[BARC-List] E. Mass. SET Results

[Frank Murphy]

The Massachusetts SATERN EOC, at Mass. Div. HQ's.  was the
designated Metro-Boston District EOC for the EMass. ARRL
ARES/RACES SET conducted on November 9th.   The Metro-Boston
ARES DEC, Bill Ricker, N1VUX, was in command, assisted by both
SATERN Team Leader, Frank Murphy, N1DHW and BERT Leader,
Rick DeSisto, NG1L. ( Boston ARC " Emergency Response Team")

The purpose of this season's drill was to test the ability of
Primary Field Teams (PFT's) to tactically communicate without the
use of repeaters. Additionally, having PFT's relay traffic from
outlying district EOC's and PFT's to Metro-Boston EOC and MEMA.
All tactical traffic between field teams and EOC's was passed
using 2m, 6m, and 70cm simplex only. Traffic between outlying
District EOC's and Mass. State Emergency Management sites was
passed using RACES NTS formal HF messaging on 6 and 40 meters.
(NVIS) 

The SATERN EOC was manned by 6 SATERN members including the
Massachusetts SATERN Coordinator, Bill Foley, kb1glf.  One of
the Boston canteens was manned by Rick Meuse, N1HID, and equipped
for HF and vhf/uhf communications, and designated as Boston
Tactical Remote Vehicle.

PFT's were organized from the Boston Amateur Radio Club " Emergency
Response Team", and were dispatched to two remote "high" areas
outside Metro-Boston.  Many of this group, 30 strong, are SATERN
members; some of whom were active at "Ground Zero". Individual
"mobile and home players" provided tactical traffic related to
"simulated emergency conditions/situations" that could be arise
around Metro-Boston". Additionally, the town of Hingham's Emergency
Management EOC was tied in, since it is located within contact range
of the "Cape Cod and Islands District". It was manned by the EM, Mark
Duff, KB1EKN, the Hingham Deputy Fire Chief, and a radio officer.

Radio Equipment Used:

EOC - SATERN/METRO BOSTON

Yaesu FT900, Icom 706MKIIG,  Icom 2100, Knwd TM-G707, Knwd 315A
and individual Ht's, and EOC scanners.

The SA location, 5 stories high, had a 5 band vertical, 6 mtr vertical, and
a 40 mtr dipole(NVIS), along with 2, 220, and 440 vertical. (G5RV not used)

Commercial Power was used; however multiple rechargeable marine batteries
and generators were available.

Tactical Remote Vehicle - A30:

Icom 706MKIIG, Knwd dual bander, Ht's, and truck's scanners. This vehicle is
also equipped with direct Fire Alarm communications with Metro-Boston.

HF was with an Outbacker Antenna and trucks HF whip. VHF/UHF was with truck
mounted antennas and mobile magnet mounts.

Primary Field Teams -

North - Located at Chelsea Veterans Home (Malone Park) 4 BERT/SATERN Members
  NG1L ~ Rick - BERT Team Leader  -  AA1XS ~ James
  N1LRT - Paul, -    KA1RDZ - Dan
  Equipped with 2 - 706 MKIIG (Mobile Verticals) / and dual band mobiles

South/West - Located at Larz Anderson Park, Brookline (BARC FD Site)
   WA1IDA ~ Bob  - N1ZKR ~ Paul / Pres. BARC  - KB1IBG ~ Walter
     

Results and What We Learned:
The drill was a success, but not without its problems.

First, the drill as outlined, proved that we (SATERN and BERT) could
communicate successfully to State EM without the use of repeaters in the
Eastern Mass. Section.  The SATERN EOC was able to directly communicate with
all Mass. Emergency Management Agency locations on air. We were also able to
communicate with all of our PFT's, our Tactical Vehicle on HF, and the
Hingham EOC on both HF and VHF simplex.  The DEC used 6 meters to conduct
drill discussions with the SEC, wa1mpn. Additionally, we received and passed
traffic from outlying district PFT's, and also passed American Red Cross
traffic from members of the Western Mass. Section, who were conducting an
American Red Cross Hospital drill at the same time.

We learned that once our Primary 40m (NVIS) frequency was taken over by a
non-participating slow-scan video station, that the secondary HF frequency
became too crowded. (needs Net Control Operator) The primary Tactical VHF
frequency was also too crowded. (it also needed a Net Control)

The Frequency Table provided was adequate, but not utilized correctly by
most.

While the locations selected for the remote sites were optimum for
individual team communications, today's high power equipment, good antennas,
and the presence of a "lift condition", created a condition on simplex
similar to most DX pile-ups. Without a Net Control Operator to sort out the
hailing stations and directing us to alternate frequencies to pass traffic,
weaker, distant stations were not recognized, or if they were on alternate
frequencies, they were not heard. Emphasis must be placed on proper use of
hailing frequencies/initial contact freq's, with direction to an alternate
by a NCS. (Thought should be given by Section Manager and SEC, to assigning
individual club simplex frequencies for better hailing.)

The next step for our SATERN/BERT Group must be to test our ability to
communicate within the ring of "high ground".  We must dispatch mobile
operators, or the canteen, to many of the shelters, hospitals, and local
EOC's to recognize those problem communication  area's we may encounter in a
real world disaster in Metro-Boston . Also, the equipment used at the EOC
was provided by SATERN members and took considerable time to transport,
erect antennas and set-up.  The Salvation Army Mass. Division MUST purchase
it's own equipment, and provide a permanently equipped in house EOC
location, that can be opened and manned in a reasonable time to be able to
respond quickly. The Sharon, Mass. "Camp Wonderland" should also be equipped
and tested as an alternate EOC location.

Some areas we have to work-on are:
 
1 - separation of EOC operators (too distracting hearing multiple traffic)
2 - assign tactical calls to our own PFT's for easier recognition of hailing
3 - assign a recorder to each operator, and a separate NTS writer for
    traffic
4 - build a retractable operating shelf in the canteen for HF radio
    equipment
5 - wire external antenna connectors
6 - provide seating for the mobile operator.
7 - SOP for SATERN and BERT teams/ tested and distributed to all members.
8 - better participation of club members to drill training efforts.  Only 12
    members participated from BERT,40%, and 8% of total BARC membership.
9 - request additional "home/mobile players" participate in next drill to
    test real world LOAD on EOC's ability to steer and pass tactical info
    correctly.
10- establish a list of HF hailing freq's to other New England SATERN and
    American Red Cross EOC's.