The Maritime Amateur

These four pictures are from the October exercise. Top Left is the white board we use to keep track of stations on, modes they are using and contacts that have come in to us. Top Right is showing off our new stations with dividers. In the foreground is Tom Nepjuk VE1BSM running the VHF radio on IRLP, and in the back is Peter Hebb VE1SM running the HF rig. Bottom Left has Jim Hannon VE1AFH in the foreground using Echolink and next to him is Lloyd Smith VA1MAB running packet. Bottom Right has Ron Bickle VE1BIC on TMR. Thanks to Brad Ross VE1ZX for taking the pictures and also running TMR radio for this exercise. Cumberland EMO/ARES had 10 operators in this event. We made contacts with EMC Annapolis, Yarmouth EOC, Red Cross Sydney, Halifax Regional EMO, Cumberland Transportation, Colchester EMO, Advocate Fire, J Division RCMP Headquarters Fredericton, Dartmouth EMO, Baddack NS, Pictou and West Hants.
Thanks for all the contacts and hope to hear you all again in November.

Exercise Handshake

is a monthly exercise for radio operators in the Maritimes to familiarize themselves with TMR radio and all other modes of communications equipment they have at their disposal including amateur radio. It is designed for groups or departments either responsible for emergency communications or groups such as amateur radio operators designated to assist with communications for EMO and ARES.

Photo Left. Radio room at Westcumb ARC.

Net Control hosting the exercise will contact Shubie radio on the Nova Scotia Provincial TMR Network and request a Mutual Aid Talk Group (M.A.T.G.) for Exercise Handshake. If a talk group is available, Net Control will be instructed to go to that group. Net Contol will also ask Shubie radio to contact the main TMR radio users (by name) and have them go to the designated M.A.T.G. All other TMR users wanting to check in must first contact Shubie radio through (ALERT) and ask for the M.A.T.G. being used. They must then find that channel on their TMR radio and check in with Net Control. Net Control will keep a list of all agencies during the exercise and document all traffic for the evening. Amateur stations are to provide Net Control with repeaters being used, modes available and how many amateurs at location. Once your group or department has checked in with Net Control,  have other operators check in to get them used to the TMR system. After all contacts are made between Net Control and groups with TMR radios, start making contacts using as many modes of communications available. Don't be shy. This is a great exercise to get your feet wet communicating on the different radios.
Should a real emergency occur and the Talk Group is required, we will be directed off the M.A.T.G. but will continue the exercise with other modes of communications.
Cumberland EMO will usually be Net Control for these exercises, but if any group would like to take on that position, please get in contact with Jim Langille VE1JBL  at  ve1jbl@rac.ca 

Any group or department that would like to join in on these exercises, please get in contact with Jim.

Photo Right, Jim Hannon VE1AFH calling Shubie to start Exercise Hankshake.

Other modes of communications available for the exercise include Satellite Phones, VHF, UHF, HF, Echolink and Packet.

For groups with SAT phones, they will be used during the exercise when openings are available. To find these openings go to http://www.globalstar.ca/en/optimum_tool/ and follow the directions to get the times available during the evening.
VHF communications will be the main component for amateur radio groups during the exercise. A talk group will be set up on IRLP by Net Control via VE1BHS Repeater 145.350- Sugarloaf, through the Discovery Reflector Node # 9013, http://www.discoveryreflector.ca/ and all amateur groups will monitor that node for the evening. If other repeaters are available, amateurs may check in with Net Control via MARCAN linking in NS and PEI and IRG in NB. There is a link from IRG in New Brunswick to the MARCAN system in Nova Scotia. First connect to the MARCAN system and then connect to VE1BHS using 132*
UHF communications are available with certain repeaters.
HF communications  will be used during the exercise if conditions are right on the new  HF Ecomm frequency of 3.675 MHz. LSB. 
Net Control will keep groups up to date on the frequency we will use.
Echolink:  All amateurs using computers with Echolink are requested to make as many contacts as possible during the evening. Stations should have on the screen who they are representing. Example: ( Cumberland County EMO ) Node # 199672. Will make it easier to find you.
Packet communications is the digital communications used during the exercises. All stations with packet are to send messages to Net Control and each other during the exercises to get used to node linking. To talk to Cumberland EMO, go to node VE1NET-1, then connect to VE1EMX for a contact, or VE1EMX-1 to leave a message in the mailbox.

Photo of Westcumb ARC hosting Exercise Handshake wearing their RAC ARES Vests.
(L to R)  Standing: Lloyd VA1MAB (Packet) & Peter VE1SM (Red Cross)
Sitting: Al VE1ZS (HF) Brad VE1ZX (VHF) and Mike VE1XDT (TMR)
Others not in picture: Bob VE1EDP (Communications Officer EMO) Jim VE1AFH ( EMO Coordinator Cumberland County and ARES Emergency Coordinator) and Jim VE1JBL  CEC  (RAC Section Manager: Maritimes).

A example CHECK LIST is available to help departments and groups check in with other stations and to use as many modes as possible to make these contacts.  Keep these sheets for reference and contacts not made during one exercise, try to make during the next. Also, a white board would be a great tool for keeping up to date on contacts.  Exercise Handshake Check Sheet