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   http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2014-09-17   
      
   The ARES E-Letter   
      
   September 17, 2014   
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
   In This Issue:   
      
    *  News In Brief:   
    *  Colorado ARES Group Recognized By FEMA   
    *  Florida's SARnet Helps DOT with Tech Challenge: A Win-Win   
    *  The "Micro" SET: For You, Your Family and Neighborhood   
    *  Videos: The Interoperability Continuum   
    *  Earthquake Safety and Preparedness Tips   
    *  Products for ARES: The Buddistick Antenna   
    *  Letters: Central Gulf Coast Hurricane Net   
    *  Colorado ARES Provides Input on Communications Unit for State DHSEM   
    *  Mexican Amateurs Support Winlink for Disaster Response Communications   
    *  K1CE For a Final   
      
   News In Brief:   
      
   09/10/14 -- ARES/RACES Volunteers Mobilize in Wake of Nevada Flash Flooding.   
   ARES/RACES members in Clark County, Nevada, activated Monday, September 8,   
   after heavy rains sparked flash flooding. They deployed after being called   
   up by local emergency managers to support communication during recovery   
   efforts in the Moapa Valley northeast of Las Vegas. At least two people died   
   as a result of the flooding.   
      
   09/09/2014 -- Keynote Convention Speech of FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate,   
   KK4INZ, Available on YouTube   
      
   9/2/14 -- MARS Leaders Mull Adopting New Training Approach, Upping   
   Recruitment Game   
      
   8/29/14 -- The 2014 Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference   
   (GAREC 2014) held August 14-15 in Huntsville, Alabama, and hosted by the   
   ARRL Alabama Section and the Huntsville Hamfest, offered an opportunity for   
   participants to share presentations and perspectives from around the globe.   
   Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, organized this year's GAREC event, which focused on the   
   application of advanced technologies in disaster response and emergency   
   communication. Full story here.   
      
   Colorado ARES Group Recognized By FEMA   
   FEMA recently announced its nationwide Citizen Corps awards with Boulder   
   County ARES (BCARES) in Colorado winning Honorable Mention under the   
   Technical Achievements category for their use of ATV and APRS, and for their   
   MERN Project during the Boulder floods last year. The Mountain Emergency   
   Radio Network (MERN) was created in conjunction with BCARES, Inter-Mountain   
   Alliance (IMA), and Boulder County Office of Emergency Management. The   
   mission: To facilitate community emergency preparedness and insure   
   uninterrupted communication between and within six mountain communities in   
   Western Boulder County, county emergency services, and their resources prior   
   to and during an emergency event via an Amateur Radio network. FEMA is   
   planning an award presentation. See the awards information link here. --   
   Jack Ciaccia, WMOG, ARRL Colorado Section Manager   
      
   Florida's SARnet Helps DOT with Tech Challenge: A Win-Win   
      
   From an Amateur Radio user's perspective, the Statewide Amateur Radio   
   network (SARnet) is simply a network of independently operated, amateur,   
   UHF, voice-radio repeaters in Florida that are linked together. In truth   
   though, it is much more than that. SARnet is a story of the Amateur Radio   
   community coming together to help a state government agency overcome a   
   technological challenge. The state agency in question is the Florida   
   Department of Transportation (FDOT).   
      
   The FDOT is an agency charged with maintaining roadways in the state of   
   Florida, keeping them safe for the traveling public. To meet its charge, the   
   FDOT deploys personnel that work along these roadways. To communicate, these   
   workers use VHF low-band analog voice radios that operate in the mid 40 MHz   
   range, just below the amateur 6 meter band. The agency operates thousands of   
   radios through dozens of repeater sites all over the state, 24 hours a day,   
   365 days a year. The repeaters are networked together in regional districts   
   on a statewide Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) microwave and fiber   
   network. In an effort to continue to keep this workforce safe, while at the   
   same time improving resource utilization and situational awareness for both   
   crews and management, the FDOT has been working to provide interoperability   
   between the regions of this voice radio network, the capital in Tallahassee,   
   and other public safety agencies. This sort of improvement requires   
   technology and any new technology needs testing before it can be deployed.   
   This is where the Amateur Radio community comes in.   
      
   Recently, the FDOT needed to begin investigating connecting their VHF   
   repeaters together using a relatively new Internet Protocol (IP) technology   
   called multicast. This powerful technology makes it possible for multiple   
   radio sites to be connected together while using only the network bandwidth   
   of one conversation. Traditional voice over IP network implementations put   
   one copy of the conversation on the network for each radio site, using more   
   and more bandwidth with each site that is added. The problem with starting   
   this investigation of multicast was that the FDOT voice radio network is a   
   live network. Testing a new complex technology on a live network would be,   
   at best, frustrating for the work crews on the roadways, and at worst,   
   downright dangerous since it would likely result in radio system outages.   
      
   Fortunately, many of the principal FDOT personnel responsible for operating   
   the statewide ITS microwave network and supporting the FDOT VHF voice radio   
   network are also Amateur Radio operators. They decided to enlist a few   
   Amateur Radio repeater trustees to let them network their repeaters together   
   over the FDOT statewide ITS microwave network. The idea was that the FDOT   
   could create an ongoing test bed for this new multicast network technology   
   using live Amateur Radio traffic, and in return the amateur community would   
   get a new exciting resource to use for communicating long distances in and   
   around the state of Florida.   
      
   The win-win has so far been a great success. In fact, the test bed created   
   by the SARnet has provided numerous insights for the FDOT into how to test,   
   operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and upgrade an advanced technology like   
   multicast when it is being used on such a large scale. There have been   
   several challenging issues that the FDOT, working side by side with the   
   radio amateurs, have been able to solve. Most recently, a new repeater was   
   linked to SARnet in Madison, Florida. Initial reports, and even recordings,   
   from local hams indicated that the SARnet traffic was cutting in and out,   
   with short audio blanking segments. The evidence provided by the amateurs   
   suggested a network issue was to blame and indeed upon investigation the   
   problem turned out to be an intermittent microwave network card that had not   
   been detected previously while running typical IP traffic through the   
   network.   
      
   For the amateurs who use SARnet, the experience is proving to be a lot of   
   fun, but it has also become more than that. The potential for SARnet to   
   support public event, disaster response and emergency communications is   
   impressive. Consider that SARnet rides on a statewide network of hardened   
   microwave tower and fiber sites and NOT the Internet. All of these sites   
   have battery systems and automatic generators with extended fuel supplies   
   that can run for many days, if not weeks. Consider also that the bandwidth   
   used by SARnet on this network is dedicated. That means when the Internet   
   begins to experience outages during a severe weather event here in Florida   
   and most Internet-based amateur repeater linking protocols, such as   
   Echolink, Allstar, D-Star, and WIRES, are having difficulty maintaining   
   connections, SARnet will still be fully operational.   
      
   The amateur disaster response community has already embraced SARnet. The   
   Duval County, Florida EOC conducts a weekly check-in net on SARnet on   
   Fridays at 9AM, where late check-ins are welcome. In addition, the National   
   Hurricane Center has expressed an interest in using SARnet from their   
   location on the Florida International University Campus in Miami.   
      
   Users on SARnet Need No Special Equipment   
      
   Returning to the Amateur Radio user's perspective, it turns out working with   
   SARnet is really easy. If you have a nearby UHF repeater that is connected   
   to SARnet then when you access it, like you would do any normal day, you   
   bring up that repeater, but you also bring up all of the other SARnet UHF   
   repeaters simultaneously around the state. There is nothing different,   
   equipment-wise or even frequency-wise, that you as a user of your local   
   repeater need to do to access SARnet. It does help to say where you are   
   though during a contact so other hams on SARnet will know if you are local   
   or not.   
      
   The planning behind SARnet is largely complete and the construction is   
   underway. Twelve SARnet repeaters are connected as of early September with   
   another 4-6 planning to be connected before the end of the year. Ultimately   
   the network will likely consist of approximately 25-30 repeaters, covering   
   most of coastal regions and some interior areas along interstates. The size   
   of the network was chosen by FDOT as being representative of how they will   
   deploy the technology on their own voice radio network. If you are   
   interested in the technical details behind how the repeaters are connected   
   on SARnet you will find them on the SARnet website, along with frequencies,   
   approximate repeater locations, and a rough coverage map. The website is   
   www.sarnetfl.com.   
      
   It is important to note that the FDOT views the SARnet as an ongoing   
   test-bed that will continue to be maintained for the foreseeable future.   
   This network of local repeaters is providing an incredible resource to the   
   state, allowing the FDOT to test technology without jeopardizing their own   
   live radio network, and at the same time conducting those tests with very   
   little cost and time involved. As the FDOT continues to investigate   
   multicast and other new technologies that help it support its communication   
   responsibilities in the state of Florida, it is hoped the Amateur Radio   
   community will continue to offer its repeaters for use with SARnet in return   
   for the opportunity to advance the art of radio just a little bit and enjoy   
   some technological advantages along the way. -- Brian Kopp, PH.D., KC5LPA,   
   Jacksonville, Florida; University of North Florida Electrical Engineering   
      
   The "Micro" SET: For You, Your Family and Neighborhood   
      
   The national ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is slated for the weekend   
   of October 4, although the window for operation is September 1 through   
   November 30 each year, with groups conducting their events over the course   
   of 48 hours. We are in that window now. The SET is a nationwide exercise in   
   disaster response and emergency communications administered by ARRL   
   Emergency Coordinators and Net Managers. ARES, other related groups and the   
   National Traffic System (NTS) are involved. The SET gives communicators the   
   opportunity to focus on their capability, strengths and weaknesses within   
   their community while interacting with NTS nets. It also provides a public   
   demonstration -- to served agencies such as Red Cross, Emergency Management   
   and through the news media -- of the value to the public that Amateur Radio   
   provides. The SET helps radio amateurs gain experience in communications   
   using standard procedures and a variety of modes under simulated disaster   
   response conditions.   
      
   Add a "Micro SET" to your Activity   
      
   Many ARES groups across the country will be participating, and all ARES   
   members should support the national SET and their local ARES group's   
   activity, but as an adjunct, you as an individual operator may want to   
   consider also conducting a more micro, local approach by conducting your own   
   SET for your home station and neighborhood. Develop an appropriate scenario   
   based on the existing risks for your area: a wildfire, tornado, earthquake,   
   or hurricane, perhaps. Recruit a few friends and neighbors down the street   
   to participate as assistants and "victims." And then play it out: simulate   
   the onset of disaster conditions, put into effect your family's personal   
   incident action plan, ensure their safety and the stability of your   
   immediate home and environment, and then assess the needs of your neighbors.   
   Establish communications with other hams in your immediate area via simplex,   
   and then expand your coverage and capability to a local repeater and an HF   
   outlet - a county or other regional ARES or NTS net - along with a channel   
   to emergency support functions needed, based on your scenario parameters.   
      
   Adapt the SET scoring guidelines and forms (available on the ARRL website)   
   for your personal effort. Report your results to your local Amateur Radio   
   organizations: clubs, ARES groups, auxiliary communications groups, etc. Use   
   your imagination and make it fun, while preserving the gravity of what you   
   are actually doing: preparing yourself, your family, and your neighbors for   
   the serious business of survival and the mitigation of the aftereffects of   
   disasters. - K1CE   
      
   Alabama ARES Growing   
      
   The 2013 SET Results were published in the July 2014 issue of QST. Alabama   
   placed first in the SET ARES Activity Score and Georgia took second place.   
   In the NET Activity Score, Georgia took first place and Alabama took second   
   place. Mike Watkins, WX4AL, Alabama Section Emergency Coordinator offered a   
   "job well done" to all Alabama ARES members who participated in the 2013   
   SET.   
      
   Alabama ARES is growing, reports Watkins: "In the 2012 SET, only 18 counties   
   participated. In the 2013 SET, 21 counties participated." Alabama ARES   
   continues to develop its SET strategies and exercise design to maximize the   
   points that local groups can achieve by carefully examining the points   
   structure of SET. By designing a SET scenario that addresses and maximizes   
   good results in every point category in a straightforward uncomplicated   
   exercise, local groups both big and small will achieve two goals: A good   
   score and a strengthening of the relationship between Alabama ARES and its   
   partner agencies.   
      
   Watkins said in last year's SET, "we saw the trend of multi-county   
   cooperation that started in 2012 continuing to expand. In the 2013 SET, we   
   observed four multi-county groups cooperating to perform a SET." Watkins   
   strongly encourages small groups in any area to team up with other small   
   groups in neighboring counties to perform a SET. "Such cooperative efforts   
   will lead to teambuilding, cooperative good will, and an even higher SET   
   score, all positive incentives for multi-county ARES partnerships," Watkins   
   said. He hopes to get more counties active this year. "My goal is to see 27   
   counties performing SET, making good use of the Section Traffic Net, D-Star   
   Net, WINLINK 2000, and digital modes." -- forums.alabama-ares.org/   
      
   Videos: The Interoperability Continuum   
      
   The video www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVZlK6M8WQ is a presentation that   
   describes "The Interoperability Continuum," a plan to improve communications   
   by following "a path to achieving optimum interoperability by broadening   
   relationships." "Knowing who the players are around you" is mission critical   
   and to quote from the video: "The reality is, the most important ingredient   
   in interoperability is relationships." "Relationships count and mean   
   something." Cherokee County (Georgia) ARES member Randy Kerr, KD4KHO, is   
   featured in the video. Examples of communications during 9/11, Hurricane   
   Katrina, floods, and forest fires are discussed. Communications issues and   
   what the Incident Action plan does to improve and overcome issues before a   
   disaster happens is presented.   
   This video, while describing Public Safety planning, is also a model for   
   ARES. We should be a fluid organization that embraces our neighboring radio   
   amateurs, repeater owners, ARES members, CERT members, EMA Directors, and so   
   on, and build strong professional quality relationships. We have similar   
   paths as described in the video such as training and exercises through   
   weekly/monthly nets and meetings. We work to determine strengths and   
   weaknesses, which is exactly what the upcoming ARRL Simulated Emergency Test   
   (SET) is all about. Check out the video! -- Jim Millsap, WB4NWS,   
   http://www.cherokee-ares.org/ [Millsap is District Emergency Coordinator   
   (DEC) for Metro Atlanta, Georgia ARES. The Metro Atlanta ARES District   
   consists of 14 Counties supported by 13 Emergency Coordinators. - ed.]   
      
   Earthquake Safety and Preparedness Tips   
      
   The events of last month surrounding the south Napa, California earthquake,   
   a Richter scale 6.0 temblor, remind all of us, especially those on major   
   fault lines of the country to be prepared to respond to them. FEMA reminds   
   us to expect aftershocks. These secondary shockwaves are usually less   
   violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage   
   to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks or even   
   months after the quake.   
      
   During an earthquake, drop, cover and hold on. Minimize movements to a few   
   steps to a nearby safe place. If indoors, stay there until the shaking has   
   stopped and exiting is safe. If it is safe to do so, check on neighbors who   
   may require assistance. Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Cellular   
   and land line phone systems may not be functioning properly. The use of text   
   messages to contact family is the best option, when it is available. Amateur   
   Radio and CERT communications offer viable alternative public notification   
   and messaging systems.   
      
   Check for gas leaks. If you know how to turn the gas off, do so and report   
   the leak to your local fire department and gas company.   
      
   Products for ARES: The Buddistick Antenna   
      
   The ARRL Centennial Convention in Hartford, Connecticut, in July, was one of   
   the finest and most memorable conventions I've ever visited. I saw many old   
   friends there, one of whom was Dale Clift, NA1L, a former ARRL Headquarters   
   colleague when we worked there together in the early eighties. He had become   
   a QRP CW enthusiast, and I became fascinated with his stories of portable   
   QRP mini-expeditions around New England with an antenna he highly   
   recommended: the Buddipole system. It happened that the manufacturer had a   
   booth at the show, and Dale and I spent an hour with their competent reps.   
   Their knowledge, Dale's good experience with the antenna, and my   
   ever-present quest for quality Amateur Radio products for my own station,   
   all conspired to cause me to open my wallet for a simpler antenna by the   
   same company called a BuddistickT. It's a portable, vertical antenna for 40   
   meters through 10 meters, for use with any transmitter up to 250 watts. The   
   engineering is superb, and the quality of the components is top shelf. It is   
   evident that the product was a labor of love by this company.   
      
   The reason I am including this in this newsletter, is that the antenna fills   
   many of the needs of the disaster response or public service event   
   communicator for an effective and efficient HF antenna system that is small   
   and portable, strong and sturdy, and quickly assembled and disassembled.   
      
   The Buddistick is packaged in a compartmentalized 1000 denier cordura   
   portfolio bag and includes 2 aluminum arms (blue or black), one standard   
   telescopic whip, one adjustable coil, 2 coil clips, mounting kit, a complete   
   counterpoise system, as well as a good operating manual. Included is one 31'   
   radial on a line winder for use on all bands 40 meters through ten meters. I   
   mounted the mounting plate to a railing on my deck with the rubberized   
   clamping knob. On the aluminum plate is an SO-239 connector for a coax feed   
   (I used a 25 foot run of RG-8X); and the mounting adaptor for the arms, coil   
   and telescoping whip. I was able to assemble and mount the antenna to my   
   railing in under three minutes. I ran out the entire length of the 31 feet   
   of radial wire, keeping it elevated off the ground, and attaching the end   
   (on the winder) to a fence post. My radio is an ICOM IC-7000, with about a   
   100 watts output, and a low SWR. I think it's a good idea to have a small   
   antenna tuner in line, and I run the LDG IT-100 auto tuner and Bird 43   
   wattmeter.   
      
   You can tune the antenna by ear: I simply connect the coax to my radio, set   
   the Buddistick so I can reach the coil from my radio, turn the VFO to the   
   frequency I want. Swipe the mini-banana plug that is attached to the bottom   
   of the coil in an up and down motion. I listen for max signal and/or noise,   
   and then place a tap in that position. I check the SWR to see if it's okay,   
   I adjust the radial for resonance, and my antenna tuner to get the SWR down   
   even further. My friend Dale uses an antenna analyzer with his Buddipole   
   system.   
      
   My initial CW contact was with another friend, Eliot, W1MJ, in Boston,   
   Massachusetts (I'm in northern Florida) on 40-meters. He runs an Elecraft K3   
   transceiver and a dipole fed by twin lead to his small backyard. Running   
   only 5 watts, he was an S3 at my station. I was running 100 watts and was   
   given a 579 report from Boston. I was very happy with the antenna's   
   performance for such a small, shortened vertical antenna. It just seems an   
   ideal option for a public event or disaster response operator in the field.   
   Information on the Buddipole (a dipole system) and Buddistick products can   
   be found at their website: www.buddipole.com - K1CE   
      
   Letters: Central Gulf Coast Hurricane Net   
      
   A few additions to the history of Amateur Radio disaster response and   
   emergency communications as presented in the last issue: The Central Gulf   
   Coast Hurricane Net was active in providing disaster response communications   
   during hurricanes Betsy and Hilda in the mid 1960's. The net met for years,   
   initially as an AM net on 3845 kHz, and then moved to 3935 kHz. During the   
   hurricane Camille event, communications with the Mississippi Gulf coast was   
   maintained all night. The city of Waveland, Mississippi, was looking for   
   firefighting equipment for a large fire, but none could be sent until the   
   winds subsided.   
      
   There is also a not so well known organization, mostly of ham operators,   
   that is on the front line of disaster response communications: Disaster   
   Services Technology is the field IT division of Red Cross and handles a lot   
   of their communications needs. I find most hams don't even know DST exists.   
   - Steve Irving, WA5FKF, Baton Rouge, Louisiana [I found this video on the   
   Red Cross website that discusses the DST, narrated by a radio amateur from a   
   disaster site in Minot, North Dakota. It's worth a look. Click here. - ed.]   
      
   Colorado ARES Provides Input on Communications Unit for State DHSEM   
      
   August 3, 2014 - Colorado SEC Robert Wareham, N0ESQ, has sent the Colorado   
   Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM ) of the   
   Department of Public Safety a draft measure that would create the Auxiliary   
   Communications Unit of the Office of Emergency Management. The proposed   
   language would provide ARES members with benefits and protections statewide   
   not only when deployed to disasters, but also when exercising, participating   
   in drills, or attending classes in preparation for response to disasters.   
   Wareham reports that several legislators have expressed a willingness to   
   co-sponsor the bill. Wareham will keep ARES members informed of the progress   
   of the measure so that members can contact their local representatives and   
   senators to support the bill. Wareham also hopes to have a draft bill to   
   codify PRB-1 in Colorado, as well as provide further enhancements to the   
   expansion of Amateur Radio in Colorado, ready in time for the next   
   legislative session. - Colorado ARES   
      
   Mexican Amateurs Support Winlink for Disaster Response Communications   
      
   A three year program to fund Winlink gateways in Mexico was completed   
   recently with the installation of XE1CRG. Mexico is a diverse country where   
   HF communications plays a role in disaster recoveries and during   
   emergencies. While Mexico's infrastructure is complete and modern, there are   
   areas where Internet connectivity does not exist. And so Mexican amateurs   
   who provide support to local Protection Civil offices and other agencies   
   have had a history of using HF voice.   
      
   We conducted a demonstration for officials in 2011 of various HF data modes.   
   Victor Pinilla, XE1VP, from the University of Mexico was impressed with the   
   portable Winlink HF station and easy delivery to Internet-based email   
   recipients. This started a planning and funding process to install four   
   complete Winlink gateways. To date, four systems at a cost of $20,000 have   
   been established at reliable sites with local area support.   
      
   Each system is configured with an ICOM 7200 and SCS Dragon   
   Pactor modem. The sites are secure with local battery back-up. All gateways   
   run Pactor and WINMOR 1600. The sites also have packet radio ports for   
   training and local use.   
      
   Since Mexico is allowed auto-forwarding and Pactor 4 operation, all the   
   gateways participate in the Winlink Hybrid Network, offering radio-only   
   message transport in the event of Internet failure, and MPS (Message Pickup   
   Station) delivery. One site near the Guatemalan border, XE2EOS, loses   
   Internet connectivity from time-to-time but with HF auto-forwarding, email   
   continues to reliably flow.   
      
   This commitment by Mexico's amateur community is also supported by the   
   Federacion Mexicana de Radio Experimentadores (FMRE, Mexico's IARU   
   member-society). Technical and financial support has come from many local   
   amateurs: XE2SI XE2GF XE1RZ XE2EOS XE1BRX.Winlink has proven reliable and   
   robust for the remote email and peer messaging needs in Mexico. These   
   systems are open to the worldwide amateur community and are actively   
   exercised by US amateurs and many foreign visiting boaters and voyagers on   
   the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The comfort level for officials for   
   emergencies provided by these gateways is a testament to the dedication and   
   hard work of many, to include the Winlink Development Team. -- Mike Burton,   
   XE2/N6KZB, reprinted from the Winlink website www.winlink.org with   
   permission   
      
   K1CE For a Final   
      
   In last month's issue, in the lead article on a brief history of ARES, I   
   recalled my experience in the fifties as a child with a crystal radio set   
   and Burgess batteries. I wrote "Hams worked with the Burgess Battery Company   
   for emergency radio power. Many of us old-timers including myself have used   
   those batteries when we were kids for our crystal radio kits; they looked   
   like tall, thick candle columns!" That was 50 years ago, and while my Dad   
   had set up a crystal radio for me, it did not use battery power. He also had   
   set up an array of electric bells, motors and lights connected to those   
   Burgess batteries on my bedroom table to teach me the principles of   
   electricity -- and for fun, too. Sorry for the technical error.   
      
   _________   
      
   Lastly, I'd like to call readers' attention to the audio version of the ARES   
   E-Letter, voiced by Tony Riggs, W1FHN; audio script written by Al Brown,   
   KZ3AB. Tony and Al perform an outstanding job and I tip my hat in thanks to   
   them. Check out the audio version here:   
      
   http://www.arrl.org/ares-e-letter-audio-version   
      
   73, Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor, Daytona Beach, Florida   
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until   
   you hire an amateur.   
      
   --- FMail/Win32 1.60   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.71)