CCARES Weekend Exercise
Operation Artic Chill
[Frozen Cape Cod Canal photo courtesy of W1MPNClick on photo to enlarge in your browser window.]
A happy WQ1O, CCARES DEC, presided over his “Operation Arctic Chill” exercise on Sat 1/31. Based at the Sandwich EOC, team members established comms around the entire Cape Cod district (including Martha’s Vinyard and Nantucket Islands) using pre-planned 2m, 6m, and HF frequencies. NVIS quick deploy antenna systems were used for HF comms.
Please press “Read More” button to read the after action report and view some pictures. [Work on this piece is in progress – W1MPN]
[WQ1O photo courtesy of W1MPN
Click on photo to enlarge in your browser window.]
CCARES Exercise #18 “Operation Arctic Chill” After Action Report
The exercise began at 10am will the following EOC stations:
1. CCARES EOC Hyannis
2. Sandwich EOC
3. Falmouth EOC
4. Martha’s Vineyard EOC
5. Nantucket EOC
The CCARES primary operations Net was established on the RACES repeater 146.955. A resource Net was established on the Falmouth Repeater 146.655. An NVIS callup was started on 7232khz. NTS mesages were initialized just after 10am. Many messages were passed between EOC stations. Several home stations were used for relay and liaison purposes. 6m FM was established for backup long range district wide operations. Operations ended about 12:15pm as stated goals were met.
Sandwich EOC Evacuation and Field Operations
At just after 11am, a simulated evacuation was begun at the Sandwich EOC. Vehicles were designated for 30 minute intervals to be used for cold weather rehab. Temperatures were in the low to mid 20s. A trailer was used for field NVIS operations and 2m operations. Another vehicle was used to support 6m operations. Both vehicles had expedient vertical antennas for vhf usage.
NVIS Operations
NVIS contact was established with Hyannis and with Nantucket. Band conditions were very poor, but signal from Nantucket was good. Contact with Hyannis was in close proximity and was somewhat weak.
VHF and 6m Operations
VHF repeater communications were nominal as expected. Our control operator simulated repeater failure of the RACES 146.955 Dennis machine by shutting the repeater on and off without notice. Operator did not know the repeater status from one moment to the other. Simplex emergency communications on the output of the repeater were successfully implemented. Signals were excellent. 6m FM continued to prove a star performer. Its range and clarity have made it a continued favorite for district wide usage.
Messaging
NTS messaging continues to improve with each exercise. This is especially true of “message fills” and corrections. Operators are moving messages with increased efficiency.
What Worked/or Not/Lessons Learned
1. Appropriate cold weather clothing cannot be over emphasized It can never be too much!
2. Adequate spacing for RF interference is a must if vehicles are operating simultaneously on VHF
3. A rehab vehicle can significantly ease the burden of the Operators in cold conditions
4. All metallic masts and accessories must be handled with gloves (re-emphisized from last year)
5. A simplex 2m or 440 local field operations frequency is a must if using seperate vehicles
We wish to thank Dick Farrar W1RBF and the Town of Sandwich for hosting the field operations team. We also wish to thank the Nantucket, CCARES and Martha’s Vineyard ARES groups for their participation. The following operators participated in the exercise.
Frank Olaughlin WQ1O
George Allen N1NBQ
Brad Fligor KB1QL
Jim Bradbury WA1KCC
Bob Courtemanche N1WAT
Henry Brown K1WCC
Ben Carnevale W1VZT
Dan Howard K1DYO
Kent Bradshaw KB1ESG
Ritchey Guild KB1EAJ
Jim Leavitt KC1KM
Ron Trainor KC8CEV
Ross LLoyd KB1IMO
Paul Finnegan WA1JSE
Trenor Goodell N1PIV
Nick Norton K1NGJ
Ken Blackshaw W1NQT
Andy Bullington W1AWB
Jon Thayer KB1ILC
Phil Raneri W1PJR
Our special thanks to SEC Mike Neilsen for taking the time out of his busy schedule to visit us. Other visitors included Laura Neilsen, Rob Macedo KD1CY, Tony Duarte N1XRS. good to see everyone.
Preparations are already underway for the Section execise on 02/21/04
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Olaughlin WQ1O
Cape&Islands ARES District DEC
Hello to all…
The Winter Storm Watches and Warnings issued last night have been changed to Winter Weather Advisories. A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect for Western and Central Massachusetts, Interior Northeast Massachusetts, Southern NH, Northern CT and Northwest RI. Total storm snowfall will be 2-6″ with the highest amounts in Western Massachusetts and Southwest New Hampshire. Icing is still expected tonight but with lesser amounts of 1/4″ expected. Some localized higher icing amounts could still occur. The reason for less icing is that weather models are calling for less precipitation than previously forecasted. Despite less precipitation occuring than what was expected last night, statements from NWS Taunton are still calling for the potential for damage to trees and power lines in these areas. This is due to the snow being very heavy and wet combined with the radial icing amounts that are expected. Given that the threat for infrastructure damage still exists, SKYWARN Formal Activation will still occur at 3 PM for this region unless the situation is downgraded further. Also, if previous model runs with higher precipitation amounts verifies, there could be a greater risk of infrastructure damage. If SKYWARN formal activation does not occur with Ops at NWS Taunton, an email will be sent by 9 PM this evening.
The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association invites the general public to its “License in a Weekend Class” on April 16-18, 2004 at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds classroom on Route 151. 
Eastern Massachusetts Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ has requested the Eastern Mass. Two Meter Net Manager, N1TPU, to move the net, which meets daily at 8:00 pm ET on the Boston 145.23 repeater to the Waltham 146.64 repeater until further notice. 
Hello to all…
Jim – K1RMS writes:
[Bill, N1VUX, is Primary NCS for Northeastern SKYWARN operating primarily on the Waltham repeater. He is also a regular contributor of information on VHF/UHF ducting, using his predictive model. He will also occasionally comment on other unusual atmospheric phenomena affecting communications – W1MPN]
“Bill Ricker of Dorchester maintains the computer system of a Boston financial institution. But whether at work, or at home, or on the road, he always has one eye on the sky, watching for danger.” 
The January 31, 2004 
The Massasoit Amateur Radio Association took part in the 100th Anniversary of Flight at Bridgewater State College on December 17. Those who participated were: Allan, K1VQ; Phil, N1XTB; Gil, W1GMF; Bob, N1EDM, Joe, W1JOE.