Saturday, September 15, 2007

What Are Ham Radio Clubs Like Where You Live - Does Your Club Help New Comers To The Hobby & Disabled Radio Operators ?

Many of my armed forces friends for Canada during the Korean War. Some may call it the " Korean Conflict " but make no mistake about it, it was indeed a " WAR ". Since so many Canadians fought for Freedom and Democracy thoughout the years, one of the freedoms fought for was the freedom of Speech and Expression. This is why I'm going to write about the local Ham Radio Club here in Saint John New Brunswick. The club is know as the LCARC Loyalist City Amateur Radio Club, and the club repeater is 147.2700 Mhz +.

I was shocked & surprised to see and hear a Local Disabled Ham Operator here in Saint John, have to ask for a Helping Hand from the radio club members and other Ham Operators in General, just to get a 10 through 40 Meter Vertical SWR situation lowered as much as possible. Nobody offered to give this chap a helping hand. The chap in question was also acting as a net control operator this particular evening on behalf of the Radio Club, and is even a member of the radio club in question. The antenna was put together by friends of his, but by being non-hams they new nothing about fine tuning an antenna. The chap I'm talking about didn't and doesn't have an SWR Anylizer due to his financial disbality income.

The chap just wanted to get the Ground Mounted Antenna working to it's Maximum Efficiency that's all ! The chap was going to use the Vertical Antenna as a back up antenna for an international emergency net known as the SATERN HEALTH AND WELFARE Communications Network operated by the Salvation Army both Internationally and here in North America. As of this date as I write, nobody from the LCARC or anybody has offered to help in out. The task would take no more than Half An Hour or an Hour at the most to get it done right. I was unable to help him as I'm confined to a Wheel Chair All The Time Now.

The 2 Meter Rigs of today are a heck of a lot more complicated to program compared to radio units of even only 17 years ago I'm hear to tell you. I heard the same chap in question ask 2 club members for a helping hand to get his Hand Held Radio Programmed, so he could keep on acting as Net Control Operator on behalf of the Club.

This past Thursday an LCARC Club member stated he would come over and program it for him. The Chap stayed home all evening waiting the Club Member to show up at his residence, and show him how to program it. " THE PERSON NEVER SHOWED UP WITHOUT EVEN GIVING THE CHAP A PHONE CALL OR SENDING HIM AN E-MAIL "

Way to go LCARC Radio Club. You truly must not care about the History of what the Ham Radio Fraternity Used To Be All About. You are down right mean and inconsiderate in my humble personal opinion only.

This is why I'm asking, Does your local ham radio club Help newcomers to the hobby, and disabled Ham's currently in the Hobby who through no fault of their own or age, just cannot do the things they onec Used To Be Able To.

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