's fine with me. I think
redundant, reliable 2 way communications can only help when things go to
hell.

The Fiero is getting a new exhaust system, but the Corvette is running
fine,
thanks I'll bear that in mind. (2 seater plastic cars, you gotta love
them )

Plastic fantastic- no thanks I'll pass.