Ham Public Service North Carolina (HPSNC) is a group of volunteer licensed amateur radio operators dedicated to providing free communications support and services for charitable events in and around the Triangle region of North Carolina.  For over 25 years, HPSNC has proudly supported events for national and local charities alike, saving them time, effort, and resources better spent elsewhere.

HPSNC's teams of amateur (or "ham") radio operators use two-way radios to provide fast and safe communications during an event without the distractions of text messages or telephone calls.  This allows critical event personnel to focus on participants' needs, fundraising, donor relations, volunteer recruitment and coordination, sponsor and vendor relations, and facilities support.

Because we use radios, our entire team receives information simultaneously, just like you hear radio stations in your car, along with thousands of others tuned to the same radio station at the same time.  However, instead of just listening to the radio, we also talk on the radio to share information about an event quickly and accurately.  Radios also allow us to communicate in places with poor cell phone coverage.

Our volunteers serve as mobile and fixed radio stations to monitor and report event progress and conditions.  Mobile volunteers follow event participants on foot, in their cars, or on bicycles.  Fixed location radio operators monitor rest stops and other strategic event locations.

Some events, like fundraising bike rides, spread participants across a wide area.  With multiple routes of 20, 50, 75, 100 miles or more and hundreds ( sometimes thousands) of participants, keeping track of people and event conditions is challenging for event sponsors.  However, we provide this service in real-time as we follow and watch participants along the routes and at rest stops.

HPSNC is sponsored and supported by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society (RARS).  However, volunteers do not need to be RARS members or members of any other radio club.  Volunteers only need a current amateur radio license of any class, a valid driver's license, and basic mobile ham radio equipment for operation on the 2-meter and 70-centimeter frequencies.  For more information about volunteering, please visit our Volunteer Requirements page.

The Events page lists the events on our current schedule.  To volunteer for an event, hit the "Sign Up" button next to the event.

If you want free ham radio communications support for your charitable event, please contact HPSNC.  For event support, the event must benefit a community-based or non-profit charity or group, and organizers or sponsors must provide proof of liability insurance.