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   http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2016-09-21   
      
   The ARES E-Letter   
      
   September 21, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
      
   In This Issue:   
      
    *  September is National Preparedness Month   
    *  Spotlight: Georgia Mountains' District ARES Trains On Public Event   
       Communications Support   
    *  Western Washington Section Manager Comments on June's Cascadia Rising;   
       See September QST Article   
    *  Tech Tips: The North Country's Solar Powered APRS Digipeaters   
    *  Letters: 12 Hour Shifts   
    *  Get on Board the Simplex Contest Train!   
    *  K1CE For a Final   
      
      
   ARES Briefs, Links   
      
   Amateur Radio Volunteers Needed to Support Marine Corps Marathon (9/14/16);   
   SKYWARN Youth on the Air Net Debuts (9/14/16); Mexican Emergency Communication   
   Net Activates for Newton (9/7/16); Tropical Storm Hermine Gains Attention on   
   the Eastern Seaboard, Hurricane Watch Net Secures (9/2/16); ARRL CEO Urges New   
   York City-Area Hams to Join Him as Marathon Volunteer (9/1/16); Big Island   
   ARES Districts Activate to Support Possible Hurricane Response in Hawaii   
   (8/31/16); SKYWARN Set to Activate in Hawaii as Hurricanes Threaten (8/30/16);   
   Nominations Open for the George Hart Distinguished Service Award (8/29/16)   
      
      
      
   September is National Preparedness Month   
      
   Don't Wait. Communicate. Make your Personal, Family, CERT and ARES(R)   
   Emergency Plans Today.   
      
   September is National Preparedness Month (NPM), which serves as a reminder to   
   prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could   
   affect us where we live, work, and visit - and certainly for ARES (September   
   also marks the beginning of the ARRL SET period, see below) responses. For   
   more information, including a social media toolkit, visit www.re   
   dy.gov/september. In June 2003, ARRL became an official affiliate program of   
   Citizen Corps, an initiative within the Department of Homeland Security to   
   enhance public preparedness and safety. The Statement of Affiliation makes   
   ARRL an affiliate under the four charter Citizen Corps programs--Neighborhood   
   Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, Community Emergency Response Teams and   
   Medical Reserve Corps.   
      
   See www.ready.gov/make-a-plan to help you make your plans. Also, in recent   
   Facebook posts and tweets from @ARRL_ARES, ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager   
   Mike Corey, KI1U, gives tips on how to prepare ourselves and our stations for   
   emergency/disaster response. A recent post suggested "communication becomes   
   easier when you know what band fits your needs. Learn how to determine the   
   best band for getting the message to where it needs to go." Follow the ARRL   
   ARES(R) program @ARRL_ARES on Twitter. Follow National Preparedness @readygov   
   Follow America's PrepareAthon @PrepareAthon   
      
      
      
      
   Get Set for ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET)   
      
   The ARRL encourages you to consider this year's Simulated Emergency Test and   
   preparations for it as a demonstration of Amateur Radio's readiness and as an   
   active participant in National Preparedness Month. Click here and choose the   
   tab for this year's SET guidelines. SET is a nationwide exercise in emergency   
   communications, administered by ARRL Field Organization leaders including   
   Emergency Coordinators, District Emergency Coordinators, Section Emergency   
   Coordinators and Net Managers.The SET weekend gives communicators the   
   opportunity to focus on the emergency communications capability within their   
   communities while interacting with NTS nets.To participate in this year's   
   emergency test, contact your local ARRL emergency coordinator or net manager.   
   ARRL Sections, ARES teams and nets may conduct their exercises anytime during   
   September through December.   
      
      
      
      
   Spotlight: Georgia Mountains' District ARES Trains On Public Event   
   Communications Support   
      
   The mountainous Northwest Georgia District ARES program supports four public   
   events each year as a public service and training exercises for its operators.   
   This month, the organization is supporting the Georgia Jewel foot races of 35,   
   50 and 100 miles and the seven aid stations situated along the course. ARES   
   operators establish communication centers at each station and track all   
   runners for event safety and progress. The 36 hour event in the mountains has   
   only 5% cell coverage, hence the focus on Amateur Radio for essential   
   communications.   
      
   Last year, the DEC for the district and for the Georgia Digital program at   
   large, Frank Dean, K4SJR, moved the operation from a VHF/UHF FM voice platform   
   to Winlink Packet. Dean reported "We sent just under 400 messages via VHF   
   Packet -- it was so much easier than sending 150 runners' information from   
   station to station by voice." "From the start of the race in Dalton, we had a   
   complete spreadsheet of all runners and their locations on the course."   
      
   For this year's event, Dean added more communications tools at the net control   
   center on the summit of Johns Mountain (1880') including a 70 cm repeater, six   
   packet gateways with two VHF digipeaters, and a portable D-STAR repeater for   
   use with six area D-STAR repeaters. Systems new and old have been tested twice   
   in the last two months, with trials of different antennas and modes at all aid   
   station sites. Dean reports 100% reliability of packet radio and D-STAR/D-RATS   
   at all aid stations. They are ready to go for this month's event.   
      
   Next April, Dean's ARES group will serve the Georgia Death Race - a 70 mile   
   route over 24 hours and 40,000 feet of elevation change, a serious   
   communications challenge.   
      
      
      
      
   Western Washington Section Manager Comments on June's Cascadia Rising; See   
   September QST Article   
      
   Amateur Radio played a major role in the June 6-10 Cascadia Rising 2016 FEMA   
   exercise in the Pacific Northwest, discussed in the comprehensive, excellent   
   September 2016 QST article "Cascadia Rising 2016: Pacific Northwest Amateurs   
   Called to Serve" by ARRL Oregon Section Manager John Core, KX7YT, and Western   
   Washington Section Manager Monte Simpson, AF7PQ. The scenario was a magnitude   
   9.0 earthquake and consequent tsunami, causing a blackout of all conventional   
   communication channels.   
      
   "Amateur Radio operators not only provided communications continuity for   
   Emergency Management agencies, they worked with the Washington State Patrol,   
   Washington State Guard, Washington National Guard, and the FAA," Simpson said   
   in his recent after-action report. Simpson is also Washington's State RACES   
   Officer. He said radio amateurs supported approximately 32 city, county,   
   state, tribal, and federal agencies during the event.   
      
   "We were able to support all our served agencies and clients," Simpson   
   recounted. "Volunteers were able to provide communications support on location   
   and during the planned participation period." He said US Amateur Radio   
   responders established cross-border communication with the emergency   
   operations center in Langley, British Columbia, which was holding its own   
   province-wide exercise, Coastal Response.   
      
   "Overall, our objectives of being able to communicate with external agencies   
   via voice and Winlink were achieved," Simpson said. "It was great to be able   
   to participate in an exercise of this magnitude to get a feeling for what it   
   would be like to have this many people trying to send and receive data. All of   
   our operators felt this was very beneficial."   
      
   Simpson said that including Amateur Radio as "an actual functional part" of   
   Cascadia Rising was a big plus, and that the participants felt they were   
   "actually part of the team and not some ancillary group that was just being   
   tolerated."   
      
   Among his recommendations, Simpson said there should be more standardization   
   on language and forms, as well as coming up with a method of establishing   
   contact with communities that lack communication if repeaters go down. He also   
   advised that ARES and RACES teams exercise their equipment on a regular basis,   
   to avoid unexpected outages and failures during a real-world event. - Thanks,   
   Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, ARRL Letter and QST Contributing Editor   
      
      
      
      
   Tech Tips: The North Country's Solar Powered APRS Digipeaters   
      
   While there are a few good mountaintop Automatic Packet Reporting System   
   (APRS) digipeaters in northern New Hampshire and Vermont, there are gaps in   
   local coverage -- many roads and towns are in valleys, shadowed by high   
   mountains on either side, blocking access to the digipeaters. Thus, "fill-in"   
   digipeaters are required, critical for support of large -scale public events   
   such as the Prouty Century Bike rides. For this event, the local Amateur Radio   
   club deploys two dozen trackers, and employs several fill--in digipeaters for   
   local use and access to the mountaintop machines.   
      
   A recently introduced, compact, all-in-one APRS unit (receiver, transmitter,   
   and TNC) is easily incorporated in the fill-in digipeaters, easily transported   
   by off highway recreational vehicles or backpack, and capable of operating for   
   extended periods off the grid. A solar powered digipeater can be employed for   
   short term use as with our bike rides, or as a permanent installation. Here   
   are a few considerations we factored into our systems.   
      
      
      
   Basic Design   
      
   First, in selecting the components, economy was an important consideration -   
   theft or vandalism at remote sites is always a possibility. We used the   
   Byonics MTT4B 10 watt transceiver, packaged in a plastic case about the size   
   of two cigarette packs. The MTT4B draws about 50 mA in receive mode, and 1700   
   mA when transmitting. To conserve power, a system operator can program fixed   
   coordinates into the unit (a GPS receiver draws about 65 mA when acquiring a   
   set of coordinates). Alternatively, the operator can program the MTT4B to turn   
   the power to the GPS receiver on only long enough to get a fix and transmit a   
   position packet. By programming the APRS transceiver to insert the call sign   
   of the station into the packets it digipeats, the operator can use infrequent   
   position packets and still meet FCC requirements for identification.   
      
   A plastic ammunition box (dry box) similar to a Flambeau fourteen inch dark   
   green plastic ammo box model is an ideal enclosure for this project. They are   
   watertight, even in a heavy downpour. We replaced the lift out tray with a   
   piece of 1/8" thick Masonite(R) pressed board, and attached the transceiver to   
   it.   
      
   Based on the experience of a fellow ham who operated a stealth digipeater in   
   the central part of the state, system operators can expect to have adequate   
   reserve power for night time and cloudy day operation with two 18 amp/hour   
   sealed lead acid batteries, although the batteries are too heavy to be   
   transported in the plastic dry box for any distance (the box bows when carried   
   by the handle). A luggage strap could support the box with battery, or the   
   batteries could be transported separately and installed in the box at the   
   site. Batteries should be kept charged with a 35 watt solar panel, which   
   measures about 18" by 26". A charge controller regulates the amount of voltage   
   going to charge the batteries; longer battery life results when controllers   
   sense and adjust the output voltage based on the chemistry and type of battery.   
      
   The batteries are placed in the bottom of the dry box, wired in parallel, and   
   connected first to the charge controller, before the panel is connected. We   
   placed a small shelf to fill the gap between the batteries and one end of the   
   dry box, preventing the batteries from shifting and providing a convenient   
   mounting point for the controller. We employed the ARES/RACES standard   
   Anderson Powerpole connectors for DC power connections.   
      
   It was necessary to breach the sides of the dry box in two or three places for   
   wires and cable. Altech sealing glands (available at major national   
   electronics distributors and a network of regional distributors) can be used   
   to obtain a waterproof seal around the wires and cable. The solar panel comes   
   with two heavy gauge conductors: we used two sealing glands for the power   
   leads that bring the solar power into the enclosure. Alternatively, we spliced   
   a length of zip cord to those conductors and use one of the Altech sealing   
   glands for flat wire, reducing the number of holes in the enclosure from three   
   to two.   
      
   The remaining hole is for the coaxial cable run from the transceiver to the   
   antenna. Since the MTT4B incorporates an SMA connector for the antenna, the   
   builders purchased an SMA to SO-239 adapter cable made with a couple of feet   
   of good quality coaxial wire. With the proper Altech sealing gland, the SMA   
   connector will fit through the rubber seal of the gland and when tightened,   
   the sealing gland will close around the cable. The SO-239 connector is   
   connected to the PL-259 connector from the antenna, and sealed with coax seal.   
      
   There is a slot in one end of the Masonite(R) shelf. When placed in the   
   ammunition box, the shelf will be at about the same level as the sealing gland   
   for the coaxial cable, thus the slot is used to route the coax from the MTT4B   
   through the sealing gland without undue stress on the coax.   
      
      
      
   Installation in the Field and Results   
      
   Our first unit was installed near the height of land at a nearby farm in 2015.   
   A JetStream fiberglass antenna mounted on a twenty foot pole completed the   
   setup. It has been in constant operation since then (including use in one   
   Prouty Century bike ride). The two batteries have more than enough reserve   
   power, even after several days of heavy overcast, rain, or winter gloom for   
   the amount of traffic this digipeater is handling. The solar panel leans up   
   against a tree with its bottom edge about a foot above ground level. It is   
   angled up at about 60 degrees from the ground and faces south. While 60   
   degrees is more than optimal (45 degrees is preferred, depending on the site's   
   latitude), the steeper angle helps shed any snow during the winter.   
      
   The MTT4B transmits its telemetry data (voltage and internal unit temperature)   
   hourly so we can monitor its health remotely. It relays its received packets   
   to the APRS equipment at my home where they are forwarded to the APRS servers   
   by my Igate. - Bob Harris, K9UDX, Bath, New Hampshire [Harris is a retired   
   programmer for embedded systems. He volunteers for the Prouty Century bike   
   ride and serves as its APRS coordinator, helping the two dozen hams on the   
   road course use APRS. Harris works on improving the APRS infrastructure in   
   rural northern New Hampshire].   
      
      
      
   Letters: 12 Hour Shifts   
      
   Granted, long shifts and fatigue often cannot be avoided in emergency   
   operations, but it comes with a price. Numerous private and public studies   
   show that long shifts cause health problems and mistakes. Aside from the wear   
   on personnel, it has been found that errors increase. So as many emergency   
   responders and the military are often taught, "Rest your troops!" Granted,   
   sometimes you may only have two operators to rotate and cover a position all   
   day every day for a week, but everyone needs at least one six-hour "great   
   sleep" every 24 hours, to avoid excess fatigue. And almost   
   no one can really focus for more than two hours at a time, meaning that even   
   an eight hour shift is too long if there are no breaks. Better to rotate in   
   shorter shifts, or at least ensure the personnel literally get up, get out,   
   and stretch their legs every hour or two. Twelve hour shifts are a good way to   
   cause bad things to happen.   
      
      
      
   Get on Board the Simplex Contest Train!   
      
   Last month, we solicited information on locally oriented simplex contests   
   across the country, and the readership came through. Here are a few examples   
   that may serve as models for local ARES and other groups interested in   
   exercising and enhancing their capabilities.   
      
   The Wireless Society of Southern Maine conducts its 2 Meter FM Simplex   
   Challenge each February. Originally, the Challenge was created to allow all   
   classes of licensees an opportunity to participate in a contest. It was   
   quickly discovered that a great deal of information could be gained about VHF   
   simplex paths in the State of Maine to aid in emergency communications   
   planning. The inspiration for this contest came from the Plano Amateur Radio   
   Klub, of Plano, Texas. -- Frank Krizan, K5HS, Founding President, Wireless   
   Society of Southern Maine   
      
   I wrote an article in April 2014 QST "The 2M Simplex Sprint - a Contest for   
   Everyone". The contest inspires and boosts membership, garners knowledge of   
   2-meter simplex operation and capabilities, and promotes creativity with   
   height, power, and antennas to develop communications strategies and getting   
   to know and network with local and regional like-minded operators. Plus, it's   
   just plain fun.   
      
   Last year was our banner year for participation and results. Just like the key   
   to house-buying is location, location, location, so goes this contest: You   
   have to communicate, communicate, communicate. For more info, click here. --   
   Paul Lusardi, N0VLR, Corvallis, Oregon   
      
   The San Francisco Radio Club (in its 100th year, W6PW) held its second annual   
   2-meter QSO Party in August. More info on the event here. -- David R. Dull,   
   KK6JKC, San Francisco, California   
      
   The Aulani Hui Amateur Repeater Club sponsors the Hawaiian Islands Grid   
   Madness, an event for all hams in the State of Hawaii. This event is designed   
   for fun and to test equipment, coverage and operating skills using simplex FM   
   on 2 meters and 70 cm. The idea is to contact as many stations in as many Grid   
   Squares as you can, using simplex only. More here. -- Stan Froseth, AH6KO,   
   Kailua Kona, Hawaii   
      
   The Huntsville (Alabama) Amateur Radio Club engaged two Simplex Sprint   
   contests in 2015 and again in 2016 with another scheduled for next year on   
   June 17, 2017. For complete information about the event, including rules,   
   simplex frequencies, past winners, scores, etc., see the club's website here.   
   A custom logging program is available to assist with scoring. All contacts are   
   multiplied by the power level, and then the number of unique zip codes the   
   operator has logged at the end of the 3-hour sprint. We sure found out how far   
   a 5 watt HT can get out with simplex with some antenna height and elevation.   
   -- M.D. Smith, WA4DXP, Huntsville, Alabama   
      
      
   K1CE For a Final   
      
   I rode out Hurricane Hermine in a cabin in the Suwannee river (northern   
   Florida) basin, to the east of landfall, with emergency supplies, water, and   
   battery-powered station and antennas. During the day, September 1, prior to   
   the storm's arrival, I charged batteries and monitored area repeaters and the   
   Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz. Later that evening, I checked into the   
   Columbia (county) Amateur Radio Society emergency net on the group's Lake City   
   NF4CQ repeater on 146.94 MHz, listening to weather reports from operators in   
   the coverage area. After the net closed, I checked into the Alachua County   
   ARES/RACES net on Gainesville's 146.82 MHz repeater. Both nets were controlled   
   by excellent net control stations; the nets ran efficiently and effectively.   
   After that net closed, I scanned area repeaters, and listened to NOAA weather   
   broadcasts. At 1 AM the wind rose, sounding like a freight train; trees and   
   limbs hit the ground. Power mains went out, but on battery power, I monitored   
   my radios for information. Thanks go to the Hurricane Watch Net and the area   
   ARES groups and nets cited above for a job well done.   
      
   _______   
      
      
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