Written by G0DUB - IARU Region 1 Emergency Comms Co-Ordinator

Global Simulated Emergency Test – November 2011
Saturday November 12th 2011 11.00 - 15.00 Local Time

IARU Region 1 invites the HQ-Stations of all IARU member societies and stations of Emergency Communications Groups to participate in a Global Simulated Emergency Test on Saturday November 12th, 2011 11.00 – 15.00 Local Time. The operation will take place on and near the emergency Centre-of-Activity (CoA) frequencies on 80, 40, 20, 17 and 15 metres (+-QRM ). This event is different to earlier ones as we will not be activating all stations around the globe at the same time, instead the event will call for stations to be active at their local time. This will mean that some stations will have to wait for HQ stations to come on air to pass their messages but will reduce the inter-region interference that may occur.

 

The objectives of the test are;

1. increase the common interest in emergency communications.
2. test how usable the CoA frequencies are across ITU regions.
3. create practices for international emergency communication and
4. practice the relaying of messages using all modes.

So, please remember that this is not a contest, it is an emergency communications exercise to develop the skills we will need to provide an international emergency network.


Messages may be passed on voice (SSB), Data or CW modes as detailed below.


Voice mode

Each IARU Region will have a HQ station operating on voice as follows:

Region 1 – TBA

Region 2 – YV5RNE

Region 3 – TBA


HQ stations will be QRV at 11.00-15.00 local time in their QTH on all CoA frequencies appropriate to their region +- QRM as shown below.
Region 1         Region 2                    Region 3
3760                3750 or 3895             3600
7060 or 7110    7060, 7240 or 7290    7110
14300              14300                       14300
18160              18160                       18160
21360              21360                       21360

 

Stations intending to participate are requested to register through their IARU Regional/National Emergency Communications Co-Ordinators as follows:

http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php?option=com_qcontacts&view=category&catid=55&Itemid=162

If your country does not have a National Co-Ordinator then please contact the regional co-ordinator via the details on the websites.

A list of participating stations is available at http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=874:globalset-nov-2011-list-of-participating-stations&catid=57:globalset&Itemid=165

Participating stations should call 'CQ GLOBALSET' giving their callsign and organisation ( ARES,RAYNET, NETMAR etc. ).

Message Format

Each participating station will send messages to their Regional HQ station formatted using the IARU HF International Emergency Operating Procedure which can be seen at http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=218&Itemid=164; that page also has the message forms to be used for the exercise.

Stations should relay messages received towards the Regional HQ station.


To comply with licence regulations, all messages should be addressed to Greg Mossop, G0DUB and should come from a licenced radio amateur.

Messages should be less than 25 words and must not include anything which would be considered as a 'real emergency' message by a listener.

For example;

*  Weather report at the station location
*  Number of operators available
*  Interesting fact about the station

would all be acceptable messages. An example message would be;


1 Routine ZS6BUU 6 Johannesburg 1100 12 NOV

To Greg Mossop G0DUB

Johannesburg weather 15 Degrees and sunny

From Francois Botha ZS6BUU


There is no limit on the number of messages to be sent but each one must have a unique message number.
Regional HQ stations will not be sending messages, only receiving them. To avoid QRMing the HQ stations, please move to frequencies near the CoA in steps of 5KHz for contacts with others.


To create a more realistic situation, please limit your transmitting power during the exercise to 100 Watts. We are especially interested in stations operating mobile/portable and/or on emergency power.


Data modes


Data stations must send the same format as used for voice messages. There will not be any HQ stations for data modes in all regions, data stations should use the frequencies defined for their preferred mode in national bandplans unless otherwise shown. This makes the use of 'CQ GLOBALSET' and registering your intended participation particularly important.


'Structured' modes such as Winlink, ALE, PSKmail should send their messages directly to  Questo indirizzo e-mail è protetto dallo spam bot. Abilita Javascript per vederlo. , other data modes should attempt to relay the messages through two other stations before sending them to  Questo indirizzo e-mail è protetto dallo spam bot. Abilita Javascript per vederlo. for analysis. Where possible, email responses will be sent as the messages are received. 


CW Mode


CW is included in this SET to increase the possibility of stations making contacts in difficult conditions and should be used when SSB or data contacts are proving impossible. There will not be any HQ stations for CW unless otherwise shown, CW stations should operate near the CoA frequencies when SSB traffic cannot be heard.


CW stations must send the same format as used for voice messages and not exceed 15wpm. If necessary CW messages can be relayed through two other stations before sending them to  Questo indirizzo e-mail è protetto dallo spam bot. Abilita Javascript per vederlo. for analysis.


Conclusion

A log sheet for messages passed is provided at http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=173&func=fileinfo&id=315 so that analysis of the exercise will be easier. Stations are only required to submit logs of the messages relayed, not the messages themselves.

It is acknowledged that there have been significant delays in the production of reports from earlier events. However please send your logs with comments, pictures and suggestions for future exercises to;  Questo indirizzo e-mail è protetto dallo spam bot. Abilita Javascript per vederlo. as soon as possible after the SET so that information can be gathered for a report of the event as soon as the backlog has been cleared.

Thanks for your support of emergency communications.


Greg Mossop, G0DUB

IARU Region 1 Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator

 

This article was taken from http://www.iaru-r1.org

 

On 28 and 29 May 2011 took place the 6th National Meeting of our Association in the wonderful and suggestive context of Palombara Sabina, in the province of Rome. Everything has been organized by the President and the Vice President of the section E.R.A of Rome — Remo IW0FOA and Gianluca IZ0HAH. Organizational effort was remarkable and the results are not made to wait. Members taking part from across Italy, and many of them accompanied by their families, have been able to appreciate the rich historical and cultural centre of Palombara Sabina and adjacent locations. We invite you to view both the video images related to this event provided by partners Massimo IK0RNR and Pietro IZ7SIR who would like to thank publicly.