Who Are We?

From the Federal Communications Commission

"The FCC [Federal Communications Commission] established amateur radio as a voluntary, non-commercial, radio communications service. It allows licensed operators to improve their communications and technical skills, while providing the nation with a pool of trained radio operators and technicians who can provide essential communications during emergencies."

Our Meetings, Repeaters and Nets

Meetings

Team Meetings: 2nd Monday of Every Month, 7 pm

at DuPage Co. OHSEM, 418 County Farm Road

Wheaton, Il

During this COVID crisis until further notice our team meetings are being held on Zoom. To receive info on accessing meetings via Zoom, register and join DuPage ARES (see below) or contact DuPageCoARES@outlook.com

Our Repeaters and Nets

W9AUX 442.050, +5MHz Offset, PL 114.8 Fusion (Mixed mode)

W9AUX 146.655, -600 KHz Offset, PL 107.2 Fusion (Mixed mode)

Nets are held:

7 PM - 1st Tuesday of the Month - Voice FM on W9AUX UHF Rptr (442.050 +5MHz Offset, PL 114.8)

and:

7 PM - 3rd Tuesday of each month on W9AUX VHF (146.655, -600KHz, PL 107.2) Digital nets alternate between MT63-2000L and EasyPal modes.

7 PM - NEW!!! 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month -DuPage Weather Net, in cooperation with DuPage OHSEM and Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs on the WCRA UHF Repeater 444.475 PL 114.8

Illinois State HF SSB Voice net on 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month at 4:30 PM local Illinois time, on 3,905 KHz LSB (alternate 7,230 KHz).

New Items

Register with ARES NOW!!!!

At its most basic, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.

As a local group, we want both to be prepared for the "serious stuff" but also to have fun improving our ham skills, particularly those which are useful in an emergency.

To join and register your skills and equipment, complete one of the forms below at the bottom of this page (fillable Word or PDF) and email it to either (DuPageCoARES@outlook.com) or to KF9IO@arrl.net

We're "Zoomies!" -- TEAM MEETINGS ON ZOOM

Because of COVID 19, until further notice, our regular team meetings on the second Monday of the month will be held on ZOOM, rather than face to face at DuPage OHSEM.

Information to access Zoom for the meetings will be sent out ahead of time to our mailing list.

Swedish Days Ride and CF Cycle for Life CANCELLED

The Swedish Days Bike Ride in June and the CF Cycle for Life in August. both of which we provide communications support, have been cancelled or gone "virtual". The sponsors of the rides have both said they look forward to working with us again next year, when COVID concerns have eased.

Activation Procedures

In the event of an area disaster or a need for an unscheduled callout, DuPage ARES leadership will start a net on W9AUX 2 meter repeater (146.655, minus 600 KHz offset, 107.2 PL), with the W9AUX 440 box (442.050, + 5MHz offset, 114.8) as first backup. If these repeaters are down, our backup repeaters (in order) are the WCRA UHF Repeater on 444.475 MHZ, +5MHZ, PL 114.8,, and then KA9KDC in Wheaton on 444.275 +5MHz, with a PL 114.8. If this fails, we will try to mobilize using simplex - Our DP-S1 Channel on 146.400 (simplex). It has been our experience that IL2A on the 2 meter national calling frequency is used by ragchewers and is not the best choice for serious interop work.

Once you have found a DuPage ARES net, check in and advise as to condition and availability. Even if you will be responding to a callout from another agency, such as a local EMA, advise us so we know who is available, and in turn, you can make your capabilities known to that organization. In general, DO NOT SELF-DEPLOY!

For a wide-scale emergency involving more than the metropolitan area, Illinois ARES net will be functioning on 3.905 MHz LSB Voice..

DuPage WEATHER Net - Activation Procedures

A net will be initiated when a NWS Watch or Warning is issued. Nets operated during WATCHES will be standby nets, with periodic announcements from Net Control regarding the current situation. When a WARNING is issued, the net will go active, take check-in's from spotters and receive severe weather reports. Follow NWS Notifications on your weather radio, smart phone, or other instrument.

A trained net control operator will bring up the net on the WCRA UHF repeater (444.475 MHz, PL 114.8) according to the procedures outline on the DuPage Weather Net page in this Webpage. All stations available for weather monitoring should check in. If the net proper has not been activated, announce your availability at intervals. During a weather event, we focus on gathering information on severe weather and lightning only.

The DuPage Weather net, in cooperation with DuPage OHSEM and the Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs will meet as practice nets on 7 PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month on the WCRA UHF Repeater 444.475 PL 114.8. Bring your expertise and interest in Weather. As they say, it isn't a question of "if" severe weather is going to hit us, but rather "when" and "how much!"

Raspberry PI and Ham Radio

The Raspberry Pi workshop originally scheduled for April has been postponed because of COVID 19. We will advise when we can reschedule it - probably in the fall.

"Hope is not a Strategy"