Public Service

We have a lot of new members who are interested in volunteering for our Public Service events, but are concerned they don't have experience.

Not to worry, you can help as the second person at an aid station, assisting a more seasoned veteran of the race communications. This will get you some experience and you'll be a seasoned pro in no time!

 

Here's a link to the local ARES/RACES page, hosted By Centre County EC Garmine K3CWP

Centre County ARES/RACES

NARC Participates in a number of public service type activities throughout the year. Consider volunteering to help hone your communication skills and provide a service to those we work with. Some of the activities we provide communications fore are:

Glimcher Keystone Country Ride for Multiple Sclerosis
Bike Ride

Every year the NARC provides communications, coordination, and vehicle tracking for the Glimcher Keystone Country Ride for Multiple Sclerosis bicycle ride. NARC and the ARES work closely with the Holidaysburg chapter of the MS Society. During the 150 mile ride, each support vehicle and repair truck is radio dispatched with a ham volunteer utilizing one of several regional repeaters. Of particular note, each support/repair vehicle is equipped with an APRS tracking unit. The entire bicycle ride is coordinated through a command center, where every mobile unit is tracked on an electronic map display. Should an emergency occur, emergency response personal can be vectored directly to the accident site in the shortest possible time without any ambiguity. The MS ride director and the tail-end follow vehicle are also equipped with APRS tracking units.

Wilderness 101 Bike Race

NARC also provides support for the Wilderness 101 Bike Race, an off road race through the mountains of Central Pennsylvania, where there is no other communications outside of Amateur Radio.

The race is headquartered in Coburn PA, and NARC operators set up stations at various points along the race course.

Trans-Sylvania Rothrock Gravel Grit Grinder and Mountain Bike Epic Races

While similar to the Wilderness 101 race, Some races are 5 days of short races, others are one long race that starts and finishes in one day. We are the only communications in the reomte aid stations.

This race is Headquartered at either the 7 Mouintain Boy Scout camp, or at a site near the Tussey Mountain Ski Resort, depending on the day and location of the race path.

Ironman 70.3 Race

A 56 mile bike in the Sayer's dam plus a plus 13.1 foot race
on the Penn State campus, culminating at Beaver Stadium.

Unpaved of the Susquehanna Valley Race

4H Trail Ride

 

On the FUN side!

Alpha Fire Company Santa Tracker

 

Each Christmas eve, the NARC provides APRS tracking for Santa Claus as he rides through the streets of State College on an Alpha Fire Company fire truck. Children can watch Santa Claus on the internet as he progresses through the streets of State College. Mom and dad know ahead of time when Santa will be arriving on their street, so the children can be ready to go outdoors and get their candy from Santa's helper elves. Santa appears as a fire truck moving along a street map of State College..

NARC APRS Digipeater

The Nittany Amateur Radio Club operates and maintains a digital repeater (W3YA-1 digipeater) for APRS (144.390 MHz) located five miles south of State College, PA. Situated at 2100 feet elevation, the digipeater serves the entire State College region and beyond. For more info check out the APRS link in the sidebar..

NARC Packet Repeater

NARC operates W3YA-2 and 3 Packet Repeater on 145.030 at our Mountaintop station located south of State College PA on Tussey Mountain