SIMPLEX FREQUENCY POOL

MINNESOTA ARES®

Emergency Communications

SOG6-C-001

Standard Operating Guide

Simplex Frequency Pool

January 28, 2012

Due to the compilation of potentially sensitive data, this Emergency Communications Frequency List is marked FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO). This information may be exempt under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552. As such, anyone wishing to disseminate this document outside of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, or currently authorized served agencies, should contact the Minnesota ARES Section Emergency Coordinator for disclosure review.

This page intentionally left blank.General

Minnesota Section ARES’ primary goal is to quickly and efficiently integrate amateur radio communications into an existing incident, should primary communications become inadequate or fail. Amateur Radio is once-again being embraced by Federal, state, and regional public safety and emergency response entities as an important type of Interoperable Communications.

Minnesota ARES fully embraces Minnesota’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Division of Emergency Communications Networks, and recognizes them as vitally important.

Interoperability

Through the Minnesota Division of Emergency Communications Networks, the Statewide Radio Board has been established to set policy on statewide Interoperable Communications. Subsequently, the state has been divided into 7 regions, each served by a Regional Radio Board. These Regional Radio Boards are charged with, among other things, creating and maintaining regional Tactical Interoperable Communications Plans (TIC-P) which contain each county’s radio resources, to include talkgroups, frequencies, and channels. Amateur Radio, as a form of interoperable communications, is included in these plans.

Minnesota Section ARES recommends that each District Emergency Coordinator create relationships with their Regional Radio Board chair or regional System Administrator. Also, each ARES Emergency Coordinator should meet with their local Emergency Manager and Local ARMER System Administrator to promote the capabilities ARES groups are able to provide, should an incident happen. In several communities and counties around Minnesota, ARES groups are already fully interoperating with local Emergency Managers. While Regional Radio Boards set the policy for regional Interoperable Communications, it is still up to the County Emergency Management Director to identify any local resources needed during an incident.

Operations

As we are taught in various FEMA ICS courses, Incident Commanders will normally have a Communications Unit Leader (COM-L) assigned, who is tasked with allocating specific channels and frequencies for that incident.

Within the Regional Radio Board structure, it shall be the responsibility of the local jurisdictions to review the various frequencies and channels that are available for use in their local jurisdictions prior to an incident occurring, and create an ICS Form 217A, Communications Resource Availability Worksheet, which is kept as part of any regional TIC-P and updated as needed.

Once an incident happens, the COM-L will then refer to the ICS-217A and create an ICS 205, Incident Communications Plan. This plan takes all resources and uses into consideration and allocates these resources based on need and task, and makes any adjustments needed to prevent harmful interference between users.

The ICS-205 is a vital document for an Incident Commander and Planning Section Staff in creating an Incident Action Plan (IAP). The IAP is the basis for continued operations during an incident.

The Minnesota Section ARES management staff is recommending that each countyEC use the ICS-217A form in their local Emergency Response Plans, and forward a copy of their completed Plans to their District Emergency Coordinator. Each DEC will then contact their Regional Radio Board for inclusion of each county’s ARES ICS-217A into the regional TIC-Ps.

Minnesota Section ARES also strongly recommends District and/or local Emergency Coordinators create ICS-205 Incident Communications Plans for each incident or planned event operational period. Beyond the training necessity, there is a common need to maintain situational awareness among all emergency communicators, and the ICS-205 is intended to do just that.

The ICS-217A is available in “Word” or “Excel” formats so the user can easily copy and paste frequency and channel assignments electronically, from the ICS-217A directly to an ICS-205. This reduces the possibility of incorrectly transcribing technical data pertaining to frequencies, talkgroups and channels.

Each ARES group should review their own Emergency Plan and the Emergency Plan for each community within their area. The ARES groups should then document all amateur radio repeaters and simplex frequencies that are available in their local areas on a blank ICS Form 217A. By listing all frequencies/channels available within their local area, each ARES group can then functionally test and document the feasibility and reliability of each frequency/channel and make their own determination of usability during an incident.

Special attention should be paid to close-by communications equipment, electronic equipment, and RF sensitive equipment. i.e.: hospitals, nursing homes, telephoneand cell phone towers, and 700/800 MHz towers. If any interference is noticed, immediately cease operating on that frequency until the problem is corrected.

The MinnesotaSection ARES management staff recognizes that many ARES groups within the state currently have no written Emergency Plan. A primary component of this plan is having a predetermined pool of frequencies to use, should an incident occur with the local area. In order to help those groups that either have no plan in place or to help build upon a plan with an insufficient number of frequencies listed, the attached Simplex Frequency Pool listing should fulfill that need.

Special Notes

Special notes regarding the ARES frequency pool, and their use during emergencies:

  1. The attached frequency list is designed as a guide, or starting point for those organizations that currently have no plan already in-place.
  2. Prior to using any of these frequencies, it is your responsibility to ensure that they are not currently in use, and that you are not creating interference with other operators on adjacent frequencies.
  3. Calling frequencies should be used for initial contact only, and not for incident traffic handling.
  4. HV-Packet is also known as the Minnesota Emergency Packet Network channel.
  5. The VHF tactical frequencies use a Transmit CTCSS tone of 203.5, with the option of enabling Receive tones as the situation dictates.
  6. The UHF tactical frequencies use a Transmit CTCSS tone of 203.5, with the option of enabling Receive tones as the situation dictates.
  7. When responding into an incident area, initial contact should be made on HV-Call, if the local net control frequency is not known. Upon initial contact, you will be directed to change over to the appropriate Net Control frequency for talk-in and additional information exchange.
  8. Whenever possible, primary Net Control Operations will be conducted on local repeaters, to enable the best coverage and signal to noise ratio.
  9. HU-TAC1, HU-TAC2, HU-TAC3 and HU-TAC5 areall located on Shared Non-Protected Repeater output frequencies. Verify these frequenciesare clear before transmitting. If interference is present, utilize another frequency.
  10. All Minnesota ARES groups are highly encouraged to monitor HV-Call and/or HU-Call for incoming radio operator initial contact.
  11. All Minnesota ARES groups are highly encouraged to use a Logistics Staging/Talk-In frequency of HV-TAC1, HV-TAC2, or HU-TAC1, HU-TAC2.

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DateDaniel D. Anderson, KD0ASX

Section Emergency Coordinator

Minnesota ARES

SOG6-C-001 Revision 2A

01/28/2012

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COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCE AVAILABILITY WORKSHEET / Frequency Band / Description
VHF / MINNESOTA ARES Frequency Pool
Channel Configuration / Channel Name/Trunked Radio System Talkgroup / Eligible Users / RX Freq N or W / RX Tone/NAC / TX Freq N or W / Tx Tone/NAC / Mode A, D or M / Remarks
Simplex / HV-CALL / ARES / 146.5200 W / 146.5200 W / A / Nationwide VHF Call Frequency
Simplex / HV-TAC1 / ARES / 147.5250 W / 147.5250 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HV-TAC2 / ARES / 146.4150 W / 146.4150 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HV-TAC3 / ARES / 147.4350 W / 147.4350 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HV-TAC4 / ARES / 146.5650 W / 146.5650 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HV-TAC5 / ARES / 147.4950 W / 147.4950 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HV-TAC6 / ARES / 146.4750 W / 146.4750 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HV-TAC7 / ARES / 146.5950 W / 146.5950 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HV-TAC8 / ARES / 147.5550 W / 147.5550 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HV-TAC9 / ARES / 146.4450 W / 146.4450 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HV-TAC10 / ARES / 147.4650 W / 147.4650 W / 203.5 / A / Suggested Air-Ground
Simplex / HV-APRS / ARES / 144.3900 W / 144.3900 W / A / Nationwide APRS Frequency
Simplex / HV-PACKET / ARES / 145.6700 W / 145.6700 W / A / Statewide Packet
Simplex / HV-DATA / ARES / 144.9500 W / 144.9500 W / A / Digital (FL Digi)
The convention calls for frequency lists to show four digits after the decimal place, followed by either an “N” or a “W”, depending on whether the frequency is
narrow or wide band. Mode refers to either “A” or “D” indicating analog or digital (e.g. Project 25) or "M" indicating mixed mode. All channels are shown
as if programmed in a control station, mobile or portable radio. Repeater and base stations must be programmed with the Rx and Tx reversed.
ICS 217A Excel / 3/2007
COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCE AVAILABILITY WORKSHEET / Frequency Band / Description
UHF / MINNESOTA ARES Frequency Pool
Channel Configuration / Channel Name/Trunked Radio System Talkgroup / Eligible Users / RX Freq N or W / RX Tone/NAC / TX Freq N or W / Tx Tone/NAC / Mode A, D or M / Remarks
Simplex / HU-CALL / ARES / 446.0000 W / 446.0000 W / A / Nationwide UHF Call Frequency
Simplex / HU-TAC1 / ARES / 442.3000 W / 442.3000 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HU-TAC2 / ARES / 444.3250 W / 444.3250 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HU-TAC3 / ARES / 443.0000 W / 443.0000 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HU-TAC4 / ARES / 446.0250 W / 446.0250 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HU-TAC5 / ARES / 444.7250 W / 444.7250 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HU-TAC6 / ARES / 445.9750 W / 445.9750 W / 203.5 / A / Local Option
Simplex / HU-APRS / ARES / 441.0500 W / 441.0500 W / A / Local Option
Simplex / HU-DATA / ARES / 446.2000 W / 446.2000 W / A / Local Option
The convention calls for frequency lists to show four digits after the decimal place, followed by either an “N” or a “W”, depending on whether the frequency is
narrow or wide band. Mode refers to either “A” or “D” indicating analog or digital (e.g. Project 25) or "M" indicating mixed mode. All channels are shown
as if programmed in a control station, mobile or portable radio. Repeater and base stations must be programmed with the Rx and Tx reversed.
ICS 217A Excel / 3/2007
COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCE AVAILABILITY WORKSHEET / Frequency Band / Description
HF / MINNESOTA ARES Frequency Pool
Channel Configuration / Channel Name/Trunked Radio System Talkgroup / Eligible Users / RX Freq N or W / RX Tone/NAC / TX Freq N or W / Tx Tone/NAC / Mode A, D or M / Remarks
Simplex / HH-Charlie1 / ARES / 3.5480 W / 3.5480 W / A / CW
Simplex / HH-Charlie2 / ARES / 7.0570 W / 7.0570 W / A / CW
Simplex / HH-Charlie3 / ARES / 14.0720 W / 14.0720 W / A / CW
Simplex / HH-Delta1 / ARES / 3.8450 W / 3.8450 W / A / SSTV/FAX
Simplex / HH-Delta2 / ARES / 7.1710 W / 7.1710 W / A / SSTV/FAX
Simplex / HH-Hotel1 / ARES / 3.8830 W / 3.8830 W / A / LSB
Simplex / HH-Hotel2 / ARES / 3.9370 W / 3.9370 W / A / LSB
Simplex / HH-Hotel3 / ARES / 7.2830 W / 7.2830 W / A / LSB
Simplex / HH-Hotel4 / ARES / 7.2230 W / 7.2230 W / A / LSB
Simplex / HH-Hotel5 / ARES / 17.2720 W / 14.2720 W / A / USB
Simplex / HH-Hotel6 / ARES / 14.2370 W / 14.2370 W / A / USB
Simplex / Section Phone / ARES / 3.8600 W / 3.8600 W / A / LSB
Simplex / Section CW / ARES / 3.5680 W / 3.5680 W / A / CW
Simplex / Region Phone / ARES / 7.2750 W / 7.2750 W / A / LSB
The convention calls for frequency lists to show four digits after the decimal place, followed by either an “N” or a “W”, depending on whether the frequency is
narrow or wide band. Mode refers to either “A” or “D” indicating analog or digital (e.g. Project 25) or "M" indicating mixed mode. All channels are shown
as if programmed in a control station, mobile or portable radio. Repeater and base stations must be programmed with the Rx and Tx reversed.
ICS 217A Excel / 3/2007

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