(Feb. 11, 2012) Montgomery Co RACES Hosts Radio Class.

Montgomery County RACES will host a 2 day getting started in ham radio class on March 10 and 11 at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Center in Conshohocken. Preregistration required. Contact Doug Priest, W3CF at mcartest2012@verizon.net or 215-356-2903

(Feb 6, 2012) Department store introduces ham radio.

The Marple Newtown ARC is participating in the " Boscov's Campus of Courses."  In several locations, Boscov's openned it's facilities to local community groups to teach a course. MNARC has 17 students in the " Get your Ham Radio License" course that started Feb 4, 2012. The class also has 4 local Boy Scouts attending the class.   Instructor for the course is Vic Tenaglia N3IO. See pictures below. 

(Jan 10, 2012) EPA NTS Reports for December 2011

Station Reports

N3SW - 301, W3TWV - 161, KB3BAA - 122, KS3Z - 98, W3DWD - 72, KA3LVP - 17, WB3HNA -8.

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)

N3SW -100 & W3TWV - 100.

Net reports

EPAEPTN - 107, PTN - 41, EAETN - 32, CATN - 31, LCARES - 8,

SCESN -3.

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(Dec 11, 2011) EPA NTS Traffic Reports for November 2011

Station Reports

N3SW - 291, W3TWV - 99, KB3BAA - 96, W3DWD - 42, KS3Z - 31,

KA3LVP - 10, WB3HNA - 10, N3AS - 4.

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)

N3SW - 100, W3TWV - 100.

Net Reports

EPAEPTN - 58, PTN - 46, EAETN - 41, CATN - 20, LCARES - 7,

SEPPTN -6, SCESN - 4.

Submitted by EPA Section Traffic Manager N3SW.

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(Dec. 3, 2011) The Marple Newtown ARC members once again this year dontated toys to the " Toys for Tot's" program as part of their continued Public Service.

     See Photo below

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Nov. 30, 2011) Department store looking for local hobby instructors.  

Do you have a hobby or talent that you would like to share? Join Boscov's Campus of Courses as an instructor. Classes take place in our auditorium. 

Boscov's is looking for talented people who would like to teach a unique talent or hobby to others. We have openings in all course areas, including arts and crafts, dancing, basic computer and internet skills, yoga, foreign languages, decorating, financial planning and more.

To see if a Boscov's near you is looking for instructors check out their web site at http://www.boscovs.com/static/about_boscov/stores_locations.html

 Sounds like a great way to introduce amateur radio to the public.

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   (Nov 6, 2011) AIRPORT DRILL SHOWCASES DELAWARE COUNTY ARES-RACES   

     The October 29 airport drill, PHL EPEX 2011, highlighted the communications expertise of Delaware County’s ARESRACES
unit. Despite brutal weather conditions including a nor’easter featuring
freezing temperatures, blowing rain, sleet and snow, a team of 13 radio operators provided communications that helped make the important drill a success.

     The exercise, held every three years, tests the capabilities of airport management and local emergency service units in responding to a major aviation disaster. The drill simulates the crash of a commercial airliner with a resulting fire and scores of injuries.

     Delaware County ARES was tasked with providing communications for patient transport and recovery. A communications base was established inside Atlantic Aviation’s hangar adjacent to runway 26. A radio operator was assigned to each of five buses used for transporting simulated victims. Radio operators assigned to the buses included Jim Rowland, KB3UGL, Sonya Fazio, KB3UGI, Rich Caruth, K3ZEZ, Nat Stinson, K3NAT and Mike Thomas, KB3SUS. Sol Volen, N3UBY and Carl Gerhart, N3ZZK, both of Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club, also participated.

     Bob Famiglio, K3RF, served as liaison to the airport operations staff and Hal Frantz, KA3TWG, served as liaison to Delaware County DES inside Mobile-1, the county’s communications and command vehicle. Four operators including Joe Ames, W3JY, Ace Trexler, KB3ACE, Craig Skotnicki,
KB3SUM and Bob Wilson, W3BIG manned the communications base  inside Atlantic Aviation’s hangar, serving as net coordinators and  command and control.

     The exercise this year broke new ground as it was the first time frequencies outside the Amateur Radio bands were utilized to carry
the bulk of message traffic. Commercial band digital transceivers were employed to afford the ARES unit an opportunity to use equipment and frequencies of adjunct services.

     Amateur Radio frequencies were used to provide backup and command and control. The KA3TWG repeater in Bethel was employed for main event communications. For tower to base communications D-STAR frequencies on 1.2 Ghz Bob Famiglio, K3RF stationed in ramp control were also used.
Craig Skotnicki, KB3SUM served as net control Although inclement  weather caused officials to abbreviate the operational phase of the  exercise, the communications aspect of the drill was not curtailed. Delaware County ARES stayed on the job from 0800 to 1600 hours,  shepherding buses to and from the airport to area hospitals.

     The decision to integrate commercial and Amateur Radio frequencies to coordinate message traffic proved to be a valuable and successful test.
Airport managers were impressed with the capabilities and  professionalism of Delaware County ARES-RACES, expressing
how important the contribution was to the success of the exercise.

(story by Bob Wilson, W3BIG EC for Delaware County)

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(Oct 15, 2011) September EPA NTS Reports

Station Reports.

N3SW - 377, W3TWV - 96, W3DWD - 74, KB3BAA - 69, KS3Z - 43,

KA3LVP - 10, N3AS - 6, WB3HNA -4.

Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR)

N3SW - 100, W3TWV - 100.

Net Reports.

EPAEPTN - 87, EAETN - 48, PTN - 39, CATN - 16, LCARES - 2, SCESN - 2.

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(Sep 15, 2011) August 2011 EPA NTS Reports.

Station Reports.

N3SW - 355, W3TWV - 121, W3DWD - 35, KS3Z - 31, KA3LVP - 13,

WB3HNA - 4.

PSHR

N3SW - 100 & W3TWV - 100.

Net Reports.

EPAEPTN - 55, PTN - 47, EAETN - 38, CATN - 24, SCESN - 6, LCARES - 1.

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