On Sunday, October 5th, 2025, six amateur radio operators provided communications for the Raven Half Marathon foot race in the Bald Eagle State Forest. Although the Raven has been run for a number of years this is the first time they asked for communications assistance. There were ninety runners on the 13.5 mile course beginning and ending at the Poe Valley State Park near the lake. A Headquarters station and four field stations were provided by amateur radio operators. Continue reading
Author Archives: Carmine Prestia
ARRL Announces Grassroots Campaign to Show Support for the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act – IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Amateur Radio Operators:
Bipartisan bills that have been introduced in the United States Congress — H.R.1094 in the House and S.459 in the Senate — are designed to prevent restrictive homeowners’ association (HOA) rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas, even when such antennas are hidden in trees, placed in attics, mounted on vehicles, or look like flagpoles.
The ARRL has launched a grassroots campaign of support for these bills. To make it easy for amateurs to let their congressional representative know about their support the ARRL has provided a method to generate support letters to your representatives by going to the ARRL page and entering your call sign in a form. The form will generate your address information and compose letters to YOUR representatives and then send them.
You can find this information by clicking here. There is complete information and you can read the text of the letter before doing anything. You do NOT have to be a member of the ARRL to participate. If you want you can print or copy the letter and modify it to express more personal support.
Please consider doing this, the bill is important. HOA regulations have severely restricted the ability of many amateur radio operators to participate in our operations, including support for emergency preparedness and government support.
Thank you.
Carmine Prestia, K3CWP
Amateur Radio Operators Handle Very Active Communications for PTRA Dual Sport 2025 – UPDATE
The Pennsylvania Trail Riders’ Association held the annual Seven Mountains Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride in the Bald Eagle State Forest on Saturday the 6th of September. Two hundred forty motorcycle riders left the Union County Sportsmen’s Club at 0900 to ride over 100 miles through the forest and return. Riders had to negotiate everything from paved roads to rough and rocky trails. To complicate the ride the day began with rain that makes the dirt and rock sections seem like they are paved with grease. Over such a course, communications are vital to keep things moving and provide aid if needed. The forest has very little cellular coverage so PTRA asks Amateur Radio to help out. Continue reading
Multiple Sclerosis Society Glimcher Keystone Country Ride
Sixteen amateur radio operators and some family members provided essential communications for the annual Multiple Sclerosis Society Glimcher Keystone Country Ride on June 21 and 22, 2025. The Saturday and Sunday event features two seventy five mile courses each day plus a couple shorter versions of the ride. That’s a total of 150 miles. The ride starts and ends at the Penn Stater Hotel in State College each day. The Saturday ride loops south through Centre, Blair, and Huntingdon counties. The Sunday ride loops north Centre and Clinton Counties. A predicted heat wave on Sunday was a concern with temperatures and the heat index expected to be around 100°. Continue reading
Amateur Radio Participation in Rothrock Grit Gravel Grinder
The Rothrock Grit Gravel Grinder bicycle race was held on Saturday June 7th in Centre County, PA. The race starts and ends near the Tussey Mountain Resort east of Boalsburg. Three components of the race, 25, 45, and 65 miles, accommodate most any rider. The courses are on gravel roads in the Rothrock State Forest. Roads and trails can be quite challenging so communications with the field is important. Four amateur radio operators provided communications for the race. Continue reading
Centre County ARES amateur radio operators provide communications support to the Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley
Sunday, June 15th local amateur radio operators provided communications support for the third annual Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley. Over 1,000 athletes participated in the triathlon with an early morning 1.5 mile swim in Sayers lake, a 55 mile bicycle race, and a foot race through the Penn State University campus. The race takes place in Clinton and Centre Counties Pennsylvania. Nine amateur radio operators were placed at locations along the bicycle route as well as Net Control embedded in the Penn State University emergency communications center. Continue reading
* UPDATE * New Mobil Phone Prohibition in Pennsylvania * UPDATE *
On June 5, 2025 a new law goes into effect in Pennsylvania. Section 3316.1 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code prohibits using an “interactive mobile device while driving a motor vehicle”. Driving includes being temporarily stopped at a traffic light or stop sign. The law makes it clear that holding a device with your hand or another part of the body while driving constitutes ‘using’ the device. Hands free operation is permitted. Under the definitions of “Interactive Mobile Device” in Section 102 using an amateur radio would be a violation of Section 3316.1. However, Continue reading
Skywarn Operations Report from 4/29/2025
On Tuesday, April 29, 2025 a line of severe thunderstorms raged across Pennsylvania causing significant damage. In anticipation of the excess communications traffic that would be needed NWS CTP asked amateur radio operators to staff the amateur station in the State College Office. Carmine Prestia, K3CWP, and Dan Tancibok, KB3ESJ, operated from 1600 to 2000. Although very quiet at first around 1828 things changed. Continue reading
Successful WPA/ARC Spring Simulated Emergency Test
Numerous amateur stations participated in the WPA Spring SET on Saturday, April 5th from 10:00 to 12:00. A number of stations activated or simulated activating emergency locations or shelters. Here’s a brief summary of some of the activity taken from Greg, K3HOT’s report from WX3CTP/NWS State College, and Brett, W3SWL’s log of the KC3WQG American Red Cross station. Continue reading
Plans for the 2025 WPA Simulated Emergency Test released
The ARRL WPA section along with Eastern Pennsylvania and the American Red Cross have released the plans for the 2025 Simulated Emergency Test (SET). Amateur Radio Operators (AROs) whether affiliate with ARRL or not are invited to participate on Saturday April 5, 2025 between 10:00 and 14:00.
Full instructions can be found in the following documents. More instructions will be announced by K3CWP, Carmine, Centre County EC in the near future.
Participant Instructions:
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ARC FROST (Field Remote Operations Support Team) Report:
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Here is a list of shelters for those AROs who would like to simulate deploying:
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