PLEASE SPEAK SLOWLY AND CLEARLY ON THE NET! Information being sent over the net is recorded by hand in the Radio Room. Practice Prepares!

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1 MIRO Newsletter for January 2019 EMERGENCY PRACTICE NET Thursday, January 10th, 7:00 PM John Banbury AG7N - NET CONTROL Scribes and NCS trainees: Eva Banbury W7EVA and Alex Banbury KE7WUD The net will start on the VHF MIRO repeater frequency of MHz + offset, with a CTCSS tone of Hz for business and check-ins. It will then shift to the UHF repeater on frequency MHz + offset with a CTCSS tone of Hz. In the event of a repeater failure, first try the other repeater; if that has failed, shift to the Mercer Island Simplex PLEASE SPEAK SLOWLY AND CLEARLY ON THE NET! Information being sent over the net is recorded by hand in the Radio Room. Practice Prepares! MIRO MEETING at North Fire Station FD91 Thursday, January 17th, 7:00 PM: At 7 PM we will convene at North Fire to learn and practice WINLINK communications. Winlink capability is now a requirement for MIRO Basic Net Control Operator qualification. (See draft of NCO Qualification card included at the end of the newsletter.) Do you know that Winlink is the preferred method of digital EmComm (Emergency Communications) throughout Washington State and King County? Do you know that you can use Winlink effectively without having a working radio link or interface? At this meeting we will have a hands-on session that will cover the installation, configuration and use of Winlink. Bring a Windows laptop to the meeting and we'll get you Winlinking! If you don't have a Windows laptop, ASAP please contact Bob (rtykulsker@gmail.com ) or Woody (whowse@me.com) so that we can try to find one for you to use at this meeting. We have used MIRO Foundation funds to purchase a 2GB USB thumb drive for each MIRO member that uses Winlink. We'll be distributing these thumb drives at the Jan 17 th meeting and using them to install Winlink onto laptops. We are also planning on posting user manuals and cheat sheets for all MIRO radios, CHIRP software, MIRO forms, back issues of our newsletter, etc. on each thumb drive. Besides these items, what else would you like to see on the thumb drive? Please forward your suggestions ASAP to Bob (rtykulsker@gmail.com) and we ll try to get them onto the thumb drive. Winlink is also useful when the internet has failed if you have the hardware to route your messages through your radio; so we plan to put together a group order for TNC-X devices. The supplier, John Hansen W2FS (TNC-X.com), has confirmed that he will give has a 10% discount if we order 10 or more. The assembled TNC-X list price is $123, and the connecting radio cable runs approximately $20. We will also assist with cable orders. Winlink use is a primary MIRO goal for 2019.

2 Page 2 of 5 As usual, we also will have CHIRP capability at the meeting for FT60, BaoFeng and other radios in order to load the new, standard MIRO Radio Frequencies. NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: BaoFeng radio raffle: Highlighting the December Newsletter announcement of the start of earning raffle chances for the August 15, 2019 drawing for a BaoFeng handheld the more you participate in MIRO events, the more chances you can earn. We will announce earning opportunities prior to various events. The newest earning opportunity: One (1) chance each time a qualified operator conducts and logs the Tuesday morning CEMNET MI EOC participation (this will date back to the recent CEMNET restart.) Chances will be announced for participation in the Mercer Island Half Marathon, March 24 th, and Mercer Island Emergency Preparedness Day, June 22 nd. 2. December 7 th Annual Firehouse Munch: Following the 6:30 PM December 7th Holiday Tree lighting ceremony at Mercerdale Park, the Firehouse Munch, featuring chili and lots of other goodies, convened from 7 to 8:30 PM at the North Fire Station. Organized by Pat Hackett K7PTH, juice and soda were served by Bill Ellis KF7PB, Elliot Matteson KI7QGM and Darrell Scattergood N7HWY. The winning flavor this year was orange soda. Following the event, the Mercer Island Reporter had an article suggesting that, as a result of the NO vote on Prop 1 likely eliminating the Holiday Tree, there may not be any more Munches. MIRO has partnered with the Fire Department from the beginning of the Munch, last century. A number of us believe that this is an excellent event that brings the citizenry closer to an important group of First Responders and is also an opportunity to recruit new hams. We are interested in seeking ways to find the funding to allow this event to continue in the future. As we gather relevant facts, we will report to MIRO membership. 3. Saturday, December 29 th Fifth Saturday exercise: On Saturday, December 29 th, MIRO participated in the quarterly 5 th Saturday Statewide EOC-EOC emergency exercise. Led in the Radio Room by Pat Hackett K7PTH and ably assisted by Elliot Matteson KI7QGM and Dallas Jolley KG7WET, the MI Emergency Net was activated at 0900 and engaged five MIRO members in both a message-passing exercise and a test of simplex Following the emergency net, which was closed at 0855, the Radio Room group made contacts on VHF, UHF, HF, CEMNET and Winlink with other EOCs and the State EOC at Camp Murray. A total of 23 raffle chances were awarded to the following participants in the exercise: K7PI, K7PTH, KF7PB, KI7DTL, KI7QGM, KG7WET, W6RDW. Elliot Matteson was successful in making MIRO s first-ever HF contact from the Radio Room with Camp Murray. 4. MIRO Meeting, February 21, 2109: Meeting location is yet to be determined, but we will meet promptly at 7 PM to learn about ADMX, The Axion Dark Matter Experiment that is being conducted at the University of Washington and managed by DOE s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. ADMX is an axion haloscope essentially a large, lownoise radio receiver, which scientists tune to different frequencies and listen to find the axion signal frequency. Axions almost never interact with matter; but with the aid of a

3 Page 3 of 5 strong magnetic field, recently-deployed superconducting quantum amplifiers and a cold, dark, properly tuned, reflective box, ADMX can hear photons created when axions convert into electromagnetic waves inside the detector. This is physics and radio combined at its very best. Leslie Rosenthal, UW Professor of Physics and Chief Scientist for ADMX, is our speaker on February 21 st. With an expected record turnout for this meeting, we are considering larger venues than the Fire Station. Jon Conradt, N7OOB, who recruited Dr. Rosenthal to speak, will be chairing the MIRO meeting that evening. Guests will be welcome. 5. ARRL Comm Academy, April 13-14, 2019: Comm Academy, presented at the South Seattle College, is a weekend-long training workshop for volunteer and other Emergency Communicators. The theme of this year s Academy is: Communications Response to Catastrophic Events. Each morning starts with a plenary session followed by a series of multi-track breakout sessions on radio, emergency and technical communications and new operator training. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about ham radio and emergency protocols. The equipment presentations are also interesting. 6. Stop the Bleed Classes: Evergreen Health, Kirkland, presents a regular class called Stop the Bleed. No matter how rapid the arrival of professional emergency responders, bystanders will always be first on the scene. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within three minutes. It is critical to quickly stop the blood loss. "Stop the Bleed" is a nationwide campaign to empower the layperson/bystander to act quickly and save lives. Pat Hackett K7PTH attended a recent class and reports that it is outstanding training and very pertinent to Hams and current or aspiring CERT trained members. The following link presents two upcoming classes for registration. The dates are March 28 th and May 23 rd : Dates fill quickly. 9. MFJ Antenna Analyzer: MIRO has purchased a Model MFJ-269C Antenna Analyzer for use by members. If you need to use it, it can be checked out through Woody Howse whowse@me.com or Bob Tykulsker rtykulsker@gmail.com. (2019) PROJECTS: 1) Increase MIRO use of Winlink. 2) Continue MIRO training and qualification program starting with Net Control Operators, Radio Room Procedures, Winlink, CEMNET and WEB EOC. 3) Technician License exam classes MIRO November Activity Report: During November 2018, 29 MIRO members, driving 196 miles, gave 107 hours of volunteer time in support of 5 public service events and 3 drills, meetings and exercises. 73, Woody Howse K7EDH, MIRO Volunteer Chairman whowse@me.com Phone:

4 Page 4 of 5 MIRO Current Schedule 2019 Date Topic Jan 10 Emergency Net NCS Banbury Family John AG7N, Alex KE7WUD, Eva W7EVA Jan 17 MIRO Mtg - WINLINK uses and training Jan 22 ALTERNATIVE Feb 14 Emergency Net NCS & Valentines Day - Bob Tykulsker KM6SO Feb 21 WHX MIRO Mtg - Leslie Rosenthal Ph.D. Dark Matter expert at UW Feb 26 Mar 9 Mike & Key Electronics Show and Swap Meet, Puyallup, WA Mar 14 Emergency Net NCS - Judit Crow KI7LPQ Mar 21 MIRO Mtg - MI HALF BRIEFING Mar 24 Mercer Island Half Marathon Dave Uhler W7DDU Mar 26 Mar 30 Fifth Saturday EOC-EOC Apr 11 Emergency Net NCS Bill Ellis KF7PB Apr ARRL Comm Academy South Seattle College Apr 18 MIRO Mtg - MIFD Deputy Chief Mike Mandella NORCOM 911 and MIFD Apr 30 May 9 Emergency Net NCS Jon Conradt N7OOB May 16 MIRO Mtg?? May 28 Jun 13 Emergency Net NCS Harlan Feinstein W7HIZ Jun 20 MIRO Mtg Final Preps for Emergency Preparedness Day & Field Day Jun 22 MI Emergency Preparedness Day & ARRL Field Day Jun 25 Jun 29 Fifth Saturday EOC-EOC Jul 11 Emergency Net NCS - Jul Mercer Island Summer Celebration Jul 18 MIRO Mtg?? Jul 29 WHX Aug 8 Emergency Net NCS - Aug 15 MIRO Social Meeting Aug 27 Aug 31 Fifth Saturday EOC-EOC Unassigned Topics: Dave Jokinen Police & MIRO Optimizing HT radios Introduction of Tiger Tails counterpoise. Hands on soldering Antennas Packet Radio FLDigi Summits On The Air: An Overview by guest presenter Tim Nair KG7EJT. WHX = Woody out of town

5 Page 5 of 5 (Draft) MIRO Net Control Qualification of (name) (callsign) BASIC QUALIFICATION: (Run the Emergency Net from W7MIR) (date) A. Technician or higher FCC License (date) B. Mercer Island Volunteer Badge (which requires ICS 100 & 700 exams) (date) C. Qualified to operate Radio Room and MICEC VHF, UHF and CEMNET Radios (date) D. WINLINK and WINLINK forms qualified sending and receiving messages (date) E. Able to access appropriate Net Scripts and MIRO Rosters (date) F. Experienced conducting the Emergency Net, logging participants and completing relevant reports (date) G. Competent and experienced to conduct and log CEMNET check-in (date) H. Maintain a home Net Control binder including a Mike & Key directory (date) I. Certified by an operator holding Senior or greater NC Qualification SENIOR QUALIFICATION: (Run the Emergency Net from Home and other locations) (date) A. General or higher FCC license and Basic Qualification (date) B. Able to operate, front-panel program and troubleshoot Radio Room and MICEC UHF, VHF and HF Radios, including on non-w7mir standard frequencies. (date) C. Swap radio antennas and rig a mobile antenna (date) D. Front panel program their own handheld radio and home radios (date) E. Send bulk SMS text messages and s from the Radio Room computer (date) F. Maintain a home Net Control binder including a Mike & Key directory (date) G. Operate WINLINK from home at least via Telnet (date) H. Monitor Mercer Island APRS information and use APRS devices (date) I. Participate in at least two different Non-MIRO nets (date) H. CERT qualified (date) J. Qualification certified by an operator holding Master Qualification MASTER QUALIFICATION: (Deployable if necessary and able) (date) A. Senior Qualification plus General or higher license (date) B. Able to install WINLINK express on a laptop and operate mobile WINLINK. (date) C. Send messages using WINMOR or other HF modes. (date) D. Serve as Net Control on at least two different non-miro nets. (date) E. Run the MIRO Net without a script. (date) F. Demonstrate successful rigging of an antenna and use it. (date) G. Pass the ICS 200 & 800 exams (date) H. Qualification certified by MIRO Radio Officer and ARES EC.