May 12

AUXCOMM USA WINLINK P2P PARTY – BEGINNING 13 May at 00.00 UTC

The AuxComm USA Winlink P2P Party will begin Tuesday 13 May at UTC 00:00 . This event will operate on frequency 14.119 (USB), using VARA HF.  This is a 24 hours exercise.

Tuesday’s exercise is a reschedule of the event that was cancelled on Tuesday 6 May due to poor propagation conditions.

The final destination station, WX0NET, will be on its North-South Antenna for the first 12 hours, and its East-West antenna for the last 12 hours.

As of now there are two confirmed relay stations:
One in Colorado, callsign N0OM
A second in Washington State, callsign KJ7SJG

Additional relay stations are still needed.  If you want to volunteer as a relay station, send an email to Admin@AuxCommUSA.org with your name, location, and callsign. You will be added to the list on the AuxComm USA (Public) Facebook page.

Try to connect when it’s most convenient for you. Some congestion is expected, so be patient. Remember messages are intended to be Winlink point-to-point.  Telnet messages and messages sent via RMS Gateways will not be counted.

May 12

Bob Connell (KI4RAX) – Retiring From Statewide ARES / SCHEART Net Manager Role

Bob Connell (KI4RAX) has served as the Manager for the ARES VHF/UHF Sunday night net since July of 2023.

Last week, Bob informed us that he will be stepping down from his net manager role at the end of  June.

We thank Bob for the time and effort he has contributed while managing this net during the last two years, and wish him well in the new efforts he will begin.

Due to Bob’s upcoming Net Manager retirement, we are looking for a resource to fill that role.

If you are interested in applying to fill Net Manager role, or want to know more about what the Net Manager is responsible for, feel free to contact me at:  robert.webster@ares-sc.org.

May 15

Winlink Wednesday

As you know Winlink is a very important tool in the volunteer emergency communicator toolbox.  We want to get South Carolina on the map.  The challenge is to send a Winlink message as explained here, every Wednesday before midnight. And we can get South Carolina on the map. This training task is coordinated by Mark Goddard,  KN4KRZ,   goddard.mw@gmail.com

How? Send a Winlink message to KN4LQN as formatted below. Send the message in any mode including Telnet, VARA FM, VARA HF, or any others.
 
To: KN4LQN 
Subject: Winlink Wednesday Check-In 
Message body: call sign, first name, city or town, county, state (HF or VHF, etc.) 
 
Your message will look something like mine below. Except, of course, with your information in the message:
 
Then, check back on Thursday, May 17 to see your callsign’s place marker on this week’s map.
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Here’s a screenshot of results from yesterday’s (May 15th). Winlink Wednesday. It’s difficult to see some of the callsigns, so here’s a link in case you want to zoom in to see your specific area:  https://www.qsl.net/kw4shp/WinlinkWed/WWmap.html
THANKS to everyone who checked in and contributed to this impressive increase from last week. If you missed this week, not to worry. You’ll have another opportunity next Wednesday, May 22nd.
Thanks and 73,
Mark
KN4KRZ

May 13

Sat. Jun 08, 2024 10am-3pm ARES/AUXC Quarterly Training (ARES/AUXC)

Registration for the June Quarterly training has been sent out via email. If you did not get it then please contact your ARES EC/DEC.

June 8 2024 at the EMD

2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia SC 29172

Mar 30

This is the Baltimore City fire department radio traffic of Key bridge collapse

https://youtu.be/g3lz-oBnmYE?si=hMaqwwcq6shaA9p6

 

 

This is the first time I have heard first responder traffic during a significant event. This group always remained calm and professional. It would be awesome if the SC amateur volunteer community (ARES and AUXC ) could train to this level of communications.
This is also the first time I have heard ICS in action. You can follow command being transferred up then out to a unified command . Then break out groups under the unified command off onto their own groups and the groups get assigned talk groups. The only negative was that it appears some of the mutual aid counties/agencies were not setup to talk to Baltimore Fire but they solved that with liaisons.
From my point of view as a radio operator, the communications ( not the ICS aspect, we would not be asked do that) is something I would like to emulate.
Steve Nixon
KC4UAL

Jan 12

Significant Weather Event, SCHEART Linked Repeater Network

When a big weather event is expected the SCEMD might requested the SCHEART VHF repeaters be linked statewide during the event. When that happens the state EOC ( K4EMD ) will be monitoring the SCHEART network for damage reports or other significant information that needs to be relayed to the State Warning Point..
—
So what  “significant information” is the state EOC wanting to hear about?
The County/State EOC is looking for infrastructure damage or situations impeding emergency response.
Here are few examples:
1) Infrastructure issues like a vehicle bridge is underwater or washed out.
2) A tornado or funnel cloud has touched down on the ground.
3) The dam has broken  and the roads downstream are flooding.
4) A train has derailed.
5) The river is so high that the bridge supports might not be safe.
—
All other weather related information should be reported to the Skywarn net. Ask your local Skywarn leadership were that net is located and what training you should have to make an accurate report.
The state EOC operator is not able to pass on your Skywarn spotters report to the NWS. You are expected to join a Skywarn net local to you and deliver that report yourself.
—
IF the county EOC is activated and running a net on their tactical repeater/frequency,  it is expected that you will report all significant information ONLY to the county EOC. The county EOC will handle the report and forward whatever they need to K4EMD.  In many weather related situations the county EOC is not activated and in those situations you would make your report to K4EMD, the state EOC directly.
—
The state EOC, K4EMD usually does not run a NET for weather related events. Usually K4EMD is monitoring and will reply to you if asked. You can call for K4EMD or net control either way and if the state EOC is activated an operator should reply. If not just wait a few minutes and try again.

Oct 30

Can I do ARES & AUXC Both ?

Apr 07

What is required to join ARES ?

The Amateur Radio Emergency Services team is always looking for new members. People excited about providing communications in an emergency situation.  So how do you join ARES and what is the difference between level 1 and level 2?

ARES level 1 is the entry level, join the team come on in and look around. Talk to others that have been on the team for years and get the feel of what is expected as an ARES volunteer. You do not need to take any FEMA ICS or ARRL course to join ARES.

ARES level 2  So now you know what it is and you want to continue. You want to build your own go box and you want to deploy to a local emergency operations center (EOC). At this level you will increase your skill level by completing several FEMA ICS courses and the ARRL course.

ARES Level 3 You like everything ARES stands for and you want to contribute more.  To be appointed into a leadership position you need to step up to level 3. At this level you will learn about more advanced subjects.   Only the Section Emergency Coordinator can make ARES leadership appointments.

ARES level 1 you are required to do the following:

1) Get a copy of the ARES Task Book.  Click on the menu item above and download the latest copy.

2) Fill out and send in the ARES membership application. Again this is a menu item above.

3) Study for and pass the Technicians license test. Many local clubs have study groups and they provide the testing. If you need a contact then click on CONTACT above and let us know, we will find a local club for you to study and test with. You must have a Technician license, or higher to join ARES.

That is all you need to do to join the ARES team. After you join you might consider advancing your skill level by working on ARES Level 2, which you can read about in the Task Book.

Jun 08

Difference between ARES, RACES and Auxcomm, in South Carolina

ARES:
FCC Licensed Amateur Radio Operators who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with the local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. ARRL/ARES provides basic training curriculum and exercise opportunities. The list of agencies a volunteer might end up serving is long but could include a County EOC/CERT, Hospital radio room, Red Cross ERV/Shelter, Nursing Home radio room, NWS office.  Once you register with an agency your training & credentialing will be completed with them.

Who decides when ARES will be activated?

That would be the agency ARES volunteers are serving.  ARES is a registered trade mark for the ARRL.  The roles in emergency communication is really defined by the agencies, state, county, local government or NGO they serve as volunteer communicator.  Without these served organization ARES has no role to support.

Leadership is provided by the ARES county or state EC
Click on the LEADERSHIP DIRECTORY tab above for contacts.

 

RACES:
Amateur Radio Operators that  have registered with their EOC for volunteer communications service should the President of the United States order the shutdown of all amateur radio transmissions per FCC rule 97.407 ***
RACES operators are allowed to transmit only by order of the EOC they volunteer for.
Each RACES volunteer must be endorsed by the respective county or state EOC.

Leadership is provided by each EOC / RACES Officer, county or state.

 

AUXCOMM:  is not an organization, it is a training standard.

An all inclusive term used to describe the many organizations that provide various types of communication support to emergency management, public safety and other government agencies as described in themselves. This includes but is not limited to Amateur Radio, Military Radio, Citizens Band Radio, DMR, DMRS, FRS, SatCom, Skywarn and many others.
Members of Auxcomm all have the title of Auxiliary Communicator.
Auxcomm is a position specific specialist certification.

Leadership is provided by the State EMD
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The above information is specific to South Carolina, a home rule state, some states have organized these three groups differently. An example is some states may not organize RACES with the county EOC.  Check with your local EOC for direction.

 

Some common terms we use often….

EC = Emergency Coordinator (for a county)

SEC = Section Emergency Coordinator (State EC in South Carolina)

SM = Section Manager (State Manager in South Carolina )

EM = Emergency Manager

REM = Region Emergency Manager

EOC = Emergency Operations Center

DEC = District Emergency Coordinator

EMD = Emergency Management Division

ARES = Amateur Radio Emergency Service

RACES = Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service

NGO= Non-Government Organization

VOAD = Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters

one or coalition of (usually not-for-profit) Second Responder organizations in the United States. These groups voluntarily help survivors after a disaster. One example is the American Red Cross.

 

*** It has been reported that FCC part 97.407 was removed from law at some point in the past. This was investigated and found to be an opinion. FCC 97.407 is still in effect as of Sept 2021 here is the link if you would like to check for yourself.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-E/section-97.407
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Sep 06

Get Ready Volunteer Checklist

If you don’t have a checklist to help you when it comes time to deploy then this is a good stating point.  Download it, print it and add whatever you need.

Get Ready Volunteer Checklist