AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE of
LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The home of K3LAN...
Embedded Files
The new "Task Book v3.0" is required for all Team members. Download and print your own copy under "Training".
Lancaster County ARES Supports the
Amish Country "Farm to Fork Fondo"
Lancaster County ARES provided communications support for the 2026 Amish Country "Farm to Fork Fondo" on August 29, 2026. Four complex routes, often overlapping and intersecting, kept the communications team on their toes! In the truest spirit of cooperation and collaboration, Amateur Radio Operators from Chester County and York County ARES Teams augmented our crew. A total of 17 radio operators manned 5 checkpoints and the Net Control Station, as well as provided SAG vehicle and motorcycle sweep support. APRS Tracking using a combination of cellular data and RF Trackers provided real-time information on the location of the Sweeps and SAG vehicle. Operators were in position well over 9 hours, ensuring the Fondo Riders made it back to the finish line safely. Proceeds from the ride went on to benefit the Lancaster Farmland Trust, a non-profit organization committed to increasing permanent protection and stewardship of farmland across Lancaster County, PA.
Net Control
Net Control
Net Control Operators (L to R) Jason W3PC and "Curley" KC3EWJ maintain communications with 5 checkpoints along 4 routes of varying lengths on the N3FYI 2m Repeater. Ben KC3KBS monitors APRS trackers on the Sweeps and SAG vehicle.
Radio/Sweep Rider
Radio/Sweep Rider
Avid motorcyclist Ray W3RSH prepares to sweep the route after the riders depart. Ray carried a HT equipped with APRS, and beaconed his position into the APRS Network, allowing Net Control to see his position in "real time".
The Pack
The Pack
Cyclist prepare to depart on their journey! The Fondo consisted of 4 individual routes, measuring 15, 32, 53 and 62 miles each. Participants could chose which route they wanted to ride. Net Control kept track of the riders through reports from the sweep riders and contact with 5 checkpoint locations.
ARES TEAM MEMBERS COMPLETE C.E.R.T. TRAINING
ARES TEAM MEMBERS COMPLETE C.E.R.T. TRAINING
Five Lancaster ARES Team members have completed the course requirements for CERT, and have joined the newly formed Lancaster Regional CERT team. The course, comprised of classroom and practical exercises, set the foundation for new team members to respond to calls by Lancaster County Department of Public Safety. Congrats to Nate W3NHW, Ray W3RSH, Jeff WJ2MP, Robin KC3UZG and Doug W3COB. If anyone wants more information about CERT, please reach out to Doug W3COB or complete a "Contact Us" form.
2026 Q1 Training Day
2026 Q1 Training Day
Saturday January 24 was Lancaster ARES 1st Quarter 2026 Training, with 23 team members attending. Doug W3COB gave a our annual State of the Team presentation, which included a recap of 2025, and our course for 2026. The training following was a "back to basics" topic: Programming Your Radio from the Keypad. The topic was chosen to reinforce 3 points; 1) You might have to program your radio without a computer, 2) every radio is different, and 3) knowing how to do something is easier than teaching it, and anyone might need to teach someone someday! Thanks to all who attended!!!! Look for a copy of the Presentation (power point style) under Training.
Limerick Generating Station Exercise
Limerick Generating Station Exercise
Thirteen members of Lancaster County ARES and other county Amateur Radio Operators participated in the 2025 Limerick Generating Plant Exercise on November 18, 2025, at the request of PEMA Auxiliary Communications Service. Limerick Generating Plant is located in Montgomery County, PA. With this exercise, Lancaster County ARES demonstrated our ability to respond to a call-up, pass weather conditions and improve radio operator net proficiency. While Winlink was the primary reporting mode, stations without that capability passed their information to relay stations to complete the report.
April Towers Drill 2025 - UHF
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.
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.
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
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