Amateur Radio Operators Provide Communications For the 2024 MS Glimcher Keystone Country Ride

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On June 22 and 23, 2024 fifteen amateur radio operators and two non-ham family members provide communications for the Annual Glimcher Keystone Country Ride for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS).  Usually covering 150 miles over two days the NMSS decided to limit the riders to 50 miles each day because of the brutal heat wave covering Central Pennsylvania.  NMSS wanted to limit the exposure of the riders, volunteers, and staff to the 100° plus heat index.

On the first day the riders loop south from the Penn Stater in State College.  Day two loops to the north and back to the Penn Stater.  About 100 riders participated in this casual, family friendly event to raise money for NMSS.

Fortunately this year there were no serious incidents and no crashes involving riders. One rider needed help changing a flat tire and a few others wisely chose to be transported into the finish when they started to feel exhausted by the heat.  Coordinating the movement of food and supplies took up the most communication time.

Amateur Radio operators who contributed their time and equipment were:

Blair County:

  • KA3EJV, Drew
  • W3IWJ, Robin

Centre County

  • K3HOT, Greg
  • N3WMH, Lise & Chris
  • N3CRM, Chuck
  • K9SDW, Dan
  • K3CWP, Carmine
  • K3ERP, Elaine & Andrew
  • KC0QJX, Gordon
  • KB3VDG, Ryan

Dauphin County

  • KC3OPJ, Rina
  • KC3LYV, Todd

Northumberland County

  • K3TEG, Tim

Venango County

  • W3WBM

Maryland

  • Jim, W3JIM & Janelle

That’s fifteen amateur radio operators and three non-ham family members participating.  Showing us a real commitment, Jim and Janelle were married only a week before the ride and still came to help out.

Voice communications were conducted over the W3YA repeater.  Some of the amateur radio operators ‘on the road’ in support vehicles used APRS beacons to broadcast their positions.  Using the APRSIS program on an Internet connected computer in the Incident Communications Command van at the Penn Stater the ICC was able to see the position of these units in real time and dispatch them more efficiently.

Events like this are good training for amateur radio operators who might be called on to communicate in a disaster.  Additionally, it shows the capabilities and value of amateur radio to the general public.  We thank NMSS for inviting us to participate.