[Oremem/Idamem] UPCOMING COMMUNICATIONS TEST WITH VA Region VISN-20

Tue Jun 1 00:08:21 EDT 2004

        All stations, as part of ongoing participation with the Veterans
Administration, we have been invited to participate in an HF & VHF
communications test coming up on 09 Jun 04 at 8:00 AM PDT
(090101Z JUN 04) and lasting roughly 35 minutes to an hour based on past
tests and exercises with the VA centers. This will allow the testing of
recently
installed HF, VHF and UHF rados in the VA Hospitals and clinics within
Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska (VISN20) region and to acquaint
their operators/staff with Hams and MARS stations likely to be of help to
them in a disaster response situation.
        Below, in plain text is the information I have received thus far
from Ed
James, the Emergency Operations Manager for VISN-20. The new gear
was budgeted by VA following the past three years very successful tests on
MARS and Ham frequencies and with MARS/HAM volunteer operators.
    I would like to see a similar test on REGION 10 frequencies to occur at
the same time, so stations that are MARS, but not of sufficient Ham license
to participate on the Ham HF can still be part of the test. An AAR and Net
Activation and Deactivation report should occur as a minimum, thus showing
how multiple interfaces can help to send information into/out of
situations.A
copy of our Net Activation/Deactivation and AAR as well as any EEI's that
are given during the test sequence will be copied to Mr. James (in so far as
they apply to the test....IE: XEEI's not actual ones, if any).
    VA has adopted a matrix of frequencies similar to the MARS Matrices,
as they too had concerns over giving 'clear air' frequencies out during an
emergency and are working to come up with a 16-line message format for
use when relaying sensitive information in/out of affected areas. Their
Matrix
appears near the end of Item #1 below. No direct deployment is required in
most locations for MARS stations, as most VA Staff involved are now
HAMS. VA is looking into getting 3 or more Hams at each facility also set
up as MARS members and a Club station license at each facility as well.
    In MOST areas of the Country, the VA is the PRIMARY resource and
staging area for any NDMS response to medical/biological events.

73 de John AAA0OR OR/AAA0ID ID/W6HNC
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Item #1 VA RADIO TEST OPLAN:

VISN20 Amateur Radio Exercise
June 9, 2004

*The Radio Exercise will run from 8-9 a.m. Pacific Time*

Amateur Radio Test will be conducted as follows:

HF Sequencing:  Starting at 8:00 a.m., Pacific Time, on VAA, VISN20 in
Vancouver will conduct the HF net, tactical call is Net Control.  All listed
facilities will be contacted by Net Control in a roll call fashion and asked
for a signal report and the call sign of all the operators on duty.
Stations closest to Portland, OR will be contacted first.  At 8:15 Net
Control will switch to VAB and repeat the roll call.  At 8:30 Net Control
will switch to VAC and repeat the roll call again.  At 8:45 Net Control will
switch to VAD and repeat the roll call again; note that VAD is a new
frequency that we will testing.

 High Frequencies (HF):

i.  75/80 meters - 3.985 MHz.  Matrix Name: VAA
ii. 40 Meters -  7.245 MHz.  Matrix Name: VAB
iii. 20 Meters -  14.225 MHz.   Matrix Name: VAC
iv. 20 Meters -  14.287 MHz  Matrix Name: VAD

Signal Report.  It may be necessary, due to band conditions, for a message
to be relayed via facilities.  The Net Control will request that each HF
station attempt to contact the other HF stations in the order listed on the
VISN 20 AR Contact spreadsheet.  Stations will request a signal report,
which will subsequently be reported to the Net Control.

Very High Frequency (VHF):

FROM TO Frequency Matrix Name
VISN 20 (NECC) Portland  VA  147.570 MHz. Simplex VAD
VISN 20 (NECC) Army MARS/W6HNC 147.570 MHz. Simplex VAD
VISN 20 (NECC) American Lake 147.060 MHz. + 600 kc VAE - Repeater, tone
110.9
VISN 20 (NECC) Seattle 147.060 MHz. +  BAWFAW VAE - Repeater, tone 110.9
American Lake Seattle 146.640 - Tacoma Repeater VAF
Spokane Link to local HF 147.300+100 MHz  VAG
Roseburg White City 146.940 MHz. - Wolf Creek Rptr VAH

VHF Exercise:  As applicable, test above listed frequencies and provide a
signal report of contacts made.

Other Modes:  If you have Packet or IRLP and test this capability, please
provide a report of contacts made.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS.  Upon disestablishment of the net, all station
operators should send after action reports to the VISN AEM
(edward.james2 at med.va.gov).  If email is not available, provide the after
action report to the facility EPC to be forwarded to the AEM.  After action
reports should include a frequency report of all stations contacted, a
discussion of any problems encountered, and any suggested solutions to
problems encountered or suggested improvements to this plan.  Additionally,
review the VISN20 Amateur Radio Operator listing and forward any need
corrections.
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Item #2-- Radio Contact Log for Exercise - Text Version:
On lined or Graph Paper please create a graph ith the following information:

Facility Name, "Tactical Call Sign", 3.985 MHZ RST, 7.245 MHZ RST
14.225 MHZ RST and finally, VHF (insert Freq)RST
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| Facility Name| Tactical Call | 3.985/RST | 7.245/RST | 14.225/RST | VHF
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|                      |                     |                   |
|                    |
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Amateur Radio Oper PhoneRadio Call Sign And Primary/Alternate
Frequencies
Anchorage VAMROC
907 770-2004
KL0TS
50.125M, 52.525M, 146.210M

AL7FS Boise VA Medical Center
208-377-8504
K7TIH
3.990 MHz

Portland  VA Medical Center
503-220-8262x54242
503-220-8262x55600
503-936-6642
W7ZB, KG7BR, KD7MLD, KB7APU

Seattle VA Medical Center
(206)277-1792
K3MH/N0XAL

American Lake Division
253-857-5123
W7BBO

Roseburg
Heath Care System
541-673-8868
541 784-3621
KB7WDR
145.430MHz (-) offset
146.900MHz (-) offset
(PL or sub audible tone of 100hz
K6AZW (HF link)

Spokane VA Medical Center
509 922-6338
pgr 509-477-4209 #2496
N7VBW
147.300 MHz (local)
3.985 or 7.245MHz (Wash.)

White City VA Domiciliary
541- 826-2111 x3334
WB7BJW

Walla Walla VA Medical Center
509-525-7003
WB5AVH VISN 20 *NETCONTROL*
(360) 759-1624
(360) 619-5986
360 694-5212
360-699-9166 pager
360-693-5181
cell:360-606-4894
360-696-2214
WB6JGV, AC7RU, WA7KGY

VISN 20 - AEM503-880-0280
KD7UXC
W6HNC Oregon Army MARS (AT VISN20 office)503-805-2737 (Amateur)AAR0MI/AAA0OR
OR/AAA0ID ID (MARS)

EMSHG OPS
Martinsburg, WV
304-263-0811
W8ORS
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VISN 20 Facilities (Alaska, Washington, Oregon & Idaho) Amateur Radio
Operators as of: 5/31/2004  Primary Point of Contact -

Facility/"Tactical Call Sign"/Hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinators
(EPC)/Amateur Radio Oper Name/Phone/Radio Call Sign And Primary
/Alternate Frequencies Amateur Radio Oper E-mail/Remarks:

Anchorage VAMROC
Kit Binns  Safety Specialist
Douglas Duncan (Woody)
Jim Larson 907 770-2004 KL0TS
50.125M, 52.525M, 146.210M
AL7FS Woody.Duncan at med.va.gov
or
KL0TS at ARRL.NET
jimlarsen2002 at alaska.net
 Note: 0 in KL0TS is zero On 2M packet on 145.010M Oct 1 freq s/b 14.300M &
7.275

Boise VA Medical Center
Heidi Parke Safety Officer
Gary Peek 208-377-8504
K7TIH
3.990 MHz
K7TIH at earthlink.net

Portland VA Medical Center
Bob Albrecht Safety Specialist
Mark Ward
David Duff
Loren Flindt
Kathleen Resburg
503-220-8262x54242
503-220-8262x55600
503-220-8262x56982
503-220-8262x56718
W7ZB
KG7BR
KB7APU
KE7AJH
Mark.Ward at med.va.gov
David.Duff at med.va.gov
Loren.Flindt at med.va.gov
Kathleen.Resburg at med.va.gov
PVAMC Repeater 440.775 + pl 136.5 Linked to 443.975+ pl 123.0
Repeater at SWWMC

Seattle VA Medical Center
Joe Cain Safety Director
Michael Hatzakis
Joshua Books
Marina Zuetell
(206) 277-1792
206-524-6567
K3MH
N0XAL
N7LSL
mikehatzakis at yahoo.com
mike at hatzakis.net
jbooks at roundthestars.net
n7lsl at arrl.net
Mobile HF 7-30 MHz w/ 3.5 MHz trap 144mhz and 440mhz
HF packet or VHF packet

American Lake Division
Greg Nixon Assist Safety Mgr
Mark Yordy ARES Pierce County
Pat Nicholson MedEC Pierce Co
Gary E. Kohtala  253-857-5123
(253) 691-6159
W7BBO
N7WGR
W7NTF
w7bbo at juno.com
patn0011 at earthlink.net
w7ntf at w7ntf.net

Roseburg Heath Care System
Larry Fisher Safety Officer
Tom Hyers-Previous EC Doug Co ARES
Lee Stumpe
Jerry Eifert
541-673-8868
541 784-3621
KB7WDR
145.430MHz (-) offset, 146.900MHz (-)(PL 100)
K6AZW (HF link)
KB7WDR
tch at pioneer-net.com
jeifert at mbol.us Tech Class upgrading to General Class

Spokane VA Medical Center
Cheryl Wood Safety Officer
Glenn Moore
Robert Wiese EC Spokane County
Jim Jenkins
509 922-6338
pgr 509-477-4209 #2496
509-991-3444
N7VBW
147.300+100 3.985or7.245MHz
KD7AMV
K7VOT (HF Link)
N7VBW at arrl.net
KD7AMV at aol.com checks e-mail at least once per day

White City VA Domiciliary
Greg Martinen Industrial Hygienist
Bob Hunt
541- 826-2111 x3334
WB7BJW Rogue Valley Amateur Radio Club, ARES Section
HF - 75/80, 40 and 20 meter

Walla Walla VA Medical Center
Guy Jessee Safety Officer
Mable Babbit 509-525-7003
WB5AVH
wb5avh at valint.net
VISN 20  *NETCONTROL*
(360) 759-1624
(360) 619-5986
Ron Miller
Mike Fogarty
John Caldwell
360 694-5212
360-699-9166 pager
360-693-5181
cell:360-606-4894
360-696-2214
WB6JGV
AC7RU
WA7KGY
rjmiller at behavioralforensics.com
mfogarty at teleport.com

VISN 20 - AEM Ed James Ed James
503-880-0280
KD7UXC
Edward.James2 at med.va.gov

Oregon Army MARS (AT VISN20 office)
MARS/HAM/ARES/RACES liaison station
John Jewkes
503-805-2737
W6HNC (Amateur)
AAR0MI/AAA0OR OR/AAA0ID ID (MARS)
aar0mi at juno.com  or  aaa0idaaa0or at ldsliving.com
text message to 15038052737 at mobile.att.net (100 Characters/less)

EMSHG OPS
Martinsburg, WV
George Roberts, KB3GN
Mark, KB8YJV
Page, WA3EOP
304-263-0811
W8ORS
kb3gn at earthlink.net

NDMS DMAT OR-2
Tom Cronin  (NDMS Tech Advisor)
KD7CMI
thomas.m.cronin at intel.com