Self-Deploying for Training Purposes
There is one cardinal rule in emergency communications: Never self-deploy in an emergency. There is, however, one reason when it is ok to self-deploy. In fact, every emergency communicator needs to do that often. Deploying one’s self to test one’s equipment and to test one’s ability to set up for emergency communication (commonly called EmComm) is perfectly allowed. It should be done frequently by every EmComm-er
The author of this article has conducted a rather un-scientific poll to see how many EmComm-ers actually use their equipment. The results may not be scientific, but they are encouraging. One ham I contacted has his go kit in the trunk of his vehicle and remotes it to the front of his vehicle. He uses it several days a week on his way to and from work. He also uses it at many amateur radio events.
Another ham contacted is unable to set up his equipment at his home location, so his go kit is frequently deployed to a park. Hs has a lightweight radio, a portable antenna, and an excellent battery. Assuredly, he deploys often.
How about you? When was the last time you deployed your equipment? What condition are your antennas in? Do they still work? How about your power supply? Is it ready to go?
There may be some of us who have one radio packed up in a go kit, and use a different radio in the shack. Problems may arise when it comes time to deploy the go kit and the operator has to fumble around to get his or her radio to work. Experience tells us that radios that aren’t often used may not work after a while. Parts in the radio may dry out, causing their values to change. This makes the radio not work at optimum performance. Even worse, temperature and humidity may destroy a radio, or at least render it useless. Another problem with a seldom used radio is that the operator may forget some of the finer points in using it. Most hams can figure out how to tune a radio and how to press the push-to-talk button, but modern radios are often packed with features too numerous to mention. Knowing how to use these features may mean the difference in saving a life
“But wait”, you say, “All I have is a handy talkie.” Well, you can self-deploy for training with that, too. You might take your handy talkie to the park and operate. If you have an external antenna, like a J-pole or something similar, take it with you and set it up. Practice operating under emergency conditions. Try using the radio with your emergency power supply.
Many of us have more than radio. It would be good to try them all under field conditions. You never know which radio is the most suited to a particular scenario. Try them all at one time or another. The author has several handy talkies and uses them all at different times. That way he can make sure that they all work and he doesn’t forget the peculiarities of anyone of them.
Self-deploying for one’s own training can be expanded. Why not get a group together and try communicating from various locations with different configurations? You will soon get to know the best way to set up your own EmComm station when an emergency arises.
The Winter Field Day is coming up in January. This may be the perfect day to test out whatever HF equipment you have. Again, this can be an individual or a group effort. Many clubs will set up at a particular location. You could volunteer your equipment and test it out under field conditions.
The point is that it is good to get out of your home location and try communicating from somewhere else. It will definitely prove how well you may do in an emergency, and it could be a lot of fun!
73 de KJ4CMY
David Harden