Just Having Fun
< 13 February 2010 >
Today the weather cooperated and allowed us to have a great Amateur Radio Outreach event. With temperatures approaching 60 degrees in a bright Oklahoma sun. It’s little surprise to see kids actually wearing shorts today. Kid’s Zone proves to be a magnet for kids to release energy after 2+ weeks of bitter cold that saw the most destructive winter weather ever seen by this author. Lawton was clobbered by a harsh ice storm that left thousands in our community without power, some for several days. Compared to our neighbors just 15 miles north, we got off easy.
Two years ago, Public Service of Oklahoma, began an aggressive program of trimming trees that could potentially put power lines at risk along easements. I complained loudly about the aggressive reach into my back yard and the loss of half a beautiful shade tree. I now see the benefit of that aggressive undertaking. I’m the 1st to admit, the decision greatly reduced the overall damage and impact caused by this storm. We’ve learned some valuable lessons too. Our Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) needs more depth of operators. We all need to pull together to strengthen our ARES program. There are not enough amateurs to provide sustained assistance if our community needed us.
The next picture is of the tree across the street from the home QTH. Normally, you can walk under the tree. Imagine the weight of every branch, every twig carrying 1 inch of ice all the way around and extending beyond the tip by another inch. Branches, power lines and utility poles collapsed under the colossal weight throughout the day and night. There was little that could be done for the next two days as cold air and heavy clouds prevented sun light from providing much needed melting relief.
The tree above represents 50+ years of growth. For the most part, this tree only lost two large branches. Most trees did not fare as well and are being reduced to next year’s fire wood. Look carefully at the ice on the road. Do you see the letters carved in the ice that spell, rate increase?
The next picture is an attempt to show you the same view 2 weeks later, remember this tree did well. Trees that did not topple now look like utility poles with stubs. Imagine the tremendous weight this tree was bearing. The white specs, yes it’s snowing.
On the day before the storm, I took down my G5RV wire antenna. The center was connected using a pulley to a fork as high as I could reach into the tree with a telescoping 31’ pole. That limb along with many others is now in a pile on the side of the house. On the positive side, the center point of my wire antenna is now about 8 feet higher than its previous location. That tree is pretty void of limbs and may not survive, time will tell.
My Tri-Band (donated by N5WTS) antenna that proudly stood erect on the top of a 30’ push up pole for 15 years was lost. Against the Oklahoma sun, lightning, wind and previous ice storms the antenna finally surrendered and broke in half on the 2nd day. The antenna landed on the roof with a loud crack. When I investigated the noise, I found six feet of the fiberglass shell encased in more than 1 inch of ice. There were a lot of great conversations left in that antenna. I will have to submit a grant request to N5WTS to see about a replacement. The wire portion of the actual antenna was dangling below the remaining six feet of pole still attached to the push up pole, blowing in the wind, like a streamer! Many stations lost antennas, including the Lawton High School, W5LHS silencing their participation in this year’s School Club Round Up (SCR).
Jaron KF5DIR is coming into his own as he locates a station for these young ladies. Four of the girls are students at the Eisenhower Middle School and know about the Viking Radio Club. I asked if they knew Mr. (Clifton) Harper KE5YZB and one of them said “yes, but he don’t like me.” I said, of course he don’t like you, he’s a teacher and they laughed. Jaron got Sarah on the radio to she talked briefly with Dennis in AZ. Is that sun bright or what!
Later Jaron would attempt to make his first CW (Morse Code) contact on the 20 meter Elmer frequency. Although no one came back to him, he made a fine effort and was not at all disappointed. He chalked it up as an opportunity to get more practice before he ventured into the world of CW.
Earlier in the day Connor age 12 (above right) visited us. Jaron and Connor are listening to verify if a frequency is not already in use. Everyone that talks on the radio now gets a “RADIO CARD”. We include the dits and dahs of their name along with contact information and future outreach program dates. Conner proved to be a natural coach when he showed Justin, another 12 year old visitor how to do SOS and his name in Morse Code. Justin made the best comment when he said, “This is cool and you learn stuff too.” Imagine that.
This day, the weather was pleasant and the park provided welcome relief for the 300+ kids and adults that ventured in and out of the park while we were there. We encourage park visitors to risk coming our way – using a strategically positioned welcome sign that directs their interest to the pavilion. We had about 18 visitors inquire about our activities.
Milton WB5YZB stopped by and informed us about an upcoming class beginning April 3 that will run for about six Saturdays. Do you have a red ARRL Ham Radio License Manual? Please donate your book to this class. There is no cost for the class, and donated books are not being resold. If you are still studying, the question pool will change on 1 July. Hopefully, that should motivate you.
Foot notes for the week. Clifton Harper KE5YZB earned every bit of his amateur radio paycheck this past week. He pulled double duty as a middle school art teacher and School Club Round Up (SCR) host in his classroom. Overall 17 Viking Radio Club members contacted 1 country (Mexico), 14 States, 31 operators, 10 schools, and 1 lighthouse! The lighthouse sparked so much interest that students had to look it up on the web. All contacts were made using High Frequency (HF) radio broadcasts. During the week, the club picked up seven new members, four girls and 3 boys. One of the new students took an on-line practice test and PASSED! Clifton shared a chat he had with a teacher in Pennsylvania. She too is an art teacher and has a station in her classroom year round. Clifton was the 1st art teacher she ever met that also had a radio in the classroom.
During this past SCR event amateurs came in to assist and supervise the activities of the students. Two Viking Radio Club members have direct relationships to other hams, KC5JAU is a grandmother of a student and W5RSN is the uncle of another.
This past outreach was an impromptu event sparked by Jaron wanting to take advantage of the good weather and he asked me to assist. The results were just too successful to overlook providing you a summary.
The next two pictures are of another off the cuff event held in the park just prior to the ice storm. These spur of the moment activities carry the risk of disappointment. If the pavilion is already reserved, we can be asked to leave and that has happened one time. In January and February that risk is probably very limited, and most times we can successfully share the space for birthday parties and other events, after all, we show up with balloons.
Below KC5CYY is working with elementary age students assisting them in making a local contact with Mike Minor, WD5USA. Even though WD5USA and KC5CYY have known each other for years, when the call comes as K5USA, they almost always reintroduce themselves, including phonetic spelling of their names and give a signal report. They see this as setting the stage of the conversation as they try to make the contact appear to be a first time event, every time.
We all remember our new young friend Hannah (below), seen here working with Jaron. Jaron will sometimes dit and dah out messages on paper while he works with her to develop her interest.
February 21 should already be marked on your calendar, that’s our next scheduled Amateur Radio Outreach event, but Jaron has already contacted me about going on Monday the 15th and taking advantage of school being closed. Until then, get radio active and take a trip to your local park!
