DIGITAL DRILL 4-4-20

STXARES
1

You are invited to participate in a digital drill on 4-4-20 from 0830 - 1030 am CST.
I have attached an info sheet to this notice.

Thanks,
Joe, KB5DTS
EC-Walker Co.

(attachments)

DIGITAL DRILL.docx (14.4 KB)

2

Hello Joe

I would like to participate on the digital drill, I have the equipment and software but still learning the ropes, if you have anyone that can assist with remote training that will be great.

If not please sign me for the 2 meter SSB or on 60 and 40 meters.

73’s

Regards

Mario Monaco
KI5CEA
Cell 832-317-2084

3

I will be available to participate.
73,
Riley W5RLY

4

Hi Joe,
Got your email message. Sounds like a good exercise. For sure, add me to the list (W5RZG).
How expansive would you like this to be? I can extend the invitation to the Red Cross operators in Central and South Texas Region if you like. I can also contact the CLOs in DD12 that may not be on the STX distribution.

John Roberts W5RZG
TDEM-State RACES, Disaster District 12 RACES Officer
Travis County ARES, Deputy Emergency Coordinator
American Red Cross, Central & South Texas Region, Radio Communications Lead

5

Thanks,
Joe, KB5DTS

6

Is this open to the public?

Ralph Ward W5RMW

Bexar county AEC for digital radio

7

John,
Spread the word. We will do our best to answer all. One more email to post in 72 hours+ with additional operator calls as I have them at the time.

Thanks for your support.

Joe, KB5DTS

Hi Joe,
Got your email message. Sounds like a good exercise. For sure, add me to the list (W5RZG).
How expansive would you like this to be? I can extend the invitation to the Red Cross operators in Central and South Texas Region if you like. I can also contact the CLOs in DD12 that may not be on the STX distribution.

John Roberts W5RZG
TDEM-State RACES, Disaster District 12 RACES Officer
Travis County ARES, Deputy Emergency Coordinator
American Red Cross, Central & South Texas Region, Radio Communications Lead

8

Ralph,
Anyone that can do packet, winlink, etc. is welcome. We will try to reply to all. The NCS as noted will be there if the bands
hold up to coordinate on the HF side.

Joe

Is this open to the public?

Ralph Ward W5RMW

Bexar county AEC for digital radio

9

Joe, I will spread the word in Harris County ARES District 14.
73,

10

Thanks Joe! Congrats on your drill. It sounds like a very good and comprehensive one.

I’ll do my best to participate.

73,

Dale
W5WI

WTX Section Manager

11

John, et all;

I have plenty of gear, some quite expensive. Big problem. I’ve been in the “plan to move” everything to my other QTH for quite some time, now the Coronavirus has gotten in the way. All antennas are awaiting setting up, & gear needs reconnecting. If I can get this one Gulf Coast QTH reset up, I’ll attempt to join in again. Quite simply, I was recovering from H. Harvey, then along comes a lethal virus to keep everything still as a grave. Top it off with local officials not knowing or caring about Ham radio, then I’m all but useless to my home city!

Any ideas? -Needing help…

73s

Gil WA5YKK

Port Aransas, Tx

12

Gil,
Can do HF mobile? We can start from there…

Joe

John, et all;

I have plenty of gear, some quite expensive. Big problem. I’ve been in the “plan to move” everything to my other QTH for quite some time, now the Coronavirus has gotten in the way. All antennas are awaiting setting up, & gear needs reconnecting. If I can get this one Gulf Coast QTH reset up, I’ll attempt to join in again. Quite simply, I was recovering from H. Harvey, then along comes a lethal virus to keep everything still as a grave. Top it off with local officials not knowing or caring about Ham radio, then I’m all but useless to my home city!

Any ideas? -Needing help…

73s

Gil WA5YKK

Port Aransas, Tx

Ralph,
Anyone that can do packet, winlink, etc. is welcome. We will try to reply to all. The NCS as noted will be there if the bands
hold up to coordinate on the HF side.

Joe

Is this open to the public?

Ralph Ward W5RMW

Bexar county AEC for digital radio

13

The attachment didn’t make it. I wonder if you could resend it. And thank you very much for allowing me to join in

14

I'm in, Joe.

Questions:

1.) Do we send a single message to all on the list, separate emails or just one to...pick one?
2.) Two hour participation is indicated but the email info requests "and how long you can operate
for a shift." What does that mean?
3.) Are you looking for VHF packets on all three modes (VHF, UHF and Telnet)?

73,
Paul
K5PRS

15

Joe,

To my dismay, I’m in a spot with my Dodge R AM truck, double-walled cab. To install the Tarheel mobile antenna, I need to make holes thru it & the back for coax & DC power leads. Almost had an idea 2 weeks ago, but the recommended installing place was overworked. I do have an Icom rig set up for the driver to dial up nearly anything, so with suggestions, I can be anywhere in a day. It’s been nearly too long since 2 meter repeater activity, thus I’ll have to “break in” again.

Much to do, all this has been much for me with 76 years under my belt.

Gil WA5YKK

16

Paul,
Thanks.

  1. I have sent one message to multiple calls. Try that.
  2. Shift operation = If an emergency was in place, could you check in and operate, relay, etc. for 8 - 10 - 12 hours? From home?
    At our EOC, we are on 12 hour shifts.
  3. VHF is fine. Should the county/Huntsville be without internet and we still have power, we can and use the Lufkin node which is
    about 60 miles from us. If they are “still up”, then we would send a message thru Lufkin to get messages to outside officials/operators. The next step would be HF winmor, pactor, or some of the other digital modes to deliver messages.

Didn’t mean to write a book for your answers, but this is what we are ready for during an emergency. And, seeking this info to see if other operators can do the same from their areas.

Joe

17

Gil,
I have a Dodge Ram 2017 and under the drivers seat there are several rubber plugs. Very easy to run your coax through them over to the frame. There you can fish the coax through the inside of the frame back to the bed of your truck to your Tarheel antenna. Same set up I use.

Be prepared to do a lot of grounding straps to your four corners of your bed, cab, and extra straps for your engine and exhaust I also found out that when Tarheel suggest to use a 1/2” or larger ground strap for their antenna to the vehicle they mean just that. So my suggestion1” is follow their suggestion to prevent yourself some major grief.
1/2” STRAP OR LARGER! I’m using 1” strap on my Tarheel and it tunes and puts out a great signal. Before the 1” strap it wouldn’t tune correctly and had a horrible signal reports.

73,
Ken Miller
W5KAM

18

Hi Joe…

Are you wishing for HF operators to use the digital Pactor mode?

I could be wrong, but I thought the widespread use of late-generation Pactor was limited. I could be wrong. It’s expensive for some individuals to own.

Justst curious. Don N5CID

19

Don asked about Pactor usage. Here is a chart showing connections to my RMS Trimode stations in 2020. As you can see, Pactor 3 is king here! By far the best HF tool we have to move lots of data. If you haven’t tried Vara, you should. His $69 registration fee is a bargain for what it does. Typical performance is between Pactor 2 and 3 and much more robust than his earlier 1.x version.

Tom N5TW

20

Thank you, Tom. I appreciate your knowledgeable help, as always.

But, …. (isn’t there always a but…)

There seems to be more and more ‘digital’ modes available and, I assume, some or most incompatible with the others’.

From an ARES, RACES, MARS, SOC, EM, etc point-of-view, is there a ‘standard’ digital mode that Amateur Radio should use and train on? Who sets the standard?

If and when AR service is needed, …both ends of the communication link will have to be using the same, compatible digital mode/ protocol.

Thank you, …just looking for the 'Standards’ so everyone is on the same page, so to speak.

Don

Don Lewis, Austin, N5CID

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