Page 63 January February 2018 TCA

South Halton ARES Four weekly nets took place during RAC FIELD ORGANIZATION REPORTS
(Oakville/Milton) – the month of October on the National Traffic System (NTS) Net Reports
EC George Davis, VE3OGP VE3PRC VHF repeater. Net (Manager) Sessions QNI QTC
The SHARES September meeting Mississauga ARES – September 2017:
was held on the 15th of the month. EC Brian Herling, VE3XBH
Discussion centred around the The Mississauga ARES monthly APSN (VA6IX) 30 1167 21
RAC ARES Simulated Emergency meeting was held at the Red Cross ARES 4 65 5
Test scheduled for October; Ontario Zone office in Mississauga MEPN (VE4JS) 30 502 0
training; and the upcoming Milton on September 21. Planning for the MMWXN (VA4GD) 30 445 0
Santa Claus Parade. Further October Simulated Emergency
discussion related to the recently Test took place. The October MRS (VE4HK) 8 259 0
installed closed circuit TV system meeting was also held at OZone MSMN (VE4AEW) 21 604 0
installed in the SHARES and a review of the SET took October 2017:
communications trailer took place. place. Further Mississauga ARES APSN (VA6IX) 31 1389 47
Pole‑mounted cameras allow radio meetings will be held on an “as
ops inside the trailer to observe needed” basis. During months ARES 9 237 16
activities going on outside the when no meeting takes place the Alberta Aurora (VE7GBO) 31 2113 22
trailer. This is useful during public group will meet via an ARES net on MEPN (VE4JS) 30 580 1
service events. An inside feed can the Mississauga repeaters. Details MMWXN (VA4GD) 31 520 0
be connected to an outside and reminders will be sent via
monitor to allow those outside the email. MRS (VE4HK) 9 298 0
trailer to observe the main MSMN (VE4AEW) 22 668 0
operations console and related Toronto
communications activity. Thanks Toronto ARES Central – ONTARIO EAST:
go to Janusz, VE3OKZ and Derek, EC Malcolm Kendall, VE3BGD emergency management
VE3DDL for related equipment SM: Michael Hickey, VE3IPC background to properly fill the
donations. The October 14 SET went well Email: ve3ipc@gmail.com position. On September 25, Mark,
although several members were SEC: Michael Hickey, VE3IPC VE3EOG, became the GC for the
SHARES took part in the RAC sick with colds and unable to take second time as he was the GC for
ARES Simulated Emergency Test part. Thanks to Tim, VE3TMA, for STM: Vacant the term before Derek. Mark has
on October 14. Members operated acting as the Net Control Station OBM: Vacant spent the last 25 years working in
the Halton Region EOC ARES for the GTA Section Net on Web: http://wp.rac.ca/ares/ emergency management and he
station; mock shelters in Oakville, VE3TWR repeater. VHF, HF and SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER holds a Master’s Degree in
Milton and Burlington; and the Winlink were used for the SET. SM REPORT: Municipal Emergency
SHARES communications trailer. This is the last report I make for Management. He is currently the
VHF/UHF/HF bands were used. Toronto ARES East (Scarborough) 2017 and I look forward to enjoying CEMC for Frontenac County and
A packet radio link between the – EC Henry Blais, VE3HJL radio again, this time for the winter teaches emergency management
trailer and the Halton EOC was Winlink operations are now months now that I am retired. I am at the college level.
established for the event. underway on 3.611.500 MHz. EC close to getting my tower up again, The EmComm group plans on
On October 15 SHARES assisted Henry, VE3HJL, is on the Winlink this time with four beam antennas continuing to grow their Winlink
with communications for the steering committee for the Eastern (from HF to UFH) on it, if all goes RMS system over the next few
Oakville Lion’s Club Car Rally for part of North America. well. I wish you all great radio years. Currently they have five
the Visually Impaired. York Region ARES – experiences over the course of the Winlink RMS Nodes, two portable
The October 21 meeting was a EC Mike Crabtree, VA3MCT winter months. Nodes and two Internet Gateway
Nodes in service. The EmComm
basic ARES training session held The group participated in the The leadership of the Peterborough group is also in the process of
at the Region of Halton complex in October SET. Both the York County ARES group is currently planning the building of a Mesh
Oakville. Region and the Georgina EOC going through a leadership change Network that will be fully integrated
Peel Region ARES stations were on the air for as Clive VA3RVW/VE3VXT has with the Winlink RMS system.
stepped down as the GC due to
the event. Other ARES personnel
Brampton/Caledon ARES – operated from their home stations. being pulled out of retirement a few Submitted by Ottawa ARES
EC Richard Upfield, VA3RMU months ago. Clive served as GC AGC Mike, VE3FFK
Operational goals were to test the for the past year and we appreciate
Weekly nets continue on the radio equipment at the York EOC; the work he has done. Clive is The Ottawa ARES/EMRG group
VE3PRC repeater, 146.880 MHz to test communications to/from the happy to be back at work as they has a lot of little things to report for
on Wednesdays evenings. The Georgina EOC; and to test made him an offer he could not September. The usual monthly
Ontario Section Bulletin is read communications within York refuse, hi, and we wish him well. repeater test was conducted on
during the nets and discussion on Region and with neighbouring September 6, with all repeaters
various topics takes place. Districts in the GTA Section. The interim GC is John, VE3VL working well. The test is as much a
The group conducted NVIS HF Frequencies used included the who has just completed and chance for members and others to
passed his CEC exam and will
become reacquainted with their
communications testing on Section VHF Net on the VE3TWR soon receive his CEC certificate. radios as it is a test of our
September 24 from their comm repeater (145.410 MHz), and 7.135 Congratulations John! He has repeaters. Not everyone uses their
trailer which was located at Spruce MHz USB. decided to work through more VHF/UHF radios every day so a
Park in Brampton. Band conditions A group of interested Amateurs are study material and has indicated small refresher is helpful. In
were not favourable and only a few exploring both NVIS and FL Digi that he would like the GC position addition, the VHF Winlink gateway
contacts were made. operations. Two tests have been for Peterborough County ARES and BBS systems were tested and
Brampton/Caledon ARES took part completed so far. Group. I will be happy to work with found to be working despite
in the Simulated Emergency Test DECs reporting: VA3KRA, VE3BGD, John regarding getting the occasional outages when Windows
on October 14 from 8 am until and VA3BXG. appointment. tries to update things.
11:45 am. Eight members, all ECs reporting: VE3OGP, VA3VI, ARES EmComm Group reports: The Ottawa ARC Hamfest was
operating on emergency power, VA3RMU, VE3XBH, VE3HJL and held in Carp on September 9,
were involved. Operations were VA3MCT Submitted by Frontenac EmComm affording EMRG and ARES
carried out on the VHF Section Net retiring Group Coordinator members from around Eastern
on VE3TWR repeater as well as OBS reporting: Derek, VE3HRW Ontario an opportunity to meet and
local repeaters. Messages were September: The Frontenac EmComm Group is chat, as well as pick up a few items
passed using IMS213 forms and Halton Region: VE3JUZ 7; VA3KRA 1 reporting that there has been a to round out their emergency kits.
Winlink. October: change in their group’s leadership. A lot of buying and selling took
Halton Region: VE3JUZ 9; VA3KRA 1 Derek, VE3HRW, has completed place, all to improve their radio
On October 21, B/CARES Peel Region: VA3RMU 4 his two‑year term as GC. Derek
participated in the Jamboree on stations, and many rubbed elbows
the Air. reports that although he enjoyed in camaraderie with new and old
his term as the GC he feels that he acquaintances.
didn’t have a sufficient level of
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