Image Up Advertising & Design

46 | LIFE IN SOLERA | NOVEMBER 2023 | IN AN EMERGENCY, WHAT RADIO SHOULD I USE? Many years ago, Solera had a vibrant Emergency Preparedness Program (EPP) with a huge cadre of participants. A couple of the main challenges identified for program managers was the size of our campus and the ability to coordinate resources. To mitigate the size issue managers curved the community into smaller neighborhood blocks. The communication challenge was met by the use of Family Radio Service (FRS), commonly known as Motorola walkie-talkies. Why don't we use cell phones to communicate? For person to person conversations, a cell phone could be an adequate tool. During disaster operations, there is more of a need to convey important information or call for help upon a larger group of listeners. Radios will meet that demand during the chaos of a disaster. The likelihood of cellular service working a disaster is highly unlikely. Part of EPP cadre disaster preparation, is to practice their resiliency skills. Members of the EPP participated drills that incorporated of the Motorola radios. Unfortunately, use of the lower power walkie- talkies was problematic. FRS radios were designed to cover only a one block area. As a result, participants would talk over each other and negated any form of contact. To resolve the poor radio performance, the Solera Radio Club purchased and installed a $3,000 radio system at the Clubhouse (funded by the radio club and not by the Solera at Oak Valley Greens HOA). This radio system will allow residents to communicate with the current CERT cadre without the fear talking over others. Residents have free access to the Solera Emergency Radio System. The only item needed is an inexpensive commercial style UHF radio. The cost for the radio ranges from $20 to $60 on Amazon. If you are interested in obtaining the proper radio, please direct you queries to the radio club or the Solera CERT cadre. The Solera Radio Club (https://www. kc6src.net) is the auxilary communications component of the Solera CERT Cadre (https://www.solera-cert.info). The radio club meets the second, third and fourth Friday of each month in the Arts & Crafts Room of the Clubhouse from 9 to 11 am. TRIVIA ANSWER FOR OCTOBER: Question: What does Ham mean, as in "Ham radio?" Answer: The word "HAM" as applied to 1908 was the station CALL of the first amateur wireless station operated by some amateurs of the Harvard Radio Club. They were Albert S. Hyman, Bob Almy, and Poogie Murray. At first they called their station "HYMAN-ALMY- MURRAY." TRIVIA QUESTION THIS MONTH (Answered next month) The portion of the FM dial between 88 and 92 MHz is usually reserved for what type of station? is article was brought to you by Ray C. Gayton-Jacob (N6KZM) ray.n6kzm@gmail.com. e Solera Radio Club is part of the West Riverside County - Amateur Radio Emergency Radio Service (ARES) Division/Banning Pass District. RADIO CLUB BOWLING Bowling is going strong at Canyon Lanes. We are having so much fun not only bowling our regular games, but there is also side pots and 50/50 raffles. There is always room for more bowlers. We have openings for the following: Monday afternoons starting at 1:30 pm – regular mixed four- person teams Tuesday afternoons starting at 1 pm – open to two-person teams (only one team needed) Thursday mornings starting at 9:30 am – No Tap bowling mixed three-person teams. If you have any interest in those days, please give me a call at (951) 231-3991 so I can help you get registered and assist in getting you on a full team. ~ Vallarie Clegg

• Cover