[KYHAM] KEN Training for April 28: Ky Emergency Frequencies and NETS

[Ron Dodson]

Many new hams have come on the scene since this week's
material last ran over a year ago.  Many others have now
upgraded their license class to the point that HF phone
operation is within their reach.  Many times I also get
e-mail queries about what frequencies are used for what and
so for all these people, here is a rerun KEN session from
February of 2002.  

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* Ky Frequencies in Emergency Situations:

As a general rule most communications performed by ARES will
be on a local basis and are of short duration. However,
should the situation escalate beyond the local level and
require participation from adjacent areas, or, state-wide
activation occurs, the following frequencies may be used.
Use of these frequencies will be at the discretion of the
Section Manager, Section Emergency Coordinator or their
designee or the Resource Net Control Operator.

Should a frequency be in use, do not ask for the frequency.
Simply move either plus or minus 3kHz. Once the designated
frequency is clear, move the net to the designated
frequency.

All local communities should have local plans for their
regular ARES operations and frequencies which they plan
to use regardless of the type response being
undertaken.  The KERR lists frequencies that will
provide a common base for large, multi-area/state-wide
operations when required.  In all cases, we SHARE
our frequencies with all other amateurs and the fact
that we are ARES, does not BY LAW, give us the
frequency we
want.  Good amateur practice says that they SHOULD
allow the emergency use of a frequency. It does not
guarantee it!  ALWAYS look within a few kHz of any
frequency before deciding that there is no net taking
place.  The net can shift to its normal frequency as
soon as it clears.


*Kentucky Operational Frequencies and some designated
auxiliaries for standardized use

75 Meters
3.960 SSB State-Wide Health & Welfare Traffic (Ky Traffic
Net)
3.888 SSB State-Wide Tactical Net (Ky Emergency Net) from
2100Z to
1400Z
3.590 Packet State-Wide Tactical/Resource from 2100Z to
1400Z (no established regular nets)
3.585 RTTY State-Wide Tactical/Resource from 2100Z to
1400Z  (no established regular nets)

40 Meters
7.228 SSB State-Wide Tactical (KEN) from 1400Z to 2100Z
7.198 SSB State-Wide backup from 1400Z to 2100Z
7.090 Packet State-Wide Tactical/Resource from 1400Z to
2100Z  (no established regular nets)
7.087 RTTY State-Wide Tactical/Resource from 1400Z to
2300Z  (no established regular nets)

10 Meters
28.400 SSB State-Wide Tactical (no established regular nets)

6 Meters
50.150 SSB State-Wide Tactical  (no established regular
nets)
52.490 FM State-Wide Tactical  (no established regular nets)

2 Meter Digital
145.070 Packet Keyboard to Keyboard from 0000Z to 2359Z (no
established regular nets)
145.090 Packet BBS to BBS from 0000Z to 2359Z (no
established regular nets)
145.030 Packet BBS to BBS from 0000Z to 2359Z (no
established regular nets)

144.225 SSB Where available from 0000Z to 2359Z
144.087 RTTY Where available from 0000Z to 2359Z
144.590 APRS Where available from 0000Z to 2359Z

2 Meter Phone
146.550 State-Wide Simplex 0000Z to 2359Z  (no established
regular nets)


As you can see, many of these may never be used at any
one particular time. They serve to provide a standard
for setting up
regional/state-wide net operations and reflect any mode
that might be called into regular service for tactical
or H&W traffic needs.  Use of these in future multi
jurisdictional DRILLS is encouraged but not mandatory. 


*HF Phone Net Operation (OR- WHO's ON FIRST???)

Tactical Traffic and Health and Welfare (H&W) inquiry
traffic by their natures do not work well together on
the same frequency. Therefore we have two established
nets that will be used for their individual duties. 
Liaisons from each to the other can and should be
designated in emergency operations.

3888kHz / 7228kHz Tactical/Command Net. Stations reporting
for communications duty will check in to the Kentucky
Emergency Net by callsign, name, and county. Once the
station as been checked in to the net, they will stand by on
frequency for additional information. This net acts as a
holding and general information net and directs it's
participants to other nets as needed. Key functions of this
net are situation reports and personnel resources. Times for
use will depend greatly on band conditions and may increase
or decrease with the time of year.  (Verbal messaging
between County level governments,
Volunteer Agencies such as Am. Red Cross, Baptist
Brotherhood etc., Area EM Offices and Boone Center, the
State EOC will be found here. Some written traffic will
possibly occur, but will on most occasions be minimal
compared to the KTN on 3.960 MHz.)


The Kentucky Traffic Net will continue to operate on 3960
kHz even during emergencies for the purpose of handling
traffic and Section-wide updates. This may be where the bulk
of the activity will take place and will most likely be the
first frequency to be activated on a wide area basis.
Health and Welfare and the bulk of written RADIOGRAM
style traffic will be sent here for transmission.  This
allows more control in handling both types of
messaging.  

An example of how this will all work is say that following a
series of killer storms, the state HQ for the American Red
Cross in Louisville needs to tell Boone Center (the
state EOC) that 3 ERV's are enroute to a location as
they had requested.  They would call into KEN on 3.888
mHz and advise Boone Center of this.  

Likewise if a radiogram were sent from a party in Georgia
requesting
H&W info on their relatives in a disaster area.  This
would go through KTN on 3.960 to the shelter or an
amateur in proximity to the area involved to attempt to
check up on the family involved.  Any reply would
likely exit back to Georgia through KTN as well. 

If Boone EOC has operators to handle both of their HF
amateur radio stations at the same time, 
one may at their discretion be placed
on 3.960 to monitor there but REMEMBER, When operating
both H&W and Tactical nets, the State EOC will
always be on the Tactical net (KEN) frequency on either
3.888 mHz. in evenings or 7.228 during daylight hours
if amateur radio operators are on duty there in Boone
Center.

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Next week, we begin a review series on standard written
radiogram formats, drafting and transmission which will run
through the month of May.