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 Jul 23***

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

This week we will use the Hospital ICS213 (HICS213) General Message Form. The HICS213 is found in the Winlink Express Template Manager. 

1. Click on the MESSAGE>>NEW MESSAGE>>SELECT TEMPLATE>>STANDARD TEMPLATES>>HICS FORMS>>HICS213 General Message.txt and double click the form. The form will open up in the browser window.

2. Notice that this form has been modified from the original FEMA ICS213 General Message form. 

3. Block 1 has the Incident Name and Message number added. We will use Winlink Tuesday Exercise for the Incident Name. 

4. Msg # will automatically populate with your call sign a dash(-) and a number. Use that as the Msg number.  

5. Blocks 2. To: enter KB5HPT/DEC.

6. Block 3. From: enter your call sign and position (EC, RDO, etc.)

7. Block 4 Subject: enter "Hospital Status".

8. Block 5. Date: click on box to enter current date.

9. Block 6 Time: click on box to enter current time. 

10. Block 7 has been added. For the purpose of this exercise leave the default Informational-Low selected. 

11. In Block 8 there is a box to check off if a response is required. Put a check mark this box. You will be sent a reply back when the message is received. Enter "Exercise, Exercise" (without the quotes) at the beginning of the message. For the message enter "This Hospital is ready to take patients from the incident."

12. Block 9. Approve by: enter Joe Levee

13. At the bottom of the form the data can be saved by clicking on the Save HICS 213 Data button. Then reload the data into a new HICS213 form later. The data loaded will contain old data. Update the old data before sending the new form.

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

15. In the Enter a New Message page in Winlink Express be sure the Send As: block is correct. DO NOT check the Request message receipt: box. 

16. In the To: box. Address the message to KB5HPT or use my tactical call TXEPCARESDEC. 

17. Post the message to the Out Box. 

18. Listen for a clear frequency and send the form.

***Information***

To initiate a reply to this type of message and others of a similar type close the form after reading it. With the form still in the Inbox double click it. Another screen will pop up. Click on Reply on the task bar. The web browser will open up with the form again and at the bottom of the form you will find a box that is labeled Reply. Enter the reply information and then click on Save and/or Submit. Then send the reply.

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 (MDT). Lew, KB5HPT will be listening on 7116.5 MHz center frequency, 7115.0 MHz dial frequency. For the Mode use USB-D. Bandwidth= ***500Hz.*** 

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 pass this information to friends/groups and ask them to participate in Winlink Tuesday.

For complete information regarding Winlink Tuesday go to https://www.hamradioelpaso/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