Based on feedback from the recent SET exercise, some of you asked for more practice exercises using the ICS-213 form template in Winlink. We heard you!

Janise, KK4HTA and Dave, KI4PSR are organizing a Winlink ICS-213 forms training exercise.
The exercise will take place on Saturday, November the 18th between 1pm and 3pm (after the next Chew & Chat).
You’ll be able to participate from home or anywhere you can operate Winlink.

The participants will use the ICS-213 form template in Winlink to answer skill-testing questions derived from the WCARES Emergency Ops Plan https://wcares.org/information/emergincy-ops-plan/

Class/Modes:
All license class can participate and don’t worry about your level of experience with Winlink; try this out and have some fun!
You can use any Winlink mode available to your license class and equipment; You can operate using Telnet over the Internet, Packet on VHF/UHF or Winmor/Pactor over HF. You can find the latest Frequency Band Charts here: http://www.arrl.org/graphical-frequency-allocations

Winlink/RMS Express:
You will need Winlink installed. Please go to the bottom of the announcement for instructions.
Leading up to the exercise on the 18th, there will be three Winlink Workshops available at The Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road, Brentwood, TN 37027, from 9am to 12pm on:

Tuesday, October 31,
Tuesday, November 7 and
Tuesday, November 14.

David, KK4CQD will help with Winlink installation and Janise, KK4HTA will guide you through ICS-213 form template in Winlink.

The room can hold up 18 people and the room is shared with the BitX Workshop.

If you are planning to come, please contact Janise at KK4HTA@arrl.net on which day, and time and make sure to indicate what help you’d like with Winlink. This way we will be sure to be there to help and answer your questions.
This exercise was created to help all of us learn how to use the ICS-213 form template in Winlink and most importantly, have some fun doing it!

If you’ve liked to participate or have questions, contact Janise at KK4HTA@arrl.net.

More information will follow, please look out for future announcement on the Monday Nets, WCARES Newsletter and the WCARES website.

Thank you!
Janise, KK4HTA

===================

How to Install Winlink Instructions from Phil Sherrod-

 

1. Use this URL to download the installation file for Winlink Express:

ftp://autoupdate.winlink.org/User%20Programs/Winlink_Express_install_1-5-9-0

.zip

 

2. Extract the enclosed file (RMS Express setup.msi) and run it to install

Winlink Express.

 

3. After Winlink Express is installed, launch the program, and it will

prompt you to create a new Winlink Account — which is free.  Enter your

callsign, choose a password for your account, and enter the other

information requested.  Enter PUBLIC as the “service code”.  Then click the

“Update” button.

 

4. Wait 3 minutes for the registration to be processed by the Winlink

system. Then select “Telnet Winlink” in the drop-down list to the right of

“Open Session:”.  After that, click on “Open Session:” to open a Telnet

Winlink session.  Next, click “Start” to connect to a Winlink CMS server.

If your account has been properly authorized, you will see some lines that

look similar to this:

 

 

*** Connecting to a CMS…

*** Connected to Halifax at 2017/10/24 11:32:55

[WL2K-3.2-B2FWIHJM$]

;PQ: 87633555

Halifax CMS >

;FW: W4PHS

[RMS Express-1.5.9.1-B2FHM$]

;PR: 38526281

; WL2K DE W4PHS (EM66OA)

FF

FQ

*** — End of session at 2017/10/24 11:32:57 —

*** Messages sent: 0.  Total bytes sent: 0,  Time: 00:01,  bytes/minute: 0

*** Messages Received: 0.  Total bytes received: 0,  Total session time:

00:01,  bytes/minute: 0

*** Disconnected at 2017/10/24 11:33:02

 

 

5. If that works, then send yourself an email from your Internet address

addressed to callsign@winlink.org  Where ‘callsign’ is your Winlink

registered callsign.  You must put //WL2K in front of the subject of the

message.  For example:

 

//WL2K  Test message sent to Phil

 

Then wait a minute, and make another Telnet connection to see if you can

receive the message you sent yourself.

 

Phil, W4PHS

On behalf of Dave, a followup to our Nashville Mini Maker Faire presentation organized by Dave Matthews, KI4PSR.

The Maker Faire ( https://nashville.makerfaire.com/ ) was held at Vanderbilt University, the weekend of September 30th – October 1st.

Dave had help from:

Paul,   KN4BTJ
Mike,   KJ4TOP
Janise, KK4HTA
David,  KK4CQD

Laura and Joe Marler lent their excellent and easy-to-use tent for the occasion.

The primary focus was Dave presenting the BitX-40 rig which is a perfect radio for a maker faire. Dave talked about the radio and background of the project and showed off the components and a number of builds and pictures of the wide range of housings developed by WCARES members. He managed to give away a good number of 3D-printed BitX mic housings he’d printed – blue was so popular he spent Saturday night printing more for Sunday.

Mike and Paul demonstrated building a BitX while Janise headed up promoting the ARRL and WCARES.

We had a steady stream of interested visitors both days including about 26 hams and a number of WCARES members.

Presenting the BitX and promoting amateur radio, the ARRL and WCARES together worked well. We were able to attract visitors with a wider range of interests and questions, from hardware to software, questions about amateur radio and licensing as well as ARES and emergency and community service.

We also showed off the NVIS antenna build that Cliff, N4CCB organized – together with the BitX-40, a number of visitors could see that it was easy and inexpensive to Get On The Air!

We all had a great time and look forward to doing similar events in the future.

————–

73,
David
KK4CQD

The time is near for one of the most fun ham events of the year — the Tennessee QSO Party.
What makes this a fun party is that Tennessee hams are on the receiving end of calls from other
hams around the country (and occasionally outside the country).

Date and Time
The contest is Sunday, September 3, 2017
The operating hours are 2 PM local time (1800 UTC) until 11 PM (0300 UTC, Sep 4)
We will operate from the Williamson Co. Emergency Operations Center (where we have Chew&Chat)

Radios
We definitely will have at least one phone station.
If there is enough interest, we also will have a CW station and possibly a second phone station.

Signup
If you want to participate, please send an e-mail to phil@philsherrod.com (W4PHS) with this information:
1. Your name
2. Your callsign
3. Your ham license class (Technician class hams are welcome)
4. Your e-mail address
5. Your phone number
6. Whether you want to work phone and/or CW
7. The hours you are available to work (please be flexible)
8. If there is someone you want to partner with, their callsign

This years field day is in the books and based on feedback from everyone involved it was a resounding success.

The event was held at the Williamson County Public Safety Center.  Please watch the embedded video for more information.

 

Carl Sibilski (KB9DKR) Delivered a knockout presentation at the March Chew & Chat held at the Williamson County Public Safety Center. The presentation describes various tools and techniques for strategically accounting for HF Propagation. You can view the slides from Carl’s presentation below.

Attn. WCARES Members:  Have you completed the 2017 Training & Equipment Questionnaire?  If not then please click here to submit your information.  It will only take a few moments.  Completion of this survey is mandatory.