ARESDEC

Building ICS-213RR Messages and VEOCI Demo
2025-08-28 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | HRSS – Highlands Ranch DCSO Substation, 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129, United States
We are in for a treat! Jennifer Ward, Douglas County OEM Emergency Coordinator, will join us for the evening filled with fun and learning. Do you know what an ICS-213RR form is used for? What does the ‘RR’ mean? (Hint: It means “Resource Request”).
Jennifer will teach us how to properly complete an ICS-213RR form used in the Logistics Section of the EOC during an activation/incident. The form is used to record the type and quantity of resources needed by the requestor. The ICS-213RR form is also used to track the status of the resources after they are received. Local organizations and agencies may use modified versions of the ICS-213RR form to meet specific needs and requirements.
How do you complete a 213RR form properly? What goes into it? What is the process to get a ICS-213RR to the EOC in a complete and timely manner? We will have a table top exercise filling out ICS-213RR forms. What does the Logistics Section do with it after receipt? How does the EOC track resources when ordered and received? These and many other questions will be answered as we learn together.
We’ll also have a demonstration of VEOCI Emergency Management software and how it works with the ICS-213RR. You don’t want to miss this Face-to-Face meeting.
See you at the meeting!

Face-to-Face Meeting: Everything Coax for Amateur Radio
2025-09-25 19:00 - 21:00 | NB – New Beginning Community Church, 10550 S Progress Way #100, Parker, CO, 80134, United States
Do you know what kinds of coax cable to use for your application? What’s the difference between RG58A/U, RG58U, RG-8X, RG-8U, LMR240, LMR400 coax? What is the attenuation DB/100ft for the different types of coax cable? These are all great questions that every amateur radio operator has at one point or another in time.
Ron N0IVN will lead us through a thorough analysis of different types of coax cable and provide a complete guide to choosing the correct coax for your application.
Everyone is invited to attend our monthly Face-to-Face meetings.

Face-to-Face: Winter Operations
2025-10-16 19:00 - 21:00 | HRSS – Highlands Ranch DCSO Substation, 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129, United States
Our October Face-to-Face meeting focuses on the important components of Winter Operations and preparing ourselves for potential activations during the winter.
Several seasoned members of the ARES R1D5 team will present content about Winter Missions/Activation, Readiness (including vehicle prep), Winter Travel Advisories, Cold Weather Hazards (Frostbite/Hypothermia), Shelter Operations (including Red Cross and Communications)…and finally Demobilization.
There will be some hands-on demonstrations of items carried by some of our team members in their winter go-kits. Come and get prepared!
Anyone interested in Amateur Radio or becoming an Amateur Radio operator is welcome to attend our monthly Face-to-Face meetings.

ARESDEC NPO Annual Meeting
2026-01-22 18:00 - 19:00, 2027-01-28 18:00 - 19:00, 2028-01-27 18:00 - 19:00, 2029-01-25 18:00 - 19:00 | HRSS – Highlands Ranch DCSO Substation, 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129, United States
ARESDEC members,
Welcome to a New Year! One thing the new year brings are new activities for the ARESDEC.

It’s time to renew your NPO annual membership for another year! The $10 NPO donation can be easily made by going to our website.
We have two NPO board member seats that came to term at the end of last year.
Starting January 1st, we are opening a nomination window that ends at midnight on the 3rd Wednesday of January.
These NPO board member seats are for a 2-year term. To nominate, you must be a current NPO member and your nominee must be a current NPO member.
You are able to nominate yourself if you meet the above criteria.

Being an ARESDEC NPO board member is not a demanding job. You are called upon when major financial or NPO policy decisions need to be made. Before our January Face-to-Face meeting, we will hold our annual NPO business meeting. During our business meeting, nominated NPO board candidates will be given 10 minutes to tell those present why they are interested in serving on the ARESDEC NPO board. To nominate an NPO member as a candidate, email me at W6AUN@aresdec.com to register your nomination.
By the way, we are ordering pizza for our NPO business meeting. Pay your annual NPO membership donation ($10 via PayPay) now and then join us at the NPO business meeting for a slice and to meet the board member candidates.
See you at the NPO annual business meeting and our Face-to-Face meeting that follows,
Perry, NPO Board Vice President

Face-to-Face: Understanding NVIS Propagation
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:00 | HRSS – Highlands Ranch DCSO Substation, 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129, United States
NVIS propagation, or Near Vertical Incidence Skywave, is a type of radio communication that allows signals to travel medium distances (up to 650 km) by sending radio waves nearly straight up into the ionosphere, where they are reflected back down to Earth. This method is particularly useful in areas where traditional line-of-sight communication is obstructed, such as mountainous regions.
Ron, N0IVN, will present this topic to us at our January Face-to-Face meeting. Come, learn the theory and how to put this in practice. What kind of antenna do you need to successfully do NVIS? What considerations should you think through before engaging in NVIS communications? Which HF frequencies are best for using NVIS propagation? How does NVIS help Emcomm as a resource in communications? Is NVIS better during the daytime or night time?
These questions and more can be answered by N0IVN. See you at the January Face-to-Face meeting. All are welcome to attend.

Face-to-Face: How to Restore an All American 5 (AA5) Tube Radio
2026-02-26 19:00 - 21:00 | HRSS – Highlands Ranch DCSO Substation, 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129, United States
Welcome to our February 2026 Face-to-Face Meeting!
Walt AB0VZ will present to us a project that he completed in the recent past which will be very interesting for all to hear, especially those who are electronics gurus.
Walt will discuss how he restored an All American 5 (AA5) Tube Radio. He’ll review the common circuit diagram, safety considerations, and use of relevant test equipment and procedures for successful restoration of a classic antique AM radio.
All are welcome to join us! For more information, please contact Training@aresdec.org.

The Philco PT-44 is an example of an All American Five (AA5) radio set. This is not the actual unit that Walt worked on.
Back view of a Philco PT-44 radio, showing tubes.

Face-to-Face: Planning Your Next POTA Activation
2026-03-26 19:00 - 21:00 | NB – New Beginning Community Church, 10550 S Progress Way #100, Parker, CO, 80134, United States
Planning Your Next POTA Activation
Parks on the Air, or POTA, has quickly become one of the most popular amateur radio activities. What’s required to do POTA? Are their rules to this activity? What equipment do you need to do POTA? What do POTA and ARES have in common? During our March Face-to-Face meeting we will answer all these questions and more. Additionally, you’ll learn tricks and tips from POTA experienced people from our own ARES district.
This same presentation won many accolades during last’s year’s HAMCON convention.
We’ll see you at our Face-to-Face meeting! For more information, please contact Training@aresdec.org.
Pictures below include Perry W6AUN and Brad W0BDT working a POTA activation at US-1212-Chatfield Stake Park in Colorado.
Equipment shown include an IC-705 and a BuddiStick antenna.

Face-to-Face: ARESDEC Storm Operations Training
2026-04-23 19:00 - 21:00 | HRSS – Highlands Ranch DCSO Substation, 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129, United States
Presentation on our Wx Spotting protocols used within the ARES R1D5 group for Storm Spotting preparation.At this Face-to-Face meeting, Jim Rooney, N4JJR will lead us through some very important topics to ARES R1D5, including:

How to be a mobile storm spotter
How ARES activates and manages our members in the field
How to prepare / Wx Spotting GO-KIT
How to Wx Spot
When, what and how to report
How to Demobilize
How to Stay Safe

WHY DO WE DO THIS?
In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning cause hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages throughout the country. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations such as ARES. We participate to help keep our local community safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Face-to-Face: Field Day Update & PinPoint APRS Software Enhancements
2026-05-28 19:00 - 21:00 | HRSS – Highlands Ranch DCSO Substation, 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129, United States
Summer is almost here and that means that our ARRL Field Day is just around the corner.
At our May Face-to-Face meeting, we will have 2 items on our program:

1) Field Day MC’s will give an update on Field Day planning committee activities.
2) We’ll also have an in-depth look at PinPoint APRS by the application’s author, Frank Watervoort, AB0WV. History, configuring it, capabilities, future developments, etc. He’s got some recent enhancements you’ll want to see!

What is PinPoint?
PinPoint is free software that allows you to visually track and communicate with people using Amateur Radio (”Ham Radio”) equipment. During an emergency, it can be used as a location aware tactical communications tool. It is mostly used as a tool for tracking people and assets on a map, although it is capable of so much more.
During, for instance, a weather spotting event, an incident commander could visually track where spotters are deployed in the field, and direct them away from approaching weather using an area map on a computer screen.
This training is primarily focused on the PinPoint APRS application and if you want a more in-depth understanding of APRS itself prior to attending this event, please feel free to watch this recommended YouTube video.
Pinpoint was featured in the September 2018 issue of ARRL QST magazine.
More information about PinPoint APRS software can be found at https://pinpointaprs.com/.
See you at the meeting! For more information about the event, please contact Training@aresdec.org.

Face-to-Face Meeting: ARRL Field Day Report & BCARES Analog/Digital TV Demonstration
2026-07-23 19:00 - 21:00 | NB – New Beginning Community Church, 10550 S Progress Way #100, Parker, CO, 80134, United States
We have a really great program planned for the July Face-to-Face meeting.
Our Field Day MC’s will share the results from our recent Field Day event held at Hess Reservoir. It’s one of the highlights of each season for the team. We always look forward to this presentation, showing the highlights and fun that was had by all. It’s quite an event to plan, prepare, setup and sponsor each year. It takes many people and months of planning to make this a successful event.
We’ll also have the opportunity to meet the team from BCARES (Boulder County ARES) who will demonstrate both analog and digital TV and explain how they use it in their activities.
We look forward to this Face-to-Face. Come and join us! For more information, please contact us at Training@aresdec.org.

Face-to-Face: Importance of Situational Awareness
2026-08-27 19:00 - 21:00 | HRSS – Highlands Ranch DCSO Substation, 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129, United States
What is Situational Awareness? Situational awareness or situation awareness, often abbreviated as SA is the understanding of an environment, its elements, and how it changes with respect to time or other factors. It is also defined as the perception of the elements in the environment considering time and space, the understanding of their meaning, and the prediction of their status in the near future.
Situation awareness is recognized as a critical foundation for successful decision making in many situations, including the ones which involve the protection of human life and property, such as law enforcement and emergency responses.
Do we as individuals need to be situationally aware during an ARESDEC event? Does this topic sound boring to you? It shouldn’t because Situational Awareness can save your life.
Join us at our Face-to-Face meeting where we will learn the pillars of the Combat Hunter program developed by the U.S. Marines War Laboratory in response to the staggering loss of American lives during the first years of the Iraqi and Afghanistan conflicts. Learn what it means to be “Left of Bang” and why doing so can and has saved lives.
Presenter: Perry W6AUN
For more information, please contact Training@aresdec.org.

Face-to-Face: Your Ham Shack: Installing Coax Panel and Grounding Considerations
2026-09-24 19:00 - 21:00 | NB – New Beginning Community Church, 10550 S Progress Way #100, Parker, CO, 80134, United States
Have you thought about building a Ham Shack at your QTH? What goes into building one properly and using proper grounding practices?
Brad W0BDT completed a project with his QTH and documented his story. He will share with us a step-by-step guide to how he installed his coax panel and related grounding. He will share with us what his experiences were and what considerations we should consider when undertaking a similar project. He’ll also share with us how he setup his shack to properly manage exterior antennas. It will be worth your time!
All interested amateur radio operators – or those interested in becoming amateur radio operators are welcome to attend the Face-to-Face meeting. Please come and join us.
For more information, please contact us at Training@aresdec.org.

Face-to-Face: Winter Operations
2026-10-22 19:00 - 21:00, 2027-10-28 19:00 - 21:00, 2028-10-26 19:00 - 21:00, 2029-10-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2030-10-24 19:00 - 21:00 | HRSS – Highlands Ranch DCSO Substation, 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129, United States
Our October Face-to-Face meeting focuses on the important components of Winter Operations and preparing for potential activations during the winter months to support Douglas County OEM and/or Elbert County OEM shelter activations.
The presentation will be led by our OPERATIONS team who will present content about Winter Missions/Activation, Readiness (including vehicle prep), Winter Travel Advisories, Cold Weather Hazards (Frostbite/Hypothermia), Shelter Operations (including Red Cross and Communications Sukpport)…and finally Demobilization.
There will be some hands-on demonstrations of items that should be carried by our team members in their winter go-kits. Come and get prepared!
Please contact Training@aresdec.org if you have any questions.

Face-to-Face Meeting TBD
2027-01-28 19:00 - 21:00, 2027-02-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2027-03-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2027-04-22 19:00 - 21:00, 2027-05-27 19:00 - 21:00, 2027-07-22 19:00 - 21:00, 2027-08-26 19:00 - 21:00, 2027-09-23 19:00 - 21:00 and 10 more dates
Meeting location and presentation topic is TBD

Face-to-Face: ARESDEC Storm Operations Training
2027-03-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2028-03-23 19:00 - 21:00, 2029-03-22 19:00 - 21:00
Presentation on our Wx Spotting protocols used within the ARES R1D5 group.Here, at our March F2F, Jim Rooney, N4JJR will lead us through some very important topics to ARES R1D5, including:

How to be a mobile storm spotter
How ARES activates and manages our members in the field
How to prepare / Wx Spotting GO-KIT
How to Wx Spot
When, what and how to report
How to Demobilize
How to Stay Safe

WHY DO WE DO THIS?
In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning cause hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages throughout the country. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations such as ARES. We participate to help keep our local community safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.
