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Each year, Hawaii State Civil Defense in cooperation with a number of governmental and private agencies conduct a state-wide exercise to test and evaluate preparations for operations before, during and after a hurricane. The exercise, entitled Makani Pahili, will be conducted on Saturday, May 30, 2015 through Saturday, June 6, 2015.

The main amateur radio exercises are on Saturday May 30 (Oahu), Sunday May 31 (State-wide), Wednesday June 3 (State-wide) and Saturday, June 6 (Oahu)

These are the arrangements underway within the amateur radio community in preparation for participating in the exercise. If you know of any, please contact Ron Hashiro, AH6RH

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Enjoy, and feel free to drop me an e-mail if you have any questions.


Objective

May 16, 2015, updated May 17, 2015

The most frequently heard remark after Hurricane Iniki was that we as amateur radio operators should have been better prepared. The amateurs on Kauai and Oahu were challenged to exchange and deliver hundreds of messages accurately in a timely fashion each hour for many hours. The messages were a mix of short messages and some that were multiple pages in length. Most of the messages were handled by voice communications as that was the means that most operators had operational.

This year, the Makani Pahili 2015 hurricane exercise will stress the post-landfall aspects of hurricane relief and recovery.

A major part of the Makani Pahili exercise is for all operators to deploy and set up their stations and for the operators to gain experience, speed, accuracy and proficiency in sending and receiving ICS-213 messages between the nets and under net operating conditions. It tests existing arrangements and capabilities between the amateurs and the agencies and communities that we serve. It tests the operator's ability to generate and efficiently exchange ICS-213 messages under actual net operating conditions and changing radio propagation.

Stations are encouraged to generate and send test messages for the exercise, gain practice and become proficient BEFORE the next emergency or disaster. Stations are encouraged to generate ICS-213 messages that contain an actionable request as opposed to simply a message that has just status and is informational. This is so that the receiving party can generate a message containing a simulated reply. All stations will use "THIS IS AN EXERCISE MESSAGE" at the beginning and end of all messages.

Stations are also encouraged to study and practice their use of key words during emergency communications. This is formally known as phraseology.

Net Control Stations, bulletin stations and net liaison stations are encouraged to pass the net bulletins on the nets to simulate and practice passing net bulletins.

The amateur radio community recognizes Clem Jung KH7HO who has made major contributions in organizing and coordinating the amateur radio component for Makani Pahili 2015. New

2015 Hurricane Makani Scenario

May 16, 2015, updated May 16, 2015

The hurricane scenario:

Makani Pahili 2015 will initially be a Category 4 hurricane as it approaches Big Island from the east. It will travel between Hawaii and Maui as it moves North Northwest. It will be a Category 3 hurricane as it travels north on the west side of Oahu. It will be a Category 2 hurricane as it passes to the west of Kauai and heads in a North Northwest direction past Kauai. The MP2015 hurricane will affect all islands in the State of Hawaii.

The highlights of the exercise scenario:

On Saturday, May 30, 2015, a drill for the DEM reservists for the island of Oahu and DEM RACES will be held by the City & County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management (DEM). Amateur radio communications will be exercised from 9:00 am to 12 noon.

On Sunday May 31, 2015, NWS Skywarn will hold a state-wide communications net. Stations are encouraged to check-in, give their SKYWARN number, and give a one or two word real-world weather report for their location.

On Wednesday, June 3 2015, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, the County EOCs and State EOC will conduct a communications exercise. A part of that exercise is a simulated communications outage in which the only communications between County EOCs and Hawaii EMA EOC in Diamond Head will be via amateur radio, satellite phones and other contingency services. The use of regular telephones, cell phones and Internet will not be allowed during the simulated communications outage.

On Saturday June 6, 2015, Oahu ARES members who are also with DEM RACES will provide SITREP (Situation Report) communications from two simulated Community Points of Distribution (CPOD) at a Waimanalo and Ewa Beach location to a simulated DEM EOC. Kailua CERT will run a full scale field exercise and will report SITREPs and Request For Assistance (RFAs) FLDigi ICS-213 messages to a simulated DEM EOC.

Information on FLDigi

May 6, 2014, updated May 27, 2014

Stations are encouraged to use FLDigi to exchange ICS-213 messages digitally. FLDigi v3.22.08, FLmsg 2.0.10 and FLwrap v1.3.4 may be downloaded at this web page. Stations may send and receive messages by holding the PC mike and speakers next to the radio mike and speakers. The preferred method is to use a Tigertronics Signalink USB Interface with the 6-pin mini-DIN (Data) interface cable to use with amateur radios manufactured after 1996.

Jack KH6DQ made a presentation and two note files to aid in setting up FLdigi and FLmsg.

To resend and relay an FLDigi message that you have received:

  • Open the FLMSG program.
  • In the main menu, click on File > Open
  • In the window that opens, navigate to the NBEMS.files > WRAP folder
  • In the lower right hand corner, change the file filter from ".CSV" and select "All".
  • A list of WRAP file (received messages) appears, with the received date and time included in the file name. Select the message of interest.
  • Announce on voice that you will be sending a message, then click on the "AutoSend" button on the main menu.

It it will resemble these screen shots on the w1hkj.com web site.




FLDigi Installation for Mac OSX

May 27, 2013 New

If you installed FLDigi and FLmsg on the Mac, you'll need to do this one modification in a Terminal Window in order to add a symbolic link to the hidden file folders and make it visible.

Reminder on Test Procedure - Kerchunking repeaters is illegal

May 20, 2013

A reminder to ALL stations - especially newly licensed stations - that when testing access and coverage with repeaters to clearly identify your transmissions with your callsign and the word "Test" or "Testing". Momentarily keying your radio to activate the repeater to cause it to transmit without saying anything (known as "kerchunking" a repeater) is an unidentified transmission. Unidentified transmissions are a violation of FCC Part 97.119(a) and is illegal. Do not kerchunk a repeater, even once.

If you kerchunk repeaters, do not be surprised when you receive a notice from the FCC regarding your operations.

The correct procedure is to key your microphone, identify your transmission with your callsign and the word "Test" at the same time as you are keying down, then release the PTT switch and listen. (Example: "KH6ABC Test.") As a courtesy, another station on frequency may acknowledge your test signal with a signal report (Example: "KH6ABC, you are loud and clear. KH6ZZZ.")

Again, NEVER kerchunk a repeater with an unidentified transmission.

Saturday May 30, Oahu DEM RACES

May 16, 2015, updated May 30, 2015

Statewide Hurricane Exercise - Oahu DEM RACES participation, Saturday May 30, 2015.

If DEM RACES members are also a DEM EM Reservist, please coordinate with your district coordinator to transmit the stream reports via Ham radio to the DEM EOC. Other DEM RACES members, if possible, work with your DEM EM Reserve District Coordinator to relay the stream reports back to DEM EOC. New

  • District 1 - Oahu EOC
  • District 2 - TBD
  • District 3 - TBD
  • District 4 - TBD
  • District 8 - TBD

Net Schedule:
Oahu HQ - KH6OCD
May 30, 09:00 - 12:00 - DEM Drill.
May 30, TBD - DEM EOC Open.
May 30, TBD - Communications Test with Oahu EOC, send messages from shelters to Oahu EOC. Ralph WH7PD and Elsie WH7BB NCS. New
May 30, TBD - Start of Makani Pahili Net
May 30, TBD - End of Net operations

DEM will be on the following frequencies:

VHF/UHF

  • 146.76- Mokuleia Repeater - Linked with FFMB repeater
  • 146.98- PL 88.5 FFMB Repeater - Traffic
  • 444.325+ PL 103.5 Waimanalo Repeater (if in service) - Traffic
  • 444.350+ PL 103.5 Diamond Head Repeater - Traffic

HF: No HF for this event. New

DEM will be using FLDigi MT63-1K for VHF/UHF and 7080 LSB.

SKYWARN Net, Sunday May 31, 2015, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

May 16, 2015, updated May 17, 2015

The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Honolulu will activate their SKYWARN amateur radio operations on Sunday, May 31, 2015 from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Amateur radio stations and SKYWARN members are encouraged to check-in and pass their report. The report is:

  • Your call sign, name
  • SKYWARN ID, if available
  • Current location
  • The real world weather report (ie, Kapolei, 82 degrees, Sunny and few clouds)

Operations will be on the SCD VHF RACES repeater network, and the linked All-STAR repeater network 146.76-, 146.98- PL 88.5, 147.02+ PL 103.5, 147.04+ (Mauna Loa) PL103.5, 147.06+ PL 103.5, 444.325+ PL 103.5, 444.350+ PL 103.5. Various links and/or repeaters within the network may be unavailable at the time of the net.

Operations will also be on HF on 7.090 USB, FLDigi MT63-1K.

Makani Pahili Net, Wednesday June 3, 2014, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

May 16, 2015, updated May 30, 2015

State Civil Defense, Department of Emergency Management (DEM), and Kauai, Maui and Hawaii County EOCs will operate the Makani Pahili net on amateur radio frequencies on Wednesday, June 3, 2013 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The traffic will be between the State EOC, the four county EOCs and two simulated Oahu shelters only. The Maui and Big Island (Hilo) EOCs will be simulated.

The traffic for the Wednesday net is post-landfall hurricane messages. Situation Reports (SITREPs), Status Reports, and request for assistance to the State HI EMA EOC are typical traffic for this net.

Operations will be on the SCD 7088 kHz LSB for voice and FLDigi ICS-213 formal messages, the SCD RACES VHF repeater network will be secondary. Various repeaters and links may be out of service.

Between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, there will be a simulated communications blackout except for amateur radio. HI-EMA, Oahu and Kauai EOCs will participate exchanging situation reports, status, resource requests, etc. Maui and Hawaii County EOCs will be simulated on amateur radio. New Further details as it develops.

State RACES may be asked to use BGAN satellite COMMS to call selected State agencies (to be determined). Carter Davis (KH6FV) will be the Ham SIMCELL and will be located in the State EOC to introduce simulated messages, etc. to help move the emergency scenario and communications along.

HI-EMA Operators will be:

  • Kevin Bogan AH6QO
  • Clem Jung KH7HO
  • Mark Pascal AH6PR
  • Danny Tengan NH7ZT
  • Jack Tsujimura KH6DQ
  • Peter Yuen KH6JBS

DEM Operators will be:

  • Randy Kurashige, AH6Q
  • Jeff Sue, AH6IX
  • Mario Alvarez, KH6PRD
  • No HF operations from DEM for this event. Only VHF/UHF.
New

Oahu Frequencies

Island of Oahu
Agency
HF
VHF
UHF
FLDigi
APRS
Hawaii SCD 1870 LSB, 3993.5 LSB, 5330.5 USB, 7088 LSB 147.06+ PL 103.5, 147.02+ PL 103.5, 147.04+, Liaison: 146.82- PL 88.5, 146.88- 444.35+ PL 103.5 for DEM voice and FLDigi traffic 7088 LSB, 147.06+ PL 103.5, 444.35+ PL 103.5 No
DEM 7080 USB Voice and FLDigi Traffic 146.98- PL 88.5, 146.76- Simplex: 146.55, 146.58 444.325+ PL 103.5, 444.350+ PL 103.5 for Voice and FLDigi traffic 7080 LSB, 146.76, 146.98- PL 88.5, 444.325+ PL 103.5 No

SCD Linked Repeaters are 147.02+ PL 103.5, 147.04+ PL 103.5, 147.06+ PL 103.5. Various repeaters and links may be out of service.

DEM Linked Repeaters are 146.76- No PL, 146.98- PL 88.5, 444.325+ PL 103.5, 444.350+ PL 103.5. Various repeaters and links may be out of service.

Saturday June 6, Oahu ARES

May 16, 2015, updated May 30, 2015

Statewide Hurricane Exercise - Oahu ARES participation, Saturday June 6, 2015. Oahu ARES members who are also with DEM RACES will provide SITREP (Situation Report) communications for two simulated American Red Cross (ARC) Community Points of Distribution (CPOD) at a Waimanalo and Ewa Beach location. Kailua CERT will run a full scale field exercise at Kailua High School and will report SITREPs and Request For Assistance (RFAs) FLDigi ICS-213 messages to a simulated DEM EOC from 9:00 am to 12 noon. New

  • District 1 - Oahu EOC
  • District 2 - TBD
  • District 3 - TBD
  • District 4 - TBD
  • District 8 - TBD

Net Schedule:
Simulated Oahu HQ
June 6, 09:00 - 12:00 - MP2015 Exercise.
June 6, TBD - Simulated DEM EOC Open.
June 6, TBD - Communications Test with Oahu EOC, send messages from CPODs to Oahu EOC
June 6, TBD - Communications Test with Oahu EOC, send messages from Kailua High School to Oahu EOC
June 6, TBD - Start of Makani Pahili Net
June 6, TBD - End of Net operations

ARC HQ will be Paul KF7NFK, Steve NH7ZP & Carolyn WH6EAQ. They will be on HF on 7.090 USB using tactical call sign "ARC" and will be NCS on HF. Voice and Fldigi to be used on HF and on the linked State/DEM VHF/UHF repeaters. New

Fred KH7CR and Betty WH6GR will be the simulated "DEM EOC" (tactical call sign) and will be the VHF/UHF NCS. New

Peter KH6JBS will be at Waimanalo District Park to provide comms and will be called "Waimanalo CPOD" (tactical call sign) with VHF/UHF & HF. New

Ralph (WH7PD) & Elsie (WH7BB) will be at Ewa Beach and their tactical call sign will be "Ewa CPOD" with HF & VHF/UHF. New

Mark AH6PR and Keith WH7GG will be at the Kailua High School as members of the Kailua CERT as tactical call sign "KOC" for Kailua Operations Center. Messages will be voice and Fldigi ICS-213 messages to the "DEM EOC" on VHF/UHF and HF. New

Oahu ARES will be on the following frequencies:

VHF/UHF

  • 146.76- Mokuleia Repeater - Linked with FFMB repeater
  • 146.98- PL 88.5 FFMB Repeater - Traffic
  • 444.325+ PL 103.5 Waimanalo Repeater (if in service) - Traffic
  • 444.350+ PL 103.5 Diamond Head Repeater - Traffic

HF:
40m on 7090 kHz USB.
The monthly Healthcomm net will be on 7080 kHz LSB.

Oahu ARES will be using FLDigi MT63-1K for VHF/UHF and 7090 USB.

After Action Reports

May 16, 2015, updated June 2, 2015

This section is compiled and adapted from the after-action reports submitted by the groups operating during the amateur radio portion of Makani Pahili 2015, adjusting mainly for consistency in formatting and reporting.

This report is work-in-progress.

Chuck Oh N6NCT reports the performance statistics below for the MP 2015 exercise for DEM RACES, Saturday May 30, 2015 9:00 am - 12 noon.

1. DEM EOC On-Site Participants 6

  • Elsie WH7BB
  • Erica
  • Ralph WH7PD
  • Linda
  • Chuck N6NCT
  • Russell WH7O

2. Number of unique check ins to DEM Net (as received on the linked 146.98 MHz Repeater) 11

  • KH6KV
  • KH7CR
  • WH7XO
  • KH6MAI
  • KH7C
  • KH6KC
  • WH6BSV
  • WH6ECG
  • WH6WG
  • WH6ENB
  • AH6RH

3. Number of messages handled 6 (Voice unless stated in #4 below)

  • KH7CR - Shelter Report
  • KH6KV - Test Message -- Text
  • KH7C - N/A
  • KH7CR - Shelter Report
  • KH6KV - Relay
  • AH6RH - Real World Weather

4. Number of FLdigi ICS 213 messages 2

  • KH7CR - Manoa Valley Simulated Shelter
  • KH7C - Test transmission of written message to Oahu DEM

5. General Mission Summary

  • a. Reliability of Manning EOC - 100%
  • b. Participation of external members - 5%
  • c. Mission Objective - 50% (3 out of 6 sent real world or simulated situational awareness messages)
  • d. Equipment Operations - 100% (all BYO devices and linked repeaters operational)
  • e. Support DEM Reservist - FAIL (no communications between RACES and reservist.)

Clem Jung KH7HO reports the statistics below for the MP 2015 exercise for SKYWARN Net, Sunday May 31, 2015 9:05 am - 12 noon.

Results

  • Held from 9:05 a.m. to 12 noon
  • There were a total of 26 check-ins
  • 19 VHF/UHF real weather reports of which 7 were Fldigi Flmsg Severe Weather Reports
  • 7 HF Fldigi Flmsg weather reports
  • HF was difficult to hear, but Norm (NH7UA) volunteered to be an HF relay station
  • Lead Meteorologist on duty, Derrick, gave a recap of the real weather report on the radio

Clem and the SKYWARN operators thanks Tom Evans and the NWS staff for permitting the SKYWARN operators the opportunity to prepare for this year's hurricane season.

Find out more by contacting:  rhashiro(remove this part)@hawaiiantel.net
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May 16, 2015, updated June 2, 2015

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