Mobile event and emergency communications best practices from Minnesota Amateur radio operators.

1. Tower/Generators, Ski Events and
VOADs
Erik Westgard, NY9D
2/10/22 1.31
Volunteer Medical Communications Coordinator,
Medtronic Twin Cites Marathon
Red White and Boom Half Marathon
Loppet City of Lakes Winter Festival
http://www.14567.org
ny9d@arrl.net

2. Amateur Radio Public Service in 2022
• Is standing around for government/cellular radio systems to fail
boring?
• Embedded in agencies- EMS, hospitals, counties, NGOs
• Pivot from written message traffic to databases and dashboards
• Capabilities + direct service
– Missing persons/ family reunification
– Aid stations /medical support/ medical command centers (medical
resource shortages)
– Weather spotting
– IP Video
– Duties as assigned (food distribution, IT support etc.)
– Disaster clean up (Crisis Cleanup, VOAD, etc.)
• Assets*- repeaters, networks, generators and tower trailers
• A Ham Radio license is a valid credential
• “Unwanted Volunteers” are prized, trusted and recruited
*(Go-kits are not welcome at large
sporting events )

3. Aid
Stations
Amateur
Radio
Assets
Net1
Data
+
22 Water
Stops/
100 Yellow
Shirts
5 + 4 voice
repeaters
911 service
300 Rented
UHF Radios
5G Mesh backbone
Net Controls- distributed
Mesh data entry/query
On-Course Med Director
RaceSafe
Finish Line EMS Dispatch
Database
Net 4 (course inter-tie)
Medical Ch.1 Control
Medical Director
Family Medical
Info Tent
Bus Drop-off
iPads
IP phones
Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Medical Communications
Yellow shirts (hams) backstop 911 /EMS medical communications and dispatch volunteer resources and track injured runners
Injured /dropped out runner location data flows to the local server and status dashboard
Course tactical operations are autonomous (ICS)
“Runner Down” protocol is always 911
Finish Line
802.11a/n protocol
802.11a/OLSR Part 15 mesh link
Net2 Net3 Medical Tent Family Medical
Race
Operations
Center
Internet
RaceSafe
Finish Data (chip mats)
Net 1: (Miles 1-18) Minneapolis (Maple Grove/TCFMC)
Net 2: (Miles 18-22) Hennepin County ICC Truck (ARMER)
Net 3: (Miles 23-26) St. Paul Dispatch Center (911)
Net 4: Finish / Medical Command Center
Type 3 Incident
Unified Command
Ham in Medical Seat in ROC

4. RaceSafe Medical Dashboard Software
irunsafe.com
trivnetdb in
the TCM
data trailer
API
Amateur Family Medical
Information Tent agents (6-8)
Either a single
integrated
view or windows to both/all apps
TCM Race
Timing Web
MDs
Medical
admissions
Command centers
Query + updates
Events +
Timestamps
Part 97 Requirements:
Non HIPAA event view,
API feed to trivnetdb
EMR
PHR
data
Mobile
devices

5. Ham Radio Open SourceTracking Software: Trivnetdb
Missing /dropped out/ill runner
web runner lookup and update
Runner location only- non
HIPAA
Can be used for family
reunification, vaccine stations
Owner: KD8GBL

6. Other Amateur Duties/Roles 2022
• Medical Command Center, staffed 100% by radio amateurs. All non-911 volunteer resources are in our scope. We also
monitor 911 radio traffic using authorized volunteers to ensure our reports are accurate; e.g., the right bib number and
runner cross street location.
• Provision of a fully redundant "lights out" backup radio system. This is a specific, requested function.
• Assignments on Command trucks, which house some of our net controls who provide liaison to government radio systems
and are under our direction.
• At our events and others, 350 rented trunked radios are the backbone of event communications (a best practice). We
provide net controls for the medical channels - the Incident Commander checks in and is on our rented radio nets all race.
• Transport tracking and hospital capacity management -- using secure systems and authorized officials we ensure families
know where runners are transported. We do not share medical condition information.
• Family reunification -- if runners drop off the course or are injured, we reunite runners with their families.
• Wheel chair and medical electric cart dispatching.
• Aid station support on the course.
• Hams every mile for dropped out runner reporting and situational awareness.
• Shadows for key officials as requested.
• Medical tent runner check-in and check out.
• Support and provide student EMTs, Medical Reserve Corps and volunteer resources, such as mutual aid at the sprawling
finish line area.
• Support published disaster and evacuation plans.
• Support bike medics
• Track SAG (Supplies and Gear) bus location and passengers.
• Train users on medical applications.
• Provide input to the development of ICS 205/206 frequency lists and Incident Action Plan (IAP).

7. The Database and Dashboard Gap
Winston Churchill’s WWII
War Room.
Message traffic
Phones
Dashboard /Map
What Amateur Radio /ARES
software supports real time
data and or dashboarding?
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-10-covid-dashboard-highlights-gaps-pandemic.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchill_War_Rooms

8. Ham and Provider Strike Teams
• At our events, we are operational assets not support (i.e.
not in Service Branch)
• The Service Branch under logistics is not “customer
facing” – the Medical Unit is internal

9. As a Strike Team what skills are needed?
• Yes
– First aid (as directed) i.e. EMT courses
– Traige (as directed)
– Ground truth (25 homes destroyed vs a ruined shed
from a fallen tree)
– WebEoc etc.
– Video
– In EMS lingo, volunteers only handle “Green” cases*
• No
– Land mobile programming
– Winlink
*One of our EMS partners brought this up with Astroworld- 2021

10. Why Mesh?
• Served agency leadership is increasingly using real time
dashboards, databases and video - “Better data better
decisions” is a common request/theme
• The Red Cross has moved to a cloud database called RC
Care
• Mesh, based on standard, low cost, outdoor rated WiFi
hardware, offers high data rates and allows peer-peer
connectivity
• Very short tactical range except dish to dish (line of sight)
• MN ARES has adopted AREDN software and Channels -2
and 180, 10m bandwidth:
https://www.arednmesh.org/content/current-software

11. Twin Cities Mesh Network 7/19
5Ghz Mesh High Speed Part 15* “TWINSLAN Medical Command Network”
In production since 2011 for live video, dashboard apps, voice and family reunification
Encryption is supported for medical records, law enforcement as needed
* Caused the “Revolt of the COMLs”

12. Minneapolis Live Video from St Paul Fire Station Four

13. Mesh Video Aggregation from Command Truck, 15,000 acre lake

14. 2/20 City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival
Urban ski race- five distributed aid stations
Super volunteer friendly
42 KM course
HQ located in a valley
Needed a tower trailer – none was available

15. 2/2020 Broken “Light Tower” Trailer found online* - $700
30’ tower (crank up)
Group 27 deep cycle
50w solar panel
TWINSLAN mesh
2.4 Wifi
GP95 2m/440/1.2
Spare antenna mounts
6KW diesel (soon)
Bent axle
Consultant: N0NAS
*A popular wholesale/surplus/auction market for light towers is on www.ironplanet.com
1.0 Vision

16. Decisions -$500 Broken or $1200 Running?
Injection pumps ($$)
Governor 1800 rpm (missing)
Glow plugs
6kw Generator –
Semi interchangeable
This diesel is a Lister-Petter LPW4 (also military)
Cylinder/piston wear?
Tires, bearings, lift cables and jacks
Diesel Creek- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2phV49_o6S4

17. Field Day, June 2020
6M beam, propane generator, dipoles, mesh Ta33jr, dipole support
G5RV
“A broken generator is good ballast”

18. Hams in the Park and Convoy Operations

19. Little White #11 ($425*) 12/2020 Auction Pickup
Lombardini FOCS 27 hp
30+ gallons diesel
6kw generator
30’ tower
….
Assessment:
Cement dust !
Needs tires
Replace pintle hitch
Trailer wiring
Rusted jacks
Low coolant
No key (!)
Missing exhaust pipe
Bad main windings (2) **
Stuck rotation screw
Missing light nuts
2/13/21: Running diesel, 45A@12V alternator, (HF rig + repeater), mesh antennas,
Group 24 marine battery, room for a repeater- pondering a main generator swap-
*Does $425 + tax require formal grant funding- no. Insurance is $32/year.
**Hint- check main windings for opens

20. Bumblebee #13 – Wisconsin scrap line -$140
Missing trailer coupler
No generator output
5’ wide vs 4.5’ or 4’
Electric hoist
Generator run capacitor replaced
$12 universal coupler part
6KW 120V/240V output
Light(s) still inop- not sure why
(300V vs 600V AC)

21. No-Touch Concierge Delivery, Ritchie
Brothers, Medford, MN 3/21 Trailer #12
30’ Tower, 6KW 30A 240VAC, Lombardini FOCS
diesel, 60 hours run time with onboard fuel @.45gph

22. Was Orange Now Black #1 (L) Jolly Green Generator #8 (R)
5G Part 15
Mesh
5G AREDN*
PTZ Camera
2x100K Lumens
3kw propane
Pipe mount
Repeater
2G AREDN*
6KW Diesel
https://hamradiosigns.co.uk/product/reflective-tower-yagi-logo-call-sign-sticker
7/20
* Solved the “Revolt of the COMLs”- power only air-gapped

23. Mesh Video Uplink - Basic
Video capture- tripod, battery, Ubiquiti radio,
$49 ONVIF IP camera, $99 ice fishing tent
Video edit/uplink – Open Broadcast Studio
Mesh* backbone, PTZ camera as required
*We did learn OLSR/mesh likes to reconverge randomly if it sees multiple paths

24. Live Mesh to YouTube Video at the Wirth Park Pre-
Loppet + Loppet Winter Festival 1/17, 30, 31/21

25. Field Day 6/2021
MN VOAD Simulation
Comms Trailer 2-3 Operators
Tower /Repeater trailer with TT-30
Outlet, dual fuel generator, Mesh/Wi-Fi
Diesel power backup- N+1 6KW
120 hours total fuel + third unit
240V to 120V load balancing
transformer
- 50A RVs with dual A/C
put 30A diesel gensets at risk
- Excellent reliability
- Focus on critical workloads
- 15KW or 20KW tower- nice to have

26. Dawg House + Vin (Diesel)
All weather
Sturdy, towable by Sno-Cat
No winterizing
Easy to store, tested
15KW @240+120+ 3 phase @208
Good for 50A RVs
$750

27. Video Uplink- Advanced
Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon 10/2021
Tower trailer PTZ IP video via mesh relay to
Command truck, up to YouTube.
Downlink in Race Ops Center, then to HSIN for first responders

28. MNVOAD- Downdraft- I
SET Exercise in Long Lake
Park, 10/2021. The Red Cross
and Salvation Army
participated. We sent a disaster
declaration message and
simulated sheltering and feeding
for 200 people and 30 animals
under lights out and
communications failure after a
weather event

29. 2021/2022 Events
• Pre-Loppet – Video https://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2021-01-20
• Loppet Winter Festival – Mesh Video
https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/01/30/city-of-lakes-loppet-winter-
festival/
• Junior Regional Championships- 3/5-7 Loppet- Video
https://www.loppet.org/events/juniorchampionships/
• Chisago Lakes Triathalon 8/18 - Repeater Trailer
https://www.hometownsource.com/the_post_review/sports/chisago-lakes-
triathlon-local-finishers/article_a79c712c-a30e-11e8-87df-3bf55750f390.html
• Downdraft I- MNVOAD Exercise - https://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2021-
11-17
• Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon- Medical Command Center + Mesh Video
10/21 https://www.tcmevents.org/events/medtronic-twin-cities-marathon-
weekend-2021
• Klondike Dog Derby 2/5/22
• Loppet Winter Festival 2/5-6/22

30. Proposed Silly* Trailer Rules
• Trailers get cute tactical names/colors (ask your wife)- consult your kids on the paint job
• Trailers are tested with our Strategic Technology Reserve assets and local mesh standards. We hand
out radios and antennas for this. If everyone sets them up their own way they cannot work together or
add value.
• The ownership should be widely distributed to prevent any one person from taking them over.
• Ideally we have a three hour response time state wide. Seven here are on 20 minute warm standby.
Four hours to find which box in the basement has the antennas and which bin has the feedlines is not
good.
• Trailers should travel in convoy for the best visual effect. I can see these in parades, county fairs, etc.
• Citizen Science is the idea here- creative technology is encouraged- this is a
technology/service/hobby project. Remember "State of the Radio Art" from someplace?
• If more than one trailer is needed at once - ask- "Barn Raising" is the model
• These are intended to be cheap, abundant and deployable- more like cattle vs a prized race horse. If
you have $10,000 in it or it is powering your house it can't be out helping others.
• The idea is we are volunteer Ham Radio operators - think bass boat armada for water rescues.
• Hams in a given county should have at least as much rolling tower/generator capacity as the County
EM
Thanks to N0NAS and KD8GBL for advice and support
*Every effort is being made to not take this effort too seriously. A beverage cooler was a suggested add-on.

31. Our Future- From the CISA
Communications Section Task Force: Defining the Future State of the Communications Section (cisa.gov) Accessed 1/20/22
We do this today at our events and for MNVOAD

32. Some Strategy Advice
Volunteer Emergency Services Maturity Model (K8JK)
1. Integrated volunteer emergency management
(MNVOAD-ground truth and CAN-P reporting)
2. Family reunification /Medical management
3. Interoperable communications /backup EOC staffing
4. Amateur Radio traffic handling /shadows
5. Backup communications
Vision for ARES® 3.0
Mission: To provide state of the art volunteer emergency communications and IT Service Management to government agencies, events,
NGOs and the general public.
Divisions:
1. Government. Trained, vetted individuals to meet demanding government volunteer requirements
2. Events. The largest outdoor events depend on dedicated, trusted volunteers to enhance participant and spectator safety
3. VOAD and NGO support. Volunteers helping volunteers partnering to deliver critical support to those in need
4. Innovation Lab. Uniting builders and makers to develop technical solutions to meet current and emerging challenges