We exist for the purpose of providing backup emergency communications to served agencies in Washington County, Oregon.
Our main documents are:
| Description | Link |
Task book to guide our training. Download and print. |
WCARES TaskBook |
ARRL Taskbook For reference or inspiration |
ARRL ARES Taskbook |
Go Bags12-hour “Day” bag and 96-hour bag: |
Go Bag Lists |
Winlinkthe email client that works over radio frequency and/or internet to any email address. |
Winlink page |
WCARES Winlink Wednesday seriesThis keeps your program updated and helps you learn a little at a time. There is more than you think. The value comes with mapping and data aggregation. |
Winlink Series |
| Program your radio | Ham Comm Kit |
| ARRL Emergency Communication Course: Free to all | a. Podcast at Emcomm Course podcast b. ARRL Learning Center c. Course Registration |
WB6BYU’s Antenna Presentations Also see Practical Antennas.
Oregon ACES http://www.oregonaces.org/. Basic Course Outline Add’l Basic Info
Go Kits
For a comprehensive guide see “Personal Go-Kit For Emergency Communications located at: https://www.ke7hlr.com/ecw/personal_go-kit_2011.pdf
Be sure to read the first six pages. Understand the modular approach.
A similar but trimmed down starter version is at: http://clackamasares.org/go-kits/ .
Note that some of the specific gear (such as exact radio models) will need to be modified to match your situation,
The simple radio check: See Go Kits
For a comprehensive guide see “Personal Go-Kit For Emergency Communications located at: https://www.ke7hlr.com/ecw/personal_go-kit_2011.pdf
Be sure to read the first six pages. Understand the modular approach.
A similar but trimmed down starter version is at: http://clackamasares.org/go-kits/ .
The “Radio Check”
See : Tactics Radio Communication and Operations Code Words, Call Signs and Radio Checks at https://youtu.be/f38SzRDh8zQ
An excerpt from my internal wiki page at work:
Perform Regular Equipment Checks: All two-way radio users should perform regular equipment checks to make sure their batteries are charged. You may wish to make sure you’re within range of other parties and that the radios can transmit messages clearly.
Example of a radio check.
Andrea: Irene, (this is) Andrea, radio check, over {meaning “Irene, can you hear me, please respond”?}
Irene: Andrea, (this is Irene) roger, over. {Meaning “Andrea, I can hear you good and clear, can you hear me”. If Irene cannot report “good and clear” then she reports otherwise}.
Andrea: Irene, copy, out {meaning “Irene, I hear you good and clear, radio check is complete”}.
The report of volume (loudness) can be: loud, good or weak. The report of clarity can be clear, readable or unreadable. For additional extensive details see Radio Checks at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language_radio_checks or tips at https://militaryalphabet.net/military-radio-communication-tips-and-tactics/ .
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Suggested Windows programs
To Program Frequencies:
CHIRP: to program your radio or the manufacturers program if available (such as Kenwood).
https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home
For Winlink email:
Winlink from https://downloads.winlink.org/
https://downloads.winlink.org/User%20Programs/
https://downloads.winlink.org/VARA%20Products/
For 2M/440: VARA FM (2M/440)
For HF: VARA
For Packet: Soundmodem.exe and PTT.dll from http://uz7.ho.ua/packetradio.htm
UART from Silicon Labs
CP210x USB to UART Bridge Virtual COM Port (VCP) driver
https://www.silabs.com/developers/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers?tab=downloads
Notepad++ This has version special for a USB drive.
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/
Others:
LibreOffice suggested
7Zip suggested