March 2025

DEC Bulletin

It is to our advantage to AVOID public disclosure of the location of our ARES® Operators, and/or the name and/or location of the agencies where the operators are assigned. The ARES®TACTICAL NET uses Tactical Call Signs that will indicate to the Net Control Station (NCS) where the operators are located. This will assist in the security aspect of ARES® and offer some protection from those wishing to be disruptive. It is for this reason that volunteers will be briefed and assigned by the Emergency Coordinator or a designated representative. As with all common courtesy practices, stations not actively participating in the activation should keep the frequencies clear.

Several nets can be in operation during an Emergency/Disaster. The first net that would be used is an ARES® Tactical Net. This net would be activated and run continuously during the time when the Emergency/Disaster is declared. There could be more than one ARES® Tactical Net in service simultaneously depending on the traffic load. There will be alternate Tactical Frequencies for traffic to be passed over. These are referred to as Tac1, Tac 2 etc. Having the alternate Tac frequencies frees up the primary ARES® Tactical net so other traffic to be handled and can be diverted to a different Tac frequency. Once the stations have completed sending their traffic, they must return to the ARES® Tactical Net frequency and check back in. This lets the Net Control Station (NCS) know that the stations are available to receive more traffic. The common practice is that the receiving station calls the sending station when it is ready to receive the traffic.

The NCS should answer ONLY general questions that will assist in motivating the volunteers. All other questions should be referred to the Emergency Coordinator or a designated representative during the personal briefing.

The next type of net that could be used would be the Resource Net. This network (net) is used to solicit specific resources such as additional  personnel, specific equipment etc. The net control of the resource net would ask for stations to check in and then give the stations additional information as to who to report to and the location. It is likely that getting the volunteers needed will be possible by using the repeater system(s) for only brief periods at any one time. If so, the call for volunteers can be sporadic as the need dictates. Therefore, it is not realistic to require that the resource net be maintained continuously, but activated only as the need dictates, as determined by the Emergency Coordinator or a designated representative. In this manner, we will not be hogging the repeater system(s) and will assist in our public relations efforts by permitting essentially normal usage of these systems.

Another type of net would be an Information Net. The information given on this frequency is not a media release nor is it intended for use by the media. The purpose of this net is to inform interested parties of the situation of the ongoing emergency communications effort. The NCS will announce that stations seeking instructions on how to volunteer for radio service go to 146.700 repeater and listen for the resource net. Further instructions will be given at that time. As with the Resource Net this net is not required to run continuously. Therefore, it will be activated only as the need dictates, as determined by the Emergency Coordinator or a designated representative.

Another type of net that will be used is the Laision Net. This net is only activated as the need dictates, as determined by the Emergency Coordinator or a designated representative. This net should be repeated frequently or on a timed bases so traffic can be carried out in a timely manner.

NOTE: Adjacent radio groups may be RACES, VA, ARC, MARS, CAP, AREA ARES®.

All the nets mentioned above can be run on a repeater IF a repeater is available. Repeaters are in the same category as volunteers. They are categorized as planning unknowns. For this reason, the EPCARES SOP has simplex back up frequencies for the nets.

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

Questions and comments are always welcome and encouraged. Send an email to the address shown below.

73,

Lew, KB5HPT

Amateur Radio Emergency Service

DEC, District 6, WTX Section

Tactical Address: TXEPCARESDEC

TX RACES: DRO-08A