[MRCA] MRCA Meet Communications Readiness Bulletin

[Radio Station KW1I]

MRCA Meet Communications Readiness Bulletin

Tactical Radio Operations at the MRCA meet are just a few weeks away. It is 
not too soon to prepare for these important exercises. You can do two things 
ahead of time. 1. Though it isn't absolutely necessary, team up with another 
amateur or two to compose a comm team. 2. Pull your radios out of storage 
and make sure they work. Try to remember how to operate them, and check that 
you have packed all the antenna cables, microphones, keys, speaker/headsets, 
tuners, SWR analyzers, ground stakes, guy wires, connectors, adapters, etc., 
and charge your batteries!
Thursday, September 18 ,afternoon arrivals can help Ted, W3PWW set up the 
base station and hang antennas for 75, 60 and 6 meters.

Friday afternoon, September 19, we will be having our group field exercise 
to Big Pocono. All of the interested individuals and teams will convoy up to 
this local high point about 19 miles and about 40 minutes away. If you have 
an FM rig with external mobile whip capable of 51.0 mHz you will be able to 
be in contact with the base station at the Gilbert Fairgrounds throughout 
most of the trip. Once at Big Pocono, utilizing the VHF link for 
coordination, we will check out our HF rigs with the base station. This is 
usually attempted on 75 meters. Be sure to have either a frequency agile 
rig, or a couple of
crystals in the 3875/3885 vicinity. There is plenty of parking at this 
overlook point and each group can find a place to set up. Later we can 
exercise our back packs and BC-611s as we stroll around the parking areas, 
enjoy the great view and assemble for a group photo at the fire tower..

Mid-morning Saturday, Sept. 20 we will be sending teams out of our base area 
to clandestine sites 2 - 6 miles away. There will be intelligence gathering 
by these comm teams while on assignment. Though mobile radios and antennas 
are OK. True portable HF rigs with portable power and portable antennas make 
for a more authentic tactical radio experience. Traffic will be exchanged 
with the Gilbert base station which will function as net control for 
stations in the field, and those who are exercising their radios at the 
fairgrounds to check things out before they are deployed.

Saturday after lunch there will be an opportunity to set up your portable HF 
radio and portable 75 meter antenna at a designated location at the 
extremity of the fairgrounds. Field strength measurements will be recorded 
on your signal at the base station. A ranking of field strength measurements 
will provide material to fuel discussion and argument through the rest of 
the afternoon!

If you are planning to participate send email with comm team participants 
and a list of radio equipment to be utilized. Send to kw1i at earthlink.net.