Traffic Coordinator
Dave Maynard, WA3EZN
Get Set for SET: ARRL Simulated Emergency Test Ahead, Plan Now
The 2021 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is just ahead. The primary ARRL-sponsored national emergency
exercise is designed to assess the skills and preparedness of Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) volunteers,
as well as those affiliated with other organizations involved with emergency and disaster response. The primary SET
weekend is October 2-3, but Local and Section-wide exercises may take place throughout the fall. The annual SET
encourages maximum participation by all amateur radio operators, partner organizations, and national, state, and
local officials who typically engage in emergency or disaster response.
In addition to ARallied groups and public service-oriented radio amateurs are needed to fulfill important roles in
this nationwide exercise.
The SET allows volunteers to test equipment, modes, and skills under simulated emergency conditions and
scenarios. Individuals can use the time to update a "go-kit" for use during deployments and to ensure their home
station's operational capability in an emergency or disaster. To get involved, contact your local ARRL
Emergency Coordinator or Net Manager. Check on upcoming planned activities through local, state, or Sectionwide
nets. ES volunteers, radio amateurs active in the National Traffic System, Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service (RACES), SKYWARN™, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and a variety
of other services.
BUCKEYE NET EARLY. This CW net is in need of a net manager. WB8YLO has been doing a fine job as
manager but has informed me that a family situation will keep him off the air for six months to a year. Efforts to
find a new net manager has lead to the position still being open. In order to fill the reporting requirements I
have offered and began to receive the individual NCS reports and will tabulate the results at the end of each
month.
A few more words about ham radio etiquette. Etiquette does not simply mean knowing what fork to use at a
formal dinner. It means knowing the "rules of the road" for any endeavor and knowing how to avoid
embarrassing (or even offensive) missteps. Good operators are made, not born
Etiquette does not simply mean knowing what fork to use at a formal dinner. It means knowing the "rules of the
road" for any endeavor and knowing how to avoid embarrassing (or even offensive) missteps. In this article, we
will discuss the etiquette of on-the-air conversation, or ragchewing, as it is called.
Knowing Where to Talk
You should know enough about ham radio operation by now to surmise that you can't just turn on your radio
and starting talking on any frequency that you want. While you will not find very specific "ragchew"
frequencies listed in a guidebook, there are areas that you can transmit such casual conversations and areas on
the radio spectrum to avoid.
Generally speaking, on HF frequencies below 30 MHz, it is safe to make a voice contact on the upper twothirds of the
band, while data modes such as Morse Code is on the lower-third. "DXing," or contests for
distance contacts usually occur on the lower end of the band as well. This is true for two reasons. It is more
difficult to make a long-distance contact since the signals are much weaker than short-distance contacts. For this
reason, DX hams tend to congregate in the same isolated area of the band. Secondly, when the bands were
originally divided into their various sub-bands, very few higher-class operators were found in the lower
segments of each band.
Nets, which are generally very ordered meetings and places for specific types of conversation, tend to be far
away from DX-ing on the band. So while DX-ing occurs at the lower end of the band, you will find most nets in
the upper-third of the band.
On rare occasions, such as emergencies, the FCC can restrict certain frequencies for emergency traffic only. It is
the responsibility of amateurs to keep clear and stay away from those frequencies during that time. The ARRL
will send out bulletins about these emergency restrictions and announce them on the air and on their website.
Knowing When to Talk
Just as it is important to know where to talk, it is important to know when it is proper to do so. During the day
on a weekday is the best time to find or initiate a ragchew, but do keep in mind the difference in time zones if
you are contacting someone over a great distance. During weekdays, hams are at their day jobs or they are
traveling and are probably looking for contacts.
On weekends, however, there is an enormous amount of traffic on the air and much of it will be organized –
DX-ing, Nets, and other various functions. The good news is that you will find many people on the air, but the
bad news is that it is considered impolite to interrupt meetings (Nets) for making casual conversations.
If the bands seem far too full on the weekends, there are some strategies that you can employ to make your
calling experiences more pleasant:
Try a WARC band. The WARC bands are the 30m, 17m and 12m bands. They tend to be less crowded
on the weekends, since the majority of DX-ing and Nets occur on the traditional bands.
You can use a data mode, such as Morse Code.
Use your receiver wisely. Adjust the filters to find those weaker signals. Just change the frequency. There is plenty of
space on the air so just go exploring!
Identifying a Ragchewer
When you hear a conversation on the air, there are some signs that will alert you that it might be a conversation
that would welcome your input. You should use your own judgment to determine how relaxed the tone appears.
It is acceptable to interrupt, or "break in," a conversation. Most hams will welcome an added contact to the
conversation, but the only way to ascertain this is to listen to the verbal cues you are receiving from the
conversation.
There are a few signs that should alert you that a conversation would not welcome an additional contact. If there
is an enormous amount of callers contained within the conversation, it is probably a contest – a DX contest.
This is not for conversation purposes, it is simply a contest to see who can contact the furthest station. If you
wish to join the contest, respond, but if you are looking for a ragchew, change your frequency.
A "round table" is a popular form of ragchew. There are conversations among three or more hams on the same
frequency who get together for an informal chat. It is not considered a Net, which is a formal meeting for a
specific purpose. Each ham takes his or her turn in speaking and the conversation continues "around the table."
Morse Code
There are preferred methods for communicating via Morse Code. Using headphones is a good start since you
need to listen very carefully to the tones to ascertain the codes. You should make sure that the volume is varied
from time to time as it is dangerous to your ears to listen to the same tones over and over again.
A filter that is 500 Hz wide is best to use with Morse Code. You do not need a very wide filter for Morse Code
transmissions and this should be a good size for most instances. You can purchase these filters whether you have
a new or used radio. Do not use a narrower filter than 500 Hz, as this can actually cause an unnatural sound and,
thus, negate the positive effects of the filter's ability to prevent interference.
Over time, with practice, you will be able to "copy" the Morse Code in your head rather than writing down all
codes you are receiving. The best practice is simply listening – without trying to respond. Listen in on
conversations without the pressure of having to respond. It truly is like learning a language and it opens up a
whole new on-the-air experience.
Professional Operation
Part of the beauty of ham radio is being part of a larger community of hams that offer a useful service to society.
A ham enjoys the privileges of amateur radio, including access to frequencies and protection under rules and
from interference. Many hams choose to give back by assisting during emergency situations by offering
communication and trained radio operators.
Emergency Organizations
Licensed hams are often called upon to assist in times of crisis and emergency. Hams have lent their voices and
technological expertise for earthquakes, fires, natural disasters, and even for debris collection from the space
shuttle Columbia accident.
After licensed hams have some radio experience, they may wish to participate in emcomm, which is a radio term
for emergency communication. Emcomm is simply communication that tries to minimize the adverse effects of
emergency situations.
Probably the largest emergency organization in the world of ham radio is the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES), which is part of ARRL's Field Organization. Individual sections of the ARRL organize ARES,
so the geographical reach of local ARES sections is based on population.
Hams with some radio experience can apply to volunteer positions within ARES in their local ARRL sections.
Assistant Section Managers are needed to assist appointed Section Managers with tasks like working with local
nets and collecting volunteer reports. Public Information Officers build good working relationships with local
media and community leaders to publicize ham radio's public services. Official Observers help licensed hams
stay within operating regulations to avoid FCC violations and also listen for unlicensed hams and other
intrusions on amateur radio waves. Technical Specialists serve as consultants to hams and the ARRL on specific
areas of specialty.
The ARRL offers training courses for licensed hams in how to handle emergencies. These courses are grant
supported and are free to hams who successfully pass them. Interested hams can check the ARRL website at
arrl.org for more information.
ARES handles emergencies that public safety and other civilian agencies respond to. Hams who wish to lend
assistance to ARES need to register through their local ARRL section and join a local ARES team. ARES then
handles training and simulation exercises for hams so that they can respond effectively in times of emergency.
Another emergency organization, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), is sponsored by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and responds when state or federal officials activate civil
emergency response. To assist with RACES, a ham must be a member of RACES and also must be a member of
and trained by a local civil defense preparedness group. It is recommended that a ham have some emergency
experience, such as with ARES, before joining RACES. Joining RACES is through a state government's
Auxiliary Communication Service.
A third organization is the Military Affiliate Radio Services (MARS). Each branch of the military has its own
MARS program, and the overall organization is sponsored by the Department of Defense. MARS members can
operate with special licenses on frequencies just outside the regular amateur frequencies. MARS volunteers
handle connections between the military communications network and ham radio or between radios and the
phone system, such as when deployed persons make contact with families at home.
Emergency Preparations
To be effective in times of emergency, a ham needs to prepare ahead of time. That way, when an emergency
arises, a ham knows exactly what to do. It's wise to get to know team leaders and members of local emergency
teams and also get to know the call signs of those who operate from Emergency Operating Centers (EOC). This
will help knowing whom to contact and whom to listen for in times of emergency. Participating in regular
exercises will help. Knowing the emergency net frequencies and names of leaders will also help so that in an
emergency, a ham can zero in on the right band for emcomm.
It's also important to have the proper equipment and supplies ready to go as well. The ARRL can provide help in
determining what a ham needs for the type of work she or he plans to do. In general, a ham should have a kit
ready to go so that he or she can quickly get to the scene of an emergency. The kit should include versatile
clothing, food that won't spoil and won't need preparation, water, lightweight radios and equipment, and a list of
emcomm frequencies and telephone contacts. If a ham operates from home in an emergency, it's important to
make sure that the radio can operate if electricity and the main antenna are both down.
Emergency Operations
When an emergency strikes, training in handling emergencies should guide a ham through the process. While all
emergencies are different, this training helps cover all the important basics. In general, in cases of emergency, a
ham should ensure that he or she, his or her family, and property are safe and secure. Otherwise, those needs
must be attended to first. Then, a ham can begin monitoring emergency frequencies and follow instructions
received from emergency officials over the frequency.
Hams can report emergencies, such as traffic accidents, using their radios if they have autopatch capabilities to
connect with 911 over the radio. This involves breaking into a station's strong signal and gaining control of it to
make the emergency report. Then, the rest is like making a regular 911 call.
Distress calls can be placed or received on ham radios. It's a great idea to store a frequency in a radio's memory
where people most likely will be listening at any time. This way, any person can make a distress call if
necessary. Making a distress call involves saying "Mayday," giving a call sign, stating location, stating the type
of emergency, and stating the help needed. This can be repeated until someone responds. Similarly, upon
hearing a distress call, a ham should write down all information given, respond to the call asking for more
information, and contact 911 or appropriate agency for help. The agency may ask the ham to relay
communications between the agency and the distressed party.
Other Services
The types of assistance that ham radio operators provide is not limited to emergencies. In fact, many hams
participate in monitoring and reporting weather conditions. Under NOAA's SKYWARN program, weather nets
on amateur radio frequencies report weather conditions directly to the National Weather Service.
Other public events, such as parades and sporting events, also need the help of amateur radio operators. These
events usually coordinate with a local radio club or emergency group to help with their needs. Hams interested
in volunteering should connect with the manager of the radio operations through the group assisting with the
event.
Nets and Traffic
This chapter has referred to nets as a way that hams connect with a purpose of relaying emergency details or
other information. A net is simply an on-air meeting of hams. These nets are scheduled for certain times and
particular frequencies. Net activity is coordinated by a Net Control Station (NCS) that sets up, directs, and
terminates the net. In nets that relay information back and forth, such as emergency cases, the NCS connects
hams who have information to send with hams that can take the information. It is important that hams always
check in with the NCS when ready to give or take messages.
Traffic handling is one of the oldest portions of ham radio, and it is way of passing messages from ham to ham
until the message reaches its destination. Traffic handling uses its own set of procedures to ensure accuracy but
may seem antiquated in today's world. However, traffic handling is still reliable, particularly in emergencies
when more modern forms of communication may become unavailable. Hams can get involved in traffic
handling by contacting the ARRL.
Be proud of your callsign and demonstrate your skills by saying it slowly and phonetically.