[GA ARES] OHS/GEMA News

[Lowry Rouse]

  Greetings to all GA ARES® members from WX4GMA the Office of Homeland Security/Georgia Emergency Management Agency (OHS/GEMA). A few noteworthy things have happened at the State Operations Center (SOC) that should be shared with you. 
   
  Item #1.
   
  A successful drill between the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and the SOC was conducted Saturday, May 27th. The CAP Squadron involved was based out of Falcon Field near Peachtree City. Scott Royal (KK4Z) our Mutual Aid Team (MAT) DEC headed up the ARES® operations at the CAP’s Mission Base, which was the CAP’s hanger at Falcon Field. Assisting Scott were John Kraus (KC4ZGQ), Lynn Bianco (KN4YZ), Tom Olley (KG4VUB) and Jere Couch (N4DQ). Jere was actually located near Dawsonville, GA at the time of this exercise. Assisting from the GA coastal area were Greg Tillman (N4VAD) and Garry Harley (KD4NUD). David Ziskind (KE4QLH) and I were operating the SOC station. 
   
  The 145.21 MHz Fayetteville Repeater was utilized for voice communications. Thank you Fayette County Amateur Radio Club for allowing the drill to be conducted on your club repeater. The bulk of the messages sent or received though were sent via WINLINK 2000 (WL2K) using the SCS Pactor III Modems. For the time of day and distance involved with participating stations, the 40 Meter PMBO frequencies work well for this operation. SCS Modems were used at the SOC, at Mission Base, Jere had one in Dawsonville and both Greg and Garry were communicating through RF also. Greg has a different modem than the SCS but all communicated well with the Radio Based Mailboxes (PMBO). John (KC4ZGQ) and Jere (N4DQ) set up complete working WINLINK stations in a manner of minutes for portable operation. 
   
  Thanks to you who participated and provided equipment for this event. More of these drills are to be scheduled with different CAP Squadrons around GA. Robert Belcher (W4AEO) OHS/GEMA State Warning Officer is coordinating these events. Dates and Squadrons participating will be posted as soon as they’re established. 
   
  Item #2:
   
  The Metro Atlanta Telephone Pioneer ARC ( http://www.matparc.org/  ) has graciously offered to provided space and equipment to support a TELPAC Node at their Bellsouth Center in Atlanta. This will be a great start to build a TELPAC Network to support WINLINK communications in the GA. Section. The first workday to start installing equipment is June 17th. Progress reports will be posted as the project develops.
   
  Item #3:
   
  The SOC station will be active during Field Day this year. The amount of actual time on the air will be dictated by how many of the GEMA Team members wish to operate from the SOC. More information will be posted as Field Day draws nearer. No particular HF frequency will be utilized for Field Day operation. If you’re in the Metro Atlanta area, call WX4GMA on the 145.41- MATPARC repeater to establish a schedule if you’re so interested.
   
  Thanks again to all ARES® members for their time given to this organization. Let’s make sure we’re prepared for what may come our way this summer in the form of weather related disasters. Please promote the ARES® in your individual areas and clubs. Also participate in Field Day activities this year if you haven’t already plan to so. Look forward to hearing you “on the air” June 24th & 25th.
   
   
  Best Regards,
   
  Lowry Rouse KM4Z
  OHS/GEMA DEC  
   

   
   
   
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