Hurrex is this week

The annual GEMA and EMA Hurricane Drill (HURREX) will be active May 14 (Monday), May 15 (Tuesday), and May 16 (Wednesday). This drill will simulate a major hurricane (Hurricane “Jerry”) striking the Georgia coast near Savannah which would require the evacuation of Savannah and
coastal regions. The statewide ARES Net will be active during the drill in support of GEMA and local EMA’s and other served agencies, with the following planned schedule:

Monday, May 14. (Pre landfall of Hurricane) VHF and UHF and D-star systems active.
No planned Statewide ARES Net. 3975 kHz “guarded” if necessary.

Tuesday, May 15. (Post landfall of Hurricane) Landfall will occur in morning hours.
9:30 A.M. Georgia ARES Net 3975 kHz active for ADMN and coordination purposes. All stations are asked to check in.
1:00 P.M. Georgia Traffic Net active on 7287.5 kHz to pass traffic going to Georgia coastal areas.
2:00 P.M. Georgia ARES Net active on 7275 kHz to be of assistance until 3:30 P.M.
4:00 P.M. Georgia ARES Net active on 3975 kHz on standby for any
traffic if needed until 5;30 P.M.

Wednesday, May 16. (Recovery and de-briefing)
9:30 A.M. The Georgia ARES Net will be active on 3975 kHz for any other traffic and de-briefing. The drill will conclude at 1:00 P.M.

All amateurs are encouraged to take part in this years’ HURREX Drill.

GA ARES HF Net moves back to 6:00pm EDT starting Sun 3/11/12

The GA ARES HF net on 3.975 MHz will move back to 6:00pm EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) on Sundays starting on Sunday 3/11/2012 due to the change back to Daylight Savings Time.

Region F Hospital Tornado Drill

On Thursday, May 10, 2012, many hospitals in Region F (most of which falls in our Central district) will conduct a tornado drill. This drill will begin at 8:00am.

Amateur radio will be tested, using various modes, from each of the participating facilities, routing traffic between facilities as well as to officials in the Region F offices.

More information will be posted as the plans for the drill evolve.

Here is a list of the facilities involved in the exercise:

Central GA Rehab Hosp

Coliseum Medical Center

Coliseum Northside Hosp

Piedmont Henry Hosp

Houston Medical Center

Medical Center of Central GA

Monroe County Hosp

Regency Hosp of Central GA

Spalding Regional Medical Center

Sylvan Grove Hosp

Upson Rational medical Center

Children’s Healthcare of ATL.

Also

Cherry Blossom Heath and Rehab

Westbury Health & Rehab

Bibb County Medical Society

GA ARES Database Update

The Georgia ARES Database has been in the process of moving for quite a while now.

I am happy to announce that the move has been completed, and the database is now on a new server, with an SSL certificate that won’t make your browser (assuming you’ve updated your browser in the past 3 or 4 years) complain about something being broken.

You’re encouraged to get your database record updated as soon as possible, so that the lastest, greatest information is there in case your EC, DEC or other ARES official needs to access it and reach you.

Thank you for your patience during the time it has taken to get everything moved over to the new server.

73 de Dave Stewart, KN4DS

Recap of GA ARES Statewide Annual Meeting-Sat 1/21/12

Here is a brief recap of the annual statewide GA ARES Meeting that was held on Sat. 1/21/12 at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, GA (more updates coming soon…) The meeting started around 9:30am with many in attendance.

WB4NWS, Jim Millsap, DEC of Metro Atlanta spoke.

Nick Brown, GEMA Statewide Interoperable Communications Coordinator spoke on the importance of interoperability and about the NIFOG guide. Here is a copy of his presentation on Interoperability Communications.

During the lunchtime break there were many displays on topics such as

NWS: Moderator KN4YZ, Lynn Bianco, ASEC
PUBLIC HEALTH: Moderator W4TGA, Barry Kanne, ASEC
DIGITAL: Moderator KG4VUB, Tom Olley, ASEC
NETS & TRAFFIC: Moderator K4GK, Charles Pennington, DEC
D-STAR: Moderator WB4QDX, John Davis
ARRL: Moderator W4AYK, Gene Clark, SM

KD5EJN, Lans Rothfusz, chief meteorologist of the National Weather Service at Peachtree City, GA spoke on the latest in severe weather forecasting.

AG4ZR, David Benost, GA ARES ASEC, spoke on the GA ARES badges.

Plans for the GA ARES 2012 Annual SET were announced.

The GA ARES Ham of the Year, K4SJR, Frank Dean was presented an award.

W4AYK, Dr. Gene Clark, GA ARRL SM spoke on what is the EC (Emergency Coordinator)?

KG4IUM, Andrea Hartlage, GA ARRL SE Division Vice Director gave an update on activities in the SE Division of the ARRL.

KE4FGF, Mike Brown, GA ARES SEC, spoke on the results of the GA ARES 2010 SET, KF4VBR, Robert Tyler is retiring as the maintainer of the GA ARES website and the website duties will be transferred to KN4DS, Dave Stewart, and the GA ARRL has a Facebook Page.

The meeting adjourned around 4:00pm

Submitted by KE4QCM, Tom Fuller, ASEC Reporting-GA ARES,  GA ARES Assistant Webmaster.

NEWSFLASH: GEORGIA’s NEWEST HAMFEST – UPDATED -

The annual ARES meeting has been upgraded to an ARRL Hamfest status as the “Georgia ARES Convention”. It will feature door prizes, morning and afternoon discussions and a 2 hour period of “Booths” such as NTS, Soundcard Digital Modes, D-STAR, ARRL, and the ID Badge.

Talk-in is 146.52 simplex.

Route is to take I-75, to Exit 188, and go West (travelling North-bound that
means circle back and under I-75) cross the railroad tracks and go North
(right)on Indian Springs Drive. This is an important meeting for those
interested in ARES and EMCOMM.”

Location:
Georgia Public Service Training Center
1000 Indian Springs Drive Forsyth, GA

Date and Time: January 21, 2012 9:30am   <–  :NOTE: Time change

Download the Meeting Agenda:
In .PDF Format: 2012 ARES Meeting AGENDA.pdf
In .DOC Word Format: 2012 ARES Meeting AGENDA.doc

New time for GA ARES HF net-starting 11/6/11 it will start Sundays at 5:00pm EST (2200z)

The GA ARES HF net will move to Sundays at 5:00pm EST (2200z) starting on 11/6/2011 due to the time change.

New Ham Radio Documentary Filmed in Georgia.

Stephen Bentley will be filming a documentary on whether Ham Radio is relevant in the 21st century or not??? He will be filming at the Stone Mountain Hamfest -November 5 – 6.
To find out more go to http://tinyurl.com/ham-101

2011 SET FINAL PLAN for October 1, 2011

2011 GEORGIA SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST – October 1, 2011
(September 14, 2011 Version)

BACKGROUND:
One of the greatest strengths of Amateur Radio is our ability to get the message through in spite of all obstacles thrown in our way. Be it mother nature or a man-made disaster, Hams get the job done. Even when our capability is degraded by power outages, solar storms, or anything else, we strive to fulfill our communications duties. With that in mind, the 2011 SET will test our ability to “get the message through” when all else fails.

The entire document can be viewed by clicking the “Read more” link or downloading the word document here: 2011_GEORGIA_SET_final_rev.doc

Read more »

Statewide HF Nets during Annual SET

The Georgia Section Statewide HF ARES Nets will be active during the annual Simulated Emergency Test scheduled for October 1, 2011.

The Statewide Nets will be active in support of Emergency Coordinators and various user agencies for the purpose of forwarding messages over longer distances than can be handled on local VHF and UHF nets, and to give increased exposure to ARES throughout the state and to encourage ARES membership and activity through a high level of visibility..

The following schedule will be in effect:

9:00 A.M. Statewide ARES Net 3975 KHz Lower Sideband
9:30 A.M. Statewide Digital Net (PSK31) 3583 KHz Upper Sideband
10.00 A.M. Statewide ARES Net 3975 KHz Lower Sideband
10:30 A.M. Georgia State (CW) Net(GSN) 3549 KHz CW
11:00 A.M. Georgia ARES Net 3975 KHz Lower Sideband
11:30 A.M. ARES Net Propagation Check 5330.5 KHz Upper Sideband
12:00 A.M. Georgia ARES Net 3975 KHz Lower Sideband
1:00 P.M. Georgia Traffic Net 3987.5 KHz Lower Sideband

Different Net Control Stations will be used for each net session.

The Georgia State (GSN) Net will be called on slow speed for the purpose of this special net.

All stations should review FCC rules regarding operations on the 60 meter band before transmitting on the ARES Net at 11:30 P.M. (Max. 50 Watts output, dipole antenna, and no tuning up of carriers, etc.)

Georgia scored high score nationally during last years S.E.T. Let’s do it again!

Don’t forget to send in those reports at the end of the Test.

Best wishes to all, and let’s have fun on the 2011 Annual Simulated Emergency Test.

Charles Pennington, K4GK
Section Traffic Manager
Georgia

Two Bike Rides Need Communicators.

Gary AD4GS (EC Troup County) is asking for more hams to communicate for the Cox Multiple Sclerosis bike ride starting at Callaway Gardens the 17th and 18th of September.

They are expecting 2500 riders and the LaGrange Amateur Radio Club will need some help. They will feed us Saturday (breakfast, lunch and dinner), and Sunday (breakfast and lunch). If anyone could come either day or even just for three or four hours this would be appreciated.

For more information: Please contact Lee Becham at kd4nts@arrl.net and also see the Website:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/gaa/fundraising-events/bike-ms/cox-atlanta-ride-2011/index.aspx.

Two different rides with a trail ride starting on Saturday at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, GA and on Sunday, a road ride will begin and end at Camp Twin Lakes- Rutledge, GA.

For more information: Contact Bill Ronay at KM4LS@arrl.net and the website for more info: http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=461127

Dr. Gene commented “As a cyclist acquainted with such long distance bike rides I know this will be fun for riders and for communicators.”

Hurricane Irene – Update

Irene spared most of the southern states from her fury, as there was very little disturbance of lifestyle all the way from the tip of Florida to most of North Carolina. Parts north did not fare as well due to extreme flooding and some wind damage. Georgia ARES DEC Bob Butler (W4RBB) will get to see some of Irene’s handy work up close and personal as he was deployed to UpState NY and Vermont, by the Red Cross.

Bob stated ” The devastation is unbelievable. Whole towns are isolated and Pratteville, NY is all but gone. I will probably be helicoptered into there on Thursday. I can tell you this….ARES is a very integral part of the NY (state and local) disaster response plans. The station at the Greater New York Chapter is robust and well equipped….vhf, uhf, hf and D-Star. The station is adjoins the Chapter EOC. which rivals many of our county EOC(s) lay-outs. I will have more on this later”.

Hurricane Irene – Preliminary Status

At this time Hurricane Irene has crossed over the Dominican Republic’s northern coast with winds of 90+ miles an hour and traveling N – NE at about 9 miles an hour ground speed. The current estimated path is shown below from the NWS computer models.
Read more »

UPDATE ! ! Cherokee County – Multi County Net

08/22/2011
2100 hrs

Subject: Cherokee County GA ARES conducts special multi-county test net

A special ARES test net was called at 2000hrs by Cherokee County, GA ARES to test multi-county communications on VHF simplex/cross-band (Woodstock GA-WB4NWS station), and two separate mountaintop repeaters (Mt. Oglethorpe-Jasper, Pine Log Mtn-Waleska), located 20 miles apart in separate counties (Pickens, Cherokee), all on emergency power.

The test was notified to multiple recipients in Metro Atlanta District ARES and Northwest GA District, via email (with about 3 hours notice) to test cross county communications and even outside the State of GA. The event was a simulated ice storm (October 2011 SET scenario). The notice was also published on Twitter and GA-ARRL Facebook page (thanks Robert Tyler and Mike Brown).

At 2000hrs, the net was initiated by Juan Quiroga, WW4WX, EC-Cherokee County, GA. on 145.430 WB4NWS repeater, located at 3100ft on Mt. Oglethorpe. After all check ins were taken and traffic passed, the net was moved to cross band repeat of VHF simplex (147.585 located in Woodstock, GA) to UHF 443.075 Cherokee ARES repeater (located on Pine Log Mtn, Waleska, GA at 2300 ft). This was to simulate a repeater at one site to fail (due to ice/wx taking down antenna) and all communications switching to simplex cross band to continue cross county communications at another repeater site. As a note, both the WA4EOC and WB4NWS repeaters have emergency backup power, as well as WB4NWS cross band repeat location.

The results were quite favorable (12 counties, 2 States) considering the short notifications and distances. A total of forty-one (41) hams in twelve (12) counties checked in, eleven (11) counties from Georgia and one (1) in Bradley County, Cleveland, Tennessee (John-N4AOW). 35 hams in twelve (12) counties checked in on the 145.430 Mt. Oglethorpe Repeater with the farthest contacts were Charles-WA4UJC and Greg-KI4NWD 75 miles away in Newton County. John-N4AOW was about 65 miles line of site from Cleveland Tenn. The other counties were: Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Lumpkin, Newton, Paulding, and Pickens counties. What is amazing is when we switched to simplex cross band, 27 hams were still able in 11 counties to check in, including John in Cleveland, Tn., to Jim’s cross band in Woodstock (about 70 miles, no extra help from conditions). At least 5 folks were on HT’s, one mobile, with one HT operating on 1 watt at a distance of 33 miles to the repeater! (ok so the UHF repeater does have a receiver pre-amp, but still impressive).

While it is understood not everyone has advantages of 2300 and 3100 ft mountaintops for repeaters, at least one common ground we share is a cross band repeat set up at one ham’s QTH (like Jim-WB4NWS Woodstock location), certainly can help in emergency conditions. So, I am sure every EC has identified which member has the best cross band location for their county and can activate quickly. Planning is an integral part of any successful ARES emergency communications and testing in advance to ensure messages can be sent/received, not just on HF, but on VHF, UHF, CW, Voice, and Digital, is mission critical. Plan, Test, Activate. The October SET will test cross county and State communications, so be prepared for anything.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to test with this special net. Attached is the check in list for reference. 73′s,

Jim Millsap-WB4NWS
DEC-Metro Atlanta District
DEC-Metro Atlanta

CLICK HERE FOR CHECK-IN LIST

2011 SET Draft.

2011 GEORGIA SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST
(August 10, 2011 Version – rev. 3)

BACKGROUND:

One of the greatest strengths of Amateur Radio is our ability to get the message through in spite of all obstacles thrown in our way. Be it mother nature or a man-made disaster, Hams get the job done. Even when our capability is degraded by power outages, solar storms, or anything else, we strive to fulfill our communications duties. With that in mind, the 2011 SET will test our ability to “get the message through” when all else fails.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this drill is to test our capabilities to relay a simple message in an environment where normal means of Amateur communications are severely degraded or non-existent. A secondary goal is to involve Technician Class licensees in a large-scale emergency communications drill.

Read more »