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Y2K AND WHY WE NEED TO BE PREPARED. |
| Jan. 31, 1999, served as a drill, FOR Y2K, we were all stationed at the fire houses, RED CROSS LOCATIONS, HOSPITALS AND HIGH HILLTOPS. TALK ABOUT BEING PREPARED, WE HAD GENERATORS, DRY CELL, WET CELL, MARINE DEEP CYCLE BATTERIES AND OF COURSE SOLAR CELLS. WE KNEW THAT IF THE ELECTRICITY STOPPED FLOWING WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHARGE OUR BATTERIES VIA SOLAR CELLS. |
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| COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT CONSISTED OF: HANDIE TALKIES, MOBILE FM RADIOS, HF RIGS, PACKET RADIO. |
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 A
LOCAL OPERATOR FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA. PURCHASED A NEW DUAL BAND MOBILE
HI POWER 2M/440 FM RADIO ESPECIALLY SO AS TO HAVE PLENTY OF POWER IF
NEEDED, SO IF A REAL EMERGENCY WOULD HAPPEN HE WOULD HAVE GOOD RELIABLE
COMMUNICATIONS WITH OTHER STATIONS. |
| THE RADIO TRANSMITTED LOUD AND CLEAR, HE WAS HEARD 40 MILES AWAY! BUT HE COULD NOT HEAR THE MEN AT THE FIRE STATION A MILE AWAY, TALKING BACK TO HIM. |
| PROBLEM: HE HAD TESTED THE RADIO AT HOME IN A AREA AWAY FROM ALL THE INTERFERENCE HE WAS ENCOUNTERING AT THE RED CROSS IN THE DOWNTOWN PART OF THE CITY. THE PROBLEM HE WAS HAVING NOW WAS INTERMOD! THIS IS HOW TO CORRECT IT. |
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| WHAT YOU JUST READ ABOUT IS WHY WE HAVE EMERGENCY DRILLS SO AS TO MAKE SURE OUR EQUIPMENT WILL WORK UNDER VARYING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND EVEN TEMPERATURES. |
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| Hams regularly assist the National Weather Service when there's a severe thunderstorm OR TORNADO WARNINGS. |
| BY JIM BAUDO, NØUQZ 1/04/01 |
| LEARN ABOUT INTERMOD HERE |
| LEARN ABOUT SOLAR CELLS HERE |
