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N0CID
04-04-2007, 06:38 PM
An extraordinary find!:

The “RADIO OPERATOR FREQUENCY AND ABBREVIATION GUIDE” (Pamphlet)

Note: Downloadable ‘pfd’ document

I thought that REACT was defunct. Not true (Ashes upon my head!)! When I made note, some OM's said "Share it here." O.K. here is the re-play.

Information on some important abbreviations, PL (CTCSS) tones, FRS, GMRS, Phonetic Alphabet, Repeater Offsets, et al.

How to find this information:

http://www.ocreact.org/

Left side bar: click on ‘Digital Library’

On the following page, under “Organizational Documents:” click on the ‘Radio Operator Frequency & Abbreviation Guide’

Once on this page of the Digital Document Library, the document description is listed. On the bottom, just above the ‘counter,’ click on “here.”

This impressive info-card is full of information, even though it is from a CB oriented organization, there are some very useful items. REACT is not a new organization; it has been around since the mid-60’s. This organization has contributed augment-communications for years. This pamphlet could assist the new amateur radio operator.

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In the mid-60s, although we were part of the amateur radio community, we post-WW II youngsters spent big money to have an 11 meter, channel-ized (crystal controlled frequencies) transceiver (we wanted to have anything that transmitted). There were 23 frequencies allocated at that time, plus the proposed A & B Emergency reserved channels (the A & B proposal was a born-dead). These transceivers usually had five to six channel capabilities and some that crystal tx, with tunable receive (Remember E.F. Johnson of Waseca, Minnesota?). The license was $18.00 for five years and you hade to be 18 years old, otherwise the license was in Dad’s name (until you were old enough for your own). Imagine that at c. $1.00 an hour.

At that time, Henry radio (in Anaheim, were HRO currently is) was in its hey-day and we still had Lafayette (which also produced CB radios) Electronics, with a store in Buena Park (Tandy [Radio Shack] was relatively unknown). But, after awhile, people would use the Citizen’s Band Service as an easy way to do ham type things, without a license. Many of us then began to distance ourselves from it (we high-schoolers certainly did not want to disappoint our Elmers). Hams partaking of this ‘Boot-legging” were hit the hardest; they were fined heavier and sometimes lost their tickets for a while, if they ‘boot-legged.’ Many of the Hams in our circle had CB units, but they operated legal, only. The people who followed the rules and used a proper call-sign were called ‘Legals.’ I saw a transcript of an FCC issued citation to a CBer only-type (this was articulate, to say the least, which noted every word the guy and the person to whom he was speaking said). He (a not-interested in ham radio type) showed it to me. The fine was $500. It gave me religion.

By 1968, the CB service was beginning to disintegrate. But a true spark of decency was kept in the form of this REACT organization. Some very fine and responsible people donated time and efforts to assist in augmenting communications for parades or brush-fires with their CB equipment. React desired and strove to keep the service viable and on an even keel.

The chaos that followed in the 11 meter service saw the FCC bowing to the bad-guys. This acquiescence was mirrored in other countries, too. In the course of things, there was even a movement about to have 11 meters moved to the Ham allocations as a "Ham Band" [this is a very abridge notation and entry] – or perhaps a merger of sorts. That direction proved to be a dead-end. Their time finally came in the mid-80’s, when the move of the flies to conquer the fly-paper movement began. Now, they have done it. All you need is time and enough flies. Irrespective, it looks a thought React is still using the allocation in the 11 meter band useful and wholesome. My hat it off to REACT.

I hope that some of you will look at the Orange County (California) REACT “RADIO OPERATOR FREQUENCY AND ABBREVIATION GUIDE” and I hope that some of you will find it helpful.

Best ‘7 3, de Michael, N0CID sk dit dit

kl7aj
04-04-2007, 07:00 PM
I have to confess I spent some time on Channel 14 in my formative years. My brother and I built a pair of walkie talkies from Electrosolids company...which I now understand are real collector's items. They had superregen receiver sections which were real sensitive if you could keep them on frequency...or at least somewhere in the CB band! HI

eric

W5HTW
04-04-2007, 07:34 PM
Quote[/b] (N0CID @ April 04 2007,11:38)]In the course of things, there was even a movement about to have 11 meters moved to the Ham allocations as a "Ham Band" [this is a very abridge notation and entry] – or perhaps a merger of sorts.
Almost looks like it finally succeeded!

Ed

N0CID
04-04-2007, 07:38 PM
Quote[/b] (W5HTW @ April 04 2007,15:34)]Quote[/b] (N0CID @ April 04 2007,11:38)]In the course of things, there was even a movement about to have 11 meters moved to the Ham allocations as a "Ham Band" [this is a very abridge notation and entry] – or perhaps a merger of sorts.
Almost looks like it finally succeeded!

Ed
Yup! 'Sad state of affairs. tnx Ed. Michael

KC5SAS
04-04-2007, 09:04 PM
Of course, REACT is still around. They have bi-monthly articles in Popular Communications. They do more than 11 meters. They work alongside ARES, and in places where ARES is not active, sometimes serve in it's place. Many REACTers are Hams and GMRS licencees.
Locally SouthEast Louisiana REACT has UHF ham repeaters and VHF APRS digipeaters on the air.

N0CID
04-04-2007, 09:12 PM
Quote[/b] (KC5SAS @ April 04 2007,17:04)]Of course, REACT is still around. They have bi-monthly articles in Popular Communications. They do more than 11 meters. #They work alongside ARES, and in places where ARES is not active, sometimes serve in it's place. #Many REACTers are Hams and GMRS licencees.
Locally SouthEast Louisiana REACT has UHF ham repeaters and VHF APRS digipeaters on the air.
Hello Steve,

Yes, this is precisely what I discovered when I checked it out by searching the web. #This and the validity of your comment is reflected on their websites and the download, which I put on the post. #Since I knew some of these good people from many years ago, it meant something to me.

Thanks for the input, and the best to you and the other folks that work with such organizations, of which, we would be a certain loss to many communities, if they were not around.

Regards,

Michael

WA2ZDY
04-04-2007, 10:06 PM
Quote[/b] (kl7aj @ April 04 2007,15:00)]I have to confess I spent some time on Channel 14 in my formative years. #My brother and I built a pair of walkie talkies from Electrosolids company...which I now understand are real collector's items. # They had superregen receiver sections which were real sensitive if you could keep them on frequency...or at least somewhere in the CB band! #HI
I had them too. # It wasn't until I was a ham that I understood why the receiver interfered with the TV and not the transmitter!

As for REACT, I'm sure they do fine work in most places. #Unfortunately my exposure to them was seeing them contracted to provide traffic control and collect parking fees at an annual event I attended in New Jersey. # The majority of them were obese and slovenly in their "police" uniforms, badges and all. # HTs hanging by Sam Browne belts and long orange wanded flashlights in use at 10am.

Today these folks would be called whackers and many have become EMCOMM hams. # A few can make the majority of good folks look very bad.

WA9SVD
04-06-2007, 02:21 PM
Quote[/b] (N0CID @ April 04 2007,11:38)]An extraordinary find!:

The “RADIO OPERATOR FREQUENCY AND ABBREVIATION GUIDE” (Pamphlet)

Note: Downloadable ‘pfd’ document

I thought that REACT was defunct. Not true (Ashes upon my head!)! When I made note, some OM's said "Share it here." O.K. here is the re-play.

Information on some important abbreviations, PL (CTCSS) tones, FRS, GMRS, Phonetic Alphabet, Repeater Offsets, et al.

How to find this information:

http://www.ocreact.org/

Left side bar: click on ‘Digital Library’

On the following page, under “Organizational Documents:” click on the ‘Radio Operator Frequency & Abbreviation Guide’

Once on this page of the Digital Document Library, the document description is listed. On the bottom, just above the ‘counter,’ click on “here.”

This impressive info-card is full of information, even though it is from a CB oriented organization, there are some very useful items. REACT is not a new organization; it has been around since the mid-60’s. This organization has contributed augment-communications for years. This pamphlet could assist the new amateur radio operator.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the mid-60s, although we were part of the amateur radio community, we post-WW II youngsters spent big money to have an 11 meter, channel-ized (crystal controlled frequencies) transceiver (we wanted to have anything that transmitted). There were 23 frequencies allocated at that time, plus the proposed A & B Emergency reserved channels (the A & B proposal was a born-dead). These transceivers usually had five to six channel capabilities and some that crystal tx, with tunable receive (Remember E.F. Johnson of Waseca, Minnesota?). The license was $18.00 for five years and you hade to be 18 years old, otherwise the license was in Dad’s name (until you were old enough for your own). Imagine that at c. $1.00 an hour.

At that time, Henry radio (in Anaheim, were HRO currently is) was in its hey-day and we still had Lafayette (which also produced CB radios) Electronics, with a store in Buena Park (Tandy [Radio Shack] was relatively unknown). But, after awhile, people would use the Citizen’s Band Service as an easy way to do ham type things, without a license. Many of us then began to distance ourselves from it (we high-schoolers certainly did not want to disappoint our Elmers). Hams partaking of this ‘Boot-legging” were hit the hardest; they were fined heavier and sometimes lost their tickets for a while, if they ‘boot-legged.’ Many of the Hams in our circle had CB units, but they operated legal, only. The people who followed the rules and used a proper call-sign were called ‘Legals.’ I saw a transcript of an FCC issued citation to a CBer only-type (this was articulate, to say the least, which noted every word the guy and the person to whom he was speaking said). He (a not-interested in ham radio type) showed it to me. The fine was $500. It gave me religion.

By 1968, the CB service was beginning to disintegrate. But a true spark of decency was kept in the form of this REACT organization. Some very fine and responsible people donated time and efforts to assist in augmenting communications for parades or brush-fires with their CB equipment. React desired and strove to keep the service viable and on an even keel.

The chaos that followed in the 11 meter service saw the FCC bowing to the bad-guys. This acquiescence was mirrored in other countries, too. In the course of things, there was even a movement about to have 11 meters moved to the Ham allocations as a "Ham Band" [this is a very abridge notation and entry] – or perhaps a merger of sorts. That direction proved to be a dead-end. Their time finally came in the mid-80’s, when the move of the flies to conquer the fly-paper movement began. Now, they have done it. All you need is time and enough flies. Irrespective, it looks a thought React is still using the allocation in the 11 meter band useful and wholesome. My hat it off to REACT.

I hope that some of you will look at the Orange County (California) REACT “RADIO OPERATOR FREQUENCY AND ABBREVIATION GUIDE” and I hope that some of you will find it helpful.

Best ‘7 3, de Michael, N0CID sk dit dit
Don't forget, in the early days of Class "D" CB, you could use a crystal-controlled, 100 mW or less home-brew transmitter (or transceiver) without a license. Allied Radio probably sold a gazillion of their little blue "Knight-Kit" "walkie-talkies," we used them to uncoordinate Boy Scout hikes and camping trips. The leaders had the 5 W licensed (at the time) H-T's; I believe there were 2 or 5 wat kits also available, with up to 6 channels, if you could afford the crystals! (Two per channel.) That was before certification, nee "type acceptance."