The Dutch rock band, Golden Earring’s classic hit, Radar Love, struck my mind when I received this email from my friend and ICQ Podcast listener, Greg Lane N4KGL, this morning. I was doing my fast-pace walk for cardio training when I saw the notification drop on my Apple Watch. Greg wasn’t thinking of this “radar,” but the amateur radio RaDAR: Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio. He wanted me to help get the word out about his team’s next rally.
Originally conceived by my friend from South Africa, Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE, it has grown to be practiced in many countries. Eddie ZS6BNE and I were co-admins on a Facebook support group for the Xiegu X5105 QRP transceiver. He was developing RaDAR at this time. Greg N4KGL in Mobile AL is a huge proponent and organizer here in the States. RaDAR tests an operator’s ability to set up communications anywhere, anytime, under adverse conditions. Operators must move to a new location or deploy after a specific number of contacts—typically shifting positions after logging 5 contacts. Stations use lightweight, battery-powered gear, handhelds, or portable wire antennas that can be carried in a backpack. It simulates emergency deployments where infrastructure fails and operators must relocate dynamically to maintain radio links.
Here’s Greg’s note to me with all the details for you to have some RaDAR Love. Just avoid running into the Twilight Zone, lol. Contact Greg N4KGL for any questions!
Frank,
Your help is welcome in getting the word out for the RaDAR Rally. See below including the YouTube. I enjoy your podcast.
Greg Lane N4KGL
Dothan, AL
Hello Portable Operators,
RaDAR (Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio), conceived by Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE, encourages outdoor operations with a unique challenge: make five contacts and redeploy as quickly as possible, as many times as possible, within a four-hour window. The RaDAR Challenge has evolved into the RaDAR Rally, featuring a few updated rules.
Please review the complete rules [Link]. If you are interested in participating, please make your plans and register to help facilitate RaDAR-to-RaDAR contacts.
To register, email radarrallyevent@gmail.com, and I will reply with a link to a Google Form. Registrations will be accepted through November 6th UTC. Please note that this is not a contest; it is strictly for fun. You can also check out this intro video: [Link] and join the RaDAR group.io
Registration information needed:
– Name
– Call sign
– Day (Saturday or Sunday)
-Start time (UTC)
– State/Province/Country (SPC)
– Venue
– Conveyance(s)
– Bands
– Modes
– QRP (Y/N)
– Spotting method (optional)
Good R2R,
Greg N4KGL