[MDC-EC] June 2009 FSD-96 Maryland-DC ARES Section Report

[Steve Beckman]

Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report to ARRL Headquarters
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ARRL Section: Maryland-DC               Month: June             Year: 2009
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AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE


Total number of ARES members: 665
Change since last month: +8

Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 12
Number of ARES nets active: 46
Number with NTS liaison: 14

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: N3SEO, K3UEZ, N3QHC, W3JCT, KB3LJB, WR3F, 
KB3ENU, KB3KKY, KB3FWW, KB3FMJ, WB0EGR, and N3SB.

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 21
Person hours: 1469

Number of public service events this month: 4
Person hours: 221

Number of emergency operations this month: 0
Person hours: 0

Total number of ARES operations this month: 25
Total Person hours: 1690

Comments:

SEC Notes: It was great fun to help our Section Manager Jim Cross WI3N 
visit Field Day sites. We pulled an all-nighter to visit as many sites as 
we could during our 28 hour marathon tour of the Section. I had a chance to 
meet a lot of ARES members personally, and see some very effective 
emergency communications installations in operation. Jim and I also set up 
a mobile Winlink packet operation, after spending a little time working 
through a couple setup problems with a USB to RS-232 converter cable, and 
the TNC configuration. Winlink demonstrated its effectiveness as we used it 
to handle a number of Field Day NTS messages efficiently, and even to send 
a couple email status reports back home to our families!. Since that 
weekend I've compiled a list of Winlink RMS Packet stations in the 
Maryland-DC area, and keep it handy in my PDA for future reference.

Kent County: June 13th and 14th KARS provided communications support for 
the MS Bike  Challenge and MS Walk Challenge. KARS had eleven (11) members 
participate, for a total of 84.5 hrs. June 27th and 28th, KARS participated 
in Field Day operations. Had six (6) stations set up: 2 CW, 2 SSB, 1 GOTA, 
and 1 Digital. Total personnel 14. Total hours 202. Had visitors stop by 
and everybody had a good time, but the bands were not that great. Had 
beautiful Weather!!!!

Garrett County: We had a great field day event. Although we didn't register 
very high scores we still made around 350 contacts. Given our location and 
staffing we felt pretty good about it. We also did some Morse code training 
for our younger visitors. The Garrett County ARES net is held weekly on 
Sunday evenings at 8:00 PM on the Outback Repeater System (primary 
repeaters 146.805 and 145.33  dup PL 123) All traffic is FM voice. Our 
monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 PM

Allegany County: We were active in Field Day, and also operated a display 
with other emergency service agencies at a local dedication of a new 
streetscape project.

Washington DC: Working with the Federal City React and ServeDC (CERT). 
Planning to begin more active organizing for Washington DC ARES/RACES in 
July. Had some discussion with fellow DC hams regarding possible ARES 
repeaters.

Calvert County: The group held Field Day in Lusby, MD, operating class 2A. 
About 25 members participated. Seven members participated in our Tech 
class; all passed their Tech License exam! Three of them also tested for 
General and passed! Our monthly ARES Nets on Monday at 7:30PM are becoming 
more popular.

Cecil County: We had a total of 8 hams participate in Field Day this year. 
We were able to operate using a generator, battery, and even worked a few 
contacts using a solar powered rig. We are looking for volunteers to help 
us support the North East Maryland Triathlon taking place on Sunday, August 
16. We have been asked to watch the bicycle courses. There are two races 
going on simultaneously  one an Olympic length and the other a Sprint. 
There are a lot of corners and hills where we have been asked to help guide 
the bicyclists. Please e-mail me (kb3ljb at arrl dot net) if you would be 
interested in helping us.

Wicomico County: Public Service: June 6          American Lung Association 
Bike Event  ARES Radio supported with four ARES members and a base station. 
Thanks to Delmarva Amateur Radio Club (DARC) for the use of the repeater. 
Drill: Joint June 27,28  ARRL   Day  Peninsula Radio Operators Society  - 
ARES had an informational table. Location Furnace Town, near Snow Hill, MD 
Local Net: Delmarva Amateur Radio Enhancement Net every Monday night at 
9:00 p.m.  The DAR Net is sponsored by the Delmarva Amateur Radio Club 
which is now an ARRL Affiliated group operating a repeater on 146.820 MHz 
PL 156.7 Hz. Coming Events: July 18  ARES/RACES training session located at 
the Peninsula Regional Medical Center Operations Room which includes a 
fixed Amateur Radio Position.

Howard County: HOCO ARES participation in joint PVRC/CARA Field Day operations.

Carroll County: Carroll County ARES continues to test MT-63 and EasyPAL on 
the local 145.410 repeater in Westminster. We've also tried PSK-31 and 
PSK-125 with good throughput results under good conditions. Carroll ARES 
operated Field Day out of the Emergency Operations Center, which gave the 
team an opportunity to improve antennas and the computer network, and get 
the radios interfaced to the computers and the sound card interfaces set 
up. Thanks Andy WO3L for all the work you did to improve station 
operational effectiveness!

Signature: Steve Beckman
Call sign: N3SB

Please send to ARRL HQ, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 by 10th of the month
FSD-96 (1-04)