The 2016 MS Keystone Country Bike Ride was held Saturday and Sunday July 23 and 24. As usual, amateur radio provided essential communications for ride administration and safety. The ride starts in Hollidaysburg, PA on Saturday morning and ends in State College that afternoon. On Sunday, the riders repeat the process back to Hollidaysburg for a total of 150 miles. 2016 is the 21st anniversary of the ride and amateur radio has been part of the event from it’s inception. Forty two people volunteered to help with amateur radio. Thirty seven of those were amateur radio operators.Amateur radio volunteers came from the following Pennsylvania counties; Bedford, 8: Blair, 14; Butler, 1; Centre, 13; Huntingdon, 3; Snyder, 2; Venango, 1. Continue reading
Category Archives: ARES/RACES
PEMA Activation of Auxiliary Communications Systems
Due to the impending weather PEMA ACS will be activating this weekend.
The PEMA SEOC will be activated to an “enhanced” level on Friday evening. PEMA ACS personnel will be monitoring HF Voice Operations on 3.9935N LSB HF and the Eastern Area Office will monitor 3.9875N LSB HF. We will also be monitoring PaNBEMS on 3.5830N Olivia 1500 Hz 8/500. They will be taking reports of snowfall amounts from counties and others… Our hope is to keep the SEOC and our command staff informed with the most up to date information on snowfalls by location. This should provide a much more accurate picture of how bad it is in different parts of the state than the news would. It should also help us to keep PennDOT informed as to snow amounts and may directly affect their decision making about plowing roads. We don’t expect the snow to hit until later in the evening but it may come in earlier. We hope that you will be able to reach us to share information on snowfall amounts. If you do not have HF capability, please let me know what UHF or VHF frequencies you will be operating on and I will add your frequencies to my operational ICS-205 so that our guys can listen communicate with you. If this does not work, our landline in the radio room is 717-346-3101.
On Saturday morning both the PEMA SEOC and EAO will be operating in a Level 2 activation mode. Both radio rooms will continue to monitor. Using the daytime frequencies on the attached ICS-205. Western Area will have staff monitoring our Western Area channels as well. We expect to remain in an activated state until sometime on Sunday.
PEMA ACS would not be able to provide information like what is needed this weekend without the support that you, the ACS units, RACES, ARES and Skywatch teams that serve your county and local governments provide. It is truly a team effort. Those of you who know me know that I am sincerely grateful for your support. Much appreciated. I can be reached at the number below if you have any questions.
Susan
Susan D. Singer | ComL, Emergency Management Specialist,
Commonwealth EMAC & ACS Coordinator
Amateur Radio Operators provide communications for Penn State 4-H Competitive Trail Ride
On Saturday, September 19th, 2015 members of the Nittany Amateur Radio Club (NARC) provided communications support to the Annual Penn State 4-H Competitive Trail Ride in the Rothrock State Forest. Centre Communications of Bellefonte PA again loaned their Display Vehicle to the Emergency Coordinator who set the unit up at the race midpoint.
The Display Vehicle not only provided a VHF radio but also a comfortable location with a table and a white board. Here the operator, K3CWP, used the white board to note when riders entered and left the midpoint. This allowed race organizers to see the status of the riders at a glance. After the midpoint closed the SUV transported two operators to the last checkpoint before the riders entered a very rough ‘horse only’ trail.
Special thanks to Centre Communications sales representative Kevin Ermol and owners Karl Hosterman, K3ARL and Eric Brooks, N3EB for the use of this valuable asset.
Nittany Amateur Radio Club Members Provide Communications for PSU 4-H Competitive Trail Ride
On September 20, 2014 the Penn State University Extension hosted the annual 4-H Keystone Ride, a competitive trail ride in the Rothrock State Forest. Thirty one entrants rode their horses over a twenty eight mile course starting and ending at the Penn Roosevelt State Park. Amateur Radio Operators (ARO) from the Nittany Amateur Radio Club (NARC) provided communications throughout the course of the ride. Continue reading
Files for operators participating in the Moshannon Valley YMCA Bike Race
The Communications Plan (ICS-205) for the race:
The Assignment sheet (ICS-205A) for the race (Incomplete):
FEMA and ARRL Announce Cooperatieve Agreement
RESCUE RADIO: FEMA AND ARRL ANNOUNCE NEW COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
The ARRL and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have announced a new Memorandum of Agreement. One that is destined to enhance cooperation between the League and FEMA in the area of disaster communication.
Amateurs Assist with Penn State Cycling Club Nittany Classic
Ten ARES amateur radio operators (and family members is a couple cases) provided communications assistance for the Penn State Cycling Club’s annual Nittany Classic Bicycle Race in the Black Moshannon State Forest on Saturday, April 19, 2015. This is a competitive race conducted under the auspices of the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference. Click on the link to see the participants read the whole article:
Amateur Radio Operators Assist Moshannon Valley YMCA Bicycle Race
On Saturday, August 10th fourteen amateur radio operators, and three family members from Centre, Clearfield, and Blair counties provided communications for the annual Moshannon Valley Branch of the Centre County YMCA Bicycle Race. All of the posts that race organizers asked to have covered were staffed. This may be the first time that has happened and helped make things go well. Fifty three bicycle riders participated. Click the link to see the full story. Continue reading
State College National Weather Service Skywarn Recognition Day
Saturday December 1, 2012 was Skywarn Recognition Day. Unfortunately, the Centre County EC, K3CWP, was tied up on other matters and was unable to work on local participation. Matt Steinbugl, K3MRS, of the State College Office of the National Weather Service did sign on at about 09:00 and was answered by Carmine, K3CWP and John, W3JXP.
Penn State Amateur Radio Operators Visit PSU/COG EOC
On November 28, 2012 the Penn State Amateur Radio Club held its regular meeting at the Penn State/Centre Region Emergency Operations Center in the Police Station at Beaver Stadium. The visit was a chance for the Penn State students to see and hear about the EOC. Continue reading