QRZ! Ham Radio 1/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - December 1993.iso/arrl/ec_cert

Text File | 1993-11-21 | 14KB | 889 lines

               The ARRL Emergency Communications
                Training and Certification Course


     One of the primary reasons for the existence of the Amateur Radio
Service is its ability to serve the public, especially with respect to
providing emergency communications.  The American Radio Relay League
recognizes this fact with its commitment in its Amateur Radio Emergency
Service, support for the government's  Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service, and with a number of formal agreements in place with special
disaster and emergency-oriented civil and government agencies.

     This new ARRL emergency communications course is the next phase of
evolution of the League's commitment to excellence in modern emergency
communications support.  It will serve to ensure that official Field
Organization appointees engaged in ARES work and others will acquire,
develop and refine the skills needed to perform at a high standard when
asked to respond in an emergency communications situation.

     All ARRL Emergency Coordinators, District ECs and Section ECs now have
the opportunity, but are not required to, take this course and successfully
pass the certification examination enclosed with this packet.  The
principle training materials suggested for successful completion of this
course are:

Emergency Coordinator's Manual (FSD-(9):  This excellent reference work
produced by ARRL HQ in 1984 in conjunction with the ARRL Emergency
Communications Advisory Committee, focuses on the key ARES member - The
Emergency Coordinator.  It is at the local level where the majority of
emergencies occur.  It's where emergency planning, organizing, preparing,
and executing is overseen by the local Emergency Coordinator.  This is the
principle study guide to be used in preparing for the certification exam.

     The FCC Rule Book:  This important League work is the last word on FCC
rules and interpretations; it contains a current Part 97 and a host of
FCC-approved interpretations and explanations that will assist the
emergency communicator in keeping his or her operations consistent with the
regulations.  The book adequately explains the RACES rules as well as the
regulations concerning FCC declarations of communications emergencies.  The
certification examination contains questions on the FCC rules and
regulations, therefore the trainee should have a good working knowledge of
the material in The FCC Rule Book..

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     The ARRL Operating Manual, ARRL Field Organization and Public Service
Communications Manual brochures also contain a wealth of information of
interest to emergency communicators and are all suggested reading.

     About the examination:  The examination is "open book".  That is, the
examinee is encouraged to refer to the training materials while taking the
exam.  It contains questions of the fill-in-the-blank and short-answer
type.  Please type or print legibly!

     Once you have completed the exam papers, send them to your Section
Emergency Coordinator (or other designated examination administrator) for
grading.  If you pass, you will receive the appropriate EC certification
sticker from your SEC.

     During the course of your studies, if you develop any questions, please
don't hesitate to contact your Section Emergency Coordinator or Section
Manager for assistance.  Good luck, and thanks again for expressing your
interest in serving the public through Amateur Radio and the ARRL.




                          73




                          Luck Hurder, KY1T
                          Deputy Manager, Field Services Department, ARRL
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Course Study Outline:

     The following is a general outline of subjects covered on the
certification examination.  The applicant is encouraged to refer to the
training materials while concentrating on the topics listed below:

I.  The ARRL Field Organization

          A.  Section Manager
          B.  Section Emergency Coordinator
          C.  District Emergency Coordinator
          D.  Emergency Coordinator
          E.  Assistant Emergency Coordinator
          F.  Official Emergency Station
          G.  Registered ARES members

II.  Public Service: The Amateur Radio Emergency Service

          A.  Section Structure for ARES
          B.  National Traffic System liaison
          C.  Duties of the Emergency Coordinator

                    1.  General
                    2.  Planning
                    3.  Organizing
                    4.  Coordinating
                    5.  Communicating

          D.  Duties delegated to Assistant Emergency Coordinators

                    1.  Operations AEC
                    2.  Administrative AEC
                    3.  Liaison AEC
                    4.  Logistics AEC

III.  Organizing a Local ARES Unit

          A.  Recruitment
          B.  Special Service Clubs
          C.  Organizational and Planning Meetings

IV.       A.  Forms and supplies available from ARRL HQ.
          B.  Simulated Emergency Test reporting

V.    Training

          A.  Basic Communications Theory Training -- six elements
          B.  ARRL Simulated Emergency Test

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VI.       Served agencies

          A.  American Red Cross
          B.  APCO
          C.  FEMA
          D.  NCS
          E.  Salvation Army
          F.  NVOAD
          G.  NWS

VII.      RACES


          A.  ARES and RACES
          B.  RACES and repeaters

VIII.     Emergency Plans

          A.  Standard Operating Procedures

IX.       Disaster Communications

X.        Packet Radio in ARES

XI.       Distress Calling

          A.  CW
          B.  Phone

XII.      Principles of Emergency Communications

XIII.     Principles of Repeater Operation

XIV.      National Traffic System

          A.  Traffic Handling
          B.  Mode
          C.  Principles of Operation
          D.  NTS Operation in Emergencies

     With this outline in hand, the examinee should refer to the course
texts described on page 1.  Throughout the examination, you will be asked
to give a reference to every answer you supply.  Please use short answers
and type or print legibly.  Good luck!

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                  ARRL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING
                   AND CERTIFICATION COURSE EXAMINATION

1.  What are the emergency communications bases and purposes of Amateur
Radio as provided for by the Federal Communications Commission?  (Give rule
text and section)









                                             reference:

2.  What are the key appointments of the emergency communications portion
of the ARRL Field Organization?














                                             reference:


3.  Give three general duties of the ARRL Emergency Coordinator:

     1.

     2.

     3.

                                             reference:










4.  Give three planning duties of the ARRL Emergency Coordinator:

     1.

     2.

     3.






                                        reference:




5.  Give three organizing duties of the ARRL Emergency Coordinator:

     1.

     2.

     3.






                                        reference:






6.  Give three coordinating duties of the ARRL Emergency Coordinator:

     1.

     2.

     3.






                                        reference:




7.  Give three communicating duties of the ARRL Emergency Coordinator:

     1.

     2.

     3.




                                        reference:




8.  For what purposes do Assistant ECs serve?











                                        reference:




9.  What are the four main categories of Assistant Emergency Coordinators?
    (Give brief description of each.

     1.


     2.


     3.


     4.


                                        reference:






10.  List four primary ARES recruitment target groups in your area:

     1.

     2.

     3.

     4.


                                        reference:


11.  List four administrative duties of the Emergency Coordinator:

     1.

     2.

     3.

     4.



                                          reference:


12.  What are the six elements of any communication according to basic
     theories of telecommunications?  Give brief description of each.

     1.


     2.


     3.


     4.


     5.


     6

                                        reference:





13.  What is the ARRL Annual Simulated Emergency Test?
     What does it "test"?

















                                        reference:



14.  How should simulated emergency, or priority traffic be labeled
     during an SET?











                                        reference:


15.  What is the purpose of ARRL served-agency memoranda of
     understanding (MOU)?











                                        reference:

16.  List five agencies that have signed memoranda of understanding
     with aRRL:

     1.


     2.


     3.


     4.


     5.



                                        reference:


17.  What is the purpose of the National Communications System?













                                        reference:


18.  RACES operators must be officially enrolled in:










                                        reference:





19.  RACES is sponsored by:
     (choose one)

     ( )  Federal Emergency Management Agency

     ( )  ARRL

     ( )  National Weather Service

     ( )  American Red Cross


                                        reference:


20  Should amateurs be encouraged to belong to both ARES and RACES?
    Why?













                                        reference:

21.  How can an existing ARES unit be registered as RACES?










                                        reference:


22.  What is the name of the National Weather Service's tornado
     preparedness program?




                                        reference:


23.  Give a brief description of the parts of the standard ARRL formal
     message format:



     1.  Preamble -





     2.  Address -





     3.  Text -





     4.  Signature


                                             reference:


24.  Give a brief description of the nature of the following types of
     traffic messages:

     1.  Emergency -




     2.  Priority -




     3.  Welfare -




     4.  Routine -



                                             reference:


25.  What is the difference between "emergency" and "disaster"
     communications?











                                             reference:

26.  What are some of the advantages of using packet radio in
     emergency communications?












                                             reference:


27.  What are the two principle distress calls?


     1.                                 2.


                                             reference:


28.  Occasionally, an emergency situation will develop needs for a special
     circuit covering two points between which high precedence traffic is
     heavy.  These special point-to-point operations are called:







                                             reference:



29.  List five principles of emergency communications and give a brief
     description of each.

     1.




     2.




     3.




     4.




     5.

                                        reference:

30.  List the advantages of CW in emergency communications:

     1.


     2.


     3.


     4.


     5.



                                        reference:










31.  List the advantages of phone operation in an emergency situation:


     1.


     2.


     3.


     4.


     5.

                                             reference:


32.  When using repeaters in emergencies, transmit with the:

     (  )  highest possible power

     (  )  lowest possible power


                                             reference:


33.  What are the three levels of ARES organization?  Give a brief
     description of each.

     1.





     2.





     3.





                                             reference:



34.  What is the primary role of the ARRL HQ Field Services Department?









                                             reference:

35.  What is the effect of an FCC - declared emergency?  Give the FCC
     rule designation.









                                             reference:


36.  Local ARES operation usually consists of _______________ operations.


                                             reference:


37.  What are the three most important considerations for equipment
     in emergency use?


     1.




     2.




     3.




                                             reference:


38.  What are the two primary objectives of the ARRL National Traffic
     System?


     1.




     2.


                                             reference:

39.  Briefly describe the following levels of the ARRL National Traffic
     System:

     Local -




     Section -




     Region -




     Area -




     TCC -

                                             reference:

40.  What two agencies are usually involved in providing "health and
     welfare" inquiries for NTS in disaster situations?

     1.


     2.

                                             reference:

UPON COMPLETION OF THE EXAMINATION, PLEASE FORWARD THE TEST PAPERS TO YOUR
SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR FOR GRADING.  YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED WITHIN
THIRTY DAYS OF PASS/FAILURE.