Oct 4, 2024 | ARES, ARRL, Public Service, Winlink
From the ARRL
10/04/2024
ARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio® is tracking how amateur radio is proving critical in areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene, especially in North and South Carolina, portions of Tennessee, and beyond. In the hardest-hit Asheville, North Carolina, area, homes and entire towns have been swept away by flood waters and mudslides. Over 200 people have been killed, and many more are still missing.
Widespread devastation has damaged the power grid and roads, and many residents are without cell phone service and other utilities. For several days, radio communications were the only means of passing information. Ham radio continues to play a significant role in this situation.
In North Carolina, all official emergency radio communications are done through NC AUXCOMM. NC Division of Emergency Management Senior External Affairs Specialist Brian Haines says hams are deployed. “Amateur radio operators are working side by side with first responder communications personnel all over Western North Carolina. Needless to say, we are interested in highlighting all they are doing but at this point they are heavily involved in response efforts, which is where we need to focus,” he said.
Winlink, which provides email over amateur radio, has been used significantly in the recovery. ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, says the recent FCC removal of symbol rate restrictions has allowed a streamlined response using modern technology. “Winlink is an example of how modern tools work well within the Amateur Radio Service. Not having to petition the FCC for a waiver of the old rules allowed Winlink to be used immediately during this emergency,” he said. ARRL had advocated for the change, which was implemented in 2023.
Significant stories of the response from individual hams is emerging, particularly from those who have created pop-up nets to pass health and welfare traffic. Using mountaintop repeaters that have robust power backups, HF frequencies, and Winlink, ham radio operators are putting in their time, talents, and personal gear to good use.
Read the full article, and associated media coverage, here:
https://www.arrl.org/news/ham-radio-serving-southeast-us-recovery-efforts
See the map of Winlink coverage here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=947498630745785&set=a.626049679557350
ARRL is the National Association for Amateur Radio in the US
Apr 13, 2023 | ARES, Public Service, Winlink
On April 1 the EPA and WPA participated in statewide Winlink exercise in cooperation with the American Red Cross. The drill, coordinated by Red Cross DCS Jay King, W2AFE and his team, was a resounding success with more than 112 operators sending 350 messages to various Red Cross chapters in Pennsylvania. The exercise was conducted exclusively via digital protocols using Winlink.
Of the 112 participants, 96 were ARES members, 28 were Red Cross members, 36 used emergency power, 17 operated mobile and 94 were able to deploy with a VHF station. Winlink messages were sent using a variety of digital protocols including VARA FM, VARA HF, PACKET, ARDOP, PACTOR and TELNET.
The exercise was designed to test the response and deployment availability of ARES units and members in a widespread emergency in which the American Red Cross needed to send a variety of formatted messages throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A big thank you to the following operators who participated in the drill (by county):
Allegheny
NU3Q-1 Bob Mente
KB3LYB Mark Earnest
Beaver
KB3VSP Dan Grazulis
KC3TFW Greg Borns
N3OJP Mick Pyzoha
Bedford
K3NQT John Hogenmiller
KE3ZT Steve Wurm
Berks
K3AJM Alan Melnyk
Blair
NZ3B Erik Clossen
KC3RHR Joe Petrulionis
W3XOX Kevin Lear
Bucks
KA3TSJ Bob Stengel
KC3SMW Greg Cheng
KC3HXF Jacek Ostrowski
K3KH Karl Harris
K3FKW Ken Marinoff
KB3GJT Michael Sabal
NY3J Ron Wenig
KC3SZB Tom Aiken
Cambria
ND3L Des Warzel
Centre
WX2DX Bill Smith
W3SWL Brett Saylor
K3CWP Carmine Prestia
K3CLM Chad McKissick
KB3ESJ Dan Tancibok
W3DLD Darren Dixon
Chester
K3JSE Andy Cooper
KC3QVF Chris Beggy
W3EOC EOC
N3FLL Frank Rocap
N3MEL Glenn
W2AFE Jay King
WA3NOA Jim Harris
W3JFS John Schell
KB3PCY Martin Odom
KE3HG Rich Kucharik
N3YLI Travis Lisk
Cumberland
N3EPY Richard Johnson
Dauphin
K3URT Curt Sanders
Delaware
W3BIG Bob Wilson
KB3RIJ David Horvath
KT3H Paul Keener
Lackawanna
NW3X Tom Davis
Lancaster
KB3ZBM Daniel Boone
W3COB Doug Rice
N3EJG Jim Williams
W3NHW Nathan Wolf
Lebanon
WA3GPM Dave Brandt
Lehigh
N3WGH Doug Mcnair
WA3PNY Jeff Bauer
KC3BLF Mike Mandell
K3TEG-1 Tim Gelvin
WW3TRG Tom Gyory
Luzerne
K3EAM Alex Mark
KB3VS Bob Fowler
WA2EXI Chris Keller
WA2BBS Doug Stevens
KC3NGF Jack Rose
AB3ZI John Diliberto
K2PG Phil Glasso
N3RN Robert Nygren
KC3MES Tim Chase
Lycoming
N3RPB Bob Brown
AC3EU Clifford Allen
N3ZIO Dale Brendle
WJ3OM John Mummert
Montgomery
W3ZQN Bob Lees
N3FKR Charles Pistilli
AA3E Chuck Farrell
W3AFV Chuck Farrell
K3ITH Dick Stewart
WA3JZN Guy Gibbs
KC3JUD Harris Pepper
KC3TYG Jason Lukridge
N3IIG Jim Linden
WX3ABC Joe Smith
WS3J Lee Erickson
NE3I R. Griffiths
KC3ONC Steve Thomas
W3EX T. Nolan
KB3JCW Tom Pleva
Northhampton
W3CE Al Weiman
N3QIM Chris Hogan
KC3MLI Chris Peters
N3EYT David Blankenship
N3SQD George Wieland
N3XG Rodney Wolf
Northhumberland
KB3AC Alan Cooke
KA3IRJ Fred Uebellhoer
KC3OXN James Heath
Philadelphia
KC3CEW John Bates
KC3UGC Mark Pricskett
N3PEG Peg Daly
K3FZT Steve Davidson
Pike
KD2OIO Linda Doering
KZ3SMW Mark Wheeler
AC2GI Richard Carter
KC3QPC Robert Wolff
Schuykill
KC3RWX Daniel Cook
W3DFX Timothy Farrell
KC3KFW Carl Keller
Washington
N3WS Tom Wright
Wayne
AC3IV Eric Fosse
KC3SAQ Greg Barra
N2KUO Jack Arnouts
WB2HJQ Ken Katzman
N2KJW Kevin Whitehead
KA3E Paul Coar
KC3POC Peter Marcano
KC3HSM Robert B Becker Sr.
Westmoreland
KC3ULG Jim Benner
K3JZD Jody Nellis
York
K3HQI Ralph Brandt
Information submitted by Bob Wilson, W3BIG, ARRL EPA Section Manager and Section Emergency Coordinator
April 12, 2023
Jan 16, 2022 | ARES, ARRL, News, Public Service
New Section Emergency Coordinator -Bob Wilson, W3BIG is the new ARRL ARES EPA Section Emergency Coordinator. He came on board Dec. 1, 2021. Bob lives in Upper Chichester Township, Delaware County. Bob has been a Ham since 1978, was previously the Emergency Coordinator for Delaware County from 2008 until 2015. View the ARES EC Map: https://epa-arrl.org/ares-ec-map/
Bob Wilson W3BIG
Nov 5, 2021 | ARES, Club Meeting, Election, EPA Section
Friday, Nov. 5th at 7:00 pm at St. James Lutheran Church, 93 Kugler Rd., Limerick, PA
We look forward to seeing members in person at the first Friday meeting. The VE exam will take place in the meeting hall, so if you come to the meeting early, please help the examinees focus by speaking softly. Note that If there is any new guidance or update to our schedule it will be sent via Groups.io and posted to the homepage of www.paarcdotnet.
At this meeting:
- We’ll be joined by Chuck Farell W3AFV, EPA ARES EC to discuss the LGS Exercise.
- We will be inviting nominations for board positions, with an election to follow at the December 3rd meeting. See the section below this one for details.
- We’ll be showing a short video: An Introduction to DX. There will be time to share your best DX stories as well.
- Please feel free to bring a recent home-brew item or kit build to show us.
- We are accepting dues payments for 2022 at this meeting. See Nate, N2ADD.
COVID-19 Guidelines for Meetings
Our meeting location, St. James Lutheran Church in Limerick, follows state and CDC guidance for COVID-19, and the CDC now recommends that everyone mask up when indoors. Please wear a mask to keep yourself and others safe. The club will have masks available at the door if you need one.
Mar 31, 2021 | Amateur Radio, ARES, ARRL, EPA Section
Thanks go out to Cliff for serving the greater community in such an important way!!! Cliff is a member of PAARC.
3/31/21 – The Eastern Pennsylvania Section of the ARRL (the national association for Amateur Radio) proudly announces that Cliff Hotchkiss, KC3PGT, is the new Philadelphia County Emergency Coordinator. In that role, Cliff is responsible for the county Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
Cliff succeeds WA2UAR, our Eastern PA Public Information Coordinator, who served as acting emergency coordinator following the untimely passing of Harvey Kolodner, WA3GTL/SK – the County EC for the last several years.
In just a few months, Cliff completed all required Level 3 ARES training courses including FEMA Incident Management courses and ARRL Emergency Communications courses. The Philadelphia region District Emergency Coordinator (Richard Stewart – K3ITH) and the Eastern Pennsylvania ARRL Section Manager (George Miller – W3GWM) heartily endorsed Hotchkiss for the post following Silber’s recommendation.
Cliff Hotchkiss is a fine art photographer and former photography professor, specializing in historic and antique photographic techniques. He is active, not only in ARES, but serves as a Red Cross Amateur Radio Operator volunteer, net control for the Marple-Newtown morning weather and information net, the Phil-Mont Mobile Radio Club’s afternoon drive time net, and is a member of a number of regional clubs.
Join us all in congratulating Cliff Hotchkiss on his appointment as ARRL’s Philadelphia County Emergency Coordinator. And join Cliff as he leads the ARES Net meetings normally on the Phil-Mont repeater system, 147.03, +offset, PL 91.5 – 9 PM local time, Sunday evenings. (Also available on Echolink – W3QV-R, and Allstar 47940).
Visit the ARRL EPA website: https:www.epa-arrl.org
