Amateur Radio Club of Augusta
Public Service Guidelines
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General: Public service is an important part of our club charter and our Articles of Incorporation on file with the State of Georgia. It is also the primary reason our hobby has the frequency allocation it enjoys today. Providing communications networks for public service events not only supports the community, but allows us to practice net operations and message trafficking to better prepare us to efficiently perform in real emergency situations when they arise.
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Prior to event day:
- Ensure you know how to get to your assigned position, approximately how long it will take you to get there, and how long to setup.
- Ensure all batteries are fully charged and ready to go.
- Ensure your radio is pre-programmed with the event primary and backup operating frequencies to include PL tones where required.
- Perform a radio check with the primary and backup repeaters/Frequencies.
- Check to see if there are any special instructions for your assigned position
- Pack any creature comforts you may require. I.e. Chair, table, beach umbrella, snacks, water, rain and/or cold weather gear, sun block.
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Day of event:
- Ensure you are at your assigned position at or before the designated time.
- Check in and introduce yourself as the volunteer communications person to the event coordinator at your site. Let them know we are there to support their communications needs.
- Check in with Net Control when you are in position and operational.
- During the event, minimize your on-air time to allow necessary traffic to be passed in a timely manner.
- Continuously monitor your radio to receive traffic from net control or other net stations.
- If you need to be away from your radio or off the air for a period of time, inform net control. When you are operational again, notify Net Control.
- When activity has completed at your location, contact Net Control and ask to secure your station and be released. After you have secured your station, please refrain from using the repeater/frequency until after Net Control has closed the net for the event and returned the frequency to normal Amateur use..
- If you are approached by a spectator or someone not an event volunteer/coordinator, please help them locate your event site coordinator to get their concern addressed. Remember we are not in charge of the event. We are there to provide communications support to those that are in charge.
- If a there is a misunderstanding at your site pertaining as to your duties and responsibilities or an operational issue arises that you think needs addressing, contact the ARCA event chairperson through Net Control. Let HIM/HER resolve the issue!