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   http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2014-12-17   
      
   The ARES E-Letter   
   December 17, 2014   
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
    * ARRL/Public Service News Synopsis/Links   
    * Indiana Group Tests On an Ice Storm Scenario   
    * Cross-Borders ARES Exercise Tests Northeast Communications   
    * Amateurs Support Utah Desert Wilderness Rescue Training Exercise   
    * Letters: On Contacting the Police for a Distant Emergency   
    * Mt. St. Helens, Again, 34 Years Later   
    * Letters: Former OFDA Communications Specialist on Emergency versus Disaster   
    * Broadband-Hamnet Expands to Include Another Ham Band   
    * Feedback: Winlink and Internet Independence   
    * Tips for Public Service Communicators   
    * K1CE For a Final   
      
   ARRL/Public Service News Synopsis/Links   
      
   Philippine Hams Support Emergency Communication for Typhoon Hagupit   
      
   Amateur Radio volunteers in the Philippines activated emergency nets on HF and   
   VHF as Typhoon Hagupit -- called Typhoon Ruby locally -- raked slowly across   
   the islands, weakening as it went. "As Typhoon Hagupit entered its third day,   
   ham operators continued to provide essential traffic as the storm progressed   
   through Philippine territory," reported Philippine Amateur Radio Association   
   (PARA) Chief Operating Officer Thelma Pascua, DU1IVT. Members of the Ham   
   Emergency Radio Operations (HERO) -- the PARA equivalent of the US Amateur   
   Radio Emergency Service (ARES) -- were active. More here.   
      
   Homeland Security's 2014 National Emergency Communications Plan Incorporates   
   Amateur Radio   
      
   The US Department of Homeland Security's 2014 National Emergency   
   Communications Plan (NECP) has incorporated Amateur Radio in its mix of media   
   that could support and sustain communications in a disaster or emergency. The   
   NECP is "the nation's over-arching strategic plan for enhancing emergency   
   communications capabilities and interoperability nationwide," DHS said in   
   announcing the updated plan on November 12. "[A]mateur radio operators...can   
   be important conduits for relaying information to response agencies and   
   personnel when other forms of communications have failed or have been   
   disrupted," the NECP states. More here.   
      
   MARS Volunteers Reach Out to Amateur Community to Test Interoperability   
      
   The Army and Air Force branches of the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS)   
   merged their long-distance radio networks in late October for a 48-hour   
   Department of Defense-sponsored contingency communications exercise. The plan   
   also called for MARS members -- using their Amateur Radio call signs and   
   operating on amateur frequencies -- to establish two-way communication with   
   ARES leadership or members in as many US counties as possible. More here.   
      
   Indiana Group Tests On an Ice Storm Scenario   
      
   An ice storm hitting Hendricks county, Indiana was the scenario for this   
   year's ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET), conducted by the county's ARES   
   organization, and held October 18. The exercise planning committee for this   
   year -- AEC of Operations Gordon Cotton, KD0EWM; AEC of Liaison Bill Gouge,   
   AA9EG; Technical Director Chris Harrison, KD9BIX, and Net Control Dave   
   Leimenstoll, N9XOQ -- spent several months working out test details and   
   frequencies. The main mission goal was to get the hams in Hendricks County to   
   switch to different radio frequencies on the fly as conditions dictated,   
   efficiently, over the course of the exercise. The group decided to use two of   
   its "pigs" (portable to-go kits) on cross band frequencies, which would be   
   used as the back-up radio system in the event the primary repeaters fail   
   during a real emergency. The pigs were placed at two county Emergency Radio   
   Network (ERN) locations (in Danville, and Brownsburg.)   
      
   The exercise commenced with the start-up of the group's SKYWARN weather net on   
   one of the repeaters (147.165 MHz). NCS Bob Burns, W9BU, made periodic   
   announcements to the effect that should the repeater fail, the net would   
   resume on the ARES repeater (147.015 MHz). Efficiency was tested when this   
   scenario was almost immediately put into effect: All 13 participants switched   
   over to the ARES repeater and the full ice storm scenario was commenced. While   
   the ARES repeater and net were humming along, it was announced that should   
   this repeater fail, simplex operation and designated channels would serve as   
   the primary communications conduit. Then, pursuant to the plan, the repeater   
   did go down due to a "blown fuse in the power supply." The 13 participating   
   hams had to switch radio frequencies again, channels varying according to   
   where they were located for effective coverage. The group now turned to   
   depending on the pigs for continuance of communications coverage and exercise   
   success. Use of the pigs picked up where the repeater left off, allowing for   
   cross band and single band simplex operation. They worked and all SET   
   participants finished the exercise.   
      
   This year several specific tests were conducted successfully. For example, the   
   ERN stations (three in total) are situated around the county for the purpose   
   of supplying operators with different capabilities. One of these stations is   
   placed inside a pole barn that is located near Danville atop one of the   
   highest ground elevations in the county. Another station is located at the   
   Hendricks County Communications Center in Plainfield, and the third station   
   will soon be located at the water works facility near a radio tower in the   
   town of Brownsburg. Currently these stations are made up of antenna and coax   
   only. The radio is installed at the site only during an actual emergency or   
   disaster - kind of "plug and play"). SET participants used simplex radio tests   
   previously at two of these locations showing ARES leaders would be able to   
   reach over 90% of hams with HT's only, in the county. This exercise proved   
   that statistic again.   
      
   In another test aspect, the county's "hospital hams," radio amateurs who are   
   pre-qualified to run the Amateur Radio stations at each hospital, were   
   involved: They played out their role on the ARES hospital simplex net, and   
   were in communications with the county EOC. It was a good exercise plan,   
   implemented effectively and efficiently, and added value to the Hendricks   
   County ARES planning, preparation and capability for when the real thing   
   happens. -- Ron Burke KB9DJA, Hendricks County, Indiana, Emergency Coordinator   
      
   Cross-Borders ARES Exercise Tests Northeast Communications   
      
   A special 40 meter "Cross-Borders" net was held in the northeast   
   region on the morning of December 13 on 7262 kHz. The purpose was to test the   
   pathways for that band (40-meters) and time between operators from Maine, New   
   Hampshire, and bordering Canadian provinces. The exercise was a result of   
   Maine Emergency Management Agency Communications Manager Steve Mallory's   
   suggestion that Maine hams put extra effort into training and drilling with   
   neighboring states and provinces, since disasters do not recognize borders.   
      
   Maine ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Phil Duggan, N1EP, was net control   
   and had 33 stations from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, New Hampshire,   
   Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont check into the net. Several   
   state/provincial ARES and other emergency coordinators participated, as did   
   New Hampshire SEC Wayne Santos, N1CKM.   
      
   Most signals were easily copied during the net by all. One surprising   
   outcome for some was the fact that a couple of the stations that had   
   the strongest signals were using modest power (25-40 watts) and their   
   antennas were verticals.   
      
   Duggan plans similar events in the future, most likely on a quarterly   
   basis, and will encourage all New England states, as well as the   
   Maritimes and Quebec provinces to join in the fun. Some exercises will   
   include using the Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System suite of   
   programs and digital modes that Dave Freese, W1HKJ, and his team have made   
   available for Amateur Radio use. -- Phil Duggan, N1EP,   
   Maine ARES Section Emergency Coordinator   
   Amateurs Support Utah Desert Wilderness Rescue Training Exercise   
      
   On November 3-6, 2014, the members and operators of Utah's Sinbad Desert   
   Amateur Radio Club (SDARC) participated in a wilderness-based rescue training   
   exercise in conjunction with the Emery County Sheriff's Office Rope Rescue   
   Team, Emery County Search and Rescue Rope Team, Black Dragon Rescue Systems   
   and National Guard Civil Support Teams (CST) from New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho   
   and Oklahoma.   
      
   The training took place among the high red rocks and deep canyons of Utah's   
   picturesque San Rafael desert in eastern Utah. The exercise consisted of   
   multiple medical emergency rescues, from one of the many canyons that are   
   favored by climbers and hikers alike. The 300-foot vertical medical rescues   
   were exciting to watch.   
      
   Emery County Sheriff's Office brought their emergency response vehicles to the   
   desert deep canyon site, which included the recent addition of their Amateur   
   Radio/Public Safety Communications trailer.   
      
   All on scene communications by Public Safety and the Military were run on VHF   
   hi-band frequencies, and supplementary communications for the event were   
   handled by members of the Emery County ARES group who are all members of the   
   SDARC. Amateur contacts were handled on 40 meters and 2 meters using the   
   SDARC's extensive 2 meter repeater system, and 2 meter simplex, and HF   
   contacts were made to the State of Utah Department of Public Safety EOC at the   
   State capitol.   
      
   Logs were maintained of all communications between the National Guard CSTs and   
   Emery County rescuers. Special thanks went out to all members of the SDARC who   
   spent many hours working the radios and logging during the exercise, modifying   
   the trailer and installing the communications equipment.   
      
   Exercise organizers and evaluators stated that communications during this   
   exercise were the best they have ever been for any of their exercises in this   
   type of remote location and that the Sinbad Desert Amateur Radio Club is a   
   valuable asset to Emery County and the State of Utah.   
      
   For more about Amateur Radio communications in eastern Utah, please visit the   
   Sinbad Desert Amateur Radio Club website. -- Bret Mills, WX7Y, Castledale, Utah   
      
   Letters: On Contacting the Police for a Distant Emergency   
      
   In re the recent ARES E-Letter report [Med Emergency in Washington's High   
   Forest, October 15, 2014 issue] on the two hams in a remote site in the   
   mountains, trying to help an accident victim close to their location, and   
   contacted an out of state radio amateur asking for help. The ham called his   
   local 911 office. For future reference, all police departments are   
   interconnected through their state information system. In Arkansas, it is the   
   Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC). If I had received that 20 meter   
   contact for help, I would have called my local Sheriff's office and they would   
   have looked up instantly the local Sheriff's office where the accident had   
   happened or the State Police. Any time any operator becomes aware of a   
   possible emergency from out of state, he or she should contact their local law   
   enforcement organization. For example, our police department got a call from a   
   California police department that they got word from a local citizen there   
   that a person in my town was trying to commit suicide and we were to stop it.   
   Call your local police department first or have the party you are talking to   
   call their local police department. -- Stewart Nelson, KD5LBE, Mayor,   
   Morrilton, Arkansas   
      
   Mt. St. Helens, Again, 34 Years Later   
      
   HEART, the Hospital Emergency Amateur Radio Team, spans multiple counties in   
   Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington, and was active during the Oregon   
   ARES/RACES SET on November 22. Going by the moniker AshEX, the drill centered   
   on a simulated eruption of Mt. St. Helens. HEARTNET, with Kathleen Resburg,   
   KE7AJH at the helm as NCS, effectively handled urgent communications between   
   hospitals in four counties. The simulations involved patients with respiratory   
   problems, alternate transportation of emergency patients via high-clearance   
   vehicles (when air and ground ambulances could not be used because of the ash   
   fall accumulation), hospital water shortages, evacuation and distribution of   
   patients from nearer the volcano in Washington State, reporting patient counts   
   to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, power and antenna problems, and   
   even an influx of patients who had just returned from Africa and were running   
   high fevers. Messaging was tactical, as opposed to formal, and went well.   
   Lessons were learned, but as always, those will help prepare HEART members for   
   the "big down" down the road. -- Steve Aberle, WA7PTM, ARRL Official Emergency   
   Station (OES), ARRL Western Washington Section   
      
   [Resburg is Amateur Radio Coordinator for Portland VA Medical Center in   
   Portland, Oregon, and President, Hospital Emergency Amateur Radio Team   
   (HEART), Portland Metropolitan Area. She is a member of the Washington County   
   ARES, Oregon. - ed.]   
      
   Letters: Former OFDA Communications Specialist on Emergency versus Disaster   
      
   A matter of language to consider: the difference between an emergency and a   
   disaster. IMHO, these words are not interchangeable. So, what's the   
   difference? An emergency is an event that must be addressed quickly to avoid   
   more serious consequences. Examples: a gas leak, broken power lines on the   
   ground, a heart attack, a localized fire, a nasty road accident, etc. A   
   disaster is a catastrophic event that exceeds the ability of the community to   
   cope. "Community" can be small, as a household; or large like a region or a   
   country. The important distinction is that responding to a disaster requires   
   help from OUTSIDE the affected area.   
      
   The lava flow in Hawaii is a disaster ONLY if Hawaii can't handle the   
   situation on its own.   
      
   Hurricanes, like Andrew, Katrina, and Sandy, created disasters because victims   
   in the affected areas required outside help. A point to keep in mind is that,   
   in a disaster, local responders (including hams), may be as affected by the   
   disaster as everyone else in their community and, therefore, will not be able   
   to respond.   
      
   This distinction, needing help from outside, gives hams a huge advantage in   
   disasters -- we're used to working with each other taking advantage of common   
   frequency plans and on-air protocols, no matter where we're from. - Art   
   Feller, W4ART, Communications Specialist (retired), Office of US Foreign   
   Disaster Assistance (OFDA), Agency for International Development (AID),   
   Department of State   
      
   Broadband-Hamnet Expands to Include Another Ham Band   
      
   Broadband-Hamnet has announced a new firmware release, the most recent in a   
   series of advancements that build on the Ubiquiti firmware released for the   
   2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz amateur bands earlier this year. With this BBHN 3.0.0   
   release, Broadband-Hamnet now includes the Ubiquiti M9-series airMAX devices,   
   giving hams use of the 900 MHz band for mesh networking.   
   Among the release's new features is the ability to easily control the spectrum   
   utilization of the RF links. -- Jim Kinter, Jr., K5KTF, BBHN Webmaster   
      
   Feedback: Winlink and Internet Independence   
      
   Quoting from a reference to Winlink 2000 in the ARES E-Letter article Late   
   October Exercise to Test MARS-ARES Interoperability, October 2014 issue, "Only   
   one ARES/Amateur Radio contact per county is needed, but more are okay. The   
   contact must be person to person and cannot rely on Internet-linked repeaters,   
   Internet connectivity systems, or store-and-forward e-mail systems, such as   
   Winlink . . ." FYI, Winlink now does NOT require the Internet for operation.   
   It will operate as a mesh network system without the use of the Internet as a   
   radio-only system. There is no Internet involved. This occurs automatically in   
   the Hybrid Winlink 2000 system. - Steve Waterman, K4CJX, Winlink network   
   administrator, Winlink Development Team, President, Amateur Radio Safety   
   Foundation, Inc. (ARSFI)   
      
   Tips for Public Service Communicators   
      
   Here is a great set of tips from the St. Louis (Missouri) Metro ARES/RACES   
   Group, with the permission and courtesy of EC Steve Wooten, KC0QMU, and AEC   
   for Operations Gary Hoffman, KB0H.   
      
    * Things to avoid saying on the air, Number 1   
      
   "Okay, I'll do it. But it's not actually my job. The guy who's supposed to do   
   that is always away from the table doing something else." The other operator   
   doesn't want to hear any of that and it ties up the frequency. Make a note of   
   your complaints in your log and bring them up at the debriefing, but keep them   
   off the air. -- Gary Ross Hoffman, KB0H   
      
    * The value of tactical call signs   
      
   Tactical call signs such as "Shelter 5", "Net Control", and "EOC" are   
   descriptive and give immediate information. They can be very useful during   
   planned events and during emergencies. Do not, however, forget to include your   
   FCC call sign at ten minutes intervals and at the end of each contact.   
      
    * Never alter a message   
      
   Do not alter a message, even to correct a typographical error. What you think   
   is right may actually be wrong. Moreover, any change you make might subtly   
   alter the meaning of the message. Send or write it exactly as you receive it.   
      
    * Do not use VOX   
      
   VOX stands for voice activated transmitter. VOX devices are handy gadgets, but   
   should not be used in an emergency setting. Ambient noise might activate the   
   transmitter and tie up the frequency. Also, you do not want your casual   
   comments to go out over the air.   
      
    * You are your own safety officer   
      
   When setting up or operating a station of any size, the very first thing on   
   your mind should be, is it safe? Am I going to irradiate anyone with RF   
   energy? Could my battery spill acid? Can it fall on anyone's foot? Have I   
   created an electrical hazard? Could anyone trip over my feedline or get poked   
   in the eye by my antenna? The safety of your station is your responsibility.   
   Make sure that it cannot harm you or anyone else. -- KB0H   
      
    * Every piece of equipment can break, including you   
      
   We all have limits. Don't overtax yourself during a deployment. Watch for   
   signs of fatigue, stress, adverse reactions to the environment and so forth.   
   Stop and take a break if you need one. It is better to have a silent radio   
   than a fresh casualty. -- KB0H   
      
    *  Listen to the Net Controller's instructions   
      
   One of the most common mistakes on regular nets is that operators assume that   
   they know what the Net Controller is going to say. They miss the Net   
   Controller's instructions and wind up giving inappropriate responses. This can   
   be calamitous in an emergency situation. One way to develop the habit of   
   paying attention is to write down the key elements of what the Net Controller   
   is saying. You might be surprised to find that it's not always the same thing.   
   -- KB0H   
      
    * Keep it brief   
      
   Air time is precious, especially when there are numerous operators on the same   
   frequency. Refrain from over-explaining things, engaging in personal greetings   
   and chats, and anything else that might prevent important traffic from getting   
   through. -- KB0H   
      
    * Are you following procedures?   
      
   Operating procedures are developed from many hours of examining what went   
   wrong during disasters. Familiarize yourself with the procedures and practice   
   them in exercises. Arriving at a disaster scene and trying to freestyle it   
   will only cause problems. -- KB0H   
      
    * Check the transceiver for overheating   
      
   Digital modes are great for sending forms, long lists, images and so forth.   
   They also use a lot more duty cycles of your transceiver than ordinary voice   
   communications. Check to make sure that your rig is not overheating. Reduce   
   the transmit power level if your unit feels hot. -- KB0H   
      
    * Have fuses handy   
      
   Much of your equipment has one or more fuses. Check each item, make a list of   
   the fuses you might need, then put together a small fuse kit. Be sure to   
   replace any fuses you wind up using. -- KB0H   
      
    * Yes, you are ready to participate   
      
   Caution is good, but don't let it prevent you from participating and   
   volunteering. Everyone makes mistakes on their first try, or first dozen   
   tries, and everyone survives them. You will find that most other hams will be   
   sympathetic and supportive of your efforts. -- KB0H   
      
    * Don't avoid the exercises   
      
   It's a mistake to ignore an exercise because you are already familiar with   
   what it is about. There are always surprises, new elements, and things that   
   you've forgotten. Your presence will also help those participants who are less   
   familiar with the exercise's concepts. -- KB0H   
      
    * Keep learning   
      
   Everything is dynamic, including emergency communications. Procedures and   
   techniques that were standard ten years ago are out of date today. Never sit   
   back and feel that you've learned everything you'll need to know. -- KB0H   
      
    * You brought your radio to the emergency, but will you be able to power it?   
      
   Antenna connectors are fairly generic, but what about power connections? ARES   
   groups around the country use Anderson Powerpoles as the standard power   
   connector on their equipment.   
      
    * Push THEN Talk   
      
   Pause for a second after keying up your transmitter. It may be slower to react   
   than you realize. -- John Weis, N0UFB   
      
    * Maintain a fire extinguisher near your battery charging station   
      
   This applies primarily to larger batteries, but every battery is a chemical   
   device and you will be pumping energy into it. Having a fire extinguisher   
   handy is a reasonable precaution. -- Jim Conley, N0OBG   
      
    * Mark your equipment   
      
   Be sure that every piece of your equipment is marked with at least your name   
   and call sign. After the emergency, you'll want any property you left behind   
   to find its way back to you.   
      
    * It's going to be noisy, so have a set of headphones   
      
   It's always a good idea to have a set of headphones around, but it may be an   
   absolute necessity in an emergency. You may be placed in an area where other   
   operators are working on different bands, you may be out in the open, or you   
   may even be in the middle of a noisy shelter. A headset should be a vital part   
   your equipment. You can't communicate if you can't hear.   
      
    * Outdoors isn't indoors   
      
   Even in an urban or suburban setting, working outdoors isn't like working   
   indoors. You may have taken your equipment into consideration, but don't   
   forget yourself. Think about your allergies, the sun, heat, cold, bugs and   
   everything else that might affect you. Treat your outside deployment or   
   exercise as if it were a camping trip and prepare for it accordingly. -- KB0H   
      
    * Think about next time   
      
   During every deployment or exercise, think about the next time. You will   
   always find that something is missing, broken, doesn't work as expected,   
   wasn't planned for and so forth. Keep a mental record, or better still a   
   written one of everything that is wrong. Be sure to look it over carefully   
   after the event so you will be better prepared next time. -- KB0H   
      
    * Eat   
      
   Do not skip meals just because things are busy. You may not think that you   
   need to eat anything, but volunteers have suddenly fainted without feeling any   
   early symptoms that something was wrong. At the very least, consume an energy   
   bar or a quick snack. --KB0H   
      
    * Is no one responding on the secondary frequency?   
      
   If you have a transceiver capable of handling two frequencies simultaneously   
   and no one is responding on that second channel, the problem may be as simple   
   as the volume has been turned down. -- KB0H   
      
   See the complete list of excellent tips on the St. Louis Metro ARES/RACES   
   website.   
      
   K1CE For a Final   
      
   Happy Holidays from your editor, here in Daytona Beach, Florida, the "world's   
   most famous beach." Thanks to readers and all the contributors to the ARES   
   E-Letter, now with almost 40,000 subscribers nationwide. See you next year! --   
   Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
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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)