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Welcome to
Prince George's County, Maryland
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Our call sign is W3PGC Training Nets - EVERY TUESDAY @ 7:30 PM Local - K3ERA 145.230- pl 110.9 Repeater
Net Control Schedule for June 29, 2021 to January 4, 2022 (Get Adobe Reader)
See: Net Control Script, Version 7.1, revised 12/13/20 (Get Adobe Reader)Regular Eye-ball Meetings - 3rd Monday of every month at 7:00 PM Eastern Local
MDC Section HF Hospital Training Net - 3.820 MHz LSB on
Wednesday following the 3rd Monday, Every Month at 7:00 PM Eastern LocalNOAA - NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Current WASHINGTON AREA WEATHER
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Introduction
PG-ARES/RACES provides emergency communication support. When the cell towers are down, or overloaded, when the land lines are down and the power is out, Amateur Radio operators can communicate with other operators anywhere in the world. All members are volunteers with various levels of Amateur Radio licenses. We also volunteer our personal Amateur Radio equipment when we are called to serve.
"Amateur Radio Today" - by the late Walter Cronkite (YouTube Video)
PG-ARES is supported by contributions from members, the public, and grants to PGCERA, Inc..
View and print the PG-ARES Tri-Fold Brochure
If you are a FCC licensed Amateur Radio Operator and wish to participate or volunteer, you are encouraged to join our Tuesday evening Training-Nets or Meetings.
Join the PG-ARES Listserv!
Click here or send an email to pgares+subscribe@googlegroups.com, and include your name, email address, and call sign if you have one to join the listserv. Keep up with meetings, training sessions, and other events and activities. Subscribing to the listserv DOES NOT automatically make you a member of PG-ARES. See the Membership section below for information on how to join PG-ARES.
MenuMembership
The PG-ARES/RACES is a field service organization of the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) and as such membership requirements include: a valid FCC Amateur Radio Operators License as well as a willingness to participate. Our main function is to serve the community with our Amateur Radio hobby in times of need.To be an ARES Member:
- download and complete the Membership Application and either return it to the AEC for Administration or bring it to a monthly meeting;
- participate in the On-the-Air Training Nets held every Tuesday at 7:30 PM Local on K3ERA 145.230- pl 110.9 Repeater; and
- attend the monthly meetings held the 3rd Monday of every month at 7:00 PM Eastern Local
To be a RACES Member, qualified by Prince George's County and the State of Maryland, you must have completed the following FEMA On-Line Courses:
Send your course completion certificates to the RACES Radio Officer (RO) by email or hand deliver it at a regular Meeting, along with your Membership Application if you have not already applied.
- IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100
- IS-200.B: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
- IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
- IS-800.C: National Response Framework, an Introduction
MenuMeetings - Events Calendar
PG-ARES On-Air Training Net on EVERY TUESDAY of the month @ 7:30 PM on the K3ERA 145.230- pl110.9 District Heights, MD Repeater
Monthly Meetings on the 3rd Monday of the month @ 7:00 PM at the Prince George's County Fire Services Building, 6820 Webster Street, Hyattsville, MD 20784-1474.
MDC Section HF Hospital Training Net (HFHN) on the Wednesday following the Monthly Meeting @ 7:00PM Local on 3820 KHz LSB. This is a controlled net, please follow the instructions of the Net Control Station.
Training Meeting on a selected Saturday Mornings of most months, starting at various times and ending at 12 Noon at the PG Co. Fire Services Building, 6820 Webster St., Hyattsville, MD 20784-1474.
MenuActivities
In order to hone our skills as communicators, net controllers, and volunteers in general, we provide communication support for localevents such as marathons, bicycle races, parades & festivals. We also provide communication support during emergencies and disasters with other volunteer organizations.Prince George's County (PG Co.) Health Care Coalition
We have standing agreements with local hospitals and County Health Depts. to provide communication support if and when their existing systems fail. Currently we have complete radio stations at six of the County hospitals. Also, the County Health Departments will come online during 2009. When these other stations come on line, PG-ARES will need another 10 to 13 trained operators to operate the new stations. So, if you would like to become involved with the Prince George's ARES, we would like to train you now. Please check into one of the 1st, 3rd, or 5th Tuesday Training Nets and make yourself known. See the Prince George's Co. Health Care Coalition pages.
MDC Section HF Hospital Net on the Wednesday following the Monthly Meeting @ 7:00 PM on 3820 KHz LSB. This is a controlled net, please follow the instructions of the Net Control Station, K3ERA. The MDC HFHN is open to all HF operators from anywhere as we would use this Net for wide area/multi state emergency communications.
MenuTraining
On-the-Air Training Nets are held every Tuesday on the 145.230- pl110.9 repeater @ 7:30 PM Local.
Download the Net Control Script, Version 7, revised 06/16/20 (Get Adobe Reader)
Net Control Schedule for June 30, 2020, to December 29, 2020
Training Sessions are also held on one Saturday Morning per month at the FSB-EOC. Also, please see the PG-ARES Events Calendar for times and locations of training sessions.A complete listing of FEMA Online Courses
The following courses must be completed in order to work any County or State declared Emergency Incidents (RACES).
- IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100
- IS-200.B: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
- IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
- IS-800.C: National Response Framework, an Introduction
As you complete the FEMA courses, please send a copy your completion certificate to the AEC for Administration to update your records in our database, so we know you are eligible to work a RACES incident.
Training Resources
MenuFiles
Files, Instructions & other PDF's listed here are for downloading.
You may need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view some files.
Click the Acrobat Reader link to download the Reader.![]()
- PG-ARES Tri-Fold Brochure - Who we are - 223 Kb
- Net Control Script, Version 7, revised 06//16/20 - 73 Kb
- Net Operations - Chapter 4 - W3YVQ's PSCM NTS - 361 Kb
- MEMA Maryland Natural Hazards Preparedness Guide - 3.0 Mb
- Are You Prepared? September is Emergency Preparedness Month - 206 Kb
- Disaster Preparedness web pages by Dave-KJ4ACS
- E-jumpkit - A collection of files for use by the ARES/RACES team for use in the field. (coming soon)
- Useful MAPS
- ICS-213 - General Message Form
- RMS Express Tutorial WB3KAS Rev 1.0.pdf (5 Mb) - Given on Aug. 24, 2013 at the EOC.
MenuLinks
ARRL Links
ARRL - Amateur Radio Relay League
ARRL - ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Service
ARRL Atlantic Division - Web Site
ARRL - Maryland DC Section - Section Manager Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM
Reflectors
PG ARES-RACES - Yahoo Group and eMail Reflector.
MDC-ARES - Maryland-DC Section ARES reflector
MDC-EC EC & AEC reflector
Government
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
MEMA Maryland Emergency Management Agency
U.S. RACES U.S. Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
Weather
SKYWARN - Balto./Wash. Section
NWS Forcast Office Balto./Wash. - enter your Zip Code for report
NOAA Wx Radio - Wash. DC - WNG-736 @ 162.450 MHz
Program your WX Radio for Prince George's County, MD 024033, MDZ013
WX4NHC - National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station
Lightning Maps - Maps of the local lightning strikes
Traffic Nets
MEPN - Maryland Emergency Phone Net
WinLink
RMS Express
Broadband Ham Net HSMM-MESH
HSMM-MESH Home page
WB2IFS's HSMM-MESH Project Slideshow
Groups & Clubs
GMRA - The Green Mountain Repeater Association - 2 Meter Repeaters
CMRG - Central Maryland Repeater Group - 70 CM Repeaters
AARC - Anne Arundel Radio Club of Davidsonville, Md.
T-MARC - The Mid-Atlantic Repeater Council
MenuContacts
PGARES Call Sign - W3PGC
VHF Repeater is K3ERA - 145.230 VHF 447.325 - pl 110.9 located in Districts Heights, Maryland
Snail Mail
PGARES/RACES
P.O. Box 788
Greenbelt, MD 20768-0788PG-ARES STAFF MEMBERS
Jim Montgomery - WB3KAS
Brandywine, MD
ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC)
Jeffrey Humbert – KB3SPH
Indian Head, MD
AEC for Administration
Wanda Montgomery - KA3AHI
Brandywine, MD
AEC for Health Care Coalition
(Hospitals & Health Depts.)
Steven Keller - KC3DSO
Lanham, MD
AEC for Operations
AEC Training
Position Open
AEC Public Information Officer
Postion Open
Sandra Joseph - KC3JIF
Mount Rainier, MD
AEC Webmaster
MenuPhoto Albums
- National MakerFaire 2016. - June 18-19, 2016 at Univ. of Distric of Columbia
- Slide show from the 2016 Makers Faire - June 18 & 19, 2016 - A few pictures of WB2IFS-Jesse and N3ADF
- State's Attorney's 5K Crime Victums' Fund Run - Oct. 2012
- Field Day 2011 - June 25-26, 2011
- WinLink RMS Express Class - July 23, 2011
- Map of PGARES WinLink2K RMS Packet Nodes - Jan. 26, 2011
- Prince George's VFD Parade Communications Team - Sept. 18, 2010
- Wind Wizard 2010 Drill - August 26, 2010
- August 2010 Meeting - Cake celebrating the new EC & RO for PGARES
- August 2010 Meeting - Cliff-W3CB receives his "Most Net Check-Ins 2010" award from the new EC, Jim-WB3KAS
- National Night Out 2010 - Tuesday, August 3, 2010 - Pr. Geo's County, MD
- Holiday Social 2009 - at the Golden Corral, Largo Towne Center
- Field Day 2009 - American Legion Post 66, Bowie, MD
- "Go Kit" Seminar & "Show & Tell" - July & August 2008
- Holiday Social 2007 - at the Golden Corral, Largo Towne Center
- Field Day 2007 - at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, DC
- Red Cross Shelter Simulation Exercise - Sept. 29, 2007
If you have digital photos of PG ARES events, your EmComm gear, your QTH Shack, or other photos involving Ham Radio, please email them with captions to the Webmaster.
☺ Jim-N3XKJ with Santa and members of Girl Scout Senior Troop 3988 prepare to ride the engine truck to an event. ☺ Jerry-N3WSG tees off at a charity golf tournament ☺
Hams at the Anne Arundel Scottish Highland Games & Festival - Oct. 13, 2007
Also see "QST" for January 2008, page 13
MenuSandra Joseph - KC3JIF - Webmaster.
All content, images & graphics Copyright © 2008-2020 by ARRL or PG-ARES - Page last updated - January 6, 2019