Blount Emergency Amateur Radio Service

It is now time to start planning for the 2026 Knoxville Covenant Marathon.

The Marathon date is April 12, 2026.

Radio operators (RADO's) are needed for each water stop.

You do not have to part of any group, you just need to be a licensed Amateur Radio Operator and be willing to be at a Water Stop to report race progress and any help that may be needed at the Water Stop.

There will be 16 water stops and the goal is to have two RADO's at each Water Stop

If you re interested n participating, send an e-mail with

Name
Call Sign
Phone Number
Email
Preferred Water Stop (if any)

to Lloyd Pitney< [email protected] >
KN4ZGB
865-740-0128

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for late Friday night through Sunday evening.

Overview of the Threat

According to the current forecast, heavy mixed precipitation is possible during this event. Snow accumulations of 4 to 10 inches may occur, mainly north of Knoxville, with the highest totals near the Kentucky border and far southwest Virginia. In addition, ice accumulations up to one-half inch are possible, especially south of Knoxville and across the southern Cumberland Plateau.

Impacts may include:
• Power outages due to ice loading on trees and power lines
• Tree damage
• Hazardous or impossible travel conditions

While forecast details will continue to be refined, this system has a high-impact potential that warrants early preparation.

What You Should Be Doing Now

NOAA’s Winter Storm Planning Timeline (available at https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter) provides an excellent framework for preparedness. Highlights include:

A Few Days Out
• Ensure you have emergency supplies for both home and vehicle
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, especially if using alternate heat sources
• Replenish fuel for vehicles and any heating equipment

The Day Before
• Continue checking updated forecasts and adjust personal and family plans
• Make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings (NOAA Weather Radio, phone alerts, etc.)
• Bring pets indoors and ensure adequate food and water

During and After the Storm
• Remain vigilant and stay informed; avoid unnecessary travel
• Properly ventilate any emergency heat sources
• Keep generators at least 20 feet from your home
• Take breaks and use caution when shoveling snow •
Check on neighbors and family, especially those who may be vulnerable

ARES members are encouraged to review this guidance and share it with family and neighbors as appropriate.

ARES & Skywarn Operations Reminder

The 146.940 MHz repeater is the primary repeater for District 5 Skywarn activities, which includes Blount County. During this event:
• Monitoring the repeater is strongly encouraged
• Significant weather reports (measured snow/ice, damage, power outages, hazardous conditions) should be relayed when appropriate
• Be prepared for directed net operations if activated

Repeater details are available here: https://www.wb4gbi.com/repeater/144.940

Stay Ready

This watch may be upgraded to a warning as confidence increases. Now is the time for ARES members to review go-kits, verify equipment readiness, and plan for extended operations if needed.

Continue to monitor official forecasts and safety information at weather.gov, and stay alert on the District 5 primary repeater.

Stay safe!

MTEARS (Middle Tennessee Emergency Amateur Repeater System) is a statewide linked UHF repeater system used during severe weather to pass critical information between local spotter groups and the National Weather Service (NWS).

### Why It Matters Here

Most severe weather affecting East Tennessee comes from the west. Because MTEARS spans West, Middle, and East Tennessee, monitoring the system can give Blount County ARES earlier awareness of approaching storms.

### Weekly MTEARS Net

The weekly MTEARS Net is primarily for training and system testing, not storm reporting.

When:* Mondays after the WCARES net
Time: 2100 (9:00 PM) Eastern*
Operators check in by county (or by state if out of Tennessee) and give the two-digit repeater ID* in use.

The net is called in three Tennessee divisions – East, Middle and West – with each division called in alphabetic county groups; out-of-state stations are called by state. During check-in, all operators are asked to give the two-digit ID number of the repeater they are using, from the list on the MTEARS website (https://mtears.org/).

## Bottom Line

The MTEARS repeater system improves severe weather situational awareness for Blount County ARES, and the weekly net helps ensure we know how to use it before it’s needed.

As we kick off the new year, this is a reminder that our Monthly Meeting will be held on January 20. The months ahead are already shaping up to be busy, with training opportunities and public service events coming up fast.

On our team calendar, you can find more information about the following upcoming events. Highlighted items are special events or public service activities outside of our regular monthly meetings:

- ⭐ 2026 Winter Field Day ⭐ – January 24
- ⭐ 2026 Strawberry Plains Half Marathon & 10K ⭐ – February 14
- Blount County ECS Monthly Meeting – February 17
- ⭐ Dalton Hamfest ⭐ – February 28
- Blount County ECS Monthly Meeting – March 17
- ⭐ 2026 Knoxville Covenant Marathon ⭐ – April 12
- Blount County ECS Monthly Meeting – April 21

In addition to these events, remember that we have our weekly net every Thursday at 9:00 PM using 146.625 MHz, tone 118.8 Hz, offset -0.600 MHz as the primary frequency. These nets are an important way to stay connected, practice operating skills, and maintain readiness.

Your participation in meetings, nets, training, and public service events is what keeps Blount County ARES strong and ready to serve our community.

At the meeting last Tuesday there was a question about the SSID used for APRS.

In an AX.25 network, each station must have a unique ID. Since a operator may have more than one station on the air at the same time, the protocol allows for a "Secondary Station Identifier (SSID). The SSID is a four-bit integer (0-15) that uniquely identifies multiple stations using the same amateur call sign.

APRS originally repurposed existing TNCs, many of which had limited abilities, so there were some conventions adopted to use the SSID to identify the "type" of station - those conventions are still used (though not require) today.

The most commonly seen SSIDs are:
0 (the equivalent of just your callsign with no SSID) for a primary station
9 for a mobile station
7 for an HT (historically the Kenwood TH-D7)

If you search the internet you'll find a variety of lists for what each SSID represents; the "original" list (by WB4APR, the creator of APRS) can be found at https://www.aprs.org/aprs11/SSIDs.txt:

-0 Your primary station usually fixed and message capable
-1 generic additional station, digi, mobile, wx, etc
-2 generic additional station, digi, mobile, wx, etc
-3 generic additional station, digi, mobile, wx, etc
-4 generic additional station, digi, mobile, wx, etc
-5 Other networks (Dstar, Iphones, Androids, Blackberry's etc)
-6 Special activity, Satellite ops, camping or 6 meters, etc
-7 walkie talkies, HT's or other human portable
-8 boats, sailboats, RV's or second main mobile
-9 Primary Mobile (usually message capable)
-10 internet, Igates, echolink, winlink, AVRS, APRN, etc
-11 balloons, aircraft, spacecraft, etc
-12 APRStt, DTMF, RFID, devices, one-way trackers*, etc
-13 Weather stations
-14 Truckers or generally full time drivers
-15 generic additional station, digi, mobile, wx, etc

The Dancing Bear Bike Bash 2025 is this weekend!

We discussed the details at the meeting last night; if you were unable to attend last night and would still like to participate, contact Lou, WB3JKQ.

OVERVIEW

* The 2025 Dancing Bear Bike Bash will take place in Townsend, TN on Saturday, September 13.
* Race will start and finish at at 137 Apple Valley Way, Townsend, TN 37882 (same as years past).
- Maps available via RideWithGPS: https://ridewithgps.com/events/390541-dancing-bear-bike-bash Participants and volunteers are encouraged download the free RideWithGPS app and save routes offline. Note: Routes will not be fully painted/marked this year.
* The GPX files of the routs are also available at https://ki4hdu.com/mesh/events/2025DancingBearBikeBash/
* The course includes a 28 Mile, 36 Mile and 60 Mile route utilizing local roads in and around Townsend.
* Weather conditions are expected to be partly cloudy with a stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds light and variable.
* Communications volunteers are needed to provide logistical and emergency support along the race route for the duration of the event.

OUR ROLE

Provide reliable, real-time communications coverage along the race routes in order to:

* Relay status updates from race personnel,
* Report medical or logistical issues to race personnel,
* Monitor safety conditions along the course,
* Assist in coordination of race logistics (e.g., water stops, course closures).

Volunteers should be in place and ready for check-in by 08:45 and remain on post until released by Net Control.

Assignments: https://ki4hdu.com/maps/amateur-radio/dancing-bear-bike-bash/2025-dancing-bear-bike-bash/#c-assignments