Ham Radio Operators

Irish Fest Amateur Radio Communications Team - SIGN UP HERE

If you sign up, please enter your Callsign in the "notes" box so we have it on file. Any NON-ham radio operators (friends, family, coworkers) might want to consider volunteering with our shuttle directors at this other link which I also coordinate.

Check back to this page for the latest information. Bookmark it in your web browser by pressing the star icon.

We are looking for Licensed Amateur Radio volunteers for this year's Irish Fest, a 501(c)3 organization.

• We will be in charge of a number of School Buses and Mini Vans all with APRS trackers.
• The school buses do NOT have power, you will need to operate strictly on battery power.
• Bring a hand held or mobile UHF radio for analog voice, your own batteries, your own headsets/earpieces.
• School bus roofs are magnetic. We are planning for PL-259 or BNC connections and have a few adapters available on the antennas we have available. Bring adapters just in case and/or your own antennas too! Hams last year reported rubber ducks tend to work just fine with the FM38 repeater.
• *ALL HAM EQUIPMENT will need to be pulled from each bus at the end of each day and brought in to Net Control.
• ARES is providing the APRS trackers.
• FM38 Repeater (Emil will disconnect remote sites for us for the weekend).
  443.800 Mhz Analog
  123.0Hz CTCSS Tone
  Positive Offset
  W9WK Net Control (ARES Club Callsign)
• Simplex Frequency (backup)
  446.000 Mhz 
• We are looking for 6 Amateur Radio operators per time slot to staff each of the buses and net control - before, during, and a bit after each day of the festival.
• When a shift change occurs, we MUST clean any shared equipment. Lysol wipes will be on hand.
• Net Control equipment is provided by AC9BT and/or ARES, and will be stationed on the festival grounds, in the festival main office (LOT A, Gate 6).

We have A LOT of time slots available and we would like you to check mark to help out for 3-6 hours in total length, if possible, or longer. Each bus route loop lasts about 1 hour (90 minutes during rush hour). Please plan to arrive 45 min. prior to your chosen route start time.

Volunteer benefits:

• FREE entry to Irish Fest! As a volunteer you get in free.
• "Amateur Radio Volunteers" specifically, may ride the Shuttles for FREE on the day(s) you are scheduled to volunteer.
• FREE $5 food coupon(s) for every 4 hours of volunteer work.
• Hams have the option to park in lot P near the south gate. Hams that want to park on the Summerfest grounds must be in the database 48 hours in advance so we can distribute LOT P passes for you. Limited availability to Parking Lot P so register early. A $5 co-pay from you is required to park in LOT P along with the pass that we provide.
• Hams may ride the Shuttles from the Park and Rides for free to get to the festival grounds. You may choose, Brown Deer Road Park and Ride, Watertown Plank Park and Ride, State Fair Park and Ride, or the College Avenue Park and Ride (East or West side).
• Satisfaction knowing you've helped keep this important cultural festival available to our city and visitors from all over the world!

Roger will be emailing route information with hotel stops on Wednesday before the festival starts or you may call in to W9WK Net Control during the festival.
For Parking and Festival passes, call in to W9WK Net Control.
Or Net Control will direct you to who has them at that time. Call in to W9WK Net Control.

For those of you starting in the morning, you may pick up the first shuttle at the hotels. Call in to W9WK Net Control to let us know you arrived and are waiting for the first pickup.

For those of you starting during the day, it is easiest to pick up the shuttle buses at one of the hotels. If you don't know which hotels you can park at, call in to Net Control.

Please bookmark this page and create/record your login when you sign up. You will need to log back in here to make modifications if your availability changes. Please click the "Sign Up" button above or below, register, then choose as many slots as you are able to operate. Anyone NOT on the volunteer list will NOT be counted for tickets/food/parking, and we need to know as soon as possible to reserve tickets (limited supply). If you have any questions, check back here for the latest information or contact:

Roger Heindl (AC9BT)
Irish Fest Radio and Shuttle Coordinator
rogerh@irishfest.com
414-688-1680 cell

We appreciate your help and support! The bus depot is here:

If needed, for a reduced rate of $5, you may park here (south of the bus terminal), request a pass from Roger: