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CX2SA > ARES 21.04.24 17:01z 381 Lines 20277 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
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Subj: The ARES E-Letter - 04/2024
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The ARES E-Letter
=================
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE April 17, 2024
- ARES© Briefs, Links
- American Red Cross Nebraska-Iowa Region Winlink Exercise Develops Skills
- Amateur Radio Hurricane Networks Featured at the National Hurricane
Conference
- Spring Severe Weather Preparations Begin
- NWS Melbourne, Florida 2023 SKYWARN Recognition Day
- Winter Field Day in Florida
- World Amateur Radio Day 2024 -- "A Century of Connections: Celebrating 100
years of Amateur Radio Innovation, Community, and Advocacy"
- K1CE for a Final: IARU and ITU
- ARES© Resources
ARES© Briefs, Links
-------------------
World Amateur Radio Day is Tomorrow -- Every April 18, radio amateurs
worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day. It
was on this day in 1925 that the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
was formed in Paris.
Amateur radio experimenters were the first to discover that the shortwave
spectrum -- far from being a wasteland -- could support worldwide
propagation. In the rush to use these shorter wavelengths, amateur radio was
"in grave danger of being pushed aside," the IARU's history has noted.
Amateur radio pioneers met in Paris in 1925 and created the IARU to support
amateur radio worldwide.
Colorado State University Issues Hurricane Season Forecast -- Colorado State
University hurricane researchers are predicting an extremely active Atlantic
hurricane season in their initial 2024 forecast. The team cites record warm
tropical and eastern subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures as a
primary factor for their prediction of 11 hurricanes this year. When waters
in the eastern and central tropical and subtropical Atlantic are much warmer
than normal in the spring, it tends to force a weaker subtropical high and
associated weaker winds blowing across the tropical Atlantic. These
conditions will likely lead to a continuation of well above-average water
temperatures in the tropical Atlantic for the peak of the 2024 Atlantic
hurricane season. -- Colorado State University Forecasting
American Red Cross Nebraska-Iowa Region Winlink Exercise Develops Skills
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The American Red Cross Nebraska-Iowa Region is working to develop
capabilities for Red Cross amateur radio operators and other interested
amateur radio organizations to support disasters that may occur in the
region. As all amateur operators know, an ability to communicate in the
absence of internet and cell phone service could be critical in the early
stages of a disaster response.
For a localized event, voice communications might be adequate, but for a
larger event the ability to deliver formatted email using Winlink Global
Radio Email would be extremely valuable.
Amateur radio operators can send and receive Winlink messages using HF or
VHF radio depending on their location, license class, and equipment.
An exercise using Winlink messaging was conducted Saturday, March 23, 2024.
The exercise was controlled from the W0EQU station located at the Omaha Red
Cross headquarters. Participation was invited from Amateur Radio Emergency
Service© organizations within the region as well as from amateurs with some
Red Cross affiliation from across the country. Operators were invited to
submit Winlink Check In forms via radio (if equipped) via the Winlink system
to the W0EQU station. If the operator had the ability to use multiple radio
paths (modes or frequency bands) to submit check-ins, that was invited.
Results:
W0EQU received 81 successful check-ins with the following characteristics:
62 distinct amateur radio operators checked in at least once.
Check-ins came from 14 different states, the most distant being Alaska.
28 of the messages were originated over a VHF radio connection (relatively
short range between the transmitting station and the Winlink Gateway station).
30 were originated over an HF radio connection (up to hundreds of miles from
the transmitter to the Gateway).
20 were originated over the internet (not via radio).
ALL messages were received at W0EQU and all outgoing traffic sent over a VHF
link to a local Gateway.
A map detailing all messages is available at the Exercise Participant Map.
Additional Activities
W0EQU also activated no-notice VHF FM voice networks on three of the local
FM repeaters to evaluate the ability of the Red Cross station to act as net
controller using those repeaters. The repeaters activated include the K0USA
repeater in North Omaha, the W0WYV repeater in Bellevue, and the N0WKF
repeater in Glenwood, Iowa. Local operators checked in to all three of the
nets.
A special test was conducted with Jerry Davis, KA4QVH, in Cleveland,
Georgia, using VARA HF Peer-to-Peer. This mode allows passing Winlink
traffic directly from one station to another over HF radio, with no internet
anywhere in the picture. This would be used in the event of a widespread
internet outage. The operators were successful passing messages directly to
each other over a distance of 808 miles.
Next Steps
The American Red Cross Nebraska Iowa Region hopes to conduct more exercises
like this and to build up connections with amateur radio organizations and
operators across the two states. For more information or to discuss
involvement with the Red Cross contact the NEIA Region Amateur Radio
coordinator for the Red Cross, Marty Malley, WK0E.
Amateur Radio Hurricane Networks Featured at the National Hurricane Conference
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The National Hurricane Conference was held March 25 - 28, 2024, in Orlando,
Florida. A series of workshops were held that focused on amateur radio's
involvement in hurricane tracking, coverage, and recovery.
Among the presenters was the Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator of WX4NHC
at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) Julio Ripoll, WD4R. Ripoll gave a
history of amateur radio's involvement in NHC, including the use of tube
radios in the 1980s and the Yaesu FTDX-1200 used today. WX4NHC is also
equipped with VHF/UHF radios to access the Florida Statewide Amateur Radio
Network (SARnet), as well as digital equipment to communicate with the VoIP
Hurricane Net, IRLP, and Winlink to receive emails via amateur radio.
"We were the only means of communication between the National Hurricane
Center and the National Weather Service Field Office in Slidell, Louisiana,
during Hurricane Katrina," Ripoll said. He went on to highlight other
instances of reports given by ham radio that provided mission-critical
information that had a major impact on the way NHC handled a storm.
ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, gave a
presentation to the crowd of hurricane experts, meteorologists, and
emergency managers about the Amateur Radio Emergency Service© (ARES©). He
spoke of ARRL's role on the board of SAFECOM, a program managed by the
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that sets the
standards of interoperability procedures. Being a part of the group
solidifies the Amateur Radio Service as a robust resource before and during
times of crisis.
Johnston shared that in 2023, ARES volunteers contributed at least $21.8
million in volunteer hours to their local communities. "Is amateur radio
still relevant? Absolutely! Are we still involved in the places that are
doing things the right way? Amateur radio absolutely is," he said.
Johnston highlighted the relationship between ARRL and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), as well as ARRL's position as a net control
station within the SHAred RESources High Frequency Radio Program (SHARES)
managed by CISA.
Among other presenters was ARRL's The ARES Letter Editor Rick Palm, K1CE,
who shared a harrowing tale of his family experiencing a direct hit from
Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. The damage and impact he felt gave him a
new perspective on emergency communications, as he went from a volunteer
communicator to a storm victim. Read more about his experience in the
"Public Service" column in the January 2024 issue of QST.
Watch a video of the amateur radio workshops at the 2024 National Hurricane
Conference on YouTube, courtesy of Jim Palmer, KB1KQW. See photos and
discussion in the ARRL Letter for March 29, 2024. See also Hurricane Watch
Net manager Bobby Graves', KB5HAV, recordings of the proceedings.
Spring Severe Weather Preparations Begin
----------------------------------------
The severe weather season (March through May) is here, and the National
Weather Service (NWS) offices across the country are prepared. Warning
Coordination Meteorologist Brandon Peloquin at the Wilmington, Ohio, NWS
office said many of the NWS offices across the country meet with partner
organizations in the spring to make plans for the weather ahead. "Amateur
radio operators and weather spotters are extremely important, and we could
not do what we do without them," he said. "In fact, many of the watches and
warnings issued are made because weather spotters provided critical
information."
Peloquin said that Doppler radar is a great tool for tracking storms, but
weather spotters have a different vantage point and can see things that
radar can't.
Severe Weather Awareness Weeks are scheduled by each state and usually occur
during March to remind and educate communities about severe weather seasonal
threats and how to avoid them. The NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program is a
volunteer program with almost 400,000 trained severe weather spotters.
Spotter training is available at the state level and is offered several
times each year. Every December, NWS and ARRL hold SKYWARN Recognition Day
to honor all SKYWARN storm spotters and amateur radio operators for their
contributions during severe weather. -- February 29, 2024 issue of The ARRL
Letter.
NWS Melbourne, Florida 2023 SKYWARN Recognition Day
---------------------------------------------------
After a 4-year hiatus, onsite operations returned to the National Weather
Service Office in Melbourne, Florida, to support SKYWARN Recognition Day
(SRD). The Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society (PCARS) contributed the
equipment needed to run an HF station at the office and also staffed this
station, making contacts and exchanging weather information during much of
the event. SRD is held during the first Saturday in December, and for 2023
ran from 7 AM (EST) Friday, December 1 through 7 PM Saturday, December 2.
This event is co-sponsored by the National Weather Service and ARRL. Local
amateur radio operators and their family members also attended a SKYWARN
Open House from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, December 2, for tours of event
operations and of the National Weather Service office.
SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) celebrates the contributions that SKYWARN
volunteers, including those in the amateur radio community, provide to
assist in the National Weather Service's mission to protect life and
property. During major weather events, amateur radio operators provide vital
communication between the NWS and emergency management, in the event
standard services fail or become overloaded. Additionally, all SKYWARN
weather spotters, provide valuable information during hazardous weather
situations. Often, these spotter reports allow NWS meteorologists to issue
severe weather warnings with greater advance notice and confidence than
would otherwise be possible.
During the 24-hour event, amateur radio operators throughout the country
visited their local NWS office, set up portable radio stations to simulate
emergency conditions, and worked in teams to exchange weather reports with
other amateur radio operators across the nation and the globe. All spotters
were also encouraged to check in on the SKYWARN Spotter Check-In Map on the
official SRD website.
Winter Field Day in Florida
---------------------------
The Alachua County, Florida (Gainesville area) ARES organization's (NF4AC)
Winter Field Day effort in January was a big learning event for all of us.
We especially noted difficulties making simplex connections to ARES
operators and other hams in the area. As a result, an Improvement Plan item
was to ask the ARES Net Manager to schedule eight simplex net sessions
throughout the remainder of the year in order to better train for disaster
situations where repeaters have (for whatever reason) become unavailable.
This was approved by the ARES group, and the Net Manager scheduled the first
such simplex net for April 11, separate from other commendable efforts to
work on simplex communications.
HF nets, even those involving non-hams, routinely handle simplex nets on HF
by volunteers who "relay" when they detect that Net Control has not heard
from a station that they do hear. David Huckstep, W4JIR, who will be net
control, expects to read the "preliminaries" on the main 146.820 MHz
repeater, and then switch to 146.550 simplex for the roll call, giving a
little extra time for each call sign for potential volunteer relays. He then
plans to go back to the 146.820 repeater to pick up anyone who couldn't get
in via simplex. - Gordon Gibby, KX4Z, Alachua county ARES, Florida, NF4AC
World Amateur Radio Day 2024 -- "A Century of Connections: Celebrating 100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
years of Amateur Radio Innovation, Community, and Advocacy"
-----------------------------------------------------------
By Joel Harrison, W5ZN, IARU Secretary
Every April 18, radio amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration
of World Amateur Radio Day. Amateur radio pioneers met in Paris on this day
in 1925 and created the IARU to support amateur radio worldwide. Just two
years later, at the International Radiotelegraph Conference, amateur radio
gained the allocations still recognized today -- 160, 80, 40, 20, and 10
meters.
Since its founding, the IARU has worked tirelessly to defend and expand the
frequency allocations for amateur radio. Thanks to the support of
enlightened administrations in every part of the globe, radio amateurs are
now able to experiment and communicate in frequency bands strategically
located throughout the radio spectrum. From the 25 countries that formed the
IARU in 1925, the IARU has grown to include 160 member ðsocieties in three
regions. IARU Region 1 includes Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and
Northern Asia. Region 2 covers the Americas, and Region 3 is comprised of
Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific island nations, and most of Asia. The
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognized the IARU as
representing the interests of amateur radio.
Today, amateur radio is more popular than ever, with more than 3,000,000
licensed operators!
World Amateur Radio Day is the day when IARU Memberð Societies can show our
capabilities to the public and enjoy global friendship with other amateurs
worldwide.
The IARU celebrates its centenary in 2025. Since its founding in Paris,
France, IARU has worked tirelessly to promote innovation in amateur radio
and to encourage the growth of the service in communities throughout the
world. IARU has represented the Amateur Services at international and
regional regulatory bodies by relying on our volunteers who come from many
countries and communities. IARU has been a sector member of the ITU since
1932 and the work of our volunteers has continued since that date with
unmatched success, as was highlighted with the accomplishments at the 1923
World Radio Conference (WRCð23).
Leading up to our centenary year, we should take time to reflect on the
remarkable achievements of radio amateurs over the last 100 years. While the
Amateur Services have been in operation for over a century, 1924 was the
first year that intercontinental amateur communication became more or less
commonplace. Since that time radio amateurs have made unparalleled advances
in technology related to the Amateur Services that play a critical role
today in sustaining worldwide communications and allow us to respond to
global emergencies.
World Amateur Radio Day is an opportunity to reflect on our achievements
since 1924. We should celebrate our diverse community and the advances and
innovations we have made as we look forward to celebrating the IARU
centenary next year.
K1CE for a Final: IARU and ITU
------------------------------
It's been a busy year so far. I attended the AUXCOMM forum at Orlando
HamCation© in February, which was standing room only. Then, I was a
presenter at the amateur radio workshop at the National Hurricane Conference
discussed above. You can see my presentation on my personal experience with
Hurricane Idalia on the Hurricane Watch Net's website.
This month, I travel with an IARU team including ARRL International Affairs
Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD, to Geneva, Switzerland, for meetings of
the International Telecommunication Union ITU Development Sector's Study
Group 1, which studies, among other things, "Use of telecommunications/ICTs
for disaster risk reduction and management, particularly in developing
countries." This will be in my role as IARU Special Advisor on Emergency
Communications. ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information
and communication technologies (ICTs). The organization is headquartered in
Geneva, Switzerland and has a membership of 193 Member States and more than
1,000 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations.
ARES© Resources
---------------
Download the ARES Manual [PDF]
ARES Field Resources Manual [PDF]
ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book [Fillable PDF]
ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book [Word]
ARES Plan
ARES Group Registration
Emergency Communications Training
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service© (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs
who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with
their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service
when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in
ARRL or any other local or national organization is eligible to apply for
membership in ARES. Training may be required or desired to participate fully
in ARES. Please inquire at the local level for specific information. Because
ARES is an amateur radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible
for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable,
but is not a requirement for membership.
How to Get Involved in ARES: Fill out the ARES Registration form and submit
it to your local Emergency Coordinator.
Support ARES: Join ARRL
ARES is a program of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio© . No
other organization works harder than ARRL to promote and protect amateur
radio! ARRL members enjoy many benefits and services including digital
magazines, e-newsletters, online learning (learn.arrl.org), and technical
support. Membership also supports programs for radio clubs, on-air contests,
Logbook of The World©, ARRL Field Day, and the all-volunteer ARRL Field
Organization.
Join ARRL or renew today! arrl.org/join
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Copyright ¸ 2024 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes
require written permission.
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