SET 2008

UPDATE 1:

08:10AM-SEC on site at the Alabama State EOC in Clanton, AL. Callsign is KF4LQK. Operational on HF (3965), D-Star (Montgomery), 224.500mhz repeater, 146.88mhz (BARC) repeater, and APRS messaging. Good luck to all in SET 2008!

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
ARES AL Section Emergency Coordinator

UPDATE 2:

08:52AM - We're having trouble at the Alabama EMA making the link from the Montgomery repeater into K4DSO in Birmingham. Appears to be a programming issue. Troubleshooting now.

We'll switch our link to the Montgomery to Huntsville repeater if we continue to have issues. No other operators have reported for duty yet either, which is complicating the issue.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
ARES AL Section Emergency Coordinator

UPDATE 3:

09:27AM-D-Star working via the REF002-B reflector. We're working on getting D-Rats slow speed data and digital HF modes working as well. One operator as reported for duty, so things are improving. HF net and VHF nets are active, with lots of stations checking in.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
ARES AL Section Emergency Coordinator

UPDATE 4:

09:35AM - WA4AVC Calling net on 3965

W4OZK

UPDATE 5:

09:40AM - Attempted to log onto the National Weather Service, "EMA Chat" software but our socket is blocked locally on the network. One more item on the to do list here in Clanton to address after SET. That's why we have exercises, to see what works.

Lesson Learned #1; We thought we were prepared for this drill here in Clanton, but the combination of a few missing cables, limited Internet access, and operators reporting late for duty have put a wrench in the works. This is typical of a major exercise, and would certainly be the case in a real emergency.

We're identifying problems with the station and will be fixing them after SET. I hope that many of you are likewise identifying weaknesses, and making a list for after the event.

Check ins are going well...simulated message traffic starting to flow.

EC's...let's be sure to start sending situation reports (SITREPS) to the SEC around 10AM. Keep up the good work.

Les Rayburn, N1LF
ARES AL Section Emergency Coordinator

UPDATE 6:

09:45AM - We have D-RATS installed and working now at the Alabama State EMA in Clanton. We're observing the usual problems associated with using slow speed data over the reflectors (timing issues) but it's operational.

Working on HF data (PSK31) now. Interface is installed, along with Mix W software. Troubleshooting COMM port issues, etc. Should be operational soon.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
ARES AL Section Emergency Coordinator

UPDATE 7:

10:02AM - As we continue to troubleshoot our PSK-31 operation, the net control for the digital net on 3570khz smartly asked W4SHL (Shelby County EMA) if they could query us about our ability to receive digital traffic. We copied by intercept on PSK-31 and quickly communicated to W4SHL that we're ready to receive traffic now.

W4SHL is doing a great job of relaying on HF digital, 222mhz, and still managing their own net. Good job down there guys!

Let's start sending in Situation reports now EC's.

Les Rayburn, N1LF
ARES AL Section Emergency Coordinator

UPDATE 8:

10:08AM - At the request of Lee County (relayed via PSK-31 on the digital HF Net) we conducted a test of the Alabama EMA UHF communications system. This series of UHF repeaters serves as the backup to the Southern Linc system, which is primary communications tool for the EMA.

Randolph County also participated in this test. Great to see our served agencies participating in the Simulated Emergency Test.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
ARES AL Section Emergency Coordinator

UPDATE 9:

10:15AM - A situation report (SITREP) was received from Cullman County EMA via D-Rats Slow Speed data. Some garbling was observed, which is typical when data is sent via a reflector. Those wishing to use this mode should attempt to use it in a "point to point" (callsign to callsign) manner. But it's nice to know that it does work over the reflector when needed.

Here is the traffic as received:

10:10:30: W4ATK: Online (D-RATS)

10:10:42: CQCQCQ: [SOB]"=@=@=@WA4SYI~~CQCQCQ~~0100CDST

TEST / SIEULATED EVENT / NO EMERGENCY

Cull}an County EMA RACES/ARES Office

No damange reports at this time

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
ARES AL Section Emergency Coordinator

UPDATE 10:

10:20AM - K4NWS (ALERT) sent in a SITREP reporting simulated tornado damage in Shelby County to municipal buildings in Pelham, AL.

KF4LQK is looking for situation reports now from all participating EMCOMM Groups and County ARES EC's. Starting sending them in folks...

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
ARES AL Section Emergency Coordinator

UPDATE 11:

10:52AM - K4NWS in Calera, AL sent a formal NTS message via HF voice 3965khz to SEC.

SIMULATED TRAFFIC

1R K4NWS 14 Calera, AL OCT 04, 2008 10:40AM CST

SEVERE DAMAGE REPORTED IN SHELBY COUNTY
HIGH SCHOOL DESTROYED MANY FATALITIES REPORTED X
73 MARK WEB4NYL

10:56AM - Russell County attempted to pass their first sitrep to the Alabama State EMA on the 224.500 repeater, but their signal was very weak. Instead it was relayed by N4MGM via D-Star voice on the Montgomery D-Star Repeater.

MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGFE TO GARRAT STADIUM MINOR INJURIES X ALABAMA POWER COMPANY ESTIMATES 6500 RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER X EXERCISE

RUSSELL COUNTY EMA

11:01AM - W4CUE sent their first SITREP in via D-Star Voice, reporting structural damage at Ross Bridge in Hoover, as well as other locations in the Shannon Community. Glad to see those SITREPS flowing in now.

11:28AM - Received SITREP from Blount County via the HF Voice net 3965khz. (Great NTS voice technique demonstrated on this traffic)

They are reported a simulated tornado on the ground near Locust Fork. Major damage to ten homes. Operators are conducting damage surveys now in support of the EMA. No support is needed from the State EMA at this time.
*** This is ONLY a Exercise ***

11:51AM - Received a SITREP from Marrion County via HF voice (3965khz) reporting a simulated F4 tornado with severe damage. Trees down, no power. 8 critical injuries, many non-life threating injuries. Judson College severely damaged.
*** This is ONLY a Exercise ***

11:54AM - One of my "injects" for this morning was to challenge our operators to deliver an ARESMAT request to the Georgia SEC, simulating the need for additional operators along our state border.

For the purposes of the drill, I instructed our inject operator to pretend not to know the frequency for the GA HF net (3975khz, they meet on Sunday afternoon's like us) or have any other routing information.

The inject was promptly delivered! Great job guys!

12:18AM - We also received a sitrep from the East Alabama ARC checking in with 32 check ins. We were pleased to see RACES participation in SET this year as well.

Sorry that did not get posted earlier. We have some work to do on our internal message routing as well. To my knowledge, this is the first time that a SEC has operated out of here for SET, and there are some "growing pains" to work that out.

12:23PM - Winlink 2K messages were also received from Tuscaloosa, KG4MPU (Thanks Tommy!) and Bobby Chandler, N4AU in Wetumpka, AL.

Winlink uses the PACTOR mode and offers the ability to send and receive e-mail using HF radio, packet, and telnet. Given that the EMA here as redundant Internet connections, this is a very viable way of reaching the state EMA during an emergency.

Check out development of a new soundcard mode that will make Winlink 2K affordable and easier to use than ever. Check the Winlink2000.org site for details.

12:26PM - APRS messaging also turned out to be a very useful tool during SET. We received reports from Montgomery and Blount counties. We used APRS messaging to communicate with our digital HF net control WX4AL-1 during the event...and even though it was limited to one way communications, it worked well.

Let's see more of this during upcoming exercises.

12:43PM - Using D-Star Slow Speed data through a reflector continues to be a problem for software developer Dan Smith, but he's making progress on it.

Tommy, KG4MPU in Tuscaloosa attempted to relay a message to the State EMA using slow speed D-Star data, but it failed due to "handshaking" timing problems with the reflector. Being the resourceful operator that he is, he worked around the limitation by cutting and pasting the text into the "quick message" slot.

This sends text as simple keyboard to keyboard data with no error correction. Much like PSK-31. The result was perfect copy, even via the reflector.

12:35:25: KG4MPU: Number 1
PRIORITY
HXC

KI4QAH
Check 54
Lamar County EOC
11:55
Oct 4 2008
To:KF4LQK Alabama State EMA

--- This is an Exercise ---
Confirmed tornado with wide spread damage spotted 4 miles south of Millport in Lamar County. Reports of golf ball size hail. Storm moving North East. Areas in path of storm include the town of Kennedy, Belk, and Fayette. Wide spread power outages in the Millport area. Unknown injuries

-END-

de KG4MPU

12:53PM - This communication will end our real time updates for SET 2008. Reports, situation reports, and even score sheets are already coming in, which is great.

So far, it's shaping up to be a very good exercise. We had a tremendous increase in the use of digital modes including PSK-31, D-Star Slow Speed Data, APRS Messaging, and Winlink 2K.

We also had some skilled NTS traffic handlers, really showing how effectively voice messages can be passed. Great job to our two net control stations on the 3965 net and to Jack Evans, KC4PZA,
Section Traffic Manager.

Other counties are conducting SET later this month, so a complete review will not be issued until November, but look for summaries soon.

Thanks again to all who participated!

73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF

SET report form (PDF)	SET report form (Doc)
Blank ARRL message form	Alabama ARES
AEN Preamble	SET Presentation