Monday, November 2, 2015

More information about MARS COMEX November 8th

This was posted to the ARESOklahoma Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/aresoklahoma)

ICS-201 and ICS-205 forms for the upcoming COMEX have been uploaded to the file area of this Yahoo group.  They provide detailed information that is summarized below.

1) The exercise officially goes from 071200Z Nov to 102359Z Nov and is a simulation of a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) event and geomagnetic storm.  That will put the exercise from 06:00 AM Saturday, November 7th to 6 PM on Tuesday, November 10th.

2) Messages will be sent within the MARS network to KC5MWZ.  KC5MWZ will forward the messages via RMS Express/Winmor to the AE5ME-12 system.  Messages should be addressed to KC5MWZ@KC5MWZ to insure they are routed correctly through the system.

3) EOCs and individuals will retrieve the messages from the AE5ME-12 system on either HF (Winmor) or packet (VHF).  No telnet connections will be allowed, as it is assumed that internet facilities have been compromised and are unreliable.

4) EOCs and individuals will respond the messages and place them back on the AE5ME-12 system to be relayed back to KC5MWZ.  KC5MWZ will then collect the messages and pass on the appropriate information back to MARS.

5) 071200Z through 080900Z Nov will be the "notification" phase of the COMEX.  That will be from 06:00 AM Saturday to 03:00 AM Sunday.  A CME is considered "likely" and preparations will need to be made to protect radio and computer equipment.

6) At 080001Z Nov (6:01 PM Saturday), MARS will be notified of the pending CME.  All equipment is to be disconnected from ALL wiring and antennas between 080900Z through 081200Z Nov (3:00 AM Sunday to 6:00 AM Sunday).  No radio operations will be conducted during the simulated "geomagnetic storm".

7) High Intensity Network operations will commence shortly after 081200Z (6:00 AM Sunday).  Requests for information for county messages will be forwarded to MARS and MARS stations will begin contacting counties.

8) While the exercise it expected to last until Tuesday, I would expect the most intense amount of messaging to be after 6:00 AM on Sunday until 6:00 PM Sunday.  The AE5ME-12 system will be operating on a combination of battery and generator power during the first 24 hours of the exercise, then restore commercial power on Monday and Tuesday.

9) The 146.985 repeater will be available for technical questions during the Sunday portion of the exercise.  If you are having problems sending or receiving messages on RMS Express, contact AE5ME on that frequency.  Messages still get routed through VHF and HF on the published frequencies in the ICS-205.

10) A group of 8 hams have been busy getting up to speed on RMS Express and operating on either VHF or HF on the AE5ME-12 system.  The list includes KF5RCI, AD5JL, WB5ANX, WA5VXI, WD9GET, WY7RM, KD5NJR, and KC5SHE.  Of course, KC5MWZ and AE5ME will be involved as the "hub" stations for OKC and Tulsa respectively.

If you have any questions in the meantime, you can reach me via email at ae5me at yahoo dot com.

--Jeff AE5ME

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