September 2017 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:26762] Fwd: Force 50 Team update #1
by Gallagher, Tom, NY2RF (CEO) 30 Sep '17

30 Sep '17

What are the volunteers doing right now in PR ? Here's Mike and Valerie's report from doe range. Please hold as board family confidential. Do not share. Thanks Tom Sent from my iPhone This information is not to be distributed, update is for our information only. I just spoke with Valerie Hotzfeld, NV9L. She gave me a rundown of the situation in San Juan. * Currently they are at the convention center, which is serving as Puerto Rico Emergency Management (PREMA) headquarters, awaiting an operations briefing. Last night they were provided accommodations at a local church and slept on pews that had been pushed together. Tonight they will likely be given cots. * They have been assigned four missions: * Set up a 40/80 meter station at Telemundo, that has been accomplished and they are operating from there passing outbound traffic (likely on CEWN and Winlink) * Twelve of them will be assigned to distribution centers tasked with providing communications back to Red Cross HQ in San Juan and to assist municipal mayors with communications. * There are 18 tech plazas where engineers are staging to begin repair power distribution centers. Twelve team members will be assigned to provide communications for the engineers in charge. * Communications between the central emergency operations center and the American Red Cross HQ in San Juan. * They are also dealing with admin duties, operations meetings, and media issues. They know to clear any media request with ARRL HQ before being interviewed. Valerie is the only one doing interviews and has been working with me on those. * Two team members will be assigned to Culebra to work with local emergency management. I’m not sure how they got assigned outside of the Red Cross system. Working on finding that out now. * Two team members will be assigned to central operations. Needs Valerie identified two unmet needs the team is facing. * They need eight more from our list of volunteers. I will work on this with American Red Cross when I talk to them tomorrow. * They need 40 dual band mobile radios. These are for the police cars. The total need is 50, however we already have ten set aside for them. If additional volunteers deploy we can send the radios with them. Valerie will call me again tomorrow afternoon with an update. From the sounds of it the team is doing well, but could probably use some good rest. Based on all she told me the Amateurs are doing a tremendous job, the team and the local hams. Mike Corey, KI1U Emergency Preparedness Manager ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio 225 Main St. Newington, CT 06111 Telephone – 860-594-0222 Fax – 860-594-0259 Twitter – www.twitter.com/arrl_ares<http://www.twitter.com/arrl_ares>

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[arrl-odv:26761] Fwd: 2017 Puerto Rico-Caribbean Recovery Logo
by Gallagher, Tom, NY2RF (CEO) 29 Sep '17

29 Sep '17

Puerto Rico Recovery 2017 patch design. Please feel free to use in your div letters. 73 Tom Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "Fagan, Sue, KB1OKW" <sfagan(a)arrl.org<mailto:sfagan@arrl.org>> To: "Gallagher, Tom, NY2RF (CEO)" <tgallagher(a)arrl.org<mailto:tgallagher@arrl.org>> Subject: 2017 Puerto Rico-Caribbean Recovery Logo Approved by Mike, Steve and Becky……. Sue [cid:18AE29E2-E036-4FEB-B675-376C187B2497]

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[arrl-odv:26760] ARRL Response: NPR
by Gallagher, Tom, NY2RF (CEO) 29 Sep '17

29 Sep '17

Mike Corey on NPR program "Takeaway" moments ago. If you don't read these links on our coverage you still must listen to this interview. Tom http://www.wnyc.org/story/ham-radio-operators Sent from my iPhone

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[arrl-odv:26759] Second Century November 2017
by Gallagher, Tom, NY2RF (CEO) 29 Sep '17

29 Sep '17

Anticipating somewhat today's even from two weeks ago, here's the advance copy of Second Century for November 2017. Tom

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[arrl-odv:26758] IN-Newsletter Vol. 42, No. 38.pdf
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 29 Sep '17

29 Sep '17

Attached please see this week's In Newsletter.

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[arrl-odv:26757] Volunteer Spirit
by Gallagher, Tom, NY2RF (CEO) 29 Sep '17

29 Sep '17

>From our Facebook site, a posting yesterday from Hubert Anderson. [https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/c0.0.80.80/p80x80/18740072_13…]<https://www.facebook.com/hubert.anderson.399?fref=nf> Hubert Anderson<https://www.facebook.com/hubert.anderson.399?hc_ref=ARSDPx1o-gmQR80Dw4QIgJ5…> Yesterday at 8:04am<https://www.facebook.com/hubert.anderson.399/posts/182106612334507> * It's time. We, The Force of Fifty, are starting our journey to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands today. We will do our very best to represent the amateur radio world to those in need. At the same time, we will watch over each other and provide the support needed to all. There were over 400 hams that put their name in the box within the first 24 hours. This is something I am most proud of. We won't have much communication while we are traveling so if you get the chance, tell them were coming. And were coming fast. Tom Gallagher - NY2RF Chief Executive Officer ARRL Headquarters ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio(tm) 860 594 0404 cell 704 907 7158 tgallagher(a)arrl.org<mailto:tgallagher@arrl.org>

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[arrl-odv:26753] Task Force of 50 Operators Departs ATL for PR
by Gallagher, Tom, NY2RF (CEO) 28 Sep '17

28 Sep '17

PLEASE DO NOT SHARE OR FORWARD THIS PHOTOGRAPH: PROTECT THEIR IDENTITIES Early this morning, volunteer ham radio operators departed from Atlanta bound for San Juan for a three-week deployment. They left with 1,300 pounds of radio gear. Several will divert from San Juan to St. Thomas, USVI. We can't tell you WHO they are until they return, but HERE they are! Tom Gallagher - NY2RF Chief Executive Officer ARRL Headquarters ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio(tm) 860 594 0404 cell 704 907 7158 tgallagher(a)arrl.org<mailto:tgallagher@arrl.org>

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[arrl-odv:26755] Chrome Browsers and the ARRL Web Site
by Shelley, Barry, N1VXY 28 Sep '17

28 Sep '17

Good Afternoon: Google is attempting to force compliance with their level of web security on everyone through an update to their web browser, Chrome. This has some unintended consequences, however, not just to the ARRL web site but likely thousands of others. We are posting the following story to the ARRL web site and other social media as a service to our members. In case you get questions, you may direct them to this news item. http://www.arrl.org/news/secure-forms-on-the-arrl-org-website --------------------------------- Secure Forms on the ARRL Website The security of your information on arrl.org<http://www.arrl.org/> is extremely important to the League. ARRL.org has taken steps to encrypt/secure all the forms on the site that contain personal or account information using HTTPS. This includes the shopping cart checkout, the ARRL Donation Form, the site login form, the edit profile form, and new user registrations. To verify that a web page is secure, look for the green closed padlock icon near the web address at the top of the web browser window. Beginning in October 2017, Google's Chrome Web Browser (Version 62) will show a "NOT SECURE" warning when users enter text in a form on an unencrypted/insecure web page (HTTP) (https://security.googleblog.com/2017/04/next-steps-toward-more-connection.h…) The arrl.org<http://www.arrl.org/> website does have numerous user-input forms on the site that are currently not encrypted, such as the site search, license class and exam searches, and several others. These forms DO NOT contain any sensitive information and can be filled out safely despite the updated warning from Chrome. We are working toward securing all forms in the future, to provide a better visitor experience. If you have any questions or concerns about the arrl.org website, please e-mail circulation(a)arrl.org<mailto:circulation@arrl.org>. ------------------------------------------- 73, Barry J. Shelley, N1VXY Chief Financial Officer ARRL, Inc. The national association for Amateur Radio (860) 594-0212 www.arrl.org

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[arrl-odv:26752] KP4 Equipment Offers
by Richard J. Norton 27 Sep '17

27 Sep '17

Radio Amateurs and the League are responding to the destruction of communication infrastructure in Puerto Rico with time and equipment donations. I have been advised of the availability of substantial equipment that would appear to significantly enhance the ability of the volunteers to provide communications. as well as reduce the financial burden on the League. Apparently, these offers have not been accepted by the ARRL staff "due to time constraints." My objective here is only to document the potential availability of these assets to the highest levels of the League. Although these offers may seem attractive to me, and I would likely accept them if I were in charge, I am not. You should at least be aware of the offers. *Background - Winlink Capability Desired* The Red Cross request specifically requested, "Familiarity with WinLink, HF voice, and VHF simplex communications." It appears that they desire the E-mail capabilities that Winlink can provide. The ARRL equipment has been described as consisting of, "a modern, digital HF transceiver, special software, a dipole antenna, a power supply and all the connecting cables, fitted in rugged waterproof container." This does not seem to provide for Winlink, other than with the possibility of using Winmor, a computer sound-card interface that can provide hobby-level capability. However, the Winlink administration has advised that this is not suitable for heavy traffic, and is in no way comparable to the Pactor protocol due to the hardware requirements for an OFDM ARQ protocol. In other words, the hardware used for Winmor (ONLY with a secondary soundcard such as SignalLink) is used only because it is inexpensive. It is not recommended for emergency communications, and not allowed off the Amateur spectrum. The Winlink administration has advised against using this protocol for this venture, and has communicated this to the ARRL. *Equipment Offer #1 - SCS Modems* AT&T has 20 SCS 7400 Pactor 4 modems already in Atlanta, that they offer to the the NCC SHARES program, and NCC SHARES can make these modems available to the ARRL effort. These are high-performance modems, capable of PACTOR 3 and PACTOR 4 operation, which cost around $1200 each. Cables to connect the modems to the particular radios can be provided. The Winlink software can limit the modem operations to Pactor 3 only per Part 97, but will allow Pactor 4 should the SHARES system be used. The Winlink administration hightly recommends this option for a successful operation. If these are to be added to the League's kits, it is necessary that the offer be accepted ASAP. The Firmware *may* need updating, which is a quick and simple automated process over the Internet. *Equipment Offer #2 - * There are approximately 5 higher-capability drop kits available through TN Homeland Security District 5. These consist of an SCS PACTOR 4 Dragon modem, a 200-watt radio, and a 200-watt antenna tuner, suited for 3 to 30 MHz operation. These have been offered to the League, and apparently turned down. These would work perfectly for the offer of NCC SHARES (below). *SHARES Frequency Allocations Available* The head of the Department of Homeland Security’s NCC SHARES Program, Ross Merlin, has offered to issue temporary SHARES call signs to the ARRL-Red Cross team so that they can use the SHARES HF channels, with higher performing PACTOR 4, and allow encrypting if needed. This is accomplished through the already existing SHARES Winlink Hybrid Radio Email network. This offer extend to voice as well. According to both the Winlink team and the SHARES program manager, this would greatly enhance the ARRL-Red Cross team operation, assuming that they had the proper equipment. *Connection to Accept Any of This* Should there be any desire to accept any of these offers, please contact Ross Merlin, SHARES program manager, 202-631-0690 <(202)%20631-0690> Ross.Merlin(a)dhs.gov or Steve Waterman, the Winlink administrator, at (615) 300-5296, k4cjx(a)comcast.net. 73, Dick Norton, N6AA, acting only as messenger

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[arrl-odv:26749] Updated CNN Story on Puerto Rico Hams
by Gallagher, Tom, NY2RF (CEO) 27 Sep '17

27 Sep '17

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/us/puerto-rico-maria-ham-radio-operators-trnd… Tom Gallagher - NY2RF Chief Executive Officer ARRL Headquarters ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio(tm) 860 594 0404 cell 704 907 7158 tgallagher(a)arrl.org<mailto:tgallagher@arrl.org>

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