Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society
Encyclopedia
The Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society, Inc. (TTARS) is the national amateur radio
organization in the Republic
of Trinidad and Tobago
. It is a member society of the International Amateur Radio Union
(IARU).
co-pilot by the name of Colin Fraser with another radio operator, S. R. Connelly, W3BCR from Pennsylvania
, USA. Colin later adopted the callsign VP4CF. This contact
was made using morse code
on the 40 meter
amateur band. A few other operators soon joined him, building radios from plans and kit
s. Since amateur radio in Trinidad was not regulated or licensed, most amateurs used arbitrary callsigns.
One of the early pioneers in Trinidad, Paul Alonzo, VP4TK, used amateur radio to broadcast cricket
results on the 40 meter band. His equipment was later seized by the local police
and he was charged for operating radio equipment without a license
. Public outcry from citizens made it evident that licensing and regulation
was needed.
After World War II
there were many changes made to amateur radio. Government regulation and licensing was put into effect. Since a formal procedure was now established, many people joined the hobby
. In response to this, several local hams founded the first radio club in Trinidad in 1951 as a means of self-regulation and coordination of amateur radio activities. It was called the Amateur Radio Society of Trinidad and Tobago (ARSTT). It functioned until 1959 when it became dormant. Another local club, the South Trinidad Amateur Radio Society (STARS) was formed at that time.
In 1961, ARSTT was reactivated under the name of TTARS, the Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society, a name which it retains to this day. TTARS was eventually incorporated by Act of Parliament - Act 13/1981.
In 2001, The REACT
International Convention was held in Trinidad and Tobago, with the support of TTARS.
s and the club station
, as well as the general operational costs of the society. Only full financial members get the ability to vote and run for office as elected TTARS officials.
, name, addresses and telephone numbers. It is usually distributed at the Annual General Meeting and is updated periodically. Members are also entitled to use the TTARS QSL Bureau for sending and receiving QSL cards.
.
The Northern region consists of the North West part of the island of Trinidad
, which comprises the regional corporations of Diego Martin
, San Juan-Laventille
and the city
of Port of Spain
.
The Central region consists of the central and North East part of the island of Trinidad, which comprises the regional corporations of Tunapuna-Piarco
, Sangre Grande
as well as the Borough
s of Chaguanas
and Arima
.
The Southern region consists of the Southern part of the island of Trinidad, which comprises the regional corporations of Princes Town
, Siparia
, Rio Claro-Mayaro
, Penal-Debe
, as well as the Borough of Point Fortin
and the city of San Fernando
.
The Tobago
Region consists of the entire Island of Tobago, which includes the city of Scarborough
.
, Trinidad. It houses a well equipped station covering all HF
amateur radio bands on most modes and a packet radio
digipeater. The club station is managed by a club custodian and open to guests to operate during some weekday evenings. A second TTARS sponsored station with the callsign 9Y4PCS in San Fernando
operates out of Presentation College
and is managed by Anthony Lee-Mack, 9Y4AL, who is a teacher at the school.
bands and the two meter
band.
TTARS holds an annual emergency exercise, or Field Day
which may or may not coincide with the IARU region 2 field day. Local radio amateurs operate from a sponsored campsite
, usually a beach house
in a remote region in the North East of Trinidad called Toco
and talk to other hams worldwide.
TTARS operates three FM repeater
s on the two meter VHF amateur band. Trinidad is covered by two repeaters. One of them is located on the Northern mountain range and its operating frequency is 147.93 MHz with a negative shift of 600 kHz and covers most of the island. However, coverage is best in the Northern part of the island. Sometimes, hams from other Caribbean Islands such as Grenada
and St. Vincent
are able to talk to hams in Trinidad via this repeater. This repeater is the most heavily used by local hams. The second repeater in Trinidad is located in the Central Range and operates on 146.94 MHz with a negative shift of 600 kHz. It covers most of the island but its coverage is best in Central and South Trinidad. There is a third repeater in Tobago
on 147.76 MHz, also with a negative shift of 600kHz. This repeater covers Tobago and North East Trinidad.
TTARS runs two club nets. The first net is the Sunday night 2 meter net held on the 147.93 MHz repeater on Sunday nights at 7:59PM local time or 2359 UTC. If the main repeater is not available, 146.94 is used as an alternate. The second net is the Hummingbird
net and is held on 7.159 MHz LSB in the 40 meter band on Sunday mornings at 9AM local time or 1300 UTC. These repeaters are available for use in emergencies as listed by the U.S. Navy.
The local Boy Scout
s movement, in conjunction with TTARS participates in the worldwide annual Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) where scouts
are given the opportunity to talk to Scouts in other parts of the world via amateur radio.
Classes are held for those wishing to take the examination in order to obtain an amateur radio license. The locations vary from time to time, but there is usually one in Presentation College, San Fernando
run by Anthony Lee-Mack, 9Y4AL.
Occasionally, TTARS sponsors amateur radio contests
. The most notable of these is the Worked All Trinidad and Tobago Simplex or WATTS contest. The objective of this contest is to make contact with as many amateur radio operators in Trinidad and Tobago without the aid of repeater stations or satellites. The club station 9Y4TT is also active for some contests including the IARU HF championships.
TTARS operates the QSL Bureau for Trinidad and Tobago.
, most notably hurricanes and floods. It is headed by an Emergency Coordinator who coordinates emergency and disaster preparedness plans and assigns amateur radio resources in the event of an activation by an affiliated agency. EmComms works closely with O.D.P.M as well as the local regional corporations that comprise local Government
. There is some cooperation with the local CB
clubs as well as the local chapter of REACT International, but this is mostly done through EmComms. TTARS membership is not a requirement to participate in emergency preparedness involving amateur radio in Trinidad and Tobago.
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
organization in the Republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. It is a member society of the International Amateur Radio Union
International Amateur Radio Union
The International Amateur Radio Union is an international confederation of national amateur radio organisations that allows a forum for common matters of concern and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union...
(IARU).
History
The first amateur radio contact from Trinidad and Tobago was made in 1929 by an airlineAirline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
co-pilot by the name of Colin Fraser with another radio operator, S. R. Connelly, W3BCR from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA. Colin later adopted the callsign VP4CF. This contact
Amateur radio contact
An amateur radio contact, more commonly referred to as simply a "contact", is an exchange of information between two amateur radio stations. The exchange usually consists of an initial call, a response by another amateur radio operator at an amateur radio station, and possibly a signal report. A...
was made using morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
on the 40 meter
40 meters
The 40-meter or 7-MHz band is an amateur radio frequency band, spanning 7000 to 7300 kilohertz , allocated to radio amateurs in all countries worldwide.40 meters is considered one of the most reliable all-season DX bands....
amateur band. A few other operators soon joined him, building radios from plans and kit
Kit
-Animals:* kit, a young ferret* a short form of kitten, a young cat* Kit fox, a relatively common North American fox* Kit, a group of domestic pigeons trained to perform together in competitions-Companies and organisations:...
s. Since amateur radio in Trinidad was not regulated or licensed, most amateurs used arbitrary callsigns.
One of the early pioneers in Trinidad, Paul Alonzo, VP4TK, used amateur radio to broadcast cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
results on the 40 meter band. His equipment was later seized by the local police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and he was charged for operating radio equipment without a license
License
The verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license or licence refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.A license may be granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement...
. Public outcry from citizens made it evident that licensing and regulation
Regulation
Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...
was needed.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
there were many changes made to amateur radio. Government regulation and licensing was put into effect. Since a formal procedure was now established, many people joined the hobby
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
. In response to this, several local hams founded the first radio club in Trinidad in 1951 as a means of self-regulation and coordination of amateur radio activities. It was called the Amateur Radio Society of Trinidad and Tobago (ARSTT). It functioned until 1959 when it became dormant. Another local club, the South Trinidad Amateur Radio Society (STARS) was formed at that time.
In 1961, ARSTT was reactivated under the name of TTARS, the Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society, a name which it retains to this day. TTARS was eventually incorporated by Act of Parliament - Act 13/1981.
In 2001, The REACT
Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams
REACT began as a CB radio Emergency Channel 9 monitoring organization across the United States and Canada in 1962. Initially, the primary role of REACT volunteers was to monitor Channel 9, the CB Emergency Channel, to help motorists. Later, duties grew to include communications after disasters ,...
International Convention was held in Trinidad and Tobago, with the support of TTARS.
Membership
TTARS offers four membership levels: full, associate, honorary and affiliate. To be eligible for full membership, one requires an amateur radio license issued by the Trinidad and Tobago government. Dues from full members go mainly toward maintaining the repeaterRepeater
A repeater is an electronic device that receives asignal and retransmits it at a higher level and/or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances.-Description:...
s and the club station
Amateur radio station
An amateur radio station is an installation designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary...
, as well as the general operational costs of the society. Only full financial members get the ability to vote and run for office as elected TTARS officials.
Services
TTARS publishes a call book listing radio amateurs in Trinidad and Tobago. Information in the directory includes call signCall sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
, name, addresses and telephone numbers. It is usually distributed at the Annual General Meeting and is updated periodically. Members are also entitled to use the TTARS QSL Bureau for sending and receiving QSL cards.
Regions
In an effort to encourage full participation of members in all parts of the country, TTARS has four regions which coincide with regions administered by Trinidad and Tobago Local Government and the respective regional corporationsRegional Corporations and Municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago
-Trinidad:Historically, Trinidad was divided into eight counties.-Tobago:Tobago is governed locally by the Tobago House of Assembly.Historically, Tobago was divided into seven parishes . In 1768 each parish of Tobago had nominated representatives to the Tobago House of Assembly...
.
The Northern region consists of the North West part of the island of Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, which comprises the regional corporations of Diego Martin
Diego Martin Regional Corporation
Diego Martin Regional Corporation is a Regional Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. It has a land area of 127.53 km² and is headquartered in Petit Valley. Other urban areas within Diego Martin Regional Corporation include Carenage, Diego Martin, Maraval and Westmoorings.-Elected Areas:* Alyce...
, San Juan-Laventille
San Juan-Laventille Regional Corporation
San Juan-Laventille Regional Corporation is a Regional Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. It has a land area of 220.39 km². The San Juan-Laventille Regional Corporation is headquartered in Aranguez. Other urban areas include Barataria, Laventille, Morvant, St. Joseph and San Juan. It is the...
and the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
.
The Central region consists of the central and North East part of the island of Trinidad, which comprises the regional corporations of Tunapuna-Piarco
Tunapuna-Piarco Regional Corporation
Tunapuna-Piarco Regional Corporation is a local government body in Trinidad and Tobago. It is one of nine Regional Corporations in Trinidad which replaced the system of Counties as local government bodies in 1992. It is the largest by population of all the Regional Corporations. It contains the...
, Sangre Grande
Sangre Grande Regional Corporation
Sangre Grande Regional Corporation is a Local Government Body and the largest Regional Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. It has a land area of 898.94 km². The Sangre Grande Regional Corporation is headquartered in Sangre Grande. Other urban areas within include Guaico, Toco and Valencia...
as well as the Borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
s of Chaguanas
Chaguanas
The Borough of Chaguanas is the largest municipality 2000 census) and fastest-growing town in Trinidad and Tobago. Located in Central Trinidad about south of Port of Spain. It grew in size due to its proximity to the Woodford Lodge sugar refinery. It remained a minor town until the 1980s when it...
and Arima
Arima
The Royal Borough of Arima is the fourth largest town in Trinidad and Tobago. Located east of the capital, Port of Spain, Arima supports the only organised indigenous community in the country, the Santa Rosa Carib Community and is the seat of the Carib Queen...
.
The Southern region consists of the Southern part of the island of Trinidad, which comprises the regional corporations of Princes Town
Princes Town Regional Corporation
Princes Town Regional Corporation is a Regional Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. It has a land area of 621.35 km². The Princes Town Regional Corporation is headquartered in Princes Town. Other towns include Moruga.-References:...
, Siparia
Siparia Regional Corporation
Siparia Regional Corporation is the Regional Corporation which handles local government functions in a 510.48 km² are of southwest Trinidad. It is one of 15 local government bodies in Trinidad and Tobago. The Siparia Regional Corporation is headquartered in Siparia...
, Rio Claro-Mayaro
Rio Claro-Mayaro Regional Corporation
Rio Claro-Mayaro Regional Corporation is a Regional Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. It has a land area of 852.81 km². The Rio Claro-Mayaro Regional Corporation is headquartered in Mayaro...
, Penal-Debe
Penal-Debe Regional Corporation
Penal-Debe Regional Corporation is a Regional Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. It has a land area of 246.91 km². Urban areas within Penal-Debe Regional Corporation include Penal, where the corporation is headquartered, and Debe.-Areas:...
, as well as the Borough of Point Fortin
Point Fortin
Point Fortin, the smallest Borough in Trinidad and Tobago, is located in southwestern Trinidad, about southwest of San Fernando. After the discovery of petroleum in the area in 1906 the town grew into a major oil-producing centre. The town grew with the oil industry between the 1940s and 1980s,...
and the city of San Fernando
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
.
The Tobago
Tobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
Region consists of the entire Island of Tobago, which includes the city of Scarborough
Scarborough, Tobago
Scarborough, Tobago is the largest town in Tobago, one of the two main islands of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Its population is around 17,000, almost one-third of the population of the island. The town is dominated by Fort King George, an 18th century fortification named after King George...
.
Headquarters and club station
TTARS headquarters is currently located at Boy Scouts' Headquarters in Port of SpainPort of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
, Trinidad. It houses a well equipped station covering all HF
High frequency
High frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...
amateur radio bands on most modes and a packet radio
Packet radio
Packet radio is a form of packet switching technology used to transmit digital data via radio or wireless communications links. It uses the same concepts of data transmission via Datagram that are fundamental to communications via the Internet, as opposed to the older techniques used by dedicated...
digipeater. The club station is managed by a club custodian and open to guests to operate during some weekday evenings. A second TTARS sponsored station with the callsign 9Y4PCS in San Fernando
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
operates out of Presentation College
Presentation College
Presentation College is a selective, government-assisted Roman Catholic secondary school located in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. It claims to be the first Catholic secondary school in South Trinidad, having been established circa 1930 in the basement of San Fernando Presbytery. It relocated...
and is managed by Anthony Lee-Mack, 9Y4AL, who is a teacher at the school.
Current activities
TTARS coordinates several activities related to Amateur Radio in Trinidad and Tobago on most popular amateur radio bands, including HFHigh frequency
High frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...
bands and the two meter
2 meters
The 2-meter amateur radio band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 144.000 MHz to 148.000 MHz in International Telecommunication Union region Regions 2 and 3 and from 144.000 MHz to 146.000 MHz in ITU Region 1...
band.
TTARS holds an annual emergency exercise, or Field Day
Field Day
Field Day is an annual amateur radio exercise, widely sponsored by IARU regions and member organizations, encouraging emergency communications preparedness among amateur radio operators...
which may or may not coincide with the IARU region 2 field day. Local radio amateurs operate from a sponsored campsite
Campsite
A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
, usually a beach house
Beach house
A beach house is a house on or near a beach, generally used as a vacation or second home for people who commute to the house on weekends or during vacation periods....
in a remote region in the North East of Trinidad called Toco
Toco
Toco is the most northeasterly village on the island of Trinidad in the County of Saint David at the point where the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet. Tobago lies only some 35 kilometers to the northeast which renders Toco the closest point in Trinidad to the sister island. The name Toco...
and talk to other hams worldwide.
TTARS operates three FM repeater
Repeater
A repeater is an electronic device that receives asignal and retransmits it at a higher level and/or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances.-Description:...
s on the two meter VHF amateur band. Trinidad is covered by two repeaters. One of them is located on the Northern mountain range and its operating frequency is 147.93 MHz with a negative shift of 600 kHz and covers most of the island. However, coverage is best in the Northern part of the island. Sometimes, hams from other Caribbean Islands such as Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
and St. Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
are able to talk to hams in Trinidad via this repeater. This repeater is the most heavily used by local hams. The second repeater in Trinidad is located in the Central Range and operates on 146.94 MHz with a negative shift of 600 kHz. It covers most of the island but its coverage is best in Central and South Trinidad. There is a third repeater in Tobago
Tobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
on 147.76 MHz, also with a negative shift of 600kHz. This repeater covers Tobago and North East Trinidad.
TTARS runs two club nets. The first net is the Sunday night 2 meter net held on the 147.93 MHz repeater on Sunday nights at 7:59PM local time or 2359 UTC. If the main repeater is not available, 146.94 is used as an alternate. The second net is the Hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
net and is held on 7.159 MHz LSB in the 40 meter band on Sunday mornings at 9AM local time or 1300 UTC. These repeaters are available for use in emergencies as listed by the U.S. Navy.
The local Boy Scout
The Scout Association of Trinidad and Tobago
The Scout Association of Trinidad and Tobago is the national Scouting organization of Trinidad and Tobago. Scouting was founded in Trinidad and Tobago in 1911 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1963...
s movement, in conjunction with TTARS participates in the worldwide annual Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) where scouts
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
are given the opportunity to talk to Scouts in other parts of the world via amateur radio.
Classes are held for those wishing to take the examination in order to obtain an amateur radio license. The locations vary from time to time, but there is usually one in Presentation College, San Fernando
Presentation College
Presentation College is a selective, government-assisted Roman Catholic secondary school located in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. It claims to be the first Catholic secondary school in South Trinidad, having been established circa 1930 in the basement of San Fernando Presbytery. It relocated...
run by Anthony Lee-Mack, 9Y4AL.
Occasionally, TTARS sponsors amateur radio contests
Contesting
Contesting is a competitive activity pursued by amateur radio operators. In a contest, an amateur radio station, which may be operated by an individual or a team, seeks to contact as many other amateur radio stations as possible in a given period of time and exchange information...
. The most notable of these is the Worked All Trinidad and Tobago Simplex or WATTS contest. The objective of this contest is to make contact with as many amateur radio operators in Trinidad and Tobago without the aid of repeater stations or satellites. The club station 9Y4TT is also active for some contests including the IARU HF championships.
TTARS operates the QSL Bureau for Trinidad and Tobago.
Emergency Preparedness
The Emergency Communications Service (EmComms) is an organization within TTARS that provides amateur radio communications during times of emergency and disasterDisaster
A disaster is a natural or man-made hazard that has come to fruition, resulting in an event of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment...
, most notably hurricanes and floods. It is headed by an Emergency Coordinator who coordinates emergency and disaster preparedness plans and assigns amateur radio resources in the event of an activation by an affiliated agency. EmComms works closely with O.D.P.M as well as the local regional corporations that comprise local Government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
. There is some cooperation with the local CB
Citizens' band radio
Citizens' Band radio is, in many countries, a system of short-distance radio communications between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the 27-MHz band. Citizens' Band is distinct from the FRS, GMRS, MURS and amateur radio...
clubs as well as the local chapter of REACT International, but this is mostly done through EmComms. TTARS membership is not a requirement to participate in emergency preparedness involving amateur radio in Trinidad and Tobago.