MIRO Newsletter for JANUARY 2020 HAPPY NEW YEAR EMERGENCY PRACTICE NET Thursday, January 9th, 7:00 PM Laurent Lathieyre K2BRC - NET CONTROL, Pat Hackett K7PTH scribe The net will start on the VHF MIRO repeater frequency of 147.160 MHz + offset, with a CTCSS tone of 146.2 Hz for business and check-ins. It will then shift to the UHF repeater on frequency 440.150 MHz + offset with a CTCSS tone of 103.5 Hz for a roll call of the participants on the VHF repeater. In the event of a repeater failure, first try the other repeater; if that has failed, shift to the Mercer Island Simplex 147.440. PLEASE SPEAK SLOWLY AND CLEARLY ON THE NET! Information being sent over the net is recorded by hand in the Radio Room. Practice Prepares! MIRO MEETING at the North Fire Station – FD91 Thursday, January 16th, starting promptly at 7 PM: Our featured speaker is Officer Jennifer Franklin, MIPD, the Mercer Island Emergency Preparedness Officer and the person that MIRO reports to for island emergencies and activities. Jen is our boss! Please attend the meeting if at all possible. Winlink is becoming a very important method of making Resource Requests and passing information in an emergency. Each MIRO member that sends a Winlink message to [email protected] on an ICS213 template form welcoming Officer Franklin to our MIRO meeting will receive one chance on the 2020 BaoFeng radio raffle. We will pick the messages up at the meeting using Telnet. Send a message, even if you cannot attend the meeting. NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. 11 AM, January 4th, Saint Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 4228 Factoria Blvd SE, Bellevue: Tom Norris KI7DTL Memorial Service. Contact me by phone (206-849-5370) if you would like to car pool. 2. STOP-THE-BLEED!.Thursday, February 20, 2020, MIRO Meeting AT MICEC Reservations for this meeting were opened at the beginning of December for MIRO members and one guest each. Currently we have 20 reservations and are opening up the remaining twelve slots to the broader MI Volunteer community. A wait list will be started when we exceed the current limitation of 32 participants. Doors will open at 6 PM, the hour long class will go from 6:30 – 7:30 and the hands-on training (on dummies) will go from 7:30 – 8:30. Contact Pat Hackett K7PTH: email: [email protected] phone:
2724-(206) 972 to make or cancel a reservation.
MIRO January 2020 Newsletter Page 2 of 7 3. December 6th MIFD MUNCH: The Munch was a big success. With the $150 MIRO donation, the firemen purchased COSTCO sugar-free sparkling and non-carbonated canned drinks. We had three MIRO members working the drink table next to the chili serving table. The more impressive activity was Santa on Simplex. A special communications table was set up with a radio and antenna transceiving on MI Simplex 1. Five girl members of the MI all-girl Boy Scout Troop 678 handled all the little kids while five MIRO members had oversight. 49 kids talked to Santa on Simplex. The MIRO members scattered around the Fire Station included Bill Ellis KF7B, Pat Hackett K7PTH, Woody Howse K7EDH, Laurent Lathieyre K2BRC, Frank Morant AF7PC, Toni Okada KI7UZL, Chris Peeters K8RY, Bob Tykulsker KM6SO and Dan Witmer K7DRW. Two of the five Boy Scout Girls were Ambre and Jade Lathieyre. Laurent deserves full credit for recruiting the girls; they did an extraordinary job. Here are a few pictures. Pat Hackett was the elusive member participant. Find her picture, if you can.
MIRO January 2020 Newsletter Page 3 of 7
4. December 19th MIRO meeting: We had a delightful, though small, Review of 2019 Meeting with only 12 members present. Our primary topic was a Preview of 2020 Events. Pat Hackett K7PTH reported on the plans for Technician and General exam classes, on our February 20th Stop The Bleed meeting, and general comments about training for Net Control and recruiting new members. Bob Tykulsker KM6S0 talked about the importance of logging as Net Control, opportunities for practicing Net Control on the Tuesday nights that he is Net Control for the Red Cross net, and the MIRO 2020 BaoFeng raffle in August. Following Bob’s comments, we went around the group; and each member had the opportunity to make suggestions or comments about any MIRO or ham topic. We had a number of excellent suggestions for training activities, particularly for newbies, programs, and facility visits. Also, a number of members donated ham radio equipment and antennas to MIRO Foundation. Several members pounced on the attractive items, the greatest interest being on the J-pole antennas that were donated posthumously by Tom Norris KJ7DTL. 5. January 25-26 & February 22-23, Oregon ACES classes in 2020: Two new Oregon Aces (http://www.oregonaces.org/) classes have just been scheduled:
• Bremerton, January 25 and 26, 2020 • Kirkland, February 22 and 23, 2020
MIRO January 2020 Newsletter Page 4 of 7 This is an excellent opportunity for you to improve your skills as an EmComm team member. There is a fee of $25. The ACES class can be used to substitute for the ARRL/ARES EC001 (http://www.arrl.org/online-course-catalog) course as a requirement for ARES Level 2 certification. Space is limited; so if you are interested, I'd suggest that you sign up soon. Tykulsker has signed up for the Kirkland class and hopes to see some of you there. Questions? – email Bob at [email protected]. 6. February 7th, 8th, & 9th, Amateur Radio Technician Licensing Class: David Okrent W7DAO, world-class Ham Radio License Instructor, will be teaching at the Mercer Island North Fire Station. On Saturday, February 15th, license exams will be administered at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4001 Island Crest Way. The brochure about this class and exam is attached at the end of this Newsletter, after the calendar. Currently we have only a couple of prospective students. If we don’t get at least eight attendees, the class will be cancelled. Flyer attached on page 5. 7. March 20th, 21st, & 22nd, Amateur Radio General Licensing Class: David Okrent 5W7DAO, world-class Ham Radio License Instructor, will be teaching at the Mercer Island North Fire Station. On Saturday, March 28th, license exams will be administered at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4001 Island Crest Way. The brochure about this class and exam is attached at the end of this Newsletter, after the calendar. Flyer attached on page 6. 8. March 22nd, Mercer Island Half Marathon: Dave Uhler W7DDU will be leading MIRO’s support for the Annual Rotary MI Half Marathon. Our March 18th MIRO meeting will be the final organizational effort. As in the past, we will need 15 – 20 hams to support the operation. Besides serving as communicators on the race route around the island, members have the opportunity to serve as Net Controls and scribes. Please let me know (email: [email protected]) if you are interested in participating. We do need some new participants, as several of our past volunteers are no longer active. This event is one of our best for practicing the kind of communications we may need in an emergency. And we work ‘hand in glove’ with the Mercer Island Police Department. 9. For those interested in becoming more facile in FLDIGI, we will return to having FLDIGI sessions following some of our regular emergency nets. You can also join the 8 PM, Monday evening FLDIGI practice-group on 444.500 MHz + 141.3. Have your apps ready to go to receive the FLDIG messages. You do not have to check in for reception. But, these hams are very helpful Elmers, it’s worth checking in. Useful information: http://www.w1hkj.com/beginners.html#toc1 (2020) PROJECTS:
1) Increase MIRO use of Winlink and FLDIGI 2) Increase number of licensed General Hams in MIRO 3) Commence training and qualification for HF and VARA for Winlink 4) Continue MIRO training and qualification program starting with Net Control
MIRO January 2020 Newsletter Page 5 of 7 MIRO October Activity Report: During November 2019, 29 MIRO members, driving 179 miles, gave 85 hours of volunteer time in support of 2 public service events and 9 drills, meetings and exercises. 73, Woody Howse K7EDH – MIRO Volunteer Chair Email: [email protected] Phone: 206-849-5370
Sponsored by theMercer Island Radio Operators
Announcing a newAmateur Radio Technician Licensing Class
(No Morse Code Requirement)
The Technician license is your entry to the world of amateur radio giving you access to VHF and UHF communications that spans local to satellite communications, from voice to digital modes, and to meeting new people and supporting your community in times of need.
Dates:Friday, February 7. 2020 : 6:00PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 8, 2020: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PMSunday, February 9, 2020: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Class Location:Mercer Island North Fire Station
3030 78th Ave. SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040(parking in the back of the station)
Licensing Test and Location:Saturday, February 15, 2020, 10:00 AM
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints4001 Island Crest Way, Mercer Island, WA 98040
Alternate test dates, times, and locations available
Cost: $15 examination fee, no fee for class
Textbook:Recommended: The ARRL Ham Radio Licensing Manual, http://www.arrl.org/shop/Ham-Radio-License-Manual/. Please purchase the book when you register and begin working with it prior to class. You are not obligated to use this book, but if you select another resource make sure it has the current questions pool.
Registration or Questions:email [email protected]
Special Offer: The first 10 people to sign up and attend the Technician Class will receive a FREE voucher for Ham Test Online, a $20 value.
MIRO January 2020 Newsletter Page 6 of 7
Announcing a newAmateur Radio General Licensing Class
Sponsored by theMercer Island Radio Operators
Now is a great time to upgrade and get access to more of what amateur radio has to offer.
Dates:Friday, March 20, 2020 : 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, March 21, 2020: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PMSunday, March 22, 2020: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Class Location:Mercer Island North Fire Station
3030 78th Ave. SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040(parking in the back of the station)
Licensing Test and Location:Saturday, March 28, 2020, 10:00 AM
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints4001 Island Crest Way, Mercer Island, WA 98040
Alternate test dates, times, and locations available
Cost: $15 examination fee, no fee for class
Textbook:Recommended: The ARRL General Class Licensing Manual, http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-General-Class-License-Manual-9th-Edition/. Please purchase the book when you register and begin reading it prior to class. You are not obligated to use this book, but if you select another resource make sure it has the current questions pool.
Registration or Questions:email [email protected]
MIRO January 2020 Newsletter Page 7 of 7 MIRO Current Schedule 2020
Date Topic Jan 9 Emergency Net NCS – Laurent Lathieyre K2BRC, scribe Pat Hackett K7PTH Jan 16 MIRO Mtg – Officer Jennifer Franklin MIPD Jan 21 Alternative Last Tuesday at Howse House Feb 13 WHX Emergency Net NCS – Feb 20 MIRO Mtg - STOP THE BLEED! Feb 25 Last Tuesday Feb 29 Fifth Saturday EOC-EOC Mar 12 WHX Emergency Net NCS Mar 19 MIRO Mtg MI Half Marathon final planning Mar 29 MI HALF Mar 31 Last Tuesday Apr 9 Emergency Net NCS Apr 16 WHX MIRO Mtg - Lt. Stephen Mair MIFD – CPR Training Apr 25&26 Comm Academy Apr 28 Last Tuesday May 14 Emergency Net NCS May 21 MIRO Mtg - Daniel Liefer, MD BioTerrorism May 26 Last Tuesday May 30 Fifth Saturday EOC-EOC June 11 Emergency Net NCS June 18 MIRO Mtg Preparations for Emergency Preparedness Day/ARRL Field Day June 27 MI Emergency Preparedness Day and ARRL Field Day July 9 Emergency Net NCS July 16 MIRO Mtg – Jim Pearman, FEMA & Mercer Island July 28 Last Tuesday Aug 13 Emergency Net NCS Aug 20 MIRO Summer Social Meeting Aug 25 Last Tuesday Aug 29 Fifth Saturday EOC-ECO Sep 10 Emergency Net NCS Sep 17 MIRO Mtg
Unassigned Topics: • WINMOR on HF, VARA • WEBEOC training • Optimizing HT radios – Introduction of Tiger Tails counterpoise. • Hands on soldering • “Summits On The Air: An Overview” by guest presenter Tim Nair KG7EJT. https://www.wta.org/news/signpost/meet-the-trail-community-ham-radio-operator • WHX = Woody out of town
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