If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2015-03-18   
      
   The ARES E-Letter   
      
   March 18, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
    *  Digital Comms Innovator Connecticut ARES Active for Blizzard of 2015   
    *  National Hurricane Conference in Austin at End of Month; Popular Amateur   
       Radio "Disaster Communications" Session Scheduled   
    *  ARES Operators: Do NOT Miss Field Day   
    *  IARU Releases New Emergency Telecommunications Guide   
    *  ARRL Partners: March is Red Cross Month   
    *  Tornado Exercise March 28   
    *  Emergency Communicator's Notebook   
    *  Weapons, Safety and Personal Responsibility   
    *  ARRL Partners: The Civil Air Patrol   
    *  Free Community Responder ICS Training in California   
      
   News in Brief   
      
   The use of Amateur Radio in disaster preparedness and response was among   
   "best practices" cited in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)   
   Smart Sustainable Development Model Report for 2015. International Amateur   
   Radio Union (IARU) President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, is a member of the   
   Smart Sustainable Development Model Advisory Board, which prepared the   
   report, published in January. The IARU is an ITU sector member.   
      
   "I strongly believe that telecommunications and [information and   
   communication technology entities] are critical to saving lives as well as   
   integrating communities and countries into the global economy particularly   
   as we enter the post-2015 development era," ITU Telecommunication   
   Development Bureau Director Brahima Sanou said in the preface to the report,   
   which deemed Amateur Radio operators "well suited to respond in times of   
   crisis." More here.   
      
   Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARESr) volunteers in the US Southeast were   
   put on alert on February 26, as the region faced an unaccustomed ration of   
   severe winter weather. Tennessee, which saw at least 30 winter storm-related   
   fatalities, was placed on a Level II state emergency operations center   
   activation level, indicating a major disaster -- an event likely to exceed   
   local capabilities and require state and federal assistance. Tennessee   
   Section Emergency Coordinator Daniel O'Donovan, W4DOD, said February 26 that   
   Tennessee ARES volunteers in several counties were on standby, monitoring   
   established nets, or actively staffing shelters and other locations. He said   
   the American Red Cross had six shelters open in five counties, with 224   
   occupants. More here.   
      
   Digital Comms Innovator Connecticut ARES Active for Blizzard of 2015   
      
   The state of Connecticut was hard hit in the January 2015 North American   
   blizzard, a powerful nor'easter that ended up hurting Canada and the middle   
   and eastern portions of the US. Transportation was affected, and snow   
   emergencies were declared in six states with travel bans enacted in four of   
   these states, including Connecticut.   
      
   Eastern Connecticut appeared to be the "winner" with regard to snowfall   
   totals in the massive storm. Two Red Cross shelters in the state's Region 4   
   (encompassing roughly the eastern third of the state) were staffed by   
   Amateur Radio operators, according to reports by Section Emergency   
   Coordinator Wayne Gronlund, N1CLV. SKYWARN coordinators and spotters   
   collected and reported weather data for the National Weather Service (NWS)   
   during this storm.   
      
   "This activation provided another excellent opportunity to make use of the   
   new CT-ARES DMR Network," reported Gronlund. "Increased usage of this   
   powerful statewide communications resource is expected in the future." The   
   ARRL Connecticut Section, under the helm of a number of dynamic leaders such   
   as Gronlund and veteran Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC, has worked hard   
   to develop new technologies for applications in ARES and other sectors of   
   the section, while preserving the best of the older, tried and true ones   
   such as packet radio.   
      
   CT ARES provides recommendations and documentation in digital/data   
   communications for general Amateur Radio operations, public service, and   
   emergency communication. ARES members are encouraged to become more familiar   
   with digital/data communications including doing their own experimentation   
   and development.   
      
   Packet radio remains a vital communication technique for digital/data   
   communication. "While digital/data communication modes continue to evolve,   
   we recognize that packet radio will be one of the user links into any   
   digital data radio system for many years to come." The data technologies   
   available to Connecticut partner agencies in the state include Flexnet/FBB   
   and Winlink 2000 (WL2K). The Flexnet/FBB system can handle text-only   
   messages, NTS traffic, and bulletins. The WL2K system is more e-mail based,   
   allowing for file attachments such as SITREPS (situation reports). All state   
   emergency management regional offices can access the WL2K server in   
   Westbrook through 100% RF links connecting the ten W1SP WL2K RMS Gateways.   
   This means they can exchange messages even if all Internet connections are   
   down. Flexnet/FBB and WL2K systems are interoperable.   
      
   CT-ARES DMR   
      
   DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) mode radio has been adopted by ARES in   
   Connecticut as the primary means for command and control of ARES operations.   
   W1SP, the Connecticut State Police Amateur Radio Club, has put up over 23   
   UHF linked repeaters around the state and several additional clubs have   
   linked their UHF repeaters to the net as well. It is now practical for ARES   
   members to coordinate their efforts from almost anywhere in the state using   
   a handheld DMR radio. CT-ARES nets held on Sunday evenings at 8:30 and   
   during recent alerts have had as many as 55 check-ins from among all five   
   state regions as of February 2015.   
      
   The most commonly used talk-groups are CT-ARES Statewide, CT Tactical 1-5   
   and 11-15, and local. A receive-only talk-group, ARES ALERT MSG, will   
   override all other talk-groups on the network's repeaters so ARES can   
   announce emergency activations and nets.   
      
   Mode Basics   
      
   To use DMR, hams need radios capable of decoding the DMR signals. As of   
   today, the least expensive DMR radio that will work on the CT-ARES network   
   is the Connect Systems model CS700, at around $200. This is a hand-held, 4   
   watt UHF radio capable of both traditional analog UHF and DMR-ETSI modes.   
      
   There are other brands of DMR radios available, notably Hytera and Motorola.   
   These are substantially more expensive, but have more sophisticated features   
   such as the ability to automatically "roam" by detecting and switching to   
   whichever repeater has the strongest signal. (DMR-ETSI is an open European   
   standard for digital radio, which is compatible with the Motorola "Mototrbo"   
   system). To get started in DMR, apply to www.dmr-marc.net for a unique   
   subscriber ID number, which will be listed in a public database with your   
   call sign and first name, allowing other DMR radio users to identify you   
   when you press PTT.   
      
   Hams will need to program the radio with Contacts, Zones, Color Codes, Time   
   Slots, Receive Groups and more. Collectively, they can be saved as a data   
   file called a "code plug" created using software available from the radio's   
   manufacturer.   
      
   Watch the CTARES website for changes to the repeaters in the net,   
   talk-groups, programming tips, and word of in-person seminars on how to   
   program radios. [The above information on DMR is from the ARRL Connecticut   
   ARES Region 3 website, Region 3 DEC George Lillenstein, AB1GL, and Assistant   
   DEC Bill Storey, AB1LZ].   
      
   National Hurricane Conference in Austin at End of Month; Popular Amateur   
   Radio "Disaster Communications" Session Scheduled   
      
   The always-popular Amateur Radio Disaster Communications Session will be   
   held once again at this year's National Hurricane Conference slated for   
   March 30 - April 2 at the Austin (Texas) Convention Center. The Amateur   
   Radio session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, afternoon from 1:30 PM to   
   5:00 PM.   
      
   This training session will discuss general Amateur Radio involvement in the   
   tropical events of the past several years as well as historic hurricanes of   
   significance. Specific presentation topics will include National Hurricane   
   Center (NHC) Director Dr. Rick Knabb who will discuss the importance of   
   Amateur Radio surface reports to the hurricane forecasting process, an   
   overview of WX4NHC-The National Hurricane Center radio station, the   
   Hurricane Watch Net, and the VoIP Hurricane Net. It will also take an   
   in-depth look at the New England and Mid-Atlantic response to Hurricane   
   Sandy. For the second time at an Amateur Radio Workshop session at the   
   National Hurricane Conference, a presentation and overview of the Canadian   
   Hurricane Centre Amateur Radio Operations will be given. An ARRL Emergency   
   Communication High-Level Overview will be presented and other topics on   
   Amateur Radio response to significant disaster related events will be   
   presented as time allows.   
      
   Moderator/Speaker is Rob Macedo, KD1CY, VoIP Hurricane Net, New Bedford,   
   Massachusetts. Speakers include Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, Hurricane Watch Net;   
   Dr. Richard Knabb, Director, National Hurricane Center, Miami, Florida; Jim   
   Palmer, KB1KQW, VoIP Hurricane Net, New Bedford, Massachusetts; and Bob   
   Robichaud, VE1MBR, Canadian Hurricane Centre, Fall River, Nova Scotia.   
      
   ARES Operators: Do NOT Miss Field Day   
      
   ARRL Field Day is the flagship emergency/disaster/public event training   
   exercise. Miss it at great expense to your annual training regimen. It is   
   held annually on the fourth weekend of June - this year, June 27-28.   
      
   ARRL Field Day is the most popular (and in my opinion, the most fun)   
   on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. More than 35,000 radio   
   amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate   
   from remote locations, ideally outdoors in a true field.   
      
   The experience and training gained from transporting your radios and   
   antennas to the field, setting them up, using them as you would in an   
   emergency/disaster/public event, troubleshooting problems, deriving   
   efficiencies and effectiveness, and learning lessons and fixes to be applied   
   for the next time, are more valuable than any other training exercise, class   
   or manual.   
      
   Activate for June's Field Day and make yourself a better public service   
   field operator for yourself, your ARES member-team mates, and the public   
   safety agencies and public event organizers and managers we work with during   
   the rest of the year. See the June issue of QST for more information on this   
   year's Field Day, including the rules and scoring. And lastly, have a ball!   
   - K1CE   
      
   IARU Releases New Emergency Telecommunications Guide   
      
   A new version (January, 2015) of the IARU's emergency telecommunications   
   guide was developed to provide the IARU member-societies around the world   
   with materials suitable for training their members to participate in   
   emergency or disaster events. It is also designed to provide guidance to the   
   individual Amateur Radio operator who has little or no experience in   
   handling emergency communications but desires to enhance their ability to   
   participate in such events or to simply have a better understanding of the   
   process. IARU member-societies are encouraged to distribute this guide among   
   their membership and, if necessary, to provide a translation into a language   
   used within their own country. This guide can also be used in conjunction   
   with other training materials by leaders within the emergency communication   
   community to train radio operators in the basic theory and practice of   
   handling emergency telecommunications traffic. Download here.   
      
   ARRL Partners: March is Red Cross Month   
      
   During Red Cross Month, you can become part of the American Red Cross. Be   
   ready for the next emergency by working on a preparedness plan for your   
   household.   
      
   The Red Cross has received several national and international awards for the   
   apps they've developed including the recent "Best Mobile App During Times of   
   Disaster" award from Global Brands Magazine for the Hurricane App. The First   
   Aid app was also mentioned recently on a well-respected news outlet.   
      
   Red Cross natural disaster apps provide expert, emergency information when   
   and where you need it. They include the following:   
      
   FIRST AID APP The First Aid App features step-by-step instructions, videos   
   and animations for everyday first aid scenarios and prioritized steps to   
   take in an emergency with a 9-1-1 call button.   
      
   TEAM RED CROSS allows people to learn about Red Cross volunteer   
   opportunities in their community, to sign up to help those in need and   
   receive an overview on basic tasks to be able to go to work quickly helping   
   others.   
      
   HURRICANE APP People can download the Red Cross Hurricane App to have real   
   time hurricane safety information at their fingertips. They can use the app   
   to receive weather alerts and get information on Red Cross shelters. The app   
   also features a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm, and the   
   one-touch "I'm Safe" button lets someone use social media outlets to tell   
   family and friends they are okay.   
      
   FLOOD APP Download this app to have step-by-step instructions on what to do   
   if flooding threatens, even if the cell towers and television are out. Find   
   Red Cross shelters and know what to pack in your family emergency kit.   
      
   TORNADO APP This app includes features like a high-pitched siren and tornado   
   warning alert that signals when a NOAA tornado warning has been issued. This   
   feature allows users to make critical decisions and to take actions to help   
   keep themselves and their loved ones safe even in the middle of the night.   
   An all-alert lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or has been   
   cancelled   
      
   EARTHQUAKE APP Be ready for an earthquake with the Red Cross Earthquake App.   
   Receive alerts and notifications when an earthquake occurs, prepare your   
   family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the   
   power is out - a must have for anyone who lives in an earthquake-prone area   
   or has loved ones who do.   
      
   WILDFIRE APP Wildfires often begin unnoticed and spread quickly so it's   
   vital that people know what to do to help protect themselves, their loved   
   ones and their property. The Red Cross Wildfire App features preloaded   
   content gives users instant access to information on what to do before,   
   during and after wildfires - even without mobile connectivity.   
      
   SPANISH APPS Many of the Red Cross apps have an English- and   
   Spanish-language toggle. These include First Aid as well as Hurricane,   
   Tornado, Earthquake, Wildfire and Flood apps.   
      
   All of these Red Cross apps can be found in your app store by searching for   
   American Red Cross.   
      
   Tornado Exercise March 28   
      
   Formidable Footprint - A National Community/Neighborhood Exercise Series   
      
   A team of national, regional, state and local agencies and organizations   
   have undertaken an effort to develop, conduct and evaluate a recurring   
   series of disaster exercises entitled "Formidable Footprint." This series of   
   exercises serves as an opportunity for community and faith based   
   organizations along with governmental agencies to assess their capability to   
   prepare for, respond to and recover from a variety of natural disasters   
   which affect communities and neighborhoods across the United States. Many   
   ARES organizations across the country participate.   
      
   The Disaster Resistant Communities Group was established to provide a host   
   of disaster planning and preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation   
   services to local government agencies and departments as well as community   
   and faith based organizations.   
      
   Their philosophy is to: Develop innovative concepts to meet the needs of the   
   emergency management community; and enhance a community's ability to plan   
   and prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigation the effects of   
   future disasters. Registration and more info here.   
      
   Emergency Communicator's Notebook   
      
   Here are more excellent operating tips from the St. Louis Metro ARES/RACES,   
   with permission and courtesy of Assistant EC for Operations Gary Ross   
   Hoffman, KB0H, and Bob Gale, WA4GDX, and their organization, which serves   
   the City of St. Louis and the county of St. Louis. Thanks to them - keep up   
   the great work. - K1CE   
      
   Preparing your new radio   
      
   Are you planning to use your new transceiver for emergency communications?   
   Make sure that you have made the proper preparations. Is the necessary   
   hardware in place everywhere that you may want to mount it? Did you get an   
   extra supply of all of the fuses that it requires? Do you have a waterproof   
   bag or box in which to transport it? Do you have all of the necessary   
   accessories, including the manual, in that bag? Did you program all of the   
   frequencies you'll need into the radio? And most importantly, did you   
   familiarize yourself with the radio's operations sufficiently so that you   
   can enter and store a new frequency, offset, and tones without referring to   
   the manual? -- KB0H and WA4GDX   
      
   Recheck   
      
   During an exercise or actual emergency, you may need to leave the primary   
   frequency for a period of time. This may be to pass a formal message, make a   
   repair to your station, or simply to take a break. Always let the net   
   control operator know that you are leaving the frequency. When you return to   
   the primary frequency, call "recheck" to let the net controller know that   
   you are back. -- KB0H   
      
   Silicon or graphite spray   
      
   When setting up a field antenna, use a spray can of silicon or graphite to   
   lubricate the ends of your mast sections. You will find it much easier to   
   disconnect the sections when you are ready to tear down. -- KB0H   
      
   Cheap batteries are not cheap   
      
   Buying very cheap alkaline batteries in bulk may seem like a good idea, but   
   you are likely to find that many of them have already started to decompose   
   before you even open the wrappers. Stick with the better brands. -- KB0H   
      
   Moist wipes, the duct tape of personal hygiene   
      
   Imagine that you've just finished setting up your antenna in a particularly   
   filthy environment. Or that you've just helped get the generator going. Or   
   that you've just eaten a power bar and your hands are all sticky. Now you   
   have to operate your station. Do you really want to get gunk all over your   
   equipment? Suppose you have to take a message? What will IT look like once   
   you had your dirty hands all over it? Operators who have worked long   
   missions will tell you that having moist wipes in your bag is as important   
   as having duct tape.   
      
   Have something handy for your throat   
      
   Everyone who talks on the air has experienced a moment when he or she   
   suddenly could not talk. It may have been due to a dry throat, a cough,   
   congestion, or a number of other things. For extended sessions at the radio,   
   have something to soothe your throat on hand. It could be a drink or   
   something as simple as cough drops. Please note that if you do keep liquids   
   nearby they should be in spill-proof containers. -- KB0H   
      
   What about your pets?   
      
   Have you included your pets in your emergency preparations plan? If not,   
   please check www.ready.gov/caring-animals. -- FEMA   
      
   Weapons, Safety and Personal Responsibility   
      
   Recently, I've seen questions on carrying weapons on ARES deployments. Here   
   is the statement of Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, released   
   March 31, 2014 and supersedes any prior communication on the subject.   
      
   "Anyone seeking permission to carry weapons during an ARES deployment is to   
   be advised that the ARRL cannot give such permission. Neither does the ARRL   
   prohibit legal weapons, but the ARRL accepts no responsibility or liability   
   for injury or damages to anyone as the result of possession of a weapon by   
   an ARES volunteer. The responsibility or liability for injury or damages to   
   anyone as a result of an individual's possession of a weapon remains with   
   the individual. ARES volunteers must obey all federal, state, and local laws   
   while on deployment. When supporting a served agency, ARES volunteers must   
   also adhere to the policies of the served agency. The ARRL does not expect   
   volunteers to participate in a dangerous activity or to place themselves in   
   what they perceive to be a dangerous or unsafe environment. Volunteers   
   should avoid or cease participating in any ARRL activity or deployment under   
   circumstances which make them uncomfortable."   
      
   ARRL Partners: The Civil Air Patrol   
      
   The nation-wide CAP communication system has 840 HF radio stations, 5,000   
   fixed-land radio stations and 10,000 mobile radios, deployed in CAP units in   
   every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Using volunteer   
   operators trained to professional standards, the CAP communications network   
   is a ready force for homeland security and the protection of life and   
   property.   
      
   The system operates in support of all CAP missions, including Emergency   
   Services, Aerospace Education and the CAP Cadet Program. The focus of the   
   CAP system is tactical communications, including air to ground, ground team   
   to ground team, and communication with mission base. Interoperability with   
   other agencies is stressed. In most cases, a Memorandum of Understanding   
   (MOU) is signed with each agency before operation on each other's   
   frequencies.   
      
   The Civil Air Patrol operates primarily on frequencies assigned by the   
   United States Air Force. As a result, all CAP radios must comply with NTIA   
   standards for transmitting and receiving. This requirement also applies to   
   all radios used by other agencies that are permitted by MOU to operate on   
   CAP frequencies.   
      
   Advance planning is a priority of the communications program. Communication   
   managers at all levels develop mission communication plans and manage   
   resources to ensure sufficient assets are available to accomplish the   
   missions of CAP. Because "emergency communication is our business," CAP   
   communicators are obligated to have standard procedures developed and   
   trained for communication under demanding conditions.   
      
   ARRL and CAP   
      
   The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and ARRL has had a revised agreement since 2005,   
   to provide a "broad framework for cooperation between the two organizations   
   during emergencies and disasters, for education of members regarding the   
   capabilities and regulatory environments of CAP and the Amateur Radio   
   Service, to promote interest in public service especially among the nation's   
   youth, as well as other activities in which cooperation may be mutually   
   beneficial."   
      
   Free Community Responder ICS Training in California   
      
   The Alameda County (ARRL East Bay section, California) Public Health   
   Emergency Preparedness agency is holding training for Community-Based   
   Organizations (CBO) such as ARES in the Incident Command System (ICS) for   
   emergency response training and as an everyday project management tool. The   
   training is designed to teach participants the system that professionals use   
   for emergency responses, and leaves the participants able to mount their own   
   responses when professional public safety resources are overwhelmed and   
   unable to respond immediately. Participants will receive a simple, ready to   
   use emergency management system tool that clearly outlines incident roles   
   and responsibilities. A session was held on March 12 in Oakland, and another   
   is scheduled for April 9 in Berkeley. More info here.   
   _____   
      
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   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month. ARRL   
   members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data   
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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)