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   Message 1,805 of 3,036   
   mark lewis to All   
   The ARES E-Letter for May 20, 2015   
   24 May 15 08:53:58   
   
   If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2015-05-20   
      
   The ARES E-Letter   
      
   May 20, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
   In This Issue:   
      
    *  Hurricane Season 2015   
    *  Pikes Peak ARES Has The Backs of Runners in Rugged Colorado Terrain   
    *  Wisconsin Triple Tornado Tabletop and Functional Exercise a Success with   
       ARES   
    *  Free Spontaneous, Unaffiliated Volunteer Training and Exercise   
    *  Amateurs Support Three Mile Island Nuclear Plan Exercise   
    *  ARES Manual Updated   
    *  Letters: Use a Bow and Arrow to Get Wire Antennas Up   
      
   Briefs, Links   
      
   May 13 -- New Nepal Earthquake Keeps Amateur Radio Relief Effort Going.   
      
   May 13 -- US Navy-Marine Corps MARS Program to End   
      
   May 13 -- Oklahoma Amateur Radio Volunteers Rally as Severe Weather Strikes   
      
   May 12 -- Amateur Radio Nets Crucial Link in Maritime Rescues   
      
   May 7 -- Amateur Radio Repeater from US Clears Customs in Nepal   
      
   May 6 -- ARRL Receives NPSTC Hertz Award   
      
   May 5 -- Amateur Radio Continues to Provide Reliable Post-Quake   
   Communication in Nepal   
      
   May 4 -- American-Nepali Disaster Communication Group Calls for Release of   
   Needed Radio Gear   
      
   April 30 -- ARRL Facebook Repost of Interview with Ham in Nepal Draws Huge   
   Response   
      
   April 29 -- Nepal Grants Operating Permission, Call Signs to Visiting Hams,   
   as Earthquake Recovery Continues   
      
   April 28 -- Earthquake Recovery Continues, with Amateur Radio Assistance   
      
   April 27-- Boston Marathon Amateur Radio Support Adjusts to a "New Normal"   
      
   April 23 -- Amateur Radio Volunteers Activate Emergency Nets Following Chile   
   Volcano Eruption   
      
   Hurricane Season 2015   
      
   National Hurricane Preparedness Week: May 24 - 30   
      
   History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are   
   common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your   
   vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects   
   of a hurricane disaster.   
      
   Hurricane hazards come in many forms, including storm surge, heavy rainfall,   
   inland flooding, high winds, tornadoes, and rip currents. The National   
   Weather Service is responsible for protecting life and property through   
   issuance of timely watches and warnings, but it is essential that your   
   family be ready before a storm approaches. Furthermore, mariners should be   
   aware of special safety precautions when confronted with a hurricane.   
      
   Download the Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide (PDF) or follow the links   
   for more information. But remember, this is only a guide. The first and most   
   important thing anyone should do when facing a hurricane threat is to use   
   common sense. -- National Hurricane Center   
      
   National Preparedness Week is also a good time for ARES and other operators   
   to test radios and other gear for viability, test and charge batteries, fire   
   up emergency power generators, and complete their go-kits for possible   
   deployments. It is also a good time to review your family hurricane plan,   
   and coordinate it with distant relatives, and neighbors. Present your   
   neighbors with disaster communications services potentially to be offered by   
   you and your station. Conduct a meeting of your CERT to plan and drill.   
   Hurricane season is only one month away. -- K1CE   
      
   National Hurricane Center Station WX4NHC to Activate for Annual Station Test   
      
   The National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio station WX4NHC will conduct its   
   annual station test on Saturday, May 30, 2015 from 9 AM to 5 PM EDT (1400Z   
   to 2200Z). This is the station's 35th year of service at the NHC.   
      
   The purpose of the event is to test the Amateur Radio station's equipment,   
   antennas and computers prior to this year's Hurricane Season, which starts   
   June 1 and runs through November 30.   
      
   This event is good practice for operators world-wide, and familiarizes   
   National Weather Service (NWS) staff across the country with Amateur Radio   
   services available during times of severe weather.   
      
   WX4NHC senior operators will also be performing operator training. The   
   objective is to make brief contacts on many frequencies and modes,   
   exchanging signal reports and basic weather data ("Sunny," or "Rain," etc.)   
   with any station in any location.   
      
   WX4NHC will be on-the-air on HF, VHF, UHF, 2 and 30 meter APRS and WinLink   
   (wx4nhc@winlink.org) -- subject header must contain "//WL2K". Operations   
   will be held mostly on the recognized Hurricane Watch Net frequency 14.325   
   MHz; operators will announce frequency changes. Amateurs can find the   
   operation on HF by using one of the DX Spotting Networks, such as DX Summit.   
   WX4NHC operators will also be on the VoIP Hurricane Net from 4:00 PM to 5:00   
   PM ET (2100Z to 2200Z): IRLP node 9219/EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node   
   7203. Local southern Florida area VHF and UHF repeaters will also see WX4NHC   
   presence.   
      
   QSL cards are available via WD4R. Please send your card to WD4R with a SASE.   
   Please do not send QSLs directly to the Hurricane Center address, as they   
   will get delayed.   
      
   Due to security measures, no visitors will be allowed entry to the Center   
   without prior clearance from the Center's PIO and Security. Only WX4NHC   
   operators on the pre-approved operating schedule will be allowed entry. For   
   more information about WX4NHC, please click here. -- Julio Ripoll, WD4R,   
   WX4NHC, Amateur Radio Assistant Coordinator   
      
   "Hurricane Chuck" Affects Florida's Broward County in Functional Exercise   
      
   In preparation for hurricane season, radio amateurs in Broward County,   
   Florida [second most populous county in the state, and 18th most populous   
   county in the U.S.; Fort Lauderdale is the county seat] were invited by   
   Miguel Ascarrunz, Florida Professional Emergency Manager and Director,   
   Broward Emergency Management Division, to participate in the 2015 Broward   
   County Hurricane Chuck Municipal Services Branch (MSB) Functional Exercise.   
   This exercise was designed to test the communications viability between each   
   of the municipalities' EOCs in Broward County and their respective   
   representatives at the Broward County EOC in Plantation. Participants were   
   tasked with testing the communication systems available to them including,   
   but not limited to, WebEOC (an Internet-based emergency management software   
   program), e-mail, fax, phone, mobile phones, text messaging, satellite phone   
   and various radio communications systems including Amateur Radio, CERT   
   radios and 800 MHz radios.   
      
   To set the scenario for the exercise, participants were briefed on the   
   simulated storm: "Hurricane Chuck" was classified as a strong Category 2   
   hurricane with winds in excess of 100 MPH. Tropical Storm force winds   
   extended out 75 miles. The hurricane made landfall 15 miles north of Key   
   Largo at 1800 hours on April 14, 2015. Landfall occurred during   
   high tide, resulting in a storm surge 4-9 feet above normal, which started   
   flooding low-lying escape routes hours before landfall. The storm moved   
   through Miami-Dade County and into Broward County by 0500 hours on April 15.   
   Tornadoes, moderate structural damage and debris, power and cellular service   
   compromises rounded out the scenario.   
      
   ARES/RACES operators reported to the Broward County EOC to be prepared to   
   pass traffic when other means of communications failed. During the exercise,   
   radio amateurs passed situational awareness reports (SITREPs) as well as the   
   Rapid Impact Assessment reports as they came in from the various   
   municipalities. Message handlers used the ICS-213 form to send messages to   
   and take them from the municipal representatives on the Operations floor at   
   the Broward EOC.   
      
   Amateurs participating at the Broward EOC in the radio room included Robin   
   Terrill, N4HHP, Broward County RACES Officer; Carol Sjursen, KJ4AWB, Broward   
   County ARES Emergency Coordinator; Barry Porter, KB1PA, Gold Coast District   
   ARES Training Coordinator; Steve Adams, N4JRW; Bob Hone, N4JQP; and Jon   
   Kramer, W4JRK. Municipalities activating their radio amateurs and/or CERT   
   communicators at their EOCs included Coral Springs, Davie, Fort Lauderdale,   
   Margate and Sunrise. -- Carol Sjursen, KJ4AWB, Broward EC and Robin Terrill,   
   N4HHP, Broward RO   
      
   Pikes Peak ARES Has The Backs of Runners in Rugged Colorado Terrain   
      
   Pikes Peak ARES supported the 2015 Falcon 50 UltraMarathon and sister events   
   this month. A marathon is a tough 26-mile race; a 50-mile ultra-marathon,   
   even more so. A unique "military heavy" marathon has runners carrying   
   35-pound rucksacks while wearing boots and a uniform. These were the options   
   for participants. On Saturday, May 2, 170 runners tested their mettle on the   
   rugged terrain and high altitude of the marathon course at the United States   
   Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Of those, 125 were either   
   ultra-marathon or military heavy marathon runners. They were not alone.   
      
   Supporting them was a volunteer team of Amateur Radio operators from the   
   Pikes Peak district ARES. Twenty-two operators, one of whom was also a   
   participant in the marathon, set up six stations around the course to track   
   and report runner progress, coordinate supplies and transportation, and   
   report any emergencies on the course. This required being up and on the air   
   before the 6 AM start time and operating past the 8 PM finish line cut off.   
      
   Using radios in areas where cell phones often have spotty reception and   
   using the same techniques that make Amateur Radio a huge asset in disasters,   
   the ARES operators passed runner progress messages tracking each bib number   
   as it passed through an aid station.   
      
   The system used was Fldigi in the MT-63 2000L mode with Flmsg sending   
   Incident Command System (ICS) form 213 messages over UHF/FM radios. This   
   digital system is the same as radio amateurs might use to support Incident   
   Commands during disasters and emergencies.   
      
   The team thoroughly tested and practiced this system under the guidance of   
   Bill Hecker, KC0ET, in the weeks prior to the event. Messages were   
   automatically compiled into Al Glock's, KC0PRM, "Bib Track" software,   
   originally designed to track patients during a mass casualty event. This   
   software can even predict when a runner should arrive at the next aid   
   station. In all, over 1070 runner position reports were passed. The hams   
   also used voice systems for general information, coordination, weather   
   information, and control as well as APRS to track course sweepers and give a   
   combined operating picture.   
      
   As veterans of public service events will attest, these systems become even   
   more valuable near the end of a race as the directors try to determine who   
   is left on the course and where they might be, and the 2015 Falcon 50 was no   
   exception. According to Mission Coordinator Dan Martin, KD0SMP, when the   
   race director was desperately trying to find one particular runner and was   
   faced with possibly calling out search and rescue, the ARES team was able to   
   show that the person of interest had never started the race and was   
   incorrectly listed. "It's hard to describe the Race Director's reactions,"   
   Martin said. "When he saw the database evidence, you could see his relief.   
   He knew he could get confirmation and when it came, he literally jumped for   
   joy." Martin said "I could not be more proud to be able to say: 'No sweat,   
   that's what we do.'"   
      
   The Falcon 50 gives PPARES members a great chance to hone their skills for   
   emergencies and disasters. It is one of the more unique events Pikes Peak   
   ARES supports as a public service. This was the fourth year of the event and   
   Pikes Peak ARES is proud to have supported it all four years. The race is   
   open to all military ID card holders. As Colorado ARES Region 2 District 2,   
   Pikes Peak ARES is responsible for ARES operations in El Paso and Teller   
   counties, including Colorado Springs. -- John Bloodgood, KD0SFY, Public   
   Information Officer, Pikes Peak ARES, Colorado   
      
   Wisconsin Triple Tornado Tabletop and Functional Exercise a Success with   
   ARES   
      
   A Triple Tornado Exercise took place on April 17 and 18, 2015, conducted by   
   the Ozaukee County (Wisconsin) Sheriff's Office, Division of Emergency   
   Management and the Wisconsin National Guard 157th Maneuver Enhancement   
   Brigade. [Ozaukee County is included in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis   
   Metropolitan Statistical Area; pop. 86,395. Its county seat is Port   
   Washington.]   
      
   The scenario involved the touchdown of three tornadoes in Ozaukee county of   
   EF3 to EF5 [Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage] severity with fatalities,   
   severe injuries, and missing people. The communications tower at the County   
   Justice Center was destroyed, as were the towers at Mee-Kwon Park and   
   Belgium.   
      
   One of the objectives of the exercise was to establish a communications   
   network independent of permanent existing infrastructure. Both the Division   
   of Emergency Management and the Wisconsin National Guard requested   
   assistance from Ozaukee County ARES/RACES (OZARES) for the communications   
   portion of the exercise. This request was initiated several months prior to   
   the exercise, and OZARES was involved in the planning phases.   
      
   Four communications sites were established. OZARES members staffed all   
   sites, in addition to personnel from Emergency Management and the National   
   Guard. The sites were located in Fredonia, Mequon, Cedarburg, and the   
   temporary Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and National Guard base in   
   Cedarburg Firemen's Park. An OZARES net control station was established at   
   the temporary EOC. OZARES communications were conducted using the OZARES VHF   
   repeater and via simplex using a cross-band repeater system based at the   
   home of one of the OZARES members. OZARES operators were able to establish   
   communications among all four sites using the repeater. More importantly, it   
   was determined that communications among all sites could be successfully   
   carried out using the cross-band repeater system. Prior to the exercise,   
   standard simplex communications could not be established on a county-wide   
   basis. Records of activity by OZARES members were maintained using ICS-213   
   and ICS-214 forms.   
      
   Several other communication system links between the temporary EOC and   
   outlying sites could not be established. In these cases, OZARES filled the   
   gaps with reliable communications for both Emergency Management and the   
   National Guard. Overall, the exercise went very well. Both Ozaukee County   
   Emergency Management and the National Guard were impressed with OZARES'   
   capabilities, cooperation and professionalism. The ARES impact to the   
   operations was also noted by the Adjutant General and his Deputy.   
      
   In conclusion, this exercise was an example of Amateur Radio's capabilities   
   "when all else fails." By participating in exercises such as this,   
   ARES/RACES groups can continue to demonstrate their skills, professionalism,   
   and importance in disaster planning to their partner agencies. -- Art   
   Davidson, AC9CD, EC OZARES (Ozaukee County, Wisconsin ARES/RACES)   
      
   Free Spontaneous, Unaffiliated Volunteer Training and Exercise   
      
   Points of Light is offering two free online opportunities to help   
   organizations, agencies, and volunteers better prepare themselves to respond   
   to disasters of any size.   
      
   Management of Spontaneous, Unaffiliated Volunteers Training, in partnership   
   with Volunteer Florida, May 29, 2015, 2:00-4:00pm ET   
      
   Nearly every disaster evokes an outpouring of individuals wanting to be   
   involved in response and relief activities. These individuals, although   
   well-intentioned, are rarely trained, experienced, or certified in any   
   official disaster response function, and therefore can often add to the   
   already overtaxed resources available to assist the impacted community. This   
   online training will help organizations with an interest or responsibility   
   in handling these "spontaneous" volunteers do so efficiently and   
   effectively. To reserve a spot in this training, please register here.   
      
   Operation Volunteer Placement: A Volunteer Reception Center Exercise, June   
   16, 2015   
      
   Operation Volunteer Placement allows agencies and organizations tasked with   
   the coordination of spontaneous volunteers during a disaster to exercise   
   their plan in a web-based simulation. Participants work together as a   
   unified team in establishing, managing and demobilizing a Volunteer   
   Reception Center.   
      
   This exercise is intended for group interaction and should include local   
   partners involved in the management of disaster volunteers, including EMAs   
   and sister government agencies, VOADs, and other nonprofits. This exercise   
   is self-paced and can be accessed between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM ET. It lasts   
   between 90 minutes and three hours, depending on group interaction.   
      
   Note: While intended for group interaction, each participant should   
   individually register to ensure receipt of post-exercise certificate of   
   participation. For additional information and to register, click here.   
      
   Amateurs Support Three Mile Island Nuclear Plan Exercise   
      
   [There is a longstanding history of Amateur Radio communications support of   
   exercises and drills, plans and procedures with officials of the Three Mile   
   Island Nuclear Power Plant. I remember touring the facility with local and   
   section ARES emergency coordinators some 25 years ago. For us seniors, the   
   Three Mile Island accident that occurred on March 28, 1979, in one of the   
   two Three Mile Island nuclear reactors in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, is   
   seared forever in our memories. The accident involved a partial nuclear   
   meltdown; it was the worst accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant   
   history. The incident was rated a five on the seven-point International   
   Nuclear Event Scale: Accident With Wider Consequences. -- K1CE]   
      
   On April 14, 2015, the semi-annual Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Exercise   
   was held in south-central Pennsylvania, with ARES groups active in   
   supporting the drill. York County ARES Emergency Coordinator Sandra Goodman,   
   N3ECF, reported a successful operation. The drill commenced with activation   
   notices sent to phones and pagers. Multiple levels of states of emergency   
   were declared, resulting in evacuation of the 10 mile Emergency Planning   
   Zone (EPZ). [To facilitate a preplanned strategy for protective actions   
   during an emergency, there are two emergency planning zones around each   
   nuclear power plant. The exact size and shape of each EPZ is a result of   
   detailed planning which includes consideration of the specific conditions at   
   each site, unique geographical features of the area, and demographic   
   information. This preplanned strategy for an EPZ provides a substantial   
   basis to support activity beyond the planning zone in the extremely unlikely   
   event it would be needed. -- ed., U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission]   
      
   Municipal EOCs were included in the evacuation, and ARES operators received   
   traffic advising that EOC staffs and facilities were relocating to alternate   
   sites. York County ARES had 26 operators assigned: five operators staffed   
   the county EOC, two operators each manned ten   
   municipal EOC sites, and one operator monitored the Pennsylvania EMA (PEMA)   
   HF frequency from home. An additional six operators checked into the net on   
   standby in case of a real emergency.   
      
   Communications and operations were conducted on two nets: A voice net for   
   four of the EOCs, and one digital mode net for five EOCs. As part of the   
   RACES Officer Checklist, radio contact was also established with PEMA HQ, as   
   well as with Cumberland, Dauphin, and Lancaster County PEMA offices.   
      
   Thirty messages were handled, including formal ICS-213 formatted messages.   
   Lessons learned, according to Goodman: "At the (York) County EOC, I need to   
   practice more on how to handle the messages coming from EOC staff and   
   finding a better method of recording and tracking those messages." Goodman   
   added: "Some of that requires gaining a better acquaintance with the EOC   
   staff so we know where the incoming message traffic needs to be directed."   
   And, "overall we had a good experience."   
      
   Adams County ACS Also Active   
      
   The Adams County (Pennsylvania) Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) was   
   also active, participating in both the main exercise on Tuesday, April 14,   
   and the Wednesday, April 15 shelter/decontamination portion. Adams County   
   primarily functions as a reception county during TMI incidents. The role is   
   mainly supporting those residents evacuating the counties closest to TMI and   
   moving into shelters further away, and upwind, from TMI.   
      
   On Tuesday evening the ACS had five operators at the county EOC to monitor   
   traffic from PEMA HQ on VHF, HF and the primary York County VHF frequency,   
   and pass traffic as needed. The Adams County EMA Director asked that a   
   message be sent to PEMA HQ and a reply was received from them. This message   
   was handled using Olivia 8/500, a data mode on 3.583 MHz; Fldigi software   
   was used for this exchange. Having functional backup communications at the   
   county EOC is a checklist item for FEMA and PEMA evaluators. Adams County   
   ACS met the evaluators' requirements.   
      
   On Wednesday evening, the ACS was activated by the county EMA to support the   
   shelter/decontamination portion of the TMI exercise. ACS operators set up a   
   station at the Red Cross shelter located at the Gettysburg High School. Two   
   operators manned the shelter. Once the station was set up, contact was   
   initiated and maintained with the Red Cross office in Harrisburg. The York   
   County 146.79 MHz repeater system on Reesers Summit was employed. As in the   
   Tuesday exercise, having backup communications available at the shelter   
   location is a checklist item for the evaluators. Notably, the FEMA evaluator   
   interviewed ACS operators about ACS functions and capabilities. During the   
   final hot wash with all participants, the evaluator mentioned she was very   
   pleased with the RACES/ACS shelter communications support. Adams County ACS   
   met the evaluator's requirements for this segment of the exercise.   
      
   Lessons Learned   
      
   The sole issue was at the high school shelter. The school is built on very   
   low elevation and the ACS' assigned station location had operators   
   positioning the tripod-mounted dual band antenna on the east side of the   
   large five story building. Thus, operators had fair communications coverage   
   with some repeaters east of Gettysburg but little or no contact north or   
   west. This is why the York County repeater system was employed. Since the   
   school is a primary county shelter, a solid solution would be to see if the   
   school district would allow mounting a permanent VHF/UHF antenna on the roof   
   with a coax drop to a ground floor room near the gym. Alternatively, another   
   station location near the shelter where a portable antenna could be better   
   positioned and yield better omnidirectional coverage could be a work-around.   
   Overall, the exercise went well and was a good experience for all operators   
   who participated. -- Don Schmitt, K3DCS, Auxiliary Communications Officer,   
   Adams County Department of Emergency Services; ARES Emergency Coordinator,   
   Adams County, Pennsylvania; and Chairman, Pennsylvania South Central Task   
   Force-Amateur Radio Workgroup   
      
   [ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Emergency Coordinator W.T. Jones, W3LUZ,   
   commented on the exercise operation: "The overall effort that the ARES put   
   out during the drill was awesome." "The ARES operators in Adams, Dauphin,   
   York, Lancaster, and Lebanon Counties displayed the highest professionalism   
   in their operating and that is a tribute to planning, training, and   
   leadership," said Jones.]   
      
   ARES Manual Updated   
      
   The week following Dayton Hamvention will see the release of the new and   
   updated ARES Manual. The ARES Manual and NTS Manual have together long been   
   part of a single publication, The Public Service Communications Manual. The   
   two manuals will now be separate publications. NTS leadership is currently   
   reviewing and preparing to update the NTS Manual.   
      
   The new ARES Manual includes several new additions - inclusion of ICS forms   
   213, 205, and 214 for ARES use; an expanded discussion on training   
   resources; clarification on the role and purpose of RACES; and copies of all   
   current ARRL MOUs. The update is the first in over two decades and was a   
   collaborative effort of field organization leaders, federal partners, and   
   ARRL staff. The new manual will be made available online as a downloadable   
   PDF.   
      
   Letters: Use a Bow and Arrow to Get Wire Antennas Up   
      
   I read your column (Public Service column, May 2015 QST), and noted your   
   efforts with slingshots and fishing poles to get your wire antenna into   
   trees. One method that really needs more promotion is the bow and arrow. I   
   have used it many times and it is superior to the slingshot and fishing rod   
   because it is more accurate, can reach higher, and the arrow is far less   
   likely to get the line stuck. I have seen countless lead weights wrap   
   themselves around limbs, and this does not happen with the arrow. The length   
   and weight of the arrow has tremendous momentum that carries it through a   
   tangle of small branches, all the way to the ground. I have never lost an   
   arrow in a tree.   
      
   I use an old child's toy bow made of fiberglass, labelled 25 pounds pull. It   
   is sufficient when drawn only moderately to get over a very tall tree. I use   
   wooden practice arrows with the tip made flatter and covered with solder for   
   weight wrapped in electrical tape, with a rubber furniture tip on the end,   
   to avoid harming trees or anything else. I have an inexpensive fishing reel   
   attached to the bow below the handle with an angle bracket. The line ends in   
   a bowline loop knot (to allow tying a string and pulling it back over the   
   limb) and it is attached to the arrow with a small piece of masking tape   
   near the tip and the tail of the arrow. It is important to use weak tape in   
   case you must yank it loose to allow a stuck arrow to fall and reel in your   
   line.   
      
   It need not be a new, powerful bow. Accuracy comes from drawing it only as   
   far as needed, not shooting the arrow in to the next county! Part of the   
   technique is to pinch the line as it passes beyond the limb you chose, and   
   the arrow promptly drops straight down because the forward movement is   
   stopped. Dropping straight down means that you will have a clear line-path   
   when you haul up, and it will not be dragging over numerous branches, far   
   from the base of the tree.   
      
   I have seen this work even with a cherry tree, which has bark of large   
   flakes that tend to catch the line and snag it irretrievably. If the arrow   
   does not make it all the way to the ground, some tugs will usually free it   
   to drop lower by its own weight and pull the line over what it is dragging   
   on.   
      
   With practice, I can hit the place I want in one or two tries. I can put the   
   line over a specific limb in about a 10 foot radius 50 feet up in a tree. It   
   is easy to go higher.   
      
   The bow is no larger or more inconvenient than a fishing pole, and I think   
   it is a far more effective tool. It is safe, inexpensive, accurate and does   
   not get lines and sinkers stuck in trees. I hope more hams will try it. --   
   Scott Rowe, AB8VN, Columbia, South Carolina   
      
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    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)   

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