:: Archives: for Years 2020 to 2023 ::
Winlink Thursdays: Exercises and Results for Past WLT's
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General Notes on Frequently-Seen Mistakes... Please Read!:
General Notes:
We see many of the same mistakes being repeated week
after week, across different exercise types, so we think it’s worthwhile to call these out.
Sending incorrect longitude and latitude data
We use the latitude and longitude data to plot you onto maps. Sometimes that map data
is obviously incorrect. This occurs when folks in the Western Hemisphere omit the minus sign in front of
longitude or when folks in the Southern Hemisphere omit the minus sign in front of latitude.
The use of a GPS dongle helps to mitigate against this. If you’re not using a GPS dongle,
do take extra care in copying/pasting or entering those numbers
Incorrect format when answering a multiple choice question
When we ask a multiple choice question on a Winlink Check In message, we require the
answer to be in a specific format: a single character, uppercase letter on the first line of the Comments field.
We don’t want any punctuation before or after that single letter. We don’t want an explanation.
We just want a single letter.
Here’s a partial list of answers that we consider “not valid”:
- B is the answer
- The answer is B
- “B”
- B.
Not sending to an ETO clearinghouse
We use a group of volunteers to act as the “Clearinghouses” for most exercises.
The purpose of the Clearinghouses is to divide the work that we do to process your messages. Each Clearinghouse
has a specific Winlink tactical address: ETO-01 through ETO-10 (corresponding to USA FEMA regions), plus ETO-DX
for non-US participants and ETO-CAN for Canada.
If you don’t address your message to one of these tactical addresses, we won’t receive
your message.
Even though some Winlink Templates, such as the Winlink Check In, allow you to address
your message directly from the message itself, we strongly discourage this. Instead, we would strongly encourage
you to create a Winlink “contact” for your clearinghouse.
Then, after you hit the [Submit] button on the template, click on the [To:] button and
select your clearinghouse contact.
Yes, it’s a bit more work to set up, but once you have it correctly set up, you will not
make an accidental mistake by entering “ETO-1”, or “ETO-O1” ( with a letter "O" next to the "1" ) when you meant
to enter “ETO-01” ("eee-tee-ohh-dash-zero-one").
December 14th, 2023: Results for "Santa's List" ICS-213RR Form exercise |
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Results Map (by Clearinghouse) for December 14th, 2023, "Santa's List" exerciseResults Map (by Feedback Count) for December 14th, 2023, "Santa's List" exercise |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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December 14th: Santa's Wish List exercise
Exercise Message Submission Window
- December 12 00:00 UTC – December 15 15:00 UTC
Difficulty Level: Basic
Summary:
Purpose: With the decreased use of postal mail in today’s culture, Santa has been modernizing how he receives a child’s wish list. With "Santalite" coverage, this electronic technology has streamlined this process.With increasing solar storm events however, Santa has lost "Santalite" A & B which covers most of North America.
With time running short, Santa put a call out for help to the EmComm Training Organization (ETO) to determine the feasibility of using amateur radio to receive Santa Wish Lists.
Objectives:
- Use Winlink Express to create and send an ICS 213 RR Resource Request Message.
- Properly use the provided resource request template for the content of the ICS 213 RR message.
- Complete only the Setup and Fields 1 through 9. Fields 10 through 19 should be left blank for the initial ICS 213 RR message.
Complete Instructions for the Santa's Wish List exercise [PDF] |
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October 19th:
"Did You Feel It?" Report, for the Great American ShakeOut
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10/10/2023: Results for October 5th Winlink Check-In Form exercise |
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Results Map for October 5th, 2023, Winlink Check-In Form exercise |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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October 5th: Winlink Thursday: Winlink Check-In Form, Version 5
All,
We have decided to reschedule the ICS-213RR exercise for 9/14/2023 to December 14th.
Some of our key people in ETO are deployed with their respective disaster response organizations and are not available to support this week’s exercise. Also many of participants are either deployed on Wildfire responses or are on standby for possible impacts from hurricane Lee. Responding to actual disasters has to take priority over exercises.
We will continue on as planned with the exercises for October.
Regards,
The ETO Team
8/30/2023: Results for August 24th "Re-Do" of "Operation Clear Fog" 8/10 Exercise: |
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Results Map for August 24th, 2023, Re-Do by Clearinghouse |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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NEW! as of 8/24/2023: Re-Calculated Results for August 10th "Operation Clear Fog" ICS-205 Exercise: |
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New! Results Map 2.0 for August 10th, 2023 |
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Winlink Thursday "Operation Clear Fog" ICS-205 Re-Do for August 24th, 2023
Results for July 27th "Severe Weather Report" Re-Do Exercise: |
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7/27/2023 "Severe Weather Report" Re-Do Exercise: Results Map |
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7/27/2023 "Severe Weather Report" Re-Do Exercise: Both 7/13 and 7/27 for Participants of Both WLT's |
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The link below displays the grading key that was used to grade the exercise. You can compare your message to the table to determine which fields you may have missed. Grading Summary for 7/27/2023, Version 1.0 |
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Re-Do: Winlink Thursday for July 27th, 2023
Results for July 13th "Severe Weather Report": |
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7/13/2023 "Severe Weather Report": Results Map |
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The link below displays the grading key that was used to grade the exercise. You can compare your message to the table to determine which fields you may have missed. Grading Summary for 7/13/2023, Version 1.2 |
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Winlink Thursday for July 13th, 2023
Results for June 15th "Check-In Form": |
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6/15/2023 "Check-In Form": Results Map |
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We didn’t reject any messages so the sender can see what the issues were so they can correct it next time.
The table below contains the grading key that was used to grade the exercise. You can compare your message to the table to determine which fields you may have missed.
Note 1: The comment field was worth 50% of the grade Note 2: Some participants of ETO-09 may not have been graded due to a technical issue with the ETO-09 Computer. If you are missing from the map, you can resubmit your message to ETO-BK.Note 3: If your location is incorrect please send a winlink message to K7ZPJ. |
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Winlink Thursday for June 15th, 2023
Results for April 13th "Weather Report": |
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4/13/2023 "Local Weather Report": Results Map |
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The table below contains the grading key that was used to grade the exercise.
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Field Name | Grading Criteria | |
Observer Name: | Filled In | |
DateTime: | Filled In | |
Location: | Filled In | |
LAT: | Filled In | |
LON: | Filled In | |
City: | Filled In | |
County: | Filled In | |
State | Filled In | |
Current Conditions | Filled In | |
Temperature | Filled In | |
Wind Speed: | Number & Estimated selected | |
Notes: | Filled In | |
Breakdown of Errors by Message Field | ||
Field | Number of Messages With Errors | Percent of Messages With Errors |
Wind Speed: | 87 | 15.62% |
Location: | 74 | 13.29% |
Notes: | 31 | 5.57% |
State | 12 | 2.15% |
Current Conditions | 12 | 2.15% |
County: | 9 | 1.62% | City: | 3 | 0.54% |
Example of Completed Local Weather Report |
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If you have questions please send email to: ETO.Technical.Team@EmComm-Training.groups.io
Regards,
The ETO team
"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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Results for December 22nd, 2022 "Santa" Winlink Thursday:
Info: our Clearinghouses were not used in this "Santa" Exercise, so no "Results by Clearinghouse" for this Exercise.
Results Break-out [PDF]Photo Montage of Desired Results
Participants' History (for those in this Exercise)
Participants' History, Year to Date
First Time Participants
Results by Grade
Results for December 15th Winlink Thursday:
Participants' History
First Time Participants
Results by ETO Neighbor Count
Results by Grade
Results by Clearinghouse
Results of December 8th Winlink Thursday
RMS Results |
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Results Map, RMS by Clearinghouse: | ||
Results Map, RMS First Time Participants Results Map, RMS Participants' History Results Chart, RMS by Grade |
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P2P ("Peer to Peer") Results |
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Results Map, P2P Field Stations
Results Map, P2P Target Stations Results Map, P2P Connections |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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Results of December 1st Winlink Thursday
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: | ||
Results Map, First Time Participants Results Map, Participants' History Results Map, by Grade |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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November 3rd Winlink Thursday Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: | ||
Results Map, First Time Participants Results Map, Participants' History Results Chart, by Grade Results Chart, by Flood Level |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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October 20th Winlink Thursday Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: | ||
Results Map, First Time Participants Results Map, Participants' History Results Chart, by Grade Results Chart, Submissions with Bad Location Information |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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October 6th Winlink Thursday Results Maps:
Results Map, October 6th by Clearinghouse: | ||
Results Map, October 6th First Time Participants Results Map, October 6th Participants' Summary Results Chart, October 6th showing Neighbors [PDF] |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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September 22nd Winlink Thursday Results Maps:
Not Available, due to Technical Difficulties...
"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
- In your Web Browser, with our Results Map displayed...
- On the left side, you'll see a list of the 11 ETO Clearinghouses.
- Click the ∨ (down-pointing caret), and the list will expand vertically;
- Type a "Ctrl-F", to use the Browser's "Find On This Page" function;
- Type your Callsign;
- Your Browser will highlight your callsign, in the vertical list on the left.
- Click on your Callsign, and the Map will show you your "pushpin".
- Click on your Pushpin, and, on the left side of the screen, all of the information you sent in, will be listed.
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September 8th Winlink Thursday Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: | ||
Results Map, First Time Participants
Results Map, Participants' History to Date Results Map, by Grade |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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September 8th Assignment |
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Summary: In this Exercise for Thursday, September 8th, 2022, you will:
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August 18th WLT/P2P Results Maps:
2 Parts: August 18th and August 20th:
P2P Main Results Map for August 20th |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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August 4th Results Maps
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, by Grade Results Map, by Grade Results Map, Welcome to our First-Time Participants Results Map, for First-Timers Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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August 4th Assignment |
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Summary: In this week's Winlink Thursday, for August 4th, 2022:
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July 28th Results Maps
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, by Grade Results Map, by Grade Results Map, Welcome to our First-Time Participants Results Map, for First-Timers Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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July 21st Results Maps
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, by Grade Results Map, by Grade Results Map, Welcome to our First-Time Participants Results Map, for First-Timers Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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July 14th Results Maps and Notes:
Notes on the Results of this Winlink Thursday exercise: [PDF] |
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Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, by Grade Results Map, by Grade Results Map, Welcome to our First-Time Participants Results Map, for First-Timers Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date Results Map, showing Participants' History for This Week Results Map, showing Participants' History for This Week Neighbors Map: see other WLT Participants near you! Neighbors Map: see other WLT Participants near you! |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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July 7th Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, Welcome to our First-Time Participants Results Map, for First-Timers Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date Results Map, showing Participants' History for This Week Results Map, showing Participants' History for This Week |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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June 30th Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, by Grade Results Map, by Grade Results Map, Welcome to our First-Timers Results Map, for First-Timers Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date Results Map, showing Participants' History, for Year To Date Results Map, showing Participants' History for This Week Results Map, showing Participants' History for This Week |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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June 23rd Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, by Comments Results Map, by Comments Results Map, showing Results by Temperature Range Results Map, showing Results by Temperature Range Results Map, showing Participants' History Results Map, showing Participants' History |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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June 16th Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Participants' History Results Map, showing Participants' History Notes on the Results from the June 16th Exercise [PDF] |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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June 9th Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Results by Ease or Difficulty Scale Results Map, showing Results by Ease or Difficulty Scale Results Map, showing Participants' History Results Map, showing Participants' History Notes on the Results from the June 9th Exercise [PDF] |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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June 2nd Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Participants' History Results Map, showing Participants' History |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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May 26th Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Participants' History Results Map, showing Participants' History |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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No Winlink Thursday for this week: May 19th, 2022
No Winlink Thursday for this week: May 12th, 2022
The "Operation Ashfall" Semi-Annual Drill is Saturday, May 14th: See the "Drills" page for more information!
May 5th Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Participants' History Results Map, showing Participants' History |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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April 21st Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Participants' History Results Map, showing Participants' History |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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April 21st Assignment |
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Instructions: In this week's Winlink Thursday, for April 21st, 2022, you will:
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April 14th Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Water Works Status Results Map, showing Water Works Status Results Map, showing TV Stations Status Results Map, showing TV Stations Status Results Map, showing Internet Service Status Results Map, showing Internet Service Status Results Map, showing Participants' History Results Map, showing Participants' History |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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April 7th Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Graded Responses of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Participants' History Results Map, showing Participants' History | ||
"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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April 7th Assignment
March 31st Results Maps:
Check-ins Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Check-Ins Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, showing RF Mode of Check-Ins Results Map, showing RF Mode of Check-Ins Results Map, showing RF Bands of Check-Ins Results Map, showing RF Bands of Check-Ins Results Map, showing Participants History Results Map, showing Participants History | ||
"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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March 31st Assignment
Instructions: In this week's Winlink Thursday, for March 31st, 2022, you will:
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March 24th Results Maps:
Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Results Map, by Clearinghouse Results Map, showing Graded Responses Results Map, showing Graded Responses Results Map, showing Participants History Results Map, showing Participants History | ||
"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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Instructions: In this week's Winlink Thursday, for March 24th, 2022, you will:
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March 17th Results Maps:
Custom Template Message: March 17th Results Map, by Clearinghouse: March 17th Results Map, by Clearinghouse Alternate Exercise: March 17th Results Map, by Clearinghouse: Winlink Check-in Submissions: March 17th Results Map, by Clearinghouse [if you didn't find your Callsign on the first Results Map, try this second Results Map] | ||
"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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In this week's Winlink Thursday for March 17th, 2022, You Will:
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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March 10th Results Maps: |
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March 10th Results Map, by Clearinghouse:
March 10th Results Map, by Clearinghouse
Other Results Map: General/Winlink Check-In Submissions, Results Map | ||
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In this week's Winlink Thursday for March 10th, 2022, You Will:
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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March 3rd Results Maps:
Winlink Thursday for March 3rd, 2022.
Results (grouped by Clearinghouse): Results Map for March 3rd Winlink Thursday, by Clearinghouse
Results (grouped by Form Version): Results Map for March 3rd Winlink Thursday, by Form Version Results (grouped by First Name): Results Map for March 3rd Winlink Thursday, by First Name |
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In this week's Winlink Thursday:
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Instructions for March 3rd Winlink Thursday Exercise[PDF] | ||
"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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February 24th Results Maps:
Winlink Thursday for February 24th, 2022.
Results (grouped by Clearinghouse): Non-P2P Results Map for Feb. 24th Winlink Thursday | ||
Peer-to-Peer Results Map for Feb 24th. Winlink Thursday | ||
Sample Disaster Photos Submitted by our Participants | ||
"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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February 17th Results Maps:
Winlink Thursday for February 17th, 2022.
Results (grouped by Clearinghouse): Results Map for Feb. 17th Winlink Thursday | ||
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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February 10th Results Maps:
Winlink Thursday for February 10th, 2022.
Results (grouped by Clearinghouse): Results Map for Feb. 10th Winlink Thursday | ||
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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February 3rd Results Maps:
Winlink Thursday for February 3rd, 2022.
Results (grouped by Clearinghouse): Results Map for Feb. 3rd Winlink Thursday
Results (grouped by Temperature): Results Map for Feb. 3rd Winlink Thursday Check-ins Only (no WX info provided): Non-WX Check-ins Map for Feb. 3rd Winlink Thursday |
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"How do I find my Check-In on the Map?"
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Instructions: PDF for February 3rd Winlink Thursday here |
January 27th Results Maps:
Winlink Thursday for January 27, 2022.
Results: Results Map for 1/27/22 Winlink Thursday | |
Instructions: PDF for January 27th Winlink Thursday here |
January 20th Results Maps:
Winlink Thursday for January 20, 2022.
Results: Results Map for 1/20/22 Winlink Thursday | |
Instructions: PDF for January 20th Winlink Thursday here |
Please send any questions about the Winlink Thursdays to: ETO.Technical.Team@EmComm-Training.groups.io
Please send any questions about our group on groups.io to: main+owner@EmComm-Training.groups.io
73's from the EmComm Training Team
Find YOUR Region's Clearinghouse Tactical Address HERE... |