HF Interoperability Event: 5~15 August

All ham operators are invited to participate in
10 days of HF Automatic Link Establishment
activity on the air. The purpose of this event
is to encourage ALE communication techniques
among amateur radio operators worldwide.

START: 0001 UTC Friday 05 August 2011
END:   2359 UTC Monday 15 August 2011
The HF Interoperability Event is an on-the-air
international exercise sponsored by HFLINK, towards
readiness for HF Emergency/Disaster Relief and
Networking communications for the amateur radio service.

HF Interoperability utilizes the High Frequency
global standard Automatic Link Establishment system
used by governmental agencies and non-governmental
organizations for HF communications around the world.
ALE provides direct HF Selective Calling and Net Calling
for SSB (Single SideBand) voice and/or data modes.
The radio operator can call another ham callsign
directly; the ALE will "ring" the radio just like a
telephone. Nets of hams can be called up in the same way.
Pre-arranged schedules or internet connections are not needed.
This open event is for ham operators to check out
their ALE communications equipment, get real-world
experience initiating and responding to ALE calls,
link up with fellow ALE operators for for text or
voice QSO contacts on HF, and share helpful information
about setting up ALE compatible radio stations.

Thousands of amateur radio operators worldwide now
have ALE-capable stations, and many have been active
in previous years' events. If you have never used ALE
before, this is a perfect way to start. If you are
an experienced ALE operator, this is a good opportunity
to help a friend get on the air with ALE.

MORE INFORMATION:
http://hflink.com/aotaw/
TO PARTICIPATE:
Use an ALE HF transceiver.
-or-
Use your Ham HF SSB rig + computer + PCALE.
Free ALE software here: http://hflink.com
Join ALE operators on the air, and in the Global
ALE High Frequency Network ALE COMM CENTRE
Register your callsign and grid, to appear on the map.
Or enter as "Guest" for instant chat.
http://hflink.net
Chat room, and Real Time up-to-the-minute activity
log and maps of all the ALE signals around the world,
as they happen during the event.
HF Interoperability Event 2011
ALE On The Air Week: 5 to 15 August

ALE Network celebrates anniversary

The Global ALE High Frequency Network (HFN) sets a new up-time record
by operating 100% continuously on all international amateur radio
shortwave bands simultaneously 24/7/365 for 4 years straight.

Relying on HF (High Frequency) ionospheric communications, all radio
stations in this worldwide system scan the ham bands every 10 seconds,
rapidly maintaining contact through short digital bursts of signals
using a system known as ALE (Automatic Link Establishment). With about
2000 registered operators, the HFN covers a vast area of the planet.

HFN International Coordinator Bonnie Crystal KQ6XA comments, "The ALE
network was founded to foster HF Interoperability between all types of
organizations, agencies, individual ham operators and nets. While its
main focus is on international EMCOMM, this far-reaching service has
ample capacity for radio operators everywhere to use for ordinary
calling and QSOs... including some DXing. The huge success of this
network, during such low solar cycle conditions, has shown the true
strength of ALE to find and use unpredictable HF band openings that we
see all the time."

ALE was originally an expensive system for government services, but
recent innovations in digital technology have brought the cost way
down. The first organized amateur radio ALE nets began in 2001,
corresponding with the release of the free PC-ALE software controller
for ham radios. Several years of development by the 4000-member HFLINK
organization adapted ALE to be a ham-friendly, interference-free
system. In 2007, the internet- connected HFN network went into full
scale 24-hour service. HFN rapidly expanded to cover large areas of
the earth, and it has become the prime framework for ham radio
operations using the global standard ALE system. In keeping with its
roots, ham radio ALE still maintains compatibility and
interoperability with goverment ALE radios, many of which are also
available now on the surplus market and being used by hams. Nearly
every major HF SSB radio manufacturer in the world is now marketing an
ALE radio.

HFN Network Manager, Alan Barrow KM4BA, said "The recent addition of
real-time maps of network connectivity HF paths, combined with
features such as ALE-integrated WINMOR/WINLINK, provides a versatile
platform for fast and reliable interoperable communications. The
website HFLINK.NET has literally been turned into a virtual
communications center at the fingertips of every ham."

All ham operators are encouraged to participate in ALE, especially
during ALE On The Air Week (AOTAW) from 5 to 15 August 2011, to
practice techniques and emergency preparedness. All modes of operation
will be used in AOTAW, including SSB (Single Sideband) voice
communications, digital modes, HF relay, HF email, and mobile texting
messages in the field. Info and free ALE software is available for ham
rigs at http://hflink.com

To follow the operations of the Global ALE High Frequency Network,
please see the HFLINK.NET website. Data activity is primarily on the
following frequencies (kHz) Upper Sideband: 3596, 7102, 10145.5,
14109, 18106, 21096, 24926, and 28146. Selective calling SSB Voice
activity is on Upper Sideband frequencies: 3791, 3996, 7185.5, 7296,
14346, 18117.5, 21332.5, 24932, and 28312.5 kHz.

About HFN

Global ALE High Frequency Network (HFN) is an international ham radio
service organization of volunteer operators in various countries of
the world, dedicated to interoperability and emergency/relief
communications.

HFN website: http://hflink.net
Contact: Bonnie Crystal, KQ6XA, VR2KQ6XA (HFN International ALE Coordinator)
Contact email: hfn2011@hflink.net