WICEN NSW Puts Tracking Technology to the Test

From public engagement at the Sydney Triple-Zero Expo to experimenting with new ways of tracking search teams and search dogs in the field, WICEN NSW continues to demonstrate how amateur radio skills can contribute to modern emergency communications and search-and-rescue operations. The latest update comes from Richard Murnane VK2SKY, reporting for WICEN on the WIA National News Broadcast.

WICEN NSW joined VRA Rescue NSW and other emergency services at the Sydney Triple-Zero Expo at Castle Hill Showground on 13 September. The event provided the public with an opportunity to meet emergency service organisations and learn more about their equipment and capabilities. WICEN planned to demonstrate some of the communications technology it can deploy in the field, including Winlink, alongside other radio equipment used during operations and exercises.

But perhaps the more intriguing activity took place at WICEN NSW's monthly meetup at Galston, not far from the VK2WI site at Dural. WICEN NSW is a specialist support squad of VRA Rescue NSW, alongside specialist capabilities including Aerial Operations and Search Dogs. For the exercise, several willing domestic dogs became honorary search-and-rescue volunteers after being fitted with Garmin Alpha TT25 GPS tracking collars.

WICEN members then conducted a simulated land search using several different tracking technologies simultaneously. Members carried GPS-equipped WICEN VHF DMR portable radios, Garmin inReach devices and 2 metre APRS trackers, while the exercise provided practical experience using SARTrack to bring the position information together and provide situational awareness during the simulated search.

A particularly useful development came from James VK2FWHY, whose software work has enabled the Garmin tracking devices to be followed in real time through SARTrack. Previously this had not been possible. The capability has a potentially important operational application for VRA Rescue NSW's Search Dogs squad, allowing off-leash search dogs to be tracked while working in the field.

Knowing the location and movement of search dogs can improve situational awareness at the search base, particularly while the animals and their handlers are working away from other teams. The Galston exercise allowed WICEN members to test the technology in realistic conditions before considering how it could support operational searches. Andrew VK2HCR is preparing a report on the simulation for the WICEN NSW Committee.

The exercise is another useful example of emergency communications moving well beyond simply passing voice messages. DMR, APRS, satellite communicators, GPS tracking, data integration and amateur radio expertise can all contribute to building a clearer operational picture. And this time the test subjects were apparently quite happy to work for considerably less than the usual volunteer allowance, although treats may have been involved.

Thanks to Richard VK2SKY for the report and to the WICEN NSW volunteers continuing to experiment with technologies that may improve communications and situational awareness during real search-and-rescue operations.

Image sourced from the WICEN NSW Facebook Page.

WICEN NSW / VRA Rescue NSW – Facebook - Link

WICEN Amateur Radio Communications – Facebook Group - Link

VK4 WICEN EmComms - LinkWICEN Australia

Sydney Triple-Zero Expo - Link

Page Last Updated: Saturday, 19 Sep 2026 at 08:09 hours by Justin Giles-clark

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