ARES Letter for July 18, 2007

The ARES E-Letter
July 18, 2007
================= 

Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor

<http://www.qrz.com/database?callsign=K1CE>,

===================================
ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions or
comments: <k1ce@arrl.net>;;; 
===================================

+ The View from Flagler County

The View is short this month, for an otherwise lengthy issue of ARES
reports, news, and a whopping amount of feedback, almost all wildly
in favor of last month's proposal for an ARES QSO Party. In two years
of this newsletter being published, it's this single idea that has
generated the most feedback. I've included a sampling of the e-mails
received, including the few "nay" votes. The proposal has been
forwarded to a member of the ARRL Board of Directors for
consideration.
_______________
In This Issue:

+ The View from Flagler County
+ FCC Releases Post-Katrina Order, "Final Rule" 
+ OK Hams Respond to Flooding Disaster 
+ Amateur Radio and ARES Assist Flood Victims in Central Texas
+ TNCAT07 -- Amateurs Play Key Role in Tennessee Earthquake Exercise 
+ GAREC-2007 Information Web Sites
+ LETTERS: RVs as Assets, Not Liabilities
+ QUICK LINKS
+ LETTERS: Emcomms and Weak Signal Modes
+ FEEDBACK: ARES QSO Party Proposal
+ K1CE For a Final
___________

+ FCC Releases Post-Katrina Order 
 
On July 11, the FCC released their Order regarding the
recommendations of the independent panel reviewing the impact of
Hurricane Katrina on communications networks (the Katrina Panel). It
contained their conclusions following a review of the comments filed
in response to the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The
Commission asked for comments a week after the release of the report
and recommendations of the Katrina Panel and directed the Public
Safety & Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) to implement several of the
recommendations. The FCC also adopted rules requiring some
communications providers to have emergency/back-up power and to
conduct analyses and submit reports on the redundancy and resiliency
of their 911 and E911 networks. The FCC's actions are to go into
effect August 10. 
 
The Commission noted that "the amateur radio community played an
important role in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and other
disasters," and instructed the PSHSB to "include the amateur radio
community in its outreach efforts." 
 
The FCC invited comments on the Katrina Panel's recommendation that
the FCC "act to enhance the public safety community's awareness of
non-traditional emergency alternative technologies that might be of
value as back-up communications systems in a crisis." Several
commenters suggested that the public safety community be educated
about the applicability of Amateur Radio in a crisis. The FCC agreed
with these comments, saying that improving the public safety
community's knowledge of, and training in, alternative technologies
would improve preparedness for future crises. 
 
The recommendations said that several Amateur Radio operators
recommended changes to Part 97 of the FCC's rules. Many of the
suggestions, the report said, have already been implemented, and as
such, require no further action. For example, "the Commission
recently eliminated Morse Code proficiency as a license qualification
requirement, an action supported by several commenters in this
proceeding." 
 
The FCC once again made clear that Part 97 "does not prohibit Amateur
Radio operators who are emergency personnel engaged in disaster
relief from using their amateur radio bands while in a paid duty
status." This changed this past December in WT Docket 04-140, the
"Omnibus" Amateur Radio Report and Order (R&O). 
 
The Commission also previously decided to phase out RACES station
licenses, "making proposed changes to rules relevant to these
licenses moot." ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist Dan Henderson,
N1ND, notes that the FCC "is not phasing out the RACES program, just
the RACES station licenses." --ARRL Letter

+ OK Hams Respond to Flooding Disaster 
 
Tulsa, Oklahoma -- Because of record rainfall in June, many of the
rivers and streams in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas were already swollen
or flooding. On Monday, July 2, nearly 15 inches of rain fell in
southern Kansas causing wide-spread flooding and damage and sent
torrents of floodwater downstream into northeastern Oklahoma. 
 
The Caney River, which flows through the city of Bartlesville,
Oklahoma, (60 miles north of Tulsa), overflowed its banks causing
flood damage to homes and businesses within the city, as well as
wide-spread flooding in the farm lands in other parts of Washington
county to the north and south of the city. In Miami, Oklahoma, (70
miles to the east of Bartlesville), the Neosho River crested as it
snaked in and around the community. Water up to 10-feet deep filled
homes and businesses and blocked roads and highways. 
 
On Thursday, July 5, the American Red Cross requested ARES to provide
communications support for their damage assessment teams in those
flooded areas of Northeast Oklahoma. ARES amateurs responded. A Net
Control Station was set up and one of six amateur radio operators
equipped with HTs and magnet mount antennas rode along with each Red
Cross Damage Assessment Team as they surveyed the flood damage,
beginning in Washington county, where some of the flood waters have
already receded. An ARES Rapid Response Team (RRT) from Tulsa, led by
Larry Holden, KC5KLM, which supports the Tulsa Chapter of the
American Red Cross, began the operation as the primary group
assisting with the response. Operations to survey the damage began on
Friday in Bartlesville and continued Saturday in Miami. 
 
The ARES team used the Bartlesville Amateur Radio Club's repeater
while in Bartlesville and set up a temporary repeater in Miami to
cover that community to aid with communications between the teams in
the field and the Net Control Station. Tactical communication
methodology made quick and accurate work of all traffic on the net.
In Miami several of the homes needed to be reassessed. Also when one
area being inspected was found to be heavily damaged and was taking
more time to cover, a team that was done from another area was able
to be contacted via the amateur radio area net and sent to the
heavily damaged area to help finish the assessment there. Jeff
Lawson, American Red Cross team leader for the damage assessment
teams, said that this efficient use of time and resources was
possible because of the ARES team's professional communication work.
Thank you to all that volunteered to help. -- Mark Conklin, N7XYO,
Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator - Zone 5 EC ARES Oklahoma 

+ Amateur Radio and ARES Assist Flood Victims in Central Texas 

In floods that have ravaged central and north Texas for more than 11
days, ARES members were activated to assist those in need. In those
11 days, 11 people were killed due to the severe weather conditions.
Almost a week of nonstop rain -- including 18 inches near Marble
Falls in Burnet County, about 40 miles northwest of Austin -- left
dozens of people stranded on rooftops, cars and in trees. 

According to Williamson County ARES member Tom Whiteside, N5TW, "The
regular communication infrastructure has been working well, but we
are participating mostly 'just in case.' We have had the Williamson
County EOC staffed, and provided communications at two shelters. We
are using both conventional voice and portable Winlink systems at the
EOC. The Winlink connection is useful for sensitive messages, as well
as for passing more complicated intelligence in and out than could be
done efficiently with voice." Jim Russell, NQ5L, Emergency
Coordinator for Williamson County, said helicopter reconnaissance was
commenced during daylight hours.  

+ TNCAT07 -- Amateurs Play Key Role in Tennessee Earthquake Exercise 

Almost 100 radio amateurs participated in TNCAT '07, the largest and
most comprehensive exercise ever conducted by the Tennessee Emergency
Management Agency (TEMA). The exercise, conducted over a 3 day period
from June 19-21, was based on a 7.7 magnitude earthquake along the
New Madrid Seismic Zone. 

TEMA's Operations Chief Hank Koebler, N3ORX, said he was very
impressed with the response from the amateur community. "I
anticipated a top-notch performance from them, but they exceeded
those expectations by far." 

Throughout the exercise, ARES and MARS continued to provide the bulk
of the emergency communications. At the State Emergency Operations
Center in Nashville, ARES and MARS operators were set up side-by-side
to handle the communications load -- ARES handled voice on VHF/UHF
and HF links into the disaster area, while MARS handled all Winlink
traffic via HF. In the affected counties in West Tennessee, ARES
operators performed damage assessments, provided the sole means of
communications for the county Emergency Operations Centers and were
the communications workhorses for TEMA's Regional Center in Jackson,
Tennessee.

Timeline: June 19 8:00 AM. A normal Tuesday morning, commuters going
to work and kids out of school getting outside to play. But wait, the
ground shakes and bridges are collapsing. Then all power goes out, as
well as all landline communication systems.

8:15 AM. Over 50 Amateur Radio operators are responding to their
emergency communications assignments, from Shelby County ARES, Army
MARS, and the Regional Hospital Disaster Planning Council. Others
deployed from Fayette and Lauderdale Counties, Tennessee, Desoto
County, Mississippi, as well as the Shelby County Emergency
Management Agency (EMA).

8:30 AM. Emergency communications nets are starting up from the 15
hospitals and the Shelby County Health Department. Equipment is being
installed in the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC)
and Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) facility.
By 9 AM, messages are sent to various state emergency operation
centers from the facility. These messages are relayed by the latest
Winlink technology. Hospitals are reporting bed availability to the
Health Department. EMA is gathering information to forward to the
Tennessee EMA EOC in Nashville.

This was a major 3-day drill conducted by eight states along the
Mississippi River. This "earthquake" affected multiple counties
within Tennessee. The forward TEMA EOC was opened in Jackson,
Tennessee and supplies and equipment were dispatched from central
Tennessee to the affected counties in west Tennessee.

CUSEC used Winlink to contact the surrounding state EOCs to obtain
clearance for scientists to enter the disaster zone. CERI was using
the new Army MARS Winlink system to keep the Tennessee EOC apprised
of the seismic activity within the New Madrid seismic zone.

All communications were carried out without use of commercial power
to test the availability of backup communications for agencies and
communication facilities. Thus, 2 meter simplex was the order of the
day for local communications. By noon, according to the scenario, all
power and communications infrastructure had been repaired.

Lessons learned: Training is the backbone of EMCOMM. Know your served
agency's communications requirements. - Bill Keuchler, N9ACQ,
Memphis, Tennessee

+ GAREC-2007 Information Web Sites

The 2007 Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference
(GAREC-07) is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, August 16-17 in
Huntsville, Alabama. GAREC-07 registrants will participate in
emergency communications-themed presentations, discussions and
demonstrations. The conference will be held just before the 2007 ARRL
National Convention and annual Huntsville Hamfest, which take place
on Saturday and Sunday, August 18-19.
 
In 2005, current IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Coordinator
Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR, organized the first GAREC meeting in Tampere,
Finland. Tampere was the site of a 1998 intergovernmental meeting
where the Tampere Convention was adopted -- an international treaty
that facilitates the use of telecommunications in humanitarian
assistance. In 2006, GAREC met in Tampere for the second time, in
connection with the International Conference on Emergency
Communications (ICEC-2006) and the United Nations Working Group on
Emergency Telecommunications. 

According to IARU International Coordinator for Emergency
Communications Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP/HB9AQS, "...GAREC wants to be a
forum for the exchange of information. Many IARU Member Societies and
specialized emergency communications groups have developed and
implemented emergency concepts. Many others want to benefit from
their technical, operational and, not the least, their administrative
or even 'political' experiences when establishing the necessary
cooperation with partners in emergency and disaster response. GAREC
also developed new concepts, such as the 'Center of Activity
Frequencies,' meanwhile adopted by the IARU Region 1 and 3
conferences."

The packed GAREC-07 agenda includes reviews of advanced digital
technologies and their applications to emergency telecommunications.
The ARRL Alabama Section, Zimmermann said, "leads the way" with
respect to D-STAR repeater systems, activities and users. There will
also be a demonstration of the Automatic Packet Reporting System
(APRS), another capability of the Amateur Radio Services. Zimmermann
noted, "A demonstration of [APRS] capabilities found much interest
among the delegates of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Turkey
last November."

Zimmermann added that EchoLink and eQSO are "yet more such tools, and
specialized groups have developed emergency applications for these
modes. More technologies are being developed or have become available
already. The two days in August will be packed with practical
information, and experts will arrange demonstrations of the
capabilities of 21st century Amateur Radio." Emergency communication
vehicles and equipment will be on hand throughout the conference.

Details for GAREC-2007 are now being finalized. Information about
GAREC-07 and the related events is available at these Web sites: 
<http://www.arrl-al.org/GAREC07.htm> and
<http://www.iaru.org/emergency/>. The sites will be updated as more
information becomes available. To register for GAREC-07, please see
the registration page <https://www.arrl.org/forms/misc/garec07.html>.
GAREC-07's tentative agenda
<http://www.arrl-al.org/garec_schedule.htm> is also available.

See you in Huntsville in August! -- Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP/HB9AQS,
IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications
<hb9aqs@arrl.net>;   <http://www.iaru.org/emergency>

+ LETTERS: RVs as Assets, Not Liabilities

In the May issue, Bob Burns, W9RXR voiced his concerns regarding the
use of RVs during disaster deployment. Who said anything about
deploying in a million dollar super bus?  A member of our local team
has a 12-foot trailer he's fully outfitted for an extended
deployment. The truth is, any properly outfitted fully self-contained
recreational vehicle has the potential of becoming a viable
deployment asset, ready for any disaster. After all, it's not the
size, it's how you use it that really matters.

I strongly believe that an organized corps of Volunteer RV Emcomms is
an ARRL program that is long overdue! If you believe as I do, or
might like some suggestions on how to accessorize your RV for
disaster response, please feel free to contact me at
<KI6BCX@arrl.net>;. -- Jeff Sabatini, KI6BCX, Redlands, CA 

I see two types of RVs in disasters, an emcomm setup/equipped RV and
a normal, living quarters RV. After Hurricane Katrina the ARRL/Red
Cross operation placed many amateurs with both types of vehicles
throughout the disaster zone. Several amateur club and group emcomm
vehicles were utilized heavily and were instrumental in the
communications part of the relief operation.

In some areas, however, local authorities gave the order for "No
RVs," not the Red Cross. Reasons were parking space, narrow and
practically blocked roads, and appearances. The ARRL Amateur Radio
response that supported the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Southern
Baptist, state and local government and others had to follow the
requirements placed by the local authorities in these matters. There
was simply no room in some disaster zones. 

Workers in a disaster area that don't have an RV is not a problem.
The hundreds of amateurs that were sent to the hurricane disaster
zone in their cars and trucks successfully provided a valuable emcomm
service, found a place to sleep and were not a burden on the system.
--Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, ARRL Alabama Section Manager

+ QUICK LINKS: 

Here is a very informative Web site for any amateurs who operate with
TSA (as many Army MARS groups do now), law enforcement, etc: 
 
<http://www.globalincidentmap.com/home.php>

Real time information, and very useful. -- Les Rayburn, N1LF
 
+ LETTERS: Emcomms and Weak Signal Modes

Your mention of the 910H and 1.2 GHz weak signal mode for emcomm
really caught my eye, for two reasons:  1) I am an avid VHF/UHF weak
signal op (and I'll even plead guilty to FM, as well) who is active
on 6 meters through 70 cm. I don't yet have 23 cm capability; and 2)
I am actively involved with emcomm at the local level in Jones
County, Iowa, where we are well underway to having an operational EOC
and have had active weather nets for many years. 

At present, the local work horse for all amateur public safety
operations is 2 meter FM, mostly on repeaters, with limited simplex
usage. I have had a small degree of success in getting some traffic
moved to 440 FM. There has been zero interest in utilizing SSB on
either of those bands at the EOC, even though our ICOM IC-706s will
support that mode. Many of my fellow ops in the area have multi-mode
DC-daylight wonder boxes, but they just don't use SSB above 10
meters. I'd like to know if other ARES groups utilize VHF and/or UHF
SSB (or other weak signal modes) as a routine part of emcomm
operations. [ . . . and so would I. Send your comments to
<k1ce@arrl.net>; and we will address them in a future issue - ed.] -
Dale Svetanoff, WA9ENA, Jones County, Monticello, Iowa 

+ FEEDBACK: ARES QSO Party Proposal

I presented your ARES HF QSO Party question to the South Texas
section ARES Yahoo group via a one week poll. That group has 215
members, 36 of which answered the poll (17%). The poll question and
results follow:

Would you support an ARES HF QSO Party over a weekend where operators
would exchange call sign, signal report, county, section or state,
and their ARES or emcomm titles? 
NO - 6 - 16% 
YES - 30 - 83%

I strongly recommend adopting the NA QSO Party contest format. Only
two entry classes in that; single operator and
multi-operator/two-transmitter, except no teams in this new contest,
and maybe not the multi-two either. The NA QP are mode-specific with
separate weekends for SSB, CW and RTTY; we need not do such, but
allow all modes on the same weekend. To me, the best parts of this
format are that everyone is limited to 100 watts, and it is a 10-12
hour contest starting at noon Saturday. Perhaps different points
could be awarded depending upon the person's appointment that you
work; 1 point for ARES "member," 2 for AEC, 3 for EC/RO, 4 for
DEC/DRO, etc. 1 point for SSB, 2 for CW or RTTY. We should provide
suggested operating frequencies.
<http://www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php> -- Jerry Reimer, KK5CA, South
Texas SEC

Yay! I enthusiastically support your idea of some kind of op event to
recapture the feel of the CD parties. I think it would be great for
appointees to be able to have the opportunity to fly the flag a bit
and be the gotta-work-it focus of some kind of incentive-driven
special event in which everybody could participate. It would also
allow the appointees to receive some recognition in a really good
way. Another thing it would accomplish would be providing an
incentive for all those new General Class licensees among the
appointees to get on HF and meet their peers and public around the
country.  -- Gordon Grove, WA7LNC, Eastern Washington SEC    

I think this would be a great idea, because I know the information
that could be shared would be a great energizer for many ARES
operators. -- Richard J. Niemeyer, KC9JMW, AEC, Jackson County,
Illinois

Yay. -- Charlie Miller, AE4UX, South Carolina SEC and State RACES
Officer

Yes, I would support an ARES Party, but ONLY if all stations were
REQUIRED to be on battery, generator, or other emergency power (or
mobile or in mobile EOC's). It would be very helpful in forcing us to
exercise our emergency power sources more often (I haven't tested my
generator since November). It's just the incentive I need.

To keep the playing field level, only dipoles or mobile antennas
should be allowed, up to a maximum of 25' high. No directional arrays
of any kind, no stacked beams on 180 foot towers. Keep it low-key. It
should be like Field Day - more social event and emergency
preparedness demo than contest. The word "Party" is thus a good
choice. -- Steven G. Katz, N8WL, EC Licking County, Ohio

YAY!  Count me in. -- Doug Donner, KC8ZCF, EC, Lapeer County,
Michigan
 
YES - great idea. Perhaps there might be a way to work the 60 M
allocation for part of the party? Have been observing propagation
lately and the 5 MHz band could work very well during daytime hours.
-- Larry Trullinger, KB0EMB, AES Jackson County, Missouri 

An ARES party in this area of southwest Missouri would be completely
worthless, much like the organization. Last winter the Springfield,
Missouri area had the worst ice storm in history. Many were without
power for 20 days. There were numerous shelters set up in schools.
There was not even a 2 meter net between shelters helping with
people's needs. I have no use for ARES here. -- David Rust, W0DLR,
Kirbyville, Missouri

There is an ARES party held at least once a day. It is called NTS. In
the Tennessee section we have one combined ARES/NTS session each
week. What ARES does not need is a contest event. - Bill, N9ACQ

I loved the CD parties, and I'd love to have an ARES QSO Party too.
-- Joe Fisher, K5EJL, DEC 7 South Texas 

I'm all for it -- a great opportunity to "show the flag" while
simultaneously providing a welcome diversion from regular emcomm
training. Consider it kind of a "company picnic" for ARES: Take a
break, have some fun on the radio, and incidentally, learn some new
operating skills! -- Ward Silver, N0AX, EC, Vashon, Washington 

Here is one more vote for an EMCOMM or ARES QSO party. -- Ed Esborn,
K1UQE, Pawcatuck, Connecticut
 
I would support an activity like you described. Good chance to test
the station and get acquainted a bit. -- Tom Richmond, NI7W, Kootenai
County, Idaho EC

I would support an ARES Party during any weekend it was scheduled. --
Ron Murdock, W6KJ, Yuba City, California

Yes -- Richard Margey, KE1DH, Cape Coral, Florida 

RE your suggestion in the latest ARES E-Letter for an ARES QSO party,
I discussed it with my EC, Bill, N2ZSO, and he supports it as do I.
If this event was able to take hold and get substantial
participation, we might be able to expand and invite served agency
officials, etc, to stop by. - Mike Harla, N2MHO, AEC Cumberland
County, Southern New Jersey 
 
I would go for an ARES Party, or update the old CD party.  My CD
party activity goes back to late 1938 or early 1939 (working only
CW). Always enjoyed them and was sorry when they were cancelled. I
remember such calls as W4KFC, W1TS, W1BIH, KH6IJ, W9BRD and many
others that I worked nearly every quarter year CD Party. Time flies,
especially at my age of 86.  -- Jettie B. Hill, W6RFF, Roseville,
California 

ABSOLUTELY. I am volunteering to be on a committee that would
establish a set of rules that would promote skill sets beyond the
framework you mention. How about something along the lines of a
hybrid between the CD Parties and Emcomm bonus points, a-la Field
Day. For example: Multipliers for Emergency power, all wire antennas,
combining with local emcomm exercise, press release,
origination/receipt of traffic, working from an EOC, "integration"
bonus points for combining with local support units (police, fire,
med, etc.), operators with qualifying ARES training (ARECC, IS-100,
200, 700 & 800), people signed up for ham classes, etc. Far fetched?
Maybe, but in this new era of our hobby, we need to be creative and
keep the emcomm talent pool strong. -- Fred Kleber, K9VV

Just because an operation is FUN does not mean it is not USEFUL. I
would gladly join such an enterprise, and I am NOT a contester. -
Jean Olson, KC0SVG, Cambridge, Iowa 

Recall that in 2004, there was an operating event when League Life
Members, employees, officers and field appointees were signing /135
to their calls for Maxim's birthday. There was a certificate
associated with racking up a minimum number of /135 QSOs.
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/08/26/1/> I'm no contester,
but some of the specific elements in the above event might prove
attractive if added to your idea. -- Alan Howard Martin, W1AHM

I would say yes, and hopefully information could be passed and not
just a check in and signal report. It has its merits. -- Dewey H
Bennett, Jr, WM0H, Columbia, Missouri 

Let's have a PARTY! I would support and participate in an EMCOMM or
ARES QSO Party. Think about points/categories for operating from
home, portable, from an EOC, or mobile (auto/RV/Command Post). Let's
go with the EMCOMM name, because not all groups are ARES. -- Budd
Johnson, N4WBJ, OES/ARES/RACES/SKYWARN/Sheriff's Tactical Amateur
Radio Comm, Hillsborough County, Florida

I think an ARES QSO Party is a great idea, but I would like a
National ARES Roll Call once a month to exercise the leadership and
find out on a section-by section basis who is committed to EMCOMM and
who is faking it. -- Joe Forren, ND4B, EC Greenbrier County, West
Virginia 

Put me down for a sound YEH for the ARES PARTY. -- Steve Howard,
AB0XE, Dakota County EC, South St. Paul, Minnesota

YES! - Rob Griffin, K6YR, Santa Barbara Section Manager, California,
[and all 'round Good Guy - ed.]

I do believe this would be a good idea. We test our equipment at
Field Day for portable operation but how many test our operation at
the home station for our abilities to function within our own section
or district? Oh, we communicate locally just for fun but do we know
just how well we are doing?  I would strongly suggest that the
contacts locally be made on simplex rather than repeater. We don't
necessarily need to test the repeater but we do need to know how well
we can do without it. -- Joe Bushel, W2DWR, SEC Northern Florida

Sure, count me in. -- Duke Knief, W4DK, DEC Area 15, North Carolina

I would be in favor and would operate such an event. A great way to
try out NVIS propagation, and see what your station could do for
realistic distances of an emergency. -- Stuart Rohre, K5KVH, AEC
Williamson County, RACES, Round Rock, Texas

Regarding your question about the "ARES Party", I have a slightly
different suggestion. Since we are getting to a point where there are
almost too many events, maybe it would be better to re-asses the
current events we have: Field Day and SET. - Bryan Koschmann, K7WXO,
Spokane, Washington

I would agree an ECOMM QSO Party is needed and long overdue. This is
a very good vehicle to encourage folks to become part of the solution
and pitch in to help. I work for the National Weather Service and we
sponsor a QSO Party, usually in December, to encourage hams to get
involved in helping our destructive weather tracking efforts. In my
town of Kodiak, Alaska, I started an effort to get out local hams to
report road conditions for winter weather. This is, in turn,
forwarded to the forecast office in Anchorage and put on the NOAA Wx
radio for folks to listen to. I have hopes to start a Wx Net up here
some time in the future. In addition, I recruited two of my fellow
coworkers to get their licences in order to work the 2 meter rig we
put in the office. Thanks for your newsletter, I read it every time
to see if there is something that could be employed here on the
"northern most" Hawaiian Island. - Rich Courtney, NL9H, Kodiak,
Alaska 
 
I would support and participate in a nationwide ARES Party net.  With
some of the 'older' hams upgrading and becoming new HF operators, I
think this is a great idea.  I vote 'yea'. -- Maynard Raggio, N9PTG,
Assistant Emergency Coordinator/RACES Officer, Monroe County, Indiana

I think any excuse for a QSO Party is a good one. I'd check in. -
Jeff Carter,
KD4RBG, Fairmount, Georgia [If you're an NFL football fan, check out
Jeff's photo on QRZ.com! - ed.]

With the limited info provided in the E-Letter, it appears that this
would be more of a contest than an exercise of emcomm capabilities.
Would you propose that the event be limited to ARES members only and
would they be forced to use emergency power?  Is there a scenario
associated with the event?  Isn't this what Field Day is supposed to
be about? Thanks for surfacing the idea, but my "vote" at this point
would be no. -- Mark Wintersole, WB5NMZ, Montgomery County EC,
Montgomery, Alabama

I am a member of a regional ARES Net (California Rescue
Communications 40-Meter Net). I support your idea for a weekend ARES
QSO party. -- Paul Stone, KQ6RJ

Great idea, Rick. I think it would make a great training activity.
The thing I remember immediately after Katrina on the HF bands was
the first night's traffic handling sounding like a bunch of very
inexperienced communicators. The second night was a whole different
story with smooth net operations. Practice is essential to keep
skills fresh.  What a great way to polish up the skills and meet
other ARES operators around the country. I suggest communicating the
name of the ARES organization in the exchange. -- John Davis, WB4QDX,
EC Gwinnett County, Georgia ARES

The idea of having ARES stations operating is really a duplication of
Field Day. If you were to propose an "ARES Day" it should not be a
contest with winners posted like Field Day that encourages BIG POWER
station operation. Also it does not seem important to exchange e-com
or ARES titles. To make it unique from Field Day the requirements
should be for every station to operate on emergency power and
possibly have a transmit power limit of 50-100 watts. Also required
should be the use of portable antennas that are set-up on the day of
the contest. All county and district EC comm centers should be
encourage to participate in the event. All modes and bands that have
been successfully used in disasters should utilized. -- Roger Freed,
WB7BZT, Bend, Oregon

In regards to your proposed ARES or emcomm parties, put me solidly in
the Aye! column. I think it's a great idea. It would be fun as well
as provide a needed exercise/test of each station's capabilities. It
might even shed some light on just what areas could be routinely
covered by each station. That information alone could become quite
valuable in times of emergencies. -- Dave Costanza, KA3PNV,
Communications Officer, Penbrook Office of Emergency Management,
FSO-CM, CG Auxiliary Flotilla 53, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

In response to the proposition in the latest newsletter, I personally
am in favor of having an on-air ARES weekend.  Good idea and I wish
you the most of luck in getting this idea approved and carried out.
-- John Streeb, KE5DXJ,GIS Intern SFASU, Junior, Arlington, Texas

Count me in for the project. -- Robin Warren, KE5DQM, Ivanhoe, Texas

I say yes to having an event scheduled on the airways for those
involved in ARES/RACES. I also would suggest that all ARES groups in
their respective sections train with each other so one would know
what to expect from another ARES group. Here in the Eastern
Washington section, we have some of our group help our neighbors to
the east of us in Kootenai County, Idaho with their IRONMAN
competition by supplying them with operators that have APRS
capabilities along with voice. So I vote AYE!! -- Charles Greeson,
KG8ZK, AEC Spokane County, Washington ARES/RACES

Great idea! Make something like EASCARS or MIDCARS in that you check
in to cycle the gear. I see this as an excellent place for ops to ask
for a source to obtain certain gadgets to make their station more
effective. . .hams without gadgets are not hams, you know. -- Jim
Montgomery, Prince George's County, Maryland ARES Hospital Project
Coordinator

Great Idea, Good luck. -- Jim Pearson, KS8O, Menominee County,
Michigan AEC

The use of the signal report has become standardized in any
party/contest to 59 or 599 so is not useful. Correct copy is the
proof and should include something NOT in QRZ.com to avoid lookups,
maybe the rig model or antenna style. Good idea though; many ops do
enjoy such activities, and it often "opens" up dead bands like 10
meters. - Dave Prichard, AB3S, Celebration, Florida 

I am all for it -- I need practice and communicating with other ARES
or EMCOMM entities would only improve our ability to do so in an
emergency situation. -- Ted Denton, KE7GZN

I vote "NO" on this activity. There are already too many state and
other "qso parties" on the bands as it is, to blah blah blah hams
talking like robots and flooding the ham bands on weekends like QRM
machines. - Charlie Pfister, WD8AXB, Vicksburg, Mississippi

I'd certainly support such an activity. Amateur Radio has had a
tremendous influx of new hams in our area, with well over 150 new
operators in the past couple of years.  These hams didn't get to
radio via technical interests, for the most part - they have mostly
come up from the ranks of CERT volunteers!

An event like this would provide an excellent opportunity to hone
communication skills, and would provide a hook for more camaraderie,
which I think is a very important part of any organization, and
particularly of emcomm.  I'm not certain that the exchange should
include titles - that might seems exclusionary, as not everyone has a
title. In all, a great idea that I'd love to see come to pass. --
Heating Floyd, KC4HSI/AFA2IU, Hillsborough County ARES/RACES, Deputy
RACES Officer, Assistant EC, Florida

+ K1CE For A Final

There you have it: an ARES or EMCOMM QSO Party could be a rousing
success! See you next month!

73,
Rick K1CE