ARES Section Set/Exercise 2023

If you are deployed to a hospital

• A team member may be directed to gather information from a hospital on bed count. That number will be given by either hospital staff or ARES leadership. This will be done in person, voice or Winlink. That team member will be responsible to sending that message to REOC.

• You may be directed to send a message on the hospital status of electricity, any difficulties, request for additional assistance etc. be prepared to receive this either by hospital staff or ARES leadership. This could come either Voice or Winlink. 

If you are deployed to a shelter

• You may be requested to send a message on the status of the shelter. Any messages that need to be delivered. You will receive additional messages to send to the REOC by ARES leadership.

If you are deployed as REOC Team

Will establish HF voice communication with the division of emergency management W7DEM. Winlink will be used to send reports to DEM in Carson City.  DMR, fusion, IRLP, and Allstar are nonfunctional due to loss of Internet connectivity. MESH networks are working if they have back up power. Some WinLink gateways are operational, and some are configured to forward messages via RF. Address W7DEM for your Winlink reports.

There will be ICS forms that will be required to be used. These are ICS213, ICS205, ICS309. 

Local contact information for county/city emergency managers/coordinators using ICS 213 may also be sent via voice. List of members participating in exercise ICS 213. Radio plan I CS205.

Hospital bed report or status report ICS309 link messages sent/received for exercise.

Home deployment

If you are a team member that can’t participate on the deployment side, you have to stay home. You can still help with the exercise. We would ask that you be able to send and receive messages. This would be by voice and or winlink. Some of the messages may include. The status of your situation in an event like this or your surroundings/neighborhood. If you have any messages that may need to be relayed. Establish connection with ECOM 1 with voice and WinLink. There will be a lot of pretending. So, let's have fun with messages. You will need to contact Arlan Robinson @ ka7zau@washoeares.org before you deploy from home. No later than the day before. To let him know you are going to help in the exercise.

Location for Team members to be deployed

• REOC

• ECOM 1 if deployed. Will be at high elevation REOC or national weather service. 

• Saint Mary’s- Radio room

• Northern Nevada- Radio room or parking lot.

• Renown Regional- Radio room or parking lot.

• VA Medical Center- Radio room

• Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center- Parking lot

• Incline Village Community Hospital

Alternate Location

• Damonte Ranch Fire Station 12. 1190 Steamboat Parkway. Use The shopping center parking lot across from the fire station.

• Sparks Fire Department Station 3. 1750 East Greg St. Use the Truckstop/Super Eight parking lot next to the Fire station. This will be off of Greg Street by Veterans Parkway.

• Reno Fire Station 8. 3600 Kings Row. Use the shopping center parking lot across the street. This will be in the Northwest area off Keystone and McCarran

• Reno Fire Station 10. 5250 North Virginia St. uses the Bonanza Casino parking lot.  This will be by N. Virginia E Part Blvd.

Shelter locations

If you are deployed to go to a shelter. Please use the parking lot away from the main building. 

• Reno High School, 395 Booth St. in Reno

• Reed High School 1350 Baring Blvd. in Sparks

• North Valleys High School 1470 E. Golden Valley Rd. in Reno

• Galena High School, Butch Cassidy Dr. In South Reno

• McQueen high school, On lancer St.

Frequencies for communication

As of 11/17/23 @ 7:35pm

We will start with TAC 14. The portable repeater with ECOMM 1 at the National Weather Service parking lot. If we use the ALT repeater TAC 15. It has back up power to the system. It has good coverage for Reno & Sparks Valley floor. The W7RHC-2 is good for Spanish Springs and some North Valleys. W7RHC-3 may work in the same area as the W7RHC-2. We may also test the Simplex. If all repeaters are down we will have to use TAC 38 Direct Comms 

• Tactical (14) WCARES portable repeater 444.700 + PL 103

• Tactical (15) W7RHC 442.550 + PL 110.9

• W7RHC-2 440.550 (+) PL 110.9

• W7RHC-3 145.210 (-) PL 110.9

• Tactical (38) WCARES calling frequency. Simplex 146.550

• WinLink 145.090 & WinLink Vara FM 145.610

• HF Coms with DEM and P2P from 0900-1130 (7.280)

A Note from DEM

The DEM Radio Room will be staffed on Nov. 25 from 0900-1130 for the ARES SET.

All modes will be active but HF will be closely monitored, beginning with 7.280 MHz

We will also make periodic checks of Winlink and respond to messages received.

Tom Seeley W4FLL

ARES NW Nevada DEC

Note for ARES team and other team players

This is an exercise. This exercise is to help use your skills or to gain skills. We want people to use proper radio procedures and phonetics. If you need help, reach out for help. No one is a pro. This exercise is to have you succeed, have fun and learn what you can do to improve your equipment, or your knowledge. 

If you are approached by any official or law-enforcement. Please advise them of what you are doing. If you have an ARES ID please wear that. Also please wear your yellow vest. If you are just a team player please do the same as in explaining what you are participating in. If you have any kind of reflective vests please wear that and if you have a club ID. Arlan Robinson KA7ZAU (775-233-3530) will be your Point of contact if you have any issues with officials or law-enforcement. He will also be available for any questions if you have any. 

Please be prepared for any weather conditions. Also please bring your own food/snacks.