On Wednesday, September 23, 2020, Several Illinois agencies will be conducting a communications exercise. Illinois ARES has been encouraged to test communications on that date. We suggest ARDOP testing on HF (VARA when possible) during the day and participation (check in and informal traffic) on an exercise net on 3905 kHz during the hours of 1100 to 1400 CDT. Local activity is at DEC and EC discretion.
On Saturday/Sunday, September 26-27, 2020, Illinois ARES will conduct a “Fall Field Day/SET” to test communications while having fun without amplifiers. We suggest ARDOP testing on HF (VARA when possible) during the day and participation (check in and informal traffic) on an exercise net on 3905 kHz during the hours of 1100 to 1400 CDT on both days. Local activity is at DEC and EC discretion – we suggest E911 outage drills, VHF simplex nets, and VHF Winlink message handling, W9RY (SM) will be listening for P2P ARDOP on 3571.5 kHz Center Frequency (3570 kHz Dial Frequency) and P2P Packet Winlink on 145.16 MHz ** 08:30 to 12:00 Sunday (look for a band opening or try IDEN relays).
** 145.160 Mhz is the correct frequency – it has been coordinated in So. Illinois
Stay Tuned – more to follow.