Something new in APRS land. #ARRL #Hamradio

The next Ham DTMF satellite is on the air for testing in Annapolis.

Anyone can use this transponder from their DTMF radio. (don’t need an APRS radio).  Just enter your DTMF callsign and GRID into a DTMF memory (formatted per the web page below) and send it on the 144.33 uplink and listen for the voice response on 144.39 (amongst all the packet clutter too).

Not only does it convert the DTMF to a voice CQ, but it also sends back an APRS packet copy of the CQ on 144.39  into the global APRS system.  If successful, you should see it in the ten minute Bulletin update:

http://aprs.fi/info/a/QIKCOM-2

So just program your DTMF memory once, and try it any time you drive by Annapolis (its on my building roof at USNA). 

And not only can you send your grid, you can send any of the ARL radiograms both emergency and general, but any of a few dozen more typical messages just by entering the 2 digit message number in DTMF followed by your DTMF callsign….

See how on http://aprs.org/qikcom-2.html

We just delivered the flight unit to the launch integrator 18 Nov, and so now we can sit back and actually TEST the prototype on the air and see how it works under user load.  It is only 4 Watts, so you probably have to be within a few miles or so.  Something to entertaiin you while sitting in traffic.    I have worked it from a high spot in Glen Burnie (bridge over Rt 10) about 12 miles away, but you have to have a good shot to Annapolis.

You only have to enter your grid and call into your DTMF memory once.  Then, anytime you are mobile near the Severn bridges or near the Academy, just send out the DTMF memory and listen for the response.

If there are thunderstorms in the area, I should disconnect it… but will try to leave it on.

 -----------Now the new idea! --------------

But here is the NEW idea of how to use its 2 digit message capability locally...

1) Have it listen from a very high central metro area location for DTMF on 146.58

2) The two-digit messages (01 to 99) can be used to trigger the APRS and voice response of "CALLSIGN, LISTENING ON XXX.XXX MHz"

3) then ALL APRS mobiles in the area will see the message on their radios

4) AND he messages goes worldwide in the APRS-IS system

5) You could be called back via Echolink for example

6) AND if anyone is monitoring 146.58, they will hear EVERYONE on the air and where they are listening.

In our area with over 50 repeaters, we are so spread out, hardly any repeater is being used.  But this way, everyone's "presence" on the air is announced on APRS and the single 146.58 just like APRS was always intended to be... a single clearing house channel for everything happening in ham radio.

But now you only need a DTMF radio.  Not a full APRS rig.

Oh, we just make a local list 01 to 99 of the different frequencies.  Every local list is different, but so are the repeaters in every local area...  Though I am starting to think it can be quite universal!  Wow, Il start now... for example 76 is 146.76 and 94 is 146.94, etc!

You just program  your DTMF memory with the few repeaters you use, and then sending out your message is just one button.  Send the DTMF memory with your chosen "monitoring frequency!

for more info on APRStt see http://aprs.org/aprstt.html

Bob Bruninga, WB4APR

USNA Satellite Lab

Automatic Packet Reporting System net participation noted

Log from the Saturday, November 14th Oklahoma Statewide APRS net:

WB5VST, KF5TVG, KC5FM, KC5RCI, KF5RHH, KD5NJR, WA9AFM, N5OST, W5LZ, AD5JL, KG5EWK, KC5RBH, AF5JB, K5CRQ, K5SJW, W5CGA

and AE5ME (net control) for a total of 17.

 Many thanks to all who participated.  Next net will be Saturday, December 12th.

Thanks to Jeff, AE5ME for this report.

Fall Issue of Radio Waves Newsletter

Greetings!

We've just published our Fall 2015 issue of Radio Waves.

Click here for direct access to the new issue.

You'll find the current issue as well as past issues on our website at: www.arrl.org/radio-waves

Inside This Issue

Feature Stories:

Using Sensors to Explore Terraforming......1

STEM School and Academy ARC Builds Repeater..... 2

Community College’s DIY Spirit Shines for ARISS Contact...... 3

Outreach:

Amateur Radio Club Helps Boy Scouts Earn Radio Merit Badge….. 4

Education & Technology Program News....... 5

Instructor Corner — News, Ideas, Support:

Getting New Hams on the Air: The Evolution of a Licensing Class…..5

Ham Radio Instruction for People with Disabilities....... 6

Licensing Updates:

Amateur Extra Question Pool Being Revised for 2016….. 7

Licensing Statistics….. 7

Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Deadlines ….. 8

Debra Johnson, K1DMJ

Education Services Manager

ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio^®

225 Main Street

Newington, CT 06111-1494

November 8 Communications Exercise Report (Digital Summary)

Seven digital stations handled eight digital messages during the November 8 Communications Exercise (COMEX). All traffic reached the appropriate Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) stations. The messages provided status of the following for the station's county:


POWER STATUS
WATER STATUS
SANITATION STATUS
MEDICAL FACILITY STATUS
COMMUNICATION STATUS
TRANSPORATION STATUS


BACKGROUND
All messages were exchanged using the RMS Express software package. The majority of messages originated on VHF packet (145.01 Mhz). Those messages in the Tulsa area were digipeated on the KT5DIG-7 digipeater, located in Mounds, OK. The digipeater operates on a 75 AH deep cycle battery for operation "off the grid". During normal commercial power operation, the battery is charged by a Battery Tender charger that is capable of providing up to 1.5 Amps continuous charging capability.


The central mail hub for the exercise was the AE5ME-12 system, which is located on VHF packet (145.01 Mhz) and HF Winmor (7036 kHz) in Broken Arrow, OK. The system runs as an RMS Relay station using the BPQ32 software, which allows messages that enter the system to be retrieved by the recipient at a later time using the RMS Express software. The computer system consists of an HP Stream 7 tablet in a docking station. The use of a tablet minimizes the amount of power required to run the computer. The computer is connected to two Tigertronics SIgnalink USB soundcard interfaces. One interface goes to a Kenwood TS-2000 HF/VHF/UHF radio, the other to a Kenwood TS-570D HF radio. Along with a backup Kenwood TM-241A VHF radio, the combination of radios provides full redundancy on HF or VHF in the event of any individual radio failure. One soundcard interface operates on AFSK 1200 bps packet, the other operates on HF Winmor.




The complete system was disconnected from power mains and antennas from 3 AM to 6 AM local time to protect against damage during the simulated CME event. At 6 AM all antennas were reconnected and the system was restarted on deep-cycle battery power. The entire system was functional in two minutes after restoration of power.


RADIO OPERATIONS
Once the message was received from WY7RM that MARS was requesting county reports, a message was sent to KF5RCI, AD5JL, WB5ANX, WA5VXI, KD5NJR, KC5SHE, KF5RHH, KF5TVG, AE5ME and KC5RBH requesting reports. AE5ME, KF5RCI, KF5TVG, WA5VXI, and KD5NJR responded before 12 noon local time. AD5JL, AE5ME (second report for Rogers county), and KC5RBH responded before 3 PM local time. WB5ANX had technical issues connecting on packet. KC5SHE was ill and KF5RHH had to go to work before receipt of the request.


Two sets of messages were sent to WY7RM and KC5WMZ, both of which retrieved the sets of messages during the afternoon on 40m Winmor. WD9GET operated directly with KC5MWZ on 40m Winmor.


ADDITIONAL NOTES
An actual solar event prior to the simulated CME caused 40m band conditions to have a large amount of fading. There was also a CW contest with many operating stations in the 3000 Hz bandwidth of the HF station. HF Winmor was still successful in operating in the challenging conditions while avoiding interference with the existing CW traffic.


With appropriate digipeaters placed between Tulsa and OKC, VHF would have been an acceptable alternative if the 40m band completely failed.


LESSONS LEARNED/ACTION ITEMS
1) 40m Winmor was found to be a very robust method, even with less than ideal 40m band conditions.

2) Baofeng UV-5r HTs were issued to stations for the exercise. It was found that connecting them to external antennas would desense the receive portion of the radio. We are currently testing an HT alternative from TYT that seems to be much more resistant to front-end overload.

3) All county EOCs should have an RMS Express station capable of connecting to their local VHF digipeater or using HF Winmor.

4) There will be a debrief session on Saturday, November 21st at 2:30 PM at the Broken Arrow Central Library (300 W. Broadway). All participants are encouraged to attend to share in individual "lessons learned".



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to Gerald KC5MWZ and Roland WY7RM for their work on the MARS side of the exercise. Also thanks go to the crew that sent RMS messages via VHF packet to the AE5ME-12 system.

Thanks to Jeff, AE5ME for this information

Amateur Radio Provided Communications #ARRL #hamradio

The Midwest City 4th annual Veterans Day Parade for 2015 was a great success and the Mid-Del Amateur Radio Club provided volunteers to helped to ensure the success utilizing amateur radio to meet the need for communications over the wide area of the staging grounds as well as the parade route.  

Working side by side with the City of Midwest City Communications Coordinator Scott Walsh, N5NYS, and with the police and fire department, Donald Ohse, W5DRO assembled the team of 17 radio amateurs to meet the communication needs of Staging, Incident Command Post, and the Reviewing Stand for this annual event.

The parade began at the intersection of Century Blvd. and S.E. 15th ST, traveled East to Douglas Blvd, North to Reno Ave., then West to Morris McGee Ave. where it ended.

The Parade Marshall was Lt. Gen. Lee K. Levy II, Commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Tinker Air Force Base Oklahoma.  Also in attendance was Midwest City Mayor Jay Dee Collins, and Oklahoma District 42 State Senator Jack Fry.

The event featured a flyover by the War Birds, a vintage World War II aircraft group from Tulsa, OK. The fly-over took place over Douglas Boulevard, the one mile main stretch of the parade and the John Conrad Golf Course.

The War Birds were flying the T-6 Texans, which are single-engine advanced trainer aircraft.  These airplanes were used to train pilots from both the United States Army, Air Force, US Navy, the Royal Air Force and other airborne forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and even into the 1950s.  It remains a popular Warbird aircraft for airshow demonstrations and static displays.  It has also been used many times to simulate the Japanese Mitsubishi Zero in movies depicting WW II in the Pacific.

By using amateur radio, parade organizers received free communications and resources that could commit to many areas that normally would not have been covered due to manpower restraints. 

"For the past three years we have been providing a radio amateur at the reviewing stand, where the Emcee for the event is located, and we also place a spotter about 200 yards from the reviewing stand to communicate back to the reviewing stand if a parade participant was out of order," said Ohse.  This was shown to be very helpful so the Emcee would not announce the wrong entry (or out of order entry) to the public.

Another hurdle to overcome is the use of multiple, large Staging Areas.  By use of several simplex frequencies to be used within and between staging areas radio traffic was reduced on the main public safety net frequency leaving it available for more important information to be passed. However, doing so does require that many of the radio amateurs working the Staging Areas to have a dual band radio that have the ability of dual watch. In this manner, the radio amateur can continue to monitor the public safety net while they are communicating within their assigned staging area.

There are plans for next year to include the use of Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) within the parade route so that Incident Command Post can have a near real time status of the parade route to better coordinate the closing of intersections, deployment of busses and reopening of the intersections.

Here’s the bottom line:

1. Improved Communications
2. Better Coordination of Resources
3. Enhanced Public Safety

The Mid-Del Amateur Radio Club has successfully demonstrated the capabilities of amateur radio and the many benefits the community may receive by including our Club in these types of public events.

Midwest City Police Honor Guard

Photo By Kimmie Jackson

The War Birds

Photo By Kimmie Jackson

Midwest City High School Bommer Band

Photo By Kimmie Jackson

Deputy Brisco, Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office

Photo by Kimmie Jackson

Leah Ohse W3LEO(right) and Debbie Hayes (left (who is studying to get her Technician Class license)) Rocking their day glow yellow ARRL traffic safety vest.

Photo By Leah Ohse W3LEO

Thanks to Donald, W5DRO for this report.

Some Packet History remembered

The year was 1999 and the "global scare" was the dreaded "Y2K"
computer glitch.. Computer programmers, in order to save memory
and increase speed, did not include the "19" in the year date
(1975). No problem, they just added the "19" back when a printout
was needed. But now, with the year "2000" looming on the horizon,
how to fix their programs to know the difference between "1900"
and "2000"... The problem was serious among Financial businesses
and the Industrial Control applications as well as many others.
There were far more computer programs to fix than there were
programmers. This problem even existed in Packet Radio BBS's. A
popular BBS software at that time was called "MSYS" and its
author was wanting to retire and was not interested in "fixing"
his BBS software. There were hundreds of BBS's using "MSYS"
software that would permanently fail in just a few weeks. What to
do????

Well, this BBS Sysop decided to "change horses" and began the
steep learning curve of converting to another BBS program from
France called "FBB". It was with this new BBS software that a
"Conference Mode" was introduced. A mode that allowed Packet
Radio operators to "keyboard" with more than one other packet
station at a time. At a Packet Radio Class teaching the use of
the new "Conference Mode", the PCL Packet Net was born... and
lives to this day.

Join us in the PCL Packet Net any Monday night at 7pm Central...


73,  K.O.  n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Using Outpost Ver 3.0.0 c264

Tulsa area hams have new packet digipeater

I am pleased to announce we have finished commissioning a new packet digipeater for the Tulsa area. It is located at a high elevation site near Mounds, OK. We were able to successfully work it on 5 watts on an outside antenna in the 61st and Memorial area. I am able to work it on 5 watts on an external antenna near the 101st and 145th E. Ave. area in Broken Arrow.


It operates on 145.01 Mhz with callsign KT5DIG-7 and is available for conventional packet use, as well as the RMS Express application that can be used to connect to AE5ME-12 to send and receive messages. It will be used during the upcoming COMEX on November 8th.


If you have any questions regarding the digipeater, feel free to send an email message to ae5me at yahoo dot com.


Thanks to Jeff AE5ME for this report.

2015 SKYWARN Recognition Day is December 5 #tweko

The 17^TH annual SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) special event will take place Saturday, December 5, 2015, from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC.  SKYWARN Recognition Day, co-sponsored by the American Radio Relay League and the National Weather Service, pays tribute to Amateur Radio operators for the vital public service they perform. 

During the 24-hour event, Amateur Radio operators visit their local National Weather Service (NWS) office and work as a team to contact other hams across the world.   This event is also aimed at strengthening the bond between Amateur Radio operators and local NWS offices.

The volunteer SKYWARN program comprises nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters — many of them radio amateurs — who identify severe storms and provide NWS forecasters with reports of local weather conditions during severe weather events.

SKYWARN Recognition Day is not a contest. The object is for stations to exchange some basic information with as many NWS stations as possible on 80 meters through 70 centimeters (excluding 1.25 meters). Repeater contacts are permitted. Stations exchange call signs, signal reports, locations, and a one or two-word description of the weather at their respective locations.

The National Weather Service provides event information on this Web site: http://hamradio.noaa.gov.

MPMT HAM CRUISE 5

My son Timmy, W5TMR, wanted to be able to take his radio on a cruise, but at the time, all the lines were saying no due to the events of 9/11.  After much discussion, many emails and other meetings with Carnival, I was finally granted permission to book our first MPMT Ham Cruise to sail in the fall of 2011.  Though we had a small group, it was a lot of fun and we were able to make a great number of worldwide contacts. Everybody wanted me to arrange for another cruise which was held in 2013 with a much larger group including folks from all across the US as well as a few from Germany.  The 2014 and 2015 cruises continued to be filled with many of our "ham cruise family" as well as new members and we have already begun booking for 2017. My husband, Lance, WD5X, is the technical coordinator and manages all the radio technical details for our cruises.  He brings on two Kenwood TS-480 HX HF mobile transceivers and two screwdriver antennas to be installed and operated from the rear of the Lido deck on both port and starboard.  Carnival engineers run the cables for us and we are generally able to begin operating after dinner on the first night of the cruise.  We operate while at sea, closing when we go into ports until late the last night of the cruise.  We have made thousands of worldwide contacts and often find ourselves involved in pile-ups.  The hams in our group assist one another and you may find a variety of folks from the ship's crew as well as other passengers hanging around to experience ham radio first hand.  We have made contacts for many of the crew members back to their own homes to assist during emergencies as well as simply passing traffic.  It is a real joy when you make contact with your own family or club members and quite thrilling when someone makes their first DX contact onboard. 

In the past few years, I have enjoyed booking and planning these ham cruises and anticipating another fun filled event with MPMT Ham Cruise 5.  I am Debbie Rumfield, N5DSR and everybody now knows me as "The Ham Cruise Lady" and recognizes my pink cowgirl hat wherever I roam.  This cruise is a family event which includes both Timmy and his twin brother Danny, WA5DTR who accompany us and assist with toting gear and setting up onboard and are often found helping others work the radio, as well as "Uncle Terry" Chau, KA5CFG who is always close by to lend a hand.  I am a professional CLIA certified travel agent who books all types of travel, but I must admit, cruising is my passion and this group my favorite. 

We will be cruising out of Galveston January 8, 2017 on the Carnival Breeze heading to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel for our fifth ham radio cruise.  We began booking this in mid-August and have already booked almost half of our allotted staterooms in only two months.  If this is something that would be of interest to you or your friends, please contact me by phone at 832-656-0731 or email me at mypinmoneytravel@yahoo.com for information or assistance.  There is always room for another ham searching to fulfill a dream of maritime mobile and for those who are not interested in the radios, there will be a variety of wonderful activities, food, entertainment, etc. provided by Carnival as well as three incredible ports of call providing many super fun events for the days in port.  This ship is selling out quickly, so please do not hesitate as you might find it sold out if you wait. 

73

Debbie Rumfield - The Ham Cruise Lady - N5DSR

Lance Rumfield - Technical Ham Cruise Coordinator - WD5X

My Pin Money Travel, LLC

832-656-0731

2015 MARS COMEX & ARES-Oklahoma 8 NOV 2015

2015 MARS COMEX & ARES-Oklahoma
Exercise Date  Sunday, November 8, 2015
Exercise Times  Amateur activity may operate during the approx. time frame - from 1000L and should conclude activity by 1700L.
Summary

At the end of this week Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) will conduct a coronal mass ejection (CME) disaster communication exercise.  ARES-Oklahoma, as well as all any Radio Amateur group involved in providing emergency communications (such as supporting a local EOC) in Oklahoma are asked to assist with this exercise.
ARES-Oklahoma participation
To support the MARS COMEX we ask all ARES-Oklahoma to participate in gathering information requested by MARS stations working the MARS COMEX.
To that end ARES-OK will call THREE Statewide HF nets and ALL LOCAL groups, ARES-OK or other affiliation are encouraged to call at VHF/UHF net to support local information gathering during the MARS COMEX.
What's working in this exercise?
VHF/UHF Simplex or Repeaters
HF
ALL DIGITAL Modes
Our ingenuity
Statewide HF Nets during MARS COMEX
The ARES-OK Statewide HF ARES Net will be active at several scheduled times to support the MARS COMEX - the times noted below.
ALL Radio Amateurs in OKLAHOMA are encouraged to check-in to the ARES-OK Statewide HF ARES Net.
The ARES-OK Statewide HF Net will be active in support of MARS COMEX for the purpose of forwarding messages over longer distances than can not be handled on local VHF and UHF nets, and to give increased exposure to ARES throughout the state and to encourage ARES membership and activity through a high level of visibility. This is also a good opportunity for all OKLAHOMA Radio Amateurs to test and practice operations HF equipment -- IF POSISABLE -- BUT NOT REQUIRED - on back up powers systems and/or NVIS type antennas.
Net #1 ARES-OK Statewide HF Net -Start time 1100L
Net #2 ARES-OK Statewide HF Net -Start time 1300L
Net #3 (the Regular weekly) ARES-OK Statewide HF Net -at 1530L (2130 UTC)
Length of each Net will be based on traffic volume and need.
Primary frequency: 7260KHz  Lower Sideband Phone +/- QRM (+/- QRM = translates to up or down the band depending on use or noise).  ALT frequency:      3900KHz  Lower Sideband Phone +/- QRMYou may have to tune around to find the net.
ARES-OK Net Control Stations (NCS) will be controlling this net session.For Net #1 & #2 of the day these will be open to ALL stations supporting the MARS COMEX. NCS will NOT use the "Roll Call" check-in system for these nets. Suggest that the NCS take check-in by Regions of the State (Section).Net #3 checking into the net will follow the "Roll Call" check-in system that is normally conducted during the weekly Sunday ARES-OK HF Net.Once the roll is complete the Net will be open to check-ins/comments from ALL Radio Amateurs in OKLAHOMA. At the discretion of the ARES-OK Net Control Station -- any of the nets should be opened up to check-in stations from outside of Oklahoma.
Local VHF/UHF Nets during MARS COMEX
ARES-OK or other affiliation are encouraged to call a VHF/UHF net to support local information gathering during the MARS COMEX. It is highly recommended that there be a strong liaison between each local net/group and the Statewide HF nets to facilitate the efficient movement of traffic and information gathering for the MARS COMEX.LOCAL VHF/UHF Net -Start time 1200L Length of the Net will be based on traffic volume and need.
DIGITAL:
ICS-201 and ICS-205 forms for the upcoming COMEX have been uploaded to the file area of the ARES-Oklahoma Yahoo group.  They provide detailed information that is summarized below.
1) The exercise officially goes from 071200Z Nov to 102359Z Nov and is a simulation of a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) event and geomagnetic storm.  That will put the exercise from 06:00 AM Saturday, November 7th to 6 PM on Tuesday, November 10th.
2) Messages will be sent within the MARS network to KC5MWZ.  KC5MWZ will forward the messages via RMS Express/Winmor to the AE5ME-12 system.  Messages should be addressed to KC5MWZ@KC5MWZ to insure they are routed correctly through the system.
3) EOCs and individuals will retrieve the messages from the AE5ME-12 system on either HF (Winmor) or packet (VHF).  No telnet connections will be allowed, as it is assumed that internet facilities have been compromised and are unreliable.
4) EOCs and individuals will respond the messages and place them back on the AE5ME-12 system to be relayed back to KC5MWZ.  KC5MWZ will then collect the messages and pass on the appropriate information back to MARS.
5) 071200Z through 080900Z Nov will be the "notification" phase of the COMEX.  That will be from 06:00 AM Saturday to 03:00 AM Sunday.  A CME is considered "likely" and preparations will need to be made to protect radio and computer equipment.
6) At 080001Z Nov (6:01 PM Saturday), MARS will be notified of the pending CME.  All equipment is to be disconnected from ALL wiring and antennas between 080900Z through 081200Z Nov (3:00 AM Sunday to 6:00 AM Sunday).  No radio operations will be conducted during the simulated "geomagnetic storm".
7) High Intensity Network operations will commence shortly after 081200Z (6:00 AM Sunday).  Requests for information for county messages will be forwarded to MARS and MARS stations will begin contacting counties.
8) While the exercise it expected to last until Tuesday, I would expect the most intense amount of messaging to be after 6:00 AM on Sunday until 6:00 PM Sunday.  The AE5ME-12 system will be operating on a combination of battery and generator power during the first 24 hours of the exercise, then restore commercial power on Monday and Tuesday.
9) The 146.985 repeater will be available for technical questions during the Sunday portion of the exercise.  If you are having problems sending or receiving messages on RMS Express, contact AE5ME on that frequency.  Messages still get routed through VHF and HF on the published frequencies in the ICS-205.
10) A group of 8 hams have been busy getting up to speed on RMS Express and operating on either VHF or HF on the AE5ME-12 system.  The list includes KF5RCI, AD5JL, WB5ANX, WA5VXI, WD9GET, WY7RM, KD5NJR, and KC5SHE.  Of course, KC5MWZ and AE5ME will be involved as the "hub" stations for OKC and Tulsa respectively.
Documentation & ReportingAll events REQUIRE proper documentation.All tactical traffic should be logged by each station on an ICS-309AR form.
http://www.aresok.org/downloads/Ics309%20ar.pdfEach station/group should log all activity on an ICS-214 form.
http://www.aresok.org/downloads/ICS%20214-AR%20Log.pdfFormal message traffic should be written to insure proper handling of the message. To better interface with our served agencies ARES-OK will work toward transitioning to the NIMS message form ISC-213. The ISC-213 form may be downloaded from http://www.aresok.org/downloads/ics213.pdf and reproduced as necessary.  There is NO reporting requirement for non-MARS stations.
Got Questions?If you have questions about the MARS portion of this COMEX, please contact Army MARS Program Manager Paul English, WD8DBY mars.exercises@gmail.com.  If you have questions about DIGITAL please contact Jeff Scoville, AE5ME ae5me@yahoo.comIf you have questions about ARES-OK please contact your Regional EC via the "Contact Us" tab on www.ARESOK.org and/or please feel free to contact the SEC.
Good Luck,Mark Conklin, N7XYO
Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
918.232.8346
n7xyo@arrl.netwww.ARESOK.org
BACKGROUND:ARES/RACES Teams Expected to Join MARS in Coronal Mass Ejection Disaster ExercisePreparations are nearly in place for the previously announced Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) coronal mass ejection (CME) disaster communication exercise, which will take place Saturday through Tuesday, November 7-10. Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) groups are expected to participate in the quarterly contingency HF exercise in support of the US Department of Defense.
"We are looking forward to this exercise and the opportunity to partner and train with the larger Amateur Radio community," Army MARS Program Manager Paul English, WD8DBY, told ARRL. The exercise scenario will simulate a CME event and focus on actions that radio operators should take prior to and following such an event, which could impact HF propagation. English said leaders from Army and Air Force MARS will hold a final exercise coordination teleconference on October 28 "to answer any final questions about the exercise and make sure everyone is ready to train."
English said he's responded to some 90 inquiries from ARES and RACES groups as well as from individuals who would like to involve their ARES teams, and he expects about 50 ARES/RACES-affiliated organizations to participate. He said a few additional active duty military units also hope to take part in the exercise.
English said the November exercise would simulate a radio blackout as well as infrastructure damage. "During the exercise, we will simulate the blackout with a 3 hour pause, and then we will bring stations back on air and begin handling requests for information," he told ARRL.
Training objectives for this exercise will include understanding what a CME is and how much forecast lead time can be expected; the effects associated with a CME, and what precautions radio operators take to protect their equipment, prior to a severe CME. Following the simulated CME, operators will assess its effects and report that information. This will involve "inter-operation with Amateur Radio operators and groups to assist in assessment," English said.
END

Live Ham Radio Show airs weekly

I hope you can use this info on your blog.

We have a worldwide ham radio program on w5kub.com every Tues night at 8 PM CT (0100 UTC Weds)  We bring in guest from around the world via skype.  

the show is on w5kub.com

it is called Amateur Radio Roundtable

Tues nights at 8 PM CT   (0100 UTC Wed)

Regulars on our show include Rilley Hollingsworth, retired special counsel of the FCC.     Riley answers viewers questions on the show.

We also have Joe Eisenberg K0NEB that does segments about kits and hamfest reports.

Emmett Hohensee W0HQ is the chief engineer of Radiowavz and does segments on antenna. 

We bring in special guests to the show via skype from all around the world. could you help us get the word out to other hams via tweet and your blog?

Thanks, Tom Medlin W5KUB

--

Live ham radio show Amateur Radio Roundtable every Tues night at 8:00 PM central (0100 UTC Weds) on W5KUB.COM 

Please check out our ham radio video broadcast page at http://w5kub.com and please join our W5KUB video facebook group at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/w5kub/

Senior Member of the I.E.E.E