We have been informed by The Miamisburg Wireless Association that the 146.820 repeater may be going off the air for maintenance being done at the tower site. We do not know when, or for how long, the repeater will be down. This work will also affect the 145.110 WC8OH repeater.

We have been given permission to use the Montgomery County ARES 146.640 (-) (PL 123.0) repeater if, and when, the 146.820 system goes down.

If Dayton SKYWARN has an active net in progress, Our net will be canceled.

Net Control Operators: In the event you find you can not bring up the 146.820 repeater:

MAKE A CALL on 146.640 TO ENSURE DAYTON SKYWARN DOES NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE NET IN PROGRESS.

Make an announcement on 146.820 simplex with PL 77Hz turned on (SO PEOPLE WITH TSQ TURNED ON WILL HEAR IT) that The Net is moving to 146.640 (-) PL 123.0Hz.

Net members:

If you find you are unable to get into the 146.820 repeater check to see if the net has moved to 146.640 repeater.

Before you QSY make an announcement on 146.820 SIMPLEX with PL 77.0Hz turned on (SO PEOPLE WITH TSQ ON CAN HEAR IT) that The Net has moved to 146.640 (-) with a PL of 123.0Hz.

John Massie
WX8JDM
Net Manager

There will be a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class held in Brookville Ohio beginning on March 24th.

Classes will be held every Tuesday through May 19th and will conclude with a mock disaster on Saturday, May 30th.

For more information or to register for the class contact them through their Brookville CERT Facebook page, by e-mail at BrookvilleCERT@gmail.com or text 937-321-7534.

Download the class flyer PDF with full details here:2020CERT-1

An examination session in Technician, General, and Amateur Extra amateur radio operator’s license will be available on Wednesday evening, March 18, 2020 at 6 pm in 009 Thesken Hall Miami University-Middletown, Middletown, Ohio.

Doors will open for registration at 6 pm and examinations will commence shortly thereafter. Please plan to arrive early as all registration activities should be completed by 7 pm.

Applicants must furnish the original and one photo copy of their current license (if any), original and photocopy of any certificates of successful completion of examination (CSCE) they my hold, positive (photo) identification, and Licensee ID number (FRN).

EXAMS ARE FREE; no test fees will be collected.

If you are applying for your first license, please go to https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do and obtain a FRN. The web site is self-explanatory and the FRN registration is free.

Special examination accommodations must be requested at least two week prior to the test date.

Additional information may be obtained from Dave Williamson, KD8W, at 513-424-5819 or Carl Morgan, K8CM, at 513-422-9384.

For more information on Amateur Radio licensing and test sessions see our Licensing Classes and Testing page.

No Buts About It 5k (to raise awareness about Colon Cancer Screening)

Takes place Saturday, March 28.

Start/Finish is Welcome Stadium 1601 Edwin C Moses Blvd 45417. We have been asked to take an expanded role by acting as course marshals in addition to providing communications services.

We need to gather at 7:00 AM to support the 8:00 start. We expect to finish by 10:30 and it is traditional at this event for interested hams to meet for brunch afterward.

Volunteer shirts are offered to those who contact n8ado@arrl.net to volunteer by Feb 28. Be sure to state your shirt size.

Frequency plan and other details will be provided to volunteers as the event nears.

Upcoming Public Service Events that we don’t have much information on yet.  More details will be published as we receive them. Mark you calendar for the following:

April  4 Saturday): Spring Has Sprung 5k (in Xenia, near the Hospital)

April 5 (Sunday):   ORRRC Marathon and Half Marathon (Xenia YMCA) Many volunteers are needed!

April 18 (Saturday): – 5k Walk/Run Autism Awareness, Payne Rec Center, Moraine Ohio, 9AM -12P – (Signup on ARES Connect)

April, Date TBD – Bikes for Tikes (awaiting date for the event)

June 25  (Thursday) – GOBA (Great Ohio Bike Adventure) – Optional ride day from Troy to Air Force Museum

September 7 (Monday) – Kettering Holiday At Home 5k Race & Parade

September 15 (Tuesday)  – UD Safety Street Fair & Smoke Out

September 19 (Saturday) – USAF Marathon

As the newly appointed West Central Ohio ARES Emergency Coordinator for District 3, I want to thank Fred Stone for his assistance as I transition into this new position. It goes without saying; Fred’s guidance leading District 3 has benefited the organization moving it forward.

I want to introduce myself and provide some background. Many of you know me as a Dayton SkyWarn Coordinator assisting with the NWS/SkyWarn weather spotter classes, Hamvention Security Chairman, Montgomery County ARES – AEC Logistics/PIO, or Montgomery County EMA EMCOMM team leader/EOC staff.

I have over 40 years experience in Public Safety involved with a variety of emergency incidents, disasters, planning drill exercises, and instructing public safety courses.

Over the past years, I’ve been a first responder to the major emergency incidents in the Miami Valley region. I’ve been to the Xenia tornadoes 1974 and 2000, Miamisburg train phosphorous incident, blizzard of 1978, and many other incidents.

As an EMCOMM member, in 2019, I worked the water emergency, KKK rally, Tornado outbreak, and the mass shooting with the EMCOMM team/EOC staff members at the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management.

I have years of experience organizing and participating in public service events as a net control operator for area ham clubs and organizations. I’ve been a ham radio operator for 27 years, I enjoy the hobby including being a Volunteer Examiner and experiencing the excitement of students receiving their Technician ham radio license or moving up to the next level.

My years of experience involved in the many aspects of ham radio communications, disasters, planning, and executing drills made my decision to apply for the District Emergency Coordinator.

I’m looking forward to working with everyone and moving ARES into the future. It takes the cooperation of team work to move forward.

Don Parker KB8PSL
District Emergency Coordinator
West Central Ohio District 3 ARES

There will be a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class in German Township, Montgomery County during the month of March 2020.

This course is designed to prepare you to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Because emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by using this training to save lives and protect property.

Subjects covered include disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical/first aid, light search and rescue, CERT organization, and disaster psychology, with a mock disaster on the final night.

This free 20 hour course will be taught by certified instructors and experienced emergency services personnel. The 2020 class will be held Monday-March 16, Thursday-March 19, Monday-March 23, Thursday-March 26, and Monday, March 30, from 6:00pm-10:00pm each night at the German Twp. building, 12102 State Route 725 West, German Township. Most topics are hands-on. Those attending the training will be supplied with a free CERT kit.

For more information and to sign up for the class, contact Laurie Rohrbach at the German Twp. Police Dept. at 855-7215 or by email at german_twp_pd@hotmail.com.

You can download a course flier in PDF format here.

Beginning with the 15 January 2020 net, the Net Control Operator for the weekly District 3 ARES net will be using the callsign of KD3WCO (K-District 3 West Central Ohio).

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has posted their upcoming 2020 Spotter Training schedule for our area. The class provides a basic understanding of thunderstorm structure, spotting techniques, reporting criteria, safety information and procedures.

The advanced class will be held in Dayton this year on March 14, 2020 from 1:30pm-5pm. (Note: Dayton Section SKYWARN hosted classes will be held at the University of Dayton this year. See the NWS schedule page for details)

Classes are FREE and open to the public of all ages. You do not need to be a resident of the county in which a talk is being held in order to attend.

Each class lasts about 2 hours and is led by a National Weather Service meteorologist who will discuss techniques and safety for severe weather spotting, with a brief overview of the Amateur Radio Network.

Once you attend a class, you are an officially trained spotter and can report severe weather to your NWS office.

The 2020 Spotter Training schedule is available at https://www.weather.gov/iln/spottertrainingschedule

Note: You may need to click “look for more events” to see the calendar.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of John Massie, WX8JDM, as the new Net Manager (NM) for the West Central Ohio District 3 ARES Weekly Net, effective today 15 March 2019.  John serves in the regular rotation of Net Control Operators (NCO) and spent a number of hour as one of the several NCO’s during the District 3 Snow Net Saturday/ Sunday 19/20 January.

I also want to recognize and express thanks and appreciation to retiring co-Net Managers Keith Burnette, KB8GYB, and Randy Allen, KAØAZS, for their respective many years of service to and support of the D3 Weekly Net.  They have expressed desire to be replaced for some time now and we finally are able to accomplish that for them.

The current Net procedures and guidelines will be maintained for the present time but the D3 EC’s and I are considering future changes to make the weekly net more interesting, efficient and effective.  I welcome and encourage Net Control Operators, Net participants and ARES personnel within the nine District 3 counties to email me any ideas and suggestions you may have for accomplishing these goals.  We also need your regular participation in the weekly Net as often as you can make it!

A “purpose and mission statement” for the D3 ARES Weekly Net and a “Position Description for D3 ARES Net Manager” will be published/distributed soon and also posted on the D3 ARES website—which Randy will continue to maintain as webmaster.

My “door” always is open so don’t hesitate to email me any time with any questions, idea and suggestions.  Thank you for your continuing participation in and support for West Central Ohio District 3 ARES.

73,

Fred Stone W8LLY

District Emergency Coordinator

West Central Ohio District 3 ARES