Oregon Section
ARES/RACES
Deschutes County
2017Membership Requirements and Training Plan
Record of Changes
Date of Change Location of Change Change Changed by:
01/09/15 / Initial Release / KF7UOI04/13/16 / Update / Minor changes for 2016 / KF7UOI
05/15/16 / Update / Sisters Conference Changes / KF7UOI
11/05/16 / Update for 2017 / Includes State ARO course / KF7UOI
04/10/2017 / Update / Minor changes / KF7UOI
Table of Contents
Mission Statement4
Our Objectives in Training5
2017Training List6
Unit member Requirements 7
Needs Analysis Highlights -Needs and Skills9
Ham Skill Questions11
Executive Summary. This Deschutes County ARES Membership and Training Document provides a Needs Analysis, Mission Statement, tentative members activities for 2017 and membership requirements. Goals for the training and membership are derived from the Needs Analysis, expected events, State and National ARRL requirements for ARES, and Deschutes County Emergency Management requirements. An important aspect of this training is the use of Good Net Control Procedures, ability to send ICS messages digitally, and of course member safety.
Mission Statement
Oregon Deschutes County Section ARES exists to provide a viable first response to local or regional communications systems outages or overloads.
The following situations represent actual deployment or responsibilities undertaken by the Unit in recent history.
- Assist in configuration, deployment and maintenance of local hospital emergency radio equipment.
- Assist in public safety awareness fairs (showing equipment in use) alongside the Red Cross, Fire, Search and Rescue, etc.
- Assist in moving, establishing, and using communication equipment for Search and Rescue operations.
- Assist in communication needs for various Races, Relays, etc. for the Central Oregon Area which bring in substantial tourist dollars.
- Strengthen local communication manpower for flooding and fire events.
The following situations represent deployments that the Unit wants to be prepared for.
- Search and Rescue events in neighboring counties that require communication networking across different communication frequency infrastructures.
- Disruption of landline services at the local hospital or local area level. Communication of emergency resource needs would be communicated outside the Central Oregon area. Extensive use of digital communications may be required.
- Location of disruptive radio signals causing poor radio communication for public agencies on FCC channel bands. “Fox Hunt”.
- Participation in Oregon State ARES “SETS” and other communication preparedness practices structured and reviewed at the State level.
- Deployment of unit members in a major fire event.
Our Objective in Training
Oregon Emergency Management in preparation for the Cascadia Rising Exercise developed a number of Objectives and Core Capabilities. One of these objectives Centered around Communications. Quoted below is the relevant objective for Deschutes ARES:
“Demonstrate the ability of Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) to establish and sustain voice and data communications with other EOCs and with the general public to include basic restoration of communications infrastructure within the impacted area to support response operations and coordinated public messaging.”
This objective includes utilizing HF, VHF, and UHF to maintain communications in a degraded communications environment. In addition, post-disaster assessments made EM staff may need to be communicated by ARES members in a degraded communications environment. Critical messages to the public may need to be relayed. ARES members need to train and be prepared to undertake these assignments.
2017 Deschutes County ARES TrainingSchedule (tentative)
- On-Line ARO Training (State Class)
- Oregon ARES Digital Network (OADN) Forms
- Winlink Express Classes (State and Local)
- Local ICS 213 Net and Training
- Local Community Communication Assistance Activities (3)
- ARES Spring Set
- ARES Fall Set
ARES/RACES Unit Member Requirements
The Deschutes County ARES unit is open to all licensed ham radio operators. Over the first 18 months in the unit members are expected to complete a set of requirements. These requirements include web based on-line training, a Deschutes County criminal background check and several knowledge based practice sessions.Completion of these tasks insure that members can operate the ARES unit radios and to assist in emergency communications. Unit training activities include a first look at the knowledge based tasks as well as refreshercourses for all members.
The only equipment requirement for ARES members is a personal HT radio which is capable of using local repeaters. Members will also will need access to a computer connected to the internet and a printer to take the required on-line courses and be capable of running Winlink Express.
A detailed list of requirements for Deschutes County ARES members are listed in the next paragraph and are current as of October 1, 2016. All of the courses, activities, and classes are free. The requirements listed below do not need to be completed in order, but the ordered list is a good way to get started.
Deschutes County ARES requirements include:
1)Be a licensed ham radio operator as recognized by the FCC. A technician license is all that is required to be in Deschutes ARES. Some radios owned by the Deschutes ARES will need a general license for the individual member to operate.
2)Three on-line FEMA courses need to be studied and completed. The three courses are NIMS IS-100, NIMS IS-200, NIMS IS-700. These courses are available on the FEMA website and are free. NIMS IS-800 is not required at this time, but is expected to be added in the near future.
3)Unit members are expected to go to monthly meetings and participate in unit activities. Members will receive an orientation to the Deschutes County Sherriff’s radio room and the ODOT radio room. Members are expected to know how to operate the radios in these two rooms.
4)Unit members need to program their personal HT radios with local frequencies.
5)Assemble and Maintain a personal 72 hour “to-go-kit”. The actual list of items needed for this kit can be obtained from the Deschutes County ECC.
6)Complete the Oregon ARES on-line Amateur Radio Operator (ARO) course. The course is a knowledge-based series of modules on basic ham radio skills, information on emergency traffic flow and Winlink Express related topics. There are three on-line exams to be completed as part of this course. This ARO course is new (2016) and includes a number of task based knowledge information and an orientation to ARES in general. See the website
7)Complete the State ARES Winlink Express course in the use of ICS forms. This class is offered twice a year. This course requires a computer running Winlink Express and is proctored by the Oregon ARES SEC.
8)Participate in various NETS to practice sending ICS messages. In this set sample messages will be completed and sent verbally and digitally to other local Deschutes county members.
9)Complete a Law Enforcement background check done by Deschutes County. The background check will include fingerprinting and drug testing. The background check is done after all other requirements are met.
10)Continue to participate in local and state NETS and SETS.
Needs and Skills requirements
Needs Analysis Results.
The following is a generalized list of necessary skills with the number of unit members needed to possess the skill. Numbers or percentages listed are the 2017 goals.
Criminal background check, active, drug tests.ALL
Understand and passed test for various FEMA courses (100, 200, 700)ALL
Can fill out Deschutes County incident paperwork50%
Can fill out common FEMA forms ICS 203, etc.80%
Maintains active FCC ham radio license.ALL
72 hour go bag (for called deployment)ALL
Drive Deschutes County vehicle (requires various County courses)10
Move Deschutes County communications trailer (DCCT)4
Set up and deploy DCCT for VHF use80%
Set up and deploy DCCT for VHF digital communications (like radio email)80%
Set up and deploy DCCT for HF use50%
Set up and deploy DCCT for interagency communication ACS1000, etc. 25%
Set up and deploy Search and Rescue communications (repeaters, network)50%
Unit trainers on DCCT’s use4
ATV License8
Basic Red Cross First Aid Course50%
Advanced Red Cross First Aid Course (like Defibrillator)4
Elementary Fire safety course (forest fire igloo, etc.)4
Knowledge of Sheriff’s department fixed ham radio station (includes email)80%
Unit trainers for Sheriff’s dept. radio station3
Knowledge of ODOT’s communication trailer (set up and deployment)80%
Unit trainers for ODOT’s fixed ham radio station2
Knowledge of radio based email (VHF/HF, RMS Express)80%
Unit trainers for digital communications3
Unit members with fixed stations capable of transmitting VHF email50%
Unit members with mobile stations capable of transmitting VHF email25%
Unit members with stations capable of transmitting HF radio based email25%
Unit members with generators 4+
Unit members with VHF gateways and/or Digi repeaters (neighboring counties)1+
Unit members with HF BBS or Winlink gateways1
Information Officer (includes additional FEMA, Oregon OEM courses)1
HAM TRAINING
TECHNICAL SKILLS
ELECTRICITY
Demonstrate ability to -
1. Determine power requirements of equipment.
a. AC or DC. If DC, show polarity.
b. Voltage - minimum, average, peak.
c. Amperage - minimum, average, peak.
2. Determine power capacity of power source.
a. AC or DC. If DC, show polarity.
b. Voltage - idle, under load, peak.
c. Duty cycle.
3. Determine wiring requirements.
a. Gauge for expected peak load.
b. Polarity coding - color, ribbing, labeling.
c. Wire type for expected usage.
d. Proper fusing.
4. Select and install connectors based on -
a. Wire size.
b. Load capacity.
c. Polarity.
d. Mating connector.
e. Method of connection to wire - solder, crimp, etc.
5. Use of common wiring tools.
a. Wire cutters.
b. Wire and coax strippers.
c. Connector crimpers - insulated, non-insulated, Anderson,
and coax.
d. Soldering station, iron, gun.
6. How to assemble a pair of Anderson Power Pole connectors
according to ARES standards.
6. VOM usage.
ELECTRONICS
Demonstrate ability to -
1. Select coax for expected power and frequency.
2. Select coax connectors for expected usage.
3. Select antenna for transmit frequency.
4. Check coax for continuity and shorts.
5. Mount or place antenna in appropriate and safe
location.
6. Connect radio to power, antenna, speaker, and
any control cables.
7. Use VFO on radio and set receive frequency,
transmit frequency, repeater offset, repeater
unlock tone.
8. Store VFO information in radio's memory
and label according to ARES bandplan.
9. Lock and unlock radios controls.
10. Set volume.
11. Set squelch with and without speaker enabled.
12. Use reverse function to hear repeaters receive frequency.
13. Connect radio to TNC.
14. Connect radio to sound card device.
15. Connect radio to computer for programming.
16. Set transmit power level.
17. Determine if radio is transmitting.
18. Control unessential features of radio that may interfere
with communications.
19, Effective use of microphone.
GENERALCOMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
Demonstrate how to -
1. Announce you that you are open to calls.
2. Announce that you are open to calls when you expect
listeners to be using a scanner.
3. Make a general call for a contact.
4. Make a call for a contact from a specific person.
5. Close a call with minimum verbage.
6. Broadcast your callsign at required intervals with minimum
verbiage.
7. While in a conversation coordinate and make a change
to another simplex frequency or repeater.
8. What to do when someone outside your current conversation
wishes to use the frequency.
NET COMMUNICATIONS
1. Define the purpose of a casual net.
2. Define the purpose of a health and safety net.
WHEN IN A HEALTH AND SAFETY NET
Demonstrate how to -
1. Check in with a net control operator with minimum verbiage.
2. Respond to a net control operator with minimum verbiage.
3. Determine what traffic is appropriate on a net.
4. Determine what traffic is NOT appropriate for a net.
5. Determine what the priority of traffic is for a net.
6. If you can no longer hear net control, re-establish
communication.
7. Arrange to go off the air temporarily.
8. Determine if you can exit the net and resume other
activities.
USING A TYPICAL REPEATER
1. Define a repeater "tone" and why its used.
2. Do all repeaters use "tones"?
3. Define a repeater "offset" and why its used.
4. Define what it means for a repeater to "come up".
5. When using a repeater why should you pause
after you have pressed the PTT button before you
begin speaking?
6. How long can you talk on a repeater after you
press the PTT button?
7. Why are repeaters generally located at a high
elevation?
8. Why are repeater frequencies 'coordinated"?
9. What VHF frequencies can be used for temporary
repeaters without coordination?
10. Where can you find the frequency, tone, and
offset used by repeaters?
OTHER TYPES OF REPEATERS
1. Describe a simplex repeater.
2. Describe a cross-band repeater.
3. Describe a "store and forward' repeater.
4. Describe a packet digipeater.
5. Describe a digital Winlink gateway/digipeater.
6. Describe an APRS digipeater.
FREQUENCY PLANS
1. Describe a "band plan"?
2. Who creates a "band plan" in ARES?
3. During an ARES event, when should you
deviate from the band plan?
TERMS
1. Describe simplex mode.
2. Describe USB.
3. Describe LSB.
4. Describe FM.
5. Describe narrow-band.
6. Describe sound-card mode.
7. Describe DSTAR.
8. Describe Winlink.
9. Describe packet.
11. Describe RMS Express.