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W2IK's WEBPAGES
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NEAT "STUFF" YOU WON'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE!
Below is a listing of the over 45 various ham radio related webpages all written and published by Bob Hejl - W2IK - NNN0KSI (Navy Marine Corps MARS) - NNN0GBY2 (MARS ECOM SOUTH TEXAS). There is a brief description of each following it's title.Pages by subject. Just click on any colored title below to be taken to that site.  Contents on any site may NOT be re-published in any form or part thereof without author (name and callsign) credit.  Questions? write to my QRZ address.
        as requested by several EmComm groups......!!!
Explore this first-of-it's-kind 4 part series to see what it takes (personal strength, team work, equipment and supplies) to create a communications jump team. THIS IS WHERE EVERY TEAM SHOULD START.
You won't find this info in any ARRL publication or anywhere else!
jump team practice in the field
SPECIAL:  If you would like to receive an expanded version (much more info) of this jump team series in a 29 page booklet form, send $ 3 (to cover the cost of photocopying and mailing) to :

W2IK - Jump Team Booklet
PO Box 6731
San Antonio, Texas 78209
"EMCOMM AND YOU" released as a private CD
A 250 page book-on-CD about Emergency Communications. Included is my "W2IK Emergency Communications Guide" (updated with more info and pictures), deploying away from your home turf, antennas for EmComm and how to build some "on the fly", EmComm worker protection, jump teams and much more. This CD is a private run for serious emcomm workers.
  My original 80 page "W2IK's EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS GUIDE" is still available to all on CD only
See my latest VHF/UHF Field Antenna - Stored in it's own 47 inch tube/mast-base, in under 2 minutes it becomes a powerhouse antenna system over 16 feet tall! No tools to deploy. My antenna design is being used by EMCOMM groups all over the U.S. -- YOU HAVE TO BUILD ONE OF THESE! Get a parts list and complete construction plans and pictures here:
DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!
 IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT EMCOMM...

(includes a new MARS/80 Meter adapter on a separate page!)
This is the only NVIS antenna posted on the NAVMC MARS National website.
PREPARE NOW FOR  HURRICANE SEASON 2008 !
VISIT MY  WEBSITE FOR NEW HAMS:
ECOMM WORKERS (NEW AND OLD) PLEASE READ:
Just For EMCOMM Volunteers:
MAKE SURE YOU READ:
A picture of my "IK-STIC 2" antenna being used on Shell Island (off the coast of England) during a DXpedition  ===
Click here: "IK-STIC 2" to build one
I was invited to give a lecture at "Communications Academy 2007" but I was unable to attend due to a bout with "WTC Cough". Instead, I wrote a paper for this event:
MY WEBPAGES BY SUBJECT
FAMILY PREPAREDNESS WEBSITES
“When disaster strikes the time to prepare has passed.”


     I wrote this website to keep your family better prepared in the event of natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires and severe winter storms. It includes the development of a "home bag" that will contain everything needed to get through the severe weather or if evacuation is necessary. There is one special resource website developed for this main site and you should refer to it when directed. You won't find this stuff in any national publication. Prepare your family by having them read this site. This is NOT your run-of-the mill basic list. It is a site which also explains "what and why" based upon real-life experiences with extra info on how you can save your house. A MUST READ  
  
   Being an emergency worker who has been exposed to an act of terrorism and also consulting with many support personnel who deal directly with real-life terrorism (and not "book experts"), I explain how to keep your family safer and more secure during times of terrorism. Defining and examining terrorism and how to help identify acts before they can cause harm. This website should be read as a companion website to "Family Preparedness Part One". There are several special resource websites that were made just for this site. You should refer to them when directed. Learn it here, because you won't find it coming from any other radio related source. A CHILLING MUST READ  

        Mobile Home Protection .... new for 2006
    Protecting your mobile home or trailer during weather events such as hurricanes. The most detailed information site about this important subject. Also included are never before post-storm inspection features. If you or someone you know lives in a mobile home that might be exposed to a hurricane, then you need to read this. That is, if you want a better chance to have a mobile home to come back to after a hurricane.
  
  Basic step-by-step instructions on how to properly seal a room in your home if you have to stay during an "air borne event". A sample diagram is included. Be sure to follow the directions carefully as you may not get a second chance. This is a companion website to "Family Preparedness Part Two"  
  

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
"FIELD DAY IS NOT ENOUGH"
  

   The complete story of what really took place during the World Trade Center Disaster. I was the first responder at "Ground Zero" and spent three days supplying emergency communications from that site... and more. A must read for all emergency communicators and people interested in a sad piece of American history. It details some events and information kept secret from the public and why. It gives new meaning to the terms "Amateur Radio" and "Public Service". You won't hear about this from any other radio related publication.  Not even the ARRL. When you are done with this website, go to the website below to read more. Then go to: BBC "Unsung Heroes" and listen for a small snippet of my callsign (from "Ground Zero") and some of my communications about half way through their radio broadcast.
 
   My next assignment after a short rest involved supplying communications at a Red Cross shelter. It wasn't your typical assignment as there were many twists and turns during my duty including dealing with a man who had a gun and wanted to use it! It will shock you to learn what went on and the lack of support by a certain well-known agency.  I had to think on my feet to supply things the Red Cross wouldn't.  

Operators need to know how to: Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome
    Read why you might be learning emergency communications the wrong way. Most EMCOMM training is being used with just "dusted off" materials that have been taught since the 1960's. This includes the "new" ARRL training. See why this can be dangerously wrong. Intergrated in this series is a new way to learn up-to-date emergency communications techniques. This is a 7 part series  Read them in sequence and see what "they" are doing wrong. You wouldn't fight a war with 1960's rifles.... so why supply emergency communications with 1960's (or 1990's) methods and philosophies, written by people who've never gotten their hands and faces dirty during real deployments? This series includes special step-by-step training not posted anywhere else, what equipment you'll need and why. Included as parts 4 and 5 is special training, both mental/emotional preparation, special equipment concerns and communications techniques, to help you through emergency communications during a terrorist event... These are compiled by the only amateur radio operator at WTC ":Ground Zero" for the first 3 days. This information is not available elsewhere.

(The Desperate Need For A New Beginning):
(A New ECOMM Course "A"):
(A New ECOMM Course "B"):
(Terrorism - ECOMM Response "A"):
(Terrorism - ECOMM Response "B"):
(Thinking On Your Feet - Coping With The Unexpected):
(Family Preparedness):


  (Emergency Communicators Should Train Not For Weapons Of Mass Destruction, But For Weapons Of Mass Terror) LEARN THE DIFFERENCE.

EMCOMM JUMP TEAMS  a new, 4 part series
  Before you consider raising your hand to become a member of an emergency communication's jump team, see what's involved. It's more than having a radio and camping gear!

This website was created to better prepare yourself if you are asked to respond as an EmComm worker to a location, such as an ICC, very close to a disaster. Deploying close to an event could possibly cause  you harm due to prolonged exposure to toxic substances released from fires or explosions. Shifting winds and other unknown forces may quickly change the drama of some events as the "safe zone" you might be operating from might easily disappear, or from mis-information reported on the scene as was done during the World Trade Center disaster. This is an important website.

   I designed a unique system that contains all the radio gear needed to deploy for search and rescue work. This includes a new antenna: W2IK's "Jiffy-Pole" a light weight two piece antenna designed especially for this type of work. If you are serious about on-foot search and rescue, you need to build one of these.  
  
   STOP !! Before you buy any emergency gear - This website covers what every emergency communicator needs to better equip themselves during an actual event. It covers equipment, antennas and power supplies and why one system should be considered over another. Without proper equipment you cripple your ability to be effective over the timeline of a disaster. Also included are what personal items, etc you need and how to develop your own "go bag" for this type of work. Check out it's resource website. Many emergency communications groups refer to this site during their training.

Sometimes just getting there can be the biggest headache. Learn how to better arm yourself with information that will make it easier when you need to deploy to a location. Learn actual pitfalls you should avoid. A MUST READ for EmComm workers.
  
This is a great new antenna system you can build to deploy and operate using Near Vertical Incident Skywave signals. Every EmComm person needs one of these in their equipment cache. It's easy and inexpensive to build and deploy. Variable height makes for easier operation to rid yourself of annoying interference  especially those international broadcasters on 40 meters. Also includes basic theory on NVIS and why you should use NVIS antennas when the so-called calculations don't support it's "pure" signal generation.

Create an easy adapter to add to your military section masting which will allow you ease in both guying and in stringing an antenna (such as a dipole or "inverted V").

  "Titles and toys do not make you a good communicator"
 Pulling no punches, I wrote this website to assist emergency communications groups better define who they are and how best to operate with volunteer communicators, assist other support groups and the community. There are too many "closed shop" emergency communications groups that need to open their eyes to better understand their responsibilities to the public and in doing so, make a better face for amateur radio. A title means nothing if you drive away those who can help. Remember: "A coordinator, coordinates, not dictates."  
  
     A preview of my communications guide and a complete table of contents. My guide is an emergency communications course that is detailed through my experiences as an emergency communicator during severe weather and terrorist attacks including being the first responder at the World Trade Center Disaster. It contains more information than ANY course offered by any person or group. There are many areas of the country that use this course as the main focus of their training. The guide is available on Disc ONLY. The cost is just to pay for shipping and the blank disc purchase. Hundreds have been shipped and are being used to train emergency communications groups instead of a "National Emergency Communications Course".  

ANTENNA RELATED WEBSITES
 
    This website contains information you were never told about in a certain organization's "Big Book Of Antennas". Even the best design and construction will not weather the test of time if you don't heed the information presented in my website. This site is getting lots of "hits" and is a must read if you are into doing antenna construction or repair.  
  
   FINALLY!  Here's how to build a special self-supporting, light weight "J Pole" antenna for two meter emergency communications. This antenna is much more effective in hitting a repeater from those hard to reach areas than your mobile antenna. It works great on simplex, too. The entire antenna weighs about 4 pounds yet reaches heights of up to 17 feet. A must for every emergency communicator who has to be out in the field. Complete plans, pictures and never told tuning techniques. It's design differs from other "J Pole" plans. SEVERAL WERE USED DURING HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA WITH GREAT RESULTS. EMERGENCY GROUPS ALL OVER THE U.S. ARE RECOMMENDING THIS ANTENNA FOR DEPLOYMENT.

  I've gotten so many requests for info on how to build the W2IK "Quick-Stic VHF Emergency Antenna System" so I've posted the construction pages, with 40 pictures. It's an emergency deployable VHF antenna that is stored in a tube (which also acts as it's lower base) is under 48 inches yet expands to a whopping 16 feet. UPS and USPS shippable. I have made over a dozen for Emcomm groups throughout the U.S. to beta test. They like them so much they won't give them back!

I designed a great antenna that allows you use your HT indoors to hit those pesky far away repeaters. You can use it where you have antenna restrictions or just for casual chats from the patio without having to put up or plug into an antenna on your roof. This antenna fits on any table yet is a full-fledged ground plane. NO radials poking at you and NO skimping here! Hundreds have been built using my design including from as far away as Australia!

  Designed as an NVIS Deployment antenna and used during drills such as the 2005 Corpus Hurricane Drill, I designed a simple, variable height NVIS antenna that can be deployed during emergency communications. On this site I've included a complete materials list, theory and construction details with pictures. If you need reliable, hf communications within 400 miles, you need to build this antenna. NVIS works best when every station uses the same antenna... no skip zones, decreased static crashes, decreased interference by international broadcasters on 40 meters. I am re-designing this antenna which will then be beta-tested by  EmComm groups in January 2007.
 
Ideas to enable wheelchair-bound hams to get on VHF/UHF so they may deploy during special events, emergencies or just rag-chew from their home. Complete with pictures and info when I set up one local wheelchair-bound ham with this antenna. This system telescopes up to 14 feet or all the way down to 5'10".

     A roll up two band antenna that can be used for camping, QRP or emergency work. It's basic design has changed little since I introduced it back in the mid 1980's. It is simple, light weight and needs no tuner for 20 and 40 meter operation. Take a peek at this site and see what many QRP ops are now using in the field.
  
     This is the one they've been talking about and building! Construction plans and photos take you step by step through the building process of my unique HF antenna that covers 10-40 meters (using a tuner of course), is 25 feet tall and weighs about 5 pounds !  This antenna also telescopes down and stores in it's 6 foot coil assembly making it very transportable for field or emergency use. Hundreds have been built using my plans.  

   Not to be confused with my "IK-STIC 2" antenna, this is a simple type of vertical antenna that changes bands by removing/attaching "band adders". It was my first attempt at using a telescoping mast for HF antenna design.  
  
 MISCELLANEOUS WEBSITES

      Activating a county where no hams reside has it's ups and downs. The ups include the joy of camping out and giving county hunters a chance to bag a "rare one". The downs... well, you can read about them in my website.
  
     A special ham radio website made not-just-for-kids. There are stories about young hams with learning features snuck in each story.
 
    Information about my ten meter beacon station located in south Texas. It includes a primer about propagation beacons and how to use them to help you enhance your ham radio enjoyment. Complete with pictures.
     How operating a special events station in an unknown area can have some very nasty health consequences. Every "biting moment" is true. Look out for the cougar!
  
    Combining humor and pathos, the true story of going out into the field to operate during a ham radio contest.( I think the ghosts of Laurel and Hardy were haunting me.)
 
    For the non-ham who wants to learn about the hobby and the many modes available. "It's not your grandpa's ham radio anymore..."
  
On September 11th 2005 and again on September 11, 2006 , I  operated a special events station to commemorate the WTC disaster. Since my call was the first to be transmitted from "Ground Zero", the callsign used will be "W2IK/WTC911"
 See more by visiting this webpage.



I also have 4 other "resource" webpages that you will come across when you visit some of the above websites. An example is my "High Target Areas" which lists and describes areas or locations that are most susceptible to terrorist events and why.


Take the time to read them all
Bob Hejl - W2IK

 

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