MCMINN COUNTY RACES AMATEUR RADIO STATION STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES KM4RAX / NCS638 SHARES

MCMINN COUNTY RACES AMATEUR RADIO STATION STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES KM4RAX / NCS638 SHARES

OPENING THE STATION Connect antennas to radios (HF antenna connects to HF radio antenna port # 1 and is marked by colored tape on the radio top. Turn on power supply. Turn on radios.

VHF / UHF RADIOS Icom IC-2410H

Yaesu FT-8800R A current HyperMemory sheet is affixed to the cabinet where the radio is attached. A complete memory list is in the cabinet where the radio is attached.

HF Radio Icom IC-746

Basic Instructions for Digital Communication Modes Using HF NOTE: NORMALLY USE VHF (unless it is down) HF takes longer to use and you have to find an HF station in the list you can connect to. Ensure the HF radio is already up and running. Move the computer mouse to awaken the computer out of sleep/standby mode. On the computer screen desktop, locate the RMS Express icon in the Ham Radio folder and double click it. If the software tells you it needs to update, do it. To CREATE a message: - Click on the blank page icon on the top left of the screen - Type the desired e-mail address in the Address to field - Type a brief description in the Subject Line - Type your information in the Text Message field - Click on Post to Outbox To Open a Winmor Winlink Session do the following: In the Session Type field, select Winmor Winlink. Next, we need to open a session. You do this by clicking on the Open Session tab. In the Registration Reminder window, click Remind Me Later. In the Winmor Winlink Session window, click Channel Selection. If the table asks to update, tell it Yes. If not, proceed below. Click the right most column header Path Quality Estimate until you see green highlighted data in the column. Select a station, preferably one that has 1600 in the Mode column. Double left click that station. The Channel Selector window will disappear.

Next, press and hold the TUNER button for 2 seconds and release on the HF radio until the antenna is tuned to the frequency. If the radio does not tune the frequency (you should see a TUNER icon at the top left of the radio screen) select another frequency. In the Winmor Winlink Session window, click Start and the software will take over control of the window. The connection should happen automatically. If a session connection does not happen, simply click on the Channel Selection again, and select a different station. Make sure to tune the HF radio every time you do this. The session will send any messages in the Outbox, and receive any messages to be received. Once you are finished, just click the X to get out of the windows. NOTE: When using WINLINK you must periodically check into an RMS station to receive any messages for you. A good rule of thumb is every 15 minutes, unless directed otherwise.

HF Propagation Quick Guide 80/75M - Daytime 400 miles or less Nighttime 400-6000 miles 60M - Daytime 400M or less Nighttime 400-1500 miles (NOTE: 50W power limit!) 40M - Daytime 500 miles or less Nighttime 500 - world wide 20M - Daytime 2000 miles or less Nighttime 2000 miles - worldwide 15M - Daytime 2000 miles Nighttime not useable 10M - Same as 15M Short note: Use 40M or 20M for daytime operations. Use 80/75M or 40M for nighttime operations. 60M note: If the band is being used for EMCOMM, this can be a good choice. Voice only at the present time, but FCC is looking at adding some digital operations. Remember to orient antennas towards the area you need to work! Check with a compass before erecting! Dipoles ARE bi-directional. If metal buildings or trailers are nearby, use them as reflectors! 80/75M reflector spacing should be 50-60 feet. 40M reflector spacing should be 25-30 feet. 20M reflector spacing should be 13-18 feet. A wire placed on the ground directly under a dipole may help with gain. (Doesn't have to attached to anything, just laying there!)

Basic Instructions for Digital Communication Modes Using VHF NOTE: NORMALLY USE VHF (unless it is down) HF takes longer to use and you have to find an HF station in the list you can connect to. Ensure the VHF radio is already up and running. Move the computer mouse to awaken the computer out of sleep/standby mode. On the computer screen desktop, locate the RMS Express icon in the Ham Radio folder and double click it. If the software tells you it needs to update, do it. To CREATE a message: - Click on the blank page icon on the top left of the screen - Type the desired e-mail address in the Address to field - Type a brief description in the Subject Line - Type your information in the Text Message field - Click on Post to Outbox NOTE: The message has NOT been sent yet, it has only been placed in the out box. In the Session Type field, select Packet WL2K. Next, we need to open a session. You do this by clicking on the Open Session tab. Set the VHF radio to 145.550 MHz. This is the frequency for the HS District 3 packet network. In the session window, select Direct as Connection Type, and enter KG4FZR-10 in the next window to the right. If KG4FZR-10 is down, try WM4RB-10 and in the VIA window, enter BRAD. Click on Start to establish a connection. If a connection is established, go to step 9, if not try again. If you

still cannot connect, you may have to go to HF mode. See separate instructions for using HF. The session will send any messages in the Outbox, and receive any messages to be received. Once you are finished, just click the X to get out of the windows.

Basic Instructions for VHF Packet Connections using OUTPOST PMM Open AGWPacket Engine first. Then open AGWMonitor. Now, open Outpost PMM. Outpost PMM will normally be set to check KG4FZR-1 (the MCARC packet mailbox. Note: this is different than Winlink.) To receive messages, click on Send/Receive. Allow Outpost to run it's session. Then any received messages will be in the list in Outpost. To write a message, click on New. Fill out the addresses as follows: In the BBS it should read KG4FZR-1 In the From it should read KM4RAZ In the To, enter the packet station call sign you are sending the message to. Write your Subject and Message and click Send. Now, initiate a Send / Receive session as in the instructions above.

McMinn County Amateur Radio Comms Plan McMinn County RACES Call Sign = KM4RAX Suggested Programming List for Countywide Communications FREQUENCY LOCATION PURPOSE COMMENTS 147.060 (-) 141.3 Athens Primary 2M Linked to 145.150 145.150 (-) 141.3 No Pone (Decatur) Secondary 2M Linked to 147.060 442.275 (+) 141.3 Athens Primary 70CM Echolink 443.275 (+) 100.0 No Pone (Decatur) Secondary 70M Meigs EOC Primary 442.350 (+) 100.0 Etowah 146.490 (S) Countywide 146.520 (S) Nationwide Calling Simplex 146.550 (S) Nationwide SKYWARN Simplex 146.580 (S) Nationwide Calling Simplex 147.510 (S) 141.3 Countywide Primary Simplex, tone encode 147.060 (S) 141.3 Countywide Repeater Talkaround Simplex 145.150 (S) 141.3 Countywide Repeater Talkaround Simplex 440.750 (+) 141.3 Comms Trailer Short Range Repeater 440.800 (+) 141.3 Comms Trailer Short Range Repeater 3.980 LSB Statewide HF Phone Net Pri TEMA Call = NE4MA 7.238 LSB Statewide HF Phone Net Sec TEMA Call = NE4MA 14.265 USB Nationwide SATERN 28.300 USB Countywide Calling 144.390 (S) Nationwide APRS 145.550 (S) HS RGN 3 Packet 145.050 (S) HS RGN 2 Packet Simplex Local HF Comms

HS RGN 3 Area Frequencies FREQUENCY LOCATION PURPOSE COMMENTS 442.025 (+) 100.0 Cleveland MTEARS TEMA Call = NE4MA 443.875 (+) 88.5 Crossville (Hinch Mtn) MTEARS TEMA Call = NE4MA 147.180 (+) 118.8 Cleveland 146.925 (-) 114.8 Cleveland 147.375 (+) 123.0 Cleveland SYWARN Comms to WX4MRX 442.250 (+) 118.8 Cleveland 442.400 (+) 123.0 Cleveland 442.925 (+) 100.0 Cleveland Meigs EOC Alternate 146.610 (-) 107.2 Chattanooga SKYWARN 146.790 (-) CS Chattanooga ARES / ACS 147.390 (+) CS Dayton 147.285 (+) CS Bledsoe County 444.700 (+) 100.0 Sequatchie County 145.190 (-) 127.3 Marion County 442.050 (+) 127.3 Marion County 145.410 (-) 114.8 Grundy County 147.120 (+) 88.5 Roane County Primary In HS District 2

NCS619 NCS618 NCS617 NCS616 NCS615 NCS614 NCS613 NCS612 NCS611 NCS610 NCS609 NCS608 NCS607 NCS606 NCS605 NCS604 NCS603 NCS602 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6 Unit 7 Unit 8 Unit 9 Unit 10 Unit 11 Unit 12 Unit 13 Unit 14 Unit 15 Unit 16 Unit 17 Unit 18 Unit 19 Parkridge East Hospital Parkridge Medical Center Memorial Health Care - Hixson Memorial Health Care - Glenwood Kindred Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Chattanooga Grandview Medical Center Emerald Hodgson Hospital Copper Basin Medical Center Life Force Mobile Life Force Base Blue Ridge Life Force Base Calhoun Life Force Base Sparta Erlanger Bledsoe Campus Erlanger North Campus Erlanger East Campus Erlanger/TCT Main Campus RMCC Reg 3 Mobile Unit Chattanooga MedCom NCS601 Unit 1 Assigned Location/Unit Licensee Call

NCS631 NCS632 NCS633 NCS634 NCS635 NCS636 NCS637 NCS638 NCS639 NCS640 NCS641 NCS642 NCS643 NCS644 NCS740 NCS630 NCS629 NCS628 NCS627 NCS626 NCS625 NCS624 NCS623 NCS622 NCS621 NCS620 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 DHS District 3 TEMA Unit 22 Unit 23 Unit 24 Unit 25 Unit 26 Unit 27 Unit 28 Unit 29 Unit 30 Reserved - Alternate Care Site 1 Hamilton County EOC 2 3 4 Reserved - Alternate Care Site Reserved - Alternate Care Site LifeForce Base - Winchester LifeForce Base - Bradley County Starr Regional Medical Center - Etowah Starr Regional Medical Center - Athens Southern Tennessee Medical Center Skyridge Medical Center Rhea Medical Center Parkridge Valley Hospital Hamilton Hamilton Hamilton Hamilton Bledsoe Grudny Marion McMinn EOC McMinn Meigs Polk Rhea Sequatchie Bradley 1 Bradley County EOC Bradley 2 Nashville Unit 21 Unit 20

Fayette District 11 Shelby Hardin District 10 McNairy Hardeman Henderson Madison Carroll Weakley Henry Gibson Obion Tipton Haywood Lauderdale Dyer District 9 Lewis Maury District 8 Giles Lincoln District 6 Marion Union District 3 Polk McMinn Monroe Loudon Blount Roane Knox Cocke Greene District 2 Sevier Jefferson Hawkins Carter Sullivan District 1 Hancock Grainger Claiborne Campbell Anderson Scott Morgan HamiltonBradley Cumberland Grundy White Warren Franklin Moore Bedford Coffee Pickett District 4 OvertonFentress Putnam Jackson Clay DeKalb Wilson Smith Cannon Rutherford Marshall Williamson Wayne Lawrence Perry Hickman Humphreys Dickson Macon District 5 Sumner Trousdale Davidson Robertson Montgomery Houston Stewart District 7 Homeland Security Districts