Overview of ARES
Published on Nov 21, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Why Amateur Radio
AFTER ALL, EVERYONE HAS A CELL PHONE!
Why Amateur Radio
* Phone system not designed for 100% utilization
* Phone system not designed for 100% uptime during foul weather
* Lots of fragile pieces
* Amateurs are generally self-contained and self-sustaining
* Large frequency allocation allows for flexibility
* Ability to go radio-to-radio alleviates needs for repeaters
* Amateurs are used to fixing things on the fly.
* Phone system not designed for 100% utilization
* Phone system not designed for 100% uptime during foul weather
* Lots of fragile pieces
* Amateurs are generally self-contained and self-sustaining
* Large frequency allocation allows for flexibility
* Ability to go radio-to-radio alleviates needs for repeaters
* Amateurs are used to fixing things on the fly.
Photo by jurvetson
You Want to Prepare for an Emergnecy
- What is an emergency?
- What are your options?
- What is the role of Amateur Radio?
What is an emergency?
* Natural
* Man made
What are your options?
* Amateur Radio
* CB Radio
* FRS/GMRS
* Cell phones
What is the role of Amateur Radio?
* Communications
* Skywarn/Weather Spotting
* Damage surveys/assesments
* Natural
* Man made
What are your options?
* Amateur Radio
* CB Radio
* FRS/GMRS
* Cell phones
What is the role of Amateur Radio?
* Communications
* Skywarn/Weather Spotting
* Damage surveys/assesments
Photo by garryknight
Preparation
- "Winging it" is not a plan
"Winging it"
* Plan for the worst
* What do you need to live
* How would you communicate
* What if you were separated
* Paper, paper, paper
* Emergencies rarely happen on sunny days
* Plan for the worst
* What do you need to live
* How would you communicate
* What if you were separated
* Paper, paper, paper
* Emergencies rarely happen on sunny days
Photo by Velorutionary
ARRL/ARES Overview
Photo by daveclausen
ARRL Segmentation
- US divided into "Divisions"
- Divisions divided into "Sections"
- We are in "Roanoke/Virginia"
ARES Segmenation
- With in a section, divisions might exist
- ARES "areas" are smallest logical unit
- In Virginia, done by county (mostly)
- We are Prince William, D02/NatCap
Photo by vgm8383
ARES Command Structure
- Emergency Coordinator (EC)
- In charge in area of responsibility
- District EC (DEC) supports
- Section EC (SEC) and secondaries support
- ECs may appoint Assistants (AEC) for support
Photo by Bakar_88
Where does RACES fit?
- ARES is part of the ARRL
- RACES is defined in Part 97
- In Prince William, joining ARES makes you part of RACES
- Additional restrictions when working under RACES
Photo by Andy M Smith
Incident Command (ICS)
- Someone has to be in charge (IC)
- ICS provides structure
- Flexible, extensible, dynamic
- Lots and lots and lots of forms and TLAs
Photo by frankpierson
The Paperwork
- ARRL Radiogram
- ICS 213
- ICS 214
Radiogram
* ARES uses the radiogram form for passing traffic
* Similar to a telegram
* Takes practice to use correctly
ICS - 213
* Standard form for incident messages
* Uses plain English
* ARES uses the radiogram form for passing traffic
* Similar to a telegram
* Takes practice to use correctly
ICS - 213
* Standard form for incident messages
* Uses plain English
Photo by MrMio
Homework!
- Create a list of things for a personal "Go-Kit"
- Create a Family Plan
Next week exercise
* What do you think you might need?
* Tools
* Personal
* Other things
* Take Home
* With your family, create a family emergency plan
* Where to meet
* How to contact
* Paperwork
* What do you think you might need?
* Tools
* Personal
* Other things
* Take Home
* With your family, create a family emergency plan
* Where to meet
* How to contact
* Paperwork
Photo by Steven Leith
GO KIT
- What items are "important?"
- What items are "nice to have?"
- Do you need to consider weather?
- What about a long activation (> 72hrs)
Important:
* ID
* Money
* License
* Radio (charged, with manual)
* Stationary supplies
* Personal meds
* Hat
* Water/snacks
Nice to Have:
* Fuses
* Spare parts
* Tools
* Work gloves
* Chair
* Flashlight
Weather
* Sunscreen, coat, boots?
Long activation
* Change(s) of clothes
* Sleeping bag
* ID
* Money
* License
* Radio (charged, with manual)
* Stationary supplies
* Personal meds
* Hat
* Water/snacks
Nice to Have:
* Fuses
* Spare parts
* Tools
* Work gloves
* Chair
* Flashlight
Weather
* Sunscreen, coat, boots?
Long activation
* Change(s) of clothes
* Sleeping bag
Photo by seanmcgrath
Nets
- Two Types
- Why are Directed Nets Important?
- How do they work?
Two Types
* Directed
* Undirected
Why are they important?
* Manage traffic
* Make sure the messages get through
* Someone is watching out
How do they work?
* Tactical calls
* Net Control
* Backup Net Control
* Directed
* Undirected
Why are they important?
* Manage traffic
* Make sure the messages get through
* Someone is watching out
How do they work?
* Tactical calls
* Net Control
* Backup Net Control
Photo by jessica.diamond
Important things to remember
- Understand the priority of a message
- Use tactical calls to identify, and close with FCC call
- NCS (Net) is in charge, always
- Being an operator is all about listening
Message Priority
* Emergency: Everyone shuts up, this is life and death
* Priority: Really important, you should pay attention
* Health and Welfare: Traffic about the health of an individual
* Routine: Normal net traffic
Tactical Calls
* Tactical calls are permitted under the FCC rules
* All stations must sign every 10 minutes and at the end of the transmission with their FCC call
90% of an operation is listening to someone else talk. Learn to bite your tongue.
* Emergency: Everyone shuts up, this is life and death
* Priority: Really important, you should pay attention
* Health and Welfare: Traffic about the health of an individual
* Routine: Normal net traffic
Tactical Calls
* Tactical calls are permitted under the FCC rules
* All stations must sign every 10 minutes and at the end of the transmission with their FCC call
90% of an operation is listening to someone else talk. Learn to bite your tongue.
Photo by nickcastonguay
A Net is Active, now what?
- Prepare
- Listen
- Follow NCS instructions
- Plan
- Inform
Photo by Aspex Design: Photos by Dean Thorpe
Working a Net
- If told to move, MOVE
- If told to change freq, CHANGE
- Be patient with NCS
- Be ready to follow instructions
- Write it down
If told to move, MOVE
* Quite often, operators will have to move. This could be for a number of reasons, but move first and ask questions later. And tell NCS
Be patient with NCS
* You may or may not hear all the traffic on the net. If NCS does not immediately reply, wait and try again. They could be handling traffic you cannot hear.
Write it down
* You may think you have a fabulous memory. In an emergency, you won't. Write it down. It all serves as legal documentation for afterwards.
* Quite often, operators will have to move. This could be for a number of reasons, but move first and ask questions later. And tell NCS
Be patient with NCS
* You may or may not hear all the traffic on the net. If NCS does not immediately reply, wait and try again. They could be handling traffic you cannot hear.
Write it down
* You may think you have a fabulous memory. In an emergency, you won't. Write it down. It all serves as legal documentation for afterwards.
Photo by solofotones
