*** PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONSERVE ENERGY ***
*** C U AT EMCOMM 2001 ***
TO: OR-NorCAL-NV VHF and HF ARES Stations; SECs, DECs, ECs, AECs in Oregon
District 5 and, California SV Section (north) Districts 1, 2. ARRL Officials,
other HF EMCOMM stations; and EMCOMM and Public Safety Officials elsewhere.
Editor: D.W. Thorne, K6SOJ, ARES SEC, SV Section (North)
Assistant ACS Officer MAR III California OES
INTERNET: www.qsl.net/k6soj
CA OES ACS INLAND REGION WEBSITE: www.acs.oes.ca.gov/Inland/
THE “5-1-2 BULLETIN” - 27 MAR 01 - No. 47
“WHERE PREPAREDNESS ... IS JOB ONE”
* THIS WEEK....
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
* EMCOMM 2001 - LAST UPDATE
* REGIONAL NET REMINDER
*** FEATURES ***
1 - “KNOW CODE”
2 - TRAINING - WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?
!BONUS! - ASTRON PS MOD FOR BATTERY BACK UP
3 - !IMPORTANT! - MEDFORD NWS WX SPOTTER NET HAS MOVED TO WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
PLUS: MORE NWS WX SPOTTER CLASSES SCHEDULED
4 - IF YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ...
5 - COMING ATTRACTIONS
6 - EMCOMM NET LIST *** UPDATED *** 03/19/01
*** EMCOMM 2001 UPDATE ***
ONLY *** 4 *** DAYS UNTIL EMCOMM 2001 !
Saturday, March 31, 2001
Bishop Quinn High School
Palo Cedro, California (just east of Redding)
*** MAP TO EMCOMM 2001 ***
http://www.qsl.net/k6soj/images/emcomm_map.jpg
*** MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION ONLINE ***
www.qsl.net/k6soj
Registrations are still flowing in...from as far south as San Diego and as
far north as Seattle! Pre-registration is requested but not required.
But
we would like to know who, and how many, are coming. Pre-register by going
to the above website and registering online.
The $3.00 registration fee is
ONLY payable at the door on March 31.
NOTE: There are no doubt many
EMCOMM operators or public officials that do not receive this bulletin. IF
YOU KNOW of anyone who you think would be interested in EMCOMM
2001...please feel free to pass on the information and assist them in
getting pre-registered. Thank you.
The curriculum and class schedule (subject to change) is as follows:
|
TIME |
SEMINAR NAME |
PRESENTER(S) |
| 0700 | VE Testing | (see announcement below) |
| 0800 | Doors open for conference. Check-in, pay your $3.00, coffee, eye-ball rag-chewing, etc. | NOTE: A limited number of black baseball style caps with the EMCOMM logo will be available for $15.00 ea. First come...first served! |
| 0900 | Opening Comments and Welcome | Jerry Boyd, K6BZ |
| 0910 | ARES / RACES / ACS Update | Dave Thorne, K6SOJ Bill Pennington, WA6SLA Jerry Boyd, K6BZ. |
| 0930 | Incident Command System and SEMS (A Review) | Jerry Boyd, K6BZ |
| 0945 | Psychological Reactions of Victims and Workers in Disasters | H. Wayne Light, PhD, K7NCE Jay Boyd, PhD, K6BZJ D. W. Thorne, R.N., K6SOJ |
| 1015 | 15 minute (only) BREAK | PLEASE be back and seated by 1030. THANKS! |
| 1030 | Amateur Radio Communications and other EMCOMM options in SAR. | Sgt. Dave Nicholson, KB6PNT Siskiyou County Search & Rescue. |
| 1045 | Public Information / Public Relations, and “Working with the Media” | Donna Ferguson, N6SVV, PIO and AEC Modoc
County Bill Leiken, KC7IXX, PIO and AEC Josephine County |
| 1115 | EMCOMM and the American Red Cross | Robert L. Cross, K6EPH Disaster Chairman, Three Rivers Chapter, ARC Vance Montgomery, Emergency Services. Dir. Shasta-Trinity Chapter, ARC |
| 1200 | LUNCH , PARKING LOT DISPLAYS, AND “FLY-IN” BY CHP “H-14” | On your own |
| 1215 |
-LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON - NOTE: This is a “brown bag” affair. (I.E. - BYO Bologna & Cheese) |
Meeting with: Jerry Boyd, K6BZ, SV Section Manager Dave Thorne, K6SOJ, SV Section (north) EC Bill Pennington, WB6SLA, SV Section (south) EC |
| 1300 | NWS Weather Spotter Class and SKYWARN (2 hour class) (NOTE: Persons desiring to become registered WX spotters MUST attend the entire class) |
Jim Reynolds, Chief Warning Meteorologist, Medford, OR |
| (FOR THOSE NOT ATTENDING THE NWS WX SPOTTER CLASS) | ||
| 1300 | Formal Traffic, RADIOGRAMS, and standard operating procedures | Bill Leiken, KC7IXX AEC Josephine County |
| 1445 | BREAK | (15 minutes only please) |
| 1500 | Emergency Power: Sources and Resources | Elizabeth Simon, KK7VO Al Pion, KK7XO AEC Klamath County George Dibelka, AB6UE Siskiyou County Asst. RACES Officer |
| 1545 | Emergency Communications Antennas for VHF and HF | Robert “Buck” Buckley, W6HOR Trinity County EC |
| 1600 | “Mutual Aid”, or...“We Got it Covered! | (Panel) and...OPEN FORUM |
| 1630 | Closing Comments | |
| 1645 | Drawing for DOOR PRIZES | (must be present to win) |
| 1700 | Adjourn |
Up to seven (7!) agencies will be bringing mobile or airborne EMCOMM units
for display. (Redding PD, Shasta-Trinity CDF, Siskiyou County SAR,
American Red Cross, California OES, Trinity County Amateur Radio Club, and
CHP H-14.)
VE TESTING AT EMCOMM 2001
VEC: W5YI
COST: $10.00
VE’s: from SCARS and ARCA
TIME: 0700L
“WALK-INS”: OK
TALK -IN: 146.64- or 146.55 simplex
MORE INFO: Mac, W7MAC < mac@snowcrest.net
>
or Dick, WO6P < DIANDDE@snowcrest.net
>
EMCOMM 2001 ON ARRL WEBPAGE:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2001/03/22/1/#emcomm
REGIONAL ARES AND NWS NETS
WEDNESDAYS:
1915 to 1930L - WX SPOTTER NETS (see section # 3 below)
1930 to 2000L - A.R.E.S. LEADERSHIP NET on 3987 LSB (1982 LSB alternate)
DAILY:
1200 to 1230L -Jefferson Noon Net on 7232 LSB (3987 LSB alternate)
1- “KNOW CODE”
by D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ
CW. QRP. DOES IT HAVE ANY VALUE IN EMCOMM? In a word...YES!
Now, I am
one of those individuals, for which the Morse Code has never been “easy”.It has taken me years just to get up to 18 WPM. My goal? To be
PROFICIENT
at 30 WPM! I continue to make at least one contact, or practice by
listening to 7100 kHz, at least a few minutes every day. Why?
Because I
WANT to...and it IS fun!
Sure...it takes discipline, but I believe there
are MANY situations where CW is the ONLY mode that will be able to “punch
through” the QRM. Those situations are not as rare as most people think!
Now that the sunspot cycle has peaked, this means that more and more users
of the higher frequencies will be moving down into the lower frequency
bands. Adding to this congestion are all the new “upgraded” amateurs
than
are “joining in on the fun”, mostly on the HF phone bands.
Then, there
are the hams that do not use a NVIS antenna when all they wish to do is
communicate in a local area. Or, those that run more power than is
necessary to communicate; which by the way, is illegal. Ref. FCC Part
97.313(a). Since the majority of HF EMCOMM is conducted on 40 and 80
meters, get ready for major QRM! Believe it or not, in the hands of a
skilled (does not equate with “fast”) operator, handling a RADIOGRAM via
Morse (CW) is usually quicker and more error free than voice. Further, if
you are on a limited power source, CW (and if possible CW-QRP), will allow
you to transmit longer, with less battery drain than any other mode.
Granted, some digital modes may be very accurate and efficient; but most
require a computer, a printer, or other gear that ALL use precious amperes!
CONVINCED? I hope so. If I have convinced just one amateur, to get
out
his or her key, blow the dust off, and begin to learn or improve his or
her: MORSE - ”The Essential Language”, I will have succeeded with my
mission for today!
-.. . -.- -.... ... --- .---
...-.- . .
For an interesting discussion on CW nets and traffic handling check out: http://www.qsl.net/w8ihx/cw.html (Thanks to: Ed Ewell,K7DXV)
2 - TRAINING -
(NOTE: The article: “DISASTER / MAJOR EMERGENCY -- WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?
by
Lt. Dan Blackston, Chula Vista Police Department” appeared in its entirety in BULLETIN # 36 (January 9) and is archived at www.qsl.net/k6soj.
Continued now, are excerpts from that excellent article with comment.
-
THIS WEEKS TRAINING:
# 24. “It will be dark; there will not be enough generators or lights
available”
COMMENT: ARES and other EMCOMM units need to have emergency power sources
available and “at the ready”; or, at least know where they can be accessed
easily. Many hams own a small generator, or storage battery system. Sponsoring and maintaining a generator an excellent “project” for clubs.
It is easier to CONSERVE POWER than it is to “make” more! Use as low a
power output as is necessary.
An efficient antenna will allow you to
communicate with less power output...and therefore less power drain! KNOW
how to boost your signal by increasing your ERP with a gain antenna using
minimum current drain.
NiCad and lead-acid batteries have their
“place”...but without a way to re-charge them and the time for that to
happen...you will have a dead radio. Keep a fresh supply of ALKALINE cells
on hand. Their shelf life is about 5 years! “Rotate” the older stored
cells by using them in a flashlight or HT that you use daily.
!BONUS! - ASTRON POWER SUPPLY BATTERY BACK UP MODIFICATION
The Astron line of power supplies are very popular with repeater providers.
They are also probably are the most common commercially power supplies
found in amateur radio stations.
If you have a deep cycle or gel cell
battery back-up for EMCOMM needs, the following link has some information
that may be of interest. http://www.ntc.cap.gov/comm/ntc/RS_Battmod.htm.
(Thanks to: Ed Ewell, K7DXV, Klamath County ARES)
TRAINING BULLETINS that appear in this bulletin are also archived at:
www.qsl.net/k6soj
(PLUS A “PLETHORA” OF ADDITIONAL TRAINING MATERIAL)
3 - SKYWARN NEWS:
Jim Reynolds, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Medford NWS
Gary Pederson, N7GK, Asst. Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
D.W. Thorne, K6SOJ, Asst. Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
CURRENT NWS WEATHER BULLETINS AND WARNINGS ARE AVAILABLE VIA A LINK AT:
www.qsl.net/k6soj
SKYWARN is the National Weather Service program of trained volunteer
spotters reporting severe weather
The ARRL/ARES has a national “memorandum of understanding” (MOU) with the
NOAA/NWS.
!IMPORTANT!
MEDFORD NWS WX SPOTTER NET HAS MOVED TO WEDNESDAY NIGHTS.
The Medford NWS WX SPOTTER NET is now on Wednesdays at:
1915L on 147.26+ (Mt. Ashland repeater - WX7MFR/R);
SIMULTANEOUSLY ON: 146.55 SIMPLEX (Siskiyou and Klamath Counties);
AND 146.97- the Likely repeater (Modoc County).
FROM 1920 to 1929L: on 3987 LSB (1982 LSB alternate), relays and other
checkins will be accepted and forwarded.
ALSO, a packet WX SPOTTER NET is being developed to run concurrently
SKYWARN will be activated on these frequencies during severe weather
events.
The NWS PACKET NODE ON MT. ASHLAND IS NOW OPERATIONAL on
145.030 MHz, ID is: skywrn. NWS is asking for SKYWARN and ARES packet
stations to connect and let them know your location, the type of antenna
and power you use to access the Mt. Ashland node. The “connect” to NWS
packet bbs (direct) is 145.090 and the ID is NWSMFR. Then connect to
NWSBBS, e.g., c nwsmfr. Then, c nwsbbs. The NWSMFR at nws mfr is a node.
Questions? contact Gary, N7GK < gpederso@orednet.org
>
-
*** UPDATED ***
NWS WEATHER SPOTTER CLASSES:
! ATTENTION ! - EMERGENCY COORDINATORS
Please announce the classes in your area on your local nets, in your local
newsletters, etc.
EMCOMM 2001: March 31, Palo Cedro, California
KLAMATH COUNTY: April 23 - 6:30-8:30 PM in the Banquet Room of the
Klamath Falls Sizzler. (Optional dinner at 5:30 PM.)
KLAMATH COUNTY: April 24, 7-9 PM at the Walker Range Fire Patrol
Building in Crescent.
LAKE COUNTY (OR): April 25, 7-9 PM at the Community Center
Christmas Valley.
LAKE COUNTY (OR): April 26, 7-9 PM at the Senior Center in Lakeview
CURRY COUNTY: April 30, 7-9 PM in the Blue Room in the County Annex
Building , Gold Beach., OR.
COOS COUNTY: May 1, 6-8 PM , Emergency Operations Center,
360 E. 2nd St., Coquille, OR.
DOUGLAS COUNTY: May 2, 7-9 PM Ford Room of the Douglas County
Library
Roseburg., OR
JACKSON COUNTY: May 10, 7-9 PM, Jackson County Public Works
Auditorium,
200 Antelope Dr., White City, OR (Just north of Medford.)
The NWS/Medford “service area” consists of nine counties: Coos, Curry,
Douglas, Klamath, Jackson, Josephine, Lake, (OR); Modoc and Siskiyou (CA).
If you have any questions about the SKYWARN program, contact: Gary/N7GK
< gpederso@orednet.org > via
e-mail or on 147.26+ (Mt. Ashland).
REGIONAL ARES WEATHER AND ROAD NETS (ARESWARNS) for SV Districts 1 and 2
are on the MUTUAL AID FREQUENCIES of 7232 LSB (daytime) and 3987 LSB
(nighttime). 1982LSB (nighttime alternate). Up/down QRM. OREGON
District
5, and all ARES stations elsewhere, are CORDIALLY INVITED to participate.
During a SEVERE WEATHER EVENT, the HF WARN meets hourly AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE HOUR, until all information and traffic is passed, (more often as
needed).
LOCAL ARES WARNS are activated by a local EC or AEC per your local plan. Check with your EC for more information about your area. It is recommended
that they meet at the TOP OF EACH HOUR, and include a local HF - VHF
station for relay / interface duty with the regional net.
Check in to the JEFFERSON NOON NET daily at 1200L on 7232 // 3987 LSB for
announcements regarding anticipated severe WX.
4 - IF YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OR SOMETHING OF INTEREST TO REPORT about your ARES team or other EMCOMM unit...and would like it posted in the 5-1-2 BULLETIN...send it to: k6soj@arrl.net
5 - COMING ATTRACTIONS...
*** WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? THE SERIES CONTINUES
*** HOW PREPARED ARE YOU? - A FUN QUIZ
*** FIELD DAY 2001 - JUNE 23-24
6 - NET LIST - UPDATED - MARCH 19, 2001
For a list of many ARES and other EMCOMM Nets:
http://www.qsl.net/k6soj/nets/index.htm
ECs and AECs: WE NEED YOUR HELP - BE A NET CONTROL OPERATOR!
(NOTE: ALL ARES Leadership personnel (ECs, AECs, DECs, and SECs), and ARRL
OES and ORS, from any District and/or Section are welcome to check in as
visitors. If you wish to be on the discussion list (second round), just
indicate that when you check in.)
IF YOU ARE A PRIVATE OR GOVERNMENT PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCY, OR JUST A "MEMBER
OF THE PUBLIC"; AND YOU NEED EMERGENCY OR DISASTER RELATED
COMMUNICATIONS...JUST CALL UPON "5-1-2". WE'RE OPEN...24 HOURS A DAY!
*** PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONSERVE ENERGY ***
*** C U AT EMCOMM 2001 ! ***
