Yessir, there are good people everywhere and bad ones too. Ours troll the rag chew repeaters looking for someone to slip up on the most minute infractions and verbally rape new hams for learning and trying to get over mic fright.
CB or HAM in your Rig?
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Saxainpdx
New member
Looks nice [MENTION=132734]MeefZah[/MENTION] I'll look at something like that soon.
IIRC, you are in Law Enforcement? In Oregon, the distracted driving/cell phone law mentions any hand-held two-way communication device. Does that include just the microphone for a 2-way? I know you are in California, but was just wondering what you thought. Have to look for a wireless PTT switch to mount on the steering wheel I guess.
Thanks!
John
IIRC, you are in Law Enforcement? In Oregon, the distracted driving/cell phone law mentions any hand-held two-way communication device. Does that include just the microphone for a 2-way? I know you are in California, but was just wondering what you thought. Have to look for a wireless PTT switch to mount on the steering wheel I guess.
Thanks!
John
MeefZah
New member
Thanks. Yeah, I'm a cop. The law shouldn't apply to two way radios but I can't be certain exactly how Oregon's is worded.
Saxainpdx
New member
Ah. just read the newest law.. If you hold an amateur radio license, you are exempt it seems.. But I assume I still might get pulled over and have to talk my way out of it..
Here is the Oregon Law: ORS 811.507 - Operating motor vehicle while using mobile communication device - 2015 Oregon Revised Statutes
Here are the 2 excerpts about HAM and CB/Family radios:
(h) Holds a valid amateur radio operator license issued or any other license issued by the Federal Communications Commission and is operating an amateur radio;
(i) Is operating a two-way radio device that transmits radio communication transmitted by a station operating on an authorized frequency within the citizens or family radio service bands in accordance with rules of the Federal Communications Commission;
Here is the Oregon Law: ORS 811.507 - Operating motor vehicle while using mobile communication device - 2015 Oregon Revised Statutes
Here are the 2 excerpts about HAM and CB/Family radios:
(h) Holds a valid amateur radio operator license issued or any other license issued by the Federal Communications Commission and is operating an amateur radio;
(i) Is operating a two-way radio device that transmits radio communication transmitted by a station operating on an authorized frequency within the citizens or family radio service bands in accordance with rules of the Federal Communications Commission;
MeefZah
New member
You can't just put the mic down when you see a cop, like everyone else does with their phones? LOL
You're talking about a State that doesn't let the people pump their own gas...
Saxainpdx
New member
I'm just getting started in this hobby, and was thinking of joining ARES/RACES. Are they really this bad? or just in certain areas.. I'm in the Portland, OR. area, so would be ARES Dist 1/Washington County. Wondering if I'm getting in over my head, or should I stay SKYWARN only?
Thanks
John
I think it's mostly regional. The ones in the groups here assume new ham = idiot, when some of us are highly capable EE, RF engineers with Master's degrees or higher. I'm not 100% familiar with all the requirements to join those groups. Ours want us to become fully vetted FEMA agents on a volunteer basis. I think it's mostly because that was their career and nothing less than that will suffice.
Overall, once I got away from those people, I've really enjoyed the amateur radio hobby and vowed to stay away from emergency volunteer management agencies.
This pretty much sums up those organizations:
To help clarify some of my earlier comments, ARES and SKYWARN are obviously separate organizations, although members of one are usually members of both.
Where my ARES respect comes from is mainly due to the same folks who participate in storm chasing and then assist with keeping comms open when infrastructure is destroyed (Katrina, for example, was an instance where ARES helped coordinate between emergency services and people on the ground).
If you ever wonder where they fit, just try calling your local FD/PD and ask them if they use HAM bands for emergency calls when cell towers are destroyed by a tornado. I did that recently and got one VERY confused administrator on the phone, making me worry about their effectiveness during a widespread outage.
My suggestion would be to ask around among the 'WARN guys and see who also participates in RACES/ARES. The way they act will tell you alot about what to expect.
Where my ARES respect comes from is mainly due to the same folks who participate in storm chasing and then assist with keeping comms open when infrastructure is destroyed (Katrina, for example, was an instance where ARES helped coordinate between emergency services and people on the ground).
If you ever wonder where they fit, just try calling your local FD/PD and ask them if they use HAM bands for emergency calls when cell towers are destroyed by a tornado. I did that recently and got one VERY confused administrator on the phone, making me worry about their effectiveness during a widespread outage.
My suggestion would be to ask around among the 'WARN guys and see who also participates in RACES/ARES. The way they act will tell you alot about what to expect.
