Ham Radio Instructions for Tour de Cure 2017
Instructions for Amateur Radio Operators /August 19
/ SAG Ride-Along’s
and
Rest Stop Safety Communicators
General Guidelines
2017-08-14 v1.1 lrl
Table of Contents
What is this Event for Ham Radio Volunteers? 4
Welcome to 2017 Arkansas Tour de Cure 4
Before Day of Event Where to Get Information: 5
Day of Event - Where to Report When, what to Expect 5
Parking 5
Check in: 6
Ham Radio SAG Riders Volunteer list (as of 8/14) 6
SAG Rider Reporting Times 6
SAG ride along Guidelines: 7
SAG Items to remember are: 8
TDC SAG Truck Drivers Names and Numbers 2017 9
APRS in SAG Vehicles Guidelines 9
Rest Stop Participants Guidelines: 10
Ham Radio Rest Stop Volunteers (as of 8/14) 10
Rest stop locations and GPS Lat/Lon 11
TDC Rest Stop Teams and Volunteers: 11
Ham Radio Reporting Times for Rest Stops 12
Items to remember for Rest Stop Ham Volunteers are: 12
TDC Rest Stop Medical Names and Numbers (as of 8/14) 13
Net Protocol – All Participants please read 13
--MOST IMPORTANT EMERGENCY NUMBER– 14
What to Report Guidelines: 14
Frequencies and Phone numbers for Event Communications 16
Amateur Radio Repeaters for use on the Day of Event: 16
In a Case of Repeater Failure: 18
In Case of Accidental “Sitting on the Mike” Incidents 18
Maps Section 19
What is this Event for Ham Radio Volunteers?
Every year may many Ham radio operators volunteer help in fund raising events such as this to provide needed radio communications using their Ham Radio Technicians (or above) license. This ability provides safety and tactical information for the event organizers, participants and emergency personnel of these events. The American Diabetes Association is extremely happy to have ham volunteers and many would say we help make the event possible.
It is also training for Hams. When Amateur radio operators go out into the field, trucks and rest stops in an event such as this event; things are sometimes learned about providing radio operation and equipment that would often otherwise be missed for an emergency deployment.
Welcome to 2017 Arkansas Tour de Cure
TheCrystal BridgesMuseumin Bentonvilleis the backdrop for the area’s largest community event for people who want to stop diabetes. Supporting 30 million people living with diabetes by fundraising and bringing awareness to the cause.
The Tour de Cure Event Day is Like No Other!
Participating in the Tour de Cure is an experience you will never forget. The event is very well organized and has routes available for all skill levels, including aNew Family Fun TrailWalkandNEW Mountain Biking Routes!You will be inspired by all of those joining you as you make an impact for this great cause.
Before Day of Event Where to Get Information:
BCRO Net Thursday Night at 7:00pm
We will have a short discussion event for volunteers on Thursday nights after the Net check-in at 7pm on 145.290 negative offset and PL tone of 110.9 August 10 and again August 17th.
Email and Cell Before the Event
If you have given me your email I will email out information and assignments the weeks prior up until the tour event on August 19th. If not, please email me at or call me at 479-531-8169 (leave name for call back on voice mail).
Event Information:
You will find event information on the BCRO site www.BCRO.org under events and Tour de Cure 2017.
You can also see event information and rest stop locations on the Tour de Cure website for Bentonville: Go to www.Google.com and type in “Tour de Cure Bentonville”
Day of Event - Where to Report When, what to Expect
(See Map section at the end of this document):
Parking
Parking for SAG riders and NET control is at the Net Control Parking Lot nearest to the COMM Tent at possible at 5:00am to 5:30am. This is at the upper left side parking lot to the Crystal Bridges Museum on the left toward the facility (see map section later in this document).
Check in:
All participants should check in as noted in this document according to assignment. If you have not turned in a volunteer form, they will be provided with this document.
· If you have not been assigned either a SAG ride along or a Rest Stop, please see Net Control to have that assignment given that morning by 530am.
· Please understand that assignments are subject to changes if the need is important enough to change.
Ham
SAG# / Ham / Call / Stops1 / William Dixon / KK5I / Start and 1
2 / Phillip Dore / KF5RIZ / 1 and 2
3 / Tyler (name wrong) / KG5DJH / 2 and 3
4 / Victor RoseBoom / N5CS / 3 and 4
5 / John Fraley / W5JRF / 4 and 6
6 / Kevin White / KG7LSD / 5 and 6
7 / David Gilbert / KB5SEZ / 6 and 7
8 / Frank Majadan / KG5ANT / 7 and 8
9 / Norm Taylor? / KG5SPB / 8 and Home
10 / Van Allen / W5VAN / 3 and 7
ALT / Paul LeBlanc / Alternate
Radio SAG Riders Volunteer list (as of 8/14)
SAG Rider Reporting Times
SAG Riders are asked to be at Net Control with your radio and gear by 5:30am.
This is for many reasons:
· some routes start early
· WE must get you in the truck, hooked up, and ready to go with antennas, etc.
· some routes are farther and take considerable driving to get to them,
· and most of the time we don’t want SAG drivers going too fast to their stop after the event starts.
· SAG drivers out early help make sure that the route is marked clearly and the roadway is in good shape
· It can take 2 to 3 times as long to get into position after many bikers are on the road. There may be some waiting as this is the most crucial part of the Ham event; getting SAG drivers and HAMS together and to the correct route.
· Please be patient and bring a folding chair and your coffee (if you drink it) just in case there is a wait for your driver to be ready.
· Again, this is a critical step and we want to know you are there, ready and available as your volunteer work is valuable to this event.
SAG ride along Guidelines:
All Amateur Radio Operators assigned to SAG vehicles (SAG 1 through SAG 9) should report to the communications tent at top parking lot of Crystal Bridges for final assignment the morning of the event at NO LATER THAN 5:30 am the morning of the event.
SAG Radio Equipment Summary
Radio – VHF of at least 25 watts or greater
· 12 Volt plug-in capability (12V cigarette lighter capable) or
· Bring your own battery
· APRS capability by radio or by cell (APRS-droid)
· Antenna will be provided but suggested you bring your own in case with at least 20 foot of SO239 cable.
· You will be riding with your radio in a new borrowed pickup and a driver
Special note: SAG vehicles will be outfitted with a volunteer made unity gain ground plane antenna placed in a rear stake hole of the pickup. Mag mounts are asked NOT TO BE USED on truck bodies. Antenna cables will be provided but it may be wise to bring your own 20 foot or longer cable in case. It is possible for you to bungee your own antenna to the truck mast if needed IF it has its own ground plane (or does not require one such as a 5/8th wave on VHF). We recommend trying out the provided antenna first and only unhooking and using your own only if communications cannot use it.
SAG Items to remember are:
· First Have Fun! This is a fun event for the community. Share the fun.
· Watch driving under low branches or overhangs to prevent damage to the truck with the antenna mounted on the back that is higher than the cab.
· Communicate through Net Control.
· Remember that 911 is the first number to call in an emergency involving life or limb. Then Net Control unless 911 is not available where you are.
· Your mobile Rig of 20 watts or more with VHF capability at least should suffice in most of the course.
o Realize that there will be spots your radio drops out, there always are. Hilltop when that occurs to communicate if needed.
· Bring APRS if you have it either on a radio or your cell phone (look up on Google play store, you will need your ham call sign). Google play is about $4.99 one time fee and this works fine for events that have good cell coverage. The phone APRS does not use much data but does drain the battery, so bring a way to charge your phone in another 12V outlet in the truck (most have multiple 12V ports)
· Use your 12V power cord for a 12V cigarette style power port that is 20-amp ready on the truck. You should have your radio fused. A lead-acid or other battery is a good back up and sometimes the best option for higher power rigs. Often using more than 20 watts tends to starve the radio of voltage due to the length of the 12V cable. This is why a lead acid battery, and ability to use it, is usually the best thing to have with you for any event of this nature.
· Bring your own drinks, food, snacks, rain clothing, ICE. There will be room for a cooler and supplies at your feet, other spaces are for extra riders if needed.
· Your antenna cable must be routed to stay out of the way of others in the vehicle
· Make sure you do not transmit on the antenna if someone is near the radiating element.
· Keep moving between the rest stops you are assigned to watch for riders needing aid.
· Remember that you will likely have to “Hill Top” in many places to reach Net Control, this is normal operating procedure for mobile Hams. Just be prepared for that to happen.
· If you have a cell phone make sure NET CONTROL has that number.
· Remember the BCRO repeater is a linked system, so allow 1 second (an eye-blink or two) between the key down on the MIC talk button before you start talking or we will miss the first second of your sentences.
· You may be assigned a tactical call sign by NET Control but remember the rules about adding your own when required (every 10 min or end of transmission). Remember, other hams will be listening to this event from all over the area!
· Use your camera to capture pictures to send in if you want. We may use some for a write up later.
· See operating procedures later in this document.
TDC SAG Truck Drivers Names and Numbers 2017
Following are the names and numbers of SAG truck drivers (as of 8/14). Hams should meet them at Net Control.
APRS in SAG Vehicles Guidelines
All SAG and other mobile Tour de Cure assets should have some type of APRS beaconing capability.
This can either be Ham equipment or Cell phones (cell phone APRS is fine for this event)
· Please have your cell phone APRS working and registered days before. It does cost a onetime fee of 4.99 for APRS-droid, but it saves time in the future.
· You must have a valid FCC call sign for APRS-droid to work and to get a signup completed.
· Also let Net Control know what your beacon call sign is
If you are bringing or borrowing APRS beaconing capability, the following should be kept in mind:
1) We are using the standard North American APRS frequency of 144.390 FM simplex.
2) If you can Smart Beacon, that would be ideal,
3) If Net Control does not see a beacon from your vehicle in 15-20 minutes, we will call you on the radio.
4) Please do not digipeat unless asked to by the event organizers.
5) Know how to trigger an APRS Position beacon, which may be very helpful for location purposes if you are in a no cell zone with an emergency.
Rest Stop Participants Guidelines:
Your Equipment Needed:
· Radio of at least 25 watts or greater, do not drain your car battery, remember to start it from time to time.
· Vehicle or outside mounted antenna with gain of 3dB or more with cable
· Chair, notebook, cooler, shade
Ham Radio Rest Stop Volunteers (as of 8/14)
Rest stop locations and GPS Lat/Lon
Rest Stop 1 Blowing Springs Park, 36.445361 -94.222512
Rest Stop 2 Jane, Missouri, 36.544835 -94.304329
Rest Stop 3 Mill Creek Road, 36.528963 -94.462972
Rest Stop 4 South West City, 36.515335 -94.611256
Rest Stop 5 Café, 36.539461 -94.757772
Rest Stop 6 Maysville Fire Department, 36.405079 -94601798
Rest Stop 7 Gravette High School, 36.421938 -94.435657
Rest Stop 8 Centerton Gamble Elementary School, 36.381123 -94.29307
TDC Rest Stop Teams and Volunteers:
Ham Radio Reporting Times for Rest Stops
Rest Stops 1,2 & 3 Report on Site with Net Control by 6:30am
Rest Stops 4 & 5 Report on Site with Net Control by 8:00am
Rest Stop 6 Report on Site with Net Control by 9:00am