This month the Section tested the plan for digital traffic handling on the MESN per the Missouri Section ARES® Communications Plan & Handbook revised on October 2024. J.D. Simmons, WA0BER, and Richard Kreiser, N0JBF, wrote the Exercise Plan.
Here is the synopsis of the MESN Analog/Digital Exercise from WA0BER:
On August 24, 2025 the Missouri Section ARES in conjunction with the Missouri Emergency Services Net conducted an exercise that aimed to test and evaluate the coordination and efficiency of managing digital and analog messages in a single statewide radio Net. This concept is promulgated in the October 2024 revision of the Missouri Section ARES Communications Plan & Handbook, page 45 which states, in part, “Amateur operators having digital capabilities should check into the MESN voice net and continuously monitor the MESN net for digital messaging requests.” The exercise proved the efficacy of the concept and suggested additional training and protocols to improve the efficiency and flow of messaging and more in-depth documentation from the exercise planners.
The Exercise Plan and AAR combined document can be view at this link: https://ares-mo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/August-MESN-Exercise-Plan-AAR.pdf
One of the observations from the exercise is there was confusion on how to use Winlink to send messages. Section amateur should become knowledgeable about Winlink and message handling as this is the only way that SEMA will accept messaging when activited. I have found a good website that has traing material and videos of how to setup Winlink, use Winlink, and how to do messaging within Winlink. If you are not familiar with Winlink or need a refresher, check out this website: https://wavetalkers.com/resources/index.php. Look at the Winlink Operation Tab of the front page. Lots of how to do demonstrations of Winlink
District News & Comments:
District A: Richard Fretwell, W0KRF, DEC
- Benton Co. – BC ARES Members participated in the following nets: MTN, MESN, ARES, Region A Healthcare, and various club nets.
- Cass Co – Monthly meeting for august included planning the August 23rd summer sizzler running event and sign-up. Also antenna testing for all hand held radios and power output. Planning for the spooky spring running event and early sign-up was conducted. This event is planned for October 25th, 2025. The Cass county emergency meeting was attended august 5th.
- Clay/Platte Cos. – NL ARES Meeting 8/28/25 Copies of the latest Missouri ARES Task book and distributed to all. We went through the book with each item being explained. Familiarization with Anderson Power Poles. Standardization and use was explained. Hands-on use of connection to a battery box was demonstrated and a variety of adaptor cables was presented. Some were not aware Power Poles.
- Pettis Co. – EMA Siren test; MODES Net; SPARK-Ares Nets; Winlink Training
District C: Bill Grimsbo, N0PNP, DEC
- St. Francois Co. – Myself and one member participated in a SET in Cape over a three day period. Had a great time and learned a lot. Warren Robinson EC
District H:
- Livingston Co. – Held VarAC practice net. Joe Dietrick EC
The following are the report activities and hours for the Missouri Section in August:
Thanks again the WA0BER and N0JBF for conducting the test of the MESN digital messaging exercise. Take time to look at the exercise document and the Winlink information above. It is an important part of the plan as how will will handle messaging in the Section.
73,
Jeff KB3HF
Missouri Section EC