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 Nov 4***

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

This week we will use the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS-214 Activity Log). The Activity Log is a record of all relevant activities during the teams twelve hour operational period. This form will be submitted to the Documentation Unit Leader at the end of the operational period. 

A hospital staff member has handed you the information shown below and instructed you to send the message to KB5HPT located in the Documentation Unit.

The HICS 214 is found in the Template Manager.

1. Click on the MESSAGE>>NEW MESSAGE>>SELECT TEMPLATE>>STANDARD TEMPLATES>>HICS FORMS >>HICS214 Activity Log.txt. Double click the form. The form will appear in your browser window.

2. Box 1. The Incident Name: enter "Winlink Tuesday Exercise".

3. Box 2. 

a. Operational Period (#): enter 1 

b. Date From: Click on box the date will auto fill.

c. Date To: Click on box the date will auto fill.

d. Time From: Click on box the time will auto fill.

e. Time To: Adjust the time to reflect 12 hours later.  

4. Box 3. Name: Enter Manny Gold.

5. Box 4. HIMT Position: enter Shift Supervisor.

6. Box 5. Activity Log: Page # enter 1.

a. First Line: Click on Date & Time box to enter current Date & Time. 

b. First Line: Notable Activities. Enter first shift on site. Two members phoned in they will be one hour late.

c. Second line: click om Date & Time box. Adjust the time for one hour later.

d. Click on Notable Activities: enter Two staff member arrived on site.

e. Third Line. Click on Date & Time box: Adjust the time for 3 hours later.

f. Click on Notable Activities: enter Incident name changed to Central City Incident. 

g. Fourth Line. Click on Date & Time box: Adjust the time of twelve hours later.

h. Click on Notable Activities box. Enter Operational period ends. Shift change complete. 

7. Box 6. 

a. Prepared by: enter Manny Gold

b. Date/Time: click on box to auto fill current time and date.

c. Facility: enter Central City Hospital.

d. Attach CSV data file to message? select No.

8. You can save the HTML data to a text file by clicking on the Save HICS214 Data button at the bottom of the form. Then later open a new HICS214 and import the data by clicking on Load HICS214 Data button at the top of the form. When reloading the data into a new form the saved data can be edited to reflect any changes/updates that need to be made. Be sure to save the new data before sending the new form. This data can also be exported to a .csv file by clicking on the Export Data to CSV file button at the bottom of the page.

9. When finished click on Submit then OK. Close the browser window.

10. In the Enter a New Message form 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. 

11. Make sure the Request message receipt IS checked. 

12. Address the message to KB5HPT or send to my tactical address TXEPCARESDEC. 

13. Post the message to the Out box.

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

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

On the Winlink Express page in the Open Session box select VARA HF P2P from the dropdown 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.

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