Church Office Building HF beams

[KE4JSX]

Hi.  My name is Dan and I am from Virginia (between Staunton and Charlottesville).  I've been a ham since 1994.  My main focus was/is Emergency Preparedness/communication.  I am my home stakes Emer Prep resource as well as EmmComm and am trying to set up intra stake communications.  My HT comp is working on getting his Eagle project approved: making and installing 2m J pole antennas in our buildings as well as an invierted V in the stake center.  My hope is to have a spot in each building away from noise that has a coax line (and possibly a tuner for the HF ant) so any ham can bring in his rig(s) along with a car battery and plug in.We are in SLC at the moment - came in for our first "live" General Conference - what an amazing experience!!  While walking near Temple Square, I took some pictures of the roof of the Church Office Building.  Once I got the angle right, I saw two HF beams along with an assortment of other antennas.  My question is:  who has access to the station?  Can visits be arranged?  Is there a sked of nets run from there, and if so, when and where?  Is there a contact person?  Any other info would be appreciated.  Thanks and glad I found this group.  73Dan - KE4JSX in Virginia[ edited by WB7SGL to add photos, courtesy Dan KE4JSX ][img]http://www.ldshams.com/images/ke4jsx/P1000632sm.JPG[/img][img]http://www.ldshams.com/images/ke4jsx/P1000633sm.JPG[/img][img]http://www.ldshams.com/images/ke4jsx/P1000634sm.JPG[/img]

Topic

[VE1VQ]

I've had the opportunity to go up to the radio room and out on the rooftop of the Church Office Building twice. The last time was a year or two after the tornado swept thru SLC. As one who does NOT like heights, I can tell you it's an interesting place to be! I've also been to the Store House radio room. As for antennas in chapels, the Facilities people are concerned about water damage due to improper/poor installations. Most, not familar with EMCOMs or amateur radio simply say no. Any of the chapel attic spaces that I've been in, are full of metal duct work, conduit, and other conductive things - not at all a happy place for an antenna. Better to make up an outside portable antenna for emergency or Field Day use. Just make sure to try it out before either.Dave/VE1VQ

[AJ5BS]

The FM Group has specifically stated that antennas can not be placed on ward or stake buildings unless the Stake President has specifically requested otherwise and the FM Group gets special permission from SLC. That does not mean that you can not make up antennas for the meeting houses and place them in a closet for use in an emergency.One other thing that you need to know, most of the building's windows, if not all, have probably been sealed shut in some fashion. You will need to figure out, before the emergency, how to undo the seal so that you can run your feed line to your antenna while you operate from inside the building. I have also been told that some of the newer buildings do not have windows - that will present an even bigger problem.The best way to find out about the Church's Net schedule is to contact the Bishop's Storehouse nearest you and get their schedule. 

[AC0PR]

This is a subject I researched greatly being in a very open, large area with few members and in wanting to stay in contact in case of an emergency for my branch. While each Storehouse may hold nets, not all do. Church HQ does hold weekly nets (on Tues.) on numerous HF bands (20, 40, 80 meters as well as VoIP) and different modes (phone, PSK, cw). However, these nets are for regionally called ECS's in order to check in from the storehouses, checking that equipment, etc., not for the stake/ward comms specialist or the general population of LDS hams. While of course anyone may monitor any amateur net, checking into these nets without being a regional ECS is not appropriate unless there is a call for visitors to check in.You should check with your storehouse as to whether or not you can or should participate in their area net (for example, in my case the storehouse we're assigned to does not hold an HF net and we're too far [as in a couple of states away] to access their 2 meter net).Best of luck and 73,

[Steelhawk]

A few years ago, when I was a church employee, I sent an email to one of the GAs who is a ham asking about tours.  He put me in touch with the guy who runs the station, whose name I no longer remember.  I arranged a tour for all the hams in our group, about 20.  We spent about 30 minutes in the station, located on the  top floor of the Church Office Building.  It was interesting.They may still have a church employee net going on Wed at 11:30 using simplex.

[VA7DH]

Glad to know that I am not the only one who has struggled with the issue of radios in church buildings. There are radios in the main Bishop's Storehouses (primary) and the equipment including a tilt tower is supplied by Salt Lk. The secondary Bishop's Storehouses seem to be on their own, same with Stake Buildings. As far as I have been able to discern regarding that the church has left that in the hands of stake leaders and Bishop's Storehouse people. Many bishop's storehouses are in leased buildings and many of the owners of those buildings do not  want large antennas on top of their structures. One way around that is to have remote antennas and HF radios at members residences and a control via VHF or UHF radio at the storehouse or stake building.  It's just money. Yes, the buildings people can be very dogged in their view of amateur radio and equipment in buildings. Just talk nicely to them and point out that amateur radio is the only thing that may get through in a major disaster. We seem to be in those times foretold in the scriptures – you know – the latter days when things start going sideways. Best to be prepared and communications helps us to work together when the going gets rough.73VA7DHldsradio.ca

[northernscout]

I visited the Bishop's Storehouse in Lethbridge Alberta. They have new ham radio gear and a new tower and beam. There seems to be a trend toward going to a tilt over crank up tower for church facilities and also our (Canadian) municipal emergency operations centers towers. There is a really logical reason. You don't need a registered antenna rigger to put up such a tower and install or repair antennas on it. Just lower it down (carefully), do the work, and raise it back up. I think that is the way I will go in the future. I'm 70 and not getting younger. I climb my own tower now but eventually (the years pass quickly) I won't be able to.

[Author]

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