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
Category Archives: ARES/RACES
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
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
NOAA/NWS possibly up for layoffs
In the administration’s race to cut government NOAA/NWS could be on the chopping block. See:
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/27/layoffs-hit-noaa-national-weather-service
I understand that a federal judge may have blocked the actions. However, this is a matter of public safety that can affect every United States Citizen and visitors to our country.
Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act Reintroduced
U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Richard Blumenthal, D- Conn., and Representatives August Pfluger, R-Tex., and Joe Courtney, D-Conn. announced their joint re-introduction of legislation in the Senate and House to restore the right to Amateur Radio operators to install the antennas necessary to serve their communities.
Homeowner association rules often prevent Amateur Radio operators from installing antennas at their homes even though Amateur Radio has proven to be essential in emergencies and natural disasters such as hurricanes when other means of communication fail. Continue reading
Unscheduled Communications Drill 18 Jan 2025
Our WPA Section Manager, Joe, W3BC, this morning requested that all ARES Emergency Coordinators conduct a drill immediately after the WPA ARES HF net. ECs were to use ‘local net frequencies’ to take check ins from the end of the net to 10:00 Local. Continue reading
Skywarn Recognition Day 2024 Report
On December 7, 2024 Centre County ARES/Skywarn operators in cooperation with the State College National Weather Service Office participated in Skywarn Recognition Day 2024. Greg Guise, K3HOT; Dan Tancibok, KB3ESJ, and Elden Wood, KF0JZM staffed the VHF/UHF stations in the NWS office. Carmine Prestia, K3CWP was to operate a portable HF station outside the NWS CTP office. Unforeseen circumstances forced Carmine to operate from his home station. Operations were conducted from 09:00 to 12:00 Local Time on Saturday. Continue reading
Amateur Radio Operators Assist Unpaved of the Susquehanna Valley Bicycle Race
On Sunday October 13th, 2024 nine amateur radio operators provided communications coordination for the annual Unpaved of the Susquehanna Valley bicycle race. The race starts and ends in Lewisburg, PA and runs a maximum of 120 miles through the Bald Eagle State Forest. This year 271 riders participated in the race. Amateur communications assisted with race administration and several calls relating to injured riders and an ambulance. Continue reading
Western Pennsylvania Skywarn Exercise, October 19,2024
Between 10:00 and 12:00 on Saturday the nineteenth of October, Western Pennsylvania amateur radio operators cooperated with the National Weather Service offices in State College and Pittsburgh to test amateur communications capabilities throughout the ARRL WPA Section. It turned out to be a very successful drill confirming the ability of the State College NWS office (NWS CTP) to communicate over a wide area, including contact with the Pittsburgh office (NWS PBZ). Continue reading