Ham Radio and Emergency Communications in a Disaster

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Welcome everybody. Here's the class on ham radio and emergency communications in a disaster, that I referenced during my interview with LDSPrepper. Thanks to Ron, an “Elmer” (seasoned ham radio operator that mentors newcomers) from Oregon, who taught this class. He has the safe and gentle heart of a teacher, that made it easy for us to learn much of the following: 

*Breakdown of the radio spectrum, and the different communication bands within it.

*Explains the broadcast radio communication bands: 

*AM & FM (characteristics, pros and cons), 

*Shortwave, 

*Citizens Band, 

*FRS (Family Radio Service), 

*GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service), 

*Scanners (Used to monitor Emergency Services bands),

*Ham Radio bands 

*Weather band

*Any licensing requirements

*Rules/ laws on what you can do with each

*Also introduces us to concepts like the following: 

*Skip, 

*Line of sight, 

*PTT (push-to-talk), 

*Vox (voice operated switch or transmission),

*Radio jargon

*Morse Code

*Call Signs 

*Scanning (channels or bands, and how that’s helpful), 

*Antennas, different types, *Etc. 

*Introduces us to the Phonetic Alphabet, and helps us practice spelling our names, and hopefully future ham radio license call signs!   We’ll go into these in more detail in future segments, but sit back and enjoy a great introduction to ham radio and emergency communications in a disaster.  Jam-packed and fun. Hope you enjoy!