Cedar County ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Service

02/12/2023

Winlink Saturday - First exercise is in the bag. Thank you to the 22 stations across Iowa and Illinois that participated in the first Winlink Saturday exercise. The results of the check-ins can be seen here:
http://iowawinlink.net/Saturday.php

If you checked in to this exercise, please check the standings to see how you scored! If you didn't score so well.... Better luck next week!

Having a good working knowledge for how Winlink emails work is vital to what we do as amateur radio operators that provide emergency communications. Being able to carry out a task that would otherwise be impossible, is able to be possible with the tools we have in our arsenal. We just need to get better at using those tools.

Even if you don't yet have a way to interface your computer to your radio, you can still figure out how the software works, how to send emails, attachments and pre-built forms. The forms are built into Winlink Express and make it very easy once you open a new message, then select the form you need from the Forms Menu.

If you missed this week, set an alarm, mark it on your calendar, do whatever it is you need to do to remember sometime between midnight Friday, and midnight Saturday, to send a Winlink email to WG0GAG to be counted in the stats for next weeks exercise. Also, check the website at www.IowaWinlink.net for what is required for next weeks exercise.

73, de Scott - NØMRZ

02/09/2023

AMATEUR RADIO TEST SESSION

This Sunday, February 12 @ 2pm. at the Musser Public Library, 408 E. 2nd Street, Muscatine, Iowa. Pre-registry is not required, however it is appreciated. Check-in at 1:30pm.

Contact Bruce - WBØGAG for more information. His cell is 319-212-1898, and his email is [email protected]

02/09/2023

The goal of Iowa Section ARES® Winlink Saturday is to enable learning and practicing the use of the Winlink programs to prepare for their use with the agencies we intend to serve, as well as supporting ARES® itself.

Winlink Saturday is starting this Saturday, February, 11, 2023.

Messages are to be sent any time on Saturday, Central Time. Check-ins accepted 0000-2359.

We will begin with the basic Winlink Check In template which is in both GENERAL and MAPPING-GIS forms.

Specifics for:
1. Enter WINLINK SATURDAY, using the Setup button.
2. Send To WB0GAG.
3. Fill in the remaining entries as you wish, but make your location data accurate "enough".
(You can save your data for reuse with the Save Check In Data button).
4. In Comments: Call, Name, City, County, State, Mode (HF, Vara HF, FM, Vara FM, Telnet, AREDN, etc.)
5. Click the Submit button and follow the prompts.
6. Send any time Saturday. (Preferably by radio, although you can use Telnet if you are just starting or can't get a radio connection).

We will be practicing the various message forms we can expect to be asked to use in the weeks that follow.

01/17/2023

If you reside in Cedar County, and have an Amateur Radio License, or are interested in getting your Amateur Radio License, please contact me! We are actively looking for operators to represent the ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Service in Cedar County, Iowa.

We can point you in the direction of the study materials to be able to take the test and become an amateur radio operator. It is a fascinating hobby with something that interests everyone. FACT: You no longer have to know or pass a morse code test to get your amateur radio license. It is a short 35 question test, and you must pass 26 questions correctly to get a license.

The Emergency Coordinator for Cedar County is C Scott Richardson and his email is [email protected] Feel free to reach out with any and all questions!

07/03/2022

We need volunteer ARES operators to stay with EmComm-1 and the portable tower trailer during the Cedar County Fair. We need someone to physically stay in the trailer Monday through Saturday night. We need daytime operators Tuesday through Sunday. They will need to be able to work the equipment for demonstration purposes and be able to be in contact with the Fair Board to keep them informed about incoming weather systems.

The Sunday operators will need to tear down EmComm-1 and get it ready to be picked up, and sweep out the trailer.

Please let me know what days/nights you can be in charge of the trailer. I will be there to transport, set-up and tear-down the two trailers. I can also work the Tuesday, day AND night shift. I will be out-of-town Wednesday through Sunday but be able to come over mid-day, most days to relieve the daytime operator for a break.

We need a primary operator and a minimum of one secondary operator each day.

Set-up & Transportation - Scott/NØMRZ
Tuesday Day/Primary - Scott/NØMRZ Secondary
Tuesday PM/Primary - Scott/NØMRZ N/A
Wednesday/Primary - Secondary
Wednesday PM/Primary - N/A
Thursday Day/Primary - Secondary
Thursday PM/Primary - N/A
Friday Day/Primary - Secondary
Friday PM/Primary - N/A
Saturday Day/Primary - Secondary
Saturday PM/Primary - N/A
Sunday Day/Primary - Secondary
Tear-Down in PM - Scott/NØMRZ

This is a commitment that Gary - WØGAH made, and we need to make sure it is taken care of. Thank you in advance for your assistance in making this happen in his honor.

C Scott Richardson - NØMRZ
Emergency Coordinator
Muscatine County, Iowa
563-506-0304 (cell)
[email protected]
www.MuscatineARES.org

05/14/2022

I am the interim Emergency Coordinator for ARES in Cedar County, Iowa until such a time that a permanent EC can be appointed into that position. I am also the EC for Muscatine County and will be available to try and take Gary's place to provide communications where needed in Cedar County.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in emergency communication or amateur radio if you reside in Cedar County. We are always in need of individuals that want to serve their community, and make a difference.

My email is [email protected] or you can call my cell phone at 563-506-0304.

Reach out today! Thank you, C Scott Richardson - NØMRZ

05/14/2022

Please take the time to read...

On April 27, 2022 we lost a great friend and fellow amateur radio operator. Gary was an avid communicator, and an essential part of our communications team. Gary was one of the founding members of the Muscatine County ARES team, as well as a member of the Muscatine Amateur Radio Club. His previous c...