During our net this evening, Dan (N7XDL) mentioned that the Great Utah Shakeout is coming up on 15 April 2021.  This event is an annual exercise across the state where government and civilian agencies practice what they would do in the event of a large scale earthquake.

Dan advised us to check out the Be Ready Utah site for twelve basic things we can all do to prepare for a large scale natural disaster.  As members of MARC, we are encouraged to be prepared and ready in all of these areas.  Additional information for each area is available on the site.  The areas detailed include:

• Make a Plan
• Get a Kit
• Be Informed
• Get Involved
• Earthquake
• Special Needs
• Children and Disasters
• Pet Preparedness
• Social Media
• Food Storage
• Water Storage
• Evacuation

Check out the site, click on each area and read about what you can and should be doing to "be ready, Utah!"

In addition, Brad (KJ7RPV) mentioned that Be Ready Utah has a Youtube channel and they recently published a collection of podcasts with excellent information.  Click that link, check out the channel, and watch some of their great "prepcasts."  Also on that channel you will find eight hours of recorded webinar from April 9th and 10th.  Lots of great information is there for your viewing.

Links from the presentation:

• http://www.irlp.net/ - main IRLP page
• http://status.irlp.net/index.php?PSTART=7 - IRLP search page
• http://status.irlp.net/index.php?PSTART=2 - IRLP reflectors
• http://www.utaharc.org/rptr/irlp_info.html - Lake Mtn. IRLP node (UARC)
• http://utahvhfs.org/rptr.html - Utah VHF Society repeater list (search for I and E nodes)
• http://utahvhfs.org/cgi-bin/rptdtl.pl?Nr=115 - Marty's Butterfield Peak IRLP node
• https://secure.echolink.org/ - main EchoLink page
• https://secure.echolink.org/validation/ - help with EchoLink validation
• https://secure.echolink.org/validation/uls/ - downloading your official license copy from the FCC (Universal Licensing System - ULS)
• https://secure.echolink.org/logins.jsp - active EchoLink systems
• https://secure.echolink.org/firewall_solutions.htm - help with firewall issues
• http://www.pa7lim.nl/peanut/ - Peanut system mentioned in chat by Chris (W7CHP)

This evening, Dan (N7XDL) gave us a great presentation on things we should consider when assembling our "bug out" or "get home" bag(s).

I will link a copy of the presentation when it becomes available.

Dave (KI7IHU) shared this Youtube playlist from Be Ready Utah with a lot of good information about preparing for a disaster, natural or otherwise.

We have updated the eComms Protocol document, found on the Radio and Other Resources page, to reflect the new frequencies that are assigned for Murray City use.  Please print a copy of this protocol for ease of reference and keep it with your go kit.

This evening, we watched the presentation on MMANA-GAL antenna analysis software that was presented to the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) by Steve Nichols (G0KYA) on 10 October 2020 as part of the RSGB 2020 Online Convention.

The video is available here:

Here are some of the links mentioned during the presentation for easier clicking:

• MMANA-GAL software
• Quick Start Tutorial (the link in the presentation didn't work, but this is a copy of that page that was converted to PDF format)
• Easy Antenna Modelling MMANA-GAL Secrets - Zero to Hero in 30 minutes
• Other Information
• Radio Society of Great Britain Convention
• EZNEC Software
• MMANA-GAL on Linux with Wine (uses winetricks, which is also available via brew on MacOS)

FYI, I have made some changes to the organization of the club web site.

I modified the menus to put the events calendar and club membership information page under the Meeting Schedule and Location menu, and the standard load page and a new neighboring clubs page under the Radio and Other Resources menu.

I intend to start populating the events calendar again... I apologize for being a little lax on that the last several months.

• WINLINK BASICS VIRTUAL CLASSES
  Dave G., W0DHG; Dan T., NR6V, and David A., KK6DA, bring back a series of classes in Winlink basics. If you're interested in state-of-the-art emergency amateur radio communications and you've heard of Winlink, this series of classes is for you. If you can do email, you can learn to do Winlink with all of its powerful capabilities to move emergency traffic digitally. No pre-requisite. No cost. Open to all licensed amateurs from all organizations. Feel free to invite interested amateur friends. Each class will be archived for later viewing.
  This will be a 4-5 week roughly one-hour classes Fridays repeated the following Sunday. Join us for one or both each week.
  Friday, March 12, 2021, 2pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9905081876?pwd=UDhpenoxeXkzZXpMYTJXK2NNRGpsZz09
  Sunday, March 14, 2021, 2pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9905081876?pwd=UDhpenoxeXkzZXpMYTJXK2NNRGpsZz09

• COMM ACADEMY
  Disasters are here, and everywhere – Are we ready?
  April 10-11 2021
  Fully Online
  Link: https://www.commacademy.org (Waiting List??)
  This 2-day event is totally on-line and it is FREE. The schedule looks quite interesting as well!

• DYFI (DID YOU FEEL IT) PROGRAM
  Today the American Geophysical Union (AGU) published an article in Eos by USGS and ARES LAX Northeast on how amateur radio operators can help fill the information donut hole by providing DYFI reports via Winlink.
  The full article is available here:
  https://eos.org/science-updates/amateur-radio-operators-help-fill-earthquake-donut-holes

• SPRING 2021 RED CROSS NATIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS WINLINK EXERCISE
  May 8, 2021
  Which is the World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day 2021.
  Details can be found here:
  :: Winlink Drills, Twice a Year :: ARC-EmComm-Training.org :: (arc-emcomm-training.org)
  Sign up here:
  Log In (groups.io)
  Ahead of the May nationwide exercise, the American Red Cross (ARC) Emergency Communications training group will continue its Winlink Thursdaystraining sessions on the second Thursday of the months of March and April.

• HAMFEST – ONLINE EDITION
  Hamfest is already selling early tickets.
  They can be purchased here:
  https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/
  However, before you do that, you may want to check out the speakers and see if there are any you would like to listen to:
  https://ww2.eventrebels.com/er/CFP/AgendaAtAGlance.jsp?CFPID=1195&ScreenID=963&Token=V3E6V5BC8
  March 13-14

The Salt Lake County ARES has published their new "Standard Load" of radio frequencies.  This is a standardized set of frequencies assigned to specific radio memory locations with the intention of reducing confusion when operating in support of a SLCo ARES incident.

The Standard Load includes a section for local club use, and MARC has identified a set of frequencies that are typically used in our club.  This modified Standard Load (including MARC frequencies) is now available.  SLCo ARES Standard Load Mar 2021_MARC

The Standard Load also includes a section for individual frequencies....  You should create your own files of frequencies to load into your radios that include your own preferred frequencies in this section.

As they become available, versions of the Standard Load for Chirp, RT Systems, and a DMR Codeplug will be posted as well.

Find the Standard Load here.