LWRA Ham Bytes – Week of 8/25/25

Good Monday,
The QRP weekend is here! As you know we will be at Mary Holland Park in Bartow. The TGT Theme is ‘information into the EOC’. When a situation of danger or important information we all want to be proficient in giving succinct, concise and pertinent information in order to get your message across. Even if calling 911, because you rarely call 911 anywhere, most dispatchers or centers have a way to train you instantly. They are trained to control the message you are sending by asking series closed end question to illicit a specific response. That’s why we train to send information into centers by radio. That messaging needs to be poignant as well. How do we do that on the radio? Practice! This is why as HAMs we learn how to ‘pass traffic’ in an orderly fashion. When your adrenalin is pumping, or other adrenergic influences, in times of stress, you lose partially three senses; your hearing is slightly diminished your ability to cognitively compile logic, and your eyesight is affected slightly. So just like other emergency workers we learn specific responses to situations. Otherwise, you will react instead of responding. Reaction is typically unplanned, unorganized and sometimes negatively. Responses are coordinated and/or organized; typically, positive. Example: medication reaction not good, response much better.

Soo, we want to learn to send information to the EOC, either giving information or elicit proper response. Come out to the QRP and practice or listen where you are on Saturday to see how its done.

I CANNOT STRESS THAT WHAT YOU HEAR WILL BE A COORDINATED EXERCISE. We will use terms at variable times to remind on the GMRS as well as the PEM that a training exercise is underway!

As I said last week…

QRP- As you know we talk this time of year about relaying or passing traffic into the Emergency Operations Center during activated events such as hurricanes. This now includes the GMRS community. Several C.E.R.T. groups are culminating information that needs to be relayed and are using GMRS and/or HAM radio. The net we started 1 year and 5 months ago has become a HUGE success. I never anticipated a weekly average of 32-36 check ins. Mentioned in a couple of articles even QST. They have become adept at using the net check in format and ‘Now for the Rest of the Story”, as my hero Paul Harvey used to say. Our QRP this month (last Saturday will be at Mary Holland Park Bartow.) From there we will disseminate scripted notifications back to the EOC, which will be manned by dual license individuals to take that information and acknowledge the sending station, as it would be in an actual activation. WE NEED YOUR HELP. I bet you have never sent information to the EOC as a HAM or GMRS, so this is a remarkable opportunity to PRACTICE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. After all, this really is why we say we got into the hobby. ‘I just want to be able to get a hold of someone in case other systems are out.’ Whether you label that ‘Prepper, Emergency Communicator, even SKYWARN® weather reporting, any other adjective or description, you want to be able to get help when you need it. Here is your chance to PRACTICE.

As always, you can set up HF, 2M,70CM and more. A regular QRP but this time with real time drill quality response to emergency comms. Come out to the park and we will give you a card with the scenario. You can use any of the approved comms into the EOC which will be on the scenario information. More to come as we plan. PLEASE come out and join us. We will provide you with a real hot dog and bun just for coming sponsored by ‘Big Dogs on the Porch’.

Thanks to Russ, Christine, and John S. for working to make this happen. (And Paul W.)
Bring your drink cause it is still summertime in Florida. You do NOT have to be a member or ARES, LWRA or the GMRS community to observe and/or participate. www.lwra.us/qrp for the flyer and information

This is a great opportunity to make sure you are registered for our next VE testing session. John Thacker and his group of merry men and women are eagerly your registration to test for a ticket whether that be for Tech., General, or Extra (or all three if your adventurous) Registration ends the Thursday prior to testing on the 1st Saturday. Testing information can be found on the web site at www.lwra.us under the ‘testing tab’.

Don’t forget the nets: We need ya! Summertime our numbers dip a little so join us if you can. Jim’s week for the net so join him on the air.

Check out W4JFS’ ‘flavor of the day’ (what repeater we are highlighting that day) on Signal Chat.
Don’t forget WINLINK Monday: We need you here too!

Thanks, Russ, for the celestial updates.

Net information on the next page.

Don’t forget use LWRA Signal Club & Swap group to find or create great deals on this medium. One average item only stays active for a few days before they are sold.

One last thing.

Check out the WINLINK Monday with Gary today, you can find more information on the
www.polkares.org/WINLINK

73 and I hope to ‘see ya on the air.’

Mike
KB4FHP jml610@comcast.net call 863-412-2467