RACES Notes 08/09/2006

News and Announcements

1) Upcoming Events
9/2-4/2006 Paradise
10/14 Cochise Perimeter Cycling Classic

2) Paradise 27th Anniversary Outing - Just a reminder that we 
are getting closer to the annual Paradise outing and training 
event.  As always, we will be using the Labor Day weekend as 
members with the MCU and its various capabilities.  Since the 
MCU is still relatively new, there are a number of members 
who will benefit from this opportunity, not to mention the 
fun of operating the Special Event station from Ghost Town 
of Paradise.  We will depart from Green Acres in Sierra Vista 
at 7:30 on Saturday and convoy to Paradise to set up and operate 
over the weekend.  Lee is providing a new HEX Beam antenna to 
experiment with this year.  We tested it last Sunday and it seems 
to work very well. That should be fun as well as taking advantage 
of the pneumatic mast to put it in the air. 
We will have a second radio available to operate on a table under 
the awning with the inverted V antenna.  I am looking for the 
temporary loan of a 20-25 amp DC power supply to use for this 
radio for the weekend. Thanks.

3) MCU Training - Thanks to all who attended the MCU training 
on Saturday (7/29).  We used a short task list and gave each 
participant an opportunity to get some hands on experience.   
Tonight during our training segment we will review a revised 
version of that list to identify key skills for our MCU operators.  
It is similar to one I prepared to use with Sheriff Dispatchers 
as a familiarization class I will be giving them later this month. 
As an update, the MCU is in Tucson at the Chevy dealer to determine t
he cause of loss of power to the wheels on Monday evening. It felt 
a lot like the transfer case shifted to neutral but there is no 
way to do that manually  The experience certainly reinforced our 
policy of ensuring that a chase vehicle goes out with the MCU on 
every mission..

Training - As I go down the list of tasks, you might mentally check 
off those items you feel comfortable with and identify those that 
you need more training on.  I will arrange personal sessions to 
assist members get competent in any skill they wish to practice.
Here's the Training Task List:
1.	Start Generator
2.	Configure Power Distribution  Panel
3.	Deploy Stabilization Jacks
4.	Setup Satcom Terminal 
5.	Configure Public Service Radios
	a.	Kenwood VHF
	b.	Motorola VHF
6.	Setup Mission Support Laptop for Operations
7.	Setup VOIP Phone System
8.	Log on and Access MCU Email Account
9.	Send an Email using Hotmail
10.	Start and use Commo Log (ICS 309) ((Key event log)
11.	Set up ACU 1000
12.	Power on ACU Radio Stack
13.	Create radio patch using ACU 1000
14.	Setup Terrain/Map Support Computer
15.	Access Terrain Navigator Program 
16.	Zoom in and Out on map
17.	Create a point on the map such as a Team or Clue Location 
18.	Print a map of a designated area in Cochise County
19.	Deploy Pneumatic Mast w/Remote Camera
20.	Control Remote Camera and capture still photos
21.	Send photo to CCSO Dispatch Center from MCU
22.	Utilize Softros Instant Message (IM) Software on LAN 
23.	Familiarize with Amateur Radio Equipment and capabilities
	a.	VHF Voice/APRS
	b.	UHF Voice
	c.	HF Voice/Email (Winlink Network)
24.	Familiarize with coffee pot & microwave.
25.	Shutdown system

That's all for this evening, now let's go down the roster for comments.  


Bob
Robert L Hollister