MM-DOCS.TXT

                    MINI-MANUAL DOCUMENTATION CRITERIA

     In  this day and age of Amateur radio sophistication, it is  possible 
to  be  confronted with operating a radio that you  are  unfamiliar  with. 
That  is  especially  true  when operating public  service  or  during  an 
emergency.  Yes, we all know Volume, Squelch and Push-to-talk. But  during 
an emergency, it may be required, to change frequencies, bands or activate 
special features. That becomes a problem when the operator is not familiar 
with  the radio which was provided for him. The purpose is to  prepare  an 
operator of a radio, a crib sheet or mini-manual. So that during a  public 
service event, he would have some instructions in front of him. That would 
enable  him  to  perform various functions of the radio. The  need  to  be 
prepared  in  advance  is evident. Information such as this  needs  to  be 
shared within the amateur radio community.

I would like to recommend and encourage  other operators to participate in 
documenting  popular  equipment  in  this manner.  That  way  we  are  not 
redundant in our efforts.

     Nothing could be more frustrating than after setting up a net control 
station,  have  to return because of a frequency band or mode  change.  To 
find out the operator doesn't know the radio. Think about it!

     I  have  taken the factory manual and made a mini-manual  for  future 
use. My radio, the IC-2410-H is perfect for public service/emergencies but 
it is complex. It is dual band and allows 2 frequencies to be received  at 
the same time. Therefore, I am recommending that other fellow hams  owning 
different equipment do the same. That way, we share the knowledge.  Simply 
change my format to represent your radio. We have the means to  distribute 
this world wide. 

     This  will also provide a data base for those interested  in  knowing 
particulars  of  a radio but does not have access to the  information.  It 
would  also benefit anyone who buys or borrows a radio and didn't get  the 
manual.  You may want to keep a copy in your glove box to reference  those 
little used functions at a later date.

    In  conclusion, the final point required is to maintain some  type  of 
file  protocol  so  that at a future date,  directories  of  these  "mini-
manuals" would or could be recognized by file name. The files could be  in 
ZIPped,  Graphic  or TeXTed formats. Leave the file extension  as  current 
standards  call  for. Let's name the files, "MM??????.xxx"  MM  for  mini-
manuals  followed  by 6 characters for model, then  the  extension,  which 
would be the file type. 

EXAMPLE: MMIC2410.ZIP - ICOM IC-2410 mini-manual in compressed form.  
         MMTS520S.TXT-  KENWOOD TS-520-S Mini-manual in an ASCII text.
         MMFT900 .GIF-  YAESU FT-900 mini-manual in graphic form.


                                        Larry Macionski   WA2AJQ
                                         RT 2 Box 255-G
                                        Bluemont, Va.  22012