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W1AW > ARES 20.11.05 19:07l 117 Lines 5187 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: The ARES E-Letter 11/06/05 4/4
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From: W1AW@KB9MMA.#SEWI.WI.USA.NOAM
To : ARES@ARL
+ Break Tags
[Check this out, a great idea from Connecticut SEC Rod Lane, N1FNE -
ed.]
Some of our DECs and other leadership are drilling their crews on a
new method of getting attention on a net called "Break Tags."
When net communication gets heavy, someone may have a quick solution
to a problem that is taking up too much valuable airtime for
discussion, but can't break into the net to share it. We came up with
"Break Tags" to deal with such a scenario.
There are currently seven one-word Break Tags. They are: "answer,"
"question," "info," "priority," "medical," "emergency" and your call
sign. Most of these tags have been used with great success in large
public/emergency services nets. Here is how they work: Instead of
saying "break" between transmissions during a directed net, the
operator uses the word specified as a Break Tag without a call sign.
They are to be used only when the operator's traffic will be
appreciated by net control and results in more efficient
communication. They are to be used wisely, as net control is directed
to stop and turn over the net to the breaker. The message that
follows a break should be as short as possible. Definitions and use:
"Answer": To be used when you have the definitive answer to a
question currently being discussed on the air.
"Question": To be used when the answer of a question can't wait; for
example, when the mayor is standing next to you and requesting you to
get information using your radio.
"Info": To be used when information needs to be transmitted rapidly
but is not related to what is being said on the air; for example, if
an event that net control needs to know about is going to happen in
the next few seconds or if waiting for the end of an exchange will
negate the value of the information.
"Priority": To be used to report an important but non-life
threatening situation such as a fender-bender that just happened.
"Medical": To be used to report a minor medical incident that affects
the operator in some way; for example, having to leave his/her post
for a few minutes to walk someone with a minor cut over to a med
tent.
"Emergency": Only to be used to report an ongoing life or property
threatening or damaging incident.
Your Call Sign: An indication that the operator has traffic that can
wait and does not require the cessation of the ongoing exchange. This
tag is an expectation to be put on hold and in queue for
transmission.
"Break Tags" takes little training. Its use is contagious and comes
very naturally. I hope that everyone adopts it. I would like to hear
if other groups try it and how it works. It will be a part of our
communications from here on in.-- Rod Lane, N1FNE, Section Emergency
Coordinator, Connecticut Section <n1fne@arrl.net}
+ ARES on the ARRL Web Site
The ARRL staff is studying how they can better support ARES via the
ARRL Web site. As ARES and emergency communication are pillars of the
ARRL strategic vision, the ARRL needs to do a much better job of
promoting and supporting these activities. Please send in your ideas.
The ideas considered so far fall into two basic categories:
information resources, and interactive applications. Goals for
information resources: include more information on digital ARES
networks such as WinLink; provide links to information on FEMA
training; publish explanations of SKYWARN, NVOAD, RACES and other
non-ARRL programs; archive the Web news stories about, for example,
ARES, SATERN, SKYWARN, and other programs into one area; and list
ARES pages set up by ARRL sections.
Goals for Interactive Applications: enhance and integrate Electronic
Public Service Activity Reports, such as the Volunteer Reporting and
Public Service Stories databases that have recently been added; and
include a database searchable by authorized users. The ARRL could
host an ARES forum on-line community where ARES participants could
share information. This may include forums restricted to ARES
officials as well as ones open to all ARES members.
An ARES locator could be established as a place where ARES and
government officials could find contact information for local ARES
officers.
Whatever ideas are eventually implemented, ARES information on the
Web site needs to be integrated into a cohesive, high-profile whole
that can be easily found, accessed and promoted.
Ideas? Send them to the editor for compilation, publication and
forwarding to HQ staff for consideration.
+ K1CE for a Final
Many readers wrote about the policies of the Civil Air Patrol with
regard to the modification of Amateur Radio equipment for CAP
frequency use. For information on CAP radio policies, see
<http://level2.cap.gov/visitors/programs/operations/communications/ra
dios_radio_network.cfm}
See you next month, barring any disasters. -- K1CE
======================================================================
The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month
by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For
Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200;
fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/}. Jim Haynie, W5JBP,
President.
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