SCCo ARES/RACES Packet BBSes
Bulletin Board Systems
SCCo ARES/RACES operates four primary and two backup packet bulletin board systems, numbered W1XSC through W6XSC. The four primary systems (W1XSC through W4XSC) are networked together through a private SCCo ARES/RACES network. They operate 24×7 with UPS and generator backup. The two backup systems (W5XSC and W6XSC) are used for training and special events. They are portable and not normally in operation.
| AX.25 |
Internet/ BBS [1] | 2m | 1.25cm | 70cm | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W1XSC-1 | w1xsc | 145.750 | 223.620 | 433.570 | San Jose |
| W2XSC-1 | w2xsc | 145.730 | 223.560 | 433.590 | Crystal Peak |
| W3XSC-1 | w3xsc | 144.310 | 223.540 | 433.450 | Palo Alto |
| W4XSC-1 | w4xsc | 145.690 | 223.600 [2] | 433.550 | Frazier Peak |
| W5XSC-1 | w5xsc | portable | |||
| W6XSC-1 | w6xsc | portable |
- Note [1]
- For Internet and AMPR net, add
.ampr.org.- For BBS Network, add
.#nca.ca.usa.noam. - For BBS Network, add
- Note [2]
- 223.600 is primarily for BBS forwarding. User access should be limited to emergency/backup situations.
BBS Assignments
Every city ARES organization and agency in the county has an assigned primary BBS that they should use for packet communications. This is where operators will address messages for that agency, unless notified otherwise. Agencies also have a secondary BBS to fall back on when the primary BBS is down.
Each agency also has an assigned three-letter prefix, which should be the first three letters of the tactical call signs for that agency as well as the message number prefix for that agency.
| City/Agency | Prefix | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Red Cross | ARC | W1XSC | W4XSC |
| Cal FIRE Santa Clara Unit | SCU | W2XSC | W1XSC |
| Campbell | CBL | W1XSC | W4XSC |
| Cupertino | CUP | W1XSC | W4XSC |
| Gilroy | GIL | W2XSC | W1XSC |
| Loma Prieta | LMP | W2XSC | W1XSC |
| Los Altos | LOS | W3XSC | W1XSC |
| Los Altos Hills | LAH | W3XSC | W1XSC |
| Los Gatos / Monte Sereno | LGT | W1XSC | W4XSC |
| Milpitas | MLP | W4XSC | W1XSC |
| Morgan Hill | MRG | W2XSC | W4XSC |
| Mountain View | MTV | W3XSC | W1XSC |
| NASA/Ames | NAM | W3XSC | W1XSC |
| Palo Alto | PAF | W3XSC | W4XSC |
| San Jose Water Company | SJW | W1XSC | W2XSC |
| San José | SJC | W1XSC | W2XSC |
| Santa Clara | SNC | W1XSC | W2XSC |
| Santa Clara County | XSC | W1XSC | W4XSC |
| Saratoga | SAR | W1XSC | W4XSC |
| Stanford | STU | W4XSC | W1XSC |
| Sunnyvale | SNY | W1XSC | W3XSC |
| Valley Water District | VWD | W1XSC | W2XSC |
| Packet Practice | PKT | W2XSC | W4XSC |
EOCs in other counties, and non-Santa Clara County agencies, are encouraged to use their own BBS(s) in their area. This reduces the chance of hidden transmitter problems. And regular use, such as weekly check-ins, helps test inter-county communications. In the event an agency doesn’t have their own BBS or the network links have failed, the Santa Clara County BBSs listed here are recommended for each agency.
| County/Agency | Prefix | BBS |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | XAL | W4XSC |
| Cal OES Coastal Region | COS | W1XSC |
| Contra Costa County | XCC | W1XSC |
| Marin County | XMR | W4XSC |
| Monterey County | XMY | W2XSC |
| San Benito County | XBE | W2XSC |
| San Francisco County | XSF | W4XSC |
| San Mateo County | XSM | W4XSC |
| Santa Cruz County | XCZ | W2XSC |