Medical Amateur Radio Council

View video recordings of many of our Grand Rounds on the Air Nets at https://www.youtube.com/@HealthCareHams

Weekly MARCO Medical Grand Rounds on the Air HF Net

The Medical Amateur Radio Council (MARCO) conducts its weekly Grand Rounds on the Air net on 14.342 MHz at 11am Eastern time (1600 UTC in the summer months and 1500 UTC in the winter months).

Health Care professionals check-in to the net and engage through moderated (net directed) round-table discussions on topics of interest, often a timely issue in healthcare Those present include physicians and dentists from many specialties, pharmacists, nurses, researchers (PhDs), EMTs, and members who serve in other health related careers.  All members of the amateur community and public are welcome to listen and submit questions to the discussion panel using the AIM messaging feature in the freely available netlogger program (netllogger.org), aided by using the  livesteam of the net. This facilitates country and worldwide engagement of participants and listeners while negating the limitations of HF propagation. 

Is the Grand Rounds on the Air only a 20m net?

Our net is offered live by Webstream by Chip N5RTF at marcoaudio.net.  Audio recordings are made available on the same platform so members who can not listen in real-time can do so later.

The Zoom component is also added for members that affords valuable enhancements.  Video productions are made for the members to view later, and as public health content for a worldwide audience of potential hams.  When the public locates a MARCO video made from our Grand Round  on the Air session sessions not only do they receive interesting content, but they also find out about amateur radio.

The above dilemma created opportunity for change.  MARCO is an ARRL affiliated club and hams happen upon our net, one that gives them the potential to participate as our focus moves to forums on health topics. Guided by a net control facilitator who recognizes members for contributions on subjects, and often in tandem with a Zoom component,  even members without HF capability can participate. 

Since the zoom component can also have PowerPoint prompting, pdf versions of the slides are made available to our members, giving them access to the links and research foundation aspects the net control facilitator provides.  See the following pages for examples of our new format and the multipurpose presence modern technology offers to bringing MARCO to the world.

Do you have or know a medical ham who only has a technician’s license? The MARCO International DV (Digital Voice) net meets on Tuesdays at 9pm USA Eastern (Wednesday 01:00 UTC summer months and 02:00 in the winter) and is entry amateur radio enabled.  This is not to say that seasoned hams (pun intended) would not benefit. Learning about the technology modernizes your shack and allows more neurons to connect as your explore updates to amateur radio.  Your MARCO members will assist you in getting started (see pg. 12). Enjoy QRM free QSO’s and a propagation independent ability to talk to all those present on the net without relays. 

We use the QuadNet Array, an IRC or Internet Chat Facility that acts like a universal translator between different digital modes that allows hams who identify by callsign to connect with other users of digital radios world-wide through interconnected reflectors and talk-groups.  See their website for more details, including how to connect, within the https://www.openquad.net/ webpage.

The net is a modality for members and guests worldwide to join discussions without the limitations of HF propagation, antennas, or equipment. Since operators can participate on radio while mobile through digital hotspots or repeaters, or at a fixed location by USB dongles on a computer, the net is a versatile opportunity for involvement for both newly and seasoned amateur radio operators.  

This net applies the same format of, and augments MARCO's HF-based voice nets, Contact Jay AA4FL for additional details needed for implementing equipment needed for participating and protecting your neural connections, great involvement for your soul and health!

MARCO members are encouraged to check into the CW net convening on 14.140 MHz one-half hour before Grand Rounds. This is intended to be a slow-speed net open to all interested participants. N5RTF Chip is net control.