The Georgia ARES HF Net operates in support of local Emergency Coordinators, Emergency Management officials, and other served agencies, by providing long range communications throughout the Georgia Section by supplementing local VHF and UHF networks.

The State of Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River. In order to provide reliable communications over the vast distances and terrain, and with changing radio skip band conditions, it is often necessary to operate on several Amateur Radio bands.

Local VHF/UHF nets appoint one or more "HF Gateway" stations to bring long distance traffic into the longer-range HF net operations.

Georgia ARES sends volunteer representatives to the Forth Region Net (4RN), and other National Traffic System Nets (NTS) to exchange out-of-state and other traffic throughout North America.

The frequency of 3975 KHz is the primary statewide frequency for use during disasters and drills, with 3982.5 KHz, and 3995 KHz, being used to handle overload traffic or special operations.

During long skip radio conditions it may be necessary to move some HF operations to 160 meters in order to provide the desired communications. This is most likely to occur during the darkness and evening hours especially during the winter months.

During daylight hours, often the 75 meter band is not usable for statewide operations and under such conditions, Georgia ARES HF Net operations may move operations to 60-meters or 40-meters.

Digital modes provide additional security and often-superior reliability under poor radio band conditions. Narrow bandwidth PSK31 and C.W. are used to supplement voice communications when desirable. Other digital modes may be used if needed.

The Georgia Digital WINLINK2000 System is used by Georgia ARES primarily to communicate with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), and the Office of Homeland Security Emergency Operations Center, located in Atlanta. Liaison is established with the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS), and Civil Air Patrol (CAP), out of amateur band agencies, by established member stations.

ACTIVATION

The Georgia Section Statewide ARES HF Net System may be activated at any time, at the request of any ARRL Section Officer, District Emergency Coordinator, or served Agency, when long-range statewide communications are needed to supplement other local communications systems.

Request for information on Georgia ARES Statewide HF Net Operations should be directed to:

Charles Pennington, K4GK

Section Traffic Manager
ARES Net Manager
Georgia Section
K4GK@arrl.net

478-552-3617 (Home)
478-521-0404 (Cell)
P O Box 144
Sandersville, GA 31082