What is RACES?
RACES is an organization of Federally licensed amateur radio operators who volunteer to provide radio communications for state and local governments during times of emergency. Any United States Citizen who possesses a valid FCC Amateur Radio Operators License, Technician class or higher, is eligible to become a member of RACES. The services of amateurs who have a Novice class license may be used, but this is not recommended due to privilege restrictions on their license class. All RACES operators are required to operate within the restrictions of their license class, as per part 97.Created in 1952 primarily to serve in civil defense emergencies, RACES provides essential communications and warning links to supplement State and Local government agencies during emergencies.
What is ARES?
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service role in the Massachusetts Amateur Radio Emergency Communications plan is to develop and provide guidance for teams of amateur radio operators devoted to Emergency Communications. These Emergency Response Teams are directed by the respective Eastern Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator to provide communications support for planned and unplanned emergencies. Teams or members of teams may be asked to provide support to specific agencies requesting help, such as the American Red Cross or Salvation Army, etc. or to fill in holes in coverage of the SKYWARN and RACES organizations.
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts ARES Page
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts ARES Communication Plan (PDF)
Cape Cod ARES Nets
- Wednesdays at 8:00 pm on the Dennis Repeater 146.955 MHz (-600, PL 88.5)
- Thursdays at 7:00 pm on the Harwich Repeater 224.340 MHz (-1.6, PL 100.0)
What is SKYWARN?
SKYWARN is a component of ARES, and activates based on data from the National Weather Service. However, many times events requiring RACES and ARES activations are Weather situations, and thus require a level of coordination between these groups. SKYWARN has it’s own criteria for activations and reporting information. See the SKYWARN document for more information on this area. In places where RACES and SKYWARN nets frequencies conflict, and both need activation simultaneously it is up the discretion of the appropriate net control stations to work out an agreement to share the frequency or decide which net shall change frequencies.
Every Thursday night there is a New England Wide SKYWARN Net which is held for the purpose of training and education and weather awareness in the New England Area.
The net meets at 7:30 pm on the NEDECN DMR System Talkgroup 759
NEDECN has Cape Cod DMR Repeaters in Eastham, Dennis, Bourne and East Falmouth. These are linked into the NEDECN DMR-MARC network with over 95 repeaters in greater New England. These repeaters require a DMR capable transceiver.
Order of Operations
RACES operators are enrolled in the emergency management group for a specific government entity. That government entity is the only agency that can issue Identification for the RACES operator for use within the area of the individual’s responsibility. ARES identification is available by being enrolled in an ARES group.
Massachusetts Net Frequencies
Region Coverage Frequency / Offset – PL
IA Waltham/Framingham 146.640(-)
IB Waltham/Framingham 146.640(-)
IC Groton/Westford 146.955(-) PL 74.4
1D Burlington/Lincoln 146.715(-) PL 146.2
1E W Newbury/Amesbury 146.625(-)
1F Beverly/Peabody 147.390(+)
IIA Bristol County/Taunton 147.135
IIB Plymouth County/Norwell 145.250
IIC Cape and Islands 146.955(-) PL 88.5
IID Norfolk County/Sharon 146.865 PL 146.2
III Hampden/Hampshire Counties 146.940 Primary
III Hampden/Hampshire Counties 146.670 Secondary
III Berkshire County 146.910 Primary
III Berkshire County 145.210 Secondary
III Franklin County 146.985 Primary
IV South Worcester Cty/Paxton 146.970 PL 114.8
IV North Worcester Cty/Templeton 145.37 PL 136.5
Wmass Western Mass ARES 3937 +/- LSB
Wmass Western Wmass backup 3942 +/- LSB
Emass Eastern Emass ARES 3915 +/- LSB
Mass – State RACES HF 75m Net 3943+ LSB
Mass – State RACES HF 40m Net 7245+ LSB
Statewide/Mt. Wachusett 53.31(-)
162.2 or 71.9 input PL 100.0 output PL
Packet Statewide Coordination Freq. 145.010 MHz
APRS Nationwide Freq. 144.390 MHz
Emergency Communication Links
American Radio Relay League A.R.E.S.
www.ARRL.com/ARES
Eastern Massachusetts ARRL
www.ema.ARRL.org
N.W.S. Norton, MA SKYWARN
www.Weather.gov/box/skywarn
Amateur Radio SKYWARN
www.WX1BOX.org
Nat’l Hurricane Center Weather Net
www.voipwx.net
Barnstable County CERT Team
www.BSheriff.net
Federal Emer. Mgmt. Agency/Massachusetts
www.FEMA/MA
NEDECN
The New England Digital Emergency Communications Network is a Digital Network of 90+ Amateur Radio DMR Repeaters covering the New England States facilitating mobile roaming communications throughout New England for routine, public service and emergency communications.
Harwich 145.270 MHz (-)
