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 of the Week for Jan 21***

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 take a look at the Quick Message form. This form has recently been modified and can send SMS text messages or  send an email. The top part of the form is for SMS text messaging. Be sure to read the instructions at the top of the form before sending SMS texts. Follow the instructions in the boxes when sending the SMS Texts or email. 

Your served agency has handed you the information shown below and has ask you to submit a Quick Message for them. 

Click MESSAGE>>NEW MESSAGE>>SELECT TEMPLATE>>STANDARD TEMPLATES>>GENERAL FORMS>>QUICK MESSAGE.txt. The form will appear in your browser window.

1. For today's exercise we will be sending the Quick Message as an email. 

2. Starting with FROM: Follow the instructions given in the boxes.

3. Date/Time: Click on the box to get the current Date/Time.

4. Subject: enter Winter Field Day Activity.

5. In the Message box be sure to start the comments with Exercise, Exercise. Then tell us what activities you or your club or group has planed for winter field day on January 25 & 26, 2025.

6. Character count: should auto fill. 

7. You can save the HTML data to a text file by clicking on the Save Quick Message Data button at the bottom of the form. Then later open a new Quick Message form and import the data by clicking on Load Quick Message Data button at the top of the form. When loading the data into a new form the saved data can be edited to reflect any changes/updates that need to be made. Check data carefully. Be sure to save the new data before sending the new form.

8. When finished click on the Submit button then OK.

9. Close the browser window.

10. In the Enter a New Message form in Winlink Express be sure the Send As: block is correct.

11. Be sure the Request message receipt box IS CHECKED.

12. Address the message to KB5HPT or use my tactical address, TXEPCARESDEC. In P2P mode a tactical address is not allowed.

13. Post the message to the Out box. 

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

16. Test the SMS Text message feature. You do not have to fill in the ADD a SMS number boxes unless you want to add the SMS phone number to your list. In the Send to address: enter your 10-digit phone number followed by your carriers SMS address. You can google "find SMS address for XXXX" (XXXX will be your service provider). Repeat steps 2-10. Skip steps 11 and 12. Do steps 13 and 14. Wait a minute or two. Your SMS text message should be received on your phone. 

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). For the Mode use USB-D. Bandwidth= ***500Hz ONLY.***

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 friends/groups and ask them to participate. 

For detailed information on Winlink Tuesday go to https://www.hamradioelpaso.com/emergency-coordination.

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