Based on the issues and successes that I observed in the ARES(R) 2026 Winter Field Day, and our recent successes and struggles in teaching the Technician Ham Radio License, I propose that we work on “General Ham Radio Skillsets” for the next 6 months. That will help our volunteers develop a far more well-rounded set of volunteer skills.
Some of the knowledge and skillset base that I think we need to work at:
Understanding of NOISE and POWER in radio communications and how they make or break a communications link.
Ways to create, and adjust RESONANT antennas.
Ways to create, and adjust NON-RESONANT antennas
Common mode currents in antennas & transmission lines, the HAVOC they can cause, and how to mitigate/prevent.
Radio band characteristics and propagation, hour by hour, day by day, year by year in the real universe.
The skills needed to understand and operate a RECEIVER.
The skills needed to understand and operate a TRANSMITTER.
Mastery of the range of communications techniques available to modern volunteers
A grasp of electricity, power and energy, sufficient to keep a station ON THE AIR for the needed duration of the incident