Report on communications at SS Georgia Rally, October, 2010
At HQ comm:
Paul Wittenborn “fireham” N7SDQ
Michael Wittenborn KJ4GOO
Chad Tackett “regulator” KD5KRE
Bob Ragain “tennmogger”, WB4ETT, 1965 Unimog radio truck
On the convoys:
Joe KJ4PQW in his Gamma Goat with PRC-25.
Roy ChevyC60, WB4GSL, in his M-151 with installed RT-524 and antenna.
Others,
Mike, SCSG-G4, thanks for bringing your AT-292 for backup use.
Jamie “Jamieboy”, KD4NXY, pair of PRC-77’s and Clansman PRC-351 radio gear
We had several volunteers for setting up and manning the HQ Comm center during the rally. They were Paul Wittenborn N7SDQ, Michael Wittenborn KJ4GOO, Chad Tackett KD5KRE, and Bob Ragain WB4ETT. Being hams, we had various radios and antennas to try out. We did not have complete setups for installation in other vehicles. The original military vehicular installations would have been ideal for that use.
Our primary goal was to provide continuous communications with radio equipped participants on the convoys. That goal was poorly achieved due to lack of radios in the convoys. In case of emergency, radio traffic could have been handled through Joe. Thanks, Gamma Goat Joe, for being there and having the capability!
For future GA Rallies, if vehicle operators have radios installed, comms will work. Note that the Amateur Radio license Technician class is easy to pass, and no code is required now.
A secondary purpose for the HQ Comms operation was to check out radios for other SS members at the rally. Six PRC-25’s or ‘77’s and two RT-524’s were checked. Most radios worked, but a couple had problems in basic function, like ‘dead’ (very basic!), or no transmit. A couple of bad headsets or mikes were found, then radio operation was verified by substituting good handsets.
Here is what we learned about comms around Durhamtown this past weekend:
“It takes two to tango”. We were surprised at how few operational radios were installed in the trucks. Many of the vehicles had antennas, some had radios, but…few were operational. No need to send a ham along if there is no installed radio to use! For next year, we may have a portable package to install into a selected vehicle. This would include a radio, amplifier, antenna, and cabling.
The only operational mobile setup was Joe in the Gamma Goat. His radio was not installed, just used when he could get hands free to orient the radio, antenna, and handle the mike. We talked to Joe several times when he could get to the radio. Later Joe took us on a ride in the Gamma Goat, and, using his radio, we made successful tests back to camp. A vehicle mounted antenna would make a huge improvement in signal level.
A valuable contribution was made by Roy, WB4GSL, “ChevyC60”, whose RT-524 was receiving but not transmitting. Roy was on the convoys and came by later to report that he was hearing us calling the convoy with a loud and clear signal, everywhere the convoy went. This was a complete installation and it worked (receive only) as intended. Roy, thanks for the effort! This proves that the concept of using tactical VHF radios at SS GA is sound.
Asking around, we found no one using CB, so our CB setup was not used during the event. CB actually has possibilities, being a lower frequency to help penetrate the foliage, having some terrain following capability, and requiring easily available equipment. CB deviates drastically from the goal of using Green Radios though, and tends to be revolting to listen to for any length of time.
FRS/GRMS handitalkies were used for coordinating within the convoys, and apparently worked well. FRS and GMRS frequencies are poorly suited for communications over rolling terrain and through thick forest, no matter if the box says “works over 5-7 miles”. Our testing showed that the FRS signals back to camp dropped off in the first quarter mile after the convoys departed. Chad, Michael, and Paul used external antennas on sensitive ham transceivers to try to hear the FRS signals, with no luck.
More on Joe’s success: Joe’s PRC-25 was using the 3 ft antenna most of the time, but he could deploy the extended 10 ft antenna when he was stopped long enough. The longer antenna makes a noticeable difference. Problem is, the PRC-25 is low power, just half a Watt or so, and that’s not enough when the trail drops into the lower areas. Joe could have provided any needed emergency communications though, even if he had to move out of a creek bottom to do so. With an amplifier and full length antenna, Joe could probably have continuous coverage, even in the low areas.
Our “green” HQ Commo setup used a PRC-77 into an AM-4477 amplifier with a measured 30 Watts out, fed into a tuned ground plane antenna at about 30 ft. Paul had the best 51 MHz antenna, a J-Pole that he built, and it was raised on a pole also. A ham radio tuned to 51 MHz was used on the J-Pole antenna and it worked well. We had no trouble talking out to about 6 miles, the longest test we tried.
Thanks to Clinto for allowing us to set up on the highest spot in camp. Every foot of elevation helps.