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Weekly ARES Training Net Every Monday evening, 8:00 pm 147.135 MHz (+) Repeater, 88.5 Hz (Backup repeater: 146.760 (-), 88.5 Hz) ARES news, updates and events

Weekly ARES Packet Net Every Monday evening, 8:30 pm 145.050 MHz UNPROTO CQ via TCARES MONITOR ON CONVERSE mode

Addition of a New ARES Net Once per month Saturday morning (11:00, 11:30,?) Less formal Discussions, mini on-air training sessions, experimentation

Lafayette Hamfest Sunday, AUG 16, at Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds TCARES will have a booth set up ARRL Section Manager, John Poindexter, W3ML, will be attending

Lafayette Hamfest Volunteer to help sell tickets at the door Contact Bob Lusby, K9FOH

Multi-Channel Recording Simultaneous recording of radio traffic on multiple frequencies Primary ARES/SKYWARN Net frequency (WIRES) Backup repeater (W9YB 2M) CISW link (KA9VXS repeater) TEMA Talkgroups on 800 MHz Other frequencies on demand

Red Cross MOU Signed on July 31 by N9GKE and Christine Brady, Emergency Services Director, Red Cross WB9CZC is our liaison to the Red Cross Develop an operational plan (OP PLAN) Joint exercises and training

TCARES MOUs WIRES TARA KA9VXS KB9KHM/N9GKE (D-STAR Repeaters) Red Cross Salvation Army (in process) Purdue Amateur Radio Club (in process)

KA9VXS Repeater Link to Indianapolis (CISW) reliable now CISW NCS can activate the link successfully now Enhancements to linked-repeater operations Thanks to W9TN for reprogramming the controller Please do not abuse the linked system! To be used only by the Liaison station during weather nets (under normal circumstances)

Upcoming TCARES Exercise ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) Saturday, October 3, 2009 Last year s SET was a simple scenario, short in length This year we will conduct a much more involved exercise for the SET Details yet to come but be prepared!

Upcoming Communications Opportunity Wabash River Cycle Club - Wabash River Ride Sunday, August 30 Start/Finish at Fort Ouiatenon Covers up to a 104-mile route Three other fixed locations (SAG stops) Mobile (roving) SAG wagons travel the routes Operating in support of this event will be challenging!

Wabash River Ride Commitments from volunteers needed as soon as possible K9HER coordinating with WRCC AB9LE coordinating the packet stations

Wabash River Ride Over 300 riders expected Over 100 miles of route to cover through Tippecanoe, Warren, and Fountain counties Cellphone coverage non-existent along some areas of the route Four fixed locations to operate from (SAG stops) Three mobiles (SAG wagons) to provide communications for

Wabash River Ride Backup and supplement comms between WRCC personnel at the start/stop location (Fort Ouiatenon), three mobile SAG wagons that will each travel one of the three "loops" of the route, and three designated SAG stops. We will be working with WRCC personnel that are not hams, as well as some amateurs that are not ARES members for this event, and we should conduct ourselves accordingly. Please be cordial, cooperative, and professional.

Wabash River Ride Mission priorities for this event: 1. Provide voice comms between Fort Ouiatenon and the SAG wagons anywhere along the route 2. Provide voice comms between all SAG stops, supporting comms with mobile SAG wagons 3. Provide data comms between all SAG stops 4. Test HF comms between SAG stops, if time, resources, and operator availability allow

Wabash River Ride Mobile Operation 2M mobile (minimum), 2M/440 mobile preferred Mag-mount antenna Self-contained power supply (large capacity battery) May be possible to utilize vehicle battery power, but don t count on it Mobile operators should arrive at Fort Ouiatenon no later than 06:45 a.m. Providing mobile comms is our #1 priority!

Wabash River Ride Mobile Operations Large areas with no cell service Several areas with no access to WIRES repeater Williamsport repeater will serve as backup voice circuit 443.675+ MHz, 156.7 Hz CTCSS Mobiles out of range of both repeaters, may try 147.135 or 443.675 MHz simplex to establish contact Fixed sites should monitor both frequencies with no tone on receive, and squelch loose (just above threshold)

Wabash River Ride Mobile Operations (continued) Mobile operators should note on their maps areas where there is no access to either repeater Information to be given to operators at next SAG stop for relay to other stations There will be a switch of SAG wagon vehicles about half way through the event be prepared to relocate your equipment to the next vehicle

Wabash River Ride Four fixed locations to operate from Voice comms on 2M/440 (primary) Packet on 2M (secondary) Packet operation will only be permitted as long as voice comms are not disrupted or neglected. This means simultaneous operation of 2 transceivers on 2M at Fort Ouiatenon Simultaneous 2M voice, 440 voice, and 2M packet at the 3 SAG stops.

Wabash River Ride Fort Ouiatenon (ride start/stop) Base of operations for the event Tactical voice call: NET CONTROL or FORT OUIATENON 2M voice on WIRES repeater (lo pwr, NE) Cellphone service: solid Packet (lo-med pwr, W) Tactical packet call: FORT Nearest town/food: West Lafayette, 2.5 miles Operational by 6:45 a.m.

Wabash River Ride Cicott Park (pronounced: see-cot) Most heavily visited SAG stop (by all 3 groups of riders) Tactical voice call: Cicott Park 2M voice on WIRES repeater (hi pwr, NE) 440 voice on Williamsport repeater (hi pwr, SW) Cellphone service: marginal Packet (lo pwr, NE) Tactical packet call: CICOTT Nearest town/food: Attica, 5 miles Operational by 7:15 a.m.

Cicott Park

Wabash River Ride Rainsville 2 nd most heavily visited SAG stop (by 2 groups of riders) Tactical voice call: Rainsville 2M voice on WIRES repeater (hi pwr, E) 440 voice on Williamsport repeater (hi pwr, S) Cellphone service: minimal to none Packet (med-hi pwr, E) Tactical packet call: RAINSV Nearest town/food: Attica/Oxford, 8-10 miles Operational by 8:00 a.m.

Rainsville

Wabash River Ride Fountain Least visited SAG stop (by only 1 group of riders) Tactical voice call: Fountain 2M voice on WIRES repeater (hi pwr, NE) 440 voice on Williamsport repeater (lo pwr, NE) Cellphone service: minimal to none Packet (lo pwr, NE) Tactical packet call: FOUNTN Nearest town/food: Williamsport/Covington, 5 miles Operational by 8:30 a.m.

Fountain

Wabash River Ride Generator or battery power at all locations Antenna masts of 15-20 may be necessary at some locations Tables, chairs, shelter (as needed) Be prepared for ANY weather situation Limited food & drink provided be prepared, bring your own All fixed locations to be staffed by 2 operators

Wabash River Ride Questions? Let s commit and plan who will be where! Functional test operate from 4 fixed locations ARES voice net, Monday (Aug 10), 8:00 p.m. ARES packet net, Monday (Aug 10), 8:30 p.m. Pre-deployment Coordination Net Saturday, August 29, 11:00 a.m., WIRES repeater Last minute updates, confirm manpower & equipment resources, coordinate any changes, verify availability

CISW/NWS Reporting Be very specific, yet concise! WHO (callsign of person reporting/observing) WHAT (exactly what is being reported) WHEN (exactly when did the observation take place time, not elapsed time) WHERE (exactly where was the person observing, and in what direction was it observed)

Tippecanoe County ARES Net Operations Net Controls Alternate Net Controls Liaison Stations Specific training on Net Control & Liaison procedures is forthcoming shortly!

Desirable Net Control Operator Characteristics Good voice quality - with an air of authority; without sarcastic overtones or being overbearing Sense of control and self-assuredness Decisiveness and the maturity to make good judgment calls Knowledge of band characteristics Knowledge of common equipment Good basic communications skills and fluent command of language Ability to absorb new terminologies quickly Knowledge of the ICS Physical condition that will tolerate high stress for extended periods of time A strong team player and organizer Good hearing capabilities Good listening capabilities Good ear-to-hand copying skills Decent (readable) penmanship Computer keyboard skills - touch typing Generally "professional" appearance Willingness to take and carry out direct orders Has a spouse who doesn't care how much time is spent away from the family "playing radio" Consistently demonstrates above average operating technique Has general understanding of all MOU's with served agencies Constant concern for the safety of participants Good sense of humor Handling the Untrained Observer The untrained observer can be a lot of fun. He/she will test your patience, communications skills and teaching abilities to the max. The untrained observer will, most commonly, be found somewhere in a weather net. They really don't know that they are supposed to know exactly where they are, what they are seeing, what they are supposed to report, how to report it, how a net works, that the rubber duck on their HT is really just a dummy load on a stick, or that their spare battery pack needs to be charged once in a while whether it gets used or not. Be gentle with them. Teach them by prefacing all questions and comments with something like, "KC9ABC, thanks for your input... on this net we usually... OK?", and proceed to teach them without them knowing it. If things are going hot and heavy in the net, tell the station to stand by and go back to him when you get a little break. If you are clever and have the time, you can entertain and re-educate the entire net regarding proper operating procedures, without hurting the newbie.

Handling the Irate/Upset Participant This is one of the toughest things you are going to face. If handled incorrectly, it can cause net participants to "take sides" and erode the morale and effectiveness of your net. People get their feelings hurt over nothing, especially when they are tired and under unusual, stressful circumstances. Your first reaction may well be to retaliate in an upset manner. This will blow the net. Here is a formula to cure the problem: 1. Slow up. Don't respond instantly. Take a deep breath. 2. Do a quick personality review of your assailant. DO THE NEXT THREE STEPS ALL IN ONE STATEMENT. 3. Acknowledge the problem. Give in to the "Problem", whether they are right or wrong! This acknowledges that there is a problem and that you are recognizing that fact. It also throws them off balance. They are not expecting this. Once you agree that there is a problem, the "fight" is gone. 4. Empathize with them! Whether you understand or not, tell them that you can understand how they can feel that way and that under the same circumstances, you would probably feel the same way. 5. Ask them for a quick and simple suggestion for a solution. 6. Listen intently! This is where they will reveal the real problem. Everything they have said up to now may have been a loud smokescreen. Somewhere in their suggestion, they will tell you what they really want from you. 7. If their suggestion/solution is something reasonable, tell them that you will try to put it into play. If it is not, make a counter-suggestion that will satisfy the real problem that they have revealed to you. 8. If the problem cannot be resolved quickly and reasonably, quietly send someone to replace this individual and relieve him from his post. If there are no posts involved in the operation, give up... let him win... politely explain that the net must continue, thank the person for his services, and tell him he doesn't have to stick around. You tried to solve the problem reasonably and he refused. He wins the fight and you won the battle. The rest of the net will respect what you did and morale will remain intact.

ITU Standard Phonetics Character ITU Phonetic Pronunciation A Alfa AL FAH B Bravo BRAH VOH C Charlie CHAR LEE or SHAR LEE D Delta DELL TAH E Echo ECK OH F Foxtrot FOKS TROT G Golf GOLF H Hotel HOH TELL I India IN DEE AH J Juliett JEW LEE ETT K Kilo KEY LOH L Lima LEE MAH M Mike MIKE N November NO VEM BER O Oscar OSS CAH P Papa PAH PAH Q Quebec KEH BECK R Romeo ROW ME OH S Sierra SEE AIR RAH T Tango TANG GO U Uniform YOU NEE FORM or OO NEE FORM V Victor VIK TAH W Whiskey WISS KEY X X-ray ECKS RAY Y Yankee YANG KEY Z Zulu ZOO LOO

WHAT IS A LIAISON STATION AND HOW DO YOU USE THEM? Liaison stations are very important in many nets, especially large-scale nets or those spread over a wide area. They are invaluable in a net that is serving several different agencies. As NCS, you can create Liaison Stations "on the fly" as you need them. What a liaison station does, is act as an answering service and garbage filter for the main NCS and a served agency. It monitors what is happening on a sub-net that is serving a particular agency on a frequency separate from the NCS. The liaison station may act as a semi-silent net control for the group of hams doing the work at that agency. He handles a lot of the usual goofy questions for the group and makes sure they have what they need. The workers know that he is their contact man. In most cases, he also monitors the Main NCS Net. When important stuff comes through from either side, the liaison station passes it to the other party. This entire process is designed to lighten the load on the main NCS. Instead of constant and confusing chatter from 30 to 100 hams, the NCS is dealing with 5 or 6 liaison stations. The use of various tone-encoding schemes by the main NCS can significantly reduce the chatter for the liaison stations as well. Situations are encountered, particularly in weather nets, where the distance from one area to another is too great for effective direct communications and repeater linking is either not possible or not working. In this case, a liaison station may be used to relay only specific information between the two sites. This requires two transceivers, sometimes on different bands, outstanding antennas and, possibly, amplifiers. The operator must have outstanding operating skills and be very well trained. A simpler method is often used. The liaison station may just monitor repeater activity and report the appropriate information to the second site by way of telephone. Because of their fascination with radio, hams often overlook the value of a working telephone.