[FARC] Hike Across Maryland Update April 26, 2011 looking for volunteer depth

Tue Apr 26 22:39:55 EDT 2011

The Hike Across Maryland event is less than two weeks away on May 7, 2011
from 0500 to 2030.  I have most of the checkpoints covered with volunteers,
but there is always room for some depth in this event so if you can help,
please let me know.

All of the important information is on this link and is updated in real
time:
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1XBD1x3v-mS44nP4dF4hQaCMwR42tzGSEsVFK2QKiyZo

I'll include the details in the e-mail body this time.

 Location

Start

End

Operator

Pen Mar

0500

0630

N3VNG

High Rock

0515

0730

KB3LNM

Raven Rock Road

0600

0830

AB3KS / K3HCP-6

Ensign Cowell Shelter

0630

1200

K3PDK-6

Boonsboro Road

0845

1300

N3RO

Washington Monument

0900

1530

KE3FL / AC1K / N3SB

Lambs Knoll

1000

1630

WB3KDS-6 1000 - 1300/ K3RTW 1300+

Gathland

1130

1915

N3TCR-6 /
N3EVF 1530 on

Weverton

1345

2030

K3TED-6

Harpers Ferry

1400

2030

KB3FIO / WB4APR-6

We plan to operate on the Target linked repeater system:
147.060+ T123 - Frederick
146.745- T123 - Berkley Springs (also 443.850+ T123)
Coverage in the area can be spotty in places, if no contact, use simplex at
:15 & :45 past the hour
146.580
APRS will operate on the national APRS frequency
144.39 or 445.925

APRS Sweep Hikers
Pen Mar - Cowell:   WA3USG-7
Cowell - Wash Mmnt: KA1FFO-7
Wash Mnmt - Gathland:   N3ATO-7  possibly WE4APR-7
Gathland - Harpers Ferry: WA4APR-7

APRS Dispalys
Cowell - K3PDK-6
Washington Monument -  (NE3R-6 Equipement)
Gathland - N3TCR-6
Harpers Ferry - WB4APR-6

Net Control
0500 - 1400 ??
N3RO 0845 - 1300 ??
1400 - 2030 KB3FIO

Many of you will receive related attachments (I've added everyone listed as
a volunteer individually as BCCs to this message).

*Additional APRS information*
I'd like to switch K3TED (with TM-D700) and K3RTW (with a FTM-350) if
possible. Lambs Knoll is a great place for a digi, but the FTM-350 doesn't
do it and the TM-D700 does.

I've gotten a lot of good advice for APRS operations for this type of event.

APRS operations may move to UHF - 445.925 MHz. Please let me know if your
equipment is not capable of UHF.

We'll try to use the following tactical calls for APRS enabled checkpoints

PENMAR (no APRS planned)
HROCK (no APRS planned)
RAVEN
COWELL
BOONS (looking for APRS op)
WASHMT
LAMBS
GTHLND
WVRTON
HPRSFY

(put your callsign in the status text for ID)

APRS HT's should make good use of the POSITION COMMENT feature:

OFF DUTY (Off line not paying attention...)
ENROUTE  - means you are hiking
IN SERVICE - means you are manning a fixed location
RETURNING  - if appropriate
COMMITTED  - off on some assignment
PRIORITY   - Handling something urgent
CUSTOM     _ we can define 6 of these?
EMERGENCY  - DO NOT USE EVEN IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY.  Use PRIORITY and
 use all other commms capabilities as needed.

The following gets a little complected if you don't use your
APRS equipment regularly so don't feel compelled to do a lot of button
pushing and changing settings on your APRS radio if you aren't comfortable
with it, but keep an eye on the display because valuable information will be
made available via digital means.

1) generally we do not do this until after say noon? Hours when the runners
are
spaced out by several minutes each.  (though it can be done at any time to
report a single runner if needed...

2) APRS HT checkpoint situates himself so he has a good sightline towards
incoming runners.  When he sees a runner (or group) approaching, he begins a
message with his checkpoint name and the current TIME.

3) Then enters in as many runner numbers as pass by during that minute.
COWELL 0937 123 114 09 23 45 17 36 45 27

It looks like a lot, but remember, to send the next one, you just hit MSG
button twice, and then you get a COPY of the previous one to EDIT.  So all
you do is cursor over to the time minute digit, uplclick to the new time,
and similarly cursor to update new runner numbers.

OBJECTS:  OK, That is one way for the bulk of runner reporting...  But then
we need to also be able to PUT runner OBJECTS on the map for particular
special runners that are having problems or need to be located.

Here's how to do it with an APRS radio:

a) HT already has its POSITION in it from its own GPS.
b) All you need to do is change your MYCALL to R123 (for runner #123)
c) Then hit BCON button a few times until you see "MY POS" indicating it was
digipeated.
d) Then change your MYCALL back to your call.

This places an OBJECT "R123" on everyone's map and on everyone's station
list.

Again, keep an eye on your APRS radio displays, but don't worry, we'll still
use voice.

Thanks & 73 de Joseph M. Durnal NE3R
Assistant EC, Frederick Co. ARES
Treasurer, Frederick ARC