Montana's Ham Radio Forum

Please feel free to post your questions here! I'll do my best to have an answer for you ASAP!

I know the roll call preamble mentions that the North Central Montana ARES net normally meets on the 146.730 MHz repeater and it's links, but not exclusively.

But I was wondering if there is an established protocol in the event the Highwood-Baldy repeater is not available? Do we automatically switch over to the 147.300 MHz repeater? Is there a simplex frequency, such as 146.550 MHz, that we typically use for ARES simplex operations in the Great Falls area?

Do we have several specific 2-meter frequencies that we can tell folks to monitor for ARES operations? Something more defined than "all of the local repeaters"? A prioritized listing of the top 3 frequencies, for example.

Well, depending on where the need for us to communicate is, we could use the local frequency of 147.300 as our LOCAL backup. However, If Operating from my home, or the National Weather Service, several repeaters could be used, Havre, Sweetgrass, East Glacier Park, or Porphery Peak. If our help is needed to the South, Both Helena Repeaters and Butte are also available. Bottom line is: I really don't want to designate a "specific" repeater for backup. And of course 146.52 would be used locally in any of the repeater coverage areas. I am a little concerned though that the Havre crew is using a remote base on .52. but I don't think thats going to be a problem...

ONLY emergency coordinators and assistant emergency coordinators on the call out downtown

Thanks for that Info I wasn't sure

Hey Jim, on the heading "north central montan ARES group,,,could you please add an "a" to montana. Thanks!

George I saw that however I didn't want to sound PICKY

Done! I just hit the easy button, "That Was Easy".

George,
Would you give the members some idea of what You would like the N/C Mont. ARES Group to get invold in with some of the Civic Organizations or Events in our area for the coming year. 73

The Number ONE thing I want EVERYBODY to do is the FEMA training! It's easy, it'll make you smart about what happens at an incident, not to mention our role in the incident.

Number TWO,,,,,Join RACES! It's a little different than ARES but both could be VERY valuable in time of need!!

Number THREE,,,,If anybody knows of any "bike races, foot races, anything that could use the services we provide" LET ME KNOW, I will contact them!

George.

Funny you should ask. We received a letter from Great Falls High today. It was saying that the Great Falls City and Cascade County first responders and resue teams are conducting a joint lockdown safety drill, at Great Falls High. This will happen on March 25th. I don't know if there is anything that we could do, but maybe you could check. We have the letter if you want a copy.

I JUST got off the phone with Vince Kolar, Casacde County DES coordinator, He is unaware of this drill and suggested that I contact the Sheriff's office,,,,,,I called Capt Hitchcock, he is also unaware of this excersize....However Capt Hitchcock will pursue the originator of the letter and check with them and get back to me asap...He thinks that the term cascade county first responders and such is just being used by the schools to make their letter more paletable....interesting....

NOW, on another subject, actually the same one, The Sheriff's office has MONTHLY drill training that we can get involved with..Hitchcock is also checking with the training officer "Bob Roseapel" to get the "communications posse" involved..more later.

George,
You could contact Park and Rec. on traffic control for the Ice Breaker Race Next Month. Golds Gym is also putting on the Harvest Thunder Triathalon late spring. The Smal Towns Like Simms, Cascade, Dutton all Have Road Races on their Fun Days. Then a Biggy could be GRIZZLEY MARATHON in Choteau. Not to mention River Fest in Town