ARES of Santa Cruz County, Ca.

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ARES of Santa Cruz County, Ca.

This is the Santa Cruz County, California USA Amateur Radio Emergency Service. We do not discuss politics or religion here.

A large group of ham radio operators volunteering their time and equipment in the time of need. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. We also support our communities by running communications a

t events when cell phones are not the solution, or when radio is the most efficient. This page is for the exchange of ideas and information related to ARES, ham radio equipment and setup, communications techniques, and radio etiquette. We also post events we are going to be at, meetings, and radio nets. You are invited to join in any time with your ideas and opinions about ham radio. I am the facilitator for this page (it is not my page, it is ours), and it takes all of us to make the group. Hope you will post what you are doing and the projects you are working on as well as post ARES events you attend.
73, de Bob KO6XX
You can find more information here: http://xczcomm.com

06/17/2026

June 17:
Third Wednesday has come around again. And like clockwork, the monthly Santa Cruz County ARES membership meeting will at the Santa Cruz Emergency Operations Center at 5200 Soquel Avenue tonight. We will start promptly at 1900 hours, so arrive a few minutes early to be granted access before the side entry is locked.

This month’s meeting will be both informative and hands-on. We’ll:
Welcome new ARES members
Discuss past and future events
Learn about situational environment awareness tools
Entertain new approaches to our weekly net control operations.
Whether you’re a long‑time member or a newly minted ham, your participation makes our group stronger and better prepared for the next local emergency. We hope to see you all tonight!

73
Allie, KM6RMN

06/10/2026

June 10:
Yep, Wednesday has arrived, and tonight is the weekly Santa Cruz County ARES net. Jerry, W6OJE will be running the net on K6BJ 2m repeater. Check-in promptly at 1930 hours and stay tuned for news, announcements, and a net exercise. Our weekly nets keep us in practice and check the workings and propagation potential of our equipment in all kinds of conditions.

Winlink and APRS check-ins will be taken by Roberta, AJ6KN, until 1915 hours tonight. APRS users should remember to include name and date in their messages. Those without a Winlink account can also send a message through Winlink NCS via [email protected]. Put //WL2K first in the Subject line. Type a brief check-in message in the body of the email. We will acknowledge the Winlink and APRS check-ins during tonight's reports and announcements.

73-
Allie, KM6RMN

06/03/2026

June 3:
We've reached first Wednesday of a new month of Santa Cruz County ARES nets, with summer just around the corner. There's still a bit of a chill in the evening air, so put on a light jacket and step out on your deck at 1930 hours to check-in on WR6AOK. Ed, N6EMA, takes the helm as net control. We'll have the usual news and announcements and a net exercise that follows.

Winlink and APRS check-ins can be transmitted to Roberta, AJ6KN, until 1900 hours tonight. APRS check-ins should remember to include name and date in their messages. Those without a Winlink account can also send a message through Winlink NCS via [email protected]. Put //WL2K first in the Subject line. Type a brief check-in message in the body of the email. We will acknowledge the Winlink and APRS check-ins during tonight's reports and announcements.

73-
Allie, KM6RMN

05/27/2026

May 27 (updated):
Dan, N6RJX will be net control for tonight's Santa Cruz County ARES net. WR6AOK will be the repeater of choice. Cool weather and quiet geomagnetic conditions are promised. Check-in promptly at 1930 hours and stay tuned for news and announcements. No additional net exercise take place this evening.

Winlink/APRS update: Roberta (AJ6KN) has returned from her travels with laryngitis, so she will be taking WinLink/APRS checkins but will not be reading them during the Net. APRS check-ins should include name and date in their messages. Winlink check-ins can also be sent through Winlink NCS via [email protected]. Put //WL2K first in the Subject line. Type a brief check-in message in the body of the email.

73
Allie, KM6RMN

05/20/2026

Wednesday, May 20:
Join us for our monthly Santa Cruz County ARES membership meeting, in person, at the Santa Cruz Emergency Operations Center. It is located at 5200 Soquel Ave. We will start promptly at 1900 hours, so arrive a few minutes early so you can be granted access before the side entry is locked.
This month’s meeting will be both informative and hands-on. We will:
Welcome new ARES members
Learn about CalTopo
Sharpen your navigation skills with a fun exercise
Whether you’re a long‑time member or a newly minted ham, your participation makes our group stronger and better prepared for the next local emergency. We hope to see you tonight!

73-Allie (KM6RMN)

05/13/2026

May 13:
We have rolled around to Wednesday, net day for Santa Cruz County ARES as usual. But wait! Let's not be complacent, for things can change just when you get comfortable. Today we will switch things up a bit, and check in on a different repeater to give it a test-drive. Ben, KO6CNT, has picked University of Santa Cruz's own W6SLG repeater for tonight's exercise. That's 145.31 MHz, - 94.8 Hz, or channel 41 on your programmed radio. Please give it a try so we can document its reach.

Winlink and APRS folks: Roberta, AJ6KN, is out of town this week, so we will not do Winlink today.

73
Allie, KM6RMN

05/06/2026

May 6:
It's Wednesday, and yes, the Santa Cruz County ARES net is scheduled tonight at 1930 hours. The net control position will be ad hoc, so this is someone's opportunity to stand up on a moment's notice and establish the net. It also means that WR6AOK and K6BJ repeaters will both be options for starting a net..
(update: the 2 meter connection will be severed for the exercise as usual, so it is possible to have 2 nets tonight.) Please be advised that K6BJ is working at greatly reduced power this week, so WR6AOK is the better bet.

Winlink update: Roberta, AJ6KN, will be able to take Winlink and APRS check-ins as usual, until 1900 hours. APRS check-ins should also include name and date in their messages. Those without a Winlink account can also send a message through Winlink NCS via [email protected]. Put //WL2K first in the Subject line. Type a brief check-in message in the body of the email. We will acknowledge the Winlink and APRS check-ins during tonight's reports and announcements.

73
Allie, KM6RMN

04/29/2026

April 29:
Roberta, AJ6KN, will take check-ins for our weekly Santa Cruz County ARES net starting at 1930 hours tonight. WR6AOK will be the check-in repeater-du-jour, and then we'll hop over to W6TUW repeater in Bonny Doon (channel 40, 145.29 Mhz -94.8 ) to measure its reach.

Winlink and APRS check-ins can be transmitted to AJ6KN all day until 1900 hours. APRS check-ins should also include name and date in their messages. Those without a Winlink account can also send a message through Winlink NCS via [email protected]. Put //WL2K first in the Subject line. Type a brief check-in message in the body of the email. We will acknowledge the Winlink and APRS check-ins during tonight's reports and announcements.

73
Allie, KM6RMN

04/22/2026

April 22:
It's Wednesday again, and what's more, it's Earth Day! So if you're up for it, grab your portable radio gear and find a nature spot to take part on this week's Santa Cruz County ARES net. Skies are clearing, but trees will still be dripping, so prepare accordingly.

Pete, KN6TYR is our net control for tonight. He will be taking check-ins on K6BJ at 1930 hours, followed by news & announcements, and then a repeater hop or two. Be prepared to check propagation on K6LY (channel 62, 444.700 +5MHz) and/or WA6HHQ (channel 59, 446.925 +5MHz) depending on conditions. As always, we train to be flexible.

Winlink and APRS check-ins can be transmitted all day until 1900 hours to Roberta, AJ6KN. APRS check-ins should also include name and date in their messages. Those without a Winlink account can also send a message through Winlink NCS via [email protected]. Put //WL2K first in the Subject line. Type a brief check-in message in the body of the email. We will acknowledge the Winlink and APRS check-ins during tonight's reports and announcements.

73
Allie, KM6RMN

04/15/2026

JoMarie (KM6URE) said it best in our latest email:
"Please join us for our monthly ARES membership meeting this Wednesday, April 15, starting promptly at 1900. We’ll be meeting in person at the Emergency Operations Center, located at 5200 Soquel Ave.
This month’s meeting will be both informative and hands-on. We’ll
Welcome new ARES members,
Learn about the digital public safety radio plan in the county,
Sharpen navigation skills with a practical exercise.
Whether you’re a long‑time member or recently joined, your participation makes our group stronger and better prepared to serve the community. We hope to see you there!"

I endorse this message and encourage you all to read it in the original email--and also download the April Radio Active newsletter enclosed.

73-Allie (KM6RMN)

Address

Felton, CA
95018

Website

https://xczcomm.com/

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