PowerPoint Presentation

ECX Safety and Communications

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Welcome to ECX 2014Thank You for Helping!YOU are part of a CRITICAL safety net for a group of people working in a remote and harsh environmentYOUR Knowledge and skill may help save a life!TRAINING is a critical component to our success!

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ECX 2014 OverviewTHREE Race Distances12 Dog 200 Mile8 Dog 100 mile6 Dog Pot Race (2 Days, 60 miles total)Typically about 10-15 teams total (19-20 expected this year)ECX started in 2005Some changes in the course each year

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Changes for ECX 2014No major changesRace Course very similar to last yearComm-Trac improvements based on feedback from last yearNo checkpoint at Twin Lakes

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ECX OrganizationECX is a 501 (c)(3) organizationBoard of DirectorsRandy GreenshieldsLynnie AppletonTroy NaveTerry HineslyJulian Pridmore-Brown

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Operation of the RaceThe Race Marshall is the overall person in charge of the race. Race Judge Assists.Race Judge is the assistant to the Race MarshallRace Marshall delegates the Operations aspect to the Operations Chief (Ops Chief)Each checkpoint has a Manager who reports to the Ops ChiefComms basic role is to provide a communications link between the Ops Chief and the ManagersAdditional roles include information tracking.

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ECX Operational StructureOps ChiefSCS ManagerChris BullatNet Control OperatorsNet Control Unit Leader

Ollokot ManagerRaider HeckFergi ManagerJerry HustavaTrail BossGlenn McDonaldSnow Safety Keith Stebbings(SAR/SAFETY)SCS Unit LeaderDan Smith

SCS Comms Team

Ollokot Unit LeaderTaylor SmithOllokot Comms TeamFergi Unit LeaderMike MooreFergi Comms

Trail Mobile LeadDoug HormannTrail Crew

QRT CommsKeith StebbingsOllokot QRTEJ Brandt

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Ops Chief RoleThe Ops Chief has command responsibility for the operation of the race.Position rotates among three people at Race CentralPaige SullyDoug BuskaJulian Pridmore-Brown Ops Chief depends on accurate information from the fieldOps Chief will confer with several individuals

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Ops Chief RoleComms team is responsible for collecting information, recording it, and entering it into Comm-Trac.Net Control works very closely with the Ops Chief.Net Control Operators need to maintain a high level of situational awareness (SA).We work as a team to ensure high SA!Everyone is a leader

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Red FlagsConfusionUnresolved discrepanciesConflicting informationUnsure who is making a decision and whenA uneasy feeling about something

Speak Up!!! Say Something.....Make your concerns known.

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ECX ProceduresOllokot Core Team List We wont know this until Race day. Ollokot Comms will compile the list and transmit it once, Subsequent personnel accounting need only refer to the Core team and will include everyone on the list.We will attempt to process weather observations according to the schedule.Net control identification is not required unless transmitting. The repeater system is open to other users.The repeater will announce the event and automatic weather updatesAutomatic voice announcements are silenced from 2130-0600Net control may make additional identification announcements, if desired.

ECX ProceduresAdditional race and more mushers requires extra work at Fergi.We will attempt to communicate to Net Control any departures from Ollokot or SCS before they actually leave.Tactical Callsigns same as last year.Ops-1 Communications CoordinatorSAR/SAFETY Sar Winter team lead and ECX Snow Safety OfficerSAR-2 SAR at SCS (Thursday?)COMM TECH Scott Hampton, Network Technical CoordinatorQRT has a dedicated Comms person. When QRT is deployed use callsign RESCUE-1.

Procedures Non-NormalsSAR Team may be called by ECX through SAR / SAFETYSAR team all have TAC-1 on ALL SAR RadiosSCS is a CRITICAL Relay point in the event of a technical failure or a emergency on the course.SCS may have to relay from TAC-1 to NET-5

Basic Comms ProtocolMinimize transmissions, while VERIFING ALL information!We will operate as a directed netRepeater system is open to other usersAlways acknowledge a question with at least a standby. Otherwise the asking station will repeat the question, wasting air time and batteries!Always identify with your FCC callsign after your last transmission / or every 10 min

Basic Comms ProtocolRefer to all ECX freqs by their designators. NET-5Relays Relays maybe one way or two way. Net control needs to determine this beforeBackcountry stations may not hear each other on NET-4. Remember NET-4 is NOT a repeater! Is is a REMOTE BASE frequency.

Net and TAC ChannelsOn a NET ChannelNet Control only needs to say who they are callingField stations need to only say their own callsignOn a TAC Channel Use both calling and receiving callsigns

ECX 2014 Course OverviewThe following maps are a rough outline and only approximate the courseAccurate maps will be available Use these maps to familiarize yourself with the terrain and geographic names.

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ECX Operations ManualThe manual provides a place to document how we do businessIntent is NOT that everyone knows the document inside out!Should be used as a referenceHelps keep track of all the information that gets generated and distributed

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ECX Safety and Risk and ManagementSafety Concerns Mushers and VolunteersEnvironmentalWinter WeatherWind, Snow, AvalancheGeographyRemote AreaCommunication challengeMedicalEnvironmental ExposureFirst Aid response time

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Communications NetworkPrimary VHF NetworkCommercial grade equipment permanently installed at SCS. UHF RepeaterVHF Remote BaseSecondaryPactor on HFPrimary Network has backup provisions

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Joseph Repeater NET-3

Salt Creek Summit Repeater NET-5UHFVHF Remote BaseNET-4

Comm-Trac BasicsComm-Trac is used to track individuals, record information from checkpoints, record weather, and track mushersComm-Trac is a tool to maintain situational awareness

Basic RecordsBibs = Mushers Resources = everyone else, including checkpoints and individualsMain difference is how we deal with TIME

Recording TIMEResources updates are time stamped by comm-trac No need to report timeBibs require a reported time that is manually entered into comm-trac.The reported time is placed on the public website

ResourcesIndividuals traveling to a location will be tracked as individualsWhen an individual reaches a location, that location should report their arrivalThe individual should then be marked out of serviceOut of Service = no longer actively trackedAll information entered into comm-trac is retained

Main Points for CheckpointsTime only needs to be reported for Bib updatesIf the official time is not available, a resource update should be entered showing the musher has arrived.A bib update can follow when the official time is noted.Resource updates can be for any information that should be shared. Weather updated should follow the format on the form in the manual.Give net control a heads up about when type of update you will be giving: Bib UpdateResource UpdateWeather Report

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ConclusionThis completes the ECX intro training module.You should have a basic idea of the race organization and how you fit in.You should understand the role of Net Control and the Ops ChiefYou should have any unresolved questions answered.

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