On-Air DCARES and Great Utah Shake-Out 2019

This is a recording of On-Air traffic during the Davis County Amateur Radio Club's (DCARC) participation in Utah's annual earthquake drill called "The Great Utah Shake Out". DCARC's Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) Group conducted simulated emergency services communications during the exercise. For more information visit DCARC.net, ARRL.org, Shakeout.org/utah/ and WA7YZN.JeepCruzer.com

Listen here:

https://soundcloud.com/user-962365536/on-air-utah-shake-out-drill-dc-ares-04-18-19

Or listen and download here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DD-XszcnmoWAkciAOAIDlI6_yM_K6vor/view?fbclid=IwAR0WcRUmSf2X78BhZjNSrWvB6y3VjiVfM4TzLcwISa0JPpvGyCoC_Jsm_lY

Is There A Radio Store In Utah?

Is there an Amateur Radio retail outlet in Utah?  No, not per se.  But there are a few places that sell some things and some another and perhaps if the winds are in your favor, you might find what you want at another.  I hear someone on the 2 Meter repeaters a couple times a month asking this question and a string of ham's come back suggesting one store or the other, so I decided to compile the list of places that have been mentioned.  I've only visited a few of these myself, but I have listed any business that I have seen or have had suggested which seems to stock two-way radio related parts.

Precision Electronics
454 N 1100 W, Centerville, UT 84014
(801) 292-4474

Comments: Precision is an repair shop, not a retail outlet, but I have bought some components from them and they are an iCom dealer.

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RA-Elco Inc
2780 S Main St, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 487-7749

https://plus.google.com/109469298572095612145/about?gl=us&hl=en

Comments: Primarily a second had components store.  LOTS of cable connectors and adapters (BNC to PL259 to F, etc) and racks of resistors and other components.  Antenna selection is limited, sometimes a stray yagi will show up and radios are seldom seen.
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Standard Supply Electronics
3424 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
(801) 486-3371

http://www.standardsupply.com/

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Mountain West Distributors

2889 S 900 W, Salt Lake City UT 84119

(801) 487-5694

https://www.mwd1.com:8443/storefrontCommerce/home.do

Comments: May be a wholesale only operation.

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Utah Communications Inc.
1202 S 300 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801) 486-0161

Comments: Motorola Dealer and service center for commercial two-way coms.

Davis Cup Wrap Up

No event I've supported as an amateur radio operator has given me as much radio practice as the Davis Cup.  A big part of the reason ham operators volunteer their services at events is to practice for potential emergencies (where the telephone infrastructure is disabled) and vett their equipment in circumstances that mimic what might happen when that emergency comes.  The Davis Cup provided this in ideal measure.  I was pleased to learn my HT radio was operating well, and I identified an issue with the headset I was using that needs to be resolved.  I also identified some bad habits I had in on-air communication that I can work on as well.  I'm happy to learn this now rather than in the middle of relaying data during an earthquake (or the like).

The event had it's fair share of calamities. Riverton High had a bus break down on the interstate.  The support vehicles arrived long before the first, and only, bus.  I never heard how they compensated for lacking roughly half their performers.  Orem High had a problem getting the buses to/leaving the school on time which left them arriving just a few minutes before their performance time. We scrambled to make arrangements to get them on the field.  Plans were made for them to pull up right next to the stadium rather than stage at the parking lot. When the check-in organizer's phone failed we needed a way to contact the director and let he know of the change.  I started  relaying info through Net Control who spoke on the phone with the Director.  It was a good ad-hoc resolution and a great example of the ingenuity of amateur operators and the value of having their services for emergency communication.

On top of all this good mo-jo was the fun of watching students and supporters arrive in caravan and spring into action.  I was amazed at the support so many of these schools received from volunteers.  I saw many personal vehicles that had clearly been adapted for use with the band.  Some schools had tractor-trailer rigs which would necessitate a commercial licensed volunteer driver to be available for each event they travel to.  It was excellent to see so many people turn out to help their kids and their communities have a remarkable experience.

In the end, that's why I was there too. It's fun to talk on the radio, test your designs and be involved in a fun event, but if I didn't want my neighborhood and my state to be a great place, I could find other ways to get those experiences.  So if you know a ham operator in your community, ask if they volunteer and thank them for their donation of time, talent an equipment.  And hey, perhaps you'd care to join us in this great hobby.

Info from my local club about ham radio.
Why become an amateur radio operator (University of Michigan)?
The biggest and oldest amateur radio organization loves to assist new operators.
I'd be happy to answer any ham radio questions you might have as well:
+Douglas T. WA7YZN | WA7YZN.JeepCruzer.com | @WA7YZN

WA7YZN Is On The Air

I am now the caretaker of callsign WA7YZN, my father's former amateur radio operator callsign.  I wanted to adopt his call and keep it alive.  I consider it an honor to use a call that has been active since the 70's.  Since I've been using all of dad's old equipment, it only seem natural to re-associate that old callsign and get it back on the air.

KG7KJG CLEAR