To join the new STXARES send a blank email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Then check your inbox and reply to the confirmation email.
No approval process is necessary and to keep spammers out all new members will be moderated until you are verified in the ARES database. Once verified you will be unmoderated.
To register as a new ARES member follow this link to the ARES Vault.
We also have subgroups for all 15 Districts. To join them repeat the above steps but change the email address to the one(s) you want to join.
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- District-11 was absorbed by other districts
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We also have these special subgroups:
- Alerts; This subgroup is only for Alerts, Activations, and Announcements from ARES Leadership.
- Digital-Comms; This subgroup is to discuss all things related to digital comms as it relates to EMCOMM; Packet, Pactor, VARA FM, VARA HF, Winlink, etc.
- For-Sale-or-Wanted; This subgroup is where you can list Amateur Radio and EMCOMM related gear you have for sale or items you want.
- Training; This training subgroup is limited to SM, SEC, DECs, ECs, and AECs and was created at the request of Michael Urich KA5CVH Harris-SE ASEC Training.
SCS, the company that created Pactor, has released software for Linux to allow over-the-air monitoring of Pactor 1/2/3 transmissions for meaning. Besides monitoring Pactor 1/2/3, PMON automatically decompresses B2F/LZHUF compressed messages on the fly. This is very useful for monitoring Winlink email transfers. The program requires only minimal hardware: an inexpensive Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ (minimum) computer and an inexpensive USB sound device. An SCS Pactor modem is not needed.
The program is a free download for radio amateurs from a Linux repository provided by SCS. Easy-to-follow instructions, program information and documentation are provided on this SCS web page:
https://www.p4dragon.com/en/PMON.html
Thank you to John Huggins and Gordon Gibby, MD for their original decoding programs, and to Hans-Peter Helfert and the SCS team for this needed contribution to the amateur radio community!
--The Winlink Development Team
From our Red Cross Liaison, distribute as you see fit.
Usual jobs with Red Cross and ARES are assisting with Communications at Red Cross HQ, EOC Contact, Shelters, and Disaster Assessment.
Starting up:
- Get a briefing from the Red Cross Manager/COML
- Establish ARES and Red Cross Liaisons to manage traffic
- Agree on the fastest way to exchange messages – paper, thumb drive, keep messages short, etc.
- Find out where you should set up
- Inform the Liaison of your capabilities, voice, data, who you can contact
- Confirm with Red Cross Your Tactical Call Sign & Cell number
- Make sure you are in contact with the correct county EOC
- Check in with Red Cross HQ
- Conduct all actions safely and protect confidential information
- Start your logs
Thanks to our (South Texas Section Communications Manager) Lee Cooper, W5LHC, an initiative to introduce a standardized ARES training program has been accepted by the entire West Gulf Division (that's South Texas, North Texas, West Texas, and Oklahoma).
Up until now, every individual ARES group has pretty much decided what and how they wish to train. The result was that our served agencies did not know what background any of us had, particularly if we were moving to another jurisdiction. We found that those agencies were spurred on largely by the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and were looking for some form of standardization.
By adopting this standard, we can begin a process where ARES members can be identified as obtaining a minimum level of training. The training itself is similar to that utilized by the COML (Communications Unit Leader) and COMT (Communications Unit Technician) that have been standardized at the Federal level.
Utilization of the training plan is optional, and participation by ARES members is also optional. However, we are urging all county ARES groups to adopt the terminology and recognition by the title of their members. The South Texas ARES database will be updated to reflect these standards, record progress, and recognize those who attain various levels in the training.
There are two aspects to the training: one is a set of training items, and the other is a workbook to record progress towards recognition at each level. This material makes a good training outline for ARES meetings. There is sometimes a lack of direction or structure to local training. I would certainly supplement the core training materials with other topics, and more depth than is covered in the outline, but over some period all ARES groups should cover each of the items in the training matrix. Even those who may not yet aspire to one of the higher levels can find useful information in each of the topics. I recommend setting up a schedule to cover all of the topics over some specific time period.
The benefit to ARES and our members is that we have a standard that we can incorporate so wherever we go within the WGD we know the minimum standard based on the level achieved. Each ARES group can feel free to add additional requirements at the local level. In some specific cases, it may be necessary to modify or substitute requirements based on a local situation or need. Requests for this should be routed to the Section Emergency Coordinator through the local Emergency Coordinator and District Emergency Coordinator.
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