Santa Clara County OES, California
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Radio Direction-finding Mini-drill
09-Jul-2016

Overview     |     Travel

Overview Information

Activation Number XSC-16-04T
Overview Learn about radio direction-finding and simulate assisting a local agency in finding some stuck transmitters.
Activities

Team up and use various radio direction finding techniques to locate several transmitters. Each transmitter has different characteristics and some are harder to find than others.

Evaluations for MAC qualifications F3, N3, N2, and S3 will be available.

For more details, consult the event sign-up page here.
Participation

Open to all ARES/RACES members in Santa Clara County and all individual amateur radio operators interested in emergency communications. Everyone MUST sign up in advance.

Individuals who do not have a current DSW registration with Santa Clara County ARES/RACES can register when they arrive at the drill.  Registering for DSW during check-in at the drill may delay check-in by as much as 10 minutes, so plan accordingly.
Sign-Up To participate in this drill, you MUST sign-up in advance.  Sign-up here.
Date Saturday, July 09, 2016  (rain or shine)
Drill Location

Cuesta Park
Mountain View, CA

Use the park entrance at Montalto & Cuesta.
Schedule
  • 08:00 - Resource Net opens; drill participant travel begins
  • 09:00 - Incident briefing
  • 09:20 - 12:00 - Field teams deployed
  • 12:00 - Check out, travel home
Weather Average temperatures in July: Highs in the mid-80s F. Mostly Sunny.
Evaluations Mutual Aid Communicators (MACs) and MACs in Training (MITs) can request evaluations for the following MAC program qualifications:  F3,N3, N2, S3.  We may offer MAC equipment evaluations if sufficient staff is available.
AAR After Action Report

 

Travel Information

Travel to Drill

If you are a registered county DSW, you are expected to use the Resource Net. Follow standard Resource Net procedures.

If you are NOT a registered county DSW, simply check-in at Staging. The Resource Net is for registered county DSWs only.
Resource Net The following repeaters will be linked together for the drill and will function as the resource net:
  • AA6BT:  146.115 (+) 100.0  (Main; located in East San Jose)
  • W6ASH: 440.800 (+) 100.0  (North; best for North end of the county and near the park)
  • N6NAC:  444.625 (+) 110.9  (South; best when South of San Jose intersection of Hwys 85 & 101)

Procedure:

  • Program all three repeaters into your radio memory so you can easily switch between them while driving. 
    • If you are coming from the southern end of the county, you will need to switch from N6NAC to AA6BT approximately when you reach the 85 and 101 intersection in South San Jose.
    • You will need to switch to W6ASH as you approach the park area.
    • If you are coming from the northern end of the county, you can probably stay on W6ASH the whole way.
  • Remember that linked repeaters require you to insert extra delay.  Leave plenty of space before keying up.  Pause after keying up, before speaking.
  • Prior to departure from home:  Check into the resource net. When called, tell net control your starting mileage (last three digits of your odometer) and your street location. (Your odometer does not have a decimal point. If you see a decimal point, you're looking at your trip odometer.  We don't use that because it can be reset.  Switch to your odometer and provide the last three digits to net control).
  • While traveling:  Stay tuned to the resource net and respond to health and welfare checks by net control. When called, give your mileage and street location.
  • Upon arrival at the drill: Stay in your vehicle and contact net control. You will be told what to do next.
  • If you do not yet have a current county DSW registration, net control will not be able to officially activate you and you will not be covered under the DSW program until you reach the drill site and complete your DSW registration.
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.
Staging After checking out of the Resource Net, walk to the Staging Area to complete the check-in procedure.
Net Usage Everyone is required to be on the proper net at the proper time. The county Resource Net is used for travel to and from the event.  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 for whichever net you are on and answer promptly when called.
Check-Out After you have completed each assignment, return to the 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 09-Aug-2017