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 the week of Apr 22***

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

The form this week will be the Communication Resource Availability Worksheet (ICS217A). The ICS217A is a comprehensive list of radio frequencies and talk groups that are available in a specific area. The Communications Leader (COMM-L), Auxiliary Communications Manager (ACM) or Emergency Coordinator (EC) will use this list to build a Radio Communications Plan (ICS205) for the disaster area. This form should be created prior to a disaster.

You are the Auxiliary Communications Manager (ACM). The Communications Leader (Comm-L) has instructed you to create a ICS-217A for the amateur radio EMCOMM group and send the message to KB5HPT. The following information is what you have created.

The ICS217A form is found in the Template Manager.

1. Click on the MESSAGE>>NEW MESSAGE>>SELECT TEMPLATE>>ICS USA Forms>>ICS217A Communications Worksheet.txt. Double click the form. The form will open up in a browser window.

2. Click on the Setup button at the top left of the form and enter Winlink Tuesday Exercise.

3. Frequency Band: Select VHF Low

4. Description: enter Easter Parade Exercise.

5. Work sheet Incident or Event Name: enter Parade Simplex List.

6. Date/Time click on the box to get the current date and time.

7. Be sure to read the instructions at the bottom of the form before filling out the form. 

8. Enter at least 4 complete lines in the table for Channel description.

Line 1. Enter the following:

a. Channel Configuration: Enter Simplex

b. Channel Name/Trunked Radio System Talkgroup: Enter TAC NCS

c. Eligible Users: Enter Amateur

d. In Rx Freq: Enter 147.5200 

e. N or W: Enter W

f. RX Tone/NAC: Enter NONE

g. In TX Freq: Enter 147.5200

h. N or W: Enter W

i. TX Tone/NAC: Enter NONE

j. Mode A, D, or M: Enter A

k. Comments: Enter Tactical Net Control

Line 2. Enter the following:

a. Channel Configuration: Enter Simplex 

b. Channel Name/Trunked Radio System Talkgroup: Enter TAC 1

c. Eligible Users: Enter Amateur

d. RX Freq: Enter 147.4200 

e. N or W: Enter W 

f. RX Tone/NAC: Enter NONE

g. TX Freq: Enter 147.4200

h. N or W: Enter W

i. TX Tone/NAC: Enter NONE

j. Mode A, D, or M: Enter A

k. Comments: Enter Tactical 1 Channel

Line 3. Enter the following:

a. Channel Configuration: Enter Simplex

b. Channel Name/Trunked Radio System Talkgroup: Enter TAC 2

c. Eligible Users: Enter Amateur

d. RX Freq: Enter 147.5000

  e. N or W: Enter W

f. RX Tone/NAC: Enter NONE

g. TX Freq: Enter 147.5000

h. N or W: Enter W

i. TX Tone/NAC: Enter NONE

j. Mode A, D, or M: Enter A

k. Comments: Enter Tactical 2 Channel

Line 4. Enter the following.

a. Channel Configuration: Enter Simplex

b. Channel Name/Trunked Radio System Talkgroup: Enter Info Net

c. Eligible Users: Enter Amateur

d. RX Freq: Enter 146.5200

e. N or W: Enter W

f. RX Tone/NAC: Enter NONE

g. TX Freq: Enter 146.5200

h. N or W: Enter W

i. TX Tone/NAC: Enter NONE

j. Mode A, D, or M: Enter A

k. Comments: Enter Information Net Channel 

9. Attach CSV data file to message? Select the default NO 

10. The data on this form can be saved and then later reload the data in a new ICS217A then updated. The data can also be exported and stored in a spreadsheet which also can be retrieved later.

11. When finished click on SUBMIT then OK. Close the browser.

12. In the ENTER A NEW MESSAGE page in Winlink Express be sure the SEND AS: block is correct.

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

b. Winlink Message for routing message via an RMS.

13. Be sure to put a check mark in the Request message receipt: box.

14. In the TO: block send the message to KB5HPT or to my tactical address (TXEPCARESDEC).

15. Post the message to the out box, listen for a clear frequency and send the message. 

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 (MDT). 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 to friends/groups. Ask them to participate.

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