For nearly 50 years, the Mid South Coast Amateur Radio Club (MSCARC) has been the silent guardian of communications along one of Australia's most picturesque - and sometimes treacherous - coastal routes. What began as a simple repeater project for the Princes Highway has grown into a vital network linking communities from Sydney to the Far South Coast.
The Highway's Radio Companion
The club's enduring legacy includes:
• VK2RMU repeater (146.700MHz) - the original highway safety system
• UHF repeater (438.125MHz) extending coverage inland
• WIRES-X digital node in Berry (146.550MHz)
• Quarterly meetings rotating through coastal towns
"That first repeater was about saving lives," explains President John Perks. "Today we still provide critical comms when mobile networks fail along remote coastal stretches."
Weekly Nets With Regional Flavor
The club maintains regular on-air gatherings:
📻 Wednesday nights:
-
7:30pm on 3617kHz (HF)
-
8:30pm on VK2RMU repeater
💻 Monday nights: C4FM digital net on 146.700MHz
"These nets often become impromptu road condition reports during holiday seasons," says Secretary David Wolff VK2LDW.
Quarterly Coastal Gatherings
Unlike most clubs, MSCARC meets just four times yearly:
🗓 Second Saturdays in February, May, August, November
📍 Rotating locations like Huskisson Community Centre
⏰ Noon starts allowing for travel from across the region
The next meeting:
📅 10 May 2025
🏠 17 Dent St, Huskisson
A Club Without Borders
With members spanning:
• South Coast beach communities
• ACT and Southern Highlands
• Sydney metropolitan area
The club exemplifies how amateur radio transcends geography.
Join the Coastal Network
While formal training isn't currently offered, newcomers can:
1️⃣ Join the Wednesday night nets
2️⃣ Attend a quarterly meeting
3️⃣ Explore the WIRES-X digital node
Contact:
📞 0401 219 394 (President) / (02) 4421 6963 (Secretary)
🌐 mscarc.org.au
In an era of spotty mobile coverage along coastal routes, MSCARC remains a reliable link between communities - proving that sometimes the best technology is that which endures.
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[Did You Know?]
The club's VK2RMU repeater on Nowra Hill provides coverage approximately 100km north and south along the coast, filling critical gaps in emergency communications capability. Their HF net reaches regular participants as far as Tasmania.
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