[GCARC] QST: Announcing 2020 ARRL SET

[kbfrank3 at verizon.net]

Dear GCARC Members,

1.	The Annual ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) will take place
during the weekend of October 3 and 4 (see pg. 64 of the September QST) and
Gloucester County ARES will participate.  Why am I sending this to the
entire GCARC Membership?  While I anticipate participation mainly from
GC-ARES and GC-RACES personnel I also am open to participation from radio
amateurs who are interested in Emergency Communications but are not
registered with ARES or RACES.  I suspect that, during an actual
communications emergency, several Radio Amateurs may be on the air trying to
help out, whether or not registered with ARES/RACES, and I would rather have
you participate during this drill rather than remain on the sidelines;  
2.	This test has multiple purposes but, fundamentally, is meant to test
the strengths and weakness of ARES, RACES, NTS and other groups in providing
emergency communications.  I am not authorized to reveal specific details
but can tell you that it will involve a simulated weather-related disaster
during which normal communications are disrupted;
3.	At this time, I am NOT looking for commitments, but simply a list of
people who MAY be interested in participating so that I can follow up later.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, SET 2020 will NOT require us to congregate at
any point . . . all operations can take place without leaving our personal
home and/or mobile stations.  In particular, I will be looking for people
who can serve as:

a.	Net Control Stations (we may have more than one Net);
b.	Digital Traffic Coordinator (we will use FLDIGI and Winlink in
addition to traditional voice messaging);
c.	Liaison to other groups, e.g. SKYWARN, NTS, S.C.E.R.N. and served
agencies (such as OEM and American Red Cross);
d.	Relay stations (in the event that we use simplex).

4.	All stations will be encouraged to use emergency power for at least
part of this exercise.  This will be a great opportunity to test those
batteries and generators.

 

Karl Frank W2KBF

Gloucester County ARES Emergency Coordinator

Kbfrank3 at verizon.net <mailto:Kbfrank3 at verizon.net>