Amateur radio operators are able to communicate locally, regionally and internationally using a wide array of frequencies, bands and modes, many of our members are simultaneously licensed in multiple radio services. The gives us the ability to extend our global communications capabilities into other radio services that are limited to low power, line-of-site communications. Amateur Radio is the only radio service that provides local response with global reach. As such ARES is an integral component in government emergency operations plans, severe weather spotter networks, and non-governmental agency disaster relief efforts. Join us and help make a world of difference!!
Today's Weather Outlook
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OMMRS Goes DSTAR! NOT!!!!!!
Rumors have been flying around the airwaves and the social gatherings that OMMRS is going to be converting to DSTAR. And while OMMRS has purchased 3 DSTAR capable dual band mobiles, there are no plans for changing the hospitals to DSTAR in the near future.
OMMRS elected to purchase the radios for use at the Douglas County EOC, the proposed backup EOC and hopefully eventually in the EMA's communications trailer so that there could be DSTAR capability to communicate with Nebraska Emergency Management Agency on their DSTAR repeater. LMMRS (Lincoln Metro Medical Response System) has elected to go with DSTAR in their hospitals. DSTAR was not an option at the time OMMRS installed amateur radio in its 20+ locations across 7 counties. Planning for amateur radio as a backup communications was begun in 2000 and installation of the radios began in 2002.
The OMMRS communications committee will be learning more about DSTAR and its abilities and limitations now that the radios have been delivered.
For the foreseeable future, analog voice and FM packet on the UHF/VHF bands will continue to be the primary communications used by amateur radio operators in the area hospitals and the local EOC's. So the next time you hear someone say that OMMRS is going DSTAR, you have the facts.
The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) offers self-paced courses designed for people who have emergency management responsibilities and the general public. All are offered free-of-charge to those who qualify for enrollment. Each Independent Study Course includes lessons with practice exercises and a final examination. Students who score 75 percent or better are issued a certificate of achievement from EMI.
The use of tactical callsigns helps clarify the function of individual stations. These tactical callsigns should be used in lieu of Amateur callsigns for all initial calls and for subsequent exchanges of traffic. However, the station operator must still follow all FCC rules when operating the station. Your Amateur callsign should be used at the end of an exchange or every ten minutes to satisfy FCC regulation 97.119. This is easily satisfied by terminating an exchange with your tactical callsign plus your FCC-assigned Amateur callsign.
The 2007 Spotter maps are available! You can get one on the files section of the MDARES Yahoo group, or you can sign in on this web site and go to the SKYWARN page. If you are an Omaha Metro Area Amateur Radio Operator and are not yet registered please click here to start the process. You will get an email that you must respond to for the admin staff to be notified. This is just to confirm your address. If you need your password reset, please email
DC ARES Frequencies
Douglas County ARES is proud to use the following repeaters in the Omaha Metro Area: Thank you the the repeater owners and operators for their support of amateur radio and the service they provide to the community by allowing ARES access to their repeaters.
146.940 (-) KØUSA
147.000 (-) WBØCMC
145.450 (-) KØBOY
224.940(-) KØUSA
223.94(-) WBØCMC
224.760 (-) KE0SS
444.950 (+) WBØCMC
443.775 (+) WØEQU
ARES Related Callsigns
There are some call signs on the air that you will hear usually during
ARES related nets. You should familiarize yourself with these
callsigns.
NØEMA - Douglas County EOC
KØNCS - Net Control Station for ARES Nets
KØMMR - OMMRS related (Packet Only at this point)
KØPOT - Pottawattamie ARES
WØEQU - Heartland Chapter American Red Cross
WØNWS - National Weather Service
This is not a complete list and will be updated as we are informed of callsigns used by specific counties.
