The Amateur Radio
Digital Communications group (ARDC) has made significant grants to help improve
amateur radio communication infrastructure in both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Haiti. A grant of nearly $28,000 to the Virgin Islands Amateur Radio Group will fund
the purchase of backup repeaters, commercial-grade antennas and training
materials to help recruit new hams and get them licensed and active on the air.
VIARG President Fled Kleber, NP2X, said the improvements will include the
addition of digital communication capabilities which were not previously
available on the islands.
In addition, the ARRL Letter reports that ARDC is making
a grant of nearly $15,000 to the Haiti International Friendship Amateur Radio
Club to establish a network of HF stations to provide emergency communications
in remote areas cut off by last summer's 7.2-magnitude earthquake.
