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Ham Radio Communications

An important element of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Basis and Purpose of amateur (ham) radio is emergency communications. Recently, hams provided critical emergency communications during hurricanes on the East Coast, wildfires across the West, and tornadoes and floods in the Midwest.   Emergency communications (known in the radio biz as emcomm) is loosely defined as any communication with the purpose of reducing an immediate threat of injury or property damage — everything from reporting car accidents to supporting large-scale disaster relief. 


ARRL’s Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is the largest nationwide ham radio emcomm organization, organized by individual ARRL sections that may be as large as a state or as small as a few counties, depending on population.

ARES is managed by the ARRL Field Organization (a system of volunteer managers and technical resources) and works primarily with local public safety groups and nongovernmental agencies, such as local fire departments and the American Red Cross.  Local ARES leaders determine how best to organize the volunteers and interact with the agencies their groups serve. Training is arranged by the ARES teams and local organizations. 


Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), organized and managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is a national emergency communications organization governed by special FCC rules. Its mission, like that of ARES, is to provide communications assistance to public and private agencies during a civil emergency or disaster. The organization is open to all amateurs and welcomes your participation.

RACES groups are organized and managed by local, county, or state civil-defense agencies that are responsible for disaster services and activated during civil emergencies by state or federal officials. RACES members are required to be members of their local civil-preparedness groups as well, and they receive training to support those groups.

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Radio Operators In Sun Lakes

We have over 40 licensed operators in our community that could be available in time of need. Some may need to work from home. We will be working to identify and train those that are willing.


We have over 20 FireCorps231 volunteers with experience using the AFMA radios. The Dispatch and Tactical channels may not be available to us during an emergency, but other county radios might be available.

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CHRC - Chandler Ham Radio Club

The Chandler (AZ) Ham Radio Club's mission is to promote not only the technical but also the social side of amateur radio in the East Valley Area.  To work to increase the pool of licensed amateur radio operators by providing training and testing to those interested.  To continue to promote new technologies and to expand the use of these in the all areas of communication. To continue to promote ham radios unique ability to enhance international goodwill.  But foremost to always be ready to assist in emergency and non-emergency events by providing a reliable source of communication to local agencies. 

Join us on 443.050+ PL100 on Thursday Nights @ 8pm for our weekly CHRC NET. 


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NTS - National Traffic System

The National Traffic System (NTS)  is an organized network of amateur radio 

operators sponsored by the American Radio Relay League for the purpose of relaying messages throughout the U.S. and Canada.

During normal times, these messages are routine greetings ("Happy birthday Aunt Mary") and keep the system well oiled and the operators trained so that everything works when needed. When there is an emergency or disaster NTS works closely with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service to provide emergency communications. The most common type of disaster-related messages are "health and welfare" inquiries and notifications into and out of the area affected by the disaster.

In time of disaster, it is easy to expand the system by simply creating additional meeting times for the nets with high volume, or by setting up a specific "trunk line" between two points.

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