Hello Everyone,
Sunday, November 13th, is the second Sunday of the month and time for the next FEMA Region 5 AUXCOMM Winlink Net.? This net is held on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.? It is open to all amateur radio operators and SHARES stations everywhere.? The net helps familiarize participants with the Winlink system and use of the available message templates.? Please check into the net anytime on the 13th before midnight.
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SPECIAL NOTE: In addition to Sunday’s F5WLNet, the EmComm Training Organization (ETO) has announced a nationwide communications drill for this coming Saturday, 12 November.? This exercise includes a message to be sent via Winlink RMS and a Winlink P2P message to be sent to a ‘target station’.? I encourage you to take part in this exercise as well as our net on the 13th.? Instructions for the ETO exercise are at this link: ETO-11-12-22 Semi-Annual Drill Final v1.2.pdf - Google Drive.
If you’d like to try your hand at sending me a P2P message, go for it.? My station will monitor 3953.5KHz center frequency 3592.0KHz dial frequency.? I’ll answer all message I receive via Winlink RMS.
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Okay, let’s move on to the F5WLNet on the 13th:? I’d like you to send me a Winlink Field Situation Report.? You can use real-world information or simulated information.? In any case, PLEASE put the word EXERCISE ahead of the exercise number (2022-21) in the Task # field of the header.
If you need a refresher on preparing a Field Situation Report, here's how:
If you have a Winlink Account:
1. Open Winlink Express.
2. Open a new message form:
? 2a. Click the new message icon or click 'Message' then 'New Message'.
3. Open a new Field Situation Report form.
? 3a. In the top line ribbon menu, click 'Select Template'.
? 3b. Click the + sign next to 'Standard Templates'.
? 3c. Click the + sign next to 'Mapping-GIS Forms'.
? 3d. Double click 'Field Situation Report'.? Your web browser will open with a fillable Field Situation Report form presented.
4. The first six fields of the form make up the message header most of which is self-explanatory.
? 4a. In the 'Task' field, enter EXERCISE 2022-21.
5. The bulk of the remaining fields, Blocks 1 through 11, make up the body of the report.
? 5a. Block 1 'Is There An 'EMERGENCY/LIFE SAFETY Need'? (Yes/No): Please select No.
? 5b. Block 2 'Territory':? If you are reporting from a tribal reservation, enter it here.??
? 5c. Block 3 'Lat' and 'Lon': This information is used to populate the map of participating stations. For security reasons I recommend entering the latitude and longitude of a nearby public place and NOT your home location.
? 5d. Block 3: Don’t sweat these. The MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) and Grid fields are automatically filled in for you.
? 5e. Blocks 4 through 11b capture your observations.
6. Block 12 ‘Additional Comments’:? Please type in EXERCISE 2022-21.
7. Block 13'POC':? Enter your first name and callsign.
8. If you wish, click the 'Save Field Situation Data' button to save your information to your computer.
9. Click the 'Submit' button then click OK on the pop-up window that appears.? The information on your message form is sent to Winlink Express.? Don’t panic when your form disappears!
10. In Winlink Express, you should see the information from your form in the new message form you opened earlier.
11. On the ribbon menu near the top of the screen, click 'Post To Outbox'.
12. On Sunday (November 13th):
? 12a. Open Winlink Express.??
? 12b. On the top line ribbon menu next to 'Open Session', select the mode you want to use to send your message(s).? Then click 'Open Session'.? Then click 'Start'.? Your work here is done!
If you don't currently have a Winlink account, please open one.? Winlink Express is free and so is use of the system.? In the meantime, use the following procedure to send an email via the Winlink system.
1. Open your email client.
2. Open a new message form
3. In the 'To' field enter 'W9REL@...'
4. In the 'Subject line' enter '//WL2K Exercise 2022-21 FEMA Region 5 AUXCOM Winlink Net'.? The '//WL2K is required otherwise Winlink will reject your message.
5. In the message text field enter your first name, callsign, city, and state.
6. Enter Yes, No, or Unknown-NA to the following:
? 6a: Is this an EMERGENCY/LIFE SAFETY Need? If Yes, enter details.
? 6b: City, County, State, Territory (including native American Indian reservation) information.
? 6c: Latitude and Longitude. For security reasons I recommend entering the latitude and longitude of a nearby public place and NOT your home location.
? 6d: POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) Landline Functioning? If No, enter details.
? 6e: VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocols) landlines functioning? If No, enter details.
? 6f: Cell phone voice calls functioning? If No, provide details.
? 6g: Cell phone texts functioning? If No, provide details.
? 6h: AM/FM Broadcast Stations functioning? If No, provide details.
? 6i: OTA (Over The Air) TV functioning? If No, Provide details.
? 6j: Satellite TV functioning? If No, Provide details.?
? 6k: Cable TV functioning? If No, Provide details.
? 6l: Public Water Works functioning? If No, Provide details.
? 6m: Commercial Power functioning? If No, Provide details.
? 6n: Commercial Power Stable? If No, Provide details.
? 6o: Natural Gas Supply (or LP gas supplies) functioning? If No, Provide details.
? 6p: Internet functioning? If No, Provide details.
? 6q: NOAA weather radio functioning? If No, Provide callsign, frequency, or location.
? 6r: NOAA weather radio audio degraded? If No, Provide callsign, frequency, or location.
? 6s: Additional Comments: Type in EXERCISE 2022-21.
? 6t: Point of Contact: Enter your first name and callsign.
7. On Sunday (November 13th) send your email.
Thanks for your participation.? I look forward to seeing your Field Situation Report.? In the meantime...
Keep cool, safe, and healthy
Skip W9REL/Net Manager
Always keep good situational awareness
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