[Ccarc] ARES E-Letter

[Tom Murray]

The ARES E-LetterJune 20, 2008=================  Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor <http://www.qrz.com/database?callsign=K1CE>, ===================================ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions orcomments: <k1ce at arrl.net>;; =================================== + The View from Flagler County Many readers responded with comments and questions in re the new RedCross policy discussed in the last issue. Here is the furtherstatement of ARRL HQ's Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B: "While we believe that the Red Cross is implementing some changesthat will address some of the concerns expressed to them by ARRL, atthis point, it is work in process. There are many questions yet to beanswered, but we believe that the Red Cross is progressing in goodfaith to complete the changes to their policy and their backgroundcheck consent form, which was the primary concern expressed to theRed Cross by ARRL. There will be more clarifications and informationin the near future. Please keep an eye on the ARRL Web site forupdates as we know them. We are very much aware of your concerns andhave conveyed them to the Red Cross. We expect the Red Cross toaddress these and other concerns on subject of their background checkpolicy in the near future." -- Harold Kramer, WJ1B, Chief OperatingOfficer  ------In This Issue: + The View from Flagler County+ Midwest Floods+ Amateur Radio Session Held at National Hurricane Conference+ 2008 Alabama and Mississippi Hurricane Conference + Hawaii State CD Makani Pahili Hurricane Exercise+ Colorado Tornadoes Response+ Florida Fires Response+ A Repeater on the Fire Line in Northern California+ NHC Director Joins WX4NHC Annual Test+ LETTERS: New E-Mail Software+ LETTERS: Red Cross Recruiting Hams in Chicago+ LETTERS: Message Content Needed+ LETTERS: On Obesity in Hams+ LETTERS: Satellites in a Doomsday Scenario+ LETTERS: United Way Lead for ESF 15?+ LETTERS: Diminished Licensing, Technical Standards+ CORRECTION: AO-51 Frequencies+ K1CE For A Final------- + Midwest Floods The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) activated ARESmembers for tornado and flooding emergencies earlier this month. SECTony Langer, W9AL, said ops worked in EOCs and shelters, bagged sand,and aided in rescue efforts. Tornadoes visited 11 Indiana counties.As water inundated the region, President Bush declared 29 counties incentral Indiana a major disaster area. Four people died.  On June 8, IDHS called for more hams: "The flood waters have impactedseveral counties here in Indiana severely. Ham radio operators havebeen operating continuously since activated and are growing weary.Some counties do not have a vast amount of active hams to relievethese tired operators." Specific areas needing amateur assistancewere overnight relief operators at the Bartholomew County EOC, aswell as the EOC and three shelters in Columbus County.  Marion County EC Mike Palmer, N9FEB, called out his ARES members:"People might think, 'Why not just use telephones or cell phones?'Well, many phones are not working down there at this time. With thehigh waters, electric transformers are out all over; even thoseservicing cell towers are out. Even with today's technology, we findourselves looking at ham radio to assist. If you can spare a fewhours or an entire evening, please consider helping."  In Wisconsin, five counties had called operators for duty rangingfrom backup communications to damage assessment. One county called onARES members to provide patrols of flooded areas. Wisconsin SEC BillNiemuth, KB9ENO, had 90 ARES members responding: "In Columbia County,ARES members provided dam monitoring communication, giving criticalinformation to public safety officials about two dams that werenearly compromised." Richland County ARES members provided a variety of services,including answering information calls in the County's EOC andproviding specialized communications for disaster assessment by hovercraft and airplane. These communications were in addition toproviding traditional ham radio communication links between the EOCand evacuation shelters. On June 12, more rain caused the state and more counties to requestaid from area operators. Winnebago County ARES members provideddamage assessment in the county and in the City of Oshkosh, whilehams in Fond du Lac helped with shelter communications. ARES teams inMarquette and Outagamie provided back-up communications and floodingreports to their respective EOCs. -- excerpted from the ARRL Letter [An inquiry to Iowa ARES leadership is pending in re the colossaltragedy of flooding events there and elsewhere - ed.] + Amateur Radio Session Held at National Hurricane Conference [Ron Mettler, WB4GHU, represented the ARRL Northern Florida Sectionat the National Hurricane Conference, April 1, in Orlando, Florida.Here is his report of the Amateur Radio Session there. -- ed.] The Amateur Radio portion of the conference was divided into threepresentations and was moderated by Dennis Dura, K2DCD, Manager ofEmergency Preparedness & Response, ARRL and Chair of the NationalHurricane Conference Amateur Radio Committee. The first session wasgiven by the National Hurricane Center's Amateur Radio station WX4NHCorganization, John McHugh, K4AG and Julio Ripoll, WD4R. In thissegment, the many roles of Amateur Radio were illustrated by charts,audio clips, and video clips. Amateur Radio was praised for itshistorical role of assistance through the years in trackinghurricanes. The paths of access to the NHC were given:<wx4nhc at wx4nhc.org>, the Hurricane Watch Net (14.325 MHz), the VoIPHurricane Net, and the Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP). Boththe NHC and the Coast Guard are considering implementing WinLink aswell. Another source of access to the NHC is through APRS. They appreciatethis mode because gathering the data is automatic. In the past, NOAAinitiated a program to provide weather stations to various amateurstations throughout the Caribbean, but the funding for that programwas lost before the project was completed. For those amateursinterested in using APRS, the system that was used in this program isthe Peet Brothers Model U2100. In addition to the Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz, the NHC alsogleans information from the Maritime Service Net on 14.300 MHz, andthe Waterway Net on 7268 kHz. One final way to get a report to the NHC is via an in-line reportingform on <http://www.wx4nhc.org>. The second segment of the program was devoted to VoIP and EchoLinkactivity and presented by Rob Macedo, KD1CY. Using these methodsprovides an interoperability among government and non-governmentagencies to provide weather data to the NHC. There is a VoIP node on7203 kHz, with an IRLP of 9219. A weekly net meets at 0000Z on Sunday(2000 Saturday night Eastern time) during hurricane season, and amonthly net at the same time on the first Sunday of the month duringthe hurricane off-season. The NHC is excited about using this mode togather data, and amateurs are strongly encouraged to support it bychecking into the VoIP Net. The third portion of the program was dedicated to the roles thatamateurs play during hurricanes. This session was presented by DennisDura, K2DCD and Rob Macedo, KD1CY. We are being looked to for weatherreporting, damage assessment, monitoring of critical resources andinfrastructures, communication augmentation, and communicationinfrastructure replacements. In addition, intelligence gatheringthrough the SKYWARN program training is another expectation. The NHCshares such information with other agencies, once it is verified. ARES and RACES intelligence gathering includes shelter communicationsand mass care communications, and this information is also sharedacross multiple levels of agencies. MARS members who are also SKYWARNtrained can share information with DOD and other federal entities.Even FEMA uses such information to determine appropriate responses. The role of the amateur is changing. The new motto is "Before itfails, Amateur Radio gives situational assessment." We are no longerjust communicators. We are being looked to for intelligencegathering, providing real-time assessment of conditions where we are. In summary, if hams are actively performing all of these functions,we will have the situational awareness to know that something willfail, so we can be there when it does fail. The future of Amateur Radio in disasters is changing dramatically,and our role is expanding in a new direction. It becomes an issue ofpersonal responsibility for each of us to stay abreast of ourtraining and technology in order to perform our role to its maximum.-- Ron Mettler, WB4GHU, Sanford, Florida  + 2008 Alabama and Mississippi Hurricane Conference  Emergency management personnel from Alabama and Mississippi assembledin late May for a three day hurricane conference in Mobile, Alabama.The visitor list was an impressive one that included Alabama GovernorBob Riley, Alabama and Mississippi State EMA Directors, Director ofthe National Hurricane Center, and many FEMA Directors and personnel. The conference brought exhibitors, vendors, presentations, meetingsand breakout sessions that included a broad range of emergencymanagement, hurricane disaster and lessons-learned related topics.These conferences are a "must attend" event for Section Managers andSection Emergency Coordinators that are serious about providingemergency and disaster public service operations. Meeting many of theemergency management personnel, building relationships and discussingpreparedness, must be done before the next disaster.  Alabama Section Manager Jay Isbell, KA4KUN, ASM Penny Isbell, KA4KUM,Baldwin County (Alabama) EC Patty Link, KI4JEO and ARRL SoutheasternDivision Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, hosted an ARRL booth andattended the conference.  Logged were nearly 30 Amateur Radio operators from the 460 conferenceattendees that stopped by the ARRL booth. While at the booth, theEmergency Management visitors repeatedly expressed their appreciationand respect for what Amateur Radio operators do. -- Greg Sarratt,W4OZK, ARRL Southeastern Division Director + Hawaii State CD Makani Pahili Hurricane Exercise On Wednesday, May 21, Amateur Radio operators with the Hawaii StateCD RACES (HSCD) program operated the KH6HPZ station at the EOC inBirkheimer Tunnel within Diamond Head crater from 10:00 AM to 2:00PM, in support of the annual Makani Pahili hurricane exercise. Twodays later on Saturday, May 24 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, HSCD RACESand Pacific Section ARES participated in a communications exercisesimulating the recovery from the exercise hurricane, organized byPacific SEC Kevin Bogan, AH6QO.  Six operators were situated at the State CD EOC, with additional opson all major islands. More than 25 stations were on HF, including atRed Cross and County EOCs at Maui and Hilo, and individuals at homesand other locations were operating on 40- and 80-meters. Anotherdozen were on the state-wide VHF Repeater system.<http://ronhashiro.htohananet.com/am-radio/hawaii/scd.html>  This year featured a major push to implement and test the use of theNIMS (National Incident Management System) ICS-213 message form. Itwas used for the first time in Hawaii and the majority of themessages were exchanged in ICS-213 format. The use of the form andmessage handling protocol worked reasonably well. The advantages ofthe form include: minimal training needed; clearly notes the senderand the intended receiver; and the received message can easily begiven to another person for subsequent handling. During the Wednesdayexercise, incoming messages were entered into the EOC e-mail systemfor handling by the EOC staff as part of the exercise simulation.<http://ronhashiro.htohananet.com/am-radio/emcomm/ics-213-radio-protocol.html> A handful of messages were sent via the traditional ARRL Radiogrammessage format. While the message format, handling and contents arewell understood by Amateur Radio operators and can be sent veryquickly, the message format and content needs translation by a hamoperator before entering into the formal EOC message/situationhandling systems. Further work continues regarding emergencycommunications and training in Hawaii. -- Ron Hashiro, AH6RH,Honolulu, Hawaii State Civil Defense RACES + Colorado Tornadoes Response Colorado Section Manager Jeff Ryan, K0RM, reported that ARES District10 was activated by David Markham, W0CBI, Colorado SEC, on May 22,for a large tornado that touched down in northern Colorado near thetown of Windsor. Ryan said it was just one of several across northernColorado and part of Wyoming.  Colorado ARES District 10 EC Randy Long, W0AVV, reported that 31operators provided communications service to the EOC and FireDepartment in Windsor, the Weld County EOC, the Larimer County EOC,the City of Loveland EOC, the Loveland Mobile Command post and twoRed Cross shelters.  Markham placed an additional 15 Amateur Radio operators in Larimerand Weld County on standby in anticipation of an overnight shift; healso requested adjacent districts to prepare in support of theongoing operations. Ryan said that at the peak of the ARES operation, "Colorado ARES had55 operators supporting emergency response and relief efforts."  + Florida Fires Response Brevard County (Florida) amateurs responded during recent wildfiresin Palm Bay and Malabar. The "Mother's Day Fires" started on May 11,and burned 13,000 acres. (Brevard County is home to Kennedy SpaceCenter). John Weatherly, AB4ET, and Clayton Bennett, KA4NHW, manned a 2-meterstation in a shelter set up by the American Red Cross. Additionally,the Brevard Emergency Amateur Radio Services (BEARS) donated the useof their mobile command center to public safety agencies. The commandvehicle, dubbed BEARS-I, was obtained through a $100,000 grant fromthe State of Florida. The interior was designed and built by a groupof Amateur Radio operators from local Brevard County clubs that aremembers of BEARS. BEARS-I is outfitted with Brevard County 800 MHzpublic safety radios and amateur equipment.  BEARS-I was used as a command post in the week-long operation. ThePalm Bay Fire Department, the Palm Bay Police Department, ARES andFlorida Power and Light manned the four operating positions. The unitwas put in place at Bayside High School when the fires started; itwas relocated the next day to the US Air Force tracking station thatbecame the new command center, as well as the staging area for trucksand teams from other counties. BEARS-I was used as a self-containedcommand center around the clock for over five days. - excerpted fromthe ARRL Letter; information provided by Jan Heise, K4QD, and DanFisher, AI4GK  + A Repeater on the Fire Line in Northern California Late in 2007, Sunnyvale ARES (Santa Clara County, California) wasoffered a high-level (3612') 440 MHz repeater. SARES saw this as anopportunity to provide a back-up for its low-level, local 2-meterrepeater (K6GL) and to also provide a wide-area resource in time ofemergencies. The location provides coverage of the South SanFrancisco Bay Area, including peninsula communities, East Bay, SantaClara County to Gilroy, the Salinas Valley, and Monterey to SantaCruz. The SARES Repeater Group was formed by the EC and AECs, and therepeater call sign was changed to K6SNY. They didn't realize how soonit would play a role as a wide-area resource. The "Summit Fire," in neighboring Santa Cruz County, started on May22. Immediately, K6SNY was linked to the Santa Clara CountyARES/RACES 2-meter repeater (AA6BT) to facilitate a county-wideresource net. The linking facilitated communication between theARES/RACES EOCs for Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties. After theSanta Clara County EOC closed for the evening, K6SNY handledlogistical traffic for Cal-Fire. Two days later, overnight, the fire crossed Summit Road, into SantaClara County and the county EOC was reactivated. The AA6BT/K6SNY linkagain provided a county-wide resource net. ARES members were advisedto monitor for updates. The Santa Clara County EOC was closed againon May 25. By May 28, the fire was 100% contained. A total of 4,270 acres were burned along with 35 residences and 64outbuildings. There were 16 injuries. There were 12 cooperatingagencies involved, 946 fire personnel, 32 fire crews, 45 engines andvarious other pieces of support equipment. As of May 30, theestimated cost is $16.1 million. -- Neal Enault, WA6OCP, SARES AECand PIO + NHC Director Joins WX4NHC Annual Test On May 31, WX4NHC <http://www.wx4nhc.org/>, the Amateur Radio stationat the National Hurricane Center (NHC), held their annualCommunications Test from 1300-2100 UTC. According to WX4NHC AssistantCoordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, this annual test has two purposes: Toverify that ham radio equipment will not interfere with any equipmentat the NHC, and to ensure proper performance of Amateur Radioequipment at the NHC.  During the test, NHC Director Bill Read, KB5FYA, addressed theAmateur Radio community on the VoIP Hurricane Net and on theHurricane Watch Net <http://www.wx4nhc.org/Bill-Read-QST.mp3>. Readspoke about the importance of Amateur Radio in hurricane-relateddisasters and thanked Amateur Radio operators for their support inpast hurricanes. He encouraged hams to continue to provide thatstrong support as WX4NHC enters its 28th year of service and the 2008Atlantic hurricane season begins. Read made several contacts withAmateur Radio operators during the test.  "We all know how important it is to maintain communications during ahurricane to relay our hurricane warnings to those in the affectedarea which may have no other means to receive this vitalinformation," Read said. "We are also very appreciative for thesurface reports from those in the storm which add to our database andhelp our forecasters better visualize what is actually happening atthe ground level in real time. As our own ham radio station, WX4NHC,celebrates its 28th year of volunteer service at the NationalHurricane Center, we extend our thanks to all ham radio operatorsthat continue to support our mission to help save lives."  WX4NHC made 346 contacts during this event: 291 on HF and 55 onEchoLink/IRLP. They heard from 23 states and US territories, as wellas countries including Bermuda, Curacao, Jamaica, Cuba, Honduras,Estonia and Canada.  "The WX4NHC Coordinators and Operators extend their thanks to all hamradio operators that participated in our Annual Station Test," Ripollsaid, "and look forward to your continued support during thehurricane season."  + LETTERS: New E-Mail Software There is new software entitled JNOS for passing e-mail messages overAmateur Radio during emergencies: <http://ronhashiro.htohananet.com/am-radio/packet/jnos.html>  Readers can download the program, and try it as noted in thedocumentation. Configuration is simple: it takes only ten to fifteenminutes editing in your call sign, password, and log-on banners toget started. The beauty of JNOS is the sending and receiving ofe-mail messages over the Internet as well as Amateur Radioseamlessly. It can print incoming e-mail messages on a printerunattended, one message to a sheet, just like a fax machine.  JNOS will also take advantage of the ICOM ID-1 in digital data mode,and I'm in the process of testing and documenting that configuration.At some point, I'd like to implement this at Hawaii State CD and OahuDEM, when a sufficient critical mass has been implemented. -- RonHashiro, AH6RH, Honolulu, Hawaii State Civil Defense RACES + LETTERS: Red Cross Recruiting Hams in Chicago [The following was forwarded by Bob Small, K9MUY, Chief, EmergencyManagement, City of Oak Forest, Illinois <k9muy at netscape.net> andserves to enlighten ARES members as an example of Red Crossrecruiting efforts. Thanks, Bob. -- ed.] "Disaster Assessment Opportunity "I'd like to tell you about an interesting Red Cross activity whichmay be particularly appealing to Amateur Radio operators and toanyone interested in public safety and public service. "The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago is recruiting volunteersto join its Disaster Assessment Team. Disaster Assessment is anactivity that provides support in the earliest stages of disasterrelief operations. Team members gather, analyze, interpret and reportaccurate and timely information about the extent of damage andoverall impact, weather conditions, and demographics of adisaster-affected community. The team also provides mapping support.This information is reported and processed by various methodsincluding Red Cross and Amateur Radio, conventional telephones,computers, and paper. The Disaster Assessment team is engaged as soonas it is safe within minutes of a major storm or other eventoccurring. Some members of the team, if they are able, may continueassessment activities for days following the event. "We think this activity may be particularly appealing to AmateurRadio operators because, as hams, we are committed to public service,we have invested in radio equipment, and for many of us, we haveemergency communications training and experience with damageassessment and reporting from our weather spotting activities. "Please let me explain how this will work. The Disaster Assessmentteam will be comprised of three types of volunteers depending on theamount of time and scope of involvement one is able to provide. Thefirst two types of volunteers, which we call Core and Affiliatedvolunteers, upon the chapter obtaining satisfactory backgroundchecks, are issued Red Cross identification and are allowed todisplay the Red Cross signage on their vehicles when conducting fieldassignments. "However, unlike core volunteers who choose to be much more involvedwith the chapter, Affiliated volunteers are used when a disasterhappens and are not solicited for additional participation within thechapter. In other words, Affiliated volunteers will be focused on theDisaster Assessment activity. "The third type of volunteers, which we call External Partners,unlike Core and Affiliated volunteers, are not required to havebackground checks, but then will not be issued Red Cross credentials,will not be able to display the Red Cross signage on their vehiclewhile conducting Disaster Assessment activities, and the Red Crosswill not assume liability for their service. "As you can see, there are opportunities for everyone in thisimportant activity. There is some Red Cross, Emergency Management,and weather spotter training required of all three types of teammember, which will be provided at no cost to the volunteer. Some ofthis training is available online and the classroom training will bescheduled at times and locations with consideration for the volunteerschedule. "In closing, the Greater Chicago chapter serves about 8.5 millionpeople in seven counties covering more than 4,000 square miles, andas a Regional Chapter, lends support to the Northwest Indiana, GrundyCounty, Kankakee County, and Fox-River Valley chapters. If you areinterested in being a core, affiliated, or external partner DisasterAssessment volunteer, please reply by e-mail to<DisasterAssessment at arcgcdst.org> and someone will follow-up with youpromptly." /s/ Craig Dieckman, KC9HWK, Volunteer Lead-DisasterServices Technology, Disaster Services, American Red Cross of GreaterChicago <www.chicagoredcross.org> + LETTERS: Message Content Needed Here in Utah we don't have a lot of disasters, but we do spend a lotof time on drills and simulations. My issue is: You tell us a lotabout what ham radio units worked with which agencies, but neverdiscussed are the actual contents of messages. It would help oursimulations if I could be more aware of the contents of the messagespassed by amateurs. If your contributors could keep this need in mindwhen reporting, that would be a great help to us. -- Jim Cox, W7QIS,Pleasant Grove, Utah <JCW7QIS at cs.com>  + LETTERS: On Obesity in Hams [Here are two comments received in response to my editorial item onobesity in the last issue - ed.] In re your comment in the last issue "Other than the obvious one, anadditional benefit of a good diet and exercise is a more professionalappearance to served agency officials," good one, Rick. Exercising akey or the push-to-talk switch isn't quite enough. Too many of us areeither on the radio or couch potatoing in front of the tube whenwe're not killing ourselves with our fork or swilling down a fewbrews. I have seen too many publicity pix with the hams that haven'tseen their belt buckles in years. - Gary Britten, W4GNB, Wilmore,Kentucky There are more pressing problems in ham radio than "fat people." Icannot believe you have gotten into medical subjects at all. Justwhen our populace got over "classifying" people, you start publishingletters bashing fat people, whose medical problems you have NOT ACLUE! Go pick on smokers now. -- Larry Coppala, K4SFC, Fairdale,Kentucky + LETTERS: Satellites in a Doomsday Scenario In re your comment in the last issue "Satellites may be all you havein a doomsday scenario, and are great ways to improve your operatingskill," this statement may not be entirely true. If by a doomsdayscenario you mean a nuclear event, the detonation of a single nucleardevice or many nuclear devices will create EMPs that will wipe outmost solid-state equipment on earth and in space. It was the Russianstesting nuclear devices that fried Telstar. - Mike Hemeon, K1MH, NBCPrincipal Engineer Satellite Systems (retired) + LETTERS: United Way Lead for ESF 15 in Palm Beach County The following report is a new one on me. I checked United Way's Website and there is no mention of "communications" or a "communicationsplan." I wonder how Amateur Radio volunteers would play into thisarrangement: "United Way of Palm Beach County [Florida] is the lead agency for'Emergency Support Function 15 Volunteers and Donations' in PalmBeach County's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. That meansshould a hurricane or other disaster hit Palm Beach County, UnitedWay would coordinate volunteers and donations to assist the County inrecovery efforts. Part of United Way's Disaster Volunteer Managementincludes Operation Step Up - Volunteer Reception Center, or VRCs. TheVRCs would open within 72 hours of a disaster and would serve as acentral location for the coordination of volunteers assisting in therelief efforts. United Way of Palm Beach County recruits volunteersyear-round who would help staff VRCs, especially those volunteers 55years of age or older. United Way provides VRC operations trainingincluding the roles of VRC volunteer staff. "Here's how a VRC would work: In an instance of disaster, United Wayof Palm Beach County would open a VRC and would call registered VRCvolunteers to help staff the VRC. Next, the County, other governmentsand agencies would inform United Way where they need assistance.Then, United Way's VRC would coordinate volunteers and send them tothe areas in need." Do any readers have any insight into this? - Warren Rothberg, W4WR,former New Hampshire Section Manager and New England Division ViceDirector <w4wr at bellwouth.net>, + LETTERS: Diminished Licensing, Technical Standards I read with interest the recent opinions about the role of relaxedtest standards on the technical competence of the amateur community.As someone who has been away from the hobby for about a decade, andrecently became active again on VHF and UHF, I have to observedecline in our effectiveness I've noticed which has little to do withexams. Simply put, we appear to be licensing lots of new hams, butfailing them after they get their tickets. I notice this in two majorareas. First, some newcomers appear unable to master the daunting featuresets of even low-end FM transceivers. I've heard ARES volunteersunable to field-program a new frequency, CTCSS tone, or otherunexpected setting, not just when using unfamiliar rigs at emergencyoperations centers, but even when using their own handhelds. Second, we appear to have many hams operating FM who have extremelylow audio levels, don't realize it, and/or don't know what to doabout it. It occurs to me that we old-timers who learned AM modessuch as SSB on HF probably developed better awareness of ensuringadequate audio levels. Perhaps newer hams accustomed to consumerelectronics and "automatic record level" everywhere have neverlearned the basics of mic technique and setting proper audio levels. In the spirit of "bring me solutions, not problems," let me suggestthat clubs and ARES groups, where possible, bring back the annual"rig clinics" which were once popular, at which members were invitedto bring their rigs, service manuals and little screwdrivers, and alocal two-way shop or well-equipped ham brought the equipmentnecessary to check for frequency accuracy and deviation. When we holdroutine training nets, let's be honest with signal reports, and offerthem even when they're not requested. If someone checks in with voiceaudio that's neck-and-neck with his own CTCSS tone, don't tell himhe's "loud and clear!" Consider recording receive audio during a training net, and postingthe entire recording in MP3 format on a club or ARES Web site fordownload. Some of us never get to hear our own received signal, atleast not in comparison to other signals during a net on an FMrepeater. During at least some training nets, let's also practice ashort-notice, mass migration to another repeater or simplexfrequency, odd split, or a change in CTCSS tone, acknowledge everyonewho gets there successfully, and follow up with instruction for thosewho don't. Finally, if you hold a course to prepare newcomers for the Technicianexam, consider adding a session two weeks after the test, and haveeveryone bring his new handheld. The owner's manuals are obviouslynot an adequate resource. In one community along the Oregon coast, 18 new Technicians hadgotten licenses and equipment specifically to be ready for anemergency. Just weeks later, their county was virtually cut off fortwo days by a storm-related break in a fiber-optic cable, and not oneof them could figure out how to get a piece of traffic to the outsideworld. This is not only a sad waste of human resources and expensivegear, but has to be demoralizing to anyone who tried his best to beprepared. None of this has anything to do with CW proficiency, or knowing yourHartley from your Colpitts. This is simply, "No Ham Left Behind." --Paul W. Plack, AE4KR, Murray, Utah + CORRECTION: AO-51 Frequencies In the "The View From Flagler County" article last month, the uplinkand downlink frequencies for AO-51 are incorrect. The uplink is145.920 MHz and the downlink is 435.300 MHz. I like the suggestionabout adding Satellite Ops to the Emcomm portfolio, you never knowwhen you might need that! -- Jeff Moore, KE7ACY, Deschutes CountyARES, Bend, Oregon + K1CE For A Final Ham radio is about collegiality and friendship, and we enjoyedheaping portions on Friday, June 13, when friends and colleagues ofretiring Northern Florida Section Manager Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP,gathered at historic Wakulla Springs lodge to honor him. Hubbardserved as SM for 18 years, returned ARES to a place in the state EOC,and worked tirelessly to track Florida operators traveling to meetKatrina communication needs along the Gulf Coast. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said it perfectly: "Dear Rudy:Twenty-five years ago, at a point in life when many people arebeginning to wind down, you were just getting started in your serviceto the ARRL Northern Florida Section: as Public Information Officer,then as Section Emergency Coordinator and finally as Section Managerfor 18 years. Amateur Radio and the State of Florida have seen manychanges over the past quarter-century, but your dedication and yourwillingness to speak up have been two great constants that haveserved the ARRL, Amateur Radio, and the public very well.  "Today your colleagues have gathered to pay you well-deservedtribute. As you prepare to transfer the heavy responsibility ofSection Manager, please know that admiration for Rudy Hubbard andgratitude for his service extend well beyond the boundaries ofNorthern Florida. On behalf of the ARRL, its members, officers,directors and staff, thank you." See you next month! 73, Rick K1CE Copyright American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved ======================================================================The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each monthby the American Radio Relay League--The National Association ForAmateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200;fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN,President. The ARES E-Letter is an e-mail digest of news and information ofinterest to active members of the ARRL Amateur Radio EmergencyService (ARES).  Material from The ARES E-Letter may be republished or reproduced inwhole or in part in any form without additional permission. Creditmust be given to The ARES E-Letter and The American Radio RelayLeague. Editorial questions or comments: Rick Palm, K1CE, k1ce at arrl.netDelivery problems (ARRL direct delivery only!): ares-el-dlvy at arrl.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery:ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site,http://www.arrl.org/members/. You'll have an opportunity duringregistration to sign up for e-mail delivery of the The ARES E-Letter,W1AW bulletins, and other material. ARRL members may subscribe to TheARES E-Letter by going to the Member Data Page at:http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1 Note that you must be logged in to the site to access this page.Scroll down to the section "Which of the following would you liketo receive automatically via email from ARRL?" Check the box for"ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency communicationsnews)" and you're all set.  Past issues of The ARES E-Letter are available athttp://www.arrl.org/ares-el/. Issues are posted to this page afterpublication.======================================================================
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