Emergency Coordination

Previous articles can be found under the "Emergency Coordination" link

Files for download can be found at the bottom of this page.

The terms Amateur Radio Emergency Service and ARES are both registered trademarks of the American Radio Relay League Inc. and are used by permission.  

Questions and comments regarding the content of this web page and articles are always welcome and encouraged. 

Send an email to the address shown below.

Lew Maxwell, KB5HPT

Amateur Radio Emergency Service

DEC, District 6, WTX Section

Email: ldmax12@yahoo.com

++++++WINLINK TUESDAY++++++

This net will run each Tuesday (except 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s) for 24 hours. Check in anytime during the 24 hour period. Address messages to Lew, KB5HPT, DEC, Dist.6, WTX Section unless otherwise noted. 

If you are an ARRL Field Appointee please use your Position/Title for the messages. 

All others please use Radio Operator for your position/title. 

The stations checking into this net are encouraged to use their ARES GO-BOX with the NVIS antenna. The use of EOC and club  stations are also encouraged.

***Sending Messages***

Use VARA HF Winlink through a gateway or Telnet or VARA HF P2P. See below for VARA HF P2P information.

***VARA HF P2P***

My HF station will be listening to 7116.5 MHz center frequency, 7115.0 MHz (dial frequency). Bandwidth is 500Hz. 

***VHF/UHF***

[El Paso Locals] The VHF/UHF mode of the week will be VARA FM. Please use the KB5HPT-10 VARA FM RMS on 439.010 MHz simplex as primary target. 

***NOTE:*** 

MAKE SURE THAT THE REQUEST READ RECEIPT IS CHECKED AT THE TOP OF THE MESSAGE. DON'T FORGET TO MARK THE MESSAGE AS WINLINK MESSAGE, P2P WINLINK or RADIO-ONLY. TO GET CREDIT FOR THE NET ALL SENDERS MUST RECEIVE A MESSAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BACK. WE ENCOURAGE THE USE OF RF  UHF/VHF/HF RATHER THAN TELNET. 

***Form for week Feb 18***

Important! If the new message update or Winlink Express program update screen pops up when opening Winlink Express update them before beginning this exercise.

This week we will look at the Radio Net Log. This log can be exported to a spreadsheet and then later reloaded into a new net log form. We have all filled out a net log at one time or another. It's straight forward.

This is a fillable log and is found in the Template Manager. 

Your served agency has ask you to turn in a radio net log to them at the end of your shift. 

1. Click on the MESSAGE>>NEW MESSAGE>>SELECT TEMPLATE>>EXPAND SELECT TEMPLATES>>GENERAL FORMS>>RADIO NET LOG.txt. Double click to select the form. The form will open up in your browser window.

2. At the top left of the form click on Setup and enter WINLINK TUESDAY EXERCISE. 

3. Box 1. Incident name: Enter Central City 4th of July Parade. 

4. Box 2a. Date From: Enter 2024-07-04 in the Date To: enter 2024-07-04.

5. Box 2b. Time From: Enter 06:00 and Time To: enter 14:00.

6. Box 3. Name /Position (NCS): Enter June Doe/Net Control Station.

7. Box 4. Name/position (Backup): John Doe/Assistant Net Control Station. 

8a. First Data Line:

a. Call Sign: enter AA5AAA

b. Location or Tactical Call: enter Start line.

c. Station Check in enter 06:00

d. Comments: enter Start team in position.

8b. Second Data Line: 

a. Call Sign: enter AA5BBB

b. Location or Tactical Call: enter Logistics

c. Station Check in enter 06:00

d. Comments: Logistics Team in position.

8c. Data line 3:

a. Call Sign: enter AA5CCC

b. Location or Tactical Call: enter Finish Line.

c. Station Check in enter 06:30

d. Comments: Finish line team is in position.

9. In the Sender's Comments or Additional Information Box: enter Exercise, Exercise. 

10. Don't forget to enter page 1 of Page 1 at the lower right corner of the form. 

11. You may save the data by clicking on the Save Form Data button or export the data to a spreadsheet by clicking on the Export Data to Spreadsheet Format button. 

12. Click on Submit then OK. Then close the browser window.

13. Back on the Enter a New Message page. Be sure the Send as: is correct.

a. select Peer-to-Peer Message for sending P2P mode.

b. select Winlink Message for routing message via an RMS.

14. Be sure the Request message receipt block IS checked. 

15. In the To: block enter KB5HPT or my tactical call TXEPCARESDEC. 

16. Click on Post to Out Box. 

17. Listen for a clear frequency and send the message.

***NOTES***

P2P Information: ***(READ CAREFULLY)***   

On the Winlink Express page in the Open Session box select VARA HF P2P from the drop down menu. Then open the session. The morning 40 meter P2P session is from 8AM to 10AM (MST). Lew, KB5HPT will be listening on 7116.5 MHz center frequency, 7115.0 MHz dial frequency. For the Mode use USB-D. Bandwidth= ***500Hz.*** 

In P2P mode even though you created one message and addressed it to two or more people when you post the message to the OUT BOX you will have two or more separate messages waiting to be sent.  

Feel free to distribute this message to your friends/groups. They are invited to participate.

Go to https://www.hamradioelpaso.com/emergency-coordination for complete details on Winlink Tuesday.

Lew Maxwell, KB5HPT

Amateur Radio Emergency Service

DEC, District 6, WTX Section

Tactical Address: TXEPCARESDEC

TX. RACES: DRO-8A

++++++EPCARES Mission Statement:++++++

WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING A VIABLE ARES ORGANIZATION THAT IS PROPERLY TRAINED AND ADEQUATELY STAFFED WITH THE END GOAL OF FUNCTIONING PROFESSIONALLY IN ANY EMERGENCY THAT MAY COME OUR WAY.

Our Core Values Are: 

 Confidence             Commitment         Excellence

Respect                   Integrity