Welcome to Clarke County ARES
Clarke County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) is a volunteer organization of skilled Amateur Radio operators who dedicate their time and equipment during emergencies, disasters, and other events, as a public service to agencies and groups of Clarke County and surrounding areas.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
ARES stands for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. It is a volunteer public service communications organization made up of licensed amateur (ham) radio operators who prepare for and provide emergency and public-service communications when normal communications systems are disrupted or unavailable.
Who We Are:
Volunteer emergency communications network of amateur radio operators.
Members register their qualifications and equipment with local ARES leadership so they can be called on to help when needed.
It’s open to all licensed amateur radio operators, regardless of membership in the ARRL or other groups.
ARES operators use their radios to provide communications support when traditional systems (phones, internet) fail, such as during storms, disasters, or large public events.
What We Do
Provide backup or supplemental communications during natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, floods, power outages).
Support public service events (marathons, parades) where reliable communications are needed.
Train and prepare with local emergency agencies so they can be effective when called upon.
Because amateur radio can operate independently of typical infrastructure, ARES volunteers provide a reliable means of communication “when all else fails.”
ARES Membership Requirements
Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization is eligible to apply for membership in ARES. Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES. Because ARES is an Amateur Radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.
The majority of the Athens Radio Club ARES activities utilize the club’s Athens repeater, - 145.330 (-) PL 123,0. However, during large scale emergencies, we should be prepared to utilize the Statewide HF nets operated by the Georgia ARES group.
To join the Clarke County ARES group, see the Join Clarke County ARES section below.
Informational Links
Clarke County ARES Weekly Net
Clarke Co. ARES holds a weekly net at 7:30 pm each Thursday evening on the Athens repeater - 145.330 (-) PL 123,0
You do not need to be an ARES member to check in. All hams that can reach the repeater are encouraged to participate.
If you are an ARES member, we envite you to be a net control operator. If you are interested in being a net control operator, contact Phillip Campbell at w4phc.radio@gmail.com.
Once approved to be net control, you may reserve you slot on the Net Control Sign Up Sheet.
Join Clarke County ARES
Want to join CC ARES? Complete this form and one of our members will contact you.
Want more information? Email us at ccgaares@gmail.com
Clarke County ARES Groups.io Emails.
If you would like to receive group emails sent to the Clarke County ARES members, you may use this link to subscribe yourself:
How Are ARES and SKYWARN Related?
ARES is a radio communications volunteer organization made up of licensed amateur radio operators (hams). Its main focus is on providing backup communications during emergencies or public service events when normal systems fail.
It’s organized and sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).
Membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator who wants to help with communications in emergencies.
ARES operators may be called upon for many types of incidents — disasters, communication failures, large community events, etc., not just weather-related ones.
It’s about organizing people with radios and necessary skills so they can support agencies, shelters, emergency managers, and relief organizations when needed.
In short, ARES is an organized emergency communications service using amateur radio.
SKYWARN is a severe weather spotting program run by the National Weather Service (NWS). Its mission is to train volunteers to observe and report hazardous weather conditions to help meteorologists issue timely warnings.
SKYWARN trains people to recognize things like tornadoes, hail, damaging winds, flooding, etc. and report them.
Volunteers can include anyone — not just ham radio operators. Police, EMS, storm spotters, fire personnel, truck drivers and private citizens can be SKYWARN trained.
Reports go directly to the National Weather Service (by phone, internet, or radio) to improve warnings and save lives.
In many communities, SKYWARN uses amateur radio nets during severe weather to communicate reports — and that’s where the overlap with ARES comes in.
In short, SKYWARN is a weather observation/reporting program, not a radio communications organization in itself.
ARES volunteers often participate in SKYWARN by using their radios to pass weather reports to NWS or emergency managers when severe weather strikes. In many areas, ARES nets are ready to support SKYWARN activations because they already have trained communicators and equipment.
SKYWARN
SKYWARN is a volunteer severe weather spotter program run by the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS). Its purpose is to collect real-time, ground-level reports of hazardous weather — such as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail, flooding, and winter storms — to help forecasters issue more accurate and timely watches and warnings, ultimately aiding in the protection of lives and property. In the Athens area, our SKYWARN nets also support the Athens-Clarke County Emergency Operations Center and the decision makers housed there.
What SKYWARN Is
A National Weather Service (NOAA/NWS) program composed of trained volunteer weather spotters across the United States.
Spotters provide actual observations from the ground (“ground truth” data) that radar and other remote sensing tools cannot directly confirm.
Volunteers include amateur (ham) radio operators, first responders, emergency management personnel, and members of the general public who complete SKYWARN training.
How It Works
Participants complete free training offered by the National Weather Service to learn how to identify and report severe weather safely and clearly.
During severe weather events, spotters report what they observe — such as hail size, observed tornadoes or winds — to their local NWS office, local emergency managers, or through designated communication networks like amateur radio nets.
These reports help the NWS confirm and expand on radar data, improving the accuracy and timeliness of severe weather warnings.
Role of Amateur Radio
Many SKYWARN spotters are amateur radio operators, and ham radio is often used during activations to relay spotter reports — especially when typical communications (phones, internet) may be degraded by severe weather.
Only amateur radio operators are allow to participate in skywarn nets.
Most SKYWARN nets, including those in the Athens area, do not limit participation in the net to officially trained spotters. Any licensed amateur operator may participate.
SKYWARN Related Links
Upcoming Skywarn Spotter Class Schedule from the Atlanta/Peachtree City, GA weather service office.
List of Georgia SKYWARN Linked Repeaters. Note: During severe weather in the Athens area, Clarke County ARES will hold its own Skywarn net on the Athens repeater, - 145.330 (-) PL 123,0
Georgia Skywarn Linked Repeater System
Georgia Skywarn has a series of repeaters that can be linked together during certain weather events. This system is appropriately called the Georgia Skywarn Linked Repeater System. Although there are currently no such repeaters in the immediate Athens area, you may, depending on your equipment, be able to reach one from your location. There is a linked repeater in Commerce, 146.850 (-) PL 131.8, and one in Clermont (Gainesville), on Wauka Mountain, 145.310 (-) PL 123.0.
Note: During severe weather in the Athens area, Clarke County ARES will hold its own Skywarn net on the Athens repeater, - 145.330 (-) PL 123,0.
Winlink
Winlink is a global radio email system that allows amateur radio operators to send and receive messages via radio or the Internet using Winlink Express software.
Step 1: Install Winlink Express
Download and install Winlink Express from the official download site.
Look for the file named Winlink_Express_Install_x-x-xx-.zip.
After installation, locate the program icon (usually in C:\RMS Express) and launch it.
You do not need a registration key to start; leaving it blank allows you to use the software without delays, though a key can remove the startup “nag” screen.
Utilize the Quick Start for Amateur Radio and SHARES Stations page
Step 2: Set Up Your Winlink Account
Open Winlink Express and select Settings → Winlink Express Setup → Preferences.
Create a Winlink account by entering your callsign and email information. A password will be sent to your account, which you can change later.
Familiarize yourself with the Help and indexed forms/templates within the software for guidance on composing messages
Step 3: Configure Communication Modes
Winlink supports multiple modes for sending messages:
VARA FM (VHF/UHF): Uses a sound card interface for high-speed FM communication. Set up by following the VARA FM guide in Winlink Express winlink.org+1.
VARA HF: High-frequency sound card modem for long-distance communication. Offers high throughput and fixed bandwidth operation. Both free and paid versions are available.
Packet (AX.25): Uses a TNC or sound card modem. UZ7HO SoundModem is a simple option for FM packet operations winlink.org+1.
Telnet (Internet): Sends messages over the Internet to Winlink servers without radio hardware peoriacountyares.org.
Note: During an emergency, you would want to use the Telnet option, if you can, to reduce congestion on the radio frequencies. During testing, if you have a radio, you probably will want to use the appropriate VARA option.
Step 4: Test Your Setup
Send a test message to your personal Internet email to verify connectivity.
Practice sending messages to others to become familiar with the interface and message handling peoriacountyares.org+1.
Step 5: Using Forms and Attachments
To create a message, select Message → New Message.
To attach files, use Message → New Message → Attachments, then add files from your computer.
To use templates, select Message → New Message → Select Template, then choose from standard or ICS forms tlarc.org.
Step 6: Additional Resources
Winlink Book of Knowledge: Offers detailed documentation and tutorials for beginners winlink.org.
Video Training: Search for the “San Diego Winlink Series” on YouTube for step-by-step demonstrations peoriacountyares.org.
Official Winlink Programs Group: Join for support and community guidance on specific setups winlink.org.
By following these steps, you can quickly get started with Winlink, test your system, and begin sending messages via radio or Internet. Regular practice and exploring the help resources will improve your proficiency.GA ARES Winlink Express page.
GA ARES Youtube Training Videos.
If you aren't in the GA ARES Group IO I strongly suggest you look at for the weekly P2P Winlink Net. They have a lot of helpful files.
The Club Guide to Winlink & VARA
Winlink is a powerful tool for emergency communications, but it can feel overwhelming if you try to set up everything at once. We break our club's training into three simple phases: Software Setup, Basic Messaging, and Radio Integration. [1]
Phase 1: Software Setup & Telnet (Internet)
Before touching any radio hardware or cables, we configure the core software over the internet. This ensures your account is working perfectly before adding the radio into the mix.
Step 1: Download Winlink Express
Visit the Official Winlink Downloads Directory.
Download the file named Winlink_Express_install.zip.
Extract the folder, run the installer file, and open Winlink Express.
Note: Leave the registration key box blank. You do not need a paid key to use the software.
Step 2: Account Creation
Go to Settings → Winlink Express Setup.
Enter your Call Sign, create a password, and add a recovery email address.
Enter your exact Grid Square (e.g., EM74). Winlink uses this to calculate radio distances later.
Click Update to save.
Step 3: Run a Telnet Test
In the top-right corner of the main screen, select Telnet Winlink from the drop-down menu.
Click Open Session, then click Start.
The software will connect via your internet, create your @winlink.org address, and fetch a welcome email. [1, 2]
Phase 2: Your First Message Test
Now that your account is active, let's practice basic messaging using your home internet before we move on to radio modems or emergency forms.
Step 1: Compose a Test Email
Click Message → New Message in the top menu.
In the To: field, type your personal, everyday email address (e.g., your Gmail or Yahoo address).
In the Subject: field, type Club Test Message.
Type a short sentence in the body, then click Post to Outbox (top left). Your message is now queued.
Step 2: Send the Message
Re-open your Telnet Winlink session from the top right.
Click Start. You will see the system upload your message.
Check your smartphone or regular computer email—you should see your radio email arrive in your inbox! You can reply to it, run another Telnet session, and see the reply download directly into Winlink Express.
Phase 3: Transitioning to Radio (VARA Installation)
Once you are comfortable sending basic messages over Telnet, it is time to take the internet out of the equation. To do this, we need to bridge your computer to your radio using a sound card interface and a software modem.
Step 1: Understand the Hardware Link
To send text over radio waves, your computer needs to pass audio to your rig. This requires a dedicated hardware interface:
Internal USB: Modern HF rigs (like the Icom 7300 or Yaesu FT-710) have a built-in sound card. You only need a standard USB cable.
External Sound Cards: Older HF rigs and most 2-meter/440 VHF/UHF mobile rigs require an external interface to connect to the computer. You can make your own but it is best to use something like a Digirig or a SignaLink USB, along with the correct data cable for your specific radio.
Step 2: Download the VARA Modems
Winlink cannot talk to your radio interface by itself. It needs a software modem running in the background. Because these are managed by an external author, they live in their own dedicated directory on the server. Go to the Official VARA Products Directory to grab your setup files:
For HF Users (Most Members): Click and download VARA HF vX.X.X setup.zip.
For 2m/440 VHF/UHF Users: Click and download VARA FM vX.X.X setup.zip.
Step 3: Link Software to Hardware
Plug your USB cable (from your radio or your Digirig/SignaLink) into your computer.
Open your downloaded VARA HF or VARA FM program independently.
Go to Settings → Soundcard and select your interface (it will usually be labeled USB Audio Device).
Go to Settings → PTT and choose how your computer will tell your radio to transmit
Step 4: Run a Radio Session
Back in Winlink Express, change your top-right drop-down menu to VARA HF Winlink (or VARA FM Winlink).
Click Open Session. Winlink will automatically launch your VARA modem window in the background.
Pick a local GA ARES gateway frequency from the channel selector, tune your radio, and click Start to send your message completely over the air!
Please use this Event Log link to log your ARES hours (click on the image).