Mangaluru Amateur Radio Club (MARC) shines at national contest, showcasing disaster-ready tech

MANGALURU: The Mangaluru Amateur Radio Club (MARC) teamed up with NITK's System for Emergency Assistance, Response, and Communication Hub (SEARCH) and the NITK Amateur Radio Club Station (VU2REC) to participate in the National Field Day Contest organised by the Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI).
The event took place on January 25 and 26, spanning 31 hours to promote amateur radio and enhance emergency communication preparedness. Operating in the Home Stations Category, approximately 15 amateur radio operators from MARC were involved in continuous operations at the SEARCH Ham Radio Centre at NITK.
The event attracted college students, radio enthusiasts, visitors, and emergency relief personnel, who were treated to live demonstrations of amateur radio operations, showcasing its crucial role in disaster communication. It also served as an essential training ground for both amateur radio operators and emergency volunteers. The contest saw global participation, with contributions from over 30 countries and 1,000 logs recorded.
MARC, founded in 1976 by U. Varadaraya Nayak and B. Mahabala Hegde, is a dynamic community of amateur radio enthusiasts based in Mangaluru. The club is dedicated to promoting the spirit of ham radio through activities such as homebrewing radio equipment, raising awareness about amateur radio, and providing vital communication support during natural disasters. MARC members actively participate in prestigious international events like the CQ World Wide (CQWW), CQ WPX, Jamboree on the Air (JOTA), and radio hunts, showcasing their expertise and enthusiasm for the field.
NITK’s SEARCH is a cutting-edge communication system designed to enhance emergency response and disaster management by providing a reliable communication network when conventional systems fail. SEARCH ensures uninterrupted connectivity for coordinating rescue efforts, sharing crucial information, and assisting affected communities. Equipped with UHF/VHF/HF radio stations and autonomous aerial/marine vehicles, SEARCH fosters innovation in communication and rescue operations, while also serving as an educational platform for industry professionals, district administrations, academics, students, and amateur radio enthusiasts.
The Field Day Contest was coordinated by several individuals, including Prof. K.V. Gangadharan (call sign VU2TAO), custodian of the NITK Amateur Radio Facility and Dean of Planning & Development at NITK, Prof. U. Pruthviraj, SEARCH team coordinator and Associate Professor in charge of Transdisciplinary R&D at NITK, and Vishnumoorthy (VU2VTI), President of MARC.