On April 9,2022 CARA/AUXCOMM participated in the Hospital Emergency Radio Operator (HEROs) MDC Section Region V Drill. This was a combined exercise involving Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. Each county set up a station for message transfer and a communications and control station. The purpose of this drill is to demonstrate MD Medical Region V continuous communications capability among the five Region V counties, specifically those hospital facilities therein during a disaster event. The expected outcome is a better understanding of the process of setting up an off-site station ‘near’ the affected facility in the event of an evacuation. Part 1 is a point to point message originating in Montgomery Co and passing through to St Mary’s through the other counties. Part 2 is posting a WinLink Position report via an APRS server.
Attending on Saturday were Shawn N3AE Emergency Coordinator, Dale KC3RKP Club VP, Dave KB3RAN Club Secretary, Erik KC3QQD, Les KH6CUJ, Ed WN6NCO, Dave W3PQS and others. Stations and antennae were set up on the grass at the north end of the Calvert Memorial Hospital campus. All was battery powered with solar and generator charges. The weather was cooperative with sun and breeze with temperatures in the high 40’s to 50’s.
Messages were passed with just some minor glitches as to which station was to present the information to the which county. Some on-the-fly adjustment of mode was made to accommodate changing propagation conditions.
There was lots of free time for conversation and coffee and donuts. It was good to have so many club members out for a portable radio operations event.
Dave KB3RAN
