WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE #21-48

NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM TRAINING AT THE TAMPA BAY HAMFEST

 

The West Central Florida (WCF) Section has identified traffic handling as an essential skill for all radio operators. Dave Rockwell, Net Manager of the West Central Florida National Traffic Net (known as Eagle Net) will present a short (90 minute) seminar on American Radio Relay League (ARRL) standard radiogram traffic. The session will be held the afternoon of December 10 at theTampa Bay Hamfest in Plant City. No advanced registration is required.

During major disasters and other emergencies, when regular communications are disrupted, amateur radio operators are ready to provide direct communications from the effected locations to county, state, and national emergency managers.  Using simple HF and VHF nets, properly trained hams can collect information and pass it to those who need act on it. Examples include, requests for supplies and equipment from state agencies, coordination of federal response, situation reports from the frontline, and welfare messages to family and friends outside the disaster area. Often, this important information must transit several stations before reaching the correct responder or resource provider.  It is critical that the information flow accurately and quickly to its destination. That is where the radiogram comes in.  A radiogram is a formatted message that can be passed from one station to another with virtually no corruption. Every amateur radio operator involved in emergency services should learn traffic handling skills before they are needed in a disaster or emergency. Participating in regular traffic nets offers the opportunity to hone these skills and practice them regularly.  For more information, please email Dave Rockwell at W4PXE@ARRL.NET.  Attend at the Tampa Bay Hamfest on Friday December 10 at 1330 (1:30 P.M.) in the Expo Building. https://fgcarc.org/.

Thanks to Dave Rockwell W4PXE for providing the text and information contained in this press release.

END OF PRESS RELEASE