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And count me among those that do. BUT, I do also understand the concern of having the frequency too widely known. It would approach encouraging people to listen if you make the frequencies too broadly known and then the operations would effectively be done over a public address system. Not necessarily what you want when all hell breaks loose.Some can argue it has safety value.
It is understandable that some could have valid concerns. But on a recent event even the people that SHOULD be on the net like to sit on their mics and hijack the net...[/quote]Some can argue it has safety value.
The incident I referred to was anything but inadvertent. It was clearly intentional and directed....prevent inadvertent broadcasting on the net (use PT to keep repeaters from opening up to those not needing to talk on the net).
On one hand people say its a good thing for stage safety.. then others say its a bad idea because of net security... Call me confused.[/QUOTE]Some can argue it has safety value.
I'm not sure I agree with that. For a couple hundred dollars you can get a radio in the car and I know I have used my ham radio on several occasions to communicate with the organisers. Having a radio on scene and the ability to get clear and interactive information can be invaluable in a lot of situations. (One of the weirdest ones was a transit road being closed for a medivac helicopter for an accident unrelated to the rally)Cars on the course can expect another vehicle to come along within a minute or so and the procedures are already in place for dealing with that situation.
At this point there doesn't seem to be enough need to warrant the extra expense for many teams to add a ham radio to the car.
I agree with Keith. In some cases, the nearest radio point is too far away.I'm not sure I agree with that. For a couple hundred dollars you can get a radio in the car and I know I have used my ham radio on several occasions to communicate with the organisers. Having a radio on scene and the ability to get clear and interactive information can be invaluable in a lot of situations.
I think making a practice of locking the ptt or disconnecting the mike alltogether, but keeping it in the car, is probably worth looking at.
press on,I agree with Keith. In some cases, the nearest radio point is too far away.
BTW, I have had so many problems with mic clips falling off, the mic bouncing around, etc. that I leave the mic disconnected until I need to talk on the radio.
alan
press on,Let me clarify what I was getting at.
I'm used to monitoring the net at STPR which can have a fairly large field (this year 60+ cars).
Although it is way better than several years ago there have been times when there's been a bit too much chatter and there probably always will be to one degree or another.
In the past I've heard a fair amount of pretty trivial traffic being repeated time and again for several minutes. It doesn't happen often but it does occur.
Net control has a lot to do already and while laying down the law and really controlling the net has to be done once in awhile the thought of having too much traffic is a real possibility if even only a quarter of the field has a radio in the car.
Can you imagine what would have happened on the net if the first 4 or 5 cars arrived on the scene of the YF Racing car when it crashed on SS 10 and they all chimed in on the net?
It's not that it's a bad idea for teams to have a radio only if they do not have enough experience using it and also with working on a tight radio net. I can envision a situation where that could easily make things even more chaotic.
I'm just a bit wary of that is all. I've seen rally situations where too many people offering to help but lacking experience can make things a bit dicey.
Which is why first-aid training for competitors is fairly important. One of the main topics discusses is usually scene management and how to effectively manage getting help. I actually can't imagine ANY competitor jumping onto the radio without first getting some basic information about the accident first. If one car has been sent on to the next radio point I'll gladly take a second report from a car that has stopped at the scene.Can you imagine what would have happened on the net ... You grab the mic and start talking. Loudly and fast. Now multiply that by three or four more cars on scene and very little radio or accident experience.
And that's exactly what happened at STPR, Keith. Two cars actually went through to get help (not sure why) while the rest of the competitor cars ended up waiting at the scene. We were the 6th car to be stopped on stage, which makes us the 8th car to actually show up after FY went off. We were the FIRST car on scene with a radio.Which is why first-aid training for competitors is fairly important. One of the main topics discusses is usually scene management and how to effectively manage getting help. I actually can't imagine ANY competitor jumping onto the radio without first getting some basic information about the accident first. If one car has been sent on to the next radio point I'll gladly take a second report from a car that has stopped at the scene.
I talked to Anders and a bunch of other competitors about this at the Saturday night campfire at Hyperfest. Even with the discussion as to do you implement the red cross radio procedures as training for competitors or do you do it as a check list on the page opposing the red cross; I still think a written list of Do A-D is the best approach.I believe my voulenteer packet has always contained some basic information on how to communicate on the net in case of an emergency
"BREAK BREAK BREAK , I need EMS at road block 4. stop the stage!"
I don't have any of the volunteer packets in front of me right now. but i do believe they spell out what to do and not to do. and some basics of net communication in an emergency situation
Check your manual. My radios have a lock feature which we always use when we're on stage. Usually we're broadcasting on APRS during our runs and we don't want to start squawking on the wrong frequency if it gets nudged by bumps and jumps. I too like to have a radio in the rally car for emergency use and to keep informed about delays etc.I agree with Keith. In some cases, the nearest radio point is too far away.
BTW, I have had so many problems with mic clips falling off, the mic bouncing around, etc. that I leave the mic disconnected until I need to talk on the radio.
alan
Good idea, but for some radios unlocking the PTT can be 'involved' enough that unless you're very familiar with the radio you'd have to think about how to unlock it. This would become a significantly more difficult task when you're hopped up on adrenaline. Other radios are really simple to unlock, if you remember. Locking the dials so you don't change frequency and disconnecting the mic sort of mixes the best of both.Check your manual. My radios have a lock feature which we always use when we're on stage.
press on,Good idea, but for some radios unlocking the PTT can be 'involved' enough that unless you're very familiar with the radio you'd have to think about how to unlock it. This would become a significantly more difficult task when you're hopped up on adrenaline. Other radios are really simple to unlock, if you remember. Locking the dials so you don't change frequency and disconnecting the mic sort of mixes the best of both.
You lock the operating frequency so it doesn't get bumped and all you have to do is connect the mic to use the radio. If you have to unlock the radio to transmit you might nudge the frequency or channel selection at the same time.
That may be a false count. I only carry my HT in the car, hence no antenna. It certainly should be good enough to get to stage start, finish, spectator.While we were held at start of the stage with the accident at STPR, I counted cars with antennas. I did the same thing at Idaho the next weekend while we were waiting in a long queue to start. In both cases it was about 1 out of 10 cars had a radio. That could be a long time to wait.
It is far easier to unplug and plug in the RJ11 connector than it is to negotiate the controls to effectively do the same thing.Good idea, but for some radios unlocking the PTT can be 'involved' enough that unless you're very familiar with the radio you'd have to think about how to unlock it.
Same here. However, even with a Diamond 1/4 wave antenna on it, sometimes it still comes up short. I remember one event when the car broke on stage hearing a discussion on the stage frequency asking if anyone knew where we were, but not being able to reach anyone to let them know.That may be a false count. I only carry my HT in the car, hence no antenna. It certainly should be good enough to get to stage start, finish, spectator.