Motorcycle Amateur Radio Club helps BikeMS 2009

[BruisedFJ]

On October 10-11 I cycled in the BikeMS 2009 fund raiser for Multiple Sclerosis. I was excited to find out the part of the route support included MARC - the Motorcycle Amateur Radio Club. Much like you may have seen on the Tour de France, several motorcycle riders with ham set-ups rode along the route to call for support in the event of injuries, break-downs, etc.

While riding through Camp Pendleton I saw two of them stopped on the side of the road. Stopping to chat with them and introduce myself as KV6WTF, I learned they were also running APRS, and had a "hockey puck". Just then a soldier drove up and asked them to find out when the last rider should be coming through the base. Being that they had work to do, and I had to catch up to my team mates, I said goodbye and rode off. So I didn't get an explanation of the hockey puck. If hmfigueroa or anyone else wants to share their knowledge of this device, please post up.

I also learned that MARC riders volunteer in several benefits every year. Like most hams, they're a friendly group and generous with their time.

[hmfigueroa]

Yes MARC is a great organizaion.

Their website is marc-hq.org

As to the hockey puck. It is most likely the garmin gps-19 which is a gps antenna and gps in one package the puck itself. The cable provides power for the gps and nmea serial data back to probably a kpc-3 TNC or some such TNC to interface to a radio.