03-04-2001, 02:14 AM
KB1FWN writes "About a month ago, a few scout groups
went to the Chesterfield Scout
Reservation.
They had to camp in lean-toos, a three
sided hut. In one of which was a
Kenwood Radio. This was not a new
radio. But, the scout using it only
had that one radio. During that same
weekend, the VHF UHF contest was
scheduled. So, using the grid square,
the scouts attempted to make contacts.
Some contacts were made, but most
could not be reached.
But, the real problems began that
night. The radio got so cold, it
wouldn't start. The battery didn't
Have a charge. Now they were stuck.
away from civilization, with no
possible way to contact the outside
in case the un-thinkable should
occur. Now, the Kenwood was put
by the fire to thaw. Meanwhile,
the scouts were negotiating what
to do. No one else had a radio...
exept me. I had a Radio Shack
dual bander, but it only had 1 1/2
watts. I couldn' reach anywhere
through the thick forest. It was
getting dark. "May as well try."
And I did. I was operating simplex
on 146.52. No one. Then, there came
a crackle over the radio. The
partial remnants of a callsign.
I tried to get a contact. The
radio jumped to life with the answer.
The voice said to some degree,
"I copy." All of us were happy.
"Will you stand by all night?"
I asked the operator. The answer was
"Yes, I'll stand by and listen. Whats
Your QTH?" I replied, "Thanks. My
QTH is the Scout Reservation." The
voice said, "Oh I'm right down the
street. If you need anything at night
I'll be on this frequency, making sure
you guys don't get hurt out there."
I never got to thank this very
considerate operator. I hope
that I have the chance to meet him,
and if he's reading, all the scouts
in this article thank him."
went to the Chesterfield Scout
Reservation.
They had to camp in lean-toos, a three
sided hut. In one of which was a
Kenwood Radio. This was not a new
radio. But, the scout using it only
had that one radio. During that same
weekend, the VHF UHF contest was
scheduled. So, using the grid square,
the scouts attempted to make contacts.
Some contacts were made, but most
could not be reached.
But, the real problems began that
night. The radio got so cold, it
wouldn't start. The battery didn't
Have a charge. Now they were stuck.
away from civilization, with no
possible way to contact the outside
in case the un-thinkable should
occur. Now, the Kenwood was put
by the fire to thaw. Meanwhile,
the scouts were negotiating what
to do. No one else had a radio...
exept me. I had a Radio Shack
dual bander, but it only had 1 1/2
watts. I couldn' reach anywhere
through the thick forest. It was
getting dark. "May as well try."
And I did. I was operating simplex
on 146.52. No one. Then, there came
a crackle over the radio. The
partial remnants of a callsign.
I tried to get a contact. The
radio jumped to life with the answer.
The voice said to some degree,
"I copy." All of us were happy.
"Will you stand by all night?"
I asked the operator. The answer was
"Yes, I'll stand by and listen. Whats
Your QTH?" I replied, "Thanks. My
QTH is the Scout Reservation." The
voice said, "Oh I'm right down the
street. If you need anything at night
I'll be on this frequency, making sure
you guys don't get hurt out there."
I never got to thank this very
considerate operator. I hope
that I have the chance to meet him,
and if he's reading, all the scouts
in this article thank him."