ARES
Delaware County ARES
I would like to sincerely thank everyone for your interest, your time, and your energy! After last
month’s training (fldigi and digital transmittion), we decided to stage a practice net on Thursday
afternoons at 2 PM. Most present were retired, and an afternoon meant we didn’t have to give
up another evening. There have been people on the net every Thursday, working to get their
fldigi skills up to par, and it shows! There have been a few evening sessions as well, where
members are helping other members make it all work. Elmering is a great thing!
I recently met with Sandy N8YS at the Delaware EMA. They have one full-scale exercise coming
up probably in April some time (date to be confirmed later). We are welcomed to participate,
and it’ll be up to us to decide what elements of our service we’d like to test. Would we like traffic
and fldigi? Setting up at remote locations such as shelters? YOU come up with aspects we need
to practice and let me know!
Speaking of the EOC, approval has been given for a complete redecoration and renovation of
the EOC. Sandy’s eyes lit up when she talked about some of the changes. Amateur radio is a
~required~ part of the EOC, so we’ll have a slot for gear.
We also need to make a time for a brief test of our MESH into the EOC. I’m not sure it’s
connected anywhere at present. We can make arrangements to visit and test, however it might
be smart to wait for the renovation to be completed later this year.
Der Wolsfrudel Trail Runs
We do have one activity that will require some preparation. We have been asked to support the
winter run at Alum Creek March 7. Last year we were there at the request of the Arnold
Volunteer Medical Team. This year, we have specifically been requested by the event
coordinator. Since our mission did not, and does not involve any medical aide, I don’t feel like
we are violating any allegiance to the Medical Team.
This run starts at the New Galena Boat Ramp and tracks on a circular path to the north.
Delaware EMS is providing care, and careful plans have already been made. This course is wide
and well manicured, but it traverses some deep cuts and dips and more important is buried in
the woods. We will need to be there early, and ~well dressed for the weather~ since we probably
won’t have a lot of opportunity to change locations during the brief run. We will be able to
mountain bike to our posts, and in fact Delaware EMS’ bike medic teams will be on the course.
Safety is a consideration because of the rough nature of the course and the weather, so we’ll
need at lest 8 volunteers for that morning. We’ll train more at the ARES monthly meeting.
We have also been requested to help manage a triathlon August 15 and another triathlon
September 19. Both are held at Alum Creek, more information will be forthcoming.
In addition to training for the run, our February schedule will involve Go-Boxes! We’ll open our
voice boxes, and we’ll take a look at YOUR equipment. it’s always a fun show-and-tell session so
BRING YOUR GO-BOX to the training, and bring any MESH video boxes you might have.
In other news, Donn and I have attended several meetings at the city with Ironman leadership.
We’re working up changes to the bicycle course, and possibly other logistics to make this feature
event even better!
Ohio ARES - Activities are coming up!
ARES Red Cross Survey
Ohio ARES considers the Emergency Management Agency our ‘primary customer’ – our first
priority should always be to the EMA for emergency and exercise activities. In most cases, other
‘Partner’ agencies will have a seat at a county EOC table, making it easy for us to coordinate
service to them as well. Another primary partner that we need to consider is the Red Cross. In
many cases, Red Cross facilities are made available to our ham radio organizations. We regularly
envision staffing Red Cross shelters with ARES operators… but how well do we know our Red
Cross partners? We decided to take a simple survey to find out!
Thanks to 36 EC’s, we can put together a picture of ARES interaction after gathering responses to
our “Survey Monkey” questionnaire.
Exactly half of those who responded report they have a Red Cross chapter in their county.
Contact with the Red Cross varies. When asked about regular contact, the results varied. I’m
guessing that some of the responses take into consideration the lack of chapters in that county,
but I’m sure there are others with chapters who do not have regular contact.
A great deal
5.56% 2
A lot
16.67% 6
A moderate amount
25.00% 9
A little
22.22% 8
None at all
30.56% 11
One of the benefits afforded to many counties is the use of the chapter facility. When asked if
you had meetings or functions at your local chapter, 10 answered yes. In some counties, such
as my home county of Delaware, our club meets regularly at the chapter, and we maintain a
fairly large all-band station with a tower and wire antennas. We also stage Field Day at this
location. I have been with several other counties who have the same benefit. It’s good for us,
and it’s good for the Red Cross!
In more detail, 9 counties report having a permanent radio installation with antennas. 3 Report
portable temporary installations (no existing facilities. The majority (21) report having no
arrangement. 1 does not permit access.
So what kind of relationship do we have? When asked if you had a response agreement with
the chapter, 12 (35%) reported they do, while 23 (65%) said they had no agreement. (Remember
those counties without a chapter will affect this result.)
With or without an agreement, there are occasions when we can work with the Red Cross to
keep our relationship alive. In the past two years, 15 (42%) say you have worked a Red Cross
event or drill. 21 (58%) said you had not.
These are interesting results, and they do point out a need to rejuvenate our relationship. On
the state level, I’m making arrangements to meet with the regional communications group this
month to see if we can step up our game! The winter months are great for meeting with your
Directors to see if there are plans for drills in which we can participate, opportunities to discuss
and demo new technology and just stay in touch! As the saying goes, “The middle of an
emergency is NOT the time to be exchanging business cards!”
It’s time to mark your calendar for April 4!
That is the date for our 2020 Ohio ARES Conference! We will gather at the Marion Tech / OSU
Marion campus at 0800 for a day of information and training. This year’s theme will be
something we can ALL apply at home: managing events. We will talk about communicating for
small to gigantic events- and we hope there will be plenty of tips and tricks you can take back
home! Thanks to the Marion County ARES for hosting us again this year. I truly hope to see you
there!
VHF Contest
One of our regular activities has been the January VHF Simplex Contest, and this year was a fun
time for many operators. Our scores have been posted on the ohsimplex.org website. Many
thanks to those who participated! It appears that more counties were included in many logs, so
conditions must have been a bit better than last year. We also have received suggestions to
enhance the rules for next year, and I appreciate that attention to detail! Many thanks to Jason
for posting the website- it makes us look to be a real, bona fide contest!!
Top Score & Top Rover: WW8TF
Top Portable: K8GQB
Top Fixed Location: N8LRG
Call
County
QSO Points
Counties
Total Score
WW8TF
(Rover)
710
21
29845
K8GQB
Columbiana
659
17
11303
KE8LND
Ashland
320
11
7165
N8LRG
Knox
136
24
3264
N8ESG/R
(Rover)
195
14
2755
K8EMR
Seneca
193
14
2702
N8JLM
Medina
293
8
2320
KI8B
Wayne
183
9
1647
K8EMA
Shelby
198
6
1238
W8DPK
Madison
102
12
1224
W8KKC
Scioto
130
6
1060
KW8EMA
Medina
82
10
952
N8EE
Marion
77
12
924
K8BCR
(Rover)
64
7
921
W8UCO
Union
64
21
818
K8ZT
Summit
68
11
748
W8THV
Franklin
79
8
682
W8BDE
Summit
118
4
572
KD8CMN
Wayne
65
7
555
K8QIK
Fairfield
58
7
506
KE8ECT
Marion
61
9
495
W8NFM
Hamilton
163
3
489
N8MPF
Cuyahoga
117
4
468
KM8V
Cuyahoga
140
3
444
KC8PUW
Coshocton
60
7
420
N8WAC
Wood
60
6
360
W8OMR
Franklin
63
4
302
KD8ODF
Mahoning
35
5
290
W8ZX
Tuscarawas
44
5
270
KB8VIP
Coshocton
28
6
268
AA8BN
(Rover)
22
5
245
N8ME
Madison
46
5
230
K8SAS
Cuyahoga
11
3
194
KE8MSX
Cuyahoga
35
4
140
WC8RK
Warren
22
6
132
KC8PSW
(Rover)
21
2
109
AC8UJ
(Rover)
11
6
91
KD3WCO
Greene
29
3
87
AC8AP
Erie
70
1
70
W8KVK
Athens
14
3
42
AD8CM
Franklin
13
2
26
N8FJ
Montgomery 7
2
14
KE8NNX
Summit
7
2
14
KG6DI
Meigs
3
3
9
KE8DKC
Greene
1
1
1
WD8SAB
*(no score attached)*
DON’T FORGET OHIO NVIS ANTENNA DAY, APRIL 25!
Amateur Radio is more than
a hobby- it becomes an
important service when
other forms of
communication fail. It’s up
to all of us to stay ready,
stay trained, and stay
available. We could be
required on a moment’s
notice.
Delaware County ARES is part of the
national ARRL program. We rely on
our volunteers. We operate during
several large public events including
the national-level Ironman
competition.
We hold a radio net on the 145.19
repeater (no tone) on the first
Thursday of every month at 8PM.
We hold a training meeting on the
second Thursday of every month at
7:30 usually at the Red Cross building.
All amateurs are invited!
For information, contact Stan, N8BHL
the Delaware County Emergency
Coordinator, or Joe, K8MP or Craig,
W8CR.