(Updated October 16, 2011)
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Community service is a big part of what Amateur radio is all about. Check here often to see what community service activities the club has been involved in. Organizations interested in utilizing the communications services of the Hillsdale County Amateur Radio Club should contact club leadership for more information.
ARES Message Traffic RACES Snow Spotters Storm Spotters Training and Testing
Amateur Radio Training & License Testing The club conducts classes from time to time to prepare candidates to gain an entry level Technician license (Element 2 test). This license, granted by the Federal Communications Commission, will allow you to enjoy many radio privileges. The club also conducts other training and license testing sessions when there is a demand. All three tests are offered.
Element 2 - Technician Element 3 - General Element 4 - Amateur Extra
If you can't wait, we can help you locate a nearby testing session or schedule a special session. For more information about classes or license testing, check the Calendar page or contact club leadership.
Club members routinely participate in storm spotting activities when severe weather threatens Hillsdale County. Click to view our procedures or the NWS IMO Skywarn Page.
NWS Northern Indiana Weather Observer and Outreach Talk Schedule.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership. Click here for more information about ARES.
Dan Sprow (KC8RYF) is Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Hillsdale County. Don Gambill (KC8WAU) and Brett Smith (KC8ZDA) are Assistant ECs (AEC). To join, complete the ARES Registration Form and return it to the EC or AEC. Check the calendar page for meeting times and locations.
ARES Registration Form (PDF, from ARRL website)
Amateur Radio Today video narrated by Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD (SK)
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) Founded in 1952, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a public service provided by a reserve (volunteer) communications group within government agencies in times of extraordinary need. During periods of RACES activation, certified unpaid personnel are called upon to perform many tasks for the government agencies they serve. Although the exact nature of each activation will be different, the common thread is communications. Click here for more information about RACES.
In Hillsdale County, the RACES program is run by Hillsdale County Emergency Management (HCEM). If you meet the requirements and would like apply for RACES membership, send your completed RACES application, a copy of your drivers license and a copy of your FEMA certificates to HCEM.
Hillsdale County RACES Requirements (Word)
Hillsdale County RACES Application (Word)
Snow spotters provide valuable real time and snowfall information to the National Weather Service, which in turn leads to better forecasts. Snow spotters receive training that covers NWS winter weather products, types of winter precipitation, how to properly measure snow and how to report information. Visit the NWS Northern Indiana Snow Spotter Page for more information.
NWS Northern Indiana Weather Observer and Outreach Talk Schedule.
The straight dope on how to measure snowfall
The National Traffic System plan is a means for systematizing amateur traffic handling facilities by making a structure available for an integrated traffic facility designed to achieve the utmost in two principal objectives: rapid movement of traffic from origin to destination, and training amateur operators to handle written traffic and participate in directed nets. These two objectives, which sometimes conflict with each other, are the underlying foundations of the National Traffic System. Click here for more information about NTS.
HCARC Radiogram (PDF) (Word) (RTF) ARRL Radiogram (PDF, from ARRL website)
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