A.R.E.S.

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (R): ARES is a program of ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio, offering to the public and to its partners trained, federally licensed operators who are skilled in a wide range of effective emergency/disaster communications techniques, and who are committed to supporting our partners' missions in service to the public.

April Towers Drill 2025 - UHF

Lancaster ARES will conduct our annual April Towers Drill on Saturday, April 19th 2025 from 1000 - 1200 hrs EDT. For 2025, our focus will be on the effectiveness of the UHF Amateur Band using Simplex Frequencies and the locally established UHF Repeater Systems.

As before, April Towers Drill will focus on major municipal locations throughout Lancaster County. We are looking for operators who wouldn't mind cruising around Lancaster County on a fine spring morning to test radio communications!

More information, please click this link: APRIL TOWERS 2025 DRILL PLAN

Our First Quarter 2025 Training and Meeting will be held on 0900 on JANUARY 25, 2025 at

Welsh Mountain Community Center, 564 Sandmine Rd, New Holland, PA 17557.

Q1 2025 Training at Welsh Mtn.

Everyone is invited to attend the First Quarter 2025 Training and info meeting. Please invite anyone interested in public service through Amateur Radio! Please RSVP, and add a comment if you will be bringing anyone who is not already a Lancaster ARES team member. <RSVP HERE>

We will review our accomplishments from 2024, cover a couple training topics, give updates on Lancaster ARES activities for the upcoming year.

Special thanks to the Red Rose Repeater Association, who has rented the site for their Winter Field Day 2025 activity and has allowed us to once again piggyback with their event.. RRRA will have plenty of food and beverages, so come out for the ARES meeting, and stay around to learn and operate in the Winter Field Day! If you are able, please consider making a small donation to RRRA to help cover their expenses.

ARRL SET (SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST) OCTOBER 5, and 5th - 11th.

The annual ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) happens every year in October, and we will be participating with the EPA Section's plan. Beginning the morning of October 5th, expect some type of "activation" for all members of the team. Instructions will then be passed on a continuation of the SET that can be conducted individually through the 11th. Expect a strong emphasis on using the National Traffic System (NTS).

April Towers III 2024 Drill

Lancaster County ARES will conduct the April Towers III Drill on April 13, 2024 from 0900-1200. April Towers assesses signal qualities from the 5 primary Lancaster County 2m Repeaters, N3FYI, K3IR, W3RRR, W3AD and W3XP, to all municipalities in the County. Drill participants (Rovers) are asked to visit central locations (listed in the drill plan) in each municipality, where they will make two contacts to a Monitor on each repeater, one at low power using an HT, and again at high power with a mobile radio or a "go-kit" rig. You do NOT have to be a regular member of Lancaster County ARES to participate!!!

For more information, see the "April Towers III Drill Plan".

Lancaster County ARES will conduct the April Towers III Drill on April 13, 2024 from 0900-1200. April Towers assesses signal qualities from the 5 primary Lancaster County 2m Repeaters, N3FYI, K3IR, W3RRR, W3AD and W3XP, to all municipalities in the County. Drill participants (Rovers) are asked to visit central locations (listed in the drill plan) in each municipality, where they will make two contacts to a Monitor on each repeater, one at low power using an HT, and again at high power with a mobile radio or a "go-kit" rig. You do NOT have to be a regular member of Lancaster County ARES to participate!!!

For more information, see the "April Towers III Drill Plan".

Lancaster ARES January 2024 Training

The Lancaster ARES Team gathered at the Welsh Mountain Community Center for our first quarterly training on Jan 27th, 2024. We recapped our 2023 accomplishments, made plans for 2024, and had hands on practice sending Winlink Messages in the Peer to Peer (P2P) Mode. Thanks to all who attended!

Mother's Day "Make-A-Wish Convoy",

Manheim, PA

Keystone Trail Association "Trail Challenge"

Pequea, PA

Eastern States 100 Ultra-Marathon,

Lycoming & Clinton Counties, PA