[CoARES-D10] Action: please review these notes

[Steve Henry]

Hi folks-

Here are the training notes for our first session.  I'll send a word version
of this information for Pat to put up on the D10 website.  For next week
(Feb 16, 2005), please:

	Be ready to start logging when ARES starts up.  Practice writing down the
callsigns, 	announcements, etc.
	Practice in advance the simple scripts shown below until they are second
nature to you.
	·	Use of the word “copy”,
	·	how to indicate  you are done (tactical, your call sign)
	·	directly managing your traffic
	We will review the basics
	We will practice more of the simple message passing
	Be ready to send K0RAW at arrl.net your callsign and name if you can be on
line while the next 	is in session.
	We will be sending you messages to “pass” over the net via email

'73,

Steve, N7GN
Training Manager, D10 ARES


Training Notes
District 10 ARES
Session 1.0:  The basics
Steve Henry, N7GN
Feb. 9, 2005

Overview

Goals of weekly training:
	Help all of us sharpen our net operating skills
	Be prepared to help our served agencies at any time
	Training is hands-on as much as possible rather than lecture
My background
	Am not an expert but have some experience
	Many during our training will offer insights, and that is very helpful
	We will all make some mistakes during this
	Keep in mind:  D10 is a friendly and supportive place for hams to learn
	Mistakes a great opportunity to learn
Thanks
	To Pat, W0IPL for helping pull much of the material together
	Richard: K0RAW for lots of content also and for setting a goal for lots of
training
What we will cover
	Best station operating practices (tonight and next week)
	How to set up a tactical station
	Net control procedures
	Go bags
	Being a good ham radio ambassador
	Handling emergency traffic and situation
	Unusual situations
	Other topics???   Based on Pat’s training material

Basic Station Practices: will cover logging, use of microphone, pauses, and
simple message passing

Use of a station log:

Key skills:
		Choosing key words when taking notes
		Listening while writing
		ITF phonetic translation in real time
Equipment
	Have extra pens/pencils always available
	Regular pencils and a knife are always a reliable combination to have
available as a backup
	Use a bound log book- that way you don’t lose key pages and a longer-term
record
How to practice
	Recommendation:  every person checking into this net should have an ARES
logbook
	Put into this ARES training, check-ins each week, messages.
What to log
	Four columns
	Time in 24 hour local time
	Originator (authority behind) message (like the head of the rest stop)
	Message (crisp key words)
	Who message to
When to log
	Whenever a net is in session that you have checked into
	Before passing your own traffic!
	Helps organize your thoughts
Why to log
	Each event is unique--- you build up a practical “how to” guide based on
what you are 	logging
	E.g. where to go for what, how to handle specific situations common to the
particular net


Use of the microphone
	Concepts
		Easy to forget best practices—especially when using microphone a lot, or
during a busy 		net
	Just a few practices are helpful—make it a habit
		Talk across microphone, not into it - Eliminates puffing
		Can create volume without air noise
	Use of PTT
		Push, wait, then talk
		When done talking, then release
		Avoid accidentally pressing other microphone buttons (I accidentally do
this a lot)


Pauses after each transmission
	Concepts;
		Want to leave a lot of time for others who need to get into the net
		Use of pauses actually speeds up net traffic (counter intuitive but true)
	How long to pause
		Wait for courtesy beep to sound
		Then, wait for carrier to drop
		Then, wait a couple of seconds
	Why is this hard
		We don’t do this in normal spoken conversation
		We want to get our information across in a hurry—always seems urgent
		We want to serve the person asking for the help quickly
	Practice it!!!!


Crisp net traffic handling procedures

Concepts
·	Net control owns control of the net
·	You call net to get the net for your needs
·	When you are acknowledged by net, you have the net
·	You give the net back to net control when done
·	Call other stations by using their tactical and then your tactical
·	When you are done,  your tactical call sign followed by your normal
callsign .  This 	indicates you are done unless requested for more info.
·	Avoid using contractions unless the net operators are very experienced.

Example:  1

Net:  This is W0IPL, net control for the Tour de Lance.  Any traffic?
Rest Stop 1::  Rest Stop 1
Net:  Rest Stop 1, go ahead.
Rest Stop 1:  Supply truck 2, this is rest stop 1
Supply truck 2:  This is supply truck 2.  Go ahead
Rest Stop 1:  We are running out of water.  How soon can you be here?
Supply truck 2:  Copy..  Our ETA is fifteen minutes. Supply truck 2, K0RAW
Rest Stop 1:	Copy 15 minutes.  Rest Stop 1, N7GN
Net:  This is W0IPL for the Tour de Lance.  Any traffic holding?

Things to notice:
·	You don’t need to ask permission to call another station.  This wastes air
time. When net 	acknowledges you, you have the net.
·	See how each station indicated they were done.
·	Net waited until Rest Stop 1 said their call sign before taking back
control.  A person’s 	call sign indicates they are done.
·	During the exchange—no need for identification of tactical station nor
your callsign.

Exanple 2

Net:  This is W0IPL, net control for the Tour de Lance.  Any traffic?
Rest Stop 1::  Rest Stop 1
Net:  Rest Stop 1, go ahead.
Rest Stop 1:  Rest stop 1 is about out of water and the rest stop
coordinator and I are not sure what to do about that.
Net:  Call Supply Truck 2 direct and they can handle that
Rest Stop 1:  Supply Truck 2, this is rest stop 1
Supply truck 2:  Rest Stop 1 go ahead
Rest Stop 1:	We are running out of water and the rest stop coordinator is
not sure what to do
Supply truck 2:  Copy. We can be there in fifteen minutes. Supply truck 2,
K0RAW
Rest Stop 1:  Copy fifteen minutes.  Rest stop 1, N7GN
Net:  This is W0IPL for the Tour de Lance.  Any traffic holding?

Notice:
·	You don’t have to know how to route your traffic.  Net control might know,
or net control 	may also put out a general query to all stations.
·	Crisp confirmation of the key number or detail that has been exchanged
·	Use of the word “copy” to acknowledge what has been heard.

For next time:

	Be ready to start logging when ARES starts up.  Practice writing down the
callsigns, 	announcements, etc.
	Practice in advance the simple scripts shown above until they are second
nature to you.
	·	Use of the word “copy”,
	·	how to indicate  you are done (tactical, your call sign)
	·	directly managing your traffic
	We will review the basics
	We will practice more of the simple message passing
	Be ready to send K0RAW at arrl.net your callsign and name if you can be on
line while the next 	is in session.
	We will be sending you messages to “pass” over the net via email	We will be
sending you 	messages to “pass” over the net via email