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You Write the Messages

A St. Louis County ARES® Exercise

St. Louis County ARES® will be holding an exercise on Sunday, August 27, 2006 called "You Write the Messages". The "Aftershock" exercise taught us that we need to include simple message handling exercises to our training schedule. This will be a fairly easy exercise in which you make up you own message(s) and send it. You will also receive one simple message.

All St. Louis County ARES® members are urged to participate in this exercise. There is no "sign-up", you can join the exercise when it starts. (Wait for the Net Control Station to start the net.)

Participants Instruction sheet

Date: Sunday August 27, 2006
Time: Starting at 2:00 PM CDT (1900 UTC), lasting approximately 1 hour
Frequency: 146.850 MHz, (CTCSS 141.3 Hz)

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY:

  1. This exercise will be limited to each station passing one or two written messages and receiving one or two written messages.
  2. Stations will write and format their messages.
  3. Messages will be kept short and simple (5 to 10 words). All message will have a priority of "routine".
  4. No replies will be required for any of the messages.
  5. If at all possible, have two or more operators at each station (buddy-up with someone).
  6. After all stations have finished sending their first message, Net Control will excuse operators who do not want to continue, and then start another round of sending messages.
  7. The net will then be closed.

GOALS:

  1. Implement lessons learned from the "Aftershock" exercise.
  2. Improve and practice written message handling skills.
  3. Improve and practice net operating skills.
  4. Understand the value of having more than one operator at a station.
  5. Provide members an opportunity to use their emergency/portable equipment (weather permitting).

INSTRUCTIONS:

Stations May Be:

  1. A base station
  2. A portable station (in a public place, your back yard, etc, weather permitting)
  3. A mobile (vehicle) unit, but in a fixed location
  4. Please do not use a handheld radio unless you operate at least 5 watts and use a "gain antenna".

PROCEDURE:

  1. Materials required:
    • At least one of the ARRL Radiogram forms (to use as a template). It is best to have a few of the Radiogram forms to write on directly, otherwise one form (to be a template) and some scratch paper will work.
    • A copy of the Radiogram instructions. Here is a link to it: http://www.wakeares.org/traffic/index.html
  2. Pre-Written Messages: Each station checking-in should have two written messages ready to transmit. Keep written messages between 5 and 10 words. In the handling instructions, do not require any answer to your messages. You can make up your own recipient and text, but keep it clean. Don't forget the signature.
  3. Net Call Up: At 1400 hours (2:00 PM) local time, the net will be activated on the 146.850 repeater.
  4. Check-in:
    • Stations will check in using the usual ARES procedure, using FCC call sign, name of all persons at the station, and location of the station (closest major intersection).
    • Each station will be assigned a numerical tactical call sign (Station 1, Station 2, etc.).
  5. Net Control will then instruct the stations to move traffic.
    • Station #1 will send a radiogram to Station #2, Station #2 will send a radiogram to Station #3, etc. The last station will send a radiogram to Net Control. Net Control will send a radiogram to Station #1.
    • After each station completes sending its radiogram, it should return the net to Net Control and state its tactical and FCC call signs.
  6. When all stations have sent their messages, Net Control will excuse those stations wishing to leave the exercise, and then start second round of messages using the same procedures.
  7. Closing the Net: The net will be closed after traffic has been passed.

© 2008 St. Louis County ARES®

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