Essex County
Welcome to the Essex County ARES page
Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®), a program of ARRL, The national association for Amateur Radio®, is comprised of organized, trained, qualified, and credentialed Amateur Radio operators who augment and support vital communications on behalf of the public through partner agencies and organizations during emergencies and disasters. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service, through its volunteer radio communicators, strives to be an effective partner in emergency and disaster response, providing public service partners at all levels with radio communications expertise, capability, and capacity
Essex County ARES is recruiting Amateur Radio Operators, who want to support and serve their communities. If you do not have an Amateur Radio license, we can supply you with the materials and instruction to help you get your FCC Amateur Radio license. If you do have an Amateur Radio license and want to volunteer, we can train you.
ANNOUNCEMENT: ARES FOR FRANKLIN AND ESSEX COUNTY IS GOING TO STANDARDIZE ON A DIGITAL PLATFORM. IN TALKING TO THE SECTION MANGER I HAVE CHOOSEN THE DSTAR PLATFORM AS THE PRIMARY MODE WITH ANALOG AS THE BACK UP. THIS IS A BIG STEP IN THE NORTH COUNTRY TO STANDARIZED ON A DIGITAL MODE. THE REASON FOR THIS DECISION AFTER TESTING ALL THE DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR AMATEUR RADIO (P25, DMR, FUSION,NXDN), D-STAR DOES DATA VIA A REPEATER. SIMPLEX AND OVER IP VIA LINKED REFLECTORS. ALONG WITH APRS VIA D-STAR. THIS DATA CAN BE SENT FROM YOUR SMART PHONE OR FROM A COMPUTER RUNNING D-RATS. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT AS EC I WILL NEED HELP WITH INSTALLING LINKED REPEATER IN LOCAL TOWNS. THIS WILL BE A TEAM EFFORT TO GET THIS MODE TO BE STANDARD. CLINTON COUNTY HAS ALREADY PICKED D-STAR AS THE MODE FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. I AM GOING TO REACH OUT TO ICOM FOR ASSISTANCE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. IF YOU CAN PLEASE REPSOND TO THIS POST ABOUT WHAT DSTAR EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE SO I CAN ADD IT TO THE EXISTING DSTAR IN THE ADK LIST THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRICATED. ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO ASK HERE OR VIA MY EMAIL. THANKS NATE W2SLK.
P.S All other digital modes will still be available in the tool box for inter-op with other groups but D-star will be the primary mode. If you want to try out other digital modes reach out and High Peaks Amateur Radio Group (hobby club) and we can help out.
If you are interested in technical activities or being involved with public service and emergency communications in Essex County, please contact Emergency Coordinator Nate Jones W2SLK or cell phone: 518-637-6912.
Even if you are relatively new ham, don't let that stop you from getting involved. If you don't have a license yet, we can help with that as well.
Useful links:
Tech Net Zoom Recordings