EXERCISE: ACTIVATION IMMINENT
THIS IS AN EXERCISE.
ALL STATIONS ARE ASKED TO STAND BY
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WE ARE AWAITNG INSTRUCTIONS FROM OUR CLIENT AGENCY. PLEASE STAND BY
Mark Taylor, W5MCT
Texas State RACES RRO2A
Smith County, Texas ARES EC
East Texas Emergency Communications Service, Inc.
THIS IS AN EXERCISE.
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Yup, that's correct. And the new repeater made it a lot easier. Its got a nice signal up here.
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-------- Original Message -------- On Nov 20, 2021, 11:44 AM, Lance W5TWM via groups.io < W5TWM@...> wrote:
Hey Tommy, thanks for the response! Glad word is getting out. And yes, what's another few hundred feet of wire in the air ha!
By the way I failed to mention I think I will shoot for the middle of the 160M band tuning wise...like 1.9Mhz ish.
By the way Tommy I looked you up on QRZ and it shows your QTH near Omaha 41 miles due North of my QTH. Is this still correct?? If so I bet you were glad to have the Gilmer repeater site placed as I bet it allows you into the ETECS system easily.
73 de W5TWM
Lance McNeel
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
On Saturday, November 20th, 2021 at 11:29 AM, Tommy Brooks via groups.io <kg5zsu@...> wrote:
Hi Lance,
Its great to have more hams active on HF, especially locally. I'm hoping I can drop in on 80 and say hello to the group soon. I heard about it OTA earlier in the week, so word is getting out.
I've been on 160 before, but not in some time. I think I can tune down there, but maybe I'll try out another antenna for it. 160 is a lot of fun when its open, and what's a few hundred more feet of wire in the air, right?
Glad to have you join us.
73 de KG5ZSU
Tommy Brooks
(A not very active groups.io member.)
-------- Original Message --------
On Nov 20, 2021, 10:35 AM, Lance W5TWM via groups.io < W5TWM@...> wrote:
Hello everyone, just joined or rejoined (I can't recall lol) this groups.io ETECS group with this Ham related email. Hope all are well.
Just wanted to remind anyone who is interested to please feel free to join us on the fairly new 80M Sunday evening Regional NVIS net. It is now held at 6pm CST Sundays on 3.805Mhz (We sometimes move between 3.803 and 3.815 depending on QRM but usually it is on or very close to 3.805 and I will try to announce on the TARC repeater system just prior to the net if there is a QSY...so look around and find us!).
This net is taking advantage of NVIS propagation (see??) and favors a more vertical takeoff angle of radiation. Thus a low to the ground antenna is not always a bad thing and may even help in this. The idea, which I think dovetails nicely into this group, is to test and prepare for regional communications using radio only without the use of repeater towers or cell phones.
Sorry for the long note but wanted to share this and say hi!
73, Lance W5TWM
PS..as a bonus challenge...anyone who has or wants to build a 160M antenna (there are some plans and even commercially available shortened ones that appear to work well) please let me know as I am planning to put up one myself and the cool thing about 160M is it can take advantage of this NVIS propagation even at night (when the critical frequency usually drops below the 80M band and thus allows for a regional comms direct method during the dark hours...something that could be useful in an emergency...or at least fun for late night rag chews or possibly another NVIS net ;)? ) ??
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Hey Tommy, thanks for the response! Glad word is getting out. And yes, what's another few hundred feet of wire in the air ha!
By the way I failed to mention I think I will shoot for the middle of the 160M band tuning wise...like 1.9Mhz ish.
By the way Tommy I looked you up on QRZ and it shows your QTH near Omaha 41 miles due North of my QTH. Is this still correct?? If so I bet you were glad to have the Gilmer repeater site placed as I bet it allows you into the ETECS system easily.
73 de W5TWM
Lance McNeel
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
On Saturday, November 20th, 2021 at 11:29 AM, Tommy Brooks via groups.io <kg5zsu@...> wrote:
Hi Lance,
Its great to have more hams active on HF, especially locally. I'm hoping I can drop in on 80 and say hello to the group soon. I heard about it OTA earlier in the week, so word is getting out.
I've been on 160 before, but not in some time. I think I can tune down there, but maybe I'll try out another antenna for it. 160 is a lot of fun when its open, and what's a few hundred more feet of wire in the air, right?
Glad to have you join us.
73 de KG5ZSU
Tommy Brooks
(A not very active groups.io member.)
-------- Original Message --------
On Nov 20, 2021, 10:35 AM, Lance W5TWM via groups.io < W5TWM@...> wrote:
Hello everyone, just joined or rejoined (I can't recall lol) this groups.io ETECS group with this Ham related email. Hope all are well.
Just wanted to remind anyone who is interested to please feel free to join us on the fairly new 80M Sunday evening Regional NVIS net. It is now held at 6pm CST Sundays on 3.805Mhz (We sometimes move between 3.803 and 3.815 depending on QRM but usually it is on or very close to 3.805 and I will try to announce on the TARC repeater system just prior to the net if there is a QSY...so look around and find us!).
This net is taking advantage of NVIS propagation (see??) and favors a more vertical takeoff angle of radiation. Thus a low to the ground antenna is not always a bad thing and may even help in this. The idea, which I think dovetails nicely into this group, is to test and prepare for regional communications using radio only without the use of repeater towers or cell phones.
Sorry for the long note but wanted to share this and say hi!
73, Lance W5TWM
PS..as a bonus challenge...anyone who has or wants to build a 160M antenna (there are some plans and even commercially available shortened ones that appear to work well) please let me know as I am planning to put up one myself and the cool thing about 160M is it can take advantage of this NVIS propagation even at night (when the critical frequency usually drops below the 80M band and thus allows for a regional comms direct method during the dark hours...something that could be useful in an emergency...or at least fun for late night rag chews or possibly another NVIS net ;)? ) ??
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Hi Lance,
Its great to have more hams active on HF, especially locally. I'm hoping I can drop in on 80 and say hello to the group soon. I heard about it OTA earlier in the week, so word is getting out.
I've been on 160 before, but not in some time. I think I can tune down there, but maybe I'll try out another antenna for it. 160 is a lot of fun when its open, and what's a few hundred more feet of wire in the air, right?
Glad to have you join us.
73 de KG5ZSU
Tommy Brooks
(A not very active groups.io member.)
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-------- Original Message -------- On Nov 20, 2021, 10:35 AM, Lance W5TWM via groups.io < W5TWM@...> wrote:
Hello everyone, just joined or rejoined (I can't recall lol) this groups.io ETECS group with this Ham related email. Hope all are well.
Just wanted to remind anyone who is interested to please feel free to join us on the fairly new 80M Sunday evening Regional NVIS net. It is now held at 6pm CST Sundays on 3.805Mhz (We sometimes move between 3.803 and 3.815 depending on QRM but usually it is on or very close to 3.805 and I will try to announce on the TARC repeater system just prior to the net if there is a QSY...so look around and find us!).
This net is taking advantage of NVIS propagation (see??) and favors a more vertical takeoff angle of radiation. Thus a low to the ground antenna is not always a bad thing and may even help in this. The idea, which I think dovetails nicely into this group, is to test and prepare for regional communications using radio only without the use of repeater towers or cell phones.
Sorry for the long note but wanted to share this and say hi!
73, Lance W5TWM
PS..as a bonus challenge...anyone who has or wants to build a 160M antenna (there are some plans and even commercially available shortened ones that appear to work well) please let me know as I am planning to put up one myself and the cool thing about 160M is it can take advantage of this NVIS propagation even at night (when the critical frequency usually drops below the 80M band and thus allows for a regional comms direct method during the dark hours...something that could be useful in an emergency...or at least fun for late night rag chews or possibly another NVIS net ;)? ) ??
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Hello everyone, just joined or rejoined (I can't recall lol) this groups.io ETECS group with this Ham related email. Hope all are well.
Just wanted to remind anyone who is interested to please feel free to join us on the fairly new 80M Sunday evening Regional NVIS net. It is now held at 6pm CST Sundays on 3.805Mhz (We sometimes move between 3.803 and 3.815 depending on QRM but usually it is on or very close to 3.805 and I will try to announce on the TARC repeater system just prior to the net if there is a QSY...so look around and find us!).
This net is taking advantage of NVIS propagation (see??) and favors a more vertical takeoff angle of radiation. Thus a low to the ground antenna is not always a bad thing and may even help in this. The idea, which I think dovetails nicely into this group, is to test and prepare for regional communications using radio only without the use of repeater towers or cell phones.
Sorry for the long note but wanted to share this and say hi!
73, Lance W5TWM
PS..as a bonus challenge...anyone who has or wants to build a 160M antenna (there are some plans and even commercially available shortened ones that appear to work well) please let me know as I am planning to put up one myself and the cool thing about 160M is it can take advantage of this NVIS propagation even at night (when the critical frequency usually drops below the 80M band and thus allows for a regional comms direct method during the dark hours...something that could be useful in an emergency...or at least fun for late night rag chews or possibly another NVIS net ;)? ) ??
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DHS CISA Fusion Center Communications Exercise - November 20, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Heads up ETECS!
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We have an opportunity to show CISA (Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency, part of Dept. of Homeland Security) that Texans will respond and can answer the bell on short notice.
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Why:?The Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) (Formally known as the Office of Emergency Communications) has recently created a Federal level Fusion center (not to be confused with Yaesu Fusion).? The mission of the Fusion Center is to staff a coordinating center to process requests for Amateur assistance, at a Federal level, during large-scale disasters.?It will bring together various Amateur organizations, including ARES/RACES, Civil Air Patrol, ARC,?Salvation Army, REACT, and the VOIP Hurricane Net. CISA will request the Fusion Center’s activation.
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Texas is the first state to be asked to participate in an exercise with the new Fusion Center. The activity will occur on Saturday, November 20, from 12 Noon to 3 PM Central Standard Time.
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The exercise is open to all ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), RACES, and AUXCOMM operators.??All ETECS members are included in this exercise.
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What will happen:? At 12 Noon on Saturday the 20th?of November, an alert will come to the several amateur radio organizations to have all members send a simple Winlink message to a couple of addresses. The message you are asked to send will contain answers to a couple of questions. The Winlink message each operator will send can be done using?Telnet or by radio using any Winlink RMS. ?Notice of the exercise may come by email and it will be posted on various agency (RACES, NTX ARES, etc.) websites. The exercise will be over at 3PM.
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Purpose:? Test the ability to efficiently alert amateur radio operators involved in emergency communications from a central point should CISA or other federal agencies ask for assistance.
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Other Notes:???There is no ICS form to prepare or read.? Simply send one message to a couple of Winlink addresses.? Please cc: me at W5MCT in the Winlink message. Everyone should send the message with the answers to the simple questions per the instructions provided in the alert.? The Texas Exercise notice will go out to ETECS, RACES, ARES, Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol and Salvation Army groups that are involved in providing Emergency Communications.? Some people will get multiple alert messages but they all will originate from the same?Fusion?Center for Amateur Radio.??Only one response per operator is required.
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Even if you do not have packet capability, please install Winlink Express on your computer from??and register your callsign.? You can then use a “Telnet Winlink” session to send your message via the internet.
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Texas is the first state to be asked to respond using the?Fusion?Center for Amateur Radio. Let’s shoot for 100% response from our ETECS members.
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We will not receive any alert message before Noon on the 20th.? ETECS will distribute notice of the activation via groups.io email.? Our membership will have to be standing by to respond once the notice is sent out.
If you have any questions feel free to email me at W5MCT@....
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IMPORTANT! ETECS Training Net Tonight
Please be sure to check into the ETECS training net this evening at 7:00 PM on the W5ETX repeater system.
We will be sharing information on the upcoming RACES & ARES exercises.
73,
Mark, W5MCT
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Apologies for leaving early. I was running 5 watts the entire time.? Jack, I don’t know if I would have bumped up to 25 or 50 watts if you might have heard me or not.? Thomas (KC5KCT) had his station set up for auto-reply and I tried several
time with no response.
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I saw this “experiment” as an excellent opportunity for utilizing & training in JS8Call. The old adage “If you don’t use it, you lose it” is so applicable here. I found myself trying to go on memory and trust me… the memory ain't what it
used to be!?
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I would certainly be open to trying again at some point.
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Steve
KE5DTF
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From: JACK
Sent: Sunday, September 5, 2021 14:47
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [w5etx] 60 M JS8 Call test
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I was seeing N1EW, W5TWM and WB5SDV but not anyone else.
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Jack
AF5JM
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Looks like a successful test. Thanks W5TWM, N1EW, WB5SDV, KE5DTF, N9JN. Clearly, we need to discuss how to use digital on 60 M in view of the one signal per channel rule - we had up to 3 simultaneously. HB/ACK probably would help. 73 all
and thanks!!!
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I was seeing N1EW, W5TWM and WB5SDV but not anyone else. ? Jack AF5JM ?
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From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of Gene Coldwell Sent: Sunday, September 5, 2021 2:45 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [w5etx] 60 M JS8 Call test ? Looks like a successful test. Thanks W5TWM, N1EW, WB5SDV, KE5DTF, N9JN. Clearly, we need to discuss how to use digital on 60 M in view of the one signal per channel rule - we had up to 3 simultaneously. HB/ACK probably would help. 73 all and thanks!!!
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Looks like a successful test. Thanks W5TWM, N1EW, WB5SDV, KE5DTF, N9JN. Clearly, we need to discuss how to use digital on 60 M in view of the one signal per channel rule - we had up to 3 simultaneously. HB/ACK probably would help. 73 all and thanks!!!
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Gene, Please put me on the list of "who needs training!"
Thanks, Mike, K0MEB
On Sunday, September 5, 2021, 01:41:47 PM CDT, Gene Coldwell <coldwell@...> wrote:
Ed, I think we should leave HB/ACK on until it becomes a problem. The PACTOR modes are legal here, and they do automatic ACK. I don't think the FCC had that in mind when they wrote the rules! Otherwise, It'd be hard to call a voice net for check-ins.
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Ed, I think we should leave HB/ACK on until it becomes a problem. The PACTOR modes are legal here, and they do automatic ACK. I don't think the FCC had that in mind when they wrote the rules! Otherwise, It'd be hard to call a voice net for check-ins.
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?? Depending on how many participate Sunday, am I to guess that the HB+ACK function will be turned off during this exercise because of the multiple transmissions? Since one person could possibly make 10+ or more listeners send him a reply to his HB during that request. Plus the normal HB pulses sent out by all who have it enabled? ?? I like the idea of using this part of the program, it could show how many are out there without having to actually do a keyboard to keyboard check in. Only net control would have to initiate the check in process based on his screen. Better yet you wouldn’t have to use the full 100w to do this. Maybe to start out limit it initially to say 25w and see who is seen during a standard HB setting. Those that do not get recognized can crank up the power. I normally get contacts with as little as 10w all over the US and beyond when conditions are really good. I like the idea of using JS8Call because of this easy function of the program to see who is out there and who has seen and replied to my request. Are you going to post where NCS will hover so we can see the conversations and keep everyone grouped to a narrower area of the frequency? Maybe 1100? ???N1EW ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Gene Coldwell
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2021 10:10 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Special] [w5etx] 60 M JS8 Call test ? Sunday, Sept 5 at 2 PM. We need to keep channels 1 and 2 clear for Hurricane Ida cleanup efforts, so we will use Channel 3, with dial frequency 5357 kHz, USB. The narrow-band nature of JS-8 would permit multiple conversations, but the rules say only one signal per channel at a time is permitted. We're doing this to see if 60 M is practical for NVIS use here in East Texas.?
Remember that Ham Radio is secondary usage on these channels. Power limit is 100 watts ERP. Listen/look before you transmit. If it's not busy, we can coordinate information on the TARC repeater system.
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Gene, What would you recommend as a canonical/club homebrew NVIS antenna for Sunday?? I’m particularly curious of your plan since you are on a residential lot (though probably a generously sized lot at that).
Doug.?
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On Sep 3, 2021, at 10:10 AM, Gene Coldwell <coldwell@...> wrote:
?Sunday, Sept 5 at 2 PM. We need to keep channels 1 and 2 clear for Hurricane Ida cleanup efforts, so we will use Channel 3, with dial frequency 5357 kHz, USB. The narrow-band nature of JS-8 would permit multiple conversations, but the rules say only one signal per channel at a time is permitted. We're doing this to see if 60 M is practical for NVIS use here in East Texas.?
Remember that Ham Radio is secondary usage on these channels. Power limit is 100 watts ERP. Listen/look before you transmit. If it's not busy, we can coordinate information on the TARC repeater system.
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Sunday, Sept 5 at 2 PM. We need to keep channels 1 and 2 clear for Hurricane Ida cleanup efforts, so we will use Channel 3, with dial frequency 5357 kHz, USB. The narrow-band nature of JS-8 would permit multiple conversations, but the rules say only one signal per channel at a time is permitted. We're doing this to see if 60 M is practical for NVIS use here in East Texas.?
Remember that Ham Radio is secondary usage on these channels. Power limit is 100 watts ERP. Listen/look before you transmit. If it's not busy, we can coordinate information on the TARC repeater system.
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ETECS Training Net Tonight
Don't forget the net tonight at 7:00 PM!
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Re: NO MAY 2021 ETECS TRAINING NET
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On May 30, 2021, at 20:28, Gordon Martin <wa5gm01@...> wrote:
? Roger Roger Dodger Dodger
Gordon WA5GM On Sun, May 30, 2021 at 7:41 PM W5MCT < w5mct@...> wrote: No ETECS net tomorrow, May 31, ?2021 in observance of Memorial Day.
73,?
Mark, W5MCT
-- Gordon C MartinAKA Ham Operator WA5GM
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Re: NO MAY 2021 ETECS TRAINING NET
Roger Roger Dodger Dodger
Gordon WA5GM
On Sun, May 30, 2021 at 7:41 PM W5MCT < w5mct@...> wrote: No ETECS net tomorrow, May 31, ?2021 in observance of Memorial Day.
73,?
Mark, W5MCT
-- Gordon C MartinAKA Ham Operator WA5GM
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NO MAY 2021 ETECS TRAINING NET
No ETECS net tomorrow, May 31, ?2021 in observance of Memorial Day.
73,?
Mark, W5MCT
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ETECS Net Tonight 20 March 2021: Got 146.55 programmed on your radio?
We will hold our normal ETECS training net this evening at 7:00 PM on the W5ETX system.?
At the conclusion of net check ins we will conduct a SIMPLEX check-in on ETECS standard simplex frequency, 146.55 Mhz.??
At the conclusion of the simplex test we will reconvene on the W5ETX system to discuss any issues arising from the simplex test.
73,
Mark
W5MCT
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W5MCT
Ed Wilkinson - N1EW DRO-6A
DOUGLAS WYMAN
Gordon Martin