If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2015-10-22   
      
   The ARES E-Letter   
      
   October 22, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
      
   ARES Briefs, Links   
      
   ARRL President Congratulates Hurricane Watch Net on its 50th Anniversary   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-president-congratulates-hurricane-   
   atch-net-on-its-50th-anniversary (10/7/2015); Hurricane Watch Net Stands Down,   
   Reactivates as Joaquin Nears Bermuda http://www.arrl.org/news/hu   
   ricane-watch-net-stands-down-reactivates-as-joaquin-nears-bermuda (10/4/2015);   
   ARRL Invites Nominations For 2015 International Humanitarian Award   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-invites-nominations-for-2015-inter   
   ational-humanitarian-award (10/2/2015); FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate,   
   KK4INZ, Visits WX4NHC http://www.arrl.org/news/fema-administrato   
   -craig-fugate-kk4inz-visits-wx4nhc (10/2/2015)   
      
      
   ARRL "Science and Skill in Service" Report a Must Read   
      
   While directed at lawmakers at all levels to advocate for Amateur Radio, the   
   2015 ARRL publication Amateur Radio: Science and Skill in Service to Your   
   Community is also a good read for the ARES community: the 12-page report   
   provides a summary of major ARES and other groups' operations for incidents   
   and events throughout the regions of the country over the past couple of   
   years. A product of the League's regulatory and advocacy staff, the report   
   shows graphicallyhow Amateur Radio has benefited the United States through   
   public service, disaster response, and partnering with other served agencies.   
   The report will lend even the most grizzled veteran operator pride in what we   
   all do. Click here http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Advocacy/AR-Sc   
   ence-And-Skill-2015-V2.pdf for the report - don't miss it!   
      
      
   MARS Exercise to Simulate a Coronal Mass Ejection; Amateurs Invited to   
   Participate   
      
   Beginning the week of November 8, 2015, the Military Auxiliary Radio System   
   (MARS) will participate in a quarterly contingency HF exercise in support of   
   the Department of Defense. The exercise scenario will simulate a Coronal Mass   
   Ejection (CME) event and focus on actions that radio operators should take   
   prior to and following such an event. [Coronal mass ejections (or CMEs) are   
   huge bubbles of gas threaded with magnetic field lines that are ejected from   
   the Sun over the course of several hours. Coronal Mass Ejections disrupt the   
   flow of the solar wind and produce disturbances that strike the Earth with   
   sometimes catastrophic results. More on CMEs here. http://solars   
   ience.msfc.nasa.gov/CMEs.shtml - source NASA.] Training objectives for this   
   exercise will include:   
      
    *  Understanding what a CME is and how much forecast lead time can be   
       expected prior to the CME.   
    *  What effects are associated with a CME and what precautions should radio   
       operators take prior to the CME to protect equipment.   
    *  Following the CME, operators will begin assessing the effects and begin   
       reporting this information.   
    *  Interoperability with Amateur Radio operators and groups.   
      
   Amateur Radio operators, ARES and RACES members are encouraged to participate   
   in this exercise. If interested in participating, click here mai   
   to:mars.exercises@gmail.com to register. -- Paul English, NETCOM Land Mobile   
   Radio Manager, Army MARS Program Manager   
      
      
   New Ohio ECs Learn from Veterans at ARES Leadership Conference   
      
   Twenty new members of the ARRL Ohio Section ARES leadership team spent a day   
   learning from senior leaders about their new responsibilities. The class was   
   conducted at the Franklin County Emergency Management office in Columbus.   
   Freshmen county Emergency Coordinators (EC) and Assistant ECs heard from Ohio   
   Section Manager Scott Yonally, N8SY, Section Emergency Coordinator Stan   
   Broadway, N8BHL, Northeast Ohio District 10 EC Eric Jessen, N8AUC, and Dayton   
   area District 3 EC Robert Rhoades, KC8WHK.   
      
   When a new EC is appointed, the appointee receives a manual from ARRL HQ   
   covering their new responsibilities in leading a county ARES program. "We   
   wanted to supplement the ARRL training materials with a conversational   
   learning environment where we could put 'real life' into their understanding   
   of their leadership tasks," said SEC Broadway. Speakers at the day-long   
   session brought considerable credentials, experience and expertise to the   
   podium. Rhoades has an extensive background in the fire service and Fire   
   Marshall's office, the Ohio Health Department and is an instructor at the   
   national training centers in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Jessen drew from a large   
   city history of events and interaction with major served agencies. Section   
   Manager Yonally and SEC Broadway share extensive backgrounds in emergency   
   services and planning.   
      
   Broadway launched the day session with an overview of ARES from its historical   
   roots to its current organization in Ohio. The main concept for session   
   attendees to learn is that the EC is the lead representative of ARES in his   
   county; knowing his jurisdiction and being able to establish and maintain   
   relationships with local partner agencies are missions-critical. The District   
   ECs and SEC are appointed to support the EC, reinforcing the EC's ability to   
   serve the agencies and the public.The session also covered the importance of   
   specific job duties including filing monthly reports.   
      
   Section Manager Yonally had just returned from a week of training at ARRL   
   Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, where he was presented with training   
   and information on Field Organization and ARES policies and procedures. He   
   related this knowledge and lessons he has learned through personal experience   
   to the group.   
      
   SEC Broadway discussed how to establish and maintain a solid working   
   relationship with the EMA Director, and other served agency leaders. Jessen   
   advised "Never write a check they can't cash," which resonated with the group.   
   Other discussion ranged from the importance of presenting a professional image   
   and what it takes to be accepted into the inner circle of leaders at the EMA   
   office.   
      
   Rhodes brought to the session discussion table his wealth of experience in   
   building exercises, describing the different types of exercises, and what goes   
   into creating a proper Master Scenario Events List (MESL). [An MSEL documents   
   the timetable of events and injects (eg, test events and messages) that guide   
   exercise progress. It links simulation to action promoting the best exercise   
   experience for players, and lists prompts for players to execute a policy or   
   procedure to be tested. An MSEL lists scenario times, the exercise scenario   
   and summary, expected responses by players for injects, and has a notes   
   section for controllers and evaluators to compare exercise actual versus   
   planned outcomes. - ed.]   
      
   Broadway discussed emergency planning with the attendees, outlining the Ohio   
   Section Emergency Response Plan (OSERP) and how it can be adapted to specific   
   county situations and needs. ECs were advised to talk with their EMA Directors   
   about what Broadway calls the "Ten Worst Headaches" list - an outline of   
   potential problems with the ARES/EMA relationship and possible solutions. The   
   goal is a good working relationship, leading to the overall integration of   
   ARES as a valid emergency resource.   
      
   One of the top concerns for many county ARES programs is retention, keeping   
   volunteers interested and active. Towards this goal, Broadway suggested   
   holding training sessions conducted by instructors/officials from county   
   served agencies covering topics such as light SAR (search and rescue), First   
   Aid/CPR, anti-terrorism, damage assessment, Red Cross shelter operations, the   
   CERT program, and evolving data modes.   
      
   Attendees received the session enthusiastically, with their post-session   
   evaluation form comments affirming their interest in putting lessons learned   
   into practice back in their home county ARES programs. - Stan Broadway, N8BHL,   
   Ohio Section Emergency Coordinator   
      
      
   FEMA's Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS) Program   
      
   The Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS) program is part of FEMA's   
   National Preparedness Assessment Division (NPAD). The LLIS program supports   
   its mission by developing and disseminating lessons learned, innovative   
   practices, and other related content for improvement throughout the whole   
   community; analyzing emergency management capabilities in order to identify   
   common areas of strengths or improvements; and developing policy and doctrine.   
   For example, there is a report on an LLIS page under the heading "Innovative   
   Practices," titled "Amateur Radio Volunteers Protect Community Water Supply."   
   The report, dated October 7, 2014, presented how Federal preparedness grants   
   support Colorado's structured partnership with ARES, "which assists in   
   establishing and maintaining emergency communications during disasters."   
      
   From the report: "In 2013, Colorado experienced historic rainfall and flooding   
   . . . as part of the response effort, 150 ARES volunteers in Colorado's   
   Northeast Region deployed to assist. When floodwater threatened the electronic   
   controls of a wastewater facility serving a community of 80,000 people, ARES   
   established a microwave network using two grant-funded repeaters and took   
   remote control of the plant. ARES maintained control of the facility for four   
   months -- preventing any wastewater from spilling into the floodwater."   
      
   More discussion follows in the report. There are many parts of FEMA's LLIS   
   resources that would be of interest to us as radio amateurs and ARES members.   
   Start by browsing here.   
      
      
   Central Florida ARES Group Supports Large Bicycle Festival   
      
   The Lake Amateur Radio Association activated ARES of Lake County (Florida) in   
   support of the 41st Annual Mount Dora Bicycle Festival in Mount Dora, Florida   
   from October 9 -11, 2015. Operators provided radio communications from each   
   rest area as well as from mobile radio units to patrol the various bicycle   
   routes.   
      
   Lake County has 1400 named lakes and is considered Florida's hill country.   
   Some hills offer a challenge for even the most experienced bicycle riders.   
   This year 1325 cyclists signed up to ride in the festival.   
      
   Radio equipped vehicles operated by radio amateurs transported a total of 30   
   bicycle riders and their bicycles back to the starting area over the three day   
   event, for mechanical break downs and medical issues. Five medical emergencies   
   were managed: One rider required evacuation to the hospital with a broken   
   collar bone. Sixteen situations in total required the intervention of the   
   mobile radio vehicles.   
      
   The Lake County ARES group used a repeater to run the net, keeping track of   
   rest area locations and mobile radio units. NCS operators used the call sign   
   of N4FLA and assigned all field operators tactical signs.   
      
   Lake County ARES and LARA have been providing on course radio communications   
   for the event for almost 25 years. This year, 25 Amateur Radio operators   
   volunteered their time and equipment to ensure the public safety and garner   
   experience for emergency/disaster response. Click here http://www.k4fc.org/   
   for more information on LARA and Lake County ARES. -- Ted Luebbers, K1AYZ,   
   Lake County (Florida) ARES Public Information Officer [Luebbers was named the   
   recipient of the 2012 ARRL Philip J. McGan Silver Antenna Award    
   ttp://www.arrl.org/phil-mcgan-award, recognized by the ARRL Board for his   
   "outstanding volunteer public relations success on behalf of Amateur Radio at   
   the local and regional levels." -- ed.]   
      
      
   Hail, Fire, Smoke, Snow Challenge Communicators Supporting Yellowstone Bike   
   Tour   
      
   On August 22, 2015, 350 bicyclists and more than 200 support crew covered a   
   500-mile, 7-day bike tour of Yellowstone National Park. A hail storm on day   
   two blanketed base camp, and a snowstorm on day 3 stranded 55 bikes at the   
   11,000 foot level. Adding to these challenges were grizzly bears, wild land   
   fire and smoke, and ice-covered tents. A communications collapse during a   
   24-hour period mid-week resulting in no cellphone coverage, no Internet   
   access, and no landline phone coverage, provided another insult.   
      
   This was the third year of the Cycle Greater Yellowstone Bike Tour   
   http://cyclegreateryellowstone.com/ event, with radio amateurs supporting it   
   for all three years. The ride features a different area around Yellowstone   
   National Park (YNP) each year - exposing riders to new views of the YNP   
   ecosystem. This year's event brought several "firsts" to the local Amateur   
   Radio community. It was the first time that amateurs from four different radio   
   clubs (separated by hundreds of miles) have worked together. The event is the   
   largest that many of the operators have ever worked. It was the first time   
   operators had to cover forest service and wilderness areas with no cellphone   
   towers, no repeaters, nor civilization/infrastructure. It was also the first   
   time that the current ride organizers worked with Amateur Radio operators.   
      
   The week was physically and mentally exhausting with no down-time for the 34   
   amateurs. Riders were on the road each day from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM, but the   
   operators started earlier and didn't stop working until after 10:00 each   
   night. For days three and four, when the riders were in the wilderness areas,   
   Amateur Radio was the only communications service for getting messages in and   
   out of camps, adding stress to operators. Messages were critically important:   
   health/welfare, weather updates on incoming storms, and queries to local   
   hospitals on conditions of injured riders. Operators evacuated at least one   
   rider per day for hypothermia, dehydration, heart and lung issues, and   
   accidents with cattle guards and other cyclists.   
      
   Hams were assigned in all SAG (Support and Gear) vans, as shadows to two   
   Course Directors and Course Monitors, and at Rest Stops, Base Camp, and Sweep   
   vehicles.   
      
   Highlights   
      
   Days One and Two were shorter, on level ground, providing a good "shakedown   
   cruise" for the challenges to come. The easier starting days allowed the   
   riders and support personnel time for acclimatization to the higher altitudes.   
      
   Day Three featured the 31-mile climb to 10,947' Beartooth Pass that divides   
   Montana from Wyoming. Even leaving camp an hour earlier than normal to beat an   
   incoming snowstorm, 55 cold riders had to be evacuated from the mountain. The   
   hams drove a truck to the summit to retrieve the 55 bikes left in the snow.   
   The next morning, all bikes, tents and vehicles wore a thick layer of ice.That   
   night, crew took 2-hour shifts for bear patrol around the perimeter of the   
   cold campground, with each crew member equipped with bear spray and a whistle   
   to summon help -- troublesome bears were present.   
      
   Day Four saw riders and operators up and over another pass to Cody, Wyoming,   
   where temperatures were much warmer, but with stronger headwinds. Day Six had   
   more seasonal temperatures, but Day Seven found the riders facing a brutal   
   headwind with colder temps, resulting in more than 100 riders choosing to wait   
   for a bus to transport them to the finish line.   
      
   Of the riders that started, more than half had to be sagged-off the course.   
   The last few determined riders did reach the finish line in Red Lodge, Montana.   
      
   Cold Stats   
      
   Ham operators involved - 34. Total time invested by radio amateurs -- 1600   
   hours. Radios used -- 46 handhelds, 35 mobiles, 12 HF radios, 7 APRS trackers,   
   two mobile digipeaters, 14 FRS radios, and 15 radios on 153.905 MHz for direct   
   communication with medical services. Radios were used by the hams as "High   
   Point Relays" to cover each day's 70-100 mile course. Ten fixed VHF/UHF   
   repeaters were also employed.   
      
   Most tactical communications between Ride Vehicles on the course were handled   
   on VHF and UHF simplex car-to-car (with simplex cross-band repeaters set up   
   each day), with fixed mountaintop repeaters used for more distance needs. A   
   team of home-based net control stations monitored communications 14-16 hours   
   each day on VHF repeaters and HF radios as listening posts to provide   
   assistance and back-up communications if needed. More info here    
   ttp://www.cyclegreateryellowstone.org/ . -- Ron Glass, WN7Y wn7y@arrl.net,   
   Emergency Coordinator, Yellowstone County, Montana   
      
      
   Putting Contesting to Work for Your Public Service Team   
      
   Operating skill is not something that can be tested on a license exam or   
   learned from a book. Emergency managers know that practice - lots of it - is   
   required for operators to be sharp when they are really needed. Repeating   
   drill after drill can get old but there are other enjoyable ways to give your   
   equipment a good shakedown and build on-the-air know-how. Just as sports keep   
   you physically fit, "radiosport" or contesting can serve as a training ground   
   while having fun at the same time.   
      
   First, you don't need a huge, multi-tower station to participate. A comm   
   trailer or EOC probably has everything you need for success, particularly if   
   you choose the right contest. You can start simply with any of a number of   
   regional FM simplex contests that encourage the use of mobile and handheld FM   
   radios for an afternoon or evening. Just search the Internet for "FM simplex   
   contest" to find several. For example, in the St Louis area, the St Louis and   
   Suburban Radio Club http://www.slsrc.org/ sponsors an occasional "ZIP code   
   contest" in which hams operate from home or a car and count the different ZIP   
   codes as multipliers. Operation takes place on the usual simplex FM channels   
   from 147.42 MHz to 147.56 MHz for four hours on a weekend evening.This is a   
   great way to learn about squelch management, copying weak signals, using   
   phonetics, and the effectiveness of good locations and antennas! No contest in   
   your area? Work with the local clubs to start one.   
      
   Instead of jumping into a big DX contest, try the domestic contests such as   
   the upcoming November Sweepstakes http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes or   
   December's 10 Meter Contest http://www.arrl.org/10-meter . The low dipole you   
   use for regional communications will work lots of stations - more than you   
   might imagine. A multiband vertical will work great on 10 meters or put up a   
   temporary dipole for the weekend. Farther in the future, check out the North   
   American QSO Parties http://www.ncjweb.com/naqp with their easy name-and-state   
   exchange and low-power signals. Look up your own state's QSO party   
   http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/stateparties.html and activate your   
   county or parish for hours of fun with callers chasing YOU for a change. If   
   your club has VHF SSB gear, there are regular VHF contests. If your team uses   
   digital modes to exchange text and files, try a digital mode contest with RTTY   
   and PSK keyboard-to-keyboard operating.   
      
   Trying to pack an entire team into the shack can be counterproductive. A   
   couple of people have a lot of fun while the rest watch and get bored. If you   
   have enough interest, divide your group into two- or three-person teams that   
   operate in shifts with an experienced operator to mentor and guide (and log).   
   Better yet, put the teams at different stations and let them go head-to-head   
   in a short challenge. No one says you have to operate the entire contest,   
   either. Pick times that work - maybe about as long as your regular drills -   
   and get together afterward for the usual "hot wash" or maybe just a little   
   story-telling session over pizza.   
      
   A "contest Elmer" can help those new to contesting with scripts guiding the   
   operators through a QSO. Start each team of operators with a period of   
   listening so they have some time to get up to speed. Show them how to tune in   
   an SSB signal, operate the necessary receiver controls, and the abbreviated   
   style of calling and answering. Using paper log sheets can work at first but   
   you'll find that simple logging software like that available from N3FJP   
   http://www.n3fjp.com/ is easy and intuitive to learn. Let one operator talk   
   and one operator log - then swap.   
      
   Once your team gets up to speed, reinforce the reasons why we have contests in   
   the first place: accurate, effective operating. Place a special emphasis on   
   getting call signs and exchanges 100% correct. Making a lot of contacts is   
   good but not at the expense of errors. Help operators make good use of primary   
   radio controls to increase clarity on receive and transmit: filters, RF gain,   
   AGC, RIT/XIT, and others can make a surprising improvement in copying ability.   
   Watch for teachable moments such as unusual and changing propagation, small   
   pileups of callers, confusing letters, and clean vs distorted signal audio.   
      
   The hours will fly by and when it's over, you'll have some operators anxious   
   to try again. It's a good way to introduce non-hams to Amateur Radio, too. Why   
   not invite a CERT or SKYWARN volunteer to sit in and make a contact? Don't   
   forget to submit a log - no matter how small - and watch for your team's call   
   sign in the final results. You might even get lucky and win a certificate.   
   Could a Worked All States http://www.arrl.org/was award be in your team's   
   future?   
      
   Regardless of how many contacts you make, when interspersed with your regular   
   drills and exercises contesting offers a great change of pace while advancing   
   everyone's abilities at little or no cost. See you in the pileups! -- Ward   
   Silver, N?AX, St Charles, Missouri; Member, St Charles Amateur Radio Club and   
   ARES Rapid Response Team; QST Contributing Editor   
      
      
   What You Are Not   
      
   [The following is excerpted from the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)   
   publication IARU Emergency Telecommunications Guide. (2015) A PDF file of the   
   document can be found here http://www.iaru.org/emergency-telecom   
   unications-guide.html . While this guide was developed primarily to provide   
   IARU member-societies around the globe with materials suitable for training   
   their members to provide radio communications support in emergency/disaster   
   events, it also contains principles and concepts that are universal to all   
   Amateur Radio and ARES operators who are learning the culture of providing   
   such support via Amateur Radio. I thought that the following excerpt was   
   particularly helpful in understanding our role as ARES members. - ed.]   
      
   As important as what you are, is what you are not. There are limits to your   
   responsibilities as an emergency communicator, and it is important to know   
   where to draw the line.   
      
   You are not a "first responder." Except in rare cases of chance, you will   
   seldom be first on the scene. You do not need flashing lights and sirens, gold   
   badges, or fancy uniforms.   
      
   You have no authority. In most cases, you cannot make decisions for others, or   
   make demands on the agency you serve or any other agency. The only decisions   
   you can make are whether to participate or not, and those affecting your own   
   health and safety.   
      
   You are not in charge. You are there to temporarily fulfill the needs of an   
   agency whose communication system is unable to completely do its job. They   
   tell you what they need, and you do your best to comply.   
      
      
   ARES Go-Kit Exhibition and Competition Held in South Carolina   
      
   The Third Annual Aiken (South Carolina) ARES Go-Kit Exhibition and Contest was   
   held this past weekend on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at the Aiken County   
   Administration Complex. Open to all radio amateurs, the demonstration and   
   displays were conducted from 9:30 AM until noon. Amateurs without go-kits were   
   encouraged to attend to gain ideas for developing a go-kit for themselves.   
   Others with go-kits were able to glean ideas for enhancing their kits.   
      
   Points were awarded when the submitted go-kits were made to work in field-like   
   conditions at the exhibit. Also, the more bands and modes shown operational,   
   the more points awarded. All entries in the contest were to be judged by a   
   representative from the Aiken County Emergency Management office, and the   
   Aiken County ARES Emergency Coordinator.   
      
   The judges expected an entry to have at least an emergency power source, a   
   transceiver with a mic, an antenna system, and basic personal safety and   
   comfort items. Contestants had three minutes to present and talk about their   
   go-kit entry. The grand prize was a new hand-held transceiver. - from the ARRL   
   South Carolina http://arrlsc.org/?p=200 section website   
      
      
   Winlink Team Tests Innovations in Tennessee EMA/AUXCOMM Exercise   
      
   The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) held their Fall AUXCOMM   
   exercise October 1-3. A major regional exercise held semi-annually, it   
   involves joint participation by emergency communication professionals and   
   AUXCOMM volunteers. It is a model of interoperability between state, county   
   and National Guard professionals with Amateur Radio volunteers. Winlink, an   
   Amateur Radio-based global email system that can be used when the Internet is   
   down, was used heavily during the exercise both for communicating with   
   external sites and for managing message flow at the incident command post.   
   [AuxComm is comprised of operators trained under the NIMS/ICS model of   
   emergency management for emergency communications support].   
      
   Communication with External Sites   
      
   Exercise players responded to a simulated incident, coordinating response   
   between the central incident command post located at the Tennessee Fire   
   Academy in Bell Buckle, and multiple sites in east and west Tennessee. Each   
   site connected to a Winlink Radio Message Server (RMS) within propagation   
   range and deposited messages on a Common Message Server (CMS), which is the   
   backbone of the Winlink store-and-forward system. This approach allowed each   
   site to select an RMS that was easiest for them to connect to rather than   
   requiring a direct connection to the central site. By using the    
   tore-and-forward capability, messages could be exchanged between sites without   
   requiring simultaneous operating times. Winlink operating with SHARES   
   callsigns on SHARES radio frequencies was used for communication with the   
   external sites.   
      
   SHARES is a federal communication organization using HF radio for   
   communication between federal agencies, state and county agencies, National   
   Guard units and NGOs such as American Red Cross and medical centers. It uses   
   federal radio frequencies that are outside the ham bands.   
      
   Winlink In the Central Incident Command Post   
      
   Winlink was used extensively within the central incident command post to   
   manage message flow, with messages transferred over a MESH network, and a   
   Winlink Network Post Office Server, the heart of the system, used rather than   
   the RMS and CMS employed for the externa[winlink.png] l communication sites.   
   See figure for how the system worked.Stations, which were scattered around the   
   campus, had connectivity with the central server through the MESH network.   
      
   RADO Operation   
      
   Four radio operator (RADO) stations operated simultaneously, handling: (1)   
   SHARES Winlink traffic; (2) SHARES voice traffic; (3) ham Winlink traffic; and   
   (4) ham voice traffic. Each RADO station had a computer running RMS Express   
   http://www.winlink.org/RMSExpress with a connection to the MESH network, and   
   had an address book contact with actual call sign being used named "ICC"   
   (Incident Communication Coordinator). Messages addressed to ICC were directed   
   to the network post office and messages received from external stations by the   
   Winlink RADOs were forwarded to ICC without change. Messages received by the   
   voice RADOs were transcribed into Winlink messages and sent to ICC. RMS   
   Express' "background tasks" routed messages automatically.   
      
   Incident Communication Coordinator Operation   
      
   The ICC is the person responsible for processing incoming reports and   
   requests, dispatching them for action or generating replies himself when   
   appropriate. RMS Express used by the ICC was configured to poll the post   
   office server in the "background" once a minute to check for pending messages.   
   RMS Express also made it easy for the ICC to simply reply to a message.   
      
   Some - but not all - messages were appropriate to be posted on the TEMA WebEOC   
   system. WebEOC is a system for event tracking and status reporting that's   
   widely used by larger EMAs. When the ICC identified a message that needed to   
   be posted, the message was forwarded to a contact entry with call sign named   
   WEBEOC. The WebEOC logger ran RMS Express configured to poll the network post   
   office every minute to check for incoming messages.   
      
   Summary and Conclusion   
      
   Winlink was used extensively during the exercise both for external and   
   internal communication. Several new Winlink features were used and tested   
   heavily: (1) network post office server; (2) background tasks; and (3) contact   
   entries designating post office servers. All features worked well with no   
   reported problems.   
      
   This exercise demonstrated the usefulness of Winlink operating over a MESH   
   network with a network post office to facilitate message flow within an   
   incident command post. The speed and reliability far exceeded what has been   
   previously experienced using manual message transcription and hand delivery.   
   It is recommended that future exercise continue to use this system. Additional   
   information about the Winlink features described here can be found here   
   http://www.philsherrod.com/Winlink/RMS_Express_background_sending.pdf . --   
   Phil Sherrod,W4PHS; and Steve Waterman, K4CJX   
      
      
   K1CE For a Final   
      
   It's ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) season, and we wish you the best for   
   success on your SET this year. Please send any reports on especially   
   innovative practices resulting from your SET activity to your ARES E-Letter   
   editor k1ce@arrl.net and we will publish some of the best ones for the benefit   
   of all readers. Thanks! - 73, Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
   _________   
      
      
   ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information   
      
   Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, Amateur Radio's most   
   popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.   
      
   Subscribe to NCJ -- the National Contest Journal. Published bi-monthly,   
   features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA   
   Sprint and QSO Parties.   
      
   Subscribe to QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published   
   bi-monthly, features technical articles, construction projects, columns and   
   other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.   
      
   Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter(monthly public   
   service and emergency communications news), theARRL Contest Update (bi-weekly   
   contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!   
      
   Find us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.   
      
   ARRL offers a wide array of products to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio   
      
   Donate to the fund of your choice -- support programs not funded by member   
   dues!   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   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   
   Page as described at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/.   
      
   Copyright (C) 2015 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved   
      
   www.arrl.org   
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   ... Charp - The green, mutant potato chip found in every bag.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)