Santa Clara County OES, California
ARES®/RACES
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Activation Number | XSC-14-03T |
Audience | Open to all amateur radio operators who have a current Santa Clara County Disaster Service Worker registration. Individuals who do not have a current DSW registration with Santa Clara County ARES/RACES are encouraged to register prior to the drill. Any of the county staff can register you. If you are unable to register prior to the drill, you can register when you arrive at the drill. Registering for DSW during check-in may delay your check-in by as much as 30 minutes, so plan accordingly. |
Purpose | A county-wide communications exercise designed to practice mobilization, deployment and demobilization of amateur radio operations. The activities are varied and have been designed to provide fun and education while, at the same time, developing experience with operating according to the standard procedures required for emergency operations. |
Sign-Up | To participate in this drill, you must sign-up in advance. To sign-up, use the Training and Event Database. |
Drill Location | Drill Location Thomas Brothers: page 853, grid E7 |
Date | Saturday, April 12, 2014 (rain or shine) |
Weather | Average daytime temperatures in April: High temp: 69 F; Low temp: 48 F. Sunny to partly cloudy with 4% chance of precipitation. |
Schedule |
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Forms | Be sure to start your ICS-214 Unit Activity Log prior to leaving your home. A list of the ICS forms required for your go kit can be found on the Operations page of this web site: Operations > Forms and Signs > ICS Forms used in Communications > These are ICS Forms you should have in your Go Kit. |
Travel to Drill | Follow standard Resource Net procedures. When you arrive, be prepared to copy the staging net frequency. |
Resource Net | The Resource Net will be used for travel to County Staging AND from there to Drill City at Central Park.
The following repeaters will be linked together for the drill and will function as the resource net:
Procedure:
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Net Usage | Everyone is required to be on the proper net at the proper time. The Resource Net is used for travel to and from the event. The Staging Net is used whenever you are not on an assignment. Assignments may involve other nets. Primary staff members will be on the command net. Be sure you always check-in and check-out properly when moving from one net to the other. Always pay attention to the net control operator of whichever net you are on and answer promptly when called. |
Training Info | Additional information on the disaster server worker program, resource net procedures and net types and usage can be found in the Fundamentals of Emergency Communications training course materials. If you have not taken this course, you are advised to review the course presentation prior to the drill. |
Equipment | ALL participants should bring the following items with them, on their person. You may find that a small backpack, knapsack or shoulder bag will be helpful.
MACs and MITs must bring the following additional equipment with them, on their person. Anyone else who has the equipment should bring it, too. There will be a fun exercise involving this equipment.
MACs and MITs participating in MAC evaluations will have other equipment requirements, depending on the qualification level of the evaluation. Consult the MAC handbook for a list of the required equipment for each MAC qualification level. |
Check-In | After checking into the Staging Net from your vehicle, walk to the Staging Area to complete the check-in procedure. |
Assignments | Attendees have the option to sign up for various assignments, including:
Each activity will take approximately 2 hours. Attendees can participate in up to two assignments as long as they arrive at staging prior to 09:00. All sign-ups should be done on-line, as far in advance of the event as possible, so the event staff can plan for the right number of attendees. Some activities require minimum qualifications. For example, Net Control and Packet assignments require the participant to be at least an MIT. |
Other Activities | There will be a opportunity to test how well you can connect your HT to various power and antenna sources using the connectors from your go-kit. This activity will not be scheduled but will be drop-in between other activities. If you have an interest in Mesh Networking there will be a network set up where you can observe and play with the network or bring your own Mesh nodes and devices and connect up to the Mesh. |
Evaluations | Mutual Aid Communicators (MACs) and MACs in Training (MITs) can request evaluations for the following MAC program qualifications: F3, F2, N3, N2, P3, P2, S3, S2. We may offer MAC equipment evaluations if sufficient staff is available. Note for F2 evaluees: The field operations activity involve portable operation, walking around the park to various activity stations. The F2 evaluation will be conducted at a fixed location within the park a short distance from the street parking. The evaluation requires setting up a station, antenna and other gear, which is not portable. Therefore, the F2 evaluation will be separate from the above field operation activity. MACs who request an F2 evaluation *and* wish to participate in the various field activities should sign up for both activities. |
Lunch | There is no specific time defined for a lunch break. The drill will run continuously. But attendees can stop and take their lunch break in between assignments or whenever it is convenient. |
Check-Out | After you have completed each assignment, return to the Drill City Staging Area for re-assignment or check-out. Be sure to fill out an evaluation form so we can capture your feedback. |
Travel Home | Check in to the Resource Net from your car, prior to leaving the park. If you prefer not to be tracked back home, notify net control when you check in. Alternatively, you can check out of the resource net at any time on your way home if you decide to go somewhere else. |
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This page was last updated 07-Mar2014