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Pend Oreille County Radio Group Stakeholders will be holding a Zoom meeting 

January 7, 2021 Thurday 19:00 local time. 

Discussion Topics:

1. Current and Future Projects
2. GMRS Repeaters (Update)
3. POCRG Channel list update
4. North County Repeater Install (Location)
5. Q and A

Your input is crucial to our success.
Mark Ford

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7581433911


November 13, 2020 from Mark Ford KA7LAS Pend Oreille County Radio Group

Meet ups:
    It's been over a year since I've met up with our radio folks up north (Fire District 2 and folks from Ione/Metaline). I need to head up that way prior to December 1 and meet with them regarding updates. Anyone wanting to go can let me know within a few days. I plan to head up there sometime later next week.

Local Law Enforcement:
    Fire Departments seem to be ahead of our law enforcement agencies but LE is quickly catching up. Newport Police Chief Mark Duxbury has shown an interest in sending a few of his officers through an amateur radio course.

    Sheriff Glenn Blakeslee and Under Sheriff Geoff Rusho have shown an interest in putting some of their deputies through amateur radio courses. I don't think any made it through Warren's last class but they are on the list. Both Geoff and Glenn have HT ham radios that have been donated to them from POCRG. The radios contain the latest POCRG programming.

    Priest River PD. POCRG will be donating two HT ham radios to PR PD. One will be for the Police Chief who is very thrilled about this program while the other is going to one of his officers who expressed an interest in having one in his patrol vehicle.

Broadband:
    POCRG is also working with and is associated with The Convergence Project spearheaded by Dan Erbling. One of the many goals of Convergence is to bring Broadband into as many parts of the county as possible. In order to make this happen we must first map out our current state of internet connectivity and speeds. The link below will take you to an internet speed test survey. Please forward the link below to everyone you can within the county. The better data we have the better we can forecast our needs for the community and the much needed grant money for this project.

Washington State Annual Broadband Speed Test - Washington State Department of Commerce

Club Status:
    I spoke with Brian Orr (Trustee of the old Pend Oreille County Amateur Radio Club) about obtaining the 501(c)6 status from the old club. He said he will look into it and whether the old club status still exists in the ledgers of IRS. He also said he would look into whether their old bank account is still open. I haven't heard back from him in over a week now. For now we'll continue as a radio group.

POCRG Mission:
    Keeping our mission in focus. One of the primary missions for POCRG and its group of volunteers is to provide emergency and non-emergency communications and support to our local law and fire agencies. The second mission of this project is to provide the community with alternative means of communications.

November 11, 2020

GMRS repeater is now up and working for Newport 

Big thanks to Shannon Mossman  (W6SPY) who is helping out with the GMRS Repeaters etc:

POCRG 675 Is up and running on Cooks.  PL 141.3  Open Travel Repeater CW ID WQQY298

POCRG 700 and POCRG 725 are complete just awaiting duplexers to arrive.  One, I understand goes to Priest River, I don’t know where the other is going, perhaps a tactical case.


October 12, 2020

Repeater 147.120 is now up and working for Newport

The repeater was newly recondtioned, repaired with the correct crystal, and mounted with all components on a recycled rack.  After it was unloaded, moved in and mounted in the building it was tested and tuned.  Now it is working great.

UnloadMove In
Set UpPlaceWorks

September 26, 2020

Location has changed due to increased interest. We will well exceed our outdoor gathering capacity for the state of Washington.

New location: Priest River City Park (On High St near Franklin St)
Date: September 26, 2020
Time: 10:00-1400
Event: Community Radio Networking and Projects Update. Increase your situational awareness and know what's happening around you.

This event is for:
-Hams
-Non-hams and those interested in learning or getting their license
-Channel 3 Project (GMRS/MURS)
-Neighborhood Watch
-Police (Interoperability)
-Sheriff (Interoperability)
-Fire (Interoperability)
-Local Governments
-ARES/RACES
-Newport Area EmComm
-POCRG www.pocrg.org (will be holding their annual meeting at this event)
-All those who may be interested in alternate forms of communications for both emergency and non-emergency operations.

We will have:
-Updates on local repeater and non-repeater based communications projects for community including GMRS and 2 meter)
-After-Action on fires in Oregon/Washington/California and how radios have helped communities there.
-Portable/Deploy-able Radio options.
-HF radio demos and set ups.
-Mobile Radio Demos. Vehicle mounted options you can order for less than $100.00
-Handheld (Wal7.120kie-Talkie) type radios you can order for less than $25.
-Regional and long distance (DX) radio demonstrations.
-VHF 2 meter radio demos.
-Portable and emergency antenna demonstrations.
-Show and Tell of radios and projects

Volunteers/Staff: There will be plenty of seasoned and experienced amateur radio operators that will be available to answer all your questions.

What to bring:
-Lawn Chair
-Show and Tell items (if you have anything that may be of interest to the group)
-Sack Lunch (Picnic in the park)

Other items of interest:
-There may be a food truck or two arrive around lunch time
-Lawn chairs will help folks keep spread out where desired. Use good judgement.
-Looking for Volunteers, "Elmers", experienced radio operators.

Meeting for 2020

Fellow Ham and radio enthusiasts. POCRG (Pend Oreille County Radio Group) will be holding a Meeting in the Park in 2020.

A lot has happened since the last time we held a meeting at the Kalispel Casino last year. COVID presented us with a difficult time with respect to having regular meetings. That said, you are all invited to attend a "Meeting in the park". We will be discussing club events, updates to communications capabilities in Pend Oreille County, ARES/RACES, Local EmComm Groups, Show and Tell Projects, etc. There will also be emergency and portable field antennas on display.

Date: September 26, 2020
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Newport City Park, Covered Picnic Area
Equipment: Bring a lawn chair, lunch, any gear or projects you wish to show and tell.

 September 8, 2020

A crew of six performed site repairs for the .12 repeater.
Old unused equipment was removed from the building and and repeater was removed for repair.
Much overgrown brush was removed outside and clean up inside the building.
That day was hot but rewarding.


Unit removed

Removed removed

 

Meeting Agenda for 10-7-2019

  • Sit Rep: Current State, Future State (Proposals)
  • Review of current POCRG
  • SAR Involvement
  • ARES/RACES
  • Med Evac: Current and future possibilities
  • Newport Hospital Repeater
  • Ham Training
  • Website
  • GMRS Repeater Project
  • Nets
  • Open Forum
  • Next Meeting
  • Adjourn Meeting

    • October 24, 2019

    First Meet up for Pend Oreille County Radio Group

    We'd like to invite all of you who are interested in learning more about using radios as a back up to existing communications. Join us as we cover:

    Date is October 24, 2019 Time is 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
    Location is Station 32, 6131 Highway 211, Newport, WA

    There will be a short meeting followed by radio demos, instruction, practice:

  • Radio and communication demonstrations
  • Education
  • About POCRG
  • Club Mission
  • Radio
  • How to contact others
  • How to use radios in emergency and in daily life.

    • If you have a radio such as a handheld, bring it.

    Comments:
    Lunch will be 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
    General "Meet up" and Ham Demo meets at 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (Open to Public) You are welcome to stay.
    Meeting minutes will be sent out after meeting.
    A second email will go out to all POCRG Members shortly inviting them to attend general meeting and radio demo.
    The location is moved due to floor construction being conducted at the lodge at Skookum.

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