Pikes Peak Region EmComm Packet Training Net

Net Start Time: 19:30 MT on Thursday Evenings*
Packet Frequency: 144.930
Voice Coordination Frequency: 448.450- (100 Hz)

*Because El Paso County RACES monthly meetings take place on the third Thursday of every month, there will be no formal training on those nights. Some experienced packet operators will be available on the voice coordination frequency to answer questions and/or help solve problems operators may have encountered during previous net sessions. No new training concepts/elements will be introduced. Operators who may have missed a previous net may request -- and have the opportunity -- to try and recreate the lessons learned in sessions missed. Impromptu "exercises" may be devised to help review missed exercises.

The Pikes Peak Region EmComm Packet Training Net is a "hands-on" net designed to help train and exercise packet skills for individuals involved in Emergency Communication in the Pikes Peak region (primarily El Paso & Teller Counties). The training element for each net consists of two parts:

1. a set of written exercise instructions posted to several local BBSs prior to each net.
2. verbal instructions and guidance given over the voice coordination frequency.

In some of our exercises, the written instructions may be intended to create/simulate problems EmComm operators might be confronted with in an actual emergency net, i.e., an extremely overloaded packet frequency.

NOTE: Do not automatically ASSume that the exercise instructions represent the best packet practices, some are intended to deliberately cause problems so we can experience those problems and learn to recognize and overcome those problems/challenges.

While in a few years, we may all be operating using "soundcard packet technology" instead of TNCs, experience has demonstrated, time after time, that use of soundcard packet only causes significant problems and confusion in our EmComm nets. While we are always open to new developments in soundcard technology, we generally discourage use of soundcard-based packet systems on our nets.

Many of the techniques taught on our net were developed by the Digital Development Group (DDG) of the Colorado ARES/RACES Disaster Response Team (DRT). The DRT DDG is an 8-member group of experienced emergency communicators, software engineers, digital communication and computer experts. The DRT has a very strong digital emphasis on HF, VHF & UHF and the DDG was organized to help facilitate digital communications and messaging efficiency.

While any communications terminal program may be used to participate in our net, operators should utilize terminal programs capable of the following basic functions: Be capable of Connecting to another station Upload a pre-composed and saved message/file to another station Capture a file from another station and save it to disk

The DRT DDG and PPARES strongly encourage the use of WinPack 6.80 software
-- and the vast majority of our net participants use this software. We also strongly recommend downloading and installing the WinCap2 capture utility for WinPack (link below). These programs are available as a free download from the following website:

WinPack v.6.80: http://www.winpack.org.uk/
WinCap2 Capture Utility: http://www.gb7fcr.plus.com/winpcap2.zip

Another useful program that we will be utilizing in our training is the Q-Forms message formatter. This software program was written by Lee Inman (KØQED), at the request of the DRT DDG of which he is a member. Lee is a gifted software engineer, a member of the DRT, the DRT DDG and the Winlink 2000 development team. This program is very user-friendly and generates formatted messages ready for digital transmission in three formats:

1. Simple Message
2. ICS-213 General Message Form, and
3. ARRL Radiogram format.

This also is a free program specifically designed to function within WinPack (as an add-on) -- or as a stand-alone program on most computers. Q-Forms is an ongoing work in progress, digital operators are encouraged to check back frequently to obtain and maintain the latest version as developments and improvements are added.

Q-Forms download

Links to previous exercise instructions are below:

March 16, 2006 Basic Packet Functions

March 23, 2006 Basic Mail Box Functions

March 30, 2006 Digipeaters and Nodes

April 6, 2006 ICS-213 General Message Form

April 13, 2006 ICS-213 File Management and Network Stress