Welcome to the Damascus Emergency Communications Team (DECT)
The Damascus Emergency Communications Team is sponsored and operated
by the authority of the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department.
DECT provides emergency communications support for the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department; as well as, general health and welfare communications for the residents of the greater Damascus Fire District.
DECT provides emergency communications support for the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department; as well as, general health and welfare communications for the residents of the greater Damascus Fire District.
If you are interested in emergency and public support communications or communications in general, you're invited to check us out. Here is our current DECT Trifold Brochure (2022).
DECT meets on the second Tuesday of every month, starting at 1930 or 7:30 pm.
DECT in-person meetings are held in the 2nd floor boardroom of the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department. DECT is continuing our current In-person and Zoom access format.
So, for Apr. 14, 2026, the meeting is a Zoom meeting, or an in-person meeting. The location of the in-person meeting will be:
the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department, 2nd floor boardroom
Damascus Volunteer Fire Department, 26334 Ridge Rd. (route 27), Damascus, MD 20872
IMPORTANT: The elevator at the firehouse is out of service.
Ron Adams will be monitoring 146.430 MHz simplex
If you don't know the door code, please contact Ron Adams when you arrive, at 146.430 MHz or by phone. You may also go to the front door, ring the doorbell, and tell the person who answers you that you are there for a radio club meeting on the second floor.
For the in-person meeting, please remember to abide by Montgomery County requirements regarding wearing a mask.
For a Zoom invitation or for more information, please contact the e-mail address below.
First Tuesday Net - All licensed amateur radio operators are invited to participate in our First Tuesday Net, an informal net. Time: 1930 (7:30 pm) Where: Ashton Repeater, 147.000 MHz (negative offset). A 156.7 PL Tone is required to access the repeater. Announcements, comments, and questions are welcome during the net
Also, discussion may switch to 146.430 simplex at the end of the net.
ARRL Field Day 2026 is scheduled for June 27 - 28, 2026 (ARRL Field Day is always held on the 4th full weekend in June).
Field Day 2026 will be the Thirteenth Annual DECT/MARC Joint Field Day - the thirteenth year that DECT partners with the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) for Field Day!
The DECT/MARC Field Day 2026 site is at the DVFD Activities Ground Pavilion at 10211 Lewis Drive, Damascus, MD 20872
DECT will be in charge of the Visitor's Table or Public Information Table (para. 7.3.4. of the ARRL Field Day Rules explains the purpose of the Public Information Table).
The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) meeting scheduled for May 20, 2026 will be about 'Field Day Kickoff'.
The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) meeting scheduled for June 17, 2026 will be about 'Field Day Logistics'.
The Purpose of National ARRL Field Day is: Educate the Public, Practice Operational Skills, and Have Fun!
Here is a link that describes the General Purpose of Field Day activities
Also, here is a link to the MARC FaceBook group page
Winter Field Day 2026 took place on January 24th and 25th, 2026 (i.e. Winter Field Day is on the last full weekend in January).
ARRL Field Day 2025 took place on June 28 - 29, 2025.
Field Day 2025 was the twelfth year that DECT partnered with the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) for Field Day.
For more information contact: [email protected]
DECT in-person meetings are held in the 2nd floor boardroom of the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department. DECT is continuing our current In-person and Zoom access format.
So, for Apr. 14, 2026, the meeting is a Zoom meeting, or an in-person meeting. The location of the in-person meeting will be:
the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department, 2nd floor boardroom
Damascus Volunteer Fire Department, 26334 Ridge Rd. (route 27), Damascus, MD 20872
IMPORTANT: The elevator at the firehouse is out of service.
Ron Adams will be monitoring 146.430 MHz simplex
If you don't know the door code, please contact Ron Adams when you arrive, at 146.430 MHz or by phone. You may also go to the front door, ring the doorbell, and tell the person who answers you that you are there for a radio club meeting on the second floor.
For the in-person meeting, please remember to abide by Montgomery County requirements regarding wearing a mask.
For a Zoom invitation or for more information, please contact the e-mail address below.
First Tuesday Net - All licensed amateur radio operators are invited to participate in our First Tuesday Net, an informal net. Time: 1930 (7:30 pm) Where: Ashton Repeater, 147.000 MHz (negative offset). A 156.7 PL Tone is required to access the repeater. Announcements, comments, and questions are welcome during the net
Also, discussion may switch to 146.430 simplex at the end of the net.
ARRL Field Day 2026 is scheduled for June 27 - 28, 2026 (ARRL Field Day is always held on the 4th full weekend in June).
Field Day 2026 will be the Thirteenth Annual DECT/MARC Joint Field Day - the thirteenth year that DECT partners with the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) for Field Day!
The DECT/MARC Field Day 2026 site is at the DVFD Activities Ground Pavilion at 10211 Lewis Drive, Damascus, MD 20872
DECT will be in charge of the Visitor's Table or Public Information Table (para. 7.3.4. of the ARRL Field Day Rules explains the purpose of the Public Information Table).
The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) meeting scheduled for May 20, 2026 will be about 'Field Day Kickoff'.
The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) meeting scheduled for June 17, 2026 will be about 'Field Day Logistics'.
The Purpose of National ARRL Field Day is: Educate the Public, Practice Operational Skills, and Have Fun!
Here is a link that describes the General Purpose of Field Day activities
Also, here is a link to the MARC FaceBook group page
Winter Field Day 2026 took place on January 24th and 25th, 2026 (i.e. Winter Field Day is on the last full weekend in January).
ARRL Field Day 2025 took place on June 28 - 29, 2025.
Field Day 2025 was the twelfth year that DECT partnered with the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) for Field Day.
For more information contact: [email protected]