[CALV-AUXCOMM] Fwd: 7/2 PG-ARES Packet/VFM Drill

[Shawn Donley]

All,

Here's the most recent email from Steve.

Again, if you would like to participate, let both me and Steve know.  Sooner is better as Steve is preparing a plan.

N3AE

>     ---------- Original Message ----------
>     From: Steven Keller <kc3dso at gmail.com>
>     To: Mike Montrose <mikemontrose at gmail.com>, Shawn Donley <n3ae at comcast.net>, Andy Protigal <awprotigal at gmail.com>, sweeneydt at gmail.com, Tom Ostrosky <w3ni at hotmail.com>, Ken LaCapria <ken_lacapria at verizon.net>, Bill Smith <bill.n3xl at verizon.net>, "Pete Reiniger preiniger at verizon.net [PG-AresRaces]" <preiniger at verizon.net>, Jeff Humbert <humbert1js at gmail.com>, rdavidson <rdavidson at aceweb.com>, PGCERA <pgcera at verizon.net>, Jim Cross <jcross3 at gmail.com>, Pamela Humbert <humbertpj at gmail.com>, Jim Montgomery <wb3kas at aol.com>, ka3ahi <ka3ahi at aol.com>, vic nardo <arcwb2u at gmail.com>, Eliud Bonilla <bonilla.eliud at gmail.com>
>     Date: 06/25/2020 12:55 PM
>     Subject: 7/2 PG-ARES Packet/VFM Drill
> 
> 
>     Hello everyone...
> 
>     Thanks for your interest in the upcoming PRGE ARES 7/2 drill. It's just a week away and I will have a plan out within the next two days. 
> 
>     This drill's purpose is basically two fold; to reorient personnel back into Packet. As Packet is still our mainstay EmComm mode we need folks sharp on it's operation. We want them to connect their gear and get online. Using nodes, P2P, and digi to send messages. This part will be done via simply injects such as sending a ICS-213 and the recipient using the REPLY feature in the form to send a reply. Not using the ACK feature in Winlink to send acknowledgements but have the recipient actually reply with something similar to "Msg Received and Understood."  Sending a WInlink Position Report, Sending a photo of your station, including sending messages to your ADD, SM and EC and a few other small items.
> 
>     PRGE ARES introduced VARA FM (VFM) for the first time to an actual exercise on the 5/30 ARC Exercise. This proved to be fantastic as most stations were maintaining over 10kbps transfer rates or higher. Statons were able to pass traffic in seconds making for quick work of forms and messages. This drill will introduce VFM to more members of  PRGE ARES to assist in evaluating its use to be included in our Hospital Program. 
> 
>     Lastly we also introduced in the 5/30 ARC Exercise NCS to handle all digital traffic. In the past with up to 9 stations trying to send traffic over our nodes on 145.750 we had multiple collisions and a good bit of waiting for access. The 70cm 9600 OTA node helped with an offload of traffic but it was not enough. Forcing stations to go through NCS was fast and seamless in operation and when combined with VFM was a considerable improvement. Stations outside PRGE will not need to go through NCS to move digital traffic if using a node outside PRGE. If you want to send P2P traffic to a station in PRGE then you will need to go through NCS. All stations will need to monitor one of the two nets (K3ERA Repeater in District Heights) or the CMRG repeater system. If you must move off the net let NCS know when off and back on.
> 
>     If anyone is unable to participate simply send me a reply to this message and I will remove you from the distro. Feel fee to invite others to participate; it's not too late for me to add someone. 
> 
>     Remember to update your installs of Winlink. There have been several updates lately including a new full version. I suggest you poke around and play with the ICS-213 and reply function, incident AAR, Position Reports, etc. before the drill. No pressure here folks, just some fun moving traffic. A low key event. 
> 
>     Any questions let me know. 
> 
>     73
>     Steven Keller
>     KC3DSO
>     Prince George's County, MD ARES
>     Assistant Emergency Coordinator - Operations
>     MDC Assistant Section Emergency Coordinatorhttp://www.pgares.org
> 
>     https://www.facebook.com/pgaresraces/
>