Amateur Radio Clubs Monitor Weather, Events:

(TNS) -- Specialized technology and code names may sound like elements of a spy movie; but they are also tools used by members of amateur radio clubs. "We're the most anonymous organization you're going to find," said McPherson Amateur Radio Club member Richard Johnson. "Most people have no idea what we do or how we do it." The Newton Amateur Radio Club and the McPherson Amateur Radio Club support numerous events by providing communications services and serving as weather spotters. "We are basically two clubs operating jointly," said Russell Groves, president of the McPherson Amateur Radio Club. "They're separate entities with separate charters, but we do just about everything together." The majority of the events their members, who are also known as hams, work are marathons or bike rides that can cover more than 50 miles of roads or trails. As participants pass by stations, the radio operators note if anyone is experiencing health problems, is being chased by a dog, has an emergency call coming in or needs to drop out and arrange transportation from the middle of the course. "We try to be very efficient in the information we're passing. It isn't a lot of chit-chat, it's just information as needed to be conveyed to the right people," Groves said. "We keep track of the riders and the runners so we know where everybody is on the course. If someone doesn't make it from one stop to another, we're keeping track of that, too." The system also ensures riders or runners who get lost are found and that the event does not end until everyone is accounted for.

from Ham Radio Times http://ift.tt/2uKEuGB
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