Burlington Amateur Radio Club

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Burlington Amateur Radio Club Inc

Burlington A.R.E.S

	Radio Amateurs of/du Canada
	MEMBER SOCIETY OF THE INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR RADIO UNION
	*"We're ALL about Amateur Radio!" "Tous ensemble pour la radioamateur!"*
	Amateur Radio Emergency Service
	Burlington ARES

	In the event an Emergency is declared, the following VHF frequencies will be utilized in the priority shown.

	1.	Burlington VE3RSB 147.210 Mhz (131.8 Hz PL Tone) - IRLP Node 2680 - ECHOLINK Node 417869
	2.	Burlington VE3RAE 146.895 Mhz (136.5 Hz PL Tone)
	3.	Simplex 146.490

In the event the first priority frequency, VE3RSB 147.210, is not operational, monitor 147.210 simplex for further instructions.

Operating locally under the direction of an EC, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), sponsored by Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), is a voluntary organization of licensed radio amateurs who have registered their capabilities and equipment for providing emergency communications as a public service to the community.

ARES has a long history of public service going back to its formal inception in 1935. It has responded countless times to communications emergencies. Experience has proven that radio amateurs respond more capably in time of emergency when practice has been conducted in an organized group.

Membership in RAC is highly desirable but not required for registration as a volunteer operator, nor does registration require possession of any special equipment. All Amateurs can be of assistance to the ARES.

General Information
Programs	Instructions / Training	Documents
Amber Alert Program	Standard Operating Procedures	Registration Form
Canwarn	ARES Message Handling Training	ARES Message Form
Weather Radio	Introduction to Packet Radio for ARES by the GTA-West Regional Packet Group	Community Events
	National ARES Training Manual	Red Cross Memorandum of Understanding

Amateur Radio System to Assist Ontario’s AMBER Alert

An Ontario-wide Amateur Radio system has been organized to assist the AMBER Alert, a program used by police to advise the public of serious child abduction cases where it is believed the child is in danger of bodily harm or death.

Sponsored by the Field Services division of Radio Amateurs of Canada, of which the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is part, the newly-formed Regional Amateur Radio Alert Network (RARAN) was originally the initiative of former Ontario Section Manager Rob McKenzie, VE3SJQ, whose vision has finally been achieved.

It consists of a network of volunteer Amateur Radio operators willing and equipped to distribute AMBER Alerts issued by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) on behalf of all Ontario police forces.

Distribution by Amateur Radio is subject to the availability of the volunteer operator, thus the need for several in each area. Besides radio equipment, a reliable internet connection is necessary.

As Alerts are issued, designated Amateur Radio stations will distribute them using local repeaters, nets and any other available means. This will potentially increase the number of watchful eyes, particularly but not exclusively through mobile Amateur Radio stations.

Anyone seeing a person or vehicle described in the Alert is to contact police by calling 9-1-1 immediately. Sightings could also be reported by mobile operators to base stations who would make the call. Such information is vitally important and could literally mean the difference between life and death of a child.

AMBER Alert was first established in 1996 in the United States after the kidnapping and murder of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman in Arlington, Texas.

Thankfully, AMBER Alerts are very infrequent. However, the new network cannot have too many qualified volunteer stations and several are needed in every area.

Any licensed and properly-equipped Radio Amateur who wishes to be part of this worthwhile service can register online via the Amber Alert Program link shown above.

There are currently four amateurs from the Burlington ARES taking part in this program.

Herb Teather - VA3HRB, Mark Richardson - VA3OBO, Kevin Andrews - VA3KRA .

NOTE: The Amber Alert automated message banner runs at the bottom of each Burlington Amateur Radio Club webpage.

Burlington ARES Meetings - T.B.A.