Amateur Radio Public Service Events for 2023

As of January 31, 2022 there are several public service events that have contacted me and requested amateur radio assistance.  They are listed on the calendar but here are the dates for those who want to pencil them in early or volunteer.  Unless otherwise indicated below contact Carmine, K3CWP at k3cwp@arrl.net to volunteer for an event.

  • Multiple Sclerosis Glimcher Keystone Country Ride TENTATIVE, July 15-16, 2023
    • Begins and ends at the Penn Stater Hotel in Centre County, PA

Thank you.

Centre County Amateurs Assist the Rothrock Grit Bicycle Ride

On Saturday, June 11th the Happy Valley Women’s Cycling Team (HVWC) held their annual Rothrock Grit Gravel Grinder Race.  This is a 66 mile race over various trails and roads in the Rothrock State Forest.  Several hundred bicycle racers took to the course at 09:00.  Six Centre County Amateur Radio Operators provided communications among three support stations and race headquarters. Continue reading

K3HOT/R Amateur Radio Repeater Information

A new Amateur Radio Service repeater is now in operation in Centre County.

The K3HOT repeater located on Rattlesnake Mountain operates on a frequency of 443.425mhz with a CTCSS of 107.2hz (pl 1B). The repeater is linked fulltime (a simulcast) with the W3ND repeater 145.11 at Harrisburg. This repeater serves as the PEMA auxiliary communications service repeater for the lower Susquehanna valley. The W3ND repeater also serves as the primary Skywarn repeater for a 10 county area.  Continue reading

Centre County Skywarn Recognition Day 2021 Participation

UPDATE: 12/3/2021 @ 1632.

Click here to see a list of Skywarn Recognition Day Registration Numbers. You can still register if you wish but they don’t guarantee a number before SRD starts this evening.

Click here to see a list of participating stations.  I imagine this will update as stations register, so check often.

Centre County amateur radio operators are invited to participate in Skywarn Recognition Day on December 3 & 4, 2021.  We hope to have contacts on HF, VHF, and UHF. Participation details may be found in the following document

Skywarn Recognition Day 2021 Incident Briefing
519.8 KiB
501 Downloads
Details

Participants may register at:

National Weather Service Skywarn Recognition Day

 

Amateur Radio provides communications for the Unpaved Bicycle Race

On Sunday, October 10, 2021, Amateur Radio operators provided communications for the Unpaved of the Susquehanna Valley bicycle race.  The race starts in Lewisburg, PA and winds its way south west through the Bald Eagle State Forest back to Lewisburg.  It is a particularly long race, the longest course is 120 miles with several other shorter courses possible.  Near 1,200 riders registered for the race with about 800 riding.  The reduced number was probably a result of the rainy weather. Continue reading

Multiple Sclerosis Glimcher Keystone Country Ride – Public Service

The annual Glimcher Keystone Country Ride (GKCR) was back this weekend!  Canceled last year as a result of the Pandemic, the ride was one day covering seventy-file miles in central Pennsylvania.  The Multiple Sclerosis Society (MSS) again asked for communications assistance from Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES).  Twenty three amateur radio operators from Centre, Blair, Venango, and Bedford Counties volunteered along with two from Maryland.  Three relatives of participating amateurs also participated.

Continue reading

Eastern States 100 Ultra Marathon needs Amateur Radio Volunteers

We are looking for a bunch more radio operators to support the Eastern States 100 Ultra Marathon.  Eastern States is a 103-mile single-loop trail race (98% single/double-track) in the Wilds region of the Allegheny Plateau in north-central Pennsylvania.  The race circumnavigates a portion of the stunning Pine Creek watershed that includes some of our longest climbs and most technical and remote terrain.  It visits storied trails like the Mid State Trail and the Black Forest Trail, and accumulates over 20,000 feet of climbing in the process — all in the glorious heat and humidity of August.  This race is Saturday Aug 14 thru Aug 15 2021 Radio operators are need to help support Logistics and Tracking runners at the 17 check points.  We need Volunteers for the following aid stations at a minimum AS1, AS3, AS5, AS11, AS16, AS17. Other Aid Stations have slots open.  Please visit  https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/PA/Waterville/EasternStates100#16697
to sign up for and position labeled as Radio Operator.

Thanks
Travis Best
W3TMB
tbest@w3tmb.com
570-279-1746