The 5-1-2 BULLETIN - 8 May 01 - No. 53
TO: OR-NorCAL-NV ARES and other EMCOMM Stations, ARRL Officials, other EMCOMM
and Public Safety Officials; in Oregon District 5, California SV Section
Districts 1, 2...and BEYOND.
FROM: D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, ARES SEC, SV Section (North), and editor.
Assistant ACS Officer MAR III California OES
INTERNET: www.qsl.net/k6soj E-MAIL:
k6soj@arrl.net
CA OES ACS INLAND REGION WEBSITE: www.acs.oes.ca.gov/Inland/
SHORT CIRCUITS - Brief (important) announcements:
+ NEW SV SECTION DISTRICT 3 EMERGENCY
COORDINATOR ANNOUNCED (Colusa, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba
Counties)
Tim Tribble, KD6MDV
916-689-7680 (h)
916-262-1390 (w)
916-705-4200 (cell)
916-834-0068 (work cell)
916-594-3118 (pager)
E-mail: tribble64@earthlink.net
or Tim_Tribble@oes.ca.gov
Address: 7855 Cottonwood Ln, #93, Sacramento Ca 95843
Tim also serves as the net manager for the OES/ACS California Emergency
Service Nets (CESN). Welcome to the ARRL Leadership Team Tim!
+ BUTTE and GLENN COUNTY EMERGENCY
COORDINATOR VACANCY
Applications are being accepted for the EC appointments for Butte and/or
Glenn County. For details see the information near the end of bulletin.
+ BUILD IT!
A Quick, Easy, Cheap, NVIS Antenna for Roadside Operating
(Article is way, way, down at the very end of this bulletin.)
+ ICS COURSE IN DOUGLAS
COUNTY, OREGON
Roseburg May 14-18, 2001.
Info: Wayne Stinson, Douglas County Emergency Management at: 541-440-4448
+ ICS COURSE IN JACKSON COUNTY, OREGON
Medford, or July 23-27, 2001.
Info: Kelly Jo Jensen at: (503) 378-2911 or kjensen@oem.state.or.us
+ NET REMINDER - 5-1-2 REGIONAL ARES
AND NWS NETS
DAILY:
1200 to 1230L: Jefferson Noon Net on 7232 LSB (3987 LSB alternate)
WEDNESDAYS:
1915 to 1930L: NWS WX SPOTTER NETS (see NWS-SKYWARN section below)
1930 to 2000L: A.R.E.S. LEADERSHIP NET on 3987 LSB (1982 LSB alternate)
(NOTE TO ALL ARES and other EMCOMM LEADERS (including, but not limited to SECs,
DECs, ECs, AECs) in any section, district or county: Although this net is
primarily for District 5 (OR) and Districts 1 and 2 (SV); you are all cordially
invited to check in and participate in the discussion(s). A
wide range of EMCOMM topics are covered.)
+ ARES and other EMCOMM NETS
(updated March 19, 2001)list at: www.qsl.net/k6soj/nets/index.htm
+ FEEDBACK AND FALLOUT
Two letters this week...
Reginald (Reggie) Driscoll, WA6ZAP, EC City of Concord , Contra Costa
County, CA ARES/RACES, writes: “Hi Dave, I just got home from the
monthly
Contra Costa County RACES EC's meeting.
Several members asked how they could subscribe to the 5-1-2 Bulletins. I know
it’s possible, since I get it every week.
Help!! I checked the web page and couldn't find a reference on how to
subscribe.
Please send me the info and I will post in on our RACES Remailer. I am
also posting your web site address so they can get to the Training Bulletins and
the archives. You have some excellent material that I intend to “pirate” for
my local group’s training.
A lot of interest was expressed by the group as a whole over the EMCOMM 2001
Conference. There was a discussion about recommending our members attend next
year and participate in your annual conference and work to develop a bigger and
better annual event for all the ACS/ARES/RACES groups in the
state. In other words, Why re-invent a good idea?
COMMENT: Thanks Reginald. Currently, all one has to do to be placed on the
5-1-2 mailing list, is to drop me a short e-mail message requesting so, and
what e-mail address they want used. They should include first and last
names and call signs. Or, send me the entire list in one message (first /
last name, call sign, e-mail address for each)
Also, we are planning a "subscribe/unsubscribe" method for the 5-1-2
bulletin...it should be available soon. Oh yes, EMCOMM 2002 is already in
the planning stage...we are looking forward seeing you and your ARES/RACES team
next year! - Editor
And...from: Ed Ryan, N7VEX, American Red Cross, Phoenix, AZ. (Also a
Retired Dispatcher/Supervisor/Comm Manager: Oakland, Fremont, Los Gatos
PD, Santa Clara County, (CA) Communications writes in reference to last
weeks TRAINING. (Last weeks training, is repeated here): #35. On-duty
public safety personnel will be concerned about their own families, and
some may leave their posts to check on them.
COMMENT: "Sworn personnel" do not have the same luxury of volunteers.
However, volunteers may be able to assist public safety officials by performing
or helping with "welfare checks" on their families; thereby,
alleviating some of their anxiety.
Ed writes: “This was a big issue in the S.F. Bay Area ten years ago. When I
left that area in 1991 there was a move afoot to have the local emergency
ham group work with Santa Clara County Emergency Management to set up a
"Disaster Welfare Inquiry" system using packet for public safety
personnel.
I believe, an exercise or two were held in 1990-91. Do you know if
anything ever came out of that?
COMMENT: Thanks Ed for your feedback. I do not have any knowledge
about
that particular program, but if any readers do, and wish to respond / comment,
please do so. I advocate that this service is a very worthwhile function
that the ARES/NTS could perform for personnel of the “served agencies”.
I have been at wildland fire base camps where firefighters from far way
are “bivied out” and have no way to get a message to their family back home.
An amateur station at a fire base camp, a wilderness Search and Rescue Command
Post, or many other situations and staffed by skilled message handler, would be
a very useful service.
An onsite HF station or a simply VHF simplex link (packet or voice) to an ARES
operator with a telephone or e-mail connection is all that is needed in most
situations since the phone lines outside the affected area are usually
operational. Using the time-tested and true, ARRL RADIOGRAM, or standard
packet (or other digital) RADIOGRAM format, is all that is necessary.
E-mail addresses (if included) are difficult to send via CW. We, need to
keep in mind what the second “R” in ARRL stands for! Let’s all
get out and “sell” our service to the agencies! - Editor
+ AND NOW...THIS WEEK’S
TRAINING:
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.
Below are excerpts from that article with comments.
TRAINING BULLETINS that appear in this bulletin are also archived at:
www.qsl.net/k6soj
(PLUS A “PLETHORA” OF ADDITIONAL TRAINING MATERIAL)
37. “Very few citizens will utilize evacuation/mass care centers; they will
prefer to stay with friends and relatives, or to camp out in their own
yards.”
COMMENT: This is exactly what happens. In addition, the majority of
displaced persons will NOT register with the Red Cross or other evacuation/mass
care center and advise them where they can be located.
This makes the job of handling health and welfare traffic much more difficult.
ALL emergency workers - amateur radio operators included - who have any contact
with the public should encourage all evacuees to register with the Red Cross
even if they are planning to provide their own lodging. Furthermore, they should
be instructed to notify the Red Cross (or whoever is keeping the lists) when
they move to a second, third, etc. location.
HOWEVER...victims may not comply. In those cases, EMCOMM operators may provide a
valuable service by asking victims where they can be located “in
case there are any inquiries or messages for them”.
Obtain the family name and first names. (Other helpful information such
as: ages of children, employer(s) and other information is optional.) Victims
may be reluctant to divulge information, so do not “force the issue”.)
Be sure to record where they intend to be staying, and ask them to notify a Red
Cross or ARES worker if they move. (They may not want to, or have time, to
go to “a center”. Tell them that any Red Cross or ARES worker can relay new
information to the proper officials. 3x5” index cards work great for
this purpose since they can be easily alphabetized and later input into a
computer program. It is suggested that all volunteers (even non-hams) keep
100 cards in their “ready kits”.
+ NWS-SKYWARN NEWS
Jim Reynolds, KD7MLO, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Medford NWS
Gary Peterson, N7GK, Asst. Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
DEW. Thorne, K6SOJ, Asst. Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
MEDFORD NWS SKYWARN PAGE:
http://www.qsl.net/wx7mfr/SKYWARN/index.html
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.
MEDFORD NWS WX SPOTTER NET ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS.
The Medford NWS WX SPOTTER NET is 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 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
>
NWS WEATHER SPOTTER CLASSES:
(EMERGENCY COORDINATORS please announce these on your local nets, in your local
newsletters, etc.)
JACKSON COUNTY: May 10, 7-9 PM, Jackson County Public Works
Auditorium, 200 Antelope Dr., White City, OR (Just north of Medford.)
MODOC COUNTY: May 24, 7-9 PM, Modoc County Office of Education Conference Room,
Alturas, CA
SISKIYOU COUNTY: May 17, 7-9 PM Forks of Salmon Community Hall
SISKIYOU COUNTY: May 22, 7-9 PM Mount Shasta City Hall (upstairs)
SISKIYOU COUNTY: May 23, 7-9 PM Yreka (CDF Training Room)
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 ARESWARNS 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.
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
+ COMING ATTRACTIONS ...
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? THE SERIES CONTINUES
HOW PREPARED ARE YOU? - A FUN QUIZ
+ EMCOMM 2002: April 20-21 2002 - Bishop Quinn High School, Palo Cedro, CA.
+ FIELD DAY 2001 - JUNE 23-24.
2001 FIELD DAY RULES AND FORMS: www.arrl.org/contests/forms/index.html#FD
or check the May issue of QST p. 112. If you haven’t reviewed and familiarized
yourself with this information...please do so.
NOTE: Announcements of field day sites sponsored by EMCOMM groups and
special service clubs will be listed below. (Send the name of the sponsoring
group, the approximate location of your FD site, a contact person, and an email
or web address, or phone number.) Listed below are some of the FIELD DAY
sites sponsored by EMCOMM groups.
+ CALIFORNIA OES/ACS:
WHO: “Anybody and everybody from any ACS/RACES/ARES/VIP/REACT
organization statewide.”
WHERE: El Dorado N.F. (5 miles from Silver Springs Campground )
CONTACT: Bill Pennington, WA6SLA <Bill_Pennington/OES@oes.ca.gov>
+ The SOJOURNERS (State Of Jefferson Operators United Relay Network and
Emergency Radio Service) www.qsl.ney/w6soj
WHO: Members, (guest operators by permission only), visitors welcome.
WHERE: Klamath N.F., Goosenest R.D., Juanita Lake.
CONTACT: D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ <k6soj@arrl.net>
+ Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club
WHO: All operators are welcome
WHERE: Nyack, CA. I-80 @ Nyack across from the Nyack general store.
CONTACT: Matt Diridoni, KC6RUO, President SFARC at: 916-632-4084;or, Wayne
Mikel, KE6DJE, Placer County ARES EC at: 916-645-0565
+ Lassen Amateur Radio Club, <www.qsl.net/k6lrc/>
WHO: All visitors are welcome, operator training rotations.
WHERE: Highway 139, Antelope Summit Day Use Area.
CONTACT: Terry L. Cobb SR, K6ME <k6me@arrl.net>
+ The “5-1-2 BULLETIN” - Copyright (c) 2001 - D. W. Thorne,
K6SOJ
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce and re-circulate items from this
bulletin providing appropriate credit is given to the “5-1-2 REGIONAL ARES
BULLETIN” and/or the author or originator of the material. Send
corrections, updates, etc. to: k6soj@arrl.net
+ PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONSERVE ENERGY!
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Emergency Coordinator position for Butte and / or Glenn County is now
open. For a copy of the job description, or to apply, send an e-mail to:
D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, SV Section (north) EC at: k6soj@arrl.net.
Or, a letter to: P.O. Box 16, Macdoel, CA 96058
State your experience in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and any leadership
positions you may have held. Include the A.R.E.S. and all other emergency
and / or community service organizations (including non-amateur radio
organizations). Especially important is experience working in a leadership
capacity with volunteers. Preference will be given to individuals who have
successfully served as an EC or AEC, but all applicants will be considered and
are encouraged to apply.
An Emergency Coordinator must be a current member of the A.R.R.L. and
reside within the county in which they wish to serve. At the minimum, they
must have good verbal and written communication skills, experience as an
active member on an A.R.E.S. team, be a proficient radio operator, and have
good leadership ability.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make A Quick, Easy, Cheap, NVIS Antenna for Roadside Operating.
Or... ”K.I.S.S.” (Keep It Simple Sherlock)
by D.W. Thorne, K6SOJ, SEC SV Section(north)
I recently purchased a second hand ICOM 706 Transceiver.
What a great
rig! A lot of radio neatly packed in a compact rugged case.
But...that is
another story.
My primary set of wheels is a 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser Model
FJ60.
Another great rig with over 168K miles, but...that also is another story.
As most EMCOMM operators know, most of our communications are regional.
(In the 30 to 200 mile range.) We also know that for this range, a
NVIS (Near Vertical Incident Skywave) signal usually works best.
After installing the IC-706, and connecting it to my Outbacker Perth 2M through
80M mobile vertical, I was anxious to make a few contacts. The Outbacker is an
excellent antenna, but as with all verticals, the radiation angle is towards the
horizon. For regional work it left much to be desired.
On 40 meters, initial signal reports were only poor to fair
between my home location in Macdoel, CA and KA7RAM, Bill, in Klamath Falls, OR,
(30 air miles) and N6SSQ, Fergy, in Alturas, CA, (80 air miles). At the same
time of day (1500L), and under the same conditions, good signals reports were
received from Spokane, WA. It was nice to talk to the boys in the
Evergreen State, but not necessarily useful for regional EMCOMM work.
I don’t plan to do a lot of HF mobile operating while actually moving. In the
past, for “mobile at rest” HF work, I have erected a 20 ft. (or so) portable
mast, and hauled up a G5RV. This works well, but is a lot of hassle and
takes more time than I wished. A “dipole” also requires more space, in
two different directions, plus additional support. Also, an ATU (antenna
tuning unit) of some sort is also required for non-resonant antennas.
I wanted a quick, easy to erect antenna, that would allow me to pull to
the side of the road, and quickly get on the air with a NVIS
signal.
The solution? Go to the shop junk box! (Or your local
electronics supply house.) I found an old 3/8 x 24 antenna mount, and
affixed it to the end of the steel light bar on the roof of the Land Cruiser
(which is grounded well to the vehicle’s body). Next, a 33 ft. long piece of
#12 insulated wire was cut and a heavy duty lug (3/8” bore) was soldered to
each end. (Make sure the connections are mechanically strong as well as
making a good electrical connection.)
Using a short 3/8x24 cap screw and a couple of “jam nuts”. One end of
the 1/4 wave wire was attached to the center feed point and strung out just
above head height, using a length of parachute cord tied through the solder
lug on the other end. This distal end can be secured to a tree, a post, a
rock, or even a stake in the ground.
The wire can be strung out in any convenient direction. The initial
meter readings by the antenna analyzer gave a SWR of 1.5:1, and a impedance of
40-60 ohms depending upon where in the 40 meter band I tuned. Close enough
for “government work”!
I decided to give it a try on 7232 kHz. I heard a signal just below that
frequency and tuned down to 7230. There was my old friend W6US, Howard, in
McArthur, CA (about 60 air miles) calling CQ!
I answered. Howard responded with, “Hello K6SOJ, you are 5 by 9 here.”
It tuned out that he was also testing a new mobile installation. BINGO!
We chatted for awhile. Later K7DXV, Ed, in Klamath Falls chimed in.
“You’re 5 x 9 here Dave.”
What a simple solution!
I am far from what you would call an expert on antenna theory. What I am mainly
interested is being able to quickly communicate from a “mobile” location;
not cause any interference; and NOT damage the transceiver.
From what little I know, the 1/4 wavelength wire element is one half of this
type of antenna, and the 5000 lbs. of steel in the Land Cruiser (or your
vehicle) is the other half. I now have a 40M NVIS antenna, with which I
can pull off to the side of the road, and be operating in less than five
minutes!
For longer distances, and if you can park close enough to a tree or other
support that is high enough, and you have enough cord (and a rock and a good
throwing arm - HI), you can have a vertical or “sloper” on the air in just a
few more minutes.
Since most of HF EMCOMM work is in the 40 and 80 meter bands, the next
step was to cut another 33 ft. long wire, solder two more lugs, and use a
machine screw, lock washer, and wing nut to convert it quickly for 80M use. Or,
install an insulator, and a wire jumper with an alligator clip and you have a
quick ‘n easy 40-80M antenna.
Be sure to check any antenna for SWR and impedance before transmitting. (I use
an MFJ-259 antenna analyzer.)
This antenna is basically nothing more than a unbalanced, 1/4 wavelength,
horizontal wire, using a vehicle as the other half of the “dipole”. A longer
than 1/4 wave “random wire” will also work well if an ATU (“tuner”) is
used.
So...use your ingenuity and make a “quickie, NVIS, roadside portable
antenna” for yourself! I’ll wager that just about anything could be
used for a mounting terminal, and could be mounted to a truck mirror mount, a
roof rack, or a homebrew bracket secured to a metal camper, trailer, or motor
home. Feed with a piece of RG-58 coax and make sure the mount is grounded well
to the vehicle’s body and frame. NOTE: If you have a fiberglass or
plastic car, this system will not work, unless you also add a 1/4 wave
“counterpoise” that can be laid out on the earth.
Oh yes, don’t forget to take down your “roadside” antenna before you drive
away. And, be sure to park safely, where another vehicle can’t zoom by you and
get snagged on the contraption!
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