Public Service

From Nov. 15, 2022 ARRL Club News, by Phil Duggan, N1EP

On September 10, nearly 200 riders entered the seventh annual Northwoods Gravel Grind in the Rangeley area of Maine, which encompassed parts of Franklin and Somerset counties. The course included 35-, 50-, and 68-mile loops.

The riders were not out there in the northwoods alone. Besides deer, moose, and bear, there were about 15 amateur radio operators assigned to various locations and in sweep vehicles throughout the course. Franklin County ARES and friends made sure important safety and logistical information was relayed to net control, and they did this by 2-meter simplex!

Many of the hams were using their mobile radios in vehicles with mag-mount antennas or similar aerials. Several hams set up external J-pole or high-gain antennas 20 feet or higher at key locations, and they were invaluable in relaying communications if net control (Randy Gauvin, KB1RDG, and Ruth Gauvin, KB1SBZ) couldn’t hear a mobile or portable station.

I had the privilege of helping. It was enjoyable to be out in the woods listening to the call of the loons, as I was assigned to Loon Lake Road, right next to Loon Lake. Franklin County ARES Emergency Coordinator Russ Norris, KA1FKC, stopped by and chatted with me for a while. Have you ever seen his vehicle? There is no doubt he is a ham radio operator! And I absolutely loved his pooch, Mabel, who wore a fancy harness labeled ARES.

Many times throughout the race, riders would thank me for being there, and I am sure the other hams got this feedback as well. Public service events such as this promote our hobby in a positive way. They also help us hone our emergency communications skills. If you have never volunteered to help in such events, you should consider doing so. It’s rewarding and fun. You can contact me at n1ep@arrl.org or ARRL New England Division Assistant Director for Emergency Communications and Public Service Cory Golob, KU1U, at ku1u@nediv.arrl.org, and we can share when public service events need hams.

Hams that participated in this year’s event included KA1FKC, KB1RDG, KB1SBZ, AA1XD, WA1KLI, N1TCJ, KB1YES, NT1N, KC1LGJ, KC1ROC, N1EP, KC1RID, K1OK, K1NEO, and N1TCJ.

Fred Beaulieu, WA1ESU writes:

If you are interested in helping, please contact Fred WA1ESU by email  wa1esu@comcast.net    or calling 978-423-9710

Kathy Savage, KB1LPW, writes on Facebook:

Start of Day 2 Great Maine Getaway for MS with Rick Savage, [KB1LYJ], Ross Chapman, [KB1MGD], and others.

From the MS Society’s website:  “Enjoy the stunning beaches and charming coastal towns along Maine’s iconic coastline on this two-day ride from Biddeford Pool to Kennebunkport with a community of riders dedicated to changing the world for people with MS.”

Todd Rodgers, KC1SQ, writes:

The New England Forest Rally (NEFR) is a road rally conducted on logging trails in northern Maine. This year, it’s July 15 & 16 with Rally headquarters at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Bethel, Maine. The rally hosts 12-15 “stages” that run through some rough terrain, all mostly north of Bethel, some more than 50 miles north. Some 50-60 competitors are released on a stage (that might run for 10-15 miles) through totally unpopulated areas, hence the need for amateur radio communications to coordinate the release and provide communications in case something goes wrong. Two stages that are run ever year have a minor mountain in the middle of the stage that renders 2M communications unusable, so in recent years, this stage gets amateur operators that have 75 meter mobile phone capabilities and can communicate over the stage with NVIS antennae.

We’re short on 2M/HF mobile operators to support safe operations.

To read more information about the event and sign up, please read https://nediv.arrl.org/2022/05/18/ham-assistance-requested-new-england-forest-rally-maine-new-hampshire-7-15-16/

Emily Rivera writes (courtesy of Rick Savage KB1LYJ):

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is in need of SAG and HAM support this year for their annual Bike MS: Cape Cod Getaway on June 25th & 26th. If you all are available to help that weekend or even one day please let me know! I will make sure that you get signed up ASAP and I get housing for you squared away. Also, if you are available for our Bike MS: Ride the Rhode on June 11th & 12th we could definitely use support there as well. If working both days for ether event housing can be provided. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Use this link to sign up

https://nmss.galaxydigital.com/need/?s=1&need_init_id=6218

Thanks,

Emily

Emily Rivera (Christian)

Director, Event Production

National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Greater New England
Direct line 781-693-5154
emily.rivera@nmss.org

Ethan Hansen KC1OIP writes:

Hi all,
Some of you may have already gotten an email from the BAA but volunteer registration is open for the 2022 BAA 10K taking place on 06/26/22! There is a need for amateur radio volunteers so if you are free that day and interested please sign up. If you have volunteered at a BAA event in the past the process is very similar and you should see a banner once you log in. If you have not volunteered at a BAA event in the past follow these steps:

Go to https://www.baa.org/races/baa-10k/volunteer and follow the link to sign up for an Athletes’ Village account.
After creating your account and logging in you should see a 2022 B.A.A Volunteer Program banner with a button that says “To Volunteer Click Here”. Click the button
Fill out all the information in Steps 1 and 2
For Step 3 choose “General”
For Step 4 choose “Yes, I am an Amateur Radio Operator” and fill in your callsign and equipment
For Step 5 choose “Apply as an individual”
For Step 6 choose “Amateur Radios, Boston Common — Sunday, 06/26/2022”

You should get a confirmation number and an email shortly after. Registration closes June 10th so don’t delay.

73,
Ethan KC1OIP
BARC Public Service Chair
_._,_._,_

Tim Carter W3ATB writes:

The New England Forest Rally (NEFR) is actively recruiting experienced public service radio operators who love the woods of northwestern Maine, northern New Hampshire, and world-class rally racing cars. The NEFR is scheduled for Friday-Saturday July 15-16, 2022.

It’s a two-day event although you don’t need to volunteer for both days. You help provide the safety net communications for 75 high-performance racing teams who rocket cars along gravel roads at speeds in excess of 120 mph.

Many operators have said the NEFR is the closest thing you can do to simulate real disaster radio operations and more importantly mobilization in the field. Last year the NEFR utilized NVIS HF comms for two of its thirteen races. All other races use normal 2-meter VHF communications.

You do not have to be an HF operator to participate.

If possible, it would be great to have three more operators who are HF capable to do NVIS on my South Arm and Icicle Brook stage.

You can sign up here:

http://nefr.wpengine.com/volunteers-join-us/

To discover more about all that’s involved, the type of gear you need, and why operators come back year after year to work this world-class event, go here:

https://w3atb.com/new-england-forest-rally-ham-radio/

If you have more questions, reach out to Tim Carter – NEFR Chief of Communications at:

tim@w3atb.com