In April WPA Section Manager Joe, W3BC contacted Centre County EC Carmine, K3CWP about participation in a demonstration of amateur radio communications for the ARRL and American Red Cross.  The demonstration was scheduled for Thursday May 23d.  ARRL officials were looking for field communications between various locations in multiple states and ARRL HQ in Newington, CT on HF frequencies.  Messages would be relayed from the field to ARRL and then sent to a station in Baltimore, MD set up for the ARC/FEMA disaster preparedness conference that week.  Only fully portable stations operating completely off the grid and using portable antennas were to be used.  These stations should also have digital capabilities, all of this was a challenge.

Carmine contacted Karl, K3ARL and Mike, N3LI asking if they could participate.  Both operators have experience is portable operations and Mike has extensive digital HF experience.  Karl has a completely portable station based on a military vehicle that can operate completely off the grid as the ARRL requested.  Tests were conducted with Karl’s station at the Pleasant Gap Carnival grounds.

On the 23d, Karl, Mike, Carmine, and Karl’s son Brandon, K3BGH, set up at the Carnival Grounds and were able to establish both voice and digital communications with ARRL and other stations.  The ARC brought  an Emergency Response Vehicle to the site with a number of ARC officials.  Joe, WPA SM, was also on site and handled contact with reporters from three medial outlets.  The Centre County EMA staff also came out to observe the operation.

In addition to demonstrating Amateur Radio capabilities there was significant media coverage on TV later in the day.  All in All, a very successful event for Amateur Radio.

Special thanks to K3ARL, K3BGH, and N3LI for their time and participation in preparing for and executing this event.

Carmine, K3CWP, ARRL EC Centre County