Baltimore Radio Amateur Television Society

 OVERVIEW OF THE

BALTIMORE RADIO AMATEUR TELEVISION SOCIETY (BRATS)

I. INTRODUCTION - Purpose of the Society

The Baltimore Radio Amateur Television Society (BRATS) is an organization devoted to service to the community through amateur radio ("Ham") communication, technical experimentation, and education.

Amateur Radio is a unique communications service which provides:

  • Public access to radio frequencies in a large number of bands ranging from 1.8 MHz "shortwave" through microwaves, thus providing communications capabilities not possible with any other radio service.
  • Hands-on electronics educational opportunities.
  • Public service communications with excellent reliability and emergency capabilities.
  • Unmatched opportunities for the promotion of international good will.

By its constitution, the objectives of the BRATS are:

  1. To preserve and enhance all aspects of amateur radio.
  2. To serve the community through the use of amateur radio.
  3. To collect, store, and disseminate technical information.
  4. To develop the state of the art in amateur radio.

The club is non-profit in accordance with IRS Section 501(c)(3), and provides all services free of charge.

II. ACTIVITIES

The activities of the BRATS fall into four main areas;

  • Providing emergency communications.
  • Operation of repeater stations.
  • On-the-air activities and discussions.
  • Education in, and the promotion of, the art of electronics.

Each of these activities is discussed briefly below.

Providing Emergency Communications

The club provides emergency communications service to any non-commercial organization requesting it. Liaison with local and national government is established for this purpose through local Fire and Police Departments, and the National Disaster Medical System. The National Disaster Medical Service (NDMS) concentrates on planning for medical responses to any large scale disaster, and brings together the US Public Health Service (USPHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Communications System, the American Red Cross and other agencies. The BRATS owns a trailer with a 50 foot "crank-up" antenna and gasoline generators for setting up emergency communications in the field.

Emergency communications in which BRATS members have participated range from routine assistance to stranded motorists and accident victims, to coordination of emergency water and medical supplies and hospital/EMS assistance following several hurricanes. BRATS members provided communications following the AMTRAK derailment in Chase, MD in 1987. Specific examples of public service communications furnished by BRATS members include:

  1. Baltimore Marathon, 2001, 2003-2006.
  2. Myasthenia Gravis Foundation Walk, Anne Arundel County, 2004, 2005 
  3. Civil War Century Bike Ride, 2001.
  4. Flag Day Living Flag Ceremony, 1998/99/2000/01/02/03.
  5. Bike-a-Thon / Bicycle Tour for Multiple Sclerosis, 1982/83/84/85/ 86/87/88/89/90/91/92/93/94/95/96/97/98/99/2000/01/02.
  6. Towson July 4th Parade, 1982/83/84/85/86/87/88/89/90/ 91/92/93/94/96/97/98/99/2000/01/02/03/04.
  7. American Lung Association "Climb to the Top of the World", 1990/91/92.
  8. Multiple Sclerosis Challenge Walk (Annapolis, MD to Washington, DC). 2003.
  9. Multiple Sclerosis Super Cities Walk, 1989/90/91/92/ 93/94/95/96.
  10. Mutiple Sclerosis Iron Rider Bike Challenge, 2001/03/04.
  11. Multiple Sclerosis Walk--Baltimore, 1997/98/99/2000/01/02/03/04/05.
  12. Multiple Sclerosis Walk--Towson, 1997/98/99/2000/01/02/03/04/05.
  13. "Rally in the Valley" Bike-a-Thon for the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company, 1993/94/95.
  14. American Cancer Society "Making Strides against Cancer", 1992/93/94/95/97.
  15. Morrell Park "CARES" festival and parade for the recognition of Desert Storm servicemen, 1991.
  16. Multiple Sclerosis "Harvest" Bike Tour, 1990/91/92/ 93/94/95/96/97.
  17. Multiple Sclerosis "Tour De Vine" Bike Tour, 1998/99.
  18. Tour de Port Bike Tour -- Baltimore, 1999, 2000/01/03.
  19. Multiple Sclerosis Tour de Shore Bike Tour -- Salisbury, MD, 2004.
  20. American Diabetes Association "Walktoberfest", 1991/97.
  21. American Diabetes Bike Tour (Harford County), 2002.
  22. American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure (origin: Tydings Park-Havre de Grace), participated-2003.
  23. Maryland State High School Band Competition 1988/89/90/91/93/94/96/97/98/99/2000/01/03.
  24. Assistance with phone calls from 5 alarm fire in Owings Mills, March 1990.
  25. Initial call on BRATS repeater and calls for extra units following accident on I-95 near I-695 with 14 persons injured, March 1990.
  26. Established standby net following airplane crash near Towson, MD, March 1989.
  27. Walk for Israel, May 1989.
  28. Communications to critical locations within hospitals during telephone equipment changes:
    • Johns Hopkins Hospital June 17, 1988
    • Union Memorial Hospital August 5, 1988
  29. Communications to critical locations during telephone outage at GBMC hospital, August 1988.
  30. Baltimore County Fire Department HAZMAT Drill, October 1988.
  31. Phone calls following large oil spill (7000 gallons) at ramp from I-695 to east bound Liberty Road March 1988.
  32. Phone calls following 8 alarm fire in Towson at Colony Apartments, October 1988.
  33. Communications net for State Police during search for missing MSP helicopter found crashed in Leakin Park, 1987.
  34. Bus accident on I-695 at Stevenson with 36 injured riders, January 1987.
  35. AMTRAK train derailment in Chase, Maryland January 4, 1987.
  36. Baltimore Bicycling Club Fort McHenry Tunnel Ride, 1985.
  37. Walk-a-Thon for the Blind, 1983/84/85.
  38. Maryland Combined Training Association Horsemanship Trials, 1983,84,85.
  39. Holiday messages for nursing home patients, 1983/84.
  40. Greater Towson Jaycees 10 Kilometer Foot Race for Muscular Dystrophy, 1983/84.
  41. Channel 67 WMPT Annual Telephone Fund-Raiser, 1978,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,2000/01.

The Baltimore Radio Amateur Television Society was named 2001 Volunteer Organization of the Year by The National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Maryland Chapter. Rick Smith, president of the Maryland Chapter, announced this in a presentation on November 8, 2001.

On a routine basis, the BRATS assist the public with police, fire, EMS, and Road Service calls - approximately one to three calls a day, on limited access roads. Because of the automatic interconnection with "911" systems provided by BRATS repeaters, these calls relay information faster and more accurately than is possible with Citizens Band radios.

The BRATS are alerted automatically by the Fire Commissioner in Baltimore City for any HAZMAT incident greater than level 3.

Operation of Repeater Stations

The BRATS operates several repeater stations which automatically re-transmit amateur radio and amateur television signals. These repeaters, which form the foundation of the society's activities, include VHF and UHF voice repeaters which make communciation possible over distances of many miles using mobile or hand held-radios. These repeaters also provide direct connection between the radios and the Bell Atlantic telephone system for emergency calls to fire and police departments.

The society also maintains an amateur television (ATV) repeater which relays pictures sent by radio amateurs throughout the city, using standards similar to those of commercial broadcast TV. This system was the second of its kind in the country when it was placed in service in 1976. Amateur television has been used as an aid to public safety during local Walk-a-Thons and the Towson July 4th Parade. The potential of this mode is just beginning to be realized in the Baltimore area. In California, ATV has been used to transmit high resolution color pictures back to law enforcement agencies during a hostage situation, and to provide periodic National Weather Service briefings during severe weather and floods. It has also been used during the Rose Bowl Parades for several years.

Some of the BRATS repeater equipment was designed and built by club members, several of whom are talented electrical engineers. These repeaters may have several receivers strategically located throughout the area, linked back to one central transmitter. For many years one link used BRATS-designed microwave equipment believed to have been the first of its kind on an amateur repeater.

One of the more specialized features of the BRATS repeater system is a packet-radio digital repeater. This repeater permits radio interconnection of personal computers, a technique which was used to relay information to relatives of passengers on the derailed Metroliner in 1987. The packet system is capable of relaying a high volume of error-free messages, and has been used in support of the Towson Area July 4th Parade.

In addition to the primary repeater system on 147 MHz, BRATS repeaters are in operation on the 220 and 440 MHz amateur FM bands. Without these repeaters, much of the BRATS' public service activity would not be possible. The BRATS is grateful for the generous cooperation of the establishments which have provided antenna sites for these repeaters.

On-the-Air Discussions

An important area of activity, and one which makes the most regular use of the repeater equipment, is a series of on-the-air discussion sessions, or "nets", for the benefit of BRATS members, other amateurs, and anyone else having access to a VHF radio or scanner. Nearly every evening, the club holds nets on 147.03 MHz. These nets are listed below:

  • Monday - Traffic and Information
  • Thursday - Amateur Television
  • Saturday - News Bulletin; Technical Questions
  • As Needed - Weather/Emergency

Education

The last major area is conducting examinations for amateur radio licenses, providing demonstrations, and teaching courses in the fields of electronics, communications, and computers. Courses in electronics and computers have been taught at the Maryland Science Center. The club provides courses leading to an FCC Amateur Radio License.

The Ernest L. Walker WB3DVL Memorial scholarship is available and may be applied for by a college student holding an Amateur Radio License. This scholarship, currently $1000, is one of fifty administered by the Foundation for Amateur Radio.

Since its inception, BRATS has had a reputation for dedication to specialized communication techniques and technical expertise. BRATS has always encouraged "the use of all modes of communications considered legal on these frequencies..." The lack of trepidation regarding something new and the willingness to try new modes plays a major role in the success of the repeater system. As a result, the BRATS has become known as the residence of the technically informed.

III. FURTHER INFORMATION

The society was established in 1970 and incorporated in Maryland in May of 1978. It has a current roster of about 225 members. Although most of these members became licensed amateur radio operators as a hobby, the BRATS has provided a vehicle for extending this activity into public service and the educational aspects of amateur radio.

The Baltimore Radio Amateur Television Society is a non- profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and a non-profit corporation in the State of Maryland.

The officers of the BRATS are:

  • President: Ed Rosen
  • Vice-President: Edward Koritzer
  • Secretary: Mayer Zimmerman
  • Treasurer: Lester McClure

Business meetings are held  the third Tuesday of each month at 7:15 p.m. at the RandallstownLibrary, 8604 Liberty Rd. at  Old Court Rd. All meetings are open to the public. Directions

Further information about the BRATS can be obtained by attending any meeting, by calling the "Info-Line" (410) 461-1212, e-mail brats@bratsatv.org or home page http://www.bratsatv.org or by writing to:

BRATS, Inc.
P.O. Box 5915
Baltimore, Maryland 21282-5915