Simplex coordination method developed for the Pickens SC County Communications Group (PCCG) wx4pg.org Devised and written by Gary Spangenberg KF4GGK, garyspang@att.net. Exercise Activity Te ICS-205 is used to define the group coordinating repeater frequency, and the exercise simplex frequency along with the exact time lines for each. The cellphone time is used by all participants as a basis for one minute long continuous announcement at the designated simplex frequency and time slot. The transmitting stations are listed in alphabetical sequence and occupy an assigned sequential one minute time slot starting on a chosen hour. The Emergency operation Center is first and last in this one minute time allocated call sequence. The station listed at a specific time transmits its call letters and location for one minute without interruption, and all stations that receive and understand the announcement place a check mark on the prior distributed scheduled listing. If nothing is heard or understood by a station, no entry is made on the time scheduled list. The completed time schedule list with the received stations previously marked is send to a central data interpretation person. A customary signal report must be discouraged beforehand to retain interpretation clarity. Understood communication, as needed in an emergency must be stressed. Data Entry Preparation The data interpreter constructs a square table heron called the matrix, with all participants labeled in the outer squares as follows: Top row-Alphabetically left to right with the last square reserved for the EOC; Bottom row-identical to the TOP; Left column-Alphabetically top to bottom with the bottom square reserved for the EOC; Right column-identical to left. The reason for the duplication of the participants on multiple axis is to allow easy interpretation in two direction on the Matrix. Each Participants first name is entered on the left to right downward diagonal square common to each participant. Data Entry The schedule listing the reception of each participant is entered with an “R” on each column and row belonging to the received station. This identifies all the stations heard by the participant. This process is repeated for all participants listed on the matrix. Those participants that are completely blank, indicate non-participation and can be removed from the matrix without disturbing the overall square shape. Those stations with two “RR” entries in any square are capable of simplex communication with the station that intersects this square also. The “RR” should be replaced with a “S” for simplex capability. Data Interpretation The matrix is used to construct a table for each participant's Simplex capabilities by using the “S” designated squares to find the other station sharing the “S” labeled square. The EOC is a desired Simplex goal. If the EOC was not heard by a station, then a relay station can be found on the matrix by finding a station that has the initiating station and the EOC listed as “S” in common. That station is then the relay station. Frequently several relay stations can be found. Graphical Interpretation A simplified topographical map should be used with each participants call letters placed at their Global Positioning Coordinates. Rays can be drawn from each participant to all those Simplex stations revealed on the matrix. The map terrain can be used to illustrate the possible reason for unsuccessful Simplex communication. Relay stations should also be included to achieve EOC communication not possible in the direct Simplex mode.
