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Georgia Section On My Mind
December 2011
Looking toward the annual ARES
meeting in Forsyth on Saturday January 21, note that it has
been upgraded as an “Operating Specialty Convention”.
Thus the “Georgia ARES Convention” continues in
prominence as we study, plan and learn about ARES functions.
It starts at 9AM and will finish about 4PM.
A “brown bag” lunch is encouraged so that you don’t
have to waste the time looking for food during the 2 hour
noon-time as we have the several special tables to meet the
experts on topics such as Nets and Messaging, Digital
Soundcard Modes, D-STAR, The New ARES ID Badge, ARRL, and
others. Talk-in
will be via 146.52 Simplex.
Speaking of the ID badge, here is the report of the Georgia
ARES Badge Committee:
We have worked for years (off and
on) and through more than this administration to define a
functional ARES I.D. card.
The one now in use simply is a card signed by almost
anyone and has no recognition by anyone not in our
organization.
It seems unlikely that a card defined by a volunteer
organization such as ARES will be authenticated by the
served agencies such as GEMA, FEMA, Red Cross, Salvation
Army, or the local EMA, and give “privileges”.
Crossing the barricades or tapes will always be
controlled by the administering agency and we are unlikely
to get such an agency to stamp our card.
Now the ARES I.D. Badge Committee* has developed a
simple document which will generally show an amateur’s
experience and abilities.
For the Amateur interested in demonstrating his
knowledge of the National Incident Management System and
certified by ARES as “NIMS compliant” this is suitable for
presentation at an event whether drill or emergency.
We will present a final form at the annual Georgia
ARES Convention.
This is our own card sanctioned by ourselves as
ARES/ARRL and is similar to documents used in other
volunteer agencies.
The badge will be laminated, will have your picture
in it and will document a background check, which must be
provided by the amateur.
It will be dated and have a term of ten years.
It will be signed by the S.E.C. or his designee
before lamination.
Requirements include completion of an EC001
equivalent (or higher) course and completion of four FEMA
courses: IC
100, IC200, IC700, and IC800 and will, of course, require a
current amateur radio license which will also be documented.
The amateur will supply evidence of
an acceptable background check (to be described) and a
formal photo similar to that on your driver’s license for
the card. Cost
for production of the card is expected to be $15.00.
The FEMA courses are free on-line.
The EC001 course may be satisfied by a free course
that may be made available as developed by the GARS group.
The background check may perhaps be satisfied by
documents you already have in possession (such as weapons
permit) or can be available inexpensively through Jim Cote
at Wayne County EMA.
If you are interested in having this badge, you may
fill out the papers at the annual ARES Convention (Forsyth)
January 21 to initiate your background check if you need it.
This card is not required, it
carries no privileges and its absence will not diminish
privileges. It
certifies the amateur as “NIMS Compliant” and will serve to
satisfy other agencies that a person carrying it has certain
qualifications.
It is designed to assist in recommendations of the amateur
interested in deployment situations as ARESMAT.
*Members of the committee:
Mike Brown KE4FGF, Section Emergency
Coordinator; Gene Clark W4AYK, Section
Manager; David Benoist AG4ZR, Deputy
Section Emergency Coordinator; Jim Cote N4PJR,
Deputy Section Emergency Coordinator; Lynn Bianco
KN4YZ, Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator;
Barry Kanne W4TGA, Assistant Section
Emergency Coordinator; and Lowry
Rouse, Jr. KM4Z,
Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator.
The ARRL is looking for comments as
they update the Microwave band plan.
Currently the frequencies are:
-
902-928 MHz
-
1240-1300 MHz
-
2300-2310 and 2390-2450 MHz
-
3300-3500 MHz
If you are active in the Microwave
section they would like your ideas.
ARRL reports that LOTW has a delay
due to the high volume, the delay dropping from 60 hours to
about 22 hours processing time.
Please do not resubmit or put in logs with already
submitted entries as that will compound the delays.
As of November 9 there were 2.8 million qso’s in the
system.
Changes in the 60 meter (5 MHz)
band are a-coming, but not now active until 30 days after
published in the Federal Register (which at this time has
not been done).
We will be authorized a maximum of 100 watts ERP and one of
the frequencies will be exchanged for another.
Watch for official developments.
In Newton County Mike-AJ4GU
has set up an RMS packet station with the call sign of
AJ4GU-10. This will allow any ham to send
out a digital email message by packet radio. The station
frequency is 145.550mhz and can be used to check into nets
via Winlink. This is a good way to get started in VHF
Packet. For information or assistance, please contact
Mike-AJ4GU at 770-957-4225 or
[email protected]
Thanks to Jim KE4ZX
as he steps in to the EC position for Gilmer County, giving
Bruce KC4GH a well-deserved respite.
Thanks also for your service, Bruce!
Also, as Geof KE4IGD requests,
Bob KE4JLL assumes the mantle of EC for
Banks County in addition to that of Jackson County which he
continues to serve.
And working under direction of
John KE4RWR (DEC Southwest GA) will be
Tommy James KJ4SWI who will be ADEC for
Youth Development in the district.
You got a big job, Tommy, and thanks!
In an article entitled “HurriQuake
2011” Spence Spencer NX3SS, AEC for Operations, Prince
Georges Co., MD, writes about the Tuesday, August 23,
magnitude 5.8 earthquake that hit the Washington, DC, area,
and subsequent events. He reports that many cell phone
systems were overloaded, and even landlines had trouble,
with the increased traffic in the immediate aftermath of a
totally unexpected event. And compounding the problems, the
following Saturday night, Hurricane Irene passed nearby.
Nets were activated, emergency services were called on, and
generators failed, utility lines were knocked down, shelters
were needed, and the Green Mountain Repeater Assn's 2-meter
repeater was utilized in the absence of most other means of
getting the word out and the services coordinated – pretty
well defining just what constitutes an emergency! And how
ham radio can come to the forefront for effective responses.
Thanks Diana—(My plagiarism serves as a sincere form
of flattery!)
SK Report:
K4LEZ from the Dublin Amateur Radio
Club. Another
amateur who will be missed.
Upcoming events:
January: GARS
Techfest.
January 14, Lawrenceville.
See
http://gars.org.;
also ARES Convention January 21, Forsyth.
See
WWW.GAARES.org.
February:
Dalton Hamfest.
February 25, 2012.
http://DaltonHamfest.com;
Also South Carolina State Convention (Ladson).
February 4, 2012
http://www.wa4usn.org.
March:
Kennehoochie Hamfest March 17.
http://www.w4bti.org/hamfest__2012.html;
Also Alabama Section Convention (Birminghamfest) March 3.
W4cue.com;
Also Roanoke Division Convention (Charlotte N.C.)
March 10/2012.
http://www.W4BFB.org/hamfest.html.
Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report to ARRL
Headquarters
ARRL Section:
GA
Month:
NOVEMBER Year: 2011
AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Total number of ARES members:
*827
Change since last month: -193
reported (+, -, or same)
# of DECs/ECs reporting this month:
51
,# of ARES nets active: 182
,
# with NTS liaison:
0
Calls of DECs/ECs reporting:
see below
Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month:
233 Person
hours: 1354
Number of public service events this month:
14
Person hours: 386
Number of emergency operations this month:
13
Person hours: 227
Total number of ARES operations this month:
260
Person hours: 1967
Comments: see below
Signature:
Thomas Fuller
Call sign:
KE4QCM
ASECs/DECs/ECs
reporting
ASEC/DECs:
ASEC Digital Comms/KG4VUB, DEC East Central/KD4CK, DEC
GEMA/K5AES, DEC GA Public Broadcasting/WB4QDX,
DEC Georgia State Patrol/W4SKB, DEC Handiham/N0FBV,
DEC Metro Atlanta/WB4NWS, DEC National Weather
Service-Peachtree City/KD4YDC, DEC Northwest/KD4EKZ, DEC
Operations/KM4Z, DEC Salvation Army/WA4UJC, DEC
Southeast/K4GTM
ECs:
Central:
Butts/K3GWK, Crawford/WB4NKU, Dodge/KC5AVR, Macon/KI4BEO,
Putnam/KF4EOH, Washington/K4GK
East Central:
Columbia/K1OYQ, Richmond/AH6IW
Metro Atlanta:
Cherokee/WW4WX, DeKalb/W4TGA, Fayette/AG4ZR,
Gwinnett/WB4QDX, Newton/WA4UJC, North Fulton/W4UOC,
Paulding/K4DMF, Rockdale/KC4ELV
Northeast:
Barrow/K4JSR, Clarke/N4ZRA, Greene/KF4EOH, Morgan/KM4LS,
Towns/W4VFZ
Northwest:
Bartow/N4QET, Chattooga/AF4XZ, Floyd/KD4EKZ,
Gilmer/KC4GH, Gordon/AF4DN, Murray/AI4ZV,
Polk/KD4EKZ, Whitfield/AI4ZV
Southeast:
Chatham/K4GTM, Toombs/KG4BKO, Wheeler/KI4MNR
Southwest:
Baker/K4GCR, Dougherty/N4GPJ, Grady/KJ4UKR, Lee/W5VRV,
Seminole/K4TPD, Thomas/N4KXL
West Central:
Troup/AD4GS
Comments:
ASEC/DECs:
DEC East Central/KD4CK, I
spoke about Amateur Radio's capabilities at the Richmond
County LEPC - CARE meeting on Nov 18 to try to spur interest
from community organizations. Had excellent reports. Have
had one operator very interested in getting involved w/
digital
DEC GEMA/K5AES, 1.
Participated in Global SET, activating SOC Sta WX4GMA.
Passed 4 Winlink Msgs to G0DUB. 2. Participated in Digital
Training exercise with KG4VUB & W4AYK. 3. Participated in
Webinar discussing ARES related topics.
DEC GA Public Broadcasting/WB4QDX,
Performed routine software
maintenance and updates on all systems
DEC Georgia State Patrol/W4SKB,Nov
2 - ARRL Georgia Section Special Operations Go-To-Meeting -
1.5 hours Nov 9 - National EAS Test monitoring for GEMA/ARES
- .5 hour Nov 16 - Atlanta Full Scale Evacuation Exercise -
2 hours
DEC Handiham/N0FBV, one
new member got tech cd to study by will keep update don dec
handiham
DEC Metro Atlanta/WB4NWS, On November 6th at 4pm the Metro
Atlanta District ARES net was called by North Fulton County
with Mike Cohen, AD4MC as Net Control. We had 17 total check
ins, The net lasted 20 minutes. Total hours for net was
5hrs, 40m. The time for each individual is recorded in the
county of record for each ham in the GA ARES database.
DEC National Weather Service-Peachtree City/KD4YDC,Two
activations: #1 - Nov 16 (2 people, 8 hrs); EF0 Tornado
across Harris County, became EF1 just west of Hamilton,
continuing as an EF1 to just east the city, and becoming EF2
temporarily east of the city. From the SPC 16 Nov report,
AMATEUR RADIO RELAYED A REPORT OF DAMAGE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL
AND CARS IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL. #2 - 2
people, 5.75 hrs
DEC Northwest/KD4EKZ, Conducted National EAS Test at request
of Floyd County EMA Manager. Compiled and published a
listing of all known radio nets in the Northwest Georgia
District.
DEC Operations/KM4Z, Participated in two webinar meetings.
Updated Statewide ARES ID Card requirements with ID
committee.
DEC Salvation Army/WA4UJC,I am working with the net Manager
of the Southern Territory to upgrade the net operations and
provide more training for SATERN members.
ECs:
Central:
Butts/K3GWK,Facilitated a HamCram for Henry County, members
attended an ARRL PIO Webinar and SKYWARN training, sponsored
a VE Session (1 General). Monthly training meeting covered
Go-Kits and Fldigi. Work detail at the hospital; repaired
the hardline to the ham station antenna.
Crawford/WB4NKU,We were participants in 3 Skywarn Nets and
also worked on antennas for EOC.
Macon/KI4BEO, We have been working on linking the Montezuma
Repeater (146.640) to the Peach State Intertie. We hope to
have this completed tomorrow (Dec.1).
Washington/K4GK, ARES storm damage net called into session
after several storms caused damage to portions of Washington
County. Limited property damage reported with no injuries.
East Central:
Columbia/K1OYQ, Holiday season is here and members are
winding down. The Columbia County ARC taught a Ham Cram
course and licensed 8 more Sheriff's Deputies. We also
participated in the SCHEART's Ham Cram course in Columbia,
SC (Extra, General, and Technician courses)in October. Hope
everyone enjoys the upcoming holidays. Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year to all.
Richmond/AH6IW, 1. Hospital net - 2 person 2 hours
Metro Atlanta:
Cherokee/WW4WX, Cherokee ARES held 2 Emergency Nets due to
severe weather, 11-16 and 11-18. On 11-18 the EOC was
activated with ARES during a Tornado warning, but no damage.
3 Nets were held with 34 check ins in November. 1 misc. work
party on 11-12 to install new DB-224 VHF antenna on 145.430
repeater with 7/8 hardline.
Dekalb/W4TGA, Hospital Region D tornado exercise - 6 hours x
3 ops. Attended Tale of our cities, disaster training.
Fayette/AG4ZR, Miscellaneous activities include 911
Practitioner, County Commission Meeting, GPSTC coordination,
Lawrenceville seminars, Cabinet meetings, Various Nets,
Skywarn Recognition Day, SET preparation
Gwinnett/WB4QDX, Active membership adjustment to remove
inactive members before issuing new IDs, 11/16 Skywarn Net.
Newton/WA4UJC, We continue to conduct the weekly test of the
weather sirens for Newton County.
Paulding/K4DMF, One WX net on 11-16. Participated with
Paulding EMA teammates to provide communications for the
NJCAA 2011 National Half Marathon National Championships on
11-19. This event was held on a remote portion of the Silver
Comet Trail. Ham radio provided communications and live
reports on the progress of the race and safety of the
runners to keep the organizers and other officials informed.
The entire team received thanks from the sponsors,
organizers, and public safety officials for not only our
communications participation, but our technical expertise to
help with the PA system and by providing portable generators
to power the PA equipment.
Northeast:
Barrow/K4JSR, Held first County wide ARES meeting on
11/19/2011. Signed up 2 new members. November was really a
quiet month. Have several activities lined up in December.
Clarke/N4ZRA, The Clarke County ARES meeting was the Region
E Hospital tabletop exercise. It became clear that we have
only enough hams to start an emergency communications
response for most of our agencies if an emergency requires
the need for all our served agencies to respond. We also
discussed the upcoming Region E full scale exercise in
April. We also applied for a Clarke County ARES call sign
this month
Morgan/KM4LS, Attended Newton County ARES meeting/SKYWARN
Training on November 15. Accompanied by one member each from
Oconee County ARS (N4BWH) and Morgan County ARES (KC8SAX).
Morgan County Emergency Planning meeting November 17 with NE
GA Public Health reviewed hazmat and chemical detection
procedures.
Northwest:
Floyd/KD4EKZ,Floyd ARES members participated in the National
EAS test on November 9, supporting Floyd County EMA. One
emergency net was called for Severe Weather which
fortunately bypassed Floyd County.
Gilmer/KC4GH, Former EC Bruce Silk KC4GH and I, Jim Hadder
KE4ZX have switched positions. I understand this has to be
approved by the GA ARES management??? Please advise how to
proceed further. Meantime, here are the participation report
for this month: ARES presentations to Gilmer Co CERT Gp, and
addition presentation to EARS club meeting. Attended the
bi-monthly NW GA ARES/CERT meeting.
Gordon/AF4DN, Quiet month here in Nov. Just enjoying the
Holidays
Murray/AI4ZV, Please see Whitfield County report for
combined Murray and Whitfield County report
Polk/KD4EKZ, November 9, supporting Polk and Floyd County
EMA's. One emergency weather net was called for Severe
Weather which fortunately bypassed our area.
Whitfield/AI4ZV, This is a combined Whitfield and Murray
County report
Southeast:
Chatham/K4GTM, Active month with ARES members providing
communication support for two local races including the
Savannah Rock & Roll Marathon and the Flying Fortress 5K.
See a summary at
http://k4gtm.blogspot.com/2011/11/savannah-rock-roll-marathon-support.html
Southwest:
Lee/W5VRV, This time covers my time a net control for the
Georgia Traffic Net, Georgia Traffic & Emergency Net, and
checking into the various net.
Thomas/N4KXL, Slow this month thank God! Merry Christmas to
ALL!
Section Traffic Manager Report—Charles Pennington K4GK
Georgia Section
November
2011
Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)
K4BG 110
K4GK
110
K4BEH 108
WB4BIK 90
WA4UJC 85
N5EEO 80
Station Activity Report (SAR) (traffic)
K4BG
130
N5EEO 112
K4GK 106
WB4BIK 56
KE4R
48
K4BAI
18
WA4UJC 15
K4BEH
13
KJ4DRW 1
Section Nets
Georgia ARES HF Net
QNI-520 QTC-2 Sessions 4
3975 KHz 2200 UTC
Sunday
K4GK Net Manager
Georgia ARES Digital Net
QNI-64 QTC-0 Sessions-4
3983 KHz 2130 UTC
Sun
PSK31 Upper Sideband WB4NWS Net Manager
Georgia Single Sideband Net
QNI-2075 QTC-31 Sessions-30
3975 KHz 6 P.M. Daily
KE4VPD Net Manager
Georgia Traffic and Emergency Net
QNI- 932 QTC-21 Sessions=30
3982.5 KHz 7:15 P.M. Daily
W4AYK Net Manager
Georgia Traffic Net
QNI-284 QTC-19 Sessions-26
3987.5 KHz 1 P.M. M-Sa
WA4UJC Net Manager
Georgia Cracker Net
QNI-940 QTC-6 Sessions-30
3995 KHz 7 AM M-Sa and 8 AM
Sun
AF4XZ Net Manager
Georgia Training Net
(GTN) QNI-76 QTC-3 Sessions-27
3549 KHz 9 PM Daily Slow speed CW
KG4FXG Net Manager
Georgia State Net (GSN)
QNI-270 QTC-90 Sessions-60
3549 KHz 7 PM and 10 PM Daily
K4GK Net Manager
Until Next year!
Make it a good month!
Gene W4AYK
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