Monday, December 2, 2013

How And Why Ham Radio Operators Help At Many Race Events

Hams around the world routinely volunteer on their days off and bring their expensive ham radio equipment to races such as fundraising races, walks, marathons, etc.. I recently helped out for the MS Walk in Appleton, Wisconsin as a trained radio operator and I was glad to do it for several reasons. Here's the story:The MS Walk in Appleton, Wisconsin has hundreds of race / walk participants and a limited number of volunteers to service and control the race / walk. Communications from a trained team is great for a race like this. For example, if a racer needs medical attention along the race course then ham radio operators can quickly get help on the way. How? Through the use of an amateur radio network, otherwise known as a "net".In a typical race net communications event there is a net control operator usually at a central location. This central location is usually either manned by or connected to in some way race organizers, medical help, police, etc.. Ways to connect to these resources may be via other ham radios including either base stations, mobiles (in cars) or handheld radios that we hams call "HT's" for handy talkies.One nice advantage of use of a ham radio network at events like this is that it is instantaneous many-to-many communications. If something comes up that EVERYONE should know about - they will - and instantly. With use of cell phones or other smaller networks (police use their frequencies, fire uses their frequencies, etc.) everyone may not get the message at the same time. The disadvantage of a many-to-many network is that it can be disorganized. This is where there is a win-win situation with the ham radio community.Ham radio operators also operate their nets for other sometimes more serious purposes. For example, during severe weather nets (I am a trained storm spotter). In such a net it is very important for the safety of everyone involved to maintain good net discipline. Nets can be friendly and even informal, but hams must know when and how to talk. This is where volunteering for race events and the like creates a win-win situation. Hams get to practice their net discipline and help a good cause all at the same time. They also get to ensure their equipment works, etc.. They also get to make new friends and meet other resources in the community.Ham radio operators also can be, as I am, trained weather spotters that can and do interface directly with the National Weather Service offices and 9-1-1- call centers. This can be an invaluable resource when everyone in the race is too busy to be watching the weather.Are there enough supplies at the rest stops? We provide instant communications of such information. If needed I can use my A.P.R.S. (Automatic Packet Reporting System) capability to provide real-time tracking via Google maps for any race events. Some like to track the first place racer. Others like to track the last runner to determine when the race will be finished. Some like to track multiple events which is possible with multiple hams each equipped with A.P.R.S. (automatic packet reporting system) capabilities. These devices take the latitude and longitude data from a small G.P.S. sensor and sends that data out via ham radio transmissions. Any listening ham radio station can receive the A.P.R.S. data and send it into the internet where Google instantly displays it on their maps. When I do this at work, for example, I can see via the satellite map within 50 feet of where my car is in the company parking lot!It's also always fun to interact with other ham radio operators. During race events we have a chance to review what other ham radio operators have for radio communications equipment. We can discuss the capabilities and success of the equipment and get ideas and avoid overly expensive and poor performing equipment as well.



Jon Kreski, otherwise known as AB9NN (FCC Amateur Radio call sign) is an Extra class ham radio license holder. This is the highest level license available. Jon is a member of A.R.E.S. (Amateur Radio Emergency Services) and is qualified and authorized to participate in giving ham radio FCC license exams. Jon is also a severe storm spotter - trained by the National Weather Service. Jon works with SkyWarn, a national storm spotter group, to work in a many-to-many ham radio storm spotting network. Jon also provides free ham radio communications support to served agencies and serves as a volunteer to local marathons and races. Jon lives in the Appleton / Green Bay Wisconsin area and operates on HF mobile as well as on the local 2 meter repeaters. Jon uses e-QSL and LOTW.http://www.HamRadioResources.com/bloghttp://www.Twitter.com/AB9NN

Related Posts :

Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, November 28, 2013

African Grey Parrots' Food

When you invite an African Grey parrot to share your home, you are taking on a long-term responsibility to provide a good diet for that parrot for 50 years or more. Many owners fail to do this, even for a few months. Believing that bird seed is enough, they purchase a large bag of mixed seed, and feed their African Grey. Seeds are cheap, so bird food companies push them.African Grey parrots' food must not be only seed, however. Such an incomplete, imbalanced diet is likely to cause illness. Seeds are high in fat and carbohydrates, and your African Grey will probably pick out its favorite seeds, making the diet even less balanced.Most parrot experts agree that an African Grey parrots' food needs can only be met with a formula diet supplemented with a variety of other foods.Organic PelletsWhat is a formula diet for an African Grey? Organic pellets. I say "organic" pellets because many of the conventional pellets have unhealthy ingredients. Some have even been noted as containing potentially toxic ingredients.African Grey parrots' food should never contain menadione. If the pellets you are considering for your African Grey list menadione as an ingredient, read on. The FDA requires a warning on every bag of food that contains it. That warning must read, "Person who handles needs to wear protective outfit, gloves, mask, and glasses."Menadione may be added to give your African Grey additional vitamin K. A better option is to provide full spectrum light for your parrot. An African Grey will get vitamin K from the light, just as it would if living outdoors.Organic pellets also let your African Grey avoid the high quantities of sugar in colored pellets. Most African Grey parrot owners care enough about the bird in which they've invested so much money, that they don't want to give it a diet that is high in sugar.African Grey parrots' food that is based on organic pellets will be free of contaminants that might be found in other pellets. In the U.S., government regulations force companies making organic parrot food not to use pesticides or other contaminants.In addition to a basic, formulated pellet food, African Greys need many of the same food you eat.1. Fresh vegetables: Offer your African Grey a wide variety of vegetables, raw or cooked. Think bright, deep colors for the most nutrition. Most vegetables that offer high nutrition to you and your family will be good for your parrot as well. Cooked legumes such as beans and lentils are good. Sprouted seeds are also good. Your African Grey will love them. To avoid contaminants such as pesticides, you may want to use organic vegetables for African Grey parrots' food.2. Fresh fruits: In the wild, African Greys eat fruit freely. The trick is to keep your parrot from filling up on its favorite food and neglecting pellets and vegetables. As with vegetables, choose bright, rich colors in fruit for the most nutrition. Also, purchase organic if possible.3. Other supplemental foods: African Grey parrots enjoy cooked eggs and small amounts of yogurt now and then. African Greys are more prone than some parrots to calcium deficiency, so you may leave the egg shell on the hard boiled egg, if you wish. You should not need to give your parrot calcium supplements if you are using a good organic pellet food. You may give a few seeds as a treat, but go easy on them.No, Thank YouAfrican Grey parrots' food dishes should never contain avocado, chocolate, or rhubarb. They should not contain any human junk foods or processed meats either. It should go without saying, but your African Grey should never be given anything containing caffeine or alcohol.Water, PleaseRemember, when thinking of your African Grey's dietary needs, that it should have fresh, clean water in its cage at all times.Helpful TipFor healthy African Greys, be sure you clean the food and water dishes every day. If your parrot decides on an impromptu bath, wait until it is done, wash the water dish, and give it a fresh supply of water.



©2007, Anna Hart. An avid reader and researcher, Anna explores many parrot breeds and offers more information about African Grey Parrots and their care at http://www.parrots-of-the-world.com. If you are interested in learning about parrot food made at home, you won’t want to miss the information Anna shares on that subject.

Related Posts :

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)