Volunteer for Twin Cities Marathon : radio operators are needed.
- Details
TCM 2017 October 1, 2017
This kind of event is a way to pay back the community for your ham radio privileges. You can learn the skill of emergency response communications. If you are new to ham radio, or working events, let me know and I can pair you with experienced hams. Bring along your HT manual and your partner can help you figure out your radio!
The main net will be on 444.425 pl 114.8, with back up on 145.4300- pl 127.3
If you have not already, go to aresmn.org, sign up for the 2017 Net 1 email list and register.
If you haven't already, please fill out your profile (register by clicking the Sign Up! button on top) on ARESMN.org and let us know your details: your Ham call, your cellphone number, verify you have a dual band HT, your T-shirt size and any preferences you may have. I can accommodate later starts, and early leaving. If you have a 2m HT only, let me know. Let me know if you've worked an event like this before or would like to be assigned with an experienced volunteer. Let me know of any requests you may have.
Here are the directions for registering at TC in Motion:
For those of you who have already registered to volunteer, thank you! Please invite potential medical volunteers in your networks to join our volunteer team this year.
If you wish to volunteer for the 2017 race communications team, please register online at the link below. You can sign up any time from now until 2 weeks before the race. Early registration will ensure you are on the team and have a secured position.
To Register for a Race please complete the following steps
Here are the detailed steps to register as a volunteer:
1. Create an account. Depending on the day you will be volunteering, select "Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Saturday," “TC 10 Mile Sunday,” and/or "Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Sunday". Please note that there are TC10 mile race positions and Marathon Race positions are separate races this year to keep the shifts shorter for the 2 races on Sunday; you can sign up for both shifts if you wish..
TC 10 Mile & Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Sunday
Please note there are 10 mile shifts and marathon shifts. You are welcome to sign up for both as well. Just indicate you would like to do both shifts in the comments section
Click here.
2. If you are signing up for the first time, you will receive an authentication email to authenticate that it is you. Click the activation link sent to the email address you provide.
Please go through the registration wizard and fill out all mandatory fields. Complete the registration process by filling in your information and watching the videos. Everything is in place to help medical management better organize the volunteer team and to ensure the utmost safety of you and the participants. If you are a provider without a license, please type in “unlicensed” or “none”. If you have foreign language skills, please include that in the Comment section. You will receive a confirmation email after registering. Physical Therapists who register will receive final assignments from Kelly Roberts Lane.
Complete the Registration Form and choose the correct volunteer position. They have been divided up to make the check-in process on race day quicker and easier.
***If you have worked medical before, please enter your past medical assignments and your qualifications in the Comment section.
3. I do not recommend downloading RaceSafe since it does not sufficiently protect runners medical information under HIPAA. It's not needed for Communications volunteers.
If you have any problems signing up, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We will use the following category to make assignments:
• Communications Teams
During the sign up, please specify your role from the following category:
• Communications Volunteer
Communications Tips
A gain HT antenna is the minimum choice you can make. The standard issue stubby duck that came with your radio will not work. You also will need at least 5 watts. If you can bring a mobile radio a power source (your car) and an antenna for it, do so. If you don't have a gain HT antenna, please get one. If you don't have a 5 watt HT, you will need more of an antenna.
The best choice is to bring a gain base antenna with a way to put it up. All the medical locations have trees overhead. Other locations should have enough flexibility in location to find a tree. Radio City may have options for you as well.
If you don't have this sort of antenna and have a mobile radio with mounted antenna on your car, that should work too. Cross band repeat should work, but you will need to have your car close so that if the squelch opens, you can adjust it or you will jam the net! If you can't have your car close, don't use crossband repeat.
Work with your assigned partner as needed. Assignments will come out as soon as I can, starting in a week or so. T-shirt info will follow as well.
If you don't think you can get together what you need, let me know. At least one of you need a good antenna. If you and your partner can't bring a good antenna, then I will try to reassign you.
Also, the Marathon Ham Radio manual will come out as soon as I get it.
Roads close as early as 6am. Scout out your location ahead of time, to make sure you have a place to park near by. If you can get there before the road closes, all the better. You need to be on location at 7am. We'll have check in's starting at that time. The race starts at 7:55 with the wheel chair participants, 8am for the marathon.
Your actual location may be if assigned the location of a TCM crew, medical, or fluid station. You are their communications staff. Get to know them, they are your key to a good time! Bring some snacks to get you through the day and water in case you don't have a near by source. Bring a chair. Here is a good article about a "go-kit" http://www.bay-net.org/docs/personal_go_kit.pdf
I will have information about the radio frequencies as soon as I can. If you don't have a dual band solution, let me know.
The wheel chair racers begin at 7:50 and the runners at 8:00 AM. We want you to report the first wheelchair and number. The first male and female runner and their number. This is for every check point so we can plot the progress of the race.
Please report drop outs so we can report that info to the race as well as people at your location whom will need to find the race buses. Buses only leave from certain points and not all points of the race. You need the runner's bib number to report in.
Emergency:
In the case of an emergency, usually a fallen runner who doesn't immediately get up, call 911 and the ambulance services are prepared for fast dispatch for the Marathon. Then let net control know what happened. You will need your closest street address for the closest house or business for the dispatcher to find you.
We want to know where the tail end of the race is so let us know, also when your check point no longer has any runners being treated or waiting for SAG. You are to stay with runners waiting for SAG. When the tail vehicle passes, and you have no more runners with you, then you can ask for permission to secure and you are free to go.
Remember that you identify with your Mile number and your call. Check in with your tactical call, "Mile 11" We will answer as Net Control #1, K0COM! Please do not make a report till we tell you to go ahead with your report. It does get very busy and doubling is easy to avoid in this manner. Always end your transmission with your call.
Dress for the weather, it could be hot or cool and it may rain. Please dress appropriately! Bring your rain gear. Nothing wrong with a pair of mitts in you pocket on standby!
Bring an extra battery pack for your radio or extra radios.
Most important, HAVE FUN!
Dave Johnson N0KBD
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ARES Metro District, ADEC, PIO
853 Bradford Ave
Champlin, MN 55316
612-207-9501
http://www.aresmn.org
