[CALV-AUXCOMM] Various Digital Mode Practice Opportunities

[Shawn Donley]

As promised at our last meeting, here are some digital mode practice sources that hold scheduled exercises.
 
MDC Section Check-in Exercise (once a month on the 2nd Tuesday)
     See attached file
 
Simple to more complex exercises:
     https://emcomm-training.org/
 
Every Wednesday Exercise:
     https://winlinkwednesday.net/
     https://winlinkwednesday.net/docs/All_About_Winlink_Wednesday.pdf
      
N3AE
Calvert EC
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Subject: REMINDER: MDC Section Check-in Exercise

Please remember to send your monthly MDC Section Check-in message(s). This exercise occurs on the second Tuesday of each month. 

Participants may use the Winlink Check-in template found in MAPPING-GIS or GENERAL Forms, or submit a standard text message. VarAC HF and VarAC FM users will send text messages. Multiple check-ins using different modes and session types is encouraged. The VarAC specific information can be found in Section 2 below. VarAC Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Messaging, below. 

The subject for this exercise should read: 'MDC CHECK-IN EXERCISE - CALLSIGN'.  As a general rule, always try to make message subject lines meaningful, so that correct message handling occurs. When using the Winlink Check-in template for this exercise, please insert MDC vs Winlink in the Subject that pops up, to ensure that the subject is correct. 

1. Winlink Messaging:
For help with the Winlink Check-in template, which is used in inter-agency drills and exercises, check out the following link: https://santarosacc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SRCARES-201_WinlinkCheckIn.pdf . Don't forget to check the Exercise box.

Place the following information in the Comments section of the Check-in form, or in the body of a text message, using comma separated format. Notice that Country has been added. Only Maryland Counties are required: Callsign, First-name, City or Town, Maryland County, State or Province, Country, Session Type. For example: KD3JA, James, Lanham, Prince George's, MD, US, Vara FM or VE2NDZ, Normand, L'ile-Perrot, Quebeck, Canada, VARA HF.  

The following Winlink session types may be used: 1.Telnet, 2. Packet, 3. Ardop, 4. Vara HF, 5. Vara FM, 6. Vara HF, 7. VARAS HF Radio-Only, and 8. Pactor. There is no need to include Winlink in the session type, as all of the specified session types, except Radio-only, are identified as Winlink in the Open Session drop-down list of session types.

Winlink messages are to be sent to tactical callsign MDCWINLINK-1, except in the case of VARA HF Radio-Only which must be addressed to N3XL. 

The monthly check-in is a good time to verify that your Radio-only (RO) designated Message Pickup Stations (MPSs) are still active. Any RO capable Remote Message Server (RMS) station can be used for sending your message, but you must have designated your MPS stations.

2. VarAC Messaging: 
VarAC users: Append the <GPSLOC> tag, if you have a GPS, or the <LOC> tag if you do not have GPS, to your message. For example, use the following format: KD3JA, James, Lanham, Prince George's, MD, US, VarAC HF, <GPSLOC> or VE2NDZ, Normand, L'ile-Perrot, Quebec, Canada, VarAC HF, <LOC>. When you use these tags, VarAC will insert the coordinates or the grid square for you.

A. To check-in on Tuesday, connect and send a VarAC FM VMail message in the proper format :
1. to KB3SPH, on 145.090 MHz, connect direct or VIA WM3M-10 digipeater, 00:00 - 12:00 ET, or
2. to N3XL, on 145.750 MHz, connect direct or via WA3YOO-9 digipeater. 24 Hrs.

B. Connect and send a VarAC HF VMail message in the proper format :
1. to KB3SPH, 40M, slot 13 (7.107.250 MHz), 24 Hrs. or
2. to N3XL, 80M slot 13, (3.597.250 MHz. 24 Hrs.  

Mapping tips:
Winlink users: Go to Settings > Preferences > Message sending options, and check the box for: Include your location in message headers. This will automatically provide your location in the headers of all of your Winlink messages.

The VarAC alert_tags.conf file is attached. Copy and paste this file into your VarAC program directory to receive MDC Bulletins (and Target Station alerts).

73,
Bill N3XL, MDCWINLINK-1
Learn by doing.