K3CWP, Carmine, Centre County EC attended a meeting of the ECs of the ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section. The meeting was held in Brookville, PA on Saturday August 15, 2009. N3SPW, John called the meeting to discuss a number of items related to amateur radio and emergency preparedness in the section.
Author Archives: Carmine Prestia
APRS antenna shifted to provide better coverage
K3ARL, Karl, co-owner of Centre Communications, recently shifted the antenna on his digipeater, K3ARL-1, to provide better APRS coverage to the north of Centre County.
Amateur Radio Operators provide parade communications
On Friday, August 7, Nittany Amateur Radio Club and Amateur Radio Emergency Services volunteers provided communications for the Gatesburg, Pennsylvania bicentennial parade. Gatesburg is a small town in Ferguson Township, Centre County to the southwest of State College.
NARC/ARES Amateurs provide communications for Mountain Bike Race
Amateur radio operators from the Nittany Amateur Radio Club and Centre and Blair County Pennsylvania ARES provided vital communications for the Wilderness 101 bicycle race on Saturday, August 1, 2009. This is an aggressive mountain-bike race that runs for 101 miles through state forest trails in central Pennsylvania.
ARES Participation in 2009 MS-150 Successful
The Nittany Amateur Radio Club and Centre County ARES in cooperation with the Horseshoe Amateur Radio Club and Blair County ARES and EMA provided communications for the annual Keystone Country Ride of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Keystone Division on Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26, 2009. The bicycle ride is a fundraiser for the Society and covers a total of 150 miles over the two days. This year 425 bicycle riders participated.
A total of 43 amateur radio operators participated over the two days of the event. Additionally, Blair County EMA provided its mobile communications van (essentially a full blown mobile dispatch center) COMM 1 as Net Control HQ. The van was operated by Scott Beveridge, the Blair County EMA director and Drew, KA3EJV, the Blair County ARES Emergency Coordinator, and provided a direct link into the appropriate 9-1-1 centers.
RACES Radios Programmed
Early this evening, Carmine, K3CWP and Ron, K3RON, completed firmware updates and programming of all of the Kenwood TM-D710 radios purchased under the two PEMA grants last year. This includes:
- Updating the firmware in the main radio, the display panel, and the TNC.
- Wiring the power cable with Anderson Power Pole connectors according to ARES/RACES standards.
- Loading the memory positions with frequencies releavant to operation in Centre County.
- Programming the TNC to operate with the AVMAP GPS Units.
Amateur Radio ARES/RACES Blog Established
Welcome:
I established this blog to record information relative to Amateur Radio emergency preparedness in Centre County. In addition to a “news” vehicle it will provide interested parties with a historical recording of the progress of Amateur Radio participation in Centre County’s emergency planning and preparation.
My name is Carmine W Prestia Jr. I currently hold Amateur Extra Class license K3CWP, having been licensed since 1972, and am the Emergency Coordinator for Centre County appointed by the American Radio Relay League. I am also the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) Radio Officer for Centre County appointed by the County Emergency Management Agency Director.
My background in emergency services includes:
- 25 years as a police officer in State College, Pennsylvania
- 35 years as a volunteer firefighter for the Alpha Fire Company, Inc. of State College
- 25 years as a volunteer with Centre LifeLink EMS (nee Alpha Ambulance), 13 as an EMT and 12 as a board member.
Any interested amateur radio operator or emergency services worker is welcome to view the information here.
Thank you and 73
Carmine, K3CWP