Index of News Items
Upcoming Events
Recent Events
- 4Q Hospital Drill – Nov 12
- Results: ARRL SET
- MCACS Comm Van
- Results: August Red Cross Drill
- Winter Field Day 2024
- HF/VHF/UHF mobile and portable radio setup — show and tell
Upcoming Events
1Q Hospital Drill
Our next quarterly hospital drill is scheduled for 14 January 2025. Details will be posted here when they become available. We encourage MCACS members to participate in these quarterly exercises and to get acquainted with the setups at one or more county hospitals.
Winter Field Day 2025
MCACS plans to participate in Winter Field Day again this year. The event will be held, as usual, on the last full weekend of January. We will be operating at a site in Gaithersburg. Information has gone out to members via email. Plans will be discussed at our monthly online meeting on December 3. Contact Jim, K3MRI, for more information.
Recent Events
4Q Hospital Drill
The Q4 hospital drill of 2024 took place on 12 November 2024. ARES Members activated the stations at three of our county hospitals as well as the county EOC. We verified that all stations were operational and
exchanged messages using voice and Winlink.
Participants included KC3HEC and KC3MJV at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, N3DDS and KA3IXO at Holy Cross Hospital (Silver Spring), K3XIT and KC3ZVB at Medstar Montgomery Medical Center, and K3CSX and KN3U at the Montgomery County EOC. Thanks as always to our hospital program coordinator, Chuck, KC3TCB, for making the arrangements.
The next quarterly hospital drill is tentatively scheduled for 14 January 2025. We encourage MCACS members to participate in these quarterly exercises and to get acquainted with the setups at one or more county hospitals.
Results: ARRL Simulated Emergency Test
Thirteen Montgomery County ARES members participated in the 2024 Simulated Emergency Test (SET) on Saturday, October 5. The exercise required participants to identify and deploy to a location near their home that might be a suitable choice for a Community Emergency Hub (e.g., a school, community center, or other customary neighborhood gathering place). Participants were directed to establish contact with the station at the Montgomery County EOC via 2 meter FM simplex, either directly or through a relay station. Some participants chose to activate multiple locations over the course of the exercise. At each location, participants were asked to send a voice message containing specific information about their location, equipment, and stations heard. Participants were also encouraged to send the same information via Winlink either from the field or upon returning home.
In addition to affording members an opportunity to practice tactical communications in a simulated emergency response environment, the exercise provided a mechanism to map out simplex coverage of the county. All participants were able to convey the requested information to the EOC, either directly or through a relay station.
Given the EOC’s location in a low-lying area of Gaithersburg and modest antenna, we expected that direct communications would not be possible with other low-lying areas of the county. To hedge our bets, we positioned the MCACS communications van, with its base station antenna on a 50′ pneumatic mast, in Damascus at a location close to the highest elevation in the county. We also arranged for the club station at the NIH main campus to be on the air, knowing that it provides good coverage of the down-county area.
Since many of the participants were using mobile rigs in the cars, it was not a surprise that stations in different parts of the county could not always hear each other. It was a surprise that almost all participants were able to communicate directly with the EOC. While a few stations were less than full-quieting, only one participant required a relay to pass their traffic. And, as we had suspected, the station in Damascus was heard by almost all participants.
The exercise plan is available for reference. Also available for your review is a spreadsheet summarizing the data gathered during the exercise.
Exercise participants include KC3UKX*, N3COB*, K3MRI, K3XIT*, N3DDS, WA2WDT, KC3MJV*, KB3SYA, and KA3IXO in the field. WA32LTJ and W3CID operated at NIH, and KN3U and K3CSX were at the EOC. Participants marked with an asterisk provided reports via Winlink.
Red Cross Drill – August 24
On Saturday, August 24. Montgomery County ARES and MCACS members set up a portable HF station with both voice and Winlink capability on the grounds of a Red Cross facility in Gaithersburg. Participants included Ellen KC3MJV, Paul N3RQV, Will K3XIT, Chuck KC3TCZ, and Jeff KC3UKX.
The MAIPN comm van had been prepositioned at the site on the preceding day. The crew deployed an HF folded dipole antenna in an adjacent field and configured the van’s radio equipment for operation on Winlink using Vara HF. All assigned tasks were completed over a period of five hours. This included exchanging Winlink messages with stations at Red Cross facilities in Fairfax, VA, and Cumberland, Easton, and Salisbury, MD. A photo of the team was transmitted via Winlink to a Red Cross official, and several Red Cross forms were filled out and sent using Winlink Express’s built-in templates.
These exercises are designed to develop and maintain backup communications capability among Red Cross facilities throughout the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region. They typically take place on a weekend morning, and occur at intervals of two to three months.
MCACS Comm Van
At its October meeting, the MCACS board of directors voted to assume ownership of the MAIPN communications van from MAIPN, Inc. MCACS has been the primary user of the van in recent years. As of the end of October, MCACS is now the legal owner of the van. In the near future, the signage on the van will be updated to reflect that. More information about the van can be found at this link.
Winter Field Day 2024
Eight MCACS members participated in Winter Field Day on the last weekend of January (2024) at the Assateague Island National Seashore. Winter Field Day is an annual emergency communications exercise for Amateur Radio operators. The objective is to set up an Amateur Radio station in the field and make contacts with other participating stations, demonstrating the ability to provide emergency communications in the field under winter conditions. The premise is that emergencies don’t always occur when the weather is nice.
Winter Field Day is an international event. Participation is primarily from North America, but a smattering of stations from Europe, South America, and Asia also participated. As I write this two weeks after the event, logs have been submitted to the sponsors of the event by over 1,800 stations.
MCACS set up two HF stations in a tent on the beach. Over the course of 24 hours, we made contacts with 535 other stations in 42 U. S. states, 4 Canadian provinces, and one station in Italy. Although the weather was unseasonably warm for January, we experienced fog, mist, and rain for a substantial portion of the weekend. Nevertheless, a positive learning experience and good time was had by all.
An after-action report—including photos—has been prepared and can be viewed by clicking here.
Winter Field Day 2025 is coming. Are you interested in planning for it?
HF/VHF/UHF mobile and portable radio setup — show and tell
On Sunday, November 12, 2023, a group of about twenty dedicated amateur radio operators gathered in a show of camaraderie and preparedness. Organized by the Montgomery County Auxiliary Communications Service, this event brought together enthusiasts who share a passion for communication technology and a commitment to public service.
The event, held at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County, saw a respectable turnout of amateur radio operators from across the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Enthusiasts of all ages came together to display and demonstrate their High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency (VHF/UHF) mobile and portable communication kits.
Attendees were treated to a diverse array of demonstrations and displays. From portable HF setups designed for remote locations to mobile VHF/UHF rigs optimized for on-the-go communication, there was no shortage of fascinating technology to explore.
One of the event’s central themes was the importance of rapid deployment in emergency scenarios. Amateur radio operators understand that during crises, the ability to establish reliable communication quickly can be a matter of life and death. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises, practicing the setup and deployment of their equipment with remarkable speed and precision.
Beyond the fascination with technology and the joy of camaraderie, events like this underscore the indispensable role of amateur radio operators in emergency communications. When conventional communication infrastructure fails during disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or power outages, these skilled individuals step up to provide a vital lifeline.
Amateur radio operators have a unique advantage in emergency situations. Their equipment is often designed to be self-sufficient, capable of running on alternative power sources such as batteries or generators. This resilience ensures that they can continue to communicate even when the grid is down.
Real-world examples abound of amateur radio operators coming to the rescue during emergencies. They have relayed critical information to first responders, coordinated search and rescue efforts, and provided a lifeline for isolated communities. Their commitment to public service is unwavering, and their skills are honed to excel in the most challenging of circumstances.
While the event showcased the technical prowess of amateur radio operators, it also highlighted the sense of community that binds them together. Enthusiasts from all backgrounds exchanged ideas, shared their experiences, and learned from one another. This educational aspect is a key driver of progress in the field, ensuring that best practices are continually refined and new innovations are embraced.
The gathering of amateur radio operators on November 12, 2023, serves as a reminder of the crucial role these individuals play in our communities. They are not merely hobbyists; they are dedicated experts with the skills and equipment needed to keep us connected when it matters most.
As we reflect on the event and its implications, it becomes clear that amateur radio operators are unsung heroes in the realm of emergency communications. Their commitment to service, technical expertise, and ability to adapt to challenging conditions make them an invaluable asset to our society.
In an increasingly interconnected world, where communication is often taken for granted, events like this remind us of the power of human ingenuity and cooperation. Amateur radio operators stand ready to bridge the gaps when other systems fail, providing a lifeline that can mean the difference between safety and peril.
The following slideshow will give you an idea of the amazing variety of portable stations created by our MCACS members. Hovering your mouse over the slideshow will pause it and allow you to advance the slides manually.
We hope to hold a similar event in the Fall of 2024.
Jim | K3MRI
