Paul Smith

WEA-107Turn Around Don’t Drown® During a thunderstorm, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other storm related hazard. Why? The main reason is people underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Most of these deaths are preventable but too many people … Read more

KNW-140Choosing a Radio for Emergency Communications Adapted and modified 12/2020 for the Gulf Coast area by Earl Pack, AE5PA. Base material from an 11/15/2008 article by “Disaster Radio in Hawaii”. Used with permission of Disaster Radio in Hawaii. This article offers criteria for choosing a radio for emergency communications. The most likely scenario for emergency … Read more

KNW-139GUIDELINES AND “GENERIC” PLAN FOR WIDESPREAD AND/OR EXTENDED POWER OUTAGES AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM FAILURES by D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ BEFORE THE POWER OUTAGE: DURING A POWER OUTAGE AND/OR TELEPHONE SYSTEM FAILURE: That concludes tonight’s training. Are there any questions, comments or suggested additions to this material? Thanks, this is (callsign) clear to net control.

KNW-138 Winterizing and MaintainingGas Powered Equip The winterization or preparation for long term storage of gas powered equipment is often overlooked. This oversight, along with poor maintenance, can be costly and very frustrating. Believing that new equipment will perform well after a year without care can lead to danger or even death if the food … Read more

KNW-137Amateur Operation In Other Countries Adapted from ARRL.ORG FAQ by Earl Pack, AE5PA Amateurs sometimes visit other countries and naturally want to operate their amateur stations. The three types of reciprocal operating authority are: A European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications (CEPT) license; An International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP); and A reciprocal permit from a … Read more

KNW-136ORGANIZE RADIO PROGRAMMED MEMORIES From a Cook County ARES training article 01/26/2011 by Neil R. OrmosModified and adapted on 12/2020 by Earl Pack, AE5PA. Over the years, amateur operators will generally acquire multiple radios as the operator works various roles in emergency communications and public service event activities and sees the need for different radios … Read more

KNW-135ITU Phonetics Adapted from an original article by D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ ITU PHONETICS – WHY? From the earliest days of radiotelephone communications, several different “official” phonetic alphabets have been used. During WW II the British used one version, while the U.S. had another. Others forces had yet even different phonetic alphabets. The use of … Read more

KNW-134Family First Adapted and modified for the Gulf Coast area by Earl Pack, AE5PA. Base material from an 8/22/2007 Cook County ARES training article by Gregory D. Rosenberg AB9MZ. Used with the permission of Gregory D. Rosenberg.edited 05 Aug 2025 by Paul Smith (K5PRS) It is great that many of us give of our time … Read more

KNW-133Vacation Go-Kits Adapted by Earl Pack, AE5PA from a Cook County ARES training article by Neil Ormos, N9NL on 23 May 2007additions by George Greene, NE9ET; Gregg Rosenberg, AB9MZ and Earl Pack, AE5PA. .EmComm folks endlessly discuss and debate the optimal “Go-Kit”–a bag, box or other containing the essential items we will need to serve … Read more

KNW-132Wireless and the Titanic Adapted from original by Allan Brett VK2EBA It is a fascinating subject – the failure of the latest and greatest technological transport masterpiece of the then new century. In retrospect, one of the bitter historical lessons of over confidence. But what of the part played by wireless? It was most probable … Read more