Welcome to the Frederick Amateur Radio Club!

Come one, come all to the May 2025 meeting of the Frederick Amateur Radio Club!  Our presentation this month is all about the Skywarn program, run in conjunction with the National Weather Service.  Leading the discussion is Jerry Stuckle AIØK, who is the amateur radio coordinator for the Baltimore/Washington NWS Office.

We will meet on Monday May 19th at 7pm in the social hall of the Independent Hose (fire) Company, located at 310 Baughmans Lane in Frederick.  Parking and entrance are at the rear of the building. We welcome ALL members of the greater community (licensed or not) to join us.  Many of us arrive around 6pm in order to get the room ready – it’s a great opportunity to get assistance on a particular issue or answers to questions. Feel free to drop in and chat.

While it’s best to join us in person, however if that simply isn’t possible, please join via Zoom using this link:  FARC Zoom 2025 Please put your name or call sign into your Zoom profile, so we know that you’re not a bot. Also please mute your mic during the meeting to avoid transmitting background noises in your vicinity.

Upcoming Events:

June 7: Tour de Frederick. We’ll need to staff ~6 rest stops and 10 SAG vehicles, plus net control. This is a great event that benefits kids in Frederick County. Freqently asked questions here: TdF FAQ and volunteer sign up link here: TdF Sign-up

June 28 & 29: Field Day at Remsberg Park in Middletown.  This is the biggest amateur radio event of the year, with operators participating from around the world. We’ll likely begin the setup process on Saturday morning, begin making contacts at 2pm, and operate continuously until Sunday at noon or so.

July: Parks on the Air Activation

August: Foxhunt

September 27 or October 4: Half HAM (half Hike Across Maryland). We support the Mountain Club of Maryland as folks hike the Appalachian Trail from PenMar Park in Cascade to Washington Monument near Boonsboro.

December 15: Club holiday party

Let me know if there are questions – my email is my call sign @arrl.net

73!
Mike K3MMM

What is Tour de Frederick (TdF)?

TdF is primarily a cycling fund-raiser that benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County as well as the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek.

Where is the Tour de Frederick?

TdF starts and ends at the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company. There are four routes that cyclists can select, including 100 mile Century ride, 63 mile Metric Century, 31 mile Club and 10 mile Family ride. The routes all head north from Walkersville, with Century routing through the Gettysburg Military Park in southern Adams County.

What is the role of radio operators?

For TdF, we provide communications for the entire event. More specifically,

• Radio volunteers ride in Support and Gear (aka SAG) vehicles and communicate with net control regarding riders that may need assistance. Often the radio operator is the navigator, directing the vehicle driver. SAG vehicles support riders, either helping with basic mechanical issues (you do NOT need to be a bike mechanic), transporting riders with more significant issues, and assist in cleaning up directional signage and rest stop remnants.
• Radio volunteers staff the six rest stops along the routes. At rest stops, radio operators communicate needs and issues to the event staff via net control.
• Net Control is the heart of the operation. At net control, SAG vehicles are tracked and dispatched to assist riders, and provide the communication link for the whole event.

What equipment do I need in order to volunteer?

While you’re encouraged to use your own radio gear, we can generally equip you with whatever you may need. Many rest stops can reach the repeaters with only a hand-held radio, although an “enhanced” antenna is often beneficial. Operating in a SAG vehicle more often requires a 50 watt mobile radio with a magnetic mount antenna, but we have loaners as needed.

How long is the day?

Net Control will be on the air from ~6:30 until the last rider comes in, generally around 5pm. However, we can accommodate just about any schedule that you have. For example, the first rest stop is only open from 7 until 10am. We also have later in the day shifts.

What if I’m a new ham and know nothing?

This is the perfect event to get your feet wet! We can pair you up with an experienced operator in order to learn the process.

The Tour de Frederick 2025 bicycle extravaganza is on for June 7th and we’ll need volunteer amateur radio operators to ride in approximately ten Support and Gear (SAG) vehicles, staff six rest stops and assist at Net Control.  Many of the rest stops require only a handheld radio, although SAG works best with a full-powered mobile radio.  PLEASE don’t let lack of equipment prevent you from volunteering – we have spares and loaner equipment.  This is a great opportunity to get out and use our service in support of the local community – the funds for this go to the Boys & Girls Club here in Frederick County!

If you can help, please go here to sign up:  https://forms.gle/yD1gDsJymzwVvin2A

Please let me know if you have questions – my email address is simply my call sign @arrl.net

73!
Mike Forrence K3MMM

Please join us for the Frederick Amateur Radio Club meeting on Monday April 21st at 7pm.  Meetings are held in the social hall of the Independent Hose Company, located at 310 Baughmans Lane in Frederick.  Parking and entrance are in the rear of the building. This month, we’ll look back at how radio was used by UK Special Operations Executive (SOE) in conjunction with resistance forces during World War Two, as presented by Matt Halsey KC3OIV.  All members of the local community are welcome to join us.

Just a reminder that we have “Elmer Time” from 6:15 until just before the meeting starts.  This is a time to bring questions about radio and technical issues – there’s a good chance that one of our regulars can help.  And you can also just come early to chat.  As always, it’s best to join us in person, however if that simply isn’t possible, please join via Zoom using this link:  FARC Zoom 2025 Please put your name or call sign into your Zoom profile, so we know that you’re not a bot.

April 27: Pedal for Lymphoma. This is a new cycling event that we’re supporting, but smaller in scale as compared to others that we’ve done. This event begins and ends at the Comus Inn, and the 50, 25 & 15 mile courses route through western Montgomery and southeastern Frederick Counties. We’ll need to staff three rest stops, three SAG vehicles and Net Control.

May 10: Hidden Transmitter Foxhunt on Saturday May 10th at the Middletown Park, located at 7628 Coblentz Rd. Middletown, MD 21769.  All of the details are here:  Spring Foxhunt 

June 7: Tour de Frederick. We’ll need to staff ~10 rest stops and 12 SAG vehicles, plus net control. This is a great event that benefits kids in Frederick County.

June 28 & 29: Field Day.

July: POTA Activation

August: Foxhunt

September 27 or October 4: Half HAM (half Hike Across Maryland). We support the Mountain Club of Maryland as folks hike the Appalachian Trail from PenMar Park in Cascade to Washington Monument near Boonsboro.

December 15: Club holiday party

Let me know if there are questions – my email is my call sign @arrl.net

73!
Mike K3MMM