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Central Mississippi ARES
Digital Standards and Operating Procedures
( A WORK IN PROGRESS )
Many years ago, Mississippi ARES recognized that the digital modes were the future of Amateur Radio emergency communications.
Due to the vital nature of emergency communications, standardization is required in order to deliver a unified, cohesive service to the agencies we serve.
After years of consultation with other ARES teams in the United States and extensive testing of equipment, software, and operating procedures to determine best practices for use in emcomm settings, we have established these standards and procedures for use by Mississippi ARES teams.
Each year, through on-going testing and new information obtained from actual emcomm experiences, we reevaluate these best practices to make sure our standards and procedures are up-to-date and enabling us to deliver the best service possible to the agencies we serve.
I. Why every ARES Team needs Digital Capabilities
II. Why Digital Standards
III. Mississippi Digital Standards
1. Winlink Email
2. NBEMS
IV. Digital Nets in Mississippi
V. Digital Equipment Standards
A. MS ARES Digital Interface Standard
VI. What About the Internet?
Download the FLDIGI Suite of Software: FLDIGI Software
I. WHY EVERY ARES TEAM NEEDS DIGITAL CAPABILITIES
The Amateur radio voice mode is useful for tactical communications and will never go away.
However, since email, texting, instant messages, live chat, and the transfer of images, files, and standard forms are used daily by the agencies we serve, we who provide them with emergency backup communications are increasingly expected to be able to conform to these ubiquitous modes of communication.
Fortunately, we have digital amateur radio modes which handle each of these types of communication very effectively when their normal infrastructure fails. By providing digital modes, in addition to voice, we are able to cover all of our served agencies most pressing needs during an emergency.
Far from becoming obsolete, Mississippi ARES amateur radio operators have stayed on the cutting edge of technology and emcomm usefulness, by adopting the digital modes.
II. WHY STANDARDS?
The best statement we have seen on the need for Standards was written by Harry Bloomberg W3YJ, the Assistant SEC for Western Pennsylvania ARES:
“An incident or disaster is no time for experimenting. Time and effort must not be wasted in getting on the air and sending traffic. We must minimize the amount of time needed to refamiliarize ourselves with techniques and methods that we may not use often in our everyday amateur radio activities. We must also be sure that all ARES groups within the Section can easily communicate with each other and help each other.
One of the keys to digital emcomm success is the adoption of standards. Once standard software packages and digital modes have been agreed upon, we can train on these methods, have documentation prepared in advance and available in EOCs and go-kits for use during an incident, and train a large pool of operators who are knowledgeable in these common practices who can be easily “plugged into” a deployment team.
Standards can sometimes be controversial. It’s been said that between two hams there are three opinions. Discussions about techniques and modes can sometime reach a religious fervor. But decisions must be made, otherwise we won’t be ready when called upon to serve and we will run the risk of not being able to communicate with each other.
These standards have been adopted based upon experience in drills and actual events. But these standards are not carved into stone tablets. Should there be a difference of opinion, we are willing to listen to constructive criticism. But there must be standards, otherwise we will run the risk of chaos during an incident.”
III. MISSISSIPPI STANDARDS
To be useful for ARES purposes, digital stations must be capable of establishing reliable, NVIS, point-to-point, repeater independent, Internet independent, digital Amateur Radio operation on VHF frequencies for local emcomm and on HF frequencies for state-wide emcomm.
After years of extensive testing, Mississippi ARES has adopted the following digital modes for emergency communications: Winlink Email, and NBEMS.
1. Winlink Email
The Winlink Global Radio Email System is a worldwide radio messaging system that uses amateur radio frequencies to send, receive, relay, store and forward email (including attachments), position reports, and weather bulletins. It is well known for its central role in amateur radio emergency communications messaging.
Mississippi ARES has adopted Winlink for local, statewide, and nationwide emergency email communications.
One of the major goals for Central Mississippi ARES is for all our team members to become skilled in sending digital messages via 100% RF.
All of our ARES members are encouraged to obtain Winlink email accounts, purchase a Signalink USB or Digirig interface, download the latest WinLink Express software and practice using it P2P, and to connect to RMS Gateway Stations in VARA mode.
The first step is downloading the free program (https://www.winlink.org/), getting a Winlink email address, and learning how to send and receive emails with it.
For individual learning purposes only this can be done using telnet mode, which makes use of your internet connection. This allows you to start learning how to use the program before your SignaLink USB arrives in the mail or before you get your digital NVIS antenna built.
However, during training, drills, and tests, all ARES teams and members need to practice sending messages through 100% RF, to keep their digital skills sharp and their equipment freshly tested in preparation for emergency activations.
For email during an emergency, Central Mississippi ARES has adopted the use of Winlink Express and VARA HF mode to place email into the WinLink Global Radio Email System.
NEW WINLINK NET FORMAT EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2025. SEE NET OPERATIONS PAGE FOR DETAILS.
Winlink Information: http://www.winlink.org/
Winlink Instructional Videos:
1. Winlink Introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGhUfW8pjY8
2. Setting up SignaLink USB Sound Levels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G1DBs-04MM
3. Winlink Express Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3IHZofQrPI
4. Winlink Express Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahE2YWoSgpc
5. Winlink Express Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58e3uH6x0DI
Link to newer Winlink Basics videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcBrg-5drc84N1GU9zhWwCF9HisFc8L_a
2. NBEMS
The Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System, commonly referred to as NBEMS, is a keyboard-to-keyboard digital sound card mode system, which uses the free Fldigi software suite composed of Fldigi, Flmsg and Flamp, to host text-based (chat-room-like) nets and to send and receive error free messages, forms, and bulletins in real time, as well as through scheduled and unattended automation.
The NBEMS can be used over HF with a SignaLink USB interface between the radio and computer and over VHF/UHF FM with or without a SignaLink USB interface.
The NBEMS has easy to fill out forms built into Flmsg for all of the major agencies amateur radio operators serve: Radiograms, ICS forms, Hospital forms, Red Cross forms, National Weather Service SKYWARN Storm Spotter Report form, Hurricane net form, MARS forms, and Civil Air Patrol forms. It has templates for creating your own specialized forms and is also capable of sending spreadsheets and small photographs (such as photos of storm damage).
Fldigi Wiki: http://www.w1hkj.com/doku/doku.php?id=start
Fldigi User’s Manual: http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp/index.html
NBEMS Instructional Videos:
1. Getting Started with Fldigi/NBEMS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNBJnDHCw_M
2. Fldigi Set up and Configuration for New Users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKZapCXJdAw
3. Fldigi UI and Basic Operations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HM9vk_zuz0
4. Using Fldigi Macros and using Flwrap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNy9vWfxkr0
5. Flmsg Configuration and Operations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_hP_Nddu2A
6. Flamp Configuration and Operations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMFx7h-hTt0
USING NBEMS ON 2 METER FM (Simplex and Repeaters):
7. Basic NBEMS FLDIGI set up for use with MT63-2KL mode on FM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWZ2vKWSilE
8. Acoustic Coupling with FLDIGI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRNQ7sPSmWQ
Setting up SignaLink USB Sound Levels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G1DBs-04MM
IV. DIGITAL NETS IN MISSISSIPPI
1. Central Mississippi ARES Digital VHF Net (CMA-DVHF)
Who: ARES, RACES, SKYWARN members, and all persons interested in digital modes. You do not have to have digital to check in.
What: A practice net with digital check-ins and traffic passing. Instructions and assistance handled using voice if needed.
Purpose: Introductory training in using NBEMS & Winlink
Time: Monday, 8:00 pm — 2nd and 4th Mondays VHF, 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays HF
VHF Frequency: Pelahatchie Repeater: 145.390 -0.6 offset 77 Hz, 1500 Hz on the waterfall
First Backup: Sharon Repeater: 145.450 -0.6 offset 77 Hz tone
Second Backup: Monterey Repeater: 146.760 -0.6 offset 77 Hz tone
HF Frequency: 3.577 MHz, Thor22, 1000 Hz on the waterfall
Net Manager: Robert Errington, AG5B
Contact: netmanager@msares.com
2. Central Mississippi ARES VHF Training Net (CMA-VHF)
Who: ARES, RACES, SKYWARN members and all licensed amateur radio operators
What: A training net with voice check-ins and NTS format message traffic passing
Purpose: Training in ARES net procedures, traffic handling, and storm spotter reporting
Time: Monday, 7:00 pm
Frequency: Pelahatchie Repeater: 145.390 -0.6 offset 77 Hz tone
First Backup: Sharon Repeater: 145.450 -0.6 offset 77 Hz tone
Second Backup: Monterey Repeater: 146.760 -0.6 offset 77 Hz tone
Third Backup: Langford Repeater: 147.345 +0.6 offset 100Hz tone
Net Manager: Maury Mullins, KG5SQZ
Contact: netmanager@msares.com
3. Central Mississippi ARES Winlink Net (CMA-W)
Who: ARES, RACES, SKYWARN members, and all persons interested in sending email over HF Amateur Radio frequencies
What: Winlink allows you to send email through amateur radio frequencies to RMS Gateway stations around the country and world, which automatically place your email into the normal internet email system.
Purpose: To provide practice in sending email, radiograms, ICS-213 forms, and SKYWARN Storm Spotter Reports to prepare our members for emergency activations.
Time: Available 24/7.
Software Needed: Winlink Express: https://www.winlink.org/WinlinkExpress
Mode: ARDOP, VARA, VARA FM, Packet, Robust Packet, Pactor. Note: Telnet (internet) may be used temporarily by those who plan to, but have not yet, finished establishing their amateur radio digital station.
Frequency: Any RMS Gateway Station you can connect to on HF (160, 80, 60, 40, 20, 17, 15, 10 meters), or VHF/UHF (2 meters, 70 centimeters)
Send Check In Email To: K5FIT, KG5SQZ
Net Manager: K5FIT
Contact: netmanager@msares.com
VHF DIGITAL NET PROCEDURES IN DETAIL
Digital nets on VHF may not blanket the entire state like NVIS HF digital nets, but they do have one very big advantage over HF digital nets when it comes to training and instruction. By FCC regulations, most HF digital bands don’t allow voice mode. This means all communication on them must be done via digital mode.
However, VHF has no such restrictions, which means you can use both voice and digital modes on the same net. This makes VHF digital nets perfect for assisting stations who are still setting up their stations and tweaking their software. Often stations having trouble transmitting or receiving digital transmissions on the net can by voice mode be “talked-through” common set-up and control panel configuration errors and get their digital stations transmitting and receiving properly.
The Central MS Digital Training Net takes advantage of the VHF benefits by having check-ins, instructions, queries, and assistance all given by voice mode so that everyone who checks into the net can hear and understand what is going on. Then at various times during the net the Net Control Station will present opportunities for participating stations to test their digital station’s ability to receive a digital transmission sent by net control.
After the initial check in and net information given by voice mode, Net Control will ask digital stations to standby to receive a digital welcome message by screen text on fldigi. Then one by one, he will query each station which stated during check-in that their digital stations were on frequency, asking what percent of his text they copied.
Anyone whose digital station was not able to receive this transmission is offered suggestions in voice mode, usually consisting of a brief talk through several set-up configurations in the fldigi set-up panel. This process is repeated with Net Control sending a Radiogram, ICS form, or Storm Spotter Report using the built-in forms in flmsg.
V. DIGITAL EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
It is easy to understand the need for having standard operating procedures, but having standard operating equipment is also important. By standardizing on specific equipment, our ARES members can be deployed to any agency and instantly know how to use their equipment. Equally important, our ARES members will be able to bring their team equipment and/or their own personal equipment and be assured that it is completely compatible with any other equipment already at the agency or deployed by any other ARES Team on site.
EXAMPLE: One example of equipment standardization is the choice of power connector. Each brand of radio comes with its own power connector. Mississippi ARES has followed ARRL’s recommendation to standardize on using Anderson Powerpole connectors on all of our radios and power supplies. That way any of our ARES Team members who deploy to work emcomm can bring their personal radios to an agency and not have to worry about if it is compatible with the power supply already in use at the agency.
Mississippi ARES requires all of its members to replace the connector on every radio and power supply they plan to use during an ARES activation with an Anderson Powerpole. Doing so well in advance of an emergency deployment will prevent a potentially disastrous operational interruption.
A. MS ARES Digital Interface Standard: SignaLink USB
Mississippi ARES has standardized on using the SignaLink USB as the interface between the radio and the computer for all HF and VHF digital communications during deployments. For this reason, it is very important for all Mississippi ARES members to use the SignaLink USB interface during their digital training and practice sessions.
After much research, consultation with the leading Digital ARES teams in the nation, and comparison with other available interfaces, the SignaLink USB was chosen by Mississippi ARES for several good reasons:
1. Through years of testing by Mississippi ARES and other state’s ARES teams which pioneered digital emcomm, the SignaLink USB has proven to be the best interface for digital emcomm usage. It has become the de facto standard digital interface of most ARES teams in the USA.
2. SignaLink USB is the interface which WinLink was designed to work with and is recommended by the WinLink Development team.
3. SignaLink USB has its own LOW NOISE sound card isolated outside of the computer to prevent device interference.
4. SignaLink USB does not require you to mess with your computer’s volume settings.
5. SignaLink USB is easier to set up and use than other interfaces.
6. SignaLink USB runs off of your computer’s power. No need for any other power supply.
7. SignaLink USB is by far much easier to adjust the transmit and receive signals on the fly during QSOs.
8. SignaLink USB allows you to connect to your radio’s data-port or accessory port.
9. SignaLink USB has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules.
More details can be found here: http://www.tigertronics.com/slusbmain.htm
NOTE ON PURCHASING A SIGNALINK USB: It is important when purchasing a SignaLink USB that Mississippi ARES members purchase modules which have manually configurable jumpers. That way they can be configured to work with a wide variety of radios. The “Plug and Play” modules have the jumper soldered in place and only work with one specific radio which greatly limits their usefulness by an ARES Team.
INTERFACE USAGE EXCEPTION – VHF/UHF ACOUSTIC COUPLING: The only exception Mississippi ARES makes to using an interface (the SignaLink USB) between the radio and computer is for times when Acoustic Coupling is required. Acoustic Coupling allows ARES Teams which have not yet purchased a SignaLink USB to send and receive digital messages and participate in digital nets on 2 meter and 70 cm repeaters. All they need is a radio, a computer (laptop), and the free NBEMS software (fldigi, flwrap, flmsg).
OPERATIONAL NOTE: Because of its size, be sure to center MT63-2000L on 1500Hz on the waterfall, not on the usual 1000Hz we center on when on HF.
VI. WHAT ABOUT THE INTERNET?
Is it acceptable to use the Internet for passing digital messages on behalf of served agencies during training, drills, tests, and emergencies?
As we are taught in the ARRL Emergency Communications course, all emergencies are not the same. Therefore, Amateur Radio Operators must remain flexible and use whatever works BEST, while using the fewest weak links as possible. If phones are available, we use them. If FAX is available, we use it. If the internet is available, we use it. When all else fails, we use 100% RF.
The internet is no longer the resilient infrastructure it was originally created to be. Economic incentives for resource sharing and peering have led to the emergence of a limited number of super hubs which link the regional webs of the Internet together. The demise of any of these weak links could cut off internet traffic for whole regions of the country.
Since the Internet is a weak link in the communications chain, and is getting weaker every year, it is vital that our ARES teams establish alternative back-up digital communications for the agencies they serve.
Winlink Global Email, Packet, and the Narrow Band Emergency Messaging System (NBEMS) are the three most vetted and used systems by ARES teams in the United States, for handling digital emergency communications via amateur radio.
One thing which was proven during Mississippi’s 2016 SET is certain — digital modes via 100% RF continue to get messages through when nothing else does. Mississippi ARES teams with digital stations successfully tested and proved this using Winlink Express, Packet, and the NBEMS.
Copyright Central MS ARES 2021-2026