We're glad you stopped by for a visit. The Highlands County ARES organization was created to assist with communications needs in time of emergency. This group includes many trained and motivated Amateur Radio operators who have dedicated their time and equipment to this valuble service.
Working closely with the Highlands County Emergency Operations Center, this group has provided vital communications during several hurricanes, fires and other natural and man-made disasters. Our members provide these services voluntarily and at their own cost. Members have spent countless hours in hurricane shelters and the EOC, training, and practice exercises refining their communications skills.
Interested in digital communications? It's the wave of the future! APRS, Packet, HF Digital, WinLink2000 and more. In the coming weeks pages will be added here describing these modes, and we encourage you to try them. All you need is a computer and a soundcard to try any of these modern communications modes. More Info? Click HERE. As many ARES members say, "Think DIGITAL!"
New ARES Group Formed
We now have a 4 county ARES group, the Inland Counties of the West Central Florida Section. This group consists of DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties. We are constantly striving to improve interoperability and communications between us, so we can assist each other in case the worst happens. There is a lot to be done, and we need YOUR help to make it happen. Please contact your County EC to join ARES and help this very important effort.
Interested in joining ARES? Contact Randy Payne K4EZM at 863-471-3788 or email. Download application in PDF form HERE. Need a PDF reader? Try FOXIT freeware.
We continue to plan for the SET. We have a comm plan, and are refining it as we discover needed changes. We still need help for this. Please contact your EC for more Info or to help!!
On May 24 is the ARES Simulated Emergency Test, or SET. This excercise is to help test emergency communications preparedness in the Inland Counties ARES group. Contact Randy Payne K4EZM for details.
Watch the calendar (link at top of this section) for any new oppurtunities for service and training with ARES. We are trying to keep up interest and skill levels, but this only works with YOUR participation. Help us by attending meetings as much as possible, and taking part in exercises.
I always want to hear from you if you need an event on the calendar, etc. Lets make this YOUR page, not just mine.
HERE is a list of frequencies used by the Inland Counties ARES group. Note that all repeaters use tone squelch. You must transmit the required tone to access the repeater. on most rigs this is set by setting Tone to on and selecting the required tone frequency.
