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 and Jim, NE8U, Radio Operator, 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 Oct 22***

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

***Read carefully***

This week we will take a look at the ARC ICS 204, Work Assignment form. The ARC ICS 204 is found in the Template Manager. 

Click on MESSAGE>>NEW MESSAGE>>SELECT TEMPLATE>>STANDARD TEMPLATES>>ARC FORMS>>ARC 204 Work Assignment.txt. Double click the form. It will appear in your browser window.

Box 1. The Incident Name is Winlink Tuesday Exercise.

Box 2. Incident/DR Number: Enter ARC001.

Box 3. Operational Period. enter Start Time 8:00AM, to 2024-10-22. End Time enter 8:00PM, to 2024-10-22. 

4. For AD Operations: Name enter Joe Short, Phone: (123)456-7890

5. For District Director: Name enter Sally Short, Phone: (123) 456-0987

6. For Team Leader: Name enter Joe Tentpeg, Phone: (123) 456-9078

7. For District: Enter North Pole

8. For Group: Enter Gail

9. For Activity: Enter Winlink Tuesday.

10. For Work Location: enter Central City.

11. For Arrival Time: Enter 8:00AM

12. For Address: 209 E. Elm Street

13. Under NAMES (First and Last) and Contact Information. Enter the following

a. Simon Crum, (123) 123-4567

b. Sally Albright, (123) 123-7890

c. Sara Cannon, (123) 9078

14. Work Assignments: enter 

a. Simon Crum, Shelter intake

b. Sally Albright, Shelter Supervisor

c. Sara Cannon, Issue/receive supplies 

15. In Resources Assigned: Supplies and Quantity enter 

a. Cots 100 each

b. Comfort Care Kits 100 each

16. Start any Special Instructions and Equipment with Exercise, Exercise. 

17. Prepared by: Enter Sally Albright 

18. Date: click on box to get the current Date. 

19. Take a minute to go back and double check your work. ACCURACY is important.

20. When finished you can save the data then click on Submit then OK. 

21. Close the browser.

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

23. Be sure the Request Message Receipt box is checked.

24. Address the message to KB5HPT or my tactical address TXEPCARESDEC. In P2P mode tactical address are not allowed.

25. Post the message to the out box. 

26. 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 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