Paul Smith

KNW-131PROTECTING YOUR RADIO EQUIPMENT FROM SOLAR FLARE (EMP) orHIGH ALTITUDE ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSE (HEMP) Edited 09/2022 by Paul Smith, K5PRSRevised 12/2021 As amateur radio operators, we try to be prepared to assist in all types of emergencies however there are two emergencies which are more difficult to be prepared for: they are a high intensity flare … Read more

KNW-130Selecting A Generator Written by Earl Pack, AE5PA There are a variety of back-up power sources available for amateur radio stations to use during emergency communication situations such as: deep cycle batteries, solar panels, generators, etc. Of these, a generator is likely the most versatile, most reliable and longest lasting if properly cared for. There … Read more

KNW-129Charging Batteries Written 3/18/2012 by Earl Pack, AE5PA To a large extent, the reliability and useful life of a battery depends on the quality of the charging process. Battery chargers are often given low priority but chargers are the guardians of the battery. Most cheap battery chargers can do more harm than good if you’re … Read more

KNW-126RHPC, SETRAC and CMOC Author – 12/05/2012 – KT5SREdited 09/2022 by Paul Smith, K5PRS Many of our ARES members belong to emergency response teams whose primary served agencies are hospitals or governmental agencies that may have hospital, public need interaction roles during disasters. The State of Texas has been divided in to 22 areas under … Read more

KNW-108Extend HT Range Author unknown.Edited 09/2022 by Paul Smith, K5PRS The HT as a communications go-kit.The most basic “go-kit” one can ever own would be the ever popular handie-talkie (HT). However, we all know that the HT, by itself out of the box makes for a pretty poor emergency station. So lets look at some … Read more

KNW-128Being “In Charge” The Dangers of Being “In Charge” and the Dangers of “Following”© 2004 Pat Spencer, KD4PWLMay be used freely for non-profit amateur radio use, please site www.kyham.net as source.[ ] or strike through are corrections to the original article. I’m a volunteer! I can do what I want. Well, Yes and No. It … Read more

KNW-127Battery Selection and Battery Safety By Earl Pack – AE5PA(Written 12/16/2013; Updated 1 Jan 2020)updated 04 Aug 2025 by Paul Smith (K5PRS) BATTERY SELECTION AND BATTERY SAFETYAmateur radio operators work with many types of batteries. Each battery type has specific charging and safe use requirements. Charging requirements will be covered in a separate lesson. Because … Read more

KNW-122Anderson PowerPole Connectors Why Anderson Powerpoles?? Interoperability In the rather frantic and hectic long days and nights of amateur radio emergency operations in the immediate aftermath of the September 2001 World Trade Center attacks, the need for a new and more reliable method of power connectivity arose. The then currently used standard Molex power plugs … Read more

KNW-117NVIS – Near Vertical Incidence Skywave Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) refers to a radio propagation mode which involves the use of antennas with a very high radiation angle, approaching or reaching 90 degrees (straight up), along with selection of an appropriate frequency below the critical frequency, to establish reliable communications over a radius of … Read more

KNW-115GETTING TO KNOW YOUR RADIO Edited09/2022 by Paul Smith, K5PRSRevised 12/2020 Knowing how to access the basic functions on the radios that you use during an emergency response is an important skill as emergency communicators. There have been several incidents during public service events where an operator could not change a parameter such as frequency, … Read more