Prepping Preacher: Signal Corps III Grid Down Comms Course AAR

In my world trust is a very limited commodity.  One does not give absolute trust to another freely.  And in my world the man at your back with a firearm had better be a man you trust implicitly.  If you are smart, very few men ever earn that level of trust.

Prepping Preacher and his wife are such people.  I've had the honor of meeting him more than once, including in a hotspot at the National Mall last October.

He's a man I'd permit at my back with a weapon.

Can YOU build a radio in an altoids tin?

So, I commend to you, his AAR from Sparks' III Grid Down Comms course last week in CT.  You need Comms skills, folks.  If you are going to keep up with me over the coming excitements, you will need more than the internet and a cell phone.  If you are going to survive, you will probably need real Comms skills.  You will need eyes over that ridge, and Comms allows you to see what your allies see.  Patriots - get some time with Sparks.  Here's his training schedule.  You can also talk to him about coming to your AO.

My thanks to PP for writing this AAR.

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April 26-27, 2014   Watertown, Ct

The course was well attended, numbering at least 15 students.  The experience/ability levels ranged from newbie w/o a ham license to experienced General level HAM Operator.  The spaces provided for the class were roomy and had a small area set aside for electronics and related work.  Our thanks to CTHackerspace there in Watertown for opening their doors.  More about that organization can be found at: www.hackerspace.org.

Our instructor, Sparks31, "has got it goin' on" in this field.  When it's hands on "stuff", he is, hands down, as good as you'll find anywhere.  Rightfully so, as his 30 yrs in this technical area have given him a wealth of info and ability.  He was and is willing to share with any individual or group who is serious about learning.

Of the 2 days spent there, about half of the first day(or less) was taken up with "classroom" instruction.  The rest of the time was "hands on" doing it.  While progressing through the "assignments", he shared his knowledge and experience continually.  Most of the 2nd day was spent at a public park, setting up, tuning and acquiring signals for recognition and response. 

There is alot of technical info that, without which, anyone but the serious will likely become frustrated and fail at establishing themselves as an operator.  He covered each aspect of the list of topics he put out as well as fielded all questions related to any topic however close or far.  He addressed topics not listed as they came up in class.  This was not a seminar on theory.  He leaves the learning of that to you but cites applicable resources.  He does much teaching when working with "stuff" in his hands.  He's a Patriot as well - the real deal.  So, if I needed a comms guy to make a presentation, he's first choice. One of the highlights for me was his homemade cookie baking sheet pan antenna which we put to use in the class. Simple but amazing.   It seems that wherever he is, if there is a signal to be heard he will find a way to get it from the sky to a speaker if at all possible.

For me, it was a "2 thumbs-up" experience.  From this class, I've determined my direction and how I am going to pursue it in terms of equipment and process. 

If you are on the edge of deciding, take the leap - you won't regret it.

PP III to III

~~

Kerodin
III