posted by Ron Bricker  1:52 PM

Attention All Ohio CAP Communicators, and those who would like to learn about CAP Communications. There is a new and exciting way to learn how to properly use the great communications assets that are utilized by Ohio CAP. This new way is to participate in the weekly Northern Ohio VHF Training Net every Tuesday night at 20:00 Local time. This training net is here to train all CAP members on the proper use of our radio equipment and how to pass radio traffic during an actual mission. You can participate if you have a ROA Card or a tactical callsign. The net is held on the primary simplex requency and also all primary repeaters in the Northern Ohio area. This net is open to all Ohio CAP Members. The more activity we can get on this net the better communicators we all will be. We look forward to talking to you every Tuesday night at 20:00 local on the Northern Ohio VHF Net.

CAP Communications - The Voice of Command

posted by Ohio Wing IT  4:28 PM

A message dated 05 June 2006 From the National Commander suggested everyone make an effort to take the online OPSEC Training so we would all understand the neccesity and why fors of protecting "sensitive" information.

As you may not be aware, Radio Frequencies used by CAP and other agencies we deal with are considered "sensitive" and For Official Use Only (FOUO) or, what you would likely see is "UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY".

It would appear there is a section under CEMS that indicates whether an individual is authorized access to CAP Radio Frequencies and we have a LARGE number of personnel who are NOT authorized frequency information. This may well be due to their lack of OPSEC Training.

You can access the OPSEC Training here.

posted by Ohio Wing IT  10:02 PM

The FCC announced on Friday December 15, 2006 that it was going to drop the Morse Code requirement on all Amateur Radio License Classes. The American Radio Relay Leauge made the announcement to their members via email Saturday morning. You can view this story here. This action by the FCC could greatly benifit the Communications Section of Civil Air Patrol. This rule change will not go into efect until late January or early Febuary 2007.

Jeff Gortney
OHWG/DCCEMS
Columbus 48

posted by GLR ITO  11:56 PM

The Ohio Wing will hold a Wing Communications Meeting on Saturday, 12
MAR 2005 at 1400 hours, local time at Ohio Wing Headquarters (Building
10, Room 10, DSCC) - with the expected conclusion at or before 1700
hours local time. Although short-notice, the meeting should coordinate
well as there are already planned at Wing Headquarters the same day (1)
a Group Commander's Call; (2) an Ohio Wing Honor Guard meeting; (3) the
regular Wing Staff meeting; and I think maybe one or two more meetings.

Topics to be covered will include, but are not limited to (time permitting):

* Review of all 2004-05 S-8s and Communications Surveys
* Impact of the 31 DEC 2004 equipment compliance deadline
* Changes to handling of frequency and other CAP sensitive information
* Status on CAP repeater replacements
* Review of revised Wing Communications supplements and forms
* Corporate vehicle mobile radio installations and inspections
* Development of an engineering repair, installation and response plan
* Review of callsign reporting responsibilities
* Update on the Communications training program changes and new
offerings
* Information on Communications exercises for 2005
* List of ROA/Advanced instructors who have submitted approved
requests by 1 MAR 2005
* Updated callsign list for distribution
* The "non-secret" of priorities in communications equipment allocation
* Distribution of radio equipment and possible reallocation from
non-reporting units
* An overview of what can be discerned as possible plans and
direction from NHQ


and such other topics of interest as you may bring to the meeting.

ALL PERSONS ON WING COMMUNICATIONS STAFF AND ALL GROUP COMMUNICATIONS
OFFICERS SHOULD ATTEND THIS MEETING IF POSSIBLE; or in the alternative
send a representative who can knowledgably answer for the unit. No
equipment will be assigned to any unit without that unit's Commander or
Communications Officer to sign the required documentation (per CAP
regulations). Any and all Ohio CAP members interested in Communications
may and are encouraged to attend.

NOTICE! Any units not having delivered their original signed S-8 forms
to Ohio Wing Headquarters by 12 MAR 2005 must deliver an original and
one photocopy of their signed S-8 for their unit, and one original
signed Communications Equipment Survey form for each item managed or
owned by their unit (whether on the S-8 or not). This includes mast
kits, power supplies, DF gear, radios purchased from unit funds and/or
otherwise donated. If in doubt, prepare one and if unneeded you're covered.

The Ohio Wing Commander has previously stated from word received from
the Ohio/SD and GLLR/CC that less than 100% reporting compliance will
result in the Ohio Wing being frozen from any further acquisitions or
deliveries of any new items - period. That occurring is unacceptable.
Reporting packages were mailed to all Group Commanders around the end of
January - check with your Group Commander if you have not received the
necessary package. Units not 100% in compliance with S-8 and Comm
Survey reporting risk certain retrieval of all communications items from
that unit, and a Report of Survey initiated through the Wing/LG. The
same risk of an Ohio Wing freeze applies to the S-3 reports, but the
Ohio/LG may address that separately in his own manner.

Unlike perhaps other Communications Meetings in the past, this one will
not just be an information discussion, but also a work session making
sure we can account for every item of equipment. Please come prepared.


JAMES A. PIERCE, Lt. Col., C.A.P.
Director of Communications

posted by GLR ITO  8:41 AM

All frequency information has been removed from the Ohio Wing website per the directive dated 4 February 2005 from the National Commander, Civil Air Patrol, such directive at the request of NHQ/DOK. Frequency information will be reposted once SSL/password access may be achieved from a CAP-owned and protected server, but over a year of efforts to secure SSL/password access from Great Lakes Region on our present server have received no attention, and efforts to secure SSL/password access resources from NHQ/DOK have thus far been ineffective.

The same directive now requires specific information to be printed on every document containing frequency information. Please read this directive, and take all necessary steps to make certain your documents conform, both on your website pages and on all of your printed documentation - including email, correspondence and forms. The NHQ/CC directive may be retrieved and reviewed here.

Thank you.

JAMES A. PIERCE, Lt. Col., CAP
Director of Communications, Ohio Wing

posted by GLR ITO  9:58 PM