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.
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 July 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
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 took place on June 27 - 28, 2026 (ARRL Field Day is always held on the 4th full weekend in June).
Field Day 2026 was the Thirteenth Annual DECT/MARC Joint Field Day - the thirteenth year that DECT partnered with the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) for Field Day!
The DECT/MARC Field Day 2026 site was at the DVFD Activities Ground Pavilion at 10211 Lewis Drive, Damascus, MD 20872
DECT operated a Public Information Table, also called a Welcome Table or Visitor's Table, and DECT operated a 2-Meter Radio Station, monitoring the 146.955 MHz repeater for talk-ins (the purpose and benefits of having a Public Information Table are explained in the ARRL Field Day Rules, para. 7.3.4.).
Here is a site diagram of the DECT/MARC Field Day 2026 site (as planned), and here is a diagram of the Pavilion setup of the DVFD Activities Ground Pavilion for DECT/MARC Field Day 2026 (as planned)
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
The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC) Field Day 2026 web page has information about 'DECT/MARC Field Day 2026' including a link to a presentation on DECT/MARC Field Day 2026 planning.
The MARC Field Day 2026 web page has information about the Scouting America Radio Merit Badge Program that happened at the DECT/MARC Field Day site, and the Amateur Radio Public Exam Session that happened on Sunday morning, June 28th, at the DECT/MARC Field Day site.
The Public was invited to visit us at the DECT/MARC Field Day, to see what we do, ask questions, view our radio equipment, witness the latest in radio science and technology, and take advantage of an opportunity to operate on the air, under direction of a licensed amateur radio operator.
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).
For more information contact: [email protected]