The next PH CERT Southeast Area Meeting is Monday September 8, 2025, at 5:30 PM at the PH CERT SE Area Assembly Area Assembly Area/ICP in PH Park.

All CERT members are welcome.

Exercise Description:

·        If you have a GMRS or FRS radio, please bring it.  A small number of radios will be available for use if you don’t have one.

·        We will set up the SE Area GMRS radio antenna and radio.

·        Using GMRS and FRS radios, we will test the ability to communicate between the PH CERT SE Area ICP and sections of the PH CERT SE Area that are farthest from the SE Area ICP and/or may have obstacles to radio signals getting through or getting through without static.

·        In the interest of time, the messages will be limited to identifying the sender’s location and type of radio used.  In other words, we will not be practicing scenario evaluation.  A sample script is below.

·        This exercise will allow the SE Area Message Center operator to practice receiving messages and recording and logging them.

If you can’t participate in person, but you can listen/call in on your own radio at home, please do so.
Let us know how well (or not) you can hear callers.
We will use channel 6, subchannel 0/CTCSS off.

Schedule:

Time (approximate) Activity
5:30 – 5:35 PM Sign in
5:30 – 5:45 PM Set up table and chairs for FRS/GMRS Message Center
5:30 – 5:45 PM Set up GMRS antenna and radio
5:45 PM Assign FRS/GMRS Message Center operator (and scribe?)
5:45 PM Assemble teams and distribute lists of destinations
5:50 PM Prior to departure, perform radio check at ICP (channel 6)
5:50 PM Depart for destinations
6:00 – 7:00 PM Call the SE Area ICP from destinations
7:00 – 7:15 PM Return to SE Area ICP
7:15 PM Debrief
7:15 – 7:30 PM Take down GMRS antenna and return antenna, radios, table, and chairs
7:30 PM Sign out
Script:
 
This script includes two transmissions, first using a GMRS radio, followed by using an FRS radio.
The SE Area Message Center will use a GMRS radio.
The GMRS call sign for the SE Area Message Center will be provided at the exercise.
Always preface the message with, “This is a test.”

SE <Team name>: “SE ICP, this is SE <Team Name> using GMRS.  Over.”

SE ICP:                   “SE <Team name>, this is SE ICP; go ahead.  Over.”

SE <Team name>: “SE ICP, this is SE <Team Name>.  I am at <location>.  <GMRS call sign>.  Over.”

SE ICP:                   “SE <Team Name>, this is SE ICP, I read (clear, static, etc.).  Switch to FRS.  Over.”

SE <Team name>: “SE ICP, this is SE <Team name> using FRS.  Over.”

SE ICP:                   “SE <Team name>, this is SE ICP; go ahead.  Over.”

SE <Team name>: “SE ICP, this is SE <Team Name>.  I am at <location>.  Over.”

SE ICP:                   “SE <Team name>, this is SE ICP, I read (clear, static, etc.).

Move to the next location.  Over.”

SE <Team name>: “SE ICP, this is SE <Team name>.  Moving to next location.  Out.”

SE ICP:                   “SE <Team name>, this is SE ICP; confirmed.  <GMRS call sign>.  Out.”

Move to the next location and repeat the script.