May 17, 2017 -- SHARES - Interoperable HF Emergency Communications: Friday, 9:15 to 10:15, Room 2.

Ross Merlin, WA2WDT, SHARES Program Manager, will moderate a forum on SHARES (SHAred RESources), a Federal government HF radio program for backup communications and interoperability among Federal agencies and Federally-affiliated entities that have a need to send or receive national security or emergency preparedness communications such as state agencies, county emergency management agencies, and critical infrastructure/key resources providers (telecommunications, energy, healthcare, transportation, etc.). This session will include both an introduction to SHARES for potential users and an open forum for audience members to discuss program issues with the SHARES Program Office staff. Merlin wrote the National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG), which is widely used by public safety and emergency communications professionals across the country.

From the ARRL E-Letter, used with permission.

May 17, 2017 -- If you're going to HamVention this weekend, enmesh yourself in the Mesh Networks presence - on-the-air, forum, booth, and mini-classes. This technology takes advantage of the amateur microwave bands and the bandwidth that goes with them, for ultra high speed data and applications. Hams are now building radio-based high speed digital mesh networks low cost commercial hardware adapted for Amateur Radio use.

May 16, 2017 -- It hasn't been prudent to use Microsoft Windows XP since support for patches ended on April 8, 2014. Software from the WDT is not supported when run on XP, even though most of it will run (some with problems). The impact of this week's ransomware virus has compelled Microsoft to release a security patch for this obsolete operating system. According to Bob, N6TV, "In light of all the damage caused by the WannaCry ransomware, including many out-of-service Windows XP systems that many of us may still use on at least once computer, Microsoft has issued Security Patch KB4012598. You can go to the Microsoft web site (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us) and enter "KB4012598" in the Search box at the top to find it, or you can use this direct link to the software catalog page. The patch is a simple program (.exe file) that you download, run once, and then reboot. To verify installation after reboot: Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs. Check the *Show updates* box at the top, wait a bit, then scroll down to *Windows XP - Software Updates* at the bottom. You should see Security Update for Windows XP (KB4012598) at the bottom of the list."

From the "ARRL Contest Update", used with permission.