tl;dr: What you need to get started with JamKazam

In this post I will go over technical requirements to minimize latency, which apply to any online musical collaboration solution, as well as other equipment needed and the first steps to getting set up for JamKazam in particular,

The key to success, and the biggest hurdle to real-time online musical collaboration is minimizing latency. Every step of the way – from you singing or playing a note, the mic picking it up, the sound being converted into electronic form and being transferred into your computer, out your network connection, over the internet to your musical collaborator(s), etc. etc. until they hear it on their end – every step introduces a hesitation, a lag, a latency. For success, we must do everything to reduce and eliminate latency.

1. You must have a wired network connection to your computer

No if, ands, or buts. You cannot use Wi-Fi on your laptop or desktop computer for your internet connection. You could have the fastest internet service (I just upgraded to gigabit, which affords me up to 950Mbps upload and download speeds), but if you use Wi-Fi, an untenable delay will be introduced.

Update: I’ve written a whole blog entry on setting up a wired network connection

“But my router and computer are in different rooms”
That’s okay. Look on the back of your router or modem. You will likely find a row of ports which look like they are for oversized telephone jacks. These are Ethernet ports, and you can run an Ethernet cable from your router or modem to your computer.

If there are no unused ports available, see if you can free any up by removing any unused cables or devices. You can also try switching a device to Wi-Fi (e.g. many printers now support Wi-Fi) and removing its Ethernet cable connection.

If you can’t free up a port, you can purchase an inexpensive Hub or Switch, which is rather like a power strip: you plug it into one port on your router or modem, and the hub or switch will offer up several free Ethernet ports to use.

Ethernet cables, sometimes called “Cat5” or “Cat6” cables, can be purchased for mere dollars, and can be 5, 10, 25, 50, or even 100 feet long. Figure out how much length you need (error on the long side). Of course you want to minimize trip hazards and cables getting crimped in doorways.

If you are, or have a friend who is handy, Ethernet cables can be “fished” through walls, under floors, and above ceilings and an Ethernet jack can be installed in your wall in a more convenient location. This permanently avoids having to string a cable under doors and across hallways..

Once you connect your Ethernet cable to both your modem/router and your computer, turn off Wi-Fi on your computer to ensure it is not using Wi-Fi and that it is using your Ethernet connection. You can also test your internet speed which may very well be improved.

“How do I know what speed my internet connection is?”
Two websites I use to check upload and download speeds are:
https://www.speedtest.net/ – just click “GO”
https://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ – just click “Start Test”

Both of these sites will run a test for about a minute or so, and then will report your Upload and Download speeds.

Note: Upload and Download speeds do not indicate what your latency is. However, you may see improved overall speeds with a wired Ethernet connection versus one over Wi-Fi. Low latency coupled with fast internet service will improve your online musical collaboration experience.

“My computer doesn’t have an Ethernet port!”
Many laptops have no network port into which you can plug an Ethernet cable. My Mac PowerBook has none, but I was able to purchase a  “USB C to Ethernet Adapter” for US$15. Check to see what kind of connections your device has first (USB-C, USB-B, etc.).

2. Headphones and Earbuds
You will need headphones or earbuds to minimize echo and feedback. I recommend wired vs. wireless/Bluetooth, since the latter can add latency. You will want a long cord/extension cord to give you freedom of movement.

3. Microphone
If using a laptop, it likely has a built-in mic. You can use that, but the sound quality will be limited. But it may do for your initial testing.

My first tests were with wired USB mics. I tried a wired headset with mic (Plantronics Blackwire C520) and a Blue Yeti USB plugged into my Mac PowerBook. Both worked great.

For singing, a headset would be fine. However, if you want to play an an acoustic instrument, a mic that isn’t right in front of your mouth makes better sense. If you are going to play an electric instrument (keyboard, electric guitar, etc.), an audio interface (see below) is likely required.

If you are using a laptop, you may have a limited number of USB ports, or you may have no standard USB ports (e.g. my Mac PowerBook only has USB-C ports). You may need to use, for example, USB to USB-C adapters US$4-10 or a dock with USB ports.

4. Computer requirements
It may vary depending on the musical collaboration software you use, but since I started with JamKazam, https://jamkazam.com/ I’ll list their requirements (although other solutions may support Linux and other operating systems, JamKazam is strictly for Windows or macOS – no Linux, Android, or iOS):

Windows: Window 7, 8, or 10, 64-bit

Unsure which Operating System you have? Right-click the start menu and choose “System” and it should display the version of Windows you have and whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Mac: MacOS 10.8 Mountain Lion or later

Unsure what MacOS you have? Click the Apple icon in the top left and choose “About this Mac.” The top line indicates the name of the OS (e.g. “macOS Catalina”) and the second line the version.

5. Sound Interface (optional)
If you view JamKazam setup videos (above and elsewhere), you will see many references to “audio interfaces.” I don’t own one, but may end up purchasing one at some point. They can be less than US$100 but can be much more depending on the features and number of inputs. If you go that direction, I recommend you do your research and buy one with a USB interface.

Unless you want to play an electric instrument (keyboard, guitar, etc.) you don’t likely need one to get started.

JamKazam Account
To use JamKazam, you must create an account. It’s free. Just follow the steps at: https://www.jamkazam.com/signup

A free account will give you up to a 1-hour long session, and 4 total hours per month. During your first month, you are given “Gold” level service which has no time restrictions, supports higher-level sound quality, and offers email support. Here’s a comparison of their various plans.

Previous Post:

MMOTIRT: Introduction

Next Posts in Series:

MMOTIRT Part 2: My First Successful JamKazam Session

MMOTIRT Part 3: JamKazam First-Time Login and Setup

Next post: MMOTIRT 3: My First Successful JamKazam Session

To see my introduction to this series, click here.

#makingmusictogether
#thepleasureofyourcompany
#jamkazam
#nolatencymusic

This week, when millions around the world celebrate holidays with the words, “Peace on Earth,” may we remember those who live without peace and security. There are sadly too many in my own country and beyond who live without peace, security, or justice.

I just learned for the first time about the largest non-self-governing territory listed by the UN and its terrible oppressive occupation. I knew nothing about this region – home to over a half million people – and suspect the majority of my readers are similarly unaware. It is separated by the second longest border wall on Earth (over 1700 miles) and the longest minefield (containing an estimated 7 million land mines).

A steady succession of U.S. presidents, both Republican and Democratic, have supported the occupation of and U.S. military contracts in this region.

Where is this? It is the last colony in Africa: Western Sahara.

Spain established control of Western Sahara as a colony in 1884. Spain finally, slowly decolonized Western Sahara in 1975, signing an agreement with Western Saraha’s neighbors, Morocco and Mauritania.

The U.S. has meddled in and profited from the occupation of Western Sahara for decades:

In 1975, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger privately told President Gerald Ford he hoped for a “rigged UN vote” at the Security Council to confirm Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara.

In 1979, Carter’s State Department gave $200 million to the U.S. company Northrop Page Communications to build an “intrusion detection system” for the nearly 1,700-mile wall Morocco built in Western Sahara, which is lined with an estimated 7 million land mines. A year later, Carter provided Morocco with $230 million in military aid.

In 1982, Reagan gave a joint statement with Morocco’s King Hassan II, stating his “admiration for [the King’s] support” of a peaceful resolution for conflict in Western Sahara.

in 2004, George W. Bush designated Morocco to be a major non-NATO ally of the United States, opening the door for more military deals. And the money has flowed both ways.

Prior to the 2016 election, state-owned Moroccan phosphate company OCP, which operates in Western Sahara, donated as much as $12 million to the Clinton Foundation.

in 2017, Trump’s disgraced EPA administrator Scott Pruitt took a controversial $100,000 trip to Morocco in December of 2017, where he met with the head of Morocco’s state-owned mining company.

Two weeks ago, the Trump Administration recognized Morocco’s annexation of Western Sahara, making the United States the first nation in the world to do so.

I say that our damnation comes from the natural resources we have here. If it wasn’t for these natural resources, Morocco never would have invaded Western Sahara.

Hmad Hammad – Sahrawi independence activist, who was detained in the notorious Black Prison and brutally tortured.

In this time of reflection, and the holiest of holidays for over a third of the world’s population, remember those who suffer under oppression, occupation, and brutality.

Peace and Grace to you all.

tl;dr: When upgrading your internet service, ask many questions, do your homework, have a backup plan, and expect additional challenges and potential costs

I’m an experienced IT professional, so many of the steps I took are beyond what others may know or understand. I’ll try to keep this as clear as I can for the non-IT person.

It used to be that internet service was used only for email and web surfing (and even before the web: anyone remember Gopher, Archie, or Veronica?). Older folks may reminisce about modems screeching and whining and tying up the telephone line for hours. I can remember watching text appear on the screen, almost like someone was typing on the other side of the monitor’s surface. I could read the text faster that it took the modem and computer terminal to serve it up.

Nowadays, internet service is used by so many more devices and services in your home. Many people have cut the cord and switched their television viewing to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and many others. If your cell phone has bad coverage inside your home, you might use Wi-Fi on your phone when at home. Many computer printers use Wi-Fi and can be placed anywhere, even in a closet, unrestricted by the tether of a heavy cable. Home security systems and cameras, your children’s laptop or tablet computer, video chats with family and friends, your home voice assistant/question answerer (Alexa, Siri, Google), your video doorbell (Ring), your gaming consoles, even your thermostat, outlets, and other so-called “smart” devices or “E-” or “I-” devices may all be dependent upon Wi-Fi and internet service.

With the pandemic, there are added demands on your internet service. Distance learning, remote work, and the increased reliance on video chatting to stay in touch with friends and loved ones have added to the burden placed on your internet “pipe.”

So, I decided to upgrade my internet connection speed.

What follows is a long, hopefully instructive and cautionary tale.

We had a 25m/25m connection (25Mbps upload/25Mbps download) connection, which was sufficient for most our needs. I work remotely and attend numerous video conference calls. Sometimes when I move large files (backups, downloads), it impacts streaming TV in another room (loss of picture quality, network hiccups, etc.). I write and edit several blogs and administer a retail website. I also am doing more video work, both live and recorded, and those files can be huge and data transfers time consuming.

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Want to test your network speed? Two websites I use are:
https://www.speedtest.net/
http://speakeasy.net/speedtest

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Doing a little research, I learned my internet provider could upgrade me to 100m/100m with little to no increase in monthly fees for a year. It seemed like a no-brainer. I called them up and ordered the upgrade. They said a technician would come the following day between 8am and noon to do the necessary work. I was delighted that we could get upgraded service so quickly!

Mistake #1: I did not ask whether my internet service would go down before the service call

Mistake #2: I should not have scheduled my upgrade during a time that would impact my work

The customer service person never indicated that I might lose internet service before my scheduled service call. The evening before our scheduled appointment, our internet quit working around 10:30pm. No TV. The house was strangely silent.

I called tech support and was told that programming changes on their end to support 100m/100m had likely been made, and since my old network hardware was incompatible and needed to be replaced, that was the cause for the outage. I asked if our service could be returned to 25m/25m so I could do my work early in the morning and was told, yes, but it would take a while. I went to sleep.

At 5:00am, our internet was still down, so I called tech support. Yes, our service wouldn’t work, and, what’s worse, for some reason our scheduled technician visit for that morning had been canceled! The next available appointment wouldn’t be for another two days! Exasperated, I asked to get that new appointment locked down, but insisted I needed to be restored back to 25m/25m in the meantime. The technician agreed, and after at least an hour on hold, they made the changes.

On my end, I disconnected all my network equipment (router, bridge, wireless AP, etc.) and connected a PC directly to the internet port (what for most people would be the equivalent of the modem). The PC connected. I thanked the technician and hung up.

I then tried adding the first network device between the modem port and the PC: my router. No dice. I plugged the PC back directly into the modem. No internet.

I called tech support back, and after about 30-45 minutes, was able to get internet restored for my PC. We hung up, and I plugged my router in. No internet. Plugged my PC back in, no internet.

I went thru this cycle of calling the provider, getting service, hanging up, losing service at least 2-3 times. Each time on the phone took at least 30-60 minutes. And there were several phone calls where I was dropped and had to call and start all over again.

Through these calls I learned a little bit more about the network devices on the provider’s side (Optical Network Terminal or “ONT”, its power supply and battery backup). I learned how to power cycle my ONT, and doing so, was able to restore my own internet service. Through testing, I found the internet service would last about 5 minutes, then drop. That is why, I assumed, I could never get anything other than my PC to work; by the time I’d connect anything else, my internet service had ceased.

So I called tech support back to report this new information. They were perplexed and said the issue was likely my ONT, and only a service technician’s visit would fix it. My appointment was still two days away. Two days without being able to work remotely. Two days without any streaming TV. Two days with barely a single bar of signal strength for my cell phone at home. They promised to escalate the service request in case a technician might get an opening to help me. By now it was midday and I’d spent 7 hours wrangling with this issue.

During our wait, we decided to go ahead and upgrade to gigabit, which is approximately 1000Mbps. If we were going to go through this much pain to upgrade, why not go for gigabit. A call to customer service assured us that we only needed to tell our technician we wanted gigabit, and they would be able to install that for us on the spot.

Amazingly, I received a call from a technician just an hour or so later saying he was available and could swing by within minutes.

The technician was great. He spent about 4 hours replacing equipment on the outside of the house and inside and testing everything. He was courteous, professional, and answered all my questions.

• 

• 

At the end of his labors, we connected my PC, and instantly I was seeing data transfer speeds over 900Mbps. And my internet didn’t drop after 5 minutes. The technician gave me his card with phone number, wished me well, and departed.

The technician’s work was done, but mine was only beginning. I needed to get my whole home network back up and running: router, switch, Wi-Fi and all the Wi-Fi devices.

I plugged my router in…and no internet. I plugged my switch in and it worked, although I could not get my Wi-Fi AP (Access point) to work. But I really needed a router to work to provide the security needed at the first point in my network connection.

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Confused about the difference between a Router, Switch, and Access Point? Here’s an article that is directed more toward the lay-person:
https://wiki.shopingserver.com/trouter-the-access-point-and-the-switch/

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Although my router and wireless access point are both on the higher-end, they were both a few years old, and after an hour futzing with them without success, I decided to buy a new Wi-Fi router.

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Many people use a router supplied by their internet provider. On one hand, you get the benefit of having something your internet provider supports and troubleshoots for you. On the other hand, it will likely not be the most up-to-date feature- and performance-wise. Also, you are usually charged a monthly rental fee. $5 or so a month may not seem like much (and a bargain if you think your provider offers decent tech support), but if you do your research and purchase your own modem, you may save money in the long run and enjoy better performance and security – but you have to know what you are doing and/or have someone you can call on to help you if you need it.

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A short Costco buying spree later, I plugged in the new router and followed all the steps…and no internet. Argh!

I called tech support with my internet provider, and was placed on hold for a 2nd level technician. As the minutes ticked by, I dived deep into the new router’s settings. I upgraded the Firmware (something everyone should do with their router on a regular basis; here’s why). I kept plugging the PC directly into the modem (success) and then the router (failure). Then I stumbled on an unexpected setting in my router:

My router has a Router MAC Address setting. It allows you to use the MAC address of the router (default), or use the MAC address of the computer.

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What is a MAC address? Here is one explanation:
https://whatismyipaddress.com/mac-address

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Since my internet worked fine with my computer and neither my old nor new router would not, I suspected the MAC address. Perhaps my internet provider had some sort of connection, expectation, or restriction to my PC’s specific MAC address. So I tried that setting. Voila! Everything started working!

I continued to remain on hold with tech support. I wanted to see if I could remove that restriction as it might cause problems in the future. While waiting on hold I connected my switch, configured Wi-Fi on the router, then went around the house bringing Wi-Fi devices online (TVs using Roku sticks, wireless printers, laptops, cell phones, tablets…). I got everything back online and tested. I completed this in about 40 minutes, and I never got a tech support person. I hung up.

My wired computers are now consistently getting between 600-950Mbps speeds (a 40x increase in speed). My wireless devices are getting 60-250Mbps depending on which wireless protocol I use and how far they are from the Wi-Fi router (a 3-20x increase in speed).

Lessons Learned:

1. If you are upgrading your internet service, expect and plan for outages. Ask your provider directly what you should expect, but have a backup plan. You want to minimize disruptions to your work, your child’s distance learning, your streaming services, etc. if possible. Have a backup plan in case the upgrade takes hours or days longer than expected.
2. Make a list of every networked item in your house. Make sure you have documentation on them all, especially how to connect them to Wi-Fi (printers, smart devices, security cameras, etc.). If needed, download and print the documentation for your router, switch, and all Wi-Fi devices, etc. before you upgrade.
3. Test logging into your router, Wi-Fi settings, etc. before you upgrade. Make sure you have all your logins and passwords printed out.
4. Upgrade the firmware on your router.
5. Ask specific questions about costs: will the technician visit, the hardware upgrade, etc. cost you anything? What will the monthly fee be afterwards? Is that a promotional fee that increases after 3/6/12 months?
6. Ask if you will be charged anything if the new equipment fails and needs to be serviced or replaced.
7. If any of your network equipment is old, you may need to upgrade it to get the best performance. For example, since I was upgrading to gigabit, I needed to make sure my router and switch supported gigabit speeds. In my case, my switch maxed out at 100Mbps.

Summary: Read the fascinating and colorful history of gold-rush era Fairbanks, Alaska, and of my grandmother, Dorothy, who grew up there.

I regularly try to impress on people the importance of interviewing parents, grandparents and so on.

Stories of my Japanese American grandparents’ journey to America, raising their children in Oregon, and living through WWII were preserved by my mother. She took the time to write them down, publish them in a book, and share in regular public talks over the years. I have shared many of these stories in another blog.

Although, I never got to know my mother’s Japanese American parents personally (they died just before and after my birth), I was blessed to grow up next door to my father’s parents. I got to know them well.

Now the story of my paternal grandparents is being retold.

Back in 1984, my eldest brother spent the summer interviewing our paternal grandmother, Dorothy Roth Loftus, using a tape recorder. Over 14 hours’ of recordings:

“I asked her everything I could think of: what the town of Fairbanks was like in the early twentieth century, who were the people her family knew, what she studied in school, what the seasons and holidays were like, what foods they ate and how they prepared them, which books she read, how she pursued her love of music, and whatever she knew about her German forebears in California and Pennsylvania, as well as her husband’s Norwegian immigrant family in upstate Wisconsin.”

The stories paint a vivid picture of a boisterous and disorderly frontier town.

For example, the Episcopal Church was one of the oldest buildings in town and built of rough-hewn logs with bark still on them. Wood beetles occasionally fell onto parishioners and the choir. It was “the only public place in town where one could sit and relax, which was not a liquor shop.” This is where my grandparents were married.

You will learn about my great-grandfather, Rinehart Roth, a lawyer and “internal, eternal, and infernal optimist,” who dragged his pregnant wife and two daughters (my grandmother was just one year old) to the wild and woolly gold rush town of Fairbanks. There, he squandered his money and abandoned them to fend for themselves. Grandmother’s mother died when Dorothy was only 18. She and her younger sister, Florence, had to fend for themselves, even having to pay the long overdue bill for their mother’s funeral.

My brother is writing a book based on his interviews with Grandmother, archival newspapers and photographs, and other interviews. He is making installments available on his Patreon. Five episodes are available for free:

THIS IS IT – The Dorothy Roth Loftus Saga

Dorothy 1: A cold day in Januray, 1928…in Alaska

Dorothy 2: Gathering the wedding party…but still undecided

Dorothy 3: A wedding…at last

Dorothy 12: Assaulted by a dog team…and the security of piano boxes

To read the rest, become a patron of my brother. You can do so for any amount.

The stories are interspersed with my brother’s other writings on social policy and debate and our hometown of Portland. He has written extensively, for example, on the protests on the streets of Portland and the city and federal law enforcement actions – reports that, in my humble opinion, offer a much more accurate, first-hand account of reality, compared to the often breathless and sensationalized reporting found on broadcast media.

Eventually, he may also blog about his encounters with Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Daniels, Harlan Ellison, Hoyt Axton; his travels in West Africa, Greece, and Eastern Europe; and his own adventures as a film, video, and stage actor.

This Friday and Saturday night consider joining the Halloween fun in:

The Tower of Terror
Recommended for ages 16 and up.

Enter the interactive elevator to see any of 6 live performers, a horror-filled basement, and a screaming room featuring clips from classic horror movies.

When: Friday, October 30th and Saturday, October 31st, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time.

Cost: Pay what you can. Come check out the fun and leave a donation at the door.

I will be performing live both nights. I’ll perform from 7:15-8:15 p.m. Friday night, and 6 – 7 p.m. Saturday night (Pacific time). Just take the elevator to the 4th floor when I am performing.

Come watch and hear me! Chat with me online. I would love to see you!

Here’s the website: https://www.experiencetheatreproject.org/

Here are the Facebook events:

Friday, October 31, from 6-9 p.m. Pacific Time
https://www.facebook.com/events/2847955538766610/

Saturday, October 31, from 6-9 p.m. Pacific Time
https://www.facebook.com/events/350632882846157/

I opened my vote-by-mail ballot this afternoon around 3:30pm. I completed filling it out and deposited in the nearby county ballot drop box just over an hour later.

Oregon has had standard vote-by-mail since 1989. I have vague memories of voting in person at my former elementary school. I think I only voted that way once. I voted absentee when I was away a college and overseas, and ever since, it’s been vote-by-mail.

I love vote-by-mail! Let me count the ways:

1. I can review and research my ballot in the comfort and privacy of my home, where I have easy access to any magazine, newspapers, video interviews, etc. if I need more than what the voters’ pamphlet provides.
2. I don’t have any time pressure to figure out which lever to pull, which button to press, etc. I can take my time.
3. I don’t have to worry about finding the correct polling location (which county, ward, division, parish, etc. am I in?).
4. I don’t have to worry about taking time off from work to vote, nor do I have to deal with fighting traffic to make sure I get to the polls before they close.
5. I don’t have to worry about waiting in line to vote (especially a concern this year due to the pandemic).
6. I can easily check the status of my ballot (has it be received) online.
7. Places that have instituted vote-by-mail have seen an increase in voter turnout.
8. In Oregon, vote-by-mail has a favorability of over 75% for both registered Democrats and Republicans.

There are some who oppose vote-by-mail, worried that it is susceptible to voter fraud. However, numerous studies have found the overall voting fraud rate to be extraordinarily low:

• From 2000-2019, Oregon has found 14 fraudulent votes attempted by mail. Since 15,476,519 votes were cast during that time period, that amounts to a fraud rate of .00009046%
• Colorado, from 2005-20018 experienced 8 fraudulent votes attempted by mail out of 15,955,704 votes, or a rate of .0000501%
• Washington, from 2004-2010 found 7 attempted fraudulent votes by mail out of 10,605,749 votes, or a rate of .0000660%

Source: Brookings

As a comparison, here are some comparison odds:

• Being struck by lightning: 1 in 500,000, or .0002% (2 to 4 times more likely than the occurrence of voter fraud in the above states). About one in ten lightning strikes are fatal.
• Odds of being attacked and killed by a shark: 1 in 3,750,000, or .0000267% (roughly 2-3 times more likelihood there will be fraudulent votes than people killed by sharks).

I am a frequent blood platelet donor.

Update: On January 26, 2024, I donated my 400th unit of platelets! I hope to break 500 by end of 2026.

I often donate every month, sometimes even more frequently. Unlike whole blood donations which can only be made every 56 days, platelet donations can be made as often as once a week.

What are Platelets?

Platelets (aka thrombocytes) are the part of your blood that form blood clots to stop bleeding. Biologically, they are fascinating: although they are cells, each contains no nucleus, and they are found only in mammals.

Why are Platelets Important?

Platelets are especially needed by people fighting cancer or leukemia, those undergoing major surgeries, and those who have suffered traumatic injuries (e.g. car accidents, etc.).

There is a great demand for platelets, and they can only be used for 5 days after they have been donated (contrast this to other blood components which can be preserved for weeks or even up to a year).

Update: I recently learned that whole blood donations are immediately separated into red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Although the volume of platelets in a single pint of whole blood is minuscule, they are so precious and have such a short lifespan, they are extracted and used as quickly as possible.

Here is more information on platelets from the Red Cross.

By the way, the Red Cross donation center in Portland is, I have heard, tied for the largest donation center in the country with 17 donor beds – the other is in Minnesota. Moreover, I have heard the Portland center collects more units of blood products than any other place in the country. Our donations are sent all over the western U.S., and to disaster areas all over the country when needed.

Update: Since writing this post, the Red Cross has opened two new donation locations in the Portland metro area: Wood Village (near Gresham and Troutdale) and Beaverton. Donating beds have been moved from the central Portland location with these two new sites.

Whenever there is a disaster (hurricane, fires, etc.), the need for donations goes up because a) the disaster-struck area may see a spike in need, plus b) the area hit often sees a reduction in donations from the local area. So consider donating, especially when you hear about bad news in other parts of the country.

Why Do I Donate?

a. Facing My Fear
I first started donating whole blood decades ago. Part of it was to do good for others, but a major part was to face my fear of needles. I never fainted or anything, but getting shots and blood drawn always made me anxious. Afterwards, I always thought, “that wasn’t so bad.” So I began donating blood.

After one donation, the Red Cross contacted me after a whole blood donation and said, “you know, you have a high basal platelet count. Have you ever considered apheresis?”

“Apher-what?” I asked.

Apheresis, they explained, is where they take your blood, separate it, keep a portion (e.g. platelets), and return the rest back to you (the machines that do it are really amazing!).

b. Competition
My oldest brother has been donating whole blood for decades and has earned many Red Cross gallon pins. I believe he recently has been doing power red donations, which are concentrated red blood cell donations. You can only do those every 112 days, up to 3 times a year.

Since I have a relatively high level of platelets in my blood (it varies from person to person), I could donate a triple amount of platelets. Most people can donate a double.

That, coupled with the fact that I can donate very frequently, I have quickly added up my donations to where I’m eligible (as of this writing) for my 31 gallons pin over 400 units!

c. Because I Can
Eligibility requirements for platelet donations are a bit more stringent than for other donations. Common disqualifications include recent travel to some countries and some prescription medications. Here are the Red Cross eligibility requirements.

d. I Feel Great Afterwards
After any donation, you are cautioned to take it easy – don’t do any strenuous work or lifting, etc.

After whole blood donation, you may feel run down. That is because you have lost some of your red blood cells which deliver oxygen to and remove carbon dioxide waste from your body. With reduced red blood cell quantity, the efficiency of this process is reduced.

However, with platelet donation, all your red blood cells are returned to you. I therefore don’t feel run down after a platelet donation.

e. Gratitude
Platelet donations take a long time. For a typical triple donation, I am often connected to the apheresis machine for two hours. Add the prep time before and the snack time afterwards, and the whole affair often takes three hours.

During donation, both arms must remain still (I nickname it the “crucifixion”). During that time I cannot text or surf the web. They have TVs so you may watch news, sports, movies, and Netflix. I often bring my headset and listen to podcasts to pass the time.

During that time, though, I often contemplate how lucky I am to be healthy. I know so many lovely friends and family members who have battled cancer – some who have succumbed. I think of the children at the two area children’s hospitals. One unit of platelets can potentially save three lives.

Platelets cannot be synthetically manufactured, nor can they be preserved beyond just 5 days. I have plenty, so why not share them?

Hopefully, I can keep donating for years. And if the day comes when I am in need, others will be there to help me out.

Does it hurt?

It depends. Certainly the insertion of the needles tends to sting a little bit. But usually that stinging sensation dissipates within 5-10 seconds.

The needles they use are much smaller than the large ones you often see for whole blood, so that helps.

Keeping your arms immobile for that long can get uncomfortable. Sometimes my elbows or wrists start to ache. Don’t move them yourself, but speak up and a nurse will be happy to adjust your arm for you.

Cushions for your wrist, lumbar, neck, etc. can help – ask if you are in any way uncomfortable.

I know I can get cold during the donation process, so I ask for extra blankets and heating pads. They have them too.

Sometimes people may feel a tingling in their fingers and/or numbness in their lips. Just let the nurse know what you are feeling, and they will do their best to make adjustments to keep you comfortable.

Just don’t be shy. Let people know how you are feeling and they will do everything they can to make you comfortable.

Was it safe to donate during the pandemic?

I was very careful about staying home, always wearing a mask when out, washing my hands, and keeping physical distance. The Red Cross took great precautions and I donated a few times during the pandemic. I felt safe.

They have greatly reduced the number of things you must touch during the donation process. For example, someone signs you in for you, there is hand sanitizer available whenever you need to use a touch screen. Some still mask, although that has understandably become less frequent these days.

You still need to touch door knobs and handles, and fixtures if you use the bathroom.

But all in all, I feel they are taking proper precautions and have continued to donate.

Are you still scared of needles?

Over the years, I’ve gradually desensitized myself to the point that I can watch the whole process: preparing, inserting, and removing.

I still flinch a little when I see needles inserted on TV or in movies, but for myself, I know what to expect and am comfortable with it.

Any other tips?

Yes! Here are some additional suggestions:
1. Hydrate! Drink lots of water the day before your donation. Juice is okay, too, but limit your coffee and tea intake as both may dehydrate you. Be careful about drinking too much the day of your donation — you don’t want to have to abort mid-donation because you have to go to the bathroom (see next).

2. Use the bathroom before you donate. Just before you are placed on the donating bed, you are encouraged to use the bathroom. Go, even if you don’t feel the need. Two hours on the bed can get very uncomfortable if you need to answer nature’s call. If you have to go during your donation, they must disconnect everything and abort your donation.

3. Avoid fatty foods the day before and day of donation. I once had fish and chips for lunch, just an hour or two before my donation. The impact was immediate: the amount of fat in my blood prevented the sensors of the apheresis machine from operating properly, and we had to abort the donation. Some websites recommend eating a hamburger to boost your blood iron levels. I disagree with this advice.

4. Tell others about your donation. I continue to hear from friends and acquaintances who benefited or who had family members who benefited from these life-saving donations. Some have joined me in donating too!

5. You need to have a sufficient level of iron in your blood. If you tend to have low iron, and/or if you are disqualified for having an iron level too low, consider taking daily iron supplements the week prior to your donation. Taking iron with vitamin C will increase your absorption of iron. Of course, you should check with your health care provider, too.

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Curious, interested, nervous? I have invited and accompanied many friends to donate platelets. If you are in the Portland area, I’d be happy to join you.