WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE #21-17

CHARLOTTE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY PLAN ANOTHER EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DRILL

The Charlotte Amateur Radio Society is planning another simulated emergency communications test on Saturday April 24, 2021 from 1000 through 1300 hours.  The following information below was submitted as a press release by Doug Young KM4LKC:

“This exercise is part of the Charlotte Amateur Radio Society’s long-term multipart educational program to ensure that radio amateurs in our area have a way to grow the skills that may be used in a variety of emergency communications situations. Our April 24th, 2021 exercise is the second in a three-part series that involves a simulated emergency.   This simulated emergency includes a loss of regular emergency communications through telephone, cell phones, and internet services.

The primary objective in this training phase is to quickly establish communication facilities across the County, using no services from any outside organization, and demonstrate that our members can communicate to each other and pass messages between operators county-wide.

The parameters of the drill specify that radio communications may not utilize any repeater services nor any internet services, instead strictly relying on radio-to-radio communications. This amateur radio exercise is designed to test the capabilities of portable stations and to evaluate the usage of specific forms of digital communications as well as voice communications for passing traffic.

We will work primarily on HF frequencies with some operations testing on VHF and UHF communications. The Charlotte Amateur Radio Society will have portable stations located across Charlotte County Florida with stations in Englewood, Murdock, Punta Gorda, and Babcock Ranch Community. Operations begin at 10:00 local time and will conclude at 13:00 local time.

Setting up the four(4) stations will include radios, power systems, antennas, and shelter for the operators at remote locations selected for radio coverage across the county.  Licensed Amateur radio operators from Charlotte County and the directly surrounding counties that are not members of CARS are encouraged to visit the CARS website for information about how they can help on the day of the event from their own radios.  See www.carsfl.org.

If news organizations wish to observe the stations during setup and operations please contact Douglas Young, KM4LKC email to: km4lkc@arrl.net

END OF PRESS RELEASE