Category Archives: Public Service

Get The Word Out – Radio Merit Badge

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Get The Word Out!
Know a Scout? Know a Scout Troop?

Please let them know how to sign up for this great educational opportunity. Our very own Jeff, N3EVN will be doing this merit badge class once again.  These scouts will be able to complete all the requirements to achieve this merit badge in one day including being able to get on the air and talk with a real live ham radio operator on a local repeater.

So share this link to get them signed up…
https://scoutingevent.com/527-107894

Camp Guyasuta Merit Badge Day’s

In order to advance through the Scouts BSA program, Scouts must complete merit badges. Camp Guyasuta understands the importance of making sure that requirements are met and the Scout understands the information presented.

Scouts taking a merit badge class are required to talk with their Scoutmaster regarding the badge and receive a signed Blue Card to bring to class.

Upon arrival at Camp Guyasuta check the digital sign in front of the McGinnis Education Center for where to meet for the merit badge class.
No walk-ins will be accepted.

Classes are held at Camp Guyasuta 300 – 23rd Street Sharpsburg, PA 15215
Date:  Saturday 01-17-2026 – 9:00 AM  to 2:00 PM

Please note the following:
* Bring blue merit badge card with scoutmaster signature
* Please bring a water bottle, notebook, and pen
* Please bring BSA medical form A&B with you on the day of the badge
Contact E-mail mike.daniher@scouting.org or 412-782-2669
Cost is $40

SET Drill – FALL

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There will be an SET Drill on Saturday. It will start at 9:30 am and run until noon. We will be operating from the W3KWH clubhouse and will be using that call. At a minimum, we will be operating on the 147.09 W3EXW repeater. If that repeater goes down, we will be using the 444.450 W3KWH repeater on top of Mt. Washington. I will run the HF frequencies and Winlink depending on how many operators we have.
We will be doing a role-playing type exercise where you are welcome to make up your own traffic – the scenario will be announced at 9:30 am on the .09er (Hint: it is NOT a weather drill). Everyone is welcome to participate from their home (or wherever they will be). I will add injects during the drill.
73 de NU3Q Bob
Allegheny County ARES EC
(412) 736-7385
EDITORS NOTE:  This is an great learning experience for new ham radio operators. We do this drills to learn from our mistakes just in case our services are needed in real life.  It is recommended new hams attend these events.

National Preparedness Month – Ham Radio Supply List

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FEMA Recommended Go Kit

https://www.ready.gov/kit

Here we go into another Winter and what will this Winter bring us?  With looking back over this last year people in our area where without power for days this last spring. So if events repeat itself again this year are you ready?

FEMA has always recommend that you are able to survive for at least three days on your own.  Since that is the normal amount of time before support can arrive in your area.  As Ham Radio operators we have to take the extra steps be be able to communicate during those three days.

Click on the above link to learn what you need for your family to to survive for those three days, and as a ham radio operator continue to read below for items you will need to be be able to continue to communicate during those three days.

  • Alternate power sources: Batteries, Generator, Solar
    • 100 Amp Hour LiFePO4 battery have gotten cheaper
    • Generator: Set up away from building for CO2 issues
    • Solar: Keep all your batteries charged
  • Hand Held Radios {HT}: Already programed with ALL neighboring repeaters
    • Programed with the ARES repeaters
    • All National Simplex Frequencies
    • Programed with ALL LOCAL repeaters just not your home repeater
    • Programed with remote location repeater where you might travel to
    • Programed with the National Weather Service Radios channels
  • Back Up Antennas: Those POTA antenna are good for emergencies
    • Can you replace any antenna damage by storms?
  • Extra Batteries: Keep your HT running when your power is out
    • Pick up a spare battery for your HT and keep it charged.
  • Paper Maps: How good is Google when there no internet
    • And know how to read them
  • Full Charged Cell Phone:  Make sure its charged before the storm
    • Charge it before them storm leave them disconnected during the storm
  • Battery Banks: For personnel electronics
    • recharge your phone or kids games
  • Lighting Sources: To operate in the dark
    • Flashlights & Battery Power Lanterns
    • 12V lights that plug into that 100ah battery
    • Gas or propane lanterns – Watch for CO2
  • Paper & Pen: For keeping notes and traffic
    • Be able to keep notes and instructions
    • Be able to leave notes
  • Software: Laptop already loaded with software and knowledge how to use it
    • Winlink: Great program let you send/received email anywhere
    • FL Digi: Digital program that lets you communicate
    • RTTY: An oldie but stilled used for text communications
    • Storage: For documents, instruction manuals, phone list

Work Party This Weekend

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Work Party At The Club House
Saturday & Sunday – 8:00 AM

This weekend August 30 and 31st, we would like to plan a work party at the club to get things ready for fall.  The plan is to start around 0800 and see how far we can get each day.
     The anticipated plan is to get the shed cleaned out yet again.  The pile around the shed needs to be pulled out and ready to be scrapped.  Along with that we can commence with trimming around the perimeter of the clubhouse and outbuildings and prepare for potential fall painting of the building.
     We can then move inside and commence with an overall cleaning of the radio rooms, workbench, and main room.  There is a good bit of dust in the radio rooms and the windows also need to be cleaned.
     The weather seems to have cooled for some time now and with the lower humidity, it is a great time to get this kind of work done.  Early September we will also need help but we are planning the day ahead of time in anticipation of needing a bucket truck.  First plan of attack is the Mosley Pro 67 antenna which is in dire need of cable and connection maintenance.  There will be much more information to follow on this in the next few weeks as we narrow down a day and time.

The Public Is Welcome

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Location: 208 McMichael Rd.  Carnegie, PA 15106  click for directions
Date: June 28-29, 2025

W3KWH the Steel City Amateur Radio Club will be participating in the upcoming ARRL Field Day event.   We will be operating for 24 hours straight exercising our ECOMM capability.  Come visit the clubhouse and see radio operators working at stations indoors and outdoors for the event.  See how amateur radio can play a vital role in the event of an emergency in the community.  The public will be able to use our GOTA (Get on the Air) station, and will be assisted by a licensed operator to get you on the air making a contact for the event.

What Is Field Day?
Field Day is ham radio’s open house. Every June, more than 31,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.

FEMA Recommended Go Kit

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https://www.ready.gov/kit

After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.

  • Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
  • Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
  • Flashlight
  • First aid kit
  • Extra batteries
  • Whistle (to signal for help)
  • Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
  • Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape (to shelter in place)
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
  • Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
  • Manual can opener (for food)
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
    • And as a amateur radio operator have a charged handheld radio programed with ALL YOUR LOCAL REPEATERS and any repeaters where you might need to be relocated to.

https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/ready_supply-kit-checklist.pdf

Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act Re-Introduced

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02/07/2025
Legislation Will Increase Communication Options During Natural Disasters

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Richard Blumenthal, D- Conn., and Representatives August Pfluger, R-Tex., and Joe Courtney, D-Conn. announced their joint re-introduction of legislation in the Senate and House to restore the right to Amateur Radio operators to install the antennas necessary to serve their communities.

Homeowner association rules often prevent Amateur Radio operators from installing antennas at their homes even though Amateur Radio has proven to be essential in emergencies and natural disasters such as hurricanes when other means of communication fail.

“Mississippians should have access to every possible means of warning for natural disasters, including amateur radio operators. In an emergency, those warnings can mean the difference between life and death,” Senator Wicker said. “The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act would remove unnecessary roadblocks that could help keep communities safe during emergencies like tornadoes, hurricanes, and fires.”

Read The Full Article Here:
https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-emergency-preparedness-act-re-introduced

House and Senate Bills:
H.R.1094 – Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act
S.459 – Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act

SET DRILL – 444.45 Repeater FM ONLY

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OPERATION ALERT
SCARC  444.45 MHz 103.5 PL REPEATER

Will be on FM only mode this Saturday from 9 AM – 1 PM. The link to the Keystone State Wide Network will be turn off during this time. For this county wide SET Drill, make sure your radios are on FM mode with an PL of 103.5 during the drill.  Digital transmissions will be rejected during the drill.

This Saturday – April 5th – SET DRILL

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MEMBERS: Saturday April 5th at 10 AM to 12 Noon at the Steel City Clubhouse. ARES is requesting members to show up at the club to work the Spring Set Drill. This is a great learning experience for new hams and a great refresher for all hams. Learn how to communicate during emergency situations.  Get to operate on VHF & HF frequency’s. We could operate in voice, packet, Winlink, and other digital modes.  We learn from our mistakes here so we are ready if the need arises.

New Hams & New Members: Are highly recommended to attend!
Experience Hams:  Attend to refresh and to help mentor!

Instructions

SET 2025-04 Participant Exercise Instruction - 2025-03-28

View / Download Instructions on new page