The SEPAR Report: November-December 2025

Run Surrey Run

September and October have been busy months for SEPAR. At the beginning of September, we started off with the Run Surrey Run 5/10Km race. The Race was held on Sunday September 7th This year was the first year to have the streets completely closed to vehicular traffic. The race is growing every year and trying out different things to help improve the management of the event. This year the race organizer brought in commercial radios for the organizer and his staff, as well as their own bike observers with commercial radios. Previously SEPAR had provided amateur radio volunteers on bikes.

The plan was to provide a commercial bike radio and event management radio to the SEPAR trailer (running the event communications). A set of these would also be provided to the EOC with the amateur communications liaison station. Prior to the event day we did not know what these commercial radios would be, if a repeater was involved, and it they had been tested for coverage around the course. 

SEPAR had 21 volunteers posted around the race course, in the communications trailer, EOC, two on bicycles and at the Start/Finish area. Set up was quicky completed in the park and EOC. The extra event radios were delivered to SEPAR and tested. The commercial radios did work outside and Paulette VE7VPE acted as the liaison juggling three radios and the phone for SEPAR. The event radios did not work within the EOC building. We could at times hear a communication but most were unreadable. With this failure the EOC relied on all race communications through SEPAR net control (Andrew VA7LGN). 

Within the EOC the city has Police and Traffic management to oversee deployment of officers and management of issues related to the race. The police also work together with the traffic management staff to ensure roads are closed and monitored.

Prior to the race the contracted traffic management company’s radio system had some challenges which led to delays in road closures.  It also delayed the race start. After some investigation the problem was identified. To fix the problem the traffic management staff needed to move to another channel on their radios. This was taking some time as each intersection on the course had personnel which needed to be contacted. SEPAR stepped up and a broadcast to our team was made. This broadcast asked SEPAR operators to contact any nearby traffic staff and have them switch to the identified channel and check in with their dispatch. Our two SEPAR bike riders started a lap around the course passing this message along. Once this was done and the traffic closures were confirmed, the race started, albeit late. 

The runners began and the first runners were followed around the course with the radios being used to pass the location to the race organizers. The full 10km race was two laps around the course and as the 10km runners caught up to the 5km runners the course became very busy. Shuttle drivers were contacted to bring water and other items to the support stations around the course. Towards the end of the race, finding the last runner/walker was important to help with reopening roads, ensuring everyone was now off the roads. 

During the event we did have one injury, a fall with minor injuries (one of our volunteers), we had a small fire in the park near the finish line, and had some angry residents that wanted to use the closed roads prior to them being opened. Each one of these was relayed and dealt with using the assistance of the SEPAR radio team. 

When the event ended, the equipment was taken down and most of the SEPAR team met at a local restaurant to chat and debrief. Overall, it was another successful event showing the use of amateur radio and also showing how we have good radio coverage in a dense part of our city. The other agencies and city staff in the EOC saw how useful the cities’ volunteer radio operators are.

Feedback that we have identified from this event, for next year, is the value the amateur operators with bikes are to the event. We will try and increase the number of bikes in future years.

The other lesson learned was as a result of the issue the Traffic Management group had with their radios. Their commercial portable radios in the field only had channels 1-16 on the knob without any alpha numeric display. The EOC mobile radio being used had an alpha numeric display and names for the channels without numbers. This helped create the one of the issues they experienced. Learning from their experience SEPAR created a new simple channel naming and numbering plan. 

New SEPAR Short List Frequency Plan

Horace VA7XHB is one of our very busy members who helps with support the SARC Repeaters, Winlink Gateways and assists with programming radios to anyone who asks on Saturday morning. For some time, we have discussed a radio programming plan. We do have an agreed upon frequency plan within each municipality identifying primary and secondary repeaters, and simplex with both VHF and UHF identified. This frequency list is what the Province and Volunteer Emergency Radio groups will use during a disaster.

Some radios only have frequency display, some have alpha numeric, some radios are single band and other multiband radios. With the SEPAR program radios we can control the layout while the volunteers manage their own radios. They also have their own favorite repeaters and way in which they operate. So rather than create a big plan Horace had a very creative idea. 

SEPAR now has a SHORT LIST FREQUENCY PLAN

Our webpage (https://www.ve7sar.net/separ/frequencies) explains it well:

SEPAR maintains a short list of frequencies for those in the Surrey area to use.  This list has deliberately been kept to just nine entries which cover the primary frequencies used by amateur radio operators in the Surrey area.  By limiting the size, we allow radio operators to assign any block of 10 memory slots and then refer to them by channel number, without disrupting their existing frequency list.  These blocks could be frequencies 1-9, or 541-549.  For example, Channel 2 (VE7RSC VHF South) could be Frequency 2 or frequency 542 if your SEPAR block starts at 1 or 541, respectively.  We request that amateur radio operators in the Surrey area reserve any block of 10 memory slots and assign these frequencies to them for use in emergencies.” 

If your radio doesn’t have the 440Mhz or 220Mhz bands available in it leave those channels as blank/not used the number order. For clarification: In the list below if you don’t have 220 then channels 4 and 9 would read not used/blank.

Using the naming format shown in the table allows those with limited alpha-numeric size limit to also use the same name, as the maximum name size is just 6 characters.

This plan ensures that we can clearly communicate by both channel number and name where we are operating. If we need to move to another channel for any reason, it can be clearly identified and easily moved to. Most modern radios have large memory storage capabilities so we hope this is not a big ask for SEPAR volunteers.

The Great Shakeout Exercise

The other recent big event was the annual Great Shakeout. This is held the third Thursday of October. This year Oct 16 at 10:16 we “had a large earthquake”. The community at schools, workplaces practices “Drop! Cover! Hold On! (https://www.shakeoutbc.ca/)

For SEPAR this meant after 10:16 a net would be started on the local repeater. This is part of the standing message in our weekly net script:

After an emergency or disaster SEPAR members are asked to go to the repeater 147.360+ T110.9 (or via the south repeater using T103.5) to check in. If the repeater fails to respond, go to the simplex frequency of 146.550.

This year Scott VE7KAT volunteered to “start and run the net”. Scott is an experienced ham but not one of our regular NCO’s. He was simply given a copy of the script (available on our website) and some instructions on being prepared to take notes on information given by stations checking in. This is the realistic expectation of the first person on the frequency after an event. The net control continues until they are relieved and have passed any relevant information to the NCO assuming the net. As we develop tools and aids these will be posted to the SEPAR page on the website to make them available to everyone.

Those checking in were asked to provide to the net:

1. Your general location (Nearby cross street or hundred block)
2. Do you have any injuries or emergencies to report?
3. Do you have power, phone, internet connection?
4. What type of radio capabilities do you have right now. How long will your power last? Any damage to your home/business? 
5. If you are mobile, please report your direction of travel and any problems or issues you have seen on the road as a result of the earthquake. 

If capable, participants were also asked to send a “Did You Feel It” Winlink Report into the USGS, SEPAR, the Provincial Regional Emergency Operation Center, to our neighbors south of the border in Whatcom County EOC, and the WINLINK ETO training group.

• We had a successful net with 26 voice check ins from within the city, surrounding municipalities as well as from our US neighbors in Whatcom County. 
• There were 12 Winlink check ins with 6 of them from the US side.

Evaluation:

• Positive experience from participating radio operators.
• Net control did a good job.
• Net control built a form to aid with gathering data from participants during their check-ins.
• Most individuals checking in are not experienced in providing a concise report.
• Gathering the name of the person checking in can waste valuable time. (Most amateurs know each other)
• A brief report is all that is initially needed and some will provide to much information.
• Understanding what is important to provide is important. Injuries, significant damage in some areas with little damage in other areas can help responders know where to attend first.
• Greater training and use of the Winlink system would increase use.

Of Interest only one other amateur in British Columbia participated via Winlink. 
VE7PAE (top right) near Salmon Arm BC also checked in.

Feedback from Whatcom EOC:

• Established contact with Surrey, BC
• Good comms with Surrey SEPAR on both the Sumas VHF (145.230) and Surrey VHF (147.360) repeaters.

Outcome/Actions

New SEPAR Net Protocol has been created. This has resulted in an updated net script and includes a checklist to encourage participants to provide specific information to help improve reporting. The net script was also changed to help eliminate unnecessary information being repeated. For example, we will no longer ask if people will participate in the Simplex or Secondary net. The NCO will simply announce the net is changing frequencies and do a quick call down the list for everyone, no reply and they will move on quickly. Changes to net script and check-in protocol development have been published on the website (https://www.ve7sar.net/separ/separ-net-protocol).

We have created a list of important information to gather, a color system to help speed things up and some examples of how to use the script.

Protocol Information reported and Color Explanation:

• Callsign & Location: Self-explanatory.
• Radio:  Is your station fully operational, sufficiently charged (if portable), and ready for use?  Green means your station is fully operational and ready for use.  Yellow means it is operational but not perfectly functional.  Red means that while you are able to check in, your station is not expected to remain operational. A few words after Yellow or Red to briefly explain are welcome. 
• Internet: Do you have access to the Internet (either through your cell phone or your wired Internet)?  Green means you have full access to the Internet, either through your phone or via wired Internet.  Yellow means you have access to the Internet, but it is compromised. Red means you do not have access to the Internet.  A few words after Yellow or Red to briefly explain are welcome. 
• Grid Power: Is the power grid operational in your area?  Green means grid power is fully functional.  Yellow means power is available but it is intermittent or compromised.  Red means grid power is out.  A few words after Yellow or Red to briefly explain are welcome. 
• Roads: Are road conditions normal?  Normal includes routine traffic.  Green means roads are normal for that time and place.  Yellow means something unusual is happening, either an obstruction or higher-than-usual traffic.  Red means something severely unusual is happening.  A few words after Yellow or Red to briefly explain are welcome.
• Mobility and Availability: Do you have mobility and are you available for SEPAR assignments?  I am mobile/not-mobile by car/foot/bicycle/transit/other and am available/not-available for assignment.  Explanations are entirely unnecessary here.  If you are unavailable but anticipate being available later, please state this briefly.  
• Any further traffic:  Important issues only. Focus on conveying information as efficiently as possible, with as few words as possible.

The website provides definitions to help people understand the color system and why we are making this change. The SEPAR net is not a conversational net but a practice net for the emergency program. We encourage check ins and participation. To allow all hams and visitors to feel welcome the SEPAR Net Protocol is optional.

We will continue to evaluate and improve our program and will welcome feedback and comments.

As always if you have any questions or want further information on the SEPAR program please reach out.

~ Gord Kirk VA7GK
   Volunteer SEPAR Coordinator

   coordinator@separ.ca

Field Day 2025 - Come see us on June 28th

 

Field Day 2025 is rapidly approaching and planning for this event is well underway. It is the largest ham radio event of the year. This annual event combines the technical skills with outreach and preparedness. Part of amateur radio is also public service using our skills to support our local city with public event communications, preparedness for communications outages and education. SEPAR is city’s Emergency Program arm for amateur radio. Our local amateurs provide support to this program. Surrey Amateur Radio Communications (SARC) is the non-profit society that provides the local amateur radio activities which in turn create the enthusiastic and trained volunteers which volunteer with the city. 

Field day is both a contest and an emergency exercise. It challenges us to set up our equipment to get the best results which ensures we set up and test all of our equipment annually. It gives a chance for newly licensed amateurs to get on the air on a busy weekend where they will get to experience using the radio to make contacts throughout North America. It allows us to invite the city agencies to see our trained volunteers operating the equipment.

It is a tremendously fun time. The camaraderie of the local radio community coming together, visiting, sharing a meal or two and talking/using our radio gear is an annual highlight for amateur radio. It is also a fantastic reminder of the value of a trained amateur radio operator to the local community. Being confident in the use of our radios, and abilities. Knowing how far and to whom we can communicate with various modes in an emergency is extremely valuable. Whether it be digital modes, voice or CW having amateurs with radios and knowledge of how to use them is a skill that is extremely valuable in situations where normal communications are not possible.

Field day is the annual reminder to test out our gear. Is my radio programmed correctly, do I have a means to power it without traditional “grid power”. How is my antenna working? Do I have new gear that I am looking forward to testing? It is also exciting to contact a friend in another city that I may have met at a local hamfest or simply talked to on the radio several times. Questions about what alternative modes and equipment I might use if the “bands” aren’t doing well due to solar activity.

SEPAR members will be volunteering as part of the team for this year’s field day in Surrey. The 100’ portable tower Bigfoot will be set up along with the SEPAR trailer and radios to participate in the event. Our local elected officials and public service agencies have been invited. As this next Communicator is released field day will be over and the many stories will be shared about the weekend. 

Our website has recently undergone a major upgrade and many pictures of the event will be available. Please make sure to visit and have a look: www.ve7sar.net

If you have been traveling or other reasons have kept you from participating in this year’s field day you haven’t missed everything. Each week we run practice nets via radio, have a drop in breakfast and a drop in at the Operations and Training Center (OTC) where many of our group come together and try out new things, test equipment and learn from each other. Every week there is an opportunity to get help setting up your radio, Winlink, antenna, mesh node etc. There is opportunity to get coaching on operating a radio, or participating as one of our contest operators.

Our SEPAR/SARC team is a community that is welcoming and open to have you drop in and join us. I hope you will one day drop in and say hi - 5756 142 Street, Surrey, BC

As always if you have any questions please reach out.

Gord Kirk, VA7GK

Volunteer SEPAR Coordinator
coordinator@separ.ca

January-February 2025 SEPAR Report

SEPAR in 2024

Over this last year SEPAR has continued to remain active in many areas. The line between SARC and SEPAR (the club vs emergency program) is quite blurry.

Activities have included, in no particular order:

• Field Day (setting up the portable towers and SEPAR trailer etc.
• radio communications for the race Run Surrey Run,
• supporting a Surrey School initiative for high school students,
• weekly nets (several from the recently cleaned up and reorganized Fire Hall 1 radio room, with some new net control operators
• monthly tests of the commercial Inter-municipal Emergency Radio System,
• meeting the Cross Border Agencies in Washington State in person to restart the Cross Border Working Group,
• attending many Swap Meets and talking about the emergency program,
• attending the annual radio direction finding "Fox Hunt"
• maintaining and enhancing capabilities at the Operations and Training Center (OTC).
• participating in the annual Great Shake Out event (this year with some high schools now involved)
• holding antenna building workshops,
• supporting our team of instructors with licensing classes and GOTA workshops
• setting up a satellite station at the OTC radio room
• POTA events and training
• Winlink training sessions
• several fabulous presentations on various amateur radio interest topics (satellite and balloon launches etc.)
• having an online advanced amateur training group begin with club members,
• public displays at two emergency preparedness fairs
• And, our weekly breakfast and OTC drop ins.

The above list is by no means exhaustive and I have likely missed several activities.

With each activity whether it is a club event or an emergency program event we end up with active amateur operators who have more experience or have grown in their ability to use their radios. To see younger people coming and become active is exciting. I am thinking of the movie Field of Dreams "If you build it they will come". By taking the time to have an active slate of events, participation is growing in our community. We see new amateurs asking about volunteering in SEPAR program. In all cases we have a community that is using their radios and becoming more proficient radio operators.

It has been about friendships and supporting each other with antenna projects and over the air radio testing.

Our hobby has so many exciting facets there is always something new to learn.

All of these events lead to a better prepared community. With the amateurs knowing how to use their equipment and what to expect in a disaster situation we are all better off. In fact, we were laughing that the most recent presentation on “Setting up Winlink” was cut short because the power went out. The funny part was this was already a rescheduled presentation because the power went out at the one before as well. The next presentation we will bring the generator…

As we were traveling home from the OTC with the widespread power outage people were on their radios informing others which areas had outages, where trees were blocking roads etc. A real-life example of how radio can be used to provide valuable information in this situation. Radio allows one-to-many communication, so those listening could get a picture of what was happening and help others coming onto the repeater later in the day.

We look forward to new activities and adventures in 2025 and as the Volunteer Emergency Coordinator I am grateful for the team surrounding this program to make it a success.

Please continue to be involved, every small contribution adds to the collective progress and helps build the team. Participate when and where you can, try something new this coming year. Most of all turn on that radio and use it, from home, in your car, in a park, it is an adventure that can take place wherever you are…

As always if you want more information on the SEPAR or SARC program please reach out.

~ Gord VA7GK

   SEPAR Coordinator

November - December 2024 SEPAR Report

 The Great ShakeOut

Once again SEPAR participated in the BC Shakeout Exercise. This is an annual event to help remind people of the potential for an earthquake to impact our area of the country. Like our southern coastal neighbors in Washington, Oregon and California, Coastal BC is an area at risk to earthquakes. As a result, the annual Shakeout Exercise is designed to remind people of the risk, to provide tips on how to prepare for an earthquake and what to expect if a larger quake occurs.

Each year on the third Thursday of October at 10:17 we experience a “planned earthquake”. People are reminded to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” during an earthquake. This includes how to protect themselves from falling objects or what to do while driving. It is a good reminder on how to be prepared for family and friends. One of the components for a good plan is your personal communication plan.

This plan includes a contact list of family and friends which you will contact after an event. This will help people to know you are ok and how you plan on reunification. I.e. Where are you going to meet, and when? It might also include your expected route and when you will connect again with each other. This might be by cell phone, text, an app, or your ham radio. You should consider who will be your local contacts and your out of area contacts. Those physically in your geographic area are those you may want to check in with first and know they are ok, or what help they might need. Your out of area contact can help reach out to others for you, so you can concentrate on dealing the earthquake’s impacts. Don’t forget it is also a good idea to have the phone numbers listed on a card just in case you lose or damage your phone and have to borrow one.

As part of your plan as an amateur radio operator you should consider what frequencies/repeaters you may want to use to make contact and gather information. As part of your preparedness plan have you a spare battery or backup power plan? For handhelds do you have a better antenna than the stock antenna to help improve your signal?

Each week we have a practice SEPAR net where we do our regular check ins on the primary repeater and then move to a backup frequency test which is often via simplex. This means that participants start to understand how they are being heard from their location and how to relay a message if they are not being heard by net control. Part of our net script reminds everyone that during an emergency or disaster the repeater should be used as a primary check-in, and if the repeater is not working to move to our local simplex frequency in the plan.

So, with all of this we were able to hold a net on Thursday Oct 17 just after 10:17am. We had 27 check ins from around the city and neighboring communities. This year we also had several students who recently graduated from a summer school electronics class in which they also were taught the local Surrey Amateur Radio Club (SARC) amateur radio licensing class. https://www.surreyschools.ca/_ci/p/168383/new-radio-frequency-communications-summer-course-in-surrey.

From this, students from around the school district were licensed as Hams. SARC as well as several club members have donated both their time and radios to make this program a success. The teacher Adam Drake VE7ZAL (also a recent SARC class graduate) was the driving force to create and teach this over the summer. After the success of the summer school class, he arranged for students from some of the schools to participate in the Great Shake out Drill. The lead SARC instructor John Schouten VE7TI, who helped teach the class throughout all of July, went to the Surrey School Board Office and the participated in the Net with school board officials watching. As the net started students checked into the net and passed along an update from the school simulating what the school would be doing if the earthquake was real. The school board officials were able to hear the reports from the surrounding area and the schools where the check ins were coming from. The local media were also present and ran a story on the CityTV nightly news.

Overall, this was an excellent example to our community of the value of amateur radio and how it is a great tool to help in a disaster. The students are excited by what they have learned. Many are now participating in weekly nets and coming to Club drop in events. As the news clip indicates some are even recognizing how this could lead to future education plans and a potential career.

At SEPAR we encourage licensed amateurs to get involved, know the local area emergency communications plan and test out your equipment. We often run across individuals who have their license and even a radio but have not used it. They believe this will provide them their “emergency radio/communications” during a disaster. We encourage and help them to get their radio programmed, and teach them how to use it with “Get on the Air” classes and nets. SARC includes as part of the radio licensing class an antenna workshop. This teaches theory and has the students finish with their own roll up J-Pole antenna which will help improve their handhelds signal when needed. Unless a class is using the facility on Saturday morning, we host a weekly drop in to visit, work on projects and help those with questions, radio programming, radio installations etc. This helps with our community being better prepared and makes our radio “hobby” a very enjoyable one.

As always if you want more information on SEPAR please reach out. Our website is www.SEPAR.ca

~ Gord Kirk VA7GK
   SEPAR Coordinator

 

Run Surrey Run

 Another successful community event supported by SEPAR operators

We can once again take satisfaction that our SEPAR Communications team was mentioned as an invaluable part of the Run Surrey Run organization. For the first time the event was competitive, rather than a ‘fun run’, with runners taking priority over traffic. It went better this year than both previous years in large part due to the improved road closure plan. This eliminated many of the annoyances that our team faced with poor traffic management because of inadequate closures.

A strong positive was that we once again had an excellent connection to the City Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The value of that direct connection was most noticeable when the event start was postponed by police because the route had not yet been fully secured.

I’d also like to single out Grace VA7LZT and Elisabeth VA7EVJ. Grace was one of the graduates of our summer school youth RF Communications course, who came out to participate in RSR. Elisabeth did a stellar job as the only available bicycle-mobile station. That is even more noteworthy given that the day before she participated in the Grand Fondo bicycle event to Whistler. Kudos to both of you.

Of course, along with the usual gratitude of the event organizers and SEPAR for donating your time, I’d like to add my personal appreciation for your individual effort and cooperation. We have a fabulous team and are certain to be invited to next year’s run.

~John Schouten VE7TI
 RSR Communications & Emergency Planner

 

September - October 2024 Report

 U.S. National Preparedness Month and PACE

This month we may hear many messages about being prepared and emergency preparedness as our US neighbors recognize September as National Preparedness Month. In Canada we have “Emergency Preparedness Week” during the month of May.

Whether it is the US influence in Canada or our own Canadian EP week it is always a good reminder that we should be prepared. SEPAR (Surrey Emergency Program Amateur Radio) has the specific focus of planning and helping with preparedness to aid in communications should normal communications methods fail. As part of the local Surrey Amateur Radio Communications (SARC) club we take our hobby and look at how we could help with communications if needed.

This does take a club of active members to make a healthy program. All the events, from socials to workshops, help build relationships, generate ideas, and take individuals areas of interest to help build creative solutions to help with emergency communications. A small group interested in Meshtasic, or VARA for Winlink can help others understand how this works and can be applied to passing messages when needed.

Often just the basics of helping a newly licensed amateur get on the air, use a repeater, or get a home HF station with a limited antenna on the air are some of the best things we can do. Remembering this is meant to be a fun hobby, and having active radio operators is one of the best things a club can do.

Weekly nets are “practice” sessions, as are contests. Each of these ensures working equipment and a more experienced operator. Knowing we could help with disaster communications is also a good reminder for each of us to be personally prepared.

Of course, the basics of having a prepared home include food, water, alternative methods to stay warm (or cool), alternative light sources, medical needs etc. All these basic preparedness items, lists, plans etc. are easily available with a simple internet search. For the radio operator we also include alternate ways to power our radios (or recharge batteries), knowledge on how to program and use our radios and what the local amateur community will do in an emergency. We should know the main repeaters around the area and their coverage footprint. We should have an idea of our radio reach without a repeater (simplex). We should have an idea of how long we can run our radio on alternative power etc.

Each of us should have a personal Family Communications Plan and your Emergency Communications Group should also have a communications plan for the organization. One of the easiest ways to build these is using a PACE Plan. PACE stands for:

Primary (what is your normal day to day method of communications? Cellular, Text (SMS) etc.?

Alternate (If the primary above is not working what would you do next? Internet based communication like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger etc.)

Contingency (Things are not working so you go to radio (frs/gmrs, cb, ham) or satellite phone or messenger.

Emergency Plans. (A predetermined meeting location or message on a board etc.)

These above examples are just that, examples. The idea is most of us use cellular based communications each day so that will likely be the first option. If cellular is not working but the internet is up, have you an app or agreed upon method to message one another.

If you go to radio, do you have a time, a frequency (repeater) etc.? Have you thought about having as out of area contact as you might be able to contact them and use them to relay messages etc. The point is taking some time think this through and write it down on a card, put a pdf on your phone etc.

This same principle works for your Emergency Communications group. In Surrey we meet each week on the net and as part of it go to simplex or another repeater to make sure people know what to do, and how their radios work. Each week the net controller reminds people that in an emergency we will use the repeater and if it fails, we will go the local agreed upon Simplex Frequency.

The SEPAR and SARC net scripts are available on the website if you are wanting an example of how we run the nets. See www.ve7sar.net

As we finish summer vacations and many of us go back into fall routines with work, school etc. it is a good time to be reminded of this communication plan need. Many of us have the 72 hours plus emergency preparedness covered and don’t have a simple, no cost communications plan developed. I encourage you to help your family and friends to build a PACE plan, in fact if you do this and share it with your family it may help highlight other areas your family is concerned about.

As always please reach out if you have any questions or comments or if you would like to participate in the SEPAR program within Surrey.

~ Gord Kirk VA7GK
SEPAR Coordinator

 

July - August 2024 SEPAR Report

  Another Field Day Success

Field Day 2024 is now behind us, and it was a great success. One of the purposes of the annual event is treating it as an exercise to run emergency communications for 24 hours. This involves the planning, set up, actual operation as well as the demobilization at the end.

Whether the event is being held in an outdoor temporary setting or at an existing EOC (Radio Room) there are so many different areas to utilize for the contest points.

Once again, this year we chose to activate at the SEPAR/SARC Operations and Training Center (OTC). This is a shared space with the South Fraser Search and Rescue Team that the city provides to our respective volunteer organizations for the purposes of providing these emergency programs.

We moved “Bigfoot” our portable 110 foot antenna trailer from its covered parking into position on the grass next to the building and set it up. This unit has a beam, and rotator along with a propane generator and all the required coax to set up anywhere we can find a level spot. We have worked with the city, and they have prepositioned 3 large concrete blocks to use as anchor points for the tower guy ropes. This location does allow us to have a splace and plan that we can move onto and set up whenever it is needed.

SEPAR does have a radio room at Fire Hall One for EOC communications. Our OTC will allow a remote radio relay point to be staffed and operated with minimal impact around a very busy operational fire hall. The OTC is the extension of the Fire Hall 1 radio room allowing for two HF towers and a dipole in the nearby trees.

We expanded to add another HF station outside of the radio room to provide another HF radio station to operate. In this shared room we have added a junction box on the wall to hook up coax etc. to help keep cables off the floors. This is also available during our weekly drop-in to have space to hook up and test radios etc.

Outside in the parking lot we again set up the SEPAR trailer and public display tables. The SEPAR trailer has an HF Station and two VHF/UHF spots. This year ICOM Canada allowed us to borrow an IC-7610 radio for the GOTA station. We set it up and those dropping-in were able to try to make a contact or two. Again, during set up we identified a couple of areas to improve the trailers operation and also areas to improve / fix. Some missing items were identified to be purchased to help ensure the trailer is fully equipped for future deployment.

Many of the projects worked on last year (see previous SEPAR Updates in the Communicator) worked very well and made our set up so much easier and safer.

Speaking of safety we did have a safety briefing by the Field Day Coordinator Andrew VA7LGN.  He led the field day planning team and organized a great event. During his briefing he made sure everyone signed in (also making provisions for guests to sign in), identified the muster point, had emergency instruction if help was needed and posted these throughout the area, in the radio room, on the trailer etc. The City does require a legal agreement and proof of insurance when we set up the tower. As part of the city’s emergency program the Fire Department assisted us in getting the agreement looked after. They also worked with the City Council to Proclaim Amateur Radio Week in the city, recognizing the volunteers and their commitment to making a safer community.

Invitations were sent out and we had representatives from the City Council stop by, say hello, and tour of the event. We also had a representative from the Provincial Government’s Emergency Management & Climate Readiness (EMCR) stop in. Our city is the location of one of the PREOC’s (Provincial Regional Emergency Operation Center) so it will become a hub for communications in a regional emergency. Also, we had visitors from the Fire Department and from the city’s new municipal Police Service stop in for a tour.

There were also visitors from the public, other radio clubs, and families who stopped in at various parts of the event. Those who came by around dinner time on Saturday were invited to join us for another great BBQ hosted by SARC and prepared by two of the SEPAR volunteers Nell and Ralph. During the BBQ several
commented on how important the times of just visiting, hanging out and laughing etc. are to make such an active group a success.

We had some firsts that will likely be covered in other articles, but in summary we saw our new satellite radios and antenna array in action, we had a 10 Ghz radio demonstration, and had two visitors inquire about licenses and sitting an exam. One of the club’s examiners offered to have them write the exam immediately, if they wanted to try. They agreed and both passed. So, we immediately encouraged them to go out to the SEPAR trailer and “get on the air” which they both did. After this success we invited them to join us for dinner to celebrate.

Overall, we had a great time. Many who came to operate may not realize that all the equipment setup, testing, repairs, and planning, including providing food and drink, are all part of an annual exercise to help our community be ready should a disaster occur.

A big thank you to everyone who helped with this year’s event. Having such a great team of volunteers makes our volunteer SEPAR program a success.

If you would like more information on the Surrey Emergency Program, please reach out.

Please note our new email address below (SEPAR@ve7sar.net).

~ Gord Kirk VA7GK
   SEPAR Coordinator
   SEPAR@ve7sar.net