[KYHAM] Thoughts for ARES Exercises in 2002

[Ron Dodson]

In contemplating the various things that we COULD DO this
year in terms of ARES preparedness, I have been thinking
about conducting a variety of tests.  The new 2002 revision
of the KENTUCKY EMERGENCY RESPONSE REFERENCE or "KERR" (our
lead guidance document for operations of the Kentucky
Amateur Radio Emergency Service) will soon be released and
in it will be a revised frequency list of SUGGESTED tactical
frequencies on bands such as 10 meters, 6 meters and 2
meters for mutual aid or other needs.  Some of these are FM
and some are SSB.

What I am interested in now, today, is how many of you out
there have gear for base or mobile operations on the 6 meter
band SSB/FM or both and 2 meter band in SSB (Please add if
you can operate horiz. or vertical antenna arrays) who would
be interested in seeing a day/time set aside for tests to
see how far you can communicate and with how many other Ky
ARES members and other amateurs.

So if you would, e-mail me back and let me know which bands
/ modes (6 ssb/fm or 2 ssb) you have and if you are
vertical/horizontal or both in the antenna department and
let me see what I can do.  Maybe this will stimulate those
of you with ICOM 706's, Yaesu FT 100's and the like with
multi-band /multi-mode ability to dust off your unused or
underused modes and let you see just what your rig CAN do.
( 10 meter op's don't despair, we might just put that on the
air too).

* NOTE:  Now before someone get s the idea that I am TELLING
YOU which freqs you should use for 6 and 2 meter
operations... remember I said, SUGGESTED.

The idea for this is that if you wanted an arrangement
similar to police agencies and their mutual aid channels
these are like that.  We do have a designated state-wide 2 m
FM freq. of 146.55 MHz that has been around for years in the
same vein.

If your local plan calls for you to use ___ freq. that is
fine.  These are just suggested additional places for
operations so adjoining areas might communicate and FIND one
another.

Ron, KA4MAP