Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video, we showcase how our local ham radio club provides communications support for the annual Christmas parade using a combination of voice and digital amateur radio technologies. 🎄📻
Voice communications are used for real-time coordination between parade officials, net control, and field operators, ensuring smooth operations and rapid response throughout the event.
We also demonstrate digital communications over RF, where FLDIGI and FLAMP are used to reliably transfer a CSV registration spreadsheet from parade registration to the command post—no internet required. This highlights the power of amateur radio digital modes for data transfer, event logistics, and emergency communications.
To maintain situational awareness, APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) is used to track all personnel in real time. APRS objects are created and transmitted using YAAC (Yet Another APRS Client), allowing command staff to monitor positions, assets, and key locations throughout the parade route.
This video is a real-world example of ARES®, RACES, and public service event communications, showing how ham radio operators support community events with redundant, resilient RF-based communication systems. Whether you’re interested in emergency preparedness, public service communications, digital modes, or APRS tracking, this project demonstrates how amateur radio continues to be a critical resource for community support.
🔹My Favorite Gear - amazon.com/shop/km4ack
🔹Raspberry Pi Build Guide - tiny.cc/pi4guide
🔹Frequently Asked Questions - tiny.cc/km4ack-faq
🔹Weekly Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/40da1fe472e3/km4acknewsletter
🔹Follow Me
Twitter @km4ack
🔹FREE Get Started Guide - tiny.cc/getstartedguide
🔹Cool Ham Gear - km4ack.com
🔹Support the channel through Patreon - patreon.com/km4ack
🔹Did you just get a raspberry pi and want to hook it up to your radio? Start here youtu.be/E1SEgPFQk4M
Want your raspberry pi to play nice with your ham radio? Are you into digital modes like FT8, JS8Call, FLDIGI, Winlink, APRS, Digipeaters and others? Each week I put out new content showing you exactly what steps to take to get the latest ham radio software on your raspberry pi. Whether you just want to ragchew or are seriously into emergency preparedness, emcomm, or ARES and want to learn all you can about using the raspberry pi to drive your ham radio, this channel has something for you. Be sure to click the subscribe button and ring the bell before heading off. That way you will get notified of all future videos.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
In this video, we showcase how our local ham radio club provides communications support for the annual Christmas parade using a combination of voice and digital amateur radio technologies. 🎄📻
Voice communications are used for real-time coordination between parade officials, net control, and field operators, ensuring smooth operations and rapid response throughout the event.
We also demonstrate digital communications over RF, where FLDIGI and FLAMP are used to reliably transfer a CSV registration spreadsheet from parade registration to the command post—no internet required. This highlights the power of amateur radio digital modes for data transfer, event logistics, and emergency communications.
To maintain situational awareness, APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) is used to track all personnel in real time. APRS objects are created and transmitted using YAAC (Yet Another APRS Client), allowing command staff to monitor positions, assets, and key locations throughout the parade route.
This video is a real-world example of ARES®, RACES, and public service event communications, showing how ham radio operators support community events with redundant, resilient RF-based communication systems. Whether you’re interested in emergency preparedness, public service communications, digital modes, or APRS tracking, this project demonstrates how amateur radio continues to be a critical resource for community support.
🔹My Favorite Gear - amazon.com/shop/km4ack
🔹Raspberry Pi Build Guide - tiny.cc/pi4guide
🔹Frequently Asked Questions - tiny.cc/km4ack-faq
🔹Weekly Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/40da1fe472e3/km4acknewsletter
🔹Follow Me
Twitter @km4ack
🔹FREE Get Started Guide - tiny.cc/getstartedguide
🔹Cool Ham Gear - km4ack.com
🔹Support the channel through Patreon - patreon.com/km4ack
🔹Did you just get a raspberry pi and want to hook it up to your radio? Start here youtu.be/E1SEgPFQk4M
Want your raspberry pi to play nice with your ham radio? Are you into digital modes like FT8, JS8Call, FLDIGI, Winlink, APRS, Digipeaters and others? Each week I put out new content showing you exactly what steps to take to get the latest ham radio software on your raspberry pi. Whether you just want to ragchew or are seriously into emergency preparedness, emcomm, or ARES and want to learn all you can about using the raspberry pi to drive your ham radio, this channel has something for you. Be sure to click the subscribe button and ring the bell before heading off. That way you will get notified of all future videos.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
