Forsyth County amateur radio volunteers win $50,080 grant to build mobile communications trailer

Harlan Coker, president of Forsyth County OXCOM, told commissioners the county’s volunteer amateur-radio teams helped provide emergency communications during recent storms and that the groups won a grant to improve capabilities.

“We received here in July a 50000 dollar 80 dollar grant from the Amateur Radio Digital Communications Foundation,” Coker said, and staff described plans to build “a unified interoperable operations communications hub in a trailer” equipped for HF, VHF, UHF, data and public‑safety interoperability. The unit is intended to receive civilian calls on GMRS or CB and retransmit them to public‑safety channels, reducing response time in areas where phones and internet are down.

Coker said the groups are 100% volunteer and serve as a no‑cost “force multiplier” for county emergency management, supplying trained communicators and equipment. He invited commissioners to a demonstration once the trailer is operational (staff anticipates a demonstration in January). “We are a 0 cost force multiplier,” Coker said during the briefing.

Commissioners asked a few clarifying questions about the June 24‑hour exercise that volunteers use to test operations; the presenters emphasized that the trailer and purchased equipment will move the groups away from reliance on personal radios and canopy‑based setups toward an organizational kit maintained for deployments. The organizations said the trailer will also support PACTOR data links and the ability to communicate with federal partners when necessary.

The briefing was presented as an informational item; no formal vote or agreement was recorded in the transcript.