WEBVTT 00:00:09.129 --> 00:00:11.949 Thanks for tuning in. HamTalk Live will be on 00:00:11.949 --> 00:00:29.890 the air shortly. Please stand by. Thanks for 00:00:29.890 --> 00:00:32.630 tuning in. HamTalk Live will be on the air shortly. 00:00:32.869 --> 00:00:46.250 Please stand by. This episode of HamTalk Live 00:00:46.250 --> 00:00:49.890 is brought to you by Tower Electronics. For connectors, 00:00:50.250 --> 00:00:55.710 cables, and more, call 920 -435 -2973 or visit 00:00:55.710 --> 00:01:01.570 pl -259 .com. And by ICOM, heard it, worked it, 00:01:01.850 --> 00:01:06.829 logged it. Visit www .icomamerica .com slash 00:01:06.829 --> 00:01:10.689 amateur for more information about ICOM radios. 00:01:42.700 --> 00:01:47.099 Good evening everyone, it's National Burrito 00:01:47.099 --> 00:01:52.739 Day and it's HamTalk Live. It's episode number 00:01:52.739 --> 00:01:58.200 159. MCOM 1 recorded live on Thursday, April 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:03.159 4th, 2019. I'm your host, Neil Rapp, WB9 VPG. 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:06.980 Thanks for tuning in to this episode of HamTalk 00:02:06.980 --> 00:02:12.810 Live. Tonight we're joined by Emmett ONC W0QH 00:02:12.810 --> 00:02:15.490 and we will take your calls live in just a few 00:02:15.490 --> 00:02:20.569 minutes. Last week Corey Shields KB9JHU was here 00:02:20.569 --> 00:02:25.030 to talk about the new SatNogs dashboard and if 00:02:25.030 --> 00:02:27.169 you missed that show you can listen anytime at 00:02:27.169 --> 00:02:30.689 HamTalkLive .com or on your favorite podcast 00:02:30.689 --> 00:02:35.099 app or on YouTube. You can also catch us on the 00:02:35.099 --> 00:02:41.520 rebroadcast on WTWW. That's 5085 a .m. Saturday 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:45.900 evenings at or about 630 p .m. Eastern Time. 00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:48.039 So we're going to talk a little Mcom tonight 00:02:48.039 --> 00:02:53.319 and about Mcom 1. So get those questions ready 00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:57.080 to go if you're listening to us tonight live. 00:02:57.719 --> 00:03:00.860 which is Thursday night. You can give us a call 00:03:00.860 --> 00:03:04.680 after the interview. And again, the temporary 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:08.659 phone number we're using right now is 812 -650 00:03:08.659 --> 00:03:12.020 -9556. We'll give that out again here in a minute. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:14.280 So you can write that down and have it ready 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:17.520 to go when we get to the call -in segment of 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:21.669 the show later on this evening. But again, we're 00:03:21.669 --> 00:03:24.490 using the temporary number again tonight. But 00:03:24.490 --> 00:03:26.889 if you're listening to us live on Thursday night, 00:03:27.069 --> 00:03:30.530 you can give us a call or you can tweet us on 00:03:30.530 --> 00:03:37.069 Twitter. Just look for HamTalk Live and put HamTalk 00:03:37.069 --> 00:03:40.539 Live in the... message and we'll get that and 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:43.840 check those. And again, the phone number 812 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:50.199 -650 -9556 is the number you can use to call 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:52.800 when we get to that part of the show. So I'll 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:55.280 be back with Emmett and we'll talk a little bit 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:58.419 first right after this word from Tower Electronics 00:03:58.419 --> 00:04:02.319 right here on HamTalk Live. Hey honey, have you 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:07.219 seen the PL 259s anywhere? No, I haven't. Come 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:12.530 on kids, let's go! There's just one place to 00:04:12.530 --> 00:04:15.830 go for all of your connector needs. Tower electronics. 00:04:15.889 --> 00:04:19.009 Tower electronics. Tower electronics. 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TOWER ELECTRONICS! 00:05:00.569 --> 00:05:04.430 TOWER ELECTRONICS! TOWER ELECTRONICS! Hi, I'm 00:05:04.430 --> 00:05:08.550 Scott Cole, KB9 AMM, President of TOWER ELECTRONICS. 00:05:08.730 --> 00:05:10.970 I like the company so much that I bought it. 00:05:11.029 --> 00:05:13.389 TOWER ELECTRONICS, coming to a hand -fest near 00:05:13.389 --> 00:05:18.389 you, or online at pl -259 .com. And we're in 00:05:18.389 --> 00:05:21.240 the Yellow Pages under... Amateur radio connectors. 00:05:21.420 --> 00:05:25.360 My, wherever did you get that lovely PL259? Tower 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:32.639 Electronics, pl -259 .com or call 920 -435 -2973. 00:05:33.060 --> 00:05:36.579 Do we sell PL259 connectors? A flashlight is 00:05:36.579 --> 00:05:39.720 a case for holding dead batteries. Now, here's 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:52.990 Neil Rapp with more HamTalk Live. Thanks as always 00:05:52.990 --> 00:05:55.670 to Scott and Jill at Tower Electronics for sponsoring 00:05:55.670 --> 00:05:59.009 the show tonight. They'll be at Belton, Texas 00:05:59.009 --> 00:06:02.790 this weekend, April 6th. And then on April 13th, 00:06:02.790 --> 00:06:06.970 they'll be in Mobile, Alabama and Staunton, Wisconsin. 00:06:07.569 --> 00:06:11.170 Or you can visit them anytime at all. It's PL 00:06:11.170 --> 00:06:17.430 -259 .com. Well, our friend Emmett is back with 00:06:17.430 --> 00:06:21.550 us, W0QH. He's the chief engineer at Radio Waves. 00:06:21.819 --> 00:06:25.459 In the St. Louis, Missouri metro area, he designs 00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:29.439 and builds custom antennas for both amateur and 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:33.439 commercial radio use. He's been on several ham 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:37.259 radio podcasts teaching about antennas and he's 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:42.240 here tonight as the custodian of MCOM -1, an 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:45.379 interoperable communications van sponsored by 00:06:45.379 --> 00:06:48.579 ICOM America. And full disclosure, ICOM is a 00:06:48.579 --> 00:06:51.730 sponsor of the show. Emmett's company, Radio 00:06:51.730 --> 00:06:54.589 Waves, is also a proud co -sponsor of the amateur 00:06:54.589 --> 00:06:57.189 radio news line, Young Ham of the Year Award. 00:06:57.310 --> 00:07:02.410 And you can visit Radio Waves online at radiowaveswithz 00:07:02.410 --> 00:07:07.990 .com. So Emmett, welcome back. And we're glad 00:07:07.990 --> 00:07:12.290 to hear Rochelle's on the mend. Yes. Thank you, 00:07:12.470 --> 00:07:14.389 Neil. And it's good to be back again and good 00:07:14.389 --> 00:07:17.649 to hear your dulcet tones over the radio. Yeah, 00:07:17.750 --> 00:07:20.410 Rochelle is definitely coming back, which is 00:07:20.410 --> 00:07:24.670 good. Many people didn't know this, but she recently 00:07:24.670 --> 00:07:28.550 underwent a quadruple bypass several months ago. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:32.339 Not a hundred percent yet, as far as being able 00:07:32.339 --> 00:07:34.459 to go out to all the shows. So she's not going 00:07:34.459 --> 00:07:36.939 to be able to do Dayton this year. She has done 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:40.579 a couple, uh, smaller venues with me. Um, just, 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:43.800 uh, I guess gear up and, and exercise herself, 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:45.459 but she's doing better every day. And that's, 00:07:45.459 --> 00:07:48.839 that's an encouraging thing. Well, we're, we're 00:07:48.839 --> 00:07:53.339 very thankful to hear that and wish her a good 00:07:53.339 --> 00:07:56.220 and speedy recovery and hope to see her back. 00:07:56.220 --> 00:07:59.430 Uh, at Dayton and some of these bigger places 00:07:59.430 --> 00:08:04.589 before too long. Well, you've had MCOM 1 for 00:08:04.589 --> 00:08:07.589 a while now and you've been out on tour with 00:08:07.589 --> 00:08:11.290 it. So some of our listeners may have seen it 00:08:11.290 --> 00:08:14.389 actually at a ham fest or two. So let's just 00:08:14.389 --> 00:08:17.129 talk a little bit about exactly what it is and 00:08:17.129 --> 00:08:22.189 why it's been put together this way. Well, MCOM 00:08:22.189 --> 00:08:28.459 1 was originally the idea of Mike Lee down in 00:08:28.459 --> 00:08:32.779 Florida Where he's he designed? Well, he designed 00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:35.639 the the basic concept and then of course I got 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:39.240 a little bit involved over time but Mcom1 is 00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:42.299 an emergency communications vehicle that's equipped 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:45.299 with state -of -the -art ICOM communications 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:48.620 equipment. It's a mobile communications van that 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:51.860 includes ICOM interoperability products that 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:55.039 enables communication between a myriad of radios. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:59.980 That's anything from Yesu, Kenwood, Motorola, 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:04.360 Harris, which we have all on board. The idea 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:08.559 is that we are not, the van itself is not designed 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:10.320 to have a whole bunch of operators in there, 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:13.639 but what we're able to do is create a platform 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:17.110 that Let's say the local police department can 00:09:17.110 --> 00:09:19.490 talk to the state highway patrol that can talk 00:09:19.490 --> 00:09:21.889 to FEMA, that can talk to the Coast Guard, that 00:09:21.889 --> 00:09:25.389 can talk to all these different agencies or people 00:09:25.389 --> 00:09:28.649 that might be involved in a disaster, all on 00:09:28.649 --> 00:09:30.850 one platform. They don't have to change their 00:09:30.850 --> 00:09:34.070 equipment. We're able to, let's say based on 00:09:34.070 --> 00:09:37.169 what they allow us to do with them, use one of 00:09:37.169 --> 00:09:39.750 the channels on their radio and we can tie those 00:09:39.750 --> 00:09:42.970 individual frequencies and channels together 00:09:42.970 --> 00:09:45.250 to create let's just say a great big switchboard 00:09:45.250 --> 00:09:48.730 and we're able to you know the sheriff can talk 00:09:48.730 --> 00:09:51.070 to the highway patrol on channel three on his 00:09:51.070 --> 00:09:54.769 radio and the highway patrol can talk to the 00:09:54.769 --> 00:09:57.389 sheriff on whatever frequency we you know we 00:09:57.389 --> 00:09:59.909 deem is appropriate for for the highway patrol 00:09:59.909 --> 00:10:01.929 and then of course if the coast guard is out 00:10:01.929 --> 00:10:04.549 there let's say doing river patrol or along the 00:10:04.549 --> 00:10:11.080 the lake or along the the oceans, it depends 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:14.960 on where we are, we can communicate with them 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:17.460 as well, and then they can also communicate with 00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:20.860 air assets and so on. So what it does is it creates 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:25.159 this really good, flexible platform for multiple 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:27.580 agencies to communicate when they need to. And 00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:29.679 then, of course, if there's another emergency 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:31.759 where we just don't have a lot of communications, 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:35.879 MCOM1's capable of filling in in that role as 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:38.600 well. But of course, You know, we don't have 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.120 a lot of operators in the van. We can remote 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:43.580 all the operators, let's say into a classroom 00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:47.279 or into a tent or wherever, and not have to mess 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.500 with, uh, you know, bringing in the RV and all 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:54.080 the other stuff. So you've got all the equipment 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:58.240 on board and you can just, you know, come in 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:01.059 on one band and go out on a different band and, 00:11:01.059 --> 00:11:04.679 and mode so that you can get all these different 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:09.539 agencies talking to each other. Yes, as a matter 00:11:09.539 --> 00:11:14.179 of fact, the whole idea is that we're a portable 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:17.419 platform that allows, let's say we have an event 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:20.740 or an emergency or something. For instance, one 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:23.419 of the best examples is Hurricane Matthew back 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:29.620 in November 2016, where MCOM -1 was used for 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:32.460 emergency communications for, let's say, the 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:35.220 Department of Natural Resources, the State Highway 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:40.419 Patrol, the local sheriff. and let's say the 00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:44.460 emergency services like fire and ambulance and 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:48.620 so on. And what basically happens is, is we're 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:53.700 able to take let's say your 800 megahertz trunk 00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:57.549 system and tie into that. So, that way the sheriff 00:11:57.549 --> 00:12:01.129 can communicate with other, let's say, the local 00:12:01.129 --> 00:12:04.129 police department or whatever. Now, this doesn't 00:12:04.129 --> 00:12:07.029 happen really quick. When I say really quick, 00:12:07.210 --> 00:12:10.990 it's within minutes, providing that we have the 00:12:10.990 --> 00:12:13.409 clearances and all that from the agency that 00:12:13.409 --> 00:12:17.720 needs our assistance. we're able to get into 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:22.580 that area, set up and create that platform to 00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:24.960 allow all these different agencies to work with 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:29.139 each other. We're also able to set up in that 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:32.059 van, which is kind of neat, we've got a P25 two 00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:37.539 meter, effectively a VHF or two meter type P25 00:12:37.539 --> 00:12:40.360 repeater system on there that we can crank up 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:43.110 on top of a 30 foot tower that's attached to 00:12:43.110 --> 00:12:46.710 the back of the van. We also generally roll with 00:12:46.710 --> 00:12:51.090 several 440 type repeaters in a closet full of 00:12:51.090 --> 00:12:57.049 cans so that we can change out based on the client's 00:12:57.049 --> 00:12:59.710 needs at that time. So we can either set up a 00:12:59.710 --> 00:13:04.490 440 amateur repeater. We can also set up a P25 00:13:04.490 --> 00:13:07.269 440 repeater system for the local sheriff department 00:13:07.269 --> 00:13:09.529 based on whatever the frequencies are so we could 00:13:09.529 --> 00:13:12.210 actually Replace one of their repeater systems 00:13:12.210 --> 00:13:15.809 or extend their their their their ability to 00:13:15.809 --> 00:13:19.210 talk at a you know farther distance And in some 00:13:19.210 --> 00:13:22.610 of these interoperable systems that are permanent 00:13:22.610 --> 00:13:28.549 You know It's that whole as we like to say in 00:13:28.549 --> 00:13:32.429 ham radio when all else fails you know One of 00:13:32.429 --> 00:13:34.889 the towers goes down and now all of a sudden 00:13:34.889 --> 00:13:37.649 that interoperable system that they've relied 00:13:37.649 --> 00:13:41.750 on all the time doesn't work anymore. And so 00:13:41.750 --> 00:13:45.009 now you're pulling out the old analog stuff and 00:13:45.009 --> 00:13:48.549 there's no repeaters. There's nothing there. 00:13:48.590 --> 00:13:52.269 And so, so you can come in and set up something 00:13:52.269 --> 00:13:56.629 temporarily until things get back in order. Well, 00:13:56.690 --> 00:13:59.110 the, the van itself is set up the way we design 00:13:59.110 --> 00:14:03.029 it. We've got crews of three. Initially, we roll 00:14:03.029 --> 00:14:07.309 with a crew of three and then a three -person 00:14:07.309 --> 00:14:12.009 relief crew so we can cycle ourselves through. 00:14:12.970 --> 00:14:15.169 There's generally only one person awake at any 00:14:15.169 --> 00:14:17.389 given time or basically on duty at any given 00:14:17.389 --> 00:14:21.269 time, but we do overlap. In other words, we cover 00:14:21.269 --> 00:14:24.090 24 hours if needed and we got three people that 00:14:24.090 --> 00:14:26.490 we basically rotate our schedules to make that 00:14:26.490 --> 00:14:30.110 happen. I'm trying to remember where I was going 00:14:30.110 --> 00:14:33.570 with this discussion. What happens is we have 00:14:33.570 --> 00:14:37.110 the ability, which it's already been exercised 00:14:37.110 --> 00:14:40.929 a couple of times, where the MCOM -1 is on a 00:14:40.929 --> 00:14:44.590 Mercedes frame. It's a diesel. We're capable 00:14:44.590 --> 00:14:48.230 of being transported by either C -130 or C -5A, 00:14:48.230 --> 00:14:52.610 which it's happened before. We have a 20 kilowatt 00:14:52.610 --> 00:14:55.509 generator that we can typically tow along with 00:14:55.509 --> 00:14:57.490 us. And if you go to Dayton, you'll see it there. 00:14:58.450 --> 00:15:01.929 And we have enough fuel online to where we can 00:15:01.929 --> 00:15:04.090 run at least anywhere between three to seven 00:15:04.090 --> 00:15:06.889 days unsupported, meaning we don't need other 00:15:06.889 --> 00:15:09.049 people coming in and giving us food and fuel 00:15:09.049 --> 00:15:11.230 and all that. We can basically be the tip of 00:15:11.230 --> 00:15:14.250 the spear, which at times that's what a lot of 00:15:14.250 --> 00:15:17.090 people need. Then it gives them the time they 00:15:17.090 --> 00:15:19.330 need to get their big resources, like the big 00:15:19.330 --> 00:15:22.950 communications vans and all that. And quite often 00:15:22.950 --> 00:15:26.950 we find that the van itself needs to stay because 00:15:26.950 --> 00:15:29.669 we do we have that ability to go, let's say, 00:15:29.769 --> 00:15:32.429 from a Harris radio system to, let's say, a Harris 00:15:32.429 --> 00:15:37.230 EDACs to a Motorola P25 or whatever. And then 00:15:37.230 --> 00:15:39.789 we can also talk to the National Guard on another, 00:15:40.230 --> 00:15:45.169 on an HF radio that is encrypted and so on and 00:15:45.169 --> 00:15:47.230 so forth. And then also we've got search and 00:15:47.230 --> 00:15:48.909 rescue people out there that are all running 00:15:48.909 --> 00:15:52.539 with their FRSs. And we have that ability to 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:54.820 be able to communicate with all of them. We have 00:15:54.820 --> 00:15:57.179 the ability to give, let's say, the incident 00:15:57.179 --> 00:16:01.600 commander one radio. It looks like a little HT, 00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:05.179 like ID 51. That's what it looks like. But it's 00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:08.480 an IP -based radio. And based on what his requirements 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:12.539 are, we can configure his HT. to be able to either 00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:15.100 communicate with all the radios, some of the 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:17.059 radios, or whatever. In other words, he'll be 00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:19.220 able to select what channel he wants to talk 00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:22.340 on so he can control, or even monitor. Let's 00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:24.100 say he needs to find out what's going on in the 00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:26.259 air so he can switch over to the air channel 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:28.779 and he can listen to whatever air traffic is 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:31.980 going on in the area. And the same thing, we 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:36.750 are also a Class B base station. Marine base 00:16:36.750 --> 00:16:40.149 station in that vehicle as well So, you know, 00:16:40.230 --> 00:16:42.789 we're there to help out the Coast Guard and other 00:16:42.789 --> 00:16:47.029 marine based operations depends on where we are 00:16:47.029 --> 00:16:49.990 Okay. Well, let's talk a little bit about deployment 00:16:49.990 --> 00:16:54.710 What is the plan for deployment? Do you have 00:16:54.710 --> 00:16:59.389 to be you know called and invited in? How do 00:16:59.389 --> 00:17:03.429 you? You know, if there's an emergency in California 00:17:03.429 --> 00:17:06.970 and you're in Missouri, you know, how does that 00:17:06.970 --> 00:17:10.549 all work? It depends on how bad they need us 00:17:10.549 --> 00:17:13.250 typically we get invited in and then of course 00:17:13.250 --> 00:17:18.230 we You know, how do I say this? What will happen 00:17:18.230 --> 00:17:21.069 is we get a call we come to an agreement as to 00:17:21.069 --> 00:17:24.069 who covers insurance and everything else There 00:17:24.069 --> 00:17:25.970 are two ways that we can get to from point A 00:17:25.970 --> 00:17:29.420 to point B. Number one Is to drive there and 00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:31.319 of course the the agents who will have to cover 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:35.640 those expenses And quite often what it will happen 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:37.880 is to say we need this and if we can do that 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:40.039 Well, what we'll do is we'll you know, provide 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:42.140 them the technology and the ability to do it 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:45.380 the other way of getting out there is By plane 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:48.319 and so what we'll do is we basically go to let's 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:51.039 say Scott Air Force Base or wherever they've 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:55.019 got the C 130 coming in or whatever the other 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:57.420 other aircraft is and basically we've already 00:17:57.420 --> 00:18:01.640 got a load list so the the load master has a 00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:04.460 better yeah the load master knows exactly what 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:07.980 our weights are um you know you know what we 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:10.319 have on board everything so that way you know 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:13.180 the air force is happy when they or the national 00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:15.619 guard is happy when they when they fly us out 00:18:16.179 --> 00:18:18.980 And then of course we go there go to the location, 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:22.019 you know drive off we can use JP6 fuel if we 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:25.720 had to or we can load up on diesel and We also 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:28.980 have plenty of Extra fuel cans so that we can 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:32.099 have that seven -day durability What will happen 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:36.440 is is we get the phone call? Basically the the 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:38.380 three people that go are here in st. Louis with 00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:41.279 me right now. We've got one person in Texas that 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:44.519 In a pinch he can come out and then we got a 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:50.269 person in in Wyoming That is available too as 00:18:50.269 --> 00:18:52.990 one of the alternates and Basically, we'll do 00:18:52.990 --> 00:18:55.730 the alert and typically we can be rolling within 00:18:55.730 --> 00:18:59.009 an hour or so Except if we're let's say getting 00:18:59.009 --> 00:19:00.789 ready for a show and we've got things stripped 00:19:00.789 --> 00:19:03.309 out It just means we've got to reload the the 00:19:03.309 --> 00:19:05.990 van out with something different In other words, 00:19:05.990 --> 00:19:08.009 whatever is needed for the specific mission that 00:19:08.009 --> 00:19:16.039 we're going to be going out on Okay now I'm a 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:18.220 little curious too, how do they know to call 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:23.220 you? Is there some kind of agreement with Homeland 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:26.980 Security where they know that this is an option? 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:30.500 Yes, there are several agencies throughout the 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:34.480 country know how to get in touch with us. Municipalities 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:36.720 know how to get in touch with us that we've worked 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:39.599 with before, so it's just a matter of them contacting 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:43.009 us. For instance, Flagler County knows that we're 00:19:43.009 --> 00:19:46.609 available for them if they need us for whatever 00:19:46.609 --> 00:19:48.690 reason. We still have a good working relationship 00:19:48.690 --> 00:19:55.470 with them. Several municipalities in Texas know 00:19:55.470 --> 00:19:57.289 how to get in touch with us if they needed us 00:19:57.289 --> 00:19:59.930 directly. So yeah, they know how to get a hold 00:19:59.930 --> 00:20:03.170 of us when they need us. If they need to include 00:20:03.170 --> 00:20:05.170 us in their plan or that they needed us to come 00:20:05.170 --> 00:20:08.109 out and play during a, uh, an exercise, we'll 00:20:08.109 --> 00:20:10.390 be more than happy to do that. It's just a matter 00:20:10.390 --> 00:20:13.289 of them contacting us. We coming up with, excuse 00:20:13.289 --> 00:20:16.329 me, a real quick MOU, which is, it's, it's just 00:20:16.329 --> 00:20:21.869 a real simple, um, uh, it's some pretty simple 00:20:21.869 --> 00:20:25.490 paperwork to do depending on the, the, the place 00:20:25.490 --> 00:20:30.460 that we're going. Now this is. pretty unique 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:34.420 are there any others that that do this and you 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:37.059 know there's a lot of these communications vehicles 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:40.960 out there but it's just you know an hf radio 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:45.000 vhf radio uhf radio and you know you may have 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:49.660 a few of the other radios for local use thrown 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:54.819 in there but you know this is you know like you 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:57.579 said a switchboard it's allowing all these different 00:20:57.579 --> 00:21:02.000 things to to talk to one another. So is this 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:05.119 a one -of -a -kind thing? Well, it is unique, 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:07.519 and I haven't really run into other the military. 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:10.460 The Army does have a vehicle that's similar to 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:14.099 this, but it's generally not deployed in civilian 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:19.039 in a civilian world. But yeah, there aren't a 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:22.480 whole lot of municipalities that that go into 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:24.819 this concept. I don't think there a lot of them 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:29.210 are 100 percent. How do I say it? They're not 00:21:29.210 --> 00:21:32.450 really 100 % aware of what can happen for them. 00:21:32.910 --> 00:21:36.509 It's not necessarily our services to them, but 00:21:36.509 --> 00:21:40.210 also we provide a service of helping them determine 00:21:40.210 --> 00:21:44.529 what would probably be best for them. In other 00:21:44.529 --> 00:21:47.569 words, instead of a $5 million budget, you're 00:21:47.569 --> 00:21:50.789 looking at about a $1 .2 million budget to a 00:21:50.789 --> 00:21:57.029 $450 ,000 budget. That's significant. Compared 00:21:57.029 --> 00:21:59.390 to you know some of these big, you know payment, 00:21:59.869 --> 00:22:01.809 you know, these these great big huge, you know 00:22:01.809 --> 00:22:04.890 $250 ,000 RVs that have been converted for as 00:22:04.890 --> 00:22:07.450 a mobile command post and so you're looking at 00:22:07.450 --> 00:22:10.029 about two to three million dollars versus, you 00:22:10.029 --> 00:22:14.190 know 500 1 .2 million so it's it's a significant 00:22:14.190 --> 00:22:18.349 savings and also You can be on the road quick 00:22:18.349 --> 00:22:20.630 a lot quicker with this vehicle than you could 00:22:20.630 --> 00:22:23.480 with a lot of these other systems that would 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:27.339 require loadouts, everything else that would 00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:30.279 be involved in getting these bigger systems out 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:34.319 and about. Plus, we don't need, how do I say 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:42.440 it, we don't have the day rooms or the meeting 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:45.299 rooms and so on. That's something that you can 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:47.420 set up on your own. So it kind of makes it nice 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:49.700 because you could easily set up in a school where 00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:52.380 an event is happening or you can set up in one 00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:55.480 of the mobile tents that the Army has or the 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.619 National Guard has available to more portable 00:22:57.619 --> 00:23:02.880 shelters. This makes for some really unique flexibility 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:05.579 and gives you the ability to go out and do things. 00:23:06.300 --> 00:23:08.259 that most people probably wouldn't have even 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:10.940 thought having the platform that we have and 00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:13.240 having the versatility that we have and having 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:15.759 the radios and the technology on board which 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:19.759 is a new technology the idea of being able to 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:23.619 you know hook up just about anybody's radio to 00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:27.220 the are the key to the key to this is the icon 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:31.009 vpg three. And by the way, they're coming out 00:23:31.009 --> 00:23:34.730 of VEPG4 soon too. And what this is, is that's 00:23:34.730 --> 00:23:37.210 the interface that allows us to connect the radio, 00:23:38.170 --> 00:23:43.170 the controls for like changing channels, the 00:23:43.170 --> 00:23:46.509 microphone, the speaker and so on. And what that 00:23:46.509 --> 00:23:48.730 does is it converts it to an IP address, which 00:23:48.730 --> 00:23:50.910 is then handled through a gateway, which allows 00:23:50.910 --> 00:23:54.980 us to route. that radio or a series of radios 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:58.819 to, let's say, a specific IP -based phone or 00:23:58.819 --> 00:24:02.779 a computer terminal or whatever. That makes it 00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:05.200 nice because then all I have to do is carry along 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:09.039 10, let's say, 10 IP -based phones. We can remote 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:13.000 all these radios and basic communications to 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:16.119 a more convenient location, and it doesn't cost 00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:19.279 the agency or whoever an arm and a leg to get 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:23.380 these other machines out. Wow, that's some pretty 00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:28.579 powerful stuff. I'm really intrigued by the possibilities 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:32.259 here on this. Maybe some people out there listening 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:36.779 have some questions to ask about this. We're 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:39.559 going to take a break and when we come back, 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:44.220 we're going to take your phone calls at 812 -650 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:49.019 -9556 or you can tweet us. It's at HamTalk Live 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:52.200 on Twitter. So we'll check that out and I'll 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:54.640 be back with Emmet right after this word from 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:58.519 Icom America right here on HamTalk Live. Create 00:24:58.519 --> 00:25:02.259 your own band opening. Icom's newest SDR transceiver, 00:25:02.380 --> 00:25:06.289 the IC9700 is coming soon. This radio is bringing 00:25:06.289 --> 00:25:10.750 direct sampling to the UHF -VHF weak signal world. 00:25:10.990 --> 00:25:15.049 The IC9700 all -mode transceiver is loaded with 00:25:15.049 --> 00:25:18.150 innovative features such as dedicated amateur 00:25:18.150 --> 00:25:21.369 satellite operation, color touchscreen, D -Star 00:25:21.369 --> 00:25:24.670 capability built right in, RF direct sampling 00:25:24.670 --> 00:25:27.670 on the 2 meter and 70 centimeter bands, dual 00:25:27.670 --> 00:25:30.470 independent receivers capable of full duplex 00:25:30.470 --> 00:25:34.309 operation, as well as dual watch and 100 watt 00:25:34.349 --> 00:25:38.710 max power on 2 meters, 75 watts max on 70 centimeters, 00:25:39.009 --> 00:25:42.789 and 10 watts max on 1 .2 gigahertz. Pack your 00:25:42.789 --> 00:25:45.369 bags because the Dayton Hamvention is coming 00:25:45.369 --> 00:25:48.549 up. From May 17th to 19th at the Green County 00:25:48.549 --> 00:25:50.849 Fairgrounds and Expo Center, you can see the 00:25:50.849 --> 00:25:54.430 latest and greatest ICOM gear and meat hams from 00:25:54.430 --> 00:25:59.190 all over the world. Visit www .icomamerica .com 00:25:59.190 --> 00:26:03.349 slash amateur for more information on ICOM radios. 00:26:04.230 --> 00:26:06.150 Nominations are now open for the amateur radio 00:26:06.150 --> 00:26:09.329 news line, Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF Young Ham of 00:26:09.329 --> 00:26:12.690 the Year Award. I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW. Since 00:26:12.690 --> 00:26:15.210 1986, we've had the honor of celebrating the 00:26:15.210 --> 00:26:17.049 accomplishments of Youth and Ham radio when we 00:26:17.049 --> 00:26:18.849 want to know about your exceptional Young Ham. 00:26:19.289 --> 00:26:21.250 You'll find the rules and a nominating form by 00:26:21.250 --> 00:26:24.269 clicking the Y -H -O -T -Y tab on ARNewsline 00:26:24.269 --> 00:26:27.210 .org. Fill it out, send it in, and we'll see 00:26:27.210 --> 00:26:29.349 you and an amazing Young Ham at the Huntsville 00:26:29.349 --> 00:26:32.680 Alabama Ham Fest in August. Thanks, and 73. from 00:26:32.680 --> 00:27:05.859 Amateur Radio Newsline. HamTalk Live's on the 00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:08.819 air every Thursday night at 9 p .m. Eastern Time 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:11.720 right here at HamTalkLive .com. Be sure to check 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:15.019 us out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:17.640 thanks to ICOM for their support of the show. 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:21.759 And look forward to seeing them over at the Hamvention 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:25.000 coming up soon. So it's getting to be about that 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:31.700 time. Now it's time for your calls. So if you 00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:34.519 have a question for Emmet, give us a call. It's 00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:39.930 812. six five zero nine five five six again eight 00:27:39.930 --> 00:27:44.349 one two six five zero nine five five six or you 00:27:44.349 --> 00:27:47.190 can tweet us it's at ham talk live on twitter 00:27:47.190 --> 00:27:50.650 if you're on speaker you can type in the chat 00:27:50.650 --> 00:27:53.450 thing there too we can look at the comments there 00:27:53.450 --> 00:27:56.130 uh... but you have to have an account and all 00:27:56.130 --> 00:27:58.890 that stuff so uh... easiest thing to do is give 00:27:58.890 --> 00:28:01.730 us a call at eight one two six five zero nine 00:28:01.730 --> 00:28:06.579 five five six So we're back with Emmett here, 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:10.519 and let's talk a little bit about what's going 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:13.420 on with the van when it's not deployed. Obviously, 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:19.180 like ham radio, it's not a 24 -7 emergency. And 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:22.500 so we've got all these other things going on 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:26.700 when it's not an emergency. So what's going on 00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:30.630 with the van when it's not an emergency? Well, 00:28:30.650 --> 00:28:34.509 typically we go to hamfests. We do like to go 00:28:34.509 --> 00:28:38.170 every time, for instance, like Orlando, Dayton, 00:28:39.529 --> 00:28:44.910 Hamcom, down in Dallas, Huntsville, and so on, 00:28:44.970 --> 00:28:47.829 to basically show off its capabilities and also 00:28:47.829 --> 00:28:50.549 set it up as an event station in a couple places, 00:28:52.029 --> 00:28:58.190 basically to show its capabilities and also to 00:28:58.599 --> 00:29:01.380 Pull in some younger hams, which I really we 00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:03.480 really enjoy doing is pulling them into the you 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:05.180 know To the emcom side because it gives them 00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:10.019 something to look at We also are constantly updating 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:16.539 changing programming Incom one to adjust best 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:19.019 for the newer, you know, whatever the new protocols 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:22.220 are the new equipment We partner with Harrison 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:27.440 in Motorola and ICOM altogether. So quite often 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:30.720 we'll be changing out some of our equipment that 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:34.440 is, let's say, becoming aged and replacing it 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:38.799 with something newer. That way we can obviously 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:41.779 be a, not necessarily a show platform, but a 00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:44.920 demonstration platform of what you can do when 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:48.140 you have mobile or transportable interoperability, 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:52.539 which over several... several incidences we've 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:54.380 discovered it turns out to work out a little 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:57.240 bit better than fixed space because we're able 00:29:57.240 --> 00:30:00.680 to take that interoperability and that capability 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:04.460 and you know with the and literally work with 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:08.619 a plug -and -play radios you know which everyone 00:30:08.619 --> 00:30:11.299 knows interoperability is and is is important 00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:15.480 plus m .com one scalable so we're training a 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:19.259 lot we're working with new ideas adding new things 00:30:19.970 --> 00:30:22.309 you know, coming up with better demonstrations. 00:30:23.089 --> 00:30:26.269 A lot of times on the going to HamFest and doing 00:30:26.269 --> 00:30:29.170 some other things, we quite often treat it as 00:30:29.170 --> 00:30:32.009 if it was a mission in itself. So the exercise 00:30:32.009 --> 00:30:34.130 is getting things up and running and functional 00:30:34.130 --> 00:30:37.150 and in a reasonable amount of time. And quite 00:30:37.150 --> 00:30:42.049 often the thing with MCOM -1 is that it's set 00:30:42.049 --> 00:30:44.130 up to work quite often while we're driving, we're 00:30:44.130 --> 00:30:46.549 on the air, we can work. And one of the things 00:30:46.549 --> 00:30:49.119 that we're starting to do now is on the amateur 00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:53.599 side will typically have a 7100 up and running 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:58.000 as we're driving and you know try and make contacts 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:01.680 and we've got some new qsl cards just for mcom1 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:04.000 which will by the way mcom1 does have a club 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:08.099 license and that's whiskey echo one charlie oscar 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:13.500 mike that's we1 COM and that's our the club call 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:15.700 sign and it's also the call sign that we use 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:19.480 on the amateur side to make contacts or if we're 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:22.259 doing Contests or whatever and what that does 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:24.900 is it gives us the ability to exercise which 00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:28.859 You you can go to any fire department. That's 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:30.859 worth its salt. They're always working. They're 00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:33.660 always Practicing they're always exercising. 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:37.599 So even though we're not at an emergency For 00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:39.700 instance this weekend. I plan on taking him calm 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:42.980 one out to a field Setting up and playing with 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:47.099 our new VHF UHF quad beam antennas to see what 00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:50.779 we can do The idea being is just you know showing 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:52.920 how it works You know coming up with a couple 00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:55.940 videos for how to set the set the antennas up, 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:59.000 but we're still exercising things out of the 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:02.380 van. The van itself is also a mobile RF lab. 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:04.759 We generally carry all the equipment that we 00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:07.940 need to repair, do minor, and sometimes even 00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:12.240 certain major repairs on radios. So there's a 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:15.500 lot to it. So that's sometimes why we have this 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:17.880 little bit of an overlap when we're in our 24 00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:20.089 -hour period. where one person will probably 00:32:20.089 --> 00:32:23.769 be fixing things like let's say a police officer. 00:32:24.849 --> 00:32:26.609 Um, one of his antennas just got all squirrely 00:32:26.609 --> 00:32:29.470 and we typically have the equipment to where 00:32:29.470 --> 00:32:31.769 we can fix a couple things for them and, and 00:32:31.769 --> 00:32:34.009 get them back on the road again. Or even if it 00:32:34.009 --> 00:32:36.250 means just getting charging his radio or his 00:32:36.250 --> 00:32:40.710 APX radio, we're, we're all there for that. And 00:32:40.710 --> 00:32:43.589 so my next question is how in the world do you 00:32:43.589 --> 00:32:48.130 cram all that stuff in a van? It's amazing. Yeah, 00:32:48.130 --> 00:32:51.670 it's, The whole thing is the efficiency, and 00:32:51.670 --> 00:32:55.269 it's one of those things where if you've ever 00:32:55.269 --> 00:32:57.690 been in it, you can see we've got all the radios 00:32:57.690 --> 00:33:00.890 literally mounted up high. And because we are 00:33:00.890 --> 00:33:03.849 not looking at having a bunch of operators in 00:33:03.849 --> 00:33:10.190 the van itself, using the VPG E3 by ICOM, that 00:33:10.190 --> 00:33:13.170 is the thing that makes everything work. In other 00:33:13.170 --> 00:33:16.109 words, allows us to... Um, you know, the, the 00:33:16.109 --> 00:33:19.109 VPG three and the gateway allows us to do that 00:33:19.109 --> 00:33:22.009 digital footprints that we can, we can, you know, 00:33:22.109 --> 00:33:24.130 route everything where it's supposed to go and 00:33:24.130 --> 00:33:27.910 to whom it's supposed to go to. Um, but that 00:33:27.910 --> 00:33:31.509 in itself is a lot of work and w and it's, you 00:33:31.509 --> 00:33:34.069 know, everyone is trying to learn everybody else's 00:33:34.069 --> 00:33:36.029 jobs. So that way, when we go out, we can fill 00:33:36.029 --> 00:33:40.569 in if we have to. Now, speaking of, if you have 00:33:40.569 --> 00:33:45.059 a chance to see it. What are some upcoming opportunities 00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:48.920 that you can have a chance to see this thing? 00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:54.920 The soonest one will be Dayton, where we'll be 00:33:54.920 --> 00:34:01.559 part of the emergency services wing or whatever 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:03.079 you might want to call it. We're going to be 00:34:03.079 --> 00:34:06.259 right there by building two, I think it is, with 00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:08.199 all the other emergency vehicles. We'll be set 00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:12.329 up there with a canopy. There'll be one or two 00:34:12.329 --> 00:34:14.650 of us there at any given time showing off things 00:34:14.650 --> 00:34:17.909 and taking people on tours The next one will 00:34:17.909 --> 00:34:20.670 be I think it'll be ham calm, which will be down 00:34:20.670 --> 00:34:28.010 in Plano, Texas Will be setting up there. It's 00:34:28.010 --> 00:34:30.769 a really nice venue We really like it and then 00:34:30.769 --> 00:34:33.650 after that then the one after that would be Huntsville 00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:36.760 There might be a couple things in between, but 00:34:36.760 --> 00:34:38.980 I'm not really sure what they are. Rochelle generally 00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:41.219 keeps that schedule up for me. And if there's 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:43.179 anything goes on in between point A and point 00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:48.460 B, we'll probably be at an emergency. As a matter 00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:50.559 of fact, one of the things we are doing this 00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:52.739 actually starting tomorrow is we're going to 00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:55.860 be driving, going around to a couple areas and 00:34:55.860 --> 00:35:00.179 just checking. to see what the water levels are 00:35:00.179 --> 00:35:02.599 and so on. We'll deploy our drones, take a look 00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:05.739 at what's going on over the hill, is it something 00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:08.559 that we need to report, so on and so forth. So 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:11.639 one thing that's happened is our background, 00:35:12.300 --> 00:35:14.519 where we grew up, my wife and I was in Nebraska, 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:19.599 and places like Blair and Bellevue and some of 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:22.500 these, Fremont, are all underwater. Not completely 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:27.469 underwater, but heck, even SAC got soaked. That 00:35:27.469 --> 00:35:30.369 was something else. I saw a couple flood scenes 00:35:30.369 --> 00:35:32.730 of what was going on at the Strategic Air Command. 00:35:33.130 --> 00:35:35.429 Actually, it's not the SAC anymore. I forgot 00:35:35.429 --> 00:35:41.389 what it's called. But that's amazing. And of 00:35:41.389 --> 00:35:44.010 course, when that floods, we know that it's basically 00:35:44.010 --> 00:35:46.610 coming down here. And so we've got the Mississippi 00:35:46.610 --> 00:35:48.690 River, the Missouri River, and the Merrimack. 00:35:49.010 --> 00:35:52.889 And they all dump into the Mississippi. And so 00:35:52.889 --> 00:35:54.989 we're looking at flooding on the Missouri side. 00:35:57.190 --> 00:35:59.050 We've already had some flooding in the Merrimack 00:35:59.050 --> 00:36:01.070 and we've got, we definitely know that the water 00:36:01.070 --> 00:36:05.050 levels are going up on the Mississippi. So it's 00:36:05.050 --> 00:36:06.989 a matter of being vigilant and watching. And 00:36:06.989 --> 00:36:09.710 we have a little bit of flexibility in the sense 00:36:09.710 --> 00:36:12.510 that we can drive to an area and then our range 00:36:12.510 --> 00:36:16.309 is extended when we deploy the drones. And that's 00:36:16.309 --> 00:36:19.289 a whole other discussion at another time, but 00:36:19.289 --> 00:36:21.429 it's amazing the things we can do with drones. 00:36:21.570 --> 00:36:24.210 And so we can do some real quick surveillance. 00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:27.179 uh, reconnoiters, you know, go out and do a Reiki 00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:29.519 on, you know, this, this roadway area. Let's 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:31.500 look at the dam. What do the locks look like? 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:34.019 That kind of thing. And then we can report back 00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:36.119 to whatever agency needs us to give them that 00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:42.559 information. 812 -650 -9556 is the phone number. 00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:44.920 Uh, if you're listening to us live on Thursday 00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:48.579 night, uh, if you're listening on WTWW or on 00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:51.519 the podcast version of the show, you won't be 00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:54.639 able to reach us cause, uh, It's Thursday night 00:36:54.639 --> 00:37:01.219 right now talking to Emmett W0QH with MCOM 1. 00:37:02.260 --> 00:37:04.920 So those are some opportunities for people to 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:06.960 see it. Now during the break we were talking 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:10.500 a little bit about you know hams may come in 00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:14.079 and look and so okay well there's this ham rig 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:17.199 and that ham rig and then there's all this other 00:37:17.199 --> 00:37:26.170 stuff but the skills of Hams is really what makes 00:37:26.170 --> 00:37:28.869 all of this work. You got to know all these different 00:37:28.869 --> 00:37:32.530 bands and modes and all this kind of thing. And 00:37:32.530 --> 00:37:36.449 so it really rolls over from the ham side over 00:37:36.449 --> 00:37:42.050 into the Mcom side. Yes, it does. The one thing 00:37:42.050 --> 00:37:44.369 that Mcom1 is set up to do is we can talk to 00:37:44.369 --> 00:37:47.849 everything, both analog and digital. And on the 00:37:47.849 --> 00:37:52.039 amateur side, Our familiarity with technologies 00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:56.639 is a definitely a good lead in to being there 00:37:56.639 --> 00:38:01.099 to be helpful. The other part is all the other 00:38:01.099 --> 00:38:04.800 FEMA requirements where, you know, ICS and being 00:38:04.800 --> 00:38:09.320 part of ARIES and so on. As what we do with MCOM 00:38:09.320 --> 00:38:13.119 -1 is not related to ARIES, we do work with ARIES, 00:38:13.239 --> 00:38:17.820 but we're not working in an amateur capacity. 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:21.900 We're working as a land mobile as emergency services 00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:24.519 working with, you know, the individual municipalities. 00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:28.119 But we do interface with hams. So consequently, 00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:32.360 we do have ham radios on board. The scale of 00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:35.219 cost is considerably different. For instance, 00:38:35.340 --> 00:38:41.079 our gateway system, you know, some groups would 00:38:41.079 --> 00:38:43.550 like to have that system, which is great. But 00:38:43.550 --> 00:38:45.469 when we start talking with the prices, they all 00:38:45.469 --> 00:38:48.650 run away. And then we talk to some agency representatives, 00:38:49.489 --> 00:38:52.429 and they start seeing what the price is and what 00:38:52.429 --> 00:38:54.510 it can do. And they're looking at it as a very 00:38:54.510 --> 00:38:57.750 economical and very, you know, it's a very reasonable 00:38:57.750 --> 00:39:01.309 thing to do. So it's an interesting turn. On 00:39:01.309 --> 00:39:04.449 the amateur side, though, you know, the one thing 00:39:04.449 --> 00:39:06.130 that, you know, you've got a lot of people out 00:39:06.130 --> 00:39:07.750 there that have gotten all the way up to their 00:39:07.750 --> 00:39:09.969 extra class, and they don't think that there's 00:39:09.969 --> 00:39:13.250 anything else for them to do. My recommendation 00:39:13.250 --> 00:39:19.070 is to start looking and getting your GROL, GMROL, 00:39:19.650 --> 00:39:22.989 General Mobile Radio Operators License, which 00:39:22.989 --> 00:39:29.050 is a lot more technical. You can actually work 00:39:29.050 --> 00:39:32.969 with, on a commercial level, working on radios 00:39:32.969 --> 00:39:36.570 and so on and so forth. It's a new level of technical 00:39:36.570 --> 00:39:39.639 prowess that would be very useful in the field 00:39:39.639 --> 00:39:42.500 and I personally think that it would be a good, 00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:47.900 it's a good, how do I, next step, you might say. 00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:50.619 In other words, look at your amateur, look at 00:39:50.619 --> 00:39:57.280 your hobby as something, as a gateway to something 00:39:57.280 --> 00:40:00.239 a little bit more technical and at times a little 00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:02.920 bit more, you get a little bit more out of it 00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:05.519 because you're actually in there working on things 00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:11.429 and you can. Yeah, I used to give those exams 00:40:11.429 --> 00:40:15.449 and and they use extra class hams as examiners 00:40:15.449 --> 00:40:19.309 for that much like the the volunteer exam program 00:40:19.309 --> 00:40:24.429 on the ham side of things that they can administer 00:40:24.429 --> 00:40:27.949 those as well, so There's some opportunities 00:40:27.949 --> 00:40:34.909 there to to get that you know just I'm amazed 00:40:34.909 --> 00:40:41.429 at Just you know how much stuff you've got inside 00:40:41.429 --> 00:40:44.489 of this thing You know you've got the drones 00:40:44.489 --> 00:40:48.750 you got food you got you know enough water and 00:40:48.750 --> 00:40:55.329 gas and then you know and then you've got a repair 00:40:55.329 --> 00:41:00.829 shop Amazing that you can get it all in that 00:41:00.829 --> 00:41:03.190 one van and and you don't have to have like a 00:41:03.190 --> 00:41:06.940 CDL to drive the thing No, the nice thing about 00:41:06.940 --> 00:41:11.079 that that that it's a Mercedes Sprinter which 00:41:11.079 --> 00:41:14.559 Is really nice because I get 26 miles to the 00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:17.280 gallon and that's with the the 20 kilowatt generator 00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:20.980 that we're towing We have a 30 gallon tank. We've 00:41:20.980 --> 00:41:23.900 got a 30 gallon plus a 16 gallon tank in the 00:41:23.900 --> 00:41:27.400 generator plus we carry another 20 gallons If 00:41:27.400 --> 00:41:30.909 we need it Um, so literally there's we carry 00:41:30.909 --> 00:41:33.889 a lot. Um, but also on the other side, it's all 00:41:33.889 --> 00:41:35.969 efficiency of where everything goes, how things 00:41:35.969 --> 00:41:38.369 get set up. Sometimes when you go in and look 00:41:38.369 --> 00:41:40.949 at the van, it looked, it might look crowded 00:41:40.949 --> 00:41:43.849 and cluttered, but everything has a place. And 00:41:43.849 --> 00:41:47.230 typically, um, we try to load it out the same 00:41:47.230 --> 00:41:50.710 way every time. Um, you know, the radios are 00:41:50.710 --> 00:41:52.630 up and out of the way. As a matter of fact, one 00:41:52.630 --> 00:41:56.309 thing you can look at is go out on, on the internet. 00:41:57.630 --> 00:42:02.289 Look up ICOM, MCOM -1, and there's a video where 00:42:02.289 --> 00:42:07.349 Ray and Mike Lee take you on a tour of MCOM -1 00:42:07.349 --> 00:42:10.710 and explain a lot of the resources that go into 00:42:10.710 --> 00:42:13.889 making it work and a lot of the key things that 00:42:13.889 --> 00:42:15.630 are in there. Now, I will tell you that we've 00:42:15.630 --> 00:42:19.150 added some things on the air side. We also have 00:42:19.150 --> 00:42:21.949 an ADS receiver unit in there, so we're able 00:42:21.949 --> 00:42:24.030 to monitor air traffic in the area that we're 00:42:24.030 --> 00:42:28.489 in. Uh, we're also able to, uh, we've got a couple 00:42:28.489 --> 00:42:31.949 of gateways set up. Or let's just say hotspots. 00:42:31.949 --> 00:42:35.989 So that gives us the flexibility of, um, you 00:42:35.989 --> 00:42:37.909 know, if we don't want to use a whole radio system, 00:42:37.909 --> 00:42:41.130 we can use the hotspot, um, for instance, let's 00:42:41.130 --> 00:42:44.570 say on DMR or let's say D star or let's say, 00:42:44.570 --> 00:42:48.090 uh, P 25, um, we can set up a gateway and we 00:42:48.090 --> 00:42:52.170 can link it from point A to point B or. you know 00:42:52.170 --> 00:42:54.789 bring in someone from the outside as long as 00:42:54.789 --> 00:42:57.130 we have an internet connection which quite often 00:42:57.130 --> 00:43:00.769 we will. One exciting thing is one of the things 00:43:00.769 --> 00:43:04.190 we were able to do is in one situation we were 00:43:04.190 --> 00:43:07.590 able to everything was operational but there 00:43:07.590 --> 00:43:09.949 was someone in Washington DC that needed to listen 00:43:09.949 --> 00:43:14.190 in and monitor. We were able to forward you know 00:43:14.190 --> 00:43:16.969 we gave them an access code and we were able 00:43:16.969 --> 00:43:19.500 to forward that information to an IP based phone 00:43:19.500 --> 00:43:22.000 and he was able to listen to what he wanted to 00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:24.119 listen to and then when we were done we disconnected 00:43:24.119 --> 00:43:26.860 the link and you know we're on our way again. 00:43:28.159 --> 00:43:31.739 Well that's some pretty cool stuff and uh hope 00:43:31.739 --> 00:43:34.340 uh some people will have a chance to check that 00:43:34.340 --> 00:43:37.599 out at uh Hamvention and Huntsville and HamCon 00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:40.780 and and wherever else you end up and uh John 00:43:40.780 --> 00:43:43.820 Piper's listening to us tonight so hi John and 00:43:43.820 --> 00:43:47.079 thanks for it. Hey John. For tuning into us here 00:43:47.079 --> 00:43:50.840 tonight, so we're gonna wrap things up here, 00:43:50.840 --> 00:43:54.940 but any any last -minute Items here. We've missed 00:43:54.940 --> 00:43:58.539 before we take off No, I think we covered it 00:43:58.539 --> 00:44:00.840 quite. Well. I mean there's a lot to the van 00:44:00.840 --> 00:44:04.139 There's a lot to the way things are set up during 00:44:04.139 --> 00:44:07.099 Dayton We are going to be giving possibly two 00:44:07.099 --> 00:44:12.230 different forums on one how to get on the air 00:44:12.230 --> 00:44:15.309 for emergency communications. Then the other 00:44:15.309 --> 00:44:18.670 one will be MCOM -1, as in how do we deploy it? 00:44:18.710 --> 00:44:20.630 What's in there? How does it all look? You know, 00:44:20.630 --> 00:44:22.570 you get to see a little bit more, you know, the 00:44:22.570 --> 00:44:24.849 nuts and bolts, the nitty -gritty, you know, 00:44:24.949 --> 00:44:27.650 how everything's hooked up as far as what gets 00:44:27.650 --> 00:44:29.809 connected to what, the gazindas and the gazaudas. 00:44:31.130 --> 00:44:33.110 So that will be kind of fun, and we look forward 00:44:33.110 --> 00:44:34.969 to seeing people. Make sure you drop by and say 00:44:34.969 --> 00:44:37.949 hi. Rochelle won't be at Dayton, but she'll be 00:44:37.949 --> 00:44:39.989 probably at the rest of the HamFests for the 00:44:39.989 --> 00:44:42.929 rest of the year. And I do want to say, give 00:44:42.929 --> 00:44:45.289 out a shout to our good friends at Tower Electronics 00:44:45.289 --> 00:44:48.469 for sponsoring HamTalk Live. And, you know, Scott 00:44:48.469 --> 00:44:51.670 and Scott and his wonderful, wonderful wife, 00:44:51.949 --> 00:44:55.989 you know, they they're working all the time. 00:44:56.010 --> 00:44:58.429 And just for them to do something like this is 00:44:58.429 --> 00:45:02.119 really, really nice. Yeah sure is and I know 00:45:02.119 --> 00:45:07.179 Jill saw a while ago said she Had a big long 00:45:07.179 --> 00:45:10.960 drive today, but she's made it to Texas and be 00:45:10.960 --> 00:45:15.739 ready for Belton, Texas this weekend. So shout 00:45:15.739 --> 00:45:19.659 out to them and Thanks for sponsoring the show 00:45:19.659 --> 00:45:22.300 and being out there on the road and Emmett thank 00:45:22.300 --> 00:45:24.900 you for being out there on the road taking this 00:45:24.900 --> 00:45:30.389 thing around and demonstrating what can happen 00:45:30.389 --> 00:45:36.150 when you put all this digital and analog together 00:45:36.150 --> 00:45:40.550 and make it all talk to each other and some of 00:45:40.550 --> 00:45:44.170 the possibilities and maybe even some career 00:45:44.170 --> 00:45:47.389 opportunities for some hams out there. Oh, most 00:45:47.389 --> 00:45:50.309 definitely. Like I said, the biggest thing is 00:45:50.309 --> 00:45:53.710 it seems complicated, but when you start looking 00:45:53.710 --> 00:45:56.670 at each individual function it starts to fit 00:45:56.670 --> 00:45:58.849 in you know it starts to fit a little bit more 00:45:58.849 --> 00:46:02.210 logically but um yeah uh definitely come by say 00:46:02.210 --> 00:46:06.730 hi um let's see it'll be myself and possibly 00:46:06.730 --> 00:46:10.210 uh one other person out at the mcom one uh we'll 00:46:10.210 --> 00:46:12.889 be having our booth will be right next to icom 00:46:12.889 --> 00:46:15.989 just like last year and uh bob hyles is going 00:46:15.989 --> 00:46:20.519 to have his booth next to us um as well as well 00:46:20.519 --> 00:46:23.019 as ham nation and then the event station is going 00:46:23.019 --> 00:46:26.539 to be a little bit farther back uh you know back 00:46:26.539 --> 00:46:30.820 towards where w5kub is um so that's going to 00:46:30.820 --> 00:46:33.320 be kind of fun and we're looking forward to having 00:46:33.320 --> 00:46:36.460 a good time there we really enjoy that that that 00:46:36.460 --> 00:46:39.079 venue they've done a great job of making it a 00:46:39.079 --> 00:46:43.960 better um a better ham fest than it's ever been 00:46:43.960 --> 00:46:47.820 i mean honestly you know We all like terror arena 00:46:47.820 --> 00:46:50.059 to an extent, but man, I'll tell you what, some 00:46:50.059 --> 00:46:51.719 of the events, some of the things that happened 00:46:51.719 --> 00:46:54.900 around that place, you know, I'm very glad they 00:46:54.900 --> 00:47:01.199 moved it. Uh, yeah. So it had its, it had its 00:47:01.199 --> 00:47:06.199 character, but it is, but it, uh, yeah, it needed 00:47:06.199 --> 00:47:10.300 some needed some help. So, um, okay. Well we're 00:47:10.300 --> 00:47:14.800 getting ready to finish up here, but John. Through 00:47:14.800 --> 00:47:17.320 in a question here at the last minute. So I think 00:47:17.320 --> 00:47:20.019 that a quick one So let's do this. He wants to 00:47:20.019 --> 00:47:23.599 know where he can see pictures of the Sprinter 00:47:23.599 --> 00:47:26.619 van and it says it looks like a cool setup and 00:47:26.619 --> 00:47:29.260 and he wants to know can can you do a show from 00:47:29.260 --> 00:47:32.960 the van? We've done it. We've done it a couple 00:47:32.960 --> 00:47:35.519 well, I haven't done ham talk live from the van 00:47:35.519 --> 00:47:39.840 Well, the thing is you don't have a camera Yeah, 00:47:39.860 --> 00:47:43.559 we don't need a camera. So yes, actually we could 00:47:43.559 --> 00:47:47.659 because all I need is an internet connection 00:47:47.659 --> 00:47:50.760 and we could do the show from the van if we needed 00:47:50.760 --> 00:47:56.539 to, I guess. We sure could. Yeah, we can do shows 00:47:56.539 --> 00:47:58.659 from the van, the Sprinter van. You can look 00:47:58.659 --> 00:48:04.519 at, well, actually look up the video that's on 00:48:04.519 --> 00:48:10.199 YouTube that's Icom Mcom1. And that's a good 00:48:10.199 --> 00:48:13.539 tour of walking through and seeing it. Like I 00:48:13.539 --> 00:48:15.619 said, that Sprinter is so nice. It's a turbo 00:48:15.619 --> 00:48:23.440 diesel. I get anywhere between 20 and 26 miles 00:48:23.440 --> 00:48:27.000 to the gallon. With the tank that I have, I have 00:48:27.000 --> 00:48:31.699 about a 600 mile range. But typically I don't 00:48:31.699 --> 00:48:34.440 run that full length. I'll generally stop because 00:48:34.440 --> 00:48:36.139 I have to go to the bathroom or something like 00:48:36.139 --> 00:48:39.960 that. But what makes it nice is that we can rotate 00:48:39.960 --> 00:48:44.519 really easily and fuel economy is there. We are 00:48:44.519 --> 00:48:48.519 diesel. Everything is diesel on that van. So 00:48:48.519 --> 00:48:50.480 we don't have to worry about draining all the 00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:54.960 fuel if we have to go in the air. Now we finally 00:48:54.960 --> 00:48:58.199 found something that's not on the van. What's 00:48:58.199 --> 00:49:02.159 that? The bathroom. Yeah, well we do bathroom 00:49:02.159 --> 00:49:06.980 is not on the well, okay. All right, okay It's 00:49:06.980 --> 00:49:12.519 one of those five gallon things so Typically 00:49:12.519 --> 00:49:15.599 we just to stretch our legs and for safety purposes 00:49:15.599 --> 00:49:19.420 will pull off You know do the rest area go to 00:49:19.420 --> 00:49:22.239 you know, do our duty and then and then get back 00:49:22.239 --> 00:49:26.219 on and go again Yeah, that sounds like a much 00:49:26.219 --> 00:49:29.139 better plan. Well, Emmett, thank you so much 00:49:29.139 --> 00:49:31.440 for coming on the show. Appreciate it and look 00:49:31.440 --> 00:49:34.840 forward to seeing you here in about six weeks 00:49:34.840 --> 00:49:39.639 or so and give our best to Rochelle and we'll 00:49:39.639 --> 00:49:44.119 be praying for a speedy recovery for her. Thank 00:49:44.119 --> 00:49:47.260 you very much. Thanks again, Neil. It's been 00:49:47.260 --> 00:49:50.800 good talking to you. All right, well that is 00:49:50.800 --> 00:49:54.539 a wrap for this week's edition of ham talk live. 00:49:54.559 --> 00:49:59.699 Thanks to my guest Emmett Owen C. W0QH from St. 00:49:59.860 --> 00:50:02.940 Louis and everybody out there in cyberspace for 00:50:02.940 --> 00:50:05.400 listening and writing in tonight and invite you 00:50:05.400 --> 00:50:08.699 all back next Thursday night at 9 p .m. Eastern 00:50:08.699 --> 00:50:14.800 Time. Lee Hite Case 8 CLI Jocelyn Broad KD8 VRX 00:50:14.800 --> 00:50:18.079 and Melinda Zimper All from the National Voice 00:50:18.079 --> 00:50:21.139 of America Museum of Broadcasting will be here 00:50:21.139 --> 00:50:25.380 to talk about the 75th anniversary of the Voice 00:50:25.380 --> 00:50:29.380 of America Bethany Relay Station. And we'll also 00:50:29.380 --> 00:50:33.019 be announcing the special Hamvention Hours and 00:50:33.019 --> 00:50:37.880 a special bonus. The mystery is out there. There's 00:50:37.880 --> 00:50:41.460 a special bonus. that's going to be available 00:50:41.460 --> 00:50:44.320 during Hamvention Weekend. So we'll be announcing 00:50:44.320 --> 00:50:47.699 that next week on the show. And for a list of 00:50:47.699 --> 00:50:50.599 all of our upcoming guests, just go to HamTalkLive 00:50:50.599 --> 00:50:53.659 .com. And if you like HamTalk Live, please leave 00:50:53.659 --> 00:50:56.619 us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. 00:50:56.659 --> 00:50:59.320 That helps others find us faster. So for now, 00:50:59.679 --> 00:51:04.960 this is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, saying 7375. And may 00:51:04.960 --> 00:51:23.000 the good DX be yours. Thanks for watching!