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 for the week of Oct 8***

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 USGS Did You Feel It (DYFI). I'm sure some folks in this region has experienced an earthquake at one time or another. When you do you should report your experience after the shaking has stopped to the USGS. The International Shakeout Day is always the third Thursday of October (this year: October 17 at 10:17 AM). I hope you will register and participate in this years drill and send the USGS this form using WL2K. Go to the following URL to get more information about the drill and register for the October 17th event. https://www.fema.gov/blog/register-today-shakeout-oct-17  

The DYFI form is found in the Template Manager. 

1. MESSAGE>>NEW MESSAGE>>SELECT TEMPLATE>>STANDARD TEMPLATES>>USGS>>USGS DYFI.txt. 

2. Earthquake report is a(n): Select  Exercise. 

a. Leave Optional Exercise ID blank.

3. Did you feel it box? select Yes. 

4. Time of the Earthquake: Should auto fill.

5. Your location - street address, city, and state when the earthquake occurred:   (REQUIRED) Follow the instructions in the box. 

6. Connect a GPS device to the computer and the GPS coordinates will automatically populate the form. Otherwise enter the GPS coordinates manually. This way we can capture the Mapping data. 

7. For this exercise. There has just been a 7.0 earthquake as registered on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale in your area. This level of earthquake is in the Very Strong category. You are instructed to fill out and submit a Did You Feel It Form. 

8. Remember to start the additional comments with Exercise, Exercise.

9. When finished click on the Submit button at the bottom of the form. A page will appear showing you the severity of your answers. If you have met the criteria for Very Strong click on Continue. If not go back and adjust some of the answers to make it correct. 

10. Close the browser.

11. Back on the New Message window in Winlink Express be sure the SEND AS: block is correct.

12. Make sure the Request message receipt box is checked. 

13. The address to the USGS will automatically be entered in the To: field. DELETE THIS ADDRESS. DO NOT send this message to the USGS this time. If you plan to participate in the Great Shakeout on Oct. 17 at 10:17am then send this form to the USGS.

14. Instead for this Winlink Tuesday exercise send the message to KB5HPT or to my tactical address TXEPCARESDEC. Tactical addresses are not permitted in P2P mode.

15. Post the message to the out box.

16. Listen for 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***.

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.

For complete details about Winlink Tuesday go to https://www.hamradioelpaso.com/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