NE-FL D-STAR System

The Journal of the North East Florida D-Star Repeater Network

Archive for category ARES Events

BikeMS Training Session on the 27th

Aug 20

Posted by mikelee in ARES Events, ARES Training | No Comments

the first of two Training Sessions for this year’s BikeMS event will be held on Saturday the 27th of August at 15:00-17:00. Location will be the Flagler EOC in Bunnell (same as last year).

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Doug (N4FPS) is the Incident Commander again this year and will be leading the session. No RSVP required, but please contact your ARES EC to let them know if you plan to attend, so that they can put you on the duty roster for Event-Day assignments.

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We’re expecting a great turn-out this year and hope to see all of you there..!!

Some GREAT Field Day Press – with EMCOMM-1

Jul 5

Posted by mikelee in ARES Events, Flagler EOC, HF Antennas and Operation, Work Party | No Comments


(click to enlarge)

FPCARC’s field day was almost a bust – given that the Flager EOC was occupied by firefighters from the Division of Forestry – diligently fighting the stubborn fires in Flagler and Volusia Counties. The club moved the venue to Palm Coast Data, who  offered to host the group in the spirit of community involvement and support.

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The Daytona News Journal did a nice piece on Field Day – covering the activities of both “churches” in Flagler County – with good comments from Dave Snow about what got him into Amateur Radio, as well as the Field Day event itself. The coverage regarding FPCARC was mostly centered on the change in venue, but also about the EMCOMM-1 vehicle that was at the event. Our very own Doug (N4FPS) and yours truly were  featured in a full-width photo, as we were preparing for the Operation Communicate Freedom exercise occurring this week at Camp Blanding. The article is just an excerpt, but all the meat is there.

Operation Communicate Freedom – Reminders

Jun 28

Posted by mikelee in Analog Repeaters, ARES Events, ARES Training, D-Star Users, NET Operations, Winlink2K | No Comments

Operation Communicate Freedom will commence at 09:00 on Thursday, 30-June-2011. A number of wide-area repeaters will be used to enable communication across the 13-county area that is supporting the Region-3 exercise. To date, Fire/Rescue units from each of the counties, DOT, Flagler Hospital, FDLE, DOF, FEMORS, FBI, the Red Cross, Media and Amateur Radio have confirmed participation.

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Amateur Radio (specifically ARES) was specifically written into the plan  and we are expecting that there will be a number of tasks that will be assigned exclusively to our three teams, which test the capabilities of Amateur Radio to communicate when all other systems fail. As the ARRL’s slogan goes,  ”When All Else Fails”.

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There will be three teams deployed to Camp Blanding, starting Wednesday 29-June-2011 – to support three separate “Incident Sites”, that will be simulating numerous disasters within the Region 3 area. Nobody knows the exact scenario, since that will not be revealed until Thursday (and progressively during the day, not all at once). We anticipate that multiple frequencies (bands) and multiple modes will be employed – not just FM Analog and HF which are traditional for most amateurs – but also Packet, Winlink2K, DSTAR and other modes (including SatPhone, which is also supported on EMCOMM-1).

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This is an opportunity for Amateur Radio to shine – our capabilities are numerous and our teams are highly motivated. But there are a couple of reminders that might be warranted, namely :

  • The entire operation (including Amateur Radio) will be operated under the Incident Command System – using ICS procedures, chain-of-command and ICS forms.
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  • Everything needs to be documented – every communication (on an ICS-213), every communications plan (ICS-205), every communications capability (ICS-217A), etc..
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  • We MUST work as a team – and integrate ourselves into the ICS structure. No room here for lone-rangers or cowboys.
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  • BE CAREFUL what you say on the repeaters – there will potentially be observers and evaluators (including Media) listening to all of our frequencies (they have our ICS-205, so they know our entire communications plan).
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  • Make sure that you IDENTIFY, as required – but DO NOT over-identify (it’s very annoying). No need to say your call 3 times in a single transmission, or even on EVERY transmission. Once every 10 minutes or at the end of an EXCHANGE is sufficient.
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  • All traffic supporting the exercise should have the following preamble  - “This is an Exercise …….”   and end with “.. This is an exercise”
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  • All Real-World Traffic of a Priority or Emergency nature should have the following preamble “.. This is a REAL-WORLD EMERGENCY”.
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  • If exercise traffic is in progress and you have a real-world emergency, using the following protocol at the break between two stations “.. BREAK, EMERGENCY” – all stations should relinquish the frequency immediately to support the real-world emergency.
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My thanks to our Planning Chief, Doug (N4FPS) who put together the entire Communications Plan, including all of the coordination with the 13 counties’ Amateurs – no small job to be sure (nor short on frustrations). Doug created an outstanding ICS package that will truly impress the Exercise Organizers – using a lifetime of skills and experience gained from being an executive with the Florida Park Service.

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To all of you participating in this exercise – thank you for your sacrifice of time and your upcoming service. Let’s show the planners, observers and media what we’re capable of  - and stun them all with our professionalism. Be safe during the exercise – don’t take unnecessary risks. If you have any questions regarding the event, feel free to contact Doug (N4FPS), Ron (WB4GHU) or myself via any means possible.

NEFL DStar to Support Operation Communicate Freedom

Jun 26

Posted by mikelee in Analog Repeaters, ARES Events, D-Star Users, Go Kits, NET Operations | No Comments

Starting at about 08:30 on THURSDAY of this week, and continuing until approximately 17:00, all NEFL D-Star repeaters and REF034C will be allocated in support of the Operation Communicate Freedom exercise, which involved 13 counties in the NEFL area. DSTAR will be used as one (not the ONLY) channel for communications between Camp Blanding and the EOC sites that currently have DSTAR.

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Traffic between Camp Blanding Control (operating out of EMCOMM-1 at Camp Blanding) and EOCs will actually occur on multiple VHF and HF frequencies, but the ONLY facility that has Handheld coverage to multiple counties is DSTAR – including to State EOC if they were monitoring the exercise (which is NOT the case in this exercise). The importance of being able to operate in the Camp Blanding environment with multi-county coverage cannot be overstated, since Blanding is the Backup EOC for the State (in case Tallahassee is crippled).

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All are welcome to listen to the traffic on REF034C, and any PRIORITY or EMERGENCY Traffic will always take precedent on any of the DSTAR systems during the exercise.  If you do have priority or emergency traffic and exercise traffic is in progress, please simply interrupt with the phrase “Break – Priority”, or “Break-Emergency” and Net Control will relinquish the frequency at the earliest possible moment..

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This is the first multi-county exercise involving ARES and the regional inter-coordination agency in recent memory. We have a great plan, thanks to Planning Chief Doug (N4FPS) and we expect to make a good showing at the event.

Operation Communicate Freedom – Planning Update

Jun 25

Posted by mikelee in ARES Events, ARES Training, D-Star Users, Flagler ARES Admin, NET Operations | No Comments

Our Logistics Master (Doug – N4FPS) just finished the planning documents for the Operation Communicate Freedom Exercise to be held on June 30, 2011.

A total of 35 operators will be participating – a very good turn-out for such a short-notice event.

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Following are the two documents that our participants will need, namely the ICS-205 (Incident Communications Plan) and the ICS-211 or Deployment Roster and Check-in Sheet).

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Many non-ARES operators may not be familiar with the ICS documents, but they are REQUIRED (not optional) when we are supporting governmental agencies in ANY capacity, per the requirements of FEMA as well as the State. Amateur operators are required to have completed ICS-100/700, with many agencies requiring 200/800 in order to be considered “deployable”, since FEMA will only recognize volunteers and staff with these minimum qualifications.

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While there is a lot of passionate discussion on both sides of the ICS issue – the fact is that Amateur radio efforts in DIRECT support of City, County, or State agencies is generally NOT permitted without complying with ICS requirements and operating within the overall ICS command structure. When deployed, all of our operators report to the Incident Commander.

Following are the ICS-205 and ICS-211 (equivalent). This information, while not confidential, is only to be used to further the objectives of the exercise. Any who wish to use the forms for team education are welcome to do so.

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Incident Communications Plan, ICS Form 205

INCIDENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS PLAN 

NFL AMATEUR RADIO ONLY

  1. 1. Incident Name –Operation Communicate Freedom
  2. 2. Date/Time Prepared
 June 23, 2011 – 1100 Hrs 3. Operational Period Date/Time – June 30, 2011 -  0900 – 1615hrs
4. Basic Radio Channel Utilization
System/Cache Channel Function Frequency/Tone Assignment Remarks
HF 1 Primary HF Frequency to all Counties 3.950 MHz 

+- for QRN, QRM

 Main Exercise HF Frequency
All EOC’s and Mobile Response Teams		 Tactical Call Camp Blanding – Operator AI4YC
HF 2 Backup HF Frequency to all Counties 7.247 MHz 

+- for QRN, QRM

  

Backup Exercise HF Frequency

All EOC’s and Mobile Response Teams

 Tactical Call Camp Blanding – Operator AI4YC
VHF 3 Primary VHF  Link to Identified County EOC’s and Mobile Response Teams 146.925 MHz 

Tone 156.7

 Primary Camp Blanding Contact to: Clay, Nassau, Duval, Putnam Tactical Call Camp Blanding – Operator WB6RTH
VHF 4 Primary VHF  Link to Identified County EOC’s and Mobile Response Teams 146.820 MHz 

Tone 123.0

 Primary Camp Blanding Contact to: Alachua, Union, Bradford Tactical Call Camp Blanding – Operator WB6RTH
D-STAR VHF 5 Primary VHF D-STAR Voice –Local Repeaters Linked to Reflector 34C 

 

 KA4RES, KJ4RYI, KJ4RYF, KJ4RYG, Dongles, DVAPS 

REFLECTOR 34C

 Primary Camp Blanding Contact to:
Flagler and St. Johns Back-up for all other counties.		 Tactical Call Camp Blanding – Operator WB6RTH
VHF 6 Back-up VHF Repeater Link 145.210 

No Tone

 St. Johns County Repeater Tactical Call Camp Blanding – Operator WB6RTH
VHF 7 Back-up VHF Repeater Link 147.225 

Tone 156.7

 Keystone Heights Repeater Tactical Call Camp Blanding – Operator WB6RTH
D-Rats 

 

 8 All FL-CROWN.DYNDNS.ORG 

Network Only

 St. Johns Relay will Monitor and Relay to Camp Blanding Note this is the D-RATS reflector address for Crown District ARES
WL2K 9 All N4FPS@winllink.org St. Johns Relay will Monitor and Relay to Camp Blanding all WL2K Traffic Winlink for Exercise Communicate Freedom
APRS 10 All 144.39 MHz position and text messaging St. Johns Relay will Monitor and Relay to Camp Blanding all APRS Traffic APRS for Exercise Communicate Freedom
5. Prepared by (Communications Unit) 

D. Carter – N4FPS,

ARES Logistics
OCM
Ics-205

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Operation Communicate Freedom ARES Deployment Roster (ICS-211 Equivalent)
County or Location Amateur Operator Name Callsign Deployment Location Name
Camp Blanding Mike Lee WB6RTH EmComm 1 Command Vehicle
Camp Blanding Ron Mettler WB4GHU Sim Cell
Camp Blanding Jeffrey Schwartz AI4YC Camp Blanding / HF Operations
Alachua Jeff Capehart W4UFL Alachua EOC
Alachua Allan West WA4JD Alachua EOC
Alachua Judith Jones KI4QBZ Virtual Shelter #1 /Home
Alachua Peter MacKerron WA1WTF Virtual Shelter #2/ Home
Duval Martin Dockery KI4NIA Mobile Response
Duval Bob Elder W7WWK Mobile Response
Putnam Roger Woods WA4COL EOC
Putnam Randy Blasczyk KF4JUP EOC
Putnam Peter Van Duynhoven KD7ACX Viirtual Shelter #1 / Home
Putnam Richard Colavito WA4RAC Virtual Shelter #2 / Home
Flagler Phil McElrath K5BBC Flagler EOC
Flagler Rick Ruther KC2HFL: Virtual Shelter #1 / Home
Flagler Bill Schwartz WS1C Mobile Response
Flagler Steve Finger KB4DNQ Virtual Shelter #2 / Home
Bradford Paul Christensen W4IOK EOC Simulated Location
Union County Joel Whitten KJ4HRF EOC Simulated Location
Union County Henry “Skipper” Price KI4KYS EOC Simulated Location
Clay Adrian Gray KJ4BOT Thrasher Horne Special Needs Shelter
Clay Mark Fields N4QLC EOC
Clay David Elmore N4OOE Orange Park Medical Center
Clay Peter Duzant K4PAD Oakleaf High School (simulation)
Clay Leo Nadeau N4MRJ Orange Park High School (simulation)
Clay Mike Hendershot KJ4FEQ Relay Station
Clay James Mackinnon KB2EZN Lake Asbury Junior High School (simulation)
Nassau Brian Kopp KC5LPA Nassau County EOC
Nassau Eric Anderson W4FSA Nassau County EOC
Nassau Dwayne Morris KQ4XF Home (Simulated Hilliard Middle-Senior School Shelter)
Nassau Ronald Flournoy KC4MYV Home (Simulated Yulee Middle School Shelter)
Nassau Tom Mullen KJ4WVK Home (Simulated Callahan Intermediate School Shelter)
Nassau Tony Musselman W9AFM Home (Simulated West Nassau High School Shelter)
St. Johns Doug Carter N4FPS EOC / Relay Station

 

 

 

Operation Communicate Freedom – June 30

Jun 19

Posted by mikelee in Analog Repeaters, ARES Events, ARES Training, D-RATS Data, D-Star Repeaters, D-Star Users, Flagler ARES Admin, Flagler EOC, Go Kits, HF Antennas and Operation, NET Operations, Volusia ARES Admin | No Comments

Details have been slow to come, but here’s what we know..

  • Exercise prep/Briefing will be on June 29th (Wednesday) starting in the afternoon at Camp Blanding. Please DO NOT proceed to Camp Blanding, since this is a secure facility and only authorized (credentialed) staff will be allowed entry. We will have a contingent of 3 Amateurs onsite, to include the Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC – Ron Mettler). Information from the on-site briefing will be shared later that afternoon on an established channel or channels so that all will have access to the most current data. In addition, those participating will also receive an email with the most current information.
  • The exercise will primarily be on June 30 (Thursday before the July-4 holiday weekend). Exercise time will run from approximately 09:00 to 15:00, with after-action briefing at about 15:00 and de-mobilization starting at about 16:00. We will need staff at the real, or virtual EOC’s for each of the counties. VHF and HF capability will be required (preferred) – frequencies and communications protocol for the exercise will be distributed mid next week (7-days prior to the exercise).
  • There are 13 counties in the North East Florida region that are supposed to be participating in the drill :
    • Alachua
    • Baker
    • Bradford
    • Clay
    • Duval
    • Flagler
    • Gilchrist
    • Levy
    • Marion
    • Nassau
    • Putnam
    • St. Johns
    • Union
  • Amateur Radio will be an integral part of the exercise
  • The exercise will consist of two major parts :
    • A large scale disaster with numerous casualties in Duval County, and
    • A train derailment somewhere in the 13 county region – probably involving HazMat, NBC (nuclear, biological or chemical) or other considerations
  • We will be asked to pass traffic to as many of the 13 counties as possible, by whatever means possible
  • We will be asked to specifically use VHF and HF, in addition to other means
  • Digital and Analog modes can be used (like WinLink, D-STAR/DRATS, etc)
  • There will likely be traffic that needs to be passed to FL State EOC as well.

No other details are available (yet), but Doug and I will be working on the communications plan and the ICS forms package in the next few days.

Hurricane Party – Daytona Fire Station

Jun 12

Posted by mikelee in ARES Events, D-Star Users | No Comments

if you have some free time in the afternoon of June 30 (Thursday), considering joining the Hurricane Party – being held at the Daytona Beach Fire Station #7, at 2545 LPGA Blvd in Daytona Beach. Festivities are scheduled from 16:30-18:30 that afternoon and will include Hurricane Preparedness information, food and prizes.

I’ve attached a copy of the flyer if you’d like to go.

thanks to Marty (W9OV) for the info..!!

Florida Hurricane Net – Need NetControl Stations

Jun 11

Posted by mikelee in ARES Events, D-Star Users, NET Operations, Tropical Cyclones | 5 Comments

we’re running lean on Net Control Stations and need more, in order to reduce the burden on the few that we do have (especially in the summer, when there are vacations planned, yet it’s the middle of the Hurricane Season).

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If you can volunteer, even if just once per 4-6 weeks, please contact Bob (N6USP), Doug (N4FPS), Eddie (KJ4LRB) or myself (WB6RTH) – or post a reply here and we’ll contact you directly.

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This is a critically important net and will prove it’s worth during the next coming storm (or FIRES, for that matter, if they get any larger than they already are).

Amateur Radio “Proclamations”

May 18

Posted by mikelee in Analog Repeaters, ARES Events, D-Star Users | 5 Comments

The subject of Amateur Radio Proclamations by Government for Field Day has been a heated topic here in Flagler County for the last couple of weeks, due to actions taken by groups in the past. Here’s my viewpoint, for any who care to read and digest:

  • First, an Amateur Radio Field Day Proclamation is not an award – it is not earned, nor is it conveyed – it recognizes the value of the Amateur Radio Service as well as it’s constituency –  It is the community saying that we value ALL of Amateur Radio.
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  • Amateur Radio does not “belong” to any one group or club – it is a privilege that is conveyed to all individuals who bother to go thru the FCC mandated testing process and receive their appropriate level of license.
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  • Nor does recognition for Amateur Radio Field Day fall under the exclusive license of any single club or group – it “belongs”, if you care to use the word, to ALL AMATEURS IN THE COMMUNITY.
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  • Proclamations should be sought for the overall betterment of Amateur Radio in the respective community – those who would try to make it their own, through actions of omission or commission should have their motives questioned by the Amateur Radio community.  Seekers of the Proclamation should strive to insure that all licensed amateurs are notified of Proclamation events and are invited to participate in the Proclamation process. As always, good motives should be praised and selfish motives should be shunned.
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  • Acceptance of the Proclamation should be done by an individual who will bring recognition and honor to the ARRL Field Day and all of Amateur Radio. Instead of the president of a club receiving the award, to the exclusion of other clubs , how about something like “the youngest Extra class amateur in the community” – isn’t THAT the spirit of Amateur Radio – to promote the good works and value of the Amateur Radio COMMUNITY, not single individuals or clubs..? After all, Amateur Radio is about community service, not SELF service.
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Do I sound emotional about the issue – you bet I am..!!  I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes, but this is a matter of RESPECT and dignity to the entire Amateur Radio Community. Such was the Subject line of a recent email  - “DO THE RIGHT THING” – unfortunately, it was met with a rather terse and hot-headed reply, bringing shame and disgrace to Amateur Radio in this community.

If you are reading this and your blood is boiling – just look in the mirror – perhaps you are the problem.

Feel free to post a reply with your constructive comments, whether supportive or otherwise.

Shuttle Balloon – Apparent Touch Down, 10:30-

May 16

Posted by mikelee in ARES Events, ARES Training, D-Star Users, Work Party | No Comments

Looks like the last update on APRS was from 14:18z which is over 14 minutes ago, while at an altitude of 1,234ft. We’re guessing that there wasn’t enough antenna height to be able to relay GPS position via radio to the closest APRS node, so we’ll call this a “touch-down” for the Shuttle Balloon.

Thanks to the Quest 4 Stars organization for the balloon launch.

We’ll post pictures as we receive them..


(click to enlarge)