News & Announcements







28 March 2025 - GA Death Race Final

  • Final Plan for Cherokee ARES GA Death Race as of 28MAR2025.



    23 March 2025-Announcements

    Still pending updated COMS Plan and additonal Details on GA Death Race. Your Leaders at AS4 and AS9 shall be communicating directly to you. Please ensure you have a reflective vest and other items listed in the plan below...
  • AS4-Point Bravo Lead is Ryan-KK4YLG
  • AS9-Nimblewill Lead is Bill-KO4UQF
  • Draft Plan for Cherokee ARES GA Death Race as of 23MAR2025. More updates to follow.

    15 March 2025-Severe Weather

  • Stay weather aware tonight, we will be activating at the EOC tonight at 19:00hours. See the Frequency Page for detals on our Frequencies and read the link below if you did not receive via our Club or ARES Groups.IO">
  • Cherokee Announcement 3/15/2025 15:02

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    8 March 2025 Announcements

  • WA4EOC removed from ICS217 until further notice. Do not program or attempt to use.
  • 146425 VHF Simplex for Cherokee County on ICS217
  • DO NOT reformat our ICS-217's or ARES Documentation and send out on Social Media including Groups.IO. If there is an approved change, that will come from EC or AEC.



    • 24 February 2025 Announcements

  • Effective immediately-our Cherokee ARES Simplex VHF Frequency must change. Replace 144.490 frequency in your radio with 146.425. ICS-217 has been updated on Frequency Page
  • The WX4NN 443.075 Repeater uses a DIGITAL Tone for Transmit and Receive. The Digital Tone is 411. DTCS is the mode for transmiting and receiving Digital Tone.
  • Look for more updates on this page in the coming days for sample code plugs. If you need help, our meeting is less than 2 weeks away, I will help after the meeting...
  • 2025 Cherokee ARES NCS Roster Posted on the Training Page
  • Thank you for all the GA Death Race Volunteers, I updated the current list under the announcement below with each of the volunteers. I will update the PDF document in the coming days...
  • Please update your email signatures that you use for standard email and include your Callsign in the email please. That will help everyone else out when you email within ARES and the Club... Thank you!



    • 8 February 2025 Announcements

  • Below are links to the training we conducted during Winter FieldDay. I made some updates as discussed. Enjoy
  • Winlink Training Slides
  • DRATS Training Slides
  • Application of Technologies Training Slides- covering various modes including APRS, Winlink, VARAC, etc

    • GA Death Race

  • 4-6 GA Death Race Volunteers being solicited for Point Bravo. Lead is Ryan-KK4YLG assisted by WB9GFA-Stan, KO4LIV-Tom, N4ARD-Bruce, KQ4ZJQ-Mike, KM4ZHZ-Jonathan, KK4YDY-Stephen, David-KO4SAO
  • 2 GA Death Race Volunteers being solicited for Nimblewill. Lead is Bill-KO4UQF assisted by Rod-KO4PWB. Current Staff: KK4UQF-Bill, KO4PBW-Rod, W1JKU-Rob, WA4LIK-Robin, KO4UZB-David, N4CDH-Dudley


    • 15 December 2024 Announcements

    Winter Field Day, Rob-Long Farm 25January 2025. We will conduct formal training on 25 January and then informal training and hands on experience in the evening and early on 26 January 2025.
  • Class Schedule and Signups will be announced in the coming days. However, here is what you can plan for attending and the lead trainers:
  • 1. DRATS (Install/Configure/Use via Internet and experiment with RF) – Bill KO4UQF
  • 2. Winlink Internet, Vara FM, and Vara FM P2P (Install/Configure/Use/Demonstration) - Rod-KO4PWB
  • 3. VARAC (Install/Configure/Use/Demonstration) Bill-KO4UQF and Rob-W1JKU
  • 4. SKYWARN (Net Operations, Activations, Procedures, etc..) – Cody-WX4WCX
  • 5. APRS- Rob-W1JKU
  • 6. Miscellanous training based on requests...


    • GA Jewel 20-21 SEPT 2024 Update as of 19SEPT2024 17:18EST

  • Cherokee ARES will be supporting GA Jewel 20-21SEPT2024. See link below for details and current volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, please notify w1jku@arrl.net
  • Cherokee GA Jewel Plan as of 19SEPT2024 17:18EST



    • 14 Sepetember 2024

  • NWGA Updated Winlink ICS217 September 2024
  • GA ARES Registration for Emergency Notification System
  • GA ARES Member Expanded Profile- The GA ARES Membership Profile has been expanded to include a section with some additional fields. This additional information is related to your communications capabilities and deployment availability. This information will allow us to search for members who can effectively work with supported organizations in areas where they are needed. It is all part of our plan to become a more effective organization by continually improving. All items are selected with check boxes and will only take a few minutes to complete. These are the steps to update your profile with additional information. 1. Log in on the GA ARES website. 2. Click on the ‘Members’ link in the main menu bar. 3. On the members page, enter your callsign in the Members Search box. (Not the Search in the Right Column). 4. Click on the GEAR icon to the right of your name. 5. Select Edit Profile 6. Scroll down the profile page. The added items below are ‘Biography’. 7. Click on the check box beside the items that pertain to you. 8. Click the ‘Update Profile’ button



    • 25 June 2024

  • Effective 25June 2024-Please use 146700-K4SJR as the Primary Cherokee ARES Repeater and WX4AUX as the Alternate. Too many ARES members still having issues communicating via WX4AUX.



    • 2 June 2024

  • ICS-217 updated on Frequency Page. Cherokee ARES will levera 146700-K4SJR as Alternate Cherokee ARES Repeater. This VHF repeater provides very strong coverage for Cherokee County and Northwest GA. Thank you Frank-K4SJR!
  • We will leverage WX4AUX after interference is confirmed removed. We have moved KG4VUB to the 3rd Alternate Repeater for Cherokee as there is some maintenance that must occur.
  • Cherokee ARES Preamble has been updated with a few minor changes.
  • Cherokee ARES rollcall has been updated as of 2 June 2024.
  • Looking forward to seeing everyone at Field Day 2024.



    • 6 May 2024

  • NWGA Winlink and DSTAR Net Announcement 5MAY2024
  • Field-Day is fast approaching. What do you plan on working on and improving your ability to facilitate Emergency Coms? What do you need help with? Send Email to W1JKU@ARRL.NET, Subject Fieldday Improvement + your Callsign. Include in the message body the details or assistance you require...



    • 18 April 2024

  • Cherokee County Amateur Radio Society supported ARRIS Contact at Mountain View Elementary School on 18 April 2024.
  • Thank you to all that made this event possible!
  • Please watch the whole event and see the professionalism and passion generated with our youth... Actual Contact can be found at 50:45 into the video....



    • 16 APR 2024

  • For the next 2 weeks or until further notice, we will use the KG4VUB Repeater as our Primary Repeater. Please avoid using WX4AUX until repeater maintenance is performed.
  • VARAC Update-The following members have successfully captured/intercepted/performed VARAC on our Repeater/Voice Net: KD4KHO, KF4VX, KM4UYM, KO4IFY, KO4UQF, KO4PWB, N4BBG, W1JKU, WX4WCS. We will continue to practice this exercise over the next several weeks!

  • 8 APR 2024

  • Winlink Training tonight on setting up Favorites
  • Youtube-Adding Templates to Favorites
  • 1-Getting Started
  • 2-Setting up Favorites
  • 3-New Message with Favorite shown



    • 19 MAR 2024

  • VARAC TIP-Auto FM-D on Transmit


    • 10 FEB 2024

  • Cherokee-Application of Technologies
  • Cherokee ARES looking for Volunteers for GA Death Race-Point Bravo. Contact w1jku.us@gmail.com for details.


    • 15 JAN 2024

  • Cherokee-ARES SKYWARN Net Activation Chart (When to Activate) has been added to our SKYWARN page to aid you in deciding when to startup a net.
  • Remain Weather Aware- Ensure you are prepared for the low teen temperatures we will experience over the next week. Should EMA request our assistance, we will make an announcement over Groups.IO, our Website, and Repeaters...
  • Our Primary ARES NET has moved back to the WX4AUX Repeater. Thank you K9APD-Jim and KO4UQF-Bill for your continued work.
  • Weather at our Repeater Site - Pine Log Mountain. This link has also been added to our SKYWARN Page.
  • Current 2023 SET Task List of Active Members
  • GA ARES runs various NETS on Sunday including DRATS, DSTAR, FLDIGI, and 80M-Voice. Consider joining those Nets from time to time and practice/test your equipment and procedures. The GAARES DRATS Ratflector is: gaares.ratflector.com
  • GA ARES Website.
  • GA ARES Calendar.


    • VARAC Training- 9JAN2024

  • VARAC Primer by W1JKU.
  • VARAC TIP-Auto FM-D on Transmit
  • Reference: VARAC for EmComm.


    • 8 JAN 2024

  • SET Required Training. Any member that has not received a GO for the Task "ARES Training Deployment and EOC Operations" Please Review and Send Email when Complete to W1JKU@ARRL.NET and KO4IFY@ARRL.NET that you have reviewed the material by 13JAN2023. We will then mark you off as Trained on that Task.
  • Additional Announcements from 8JAN2024 NET.
  • Training from 8JAN2024 NET.


    • 21 Dec 2023

  • Cherokee ARES and Cherokee Amateur Radio Society wishes each of you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
  • Using APRS to send SMS Messages
      • As many of you realized over the last year SMSGTE was taken down and can no longer be used to send SMS/Text message to your phone from APRS.
      However NA7Q has started up a new desintation to route called SMS. However you must follow the instructions. You send the message to "SMS" versus "SMSGTE"
      You must preregister your the cell number you wish to send to in advance. The tool is simple, from the website, you enter the cellphone number and the recipient will receives a text, which they must respond as instructed in the text to opt in. This is a one-time requirement. Consider registering your family cell phone numbers if you would like to send them messages via APRS. If you participate in GA Death Race, RF is our most reliable method to communicate.
      Then you can send SMS messages to that number without ever knowing what carrier they are on (ATT, VERIZON, etc).
  • Webpage to register Cellphone number.
  • Detailed instructions on how to Send SMS from APRS
  • If you need more screenshots/help, let me know, W1JKU@ARRL.NET
  • GA ARES is requesting you register on their website. Click on the Register Tab for Instructions. This is being done to consolidate all GA ARES Members. This does not elininate or change the requirements of joining the Cherokee ARES organization.


    • 17 Dec 2023

  • On 18December 2023, Cherokee ARES will initiate the Cherokee ARES NET on the WX4AUX Repeater. This repeater is positioned to be our Primary Repeater for Cherokee ARES. This is a VHF Repeater and shall give more of our members access, but you must ensure your radio is properly programmed.
      • This was an S.E.T. Task we performed in October. So each of you have been given plenty of time and opportunity to ensure your radio is properly programmed.
      The KG4VUB Repeater is our Alternate ARES Repeater at this time. Many personnel cannot access the WA4EOC at this time, so it will be 3rd in line until we make further determinations in 2024.
      For Frequencies and Code Plugs see our ICS-217 on the Website: http://cherokee-ares.org/frequencies.html
  • And Thank You Jim-K9APD and team for the maintenance, testing of the WX4AUX repeater this past week and for providing us a vehicle to communicate throughout Cherokee County and our surrounding area.
  • Rob Bruderer EC Cherokee County

    • 10 Dec 2023

  • Cherokee ARES Roll-Call Rosters Updated with Active Members including new Member KQ4LXN-Duane. If your name is not on the Rollcall, please check the SET Task List Below. All personnel that did not complete the required Contact Validation with Mark KO4IFY that was due on 11NOV2023, have been removed. All remaining tasks must be completed prior to our January 2024 Meeting. To be readded, requires you to update your information and participate.
  • Current 2023 SET Task List of Active Members
  • The 2024 Cherokee ARES NCS Roster has been updated. Thank you K4QO-Lee for volunteering to be added to the roster. If anyone else would like to join in on NCS, please notify W1JKU-Rob.

  • Cherokee ARES and Cherokee CARS would like to wish each of you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


    • 11 Nov 2023

  • Cherokee ARES Roll-Call Rosters Updated with Active Members. If your name is not on the Rollcall, please check the SET Task List Below. All personnel that did not complete the required Contact Validation with Mark KO4IFY that was due on 11NOV2023, have been removed. All remaining tasks must be completed prior to our January 2024 Meeting. To be readded, requires you to update your information and participate.
  • Current 2023 SET Task List of Active Members


    • 28 Oct 2023

  • APRS.FI link added to Skywarn Page.
  • W1JKU has NCS for District Net on Tuesday Night. We will briefly discuss our SET and share some thoughts with NWGA District.
  • On Tuesday night, the NWGA District plans on linking the NET to Echolink via the K4WOC Echolink Node. This is a trial for anyone away from their radio. Dependiing on adoption and use, this may be repeated on future NWGA Nets in the future. Echolink is an application you may install on your computer or mobile phone that allows you to use the internet to access a remote repeater.
  • If you have Winlink RF Capability, please consider configuring the Hybrid Network Paramters within Winlink. This gives you the ability to send and receive Radio Only messages with other members when No Internet is available. Sending and Receiving Radio Only messages has an advantage over what is practiced weekly in the NWDistrict P2P, where both the sender and receive do not have to be online at the same time. Please see link below for more details.
  • Winlink Radio Only Training.


    • 22 Oct 2023

  • AAR-Cherokee ARES SET from 14OCT2023.
  • The Frequency Page has been update with various Code Plugs to align with our updated ICS217

    • 16 Oct 2023

  • Thank you for all that participated in the Cherokee SET on 14OCT2023. AAR and feedback will be provided over the next week.
  • All ARES members that were not present for the SET on 14OCT2023, must have their contact information confirmed with Mark-KO4IFY by November Meeting. Mark will be at the meeding No Later Than 09:00 11NOV2023. All Tasks must be completed by January 2024 to remain on the Active Roster.
  • The Cherokee ARES Roll Call Roster has been updated along with Preamble on the Training Page. To be on the Roll Call Roster requires you to be an Active Member of ARES with regular participation. If you would like to be added to the Roster, please ensure you are an Active Member of ARES who regularly participates in our weekly nets and various exercises throughout the year. All others, may check in as a late/visiting station. Click on this Link to see Details.
  • The NWGA Roll Call Roster is also being updated to reflect only personnel that have been regularly participating first-hand. We must recover lost time attempting check-ins with stations that are not attending.
  • The changes above better reflect our teams that are available resources for ARES and our community, while removing excessive noise or wasting time.
  • A new ICS217 has been published to the Frequencies Page. This includes the additon of WX4AUX which will become the Cherokee ARES Primary Repeater in a few weeks. Please download and ensure you update your radios, and destroy any ICS217 prior to 16OCT2023. We will work on Code plugs over the next few weeks.
  • APRS-YAAC Client. This client can be used on Windows/Linux/etc. Click on this hyperlink for details and download. Its a Java based application, personnally I like it a little better than APRSIS32. Download and unzip the contents to a folder. In my case I put all the contents in the following folder: "C:\Ham Software\YAAC". Then you can create a shortcut from windows, here is the launch command: "C:\Ham Software\YAAC\YAAC.jar".
  • Northwest GA District Winlink Checkins has returned to standard Winlink Check-In form to W4NWG. Taking a break from P2PE prior to the net for a while. Giving everyone time to recover from SET. Thank you!




    • 14 October 2023- This is a Drill- Cherokee ARES Mobilization

  • THIS IS A DRILL- Cherokee ARES Mobilization. All Cherokee ARES and Licensed Amateur Radio Operators, are requested to immediately check into the Cherokee ARES NET, on the WA4EOC Repeater to receive additional instructions.
  • The NET will run from 06:00 14OCT2023 through 09:50 14OCT2023
  • W1JKU is at the EOC obtaining instructions and will meet you at the William G Long Senior Center. 223 Arnold Mill Road - Woodstock, Georgia 30188
  • Once you have Checked in, received the additional instructions, and accomplished the initial tasks assigned, you may request from NCS Check out of the Net and begin preparing for the exercise.
  • You may arrive at William G Long as early as 08:30 to begin Inspection and Execute Radio Programming Task
  • Cherokee ARES will attempt COMS with NWGA District via WA4EOC and KC4AQS Repeater, 6m: 50.130.000, 10M 28.430.000, 40m 7.287.500, 80m 3.975 from William G Long
  • This is a Drill, Cherokee ARES Annual SET - Simulated Emergency Training Exercise. This is a Drill
  • Cherokee ARES SET Presentation.



    • 14 SEPT 2023

  • GA Jewel615-16SEPT2023- Contact W1JKU@ARRL.NET if you would like to volunteer. Overview as of 20:36EST 14SEPT2023.


    • 3 September 2023

  • Happy Labor Day- Enjoy the weekend with family and friends
  • GA Jewel Training is being discussd for this upcoming week. Stay tuned for more details...
  • APRS Announcement. APRS Announcement 3SEP 2023


    • 13 August 2023

  • Requesting Volunteers for GA Jewel 15-16SEPT2023. Overview as of 10SEPT2023.
  • Cherokee SET 14OCT2023. Cherokee SET Overview as of 13AUG2023.
  • All licensed Ham Operators are available to particpate in both the GA Jewel and Cherokee SET.


    • 6 August 2023

  • Cherokee ARES SET Rescheduled from 7 October 2023 to 14 October 2023. The Cherokee ARES SET, Simulated Emergency Training Exercise has been rescheduled, please update your calendar as we will conduct this event in Cherokee County 1 week later than normally executed. This change is being made as Rob-W1JKU will be out of town the week of 7 October 2023. The Northest GA District is continuing their planned exercise on 7 October and will be asking for members to help support their exercise and check into their nets. Details will be shared when provided. The NW GA District will also support our SET on 14 October, a win-win for our teams.
  • Cherokee WEBEOC URL has been updated for AEC/EOC Team, please update your browser.


    • 11 June 2023

  • Winlink Catalog and Position Reporting Training
  • We will cover the Winlink Catalog/Position Reporting feature available in Winlink during the Cherokee ARES Training on Monday 12 June 2023 and during the NWGA District Net on Tuesday 13 June 2023.


    • 23 May 2023

  • Winlink and FLDIGI Discussion 22MAY2023
  • NWGA District oprating a Weekly VHF Packet and Vara FM Exercise that starts each Sunday at 18:00 - Tuesday at 18:00. You must check in during those times to be counted. The object is to experiment and use as many of the Gateways and Digipeaters as you can in the NW-GA District to check in to the Winlink net. You should try and find as many paths/combinations to reach a gateway as possible.
  • You will send a simple text message (no forms) to W4NWG. In the subject line, you will indicate the path you used to reach a gateway to deliver the message. For example: If you sent W4NWG a winlink message using the AB4NX-10 gateway, the subject line would read - W4NWG v AB4NX-10. If you sent W4NWG winlink message though the KK4YLX-15 digipeater to the K4WOC-10 gateway, the subject line would read – W4NWG v KK4YLX-15 v K4WOC-10. (W4NWG v AB4NX-15 v K4WOC-10).
  • Leverage the Cherokee ARES ICS217 and Digipeaters to help attempt try additional paths into a Packet Station operating on the same frquency of the Packet Station.

  • W1JKU Packet Results 20 May 2023


    • 8 April 2023

  • PDF-Cherokee County Basic Emergency Communications Training 8 April 2023
  • Powerpoint-Cherokee County Basic Emergency Communications Training 8 April 2023

    • 31 March 2023

  • Team Cherokee from Aid Station 4-Point Bavo and Aid Station 9-Nimblewill 25-26 March 2023
  • Stan-WB9GFA, Jonathan-KM4ZHZ, Chad-K4YKP, Cody-WX4WCS, Devin-KQ4ANT, Don-KO4RKF, Justin-KQ4GFX, David-KO4SAO, Robin-WA4LIK, Bill-KO4UQF, Rob-W1JKU
  • Thank you Team Cherokee for your participation and success of the mission!!!






    • Current Cherokee ARES Winlink Exercise

  • Current Google Map-Cherokee ARES Winlink Check-in Form
  • Send a Winlink Check-In Report form to the following Tactical Callsign: CCARES-NET
  • Select Template --> Standard Templates --> MAPPING-GIS FORMS --> Winlink Check-In Report.txt



    • 2022 SET Exercise AAR

  • Cherokee ARES recongized Bill-KO4UQF and Rod KO4PWB for Exceptional Service during the 2022 Simulated Emergency Exercise.
    • Bill-KO4UQF Rod-KO4PWB
  • Cherokee ARES 2022 Simulated Emergency Exercise AAR



    • NWGA Training- W1JKU- Winlink Radio Only Training

  • Click for Training performed 15NOV2022



    • NWGA Training-W1JKU-APRS

  • NWGA ARES Training- APRS 6SEPT2022



    • DRATS Installation Comments

    1. To Install DRATS go to the DRATS Groups.IO Program Files Page: https://groups.io/g/d-rats/files/D-RATS%20Program%20Files
    2. When installing, do not install or attempt to run from your Windows Desktop or any other Microsoft Assigned Folder. There are known issues and conflicts using Microsoft Assigned Folders including One-Drive Folders. You may have inconsistent behavior. You are best to install to your C: in folder DRATS. Example: C:\DRATS
    3. Cherokee ARES DRATS Installation
    4. D-RATS Installation and Digital Check-In via Chat- Cherokee County ARES. I will update the PDF this week to reflect obtaining the download from Groups.IO...



    Cherokee ARES Training

  • Cherokee ARES Training 18APR2022



    • Severe Weather Preparedness - Remains Training Focus 14FEB2022

  • SKYWARN Training Recap from District Net 14FEB2022
  • SKYWARN Spotter Training- Approx 2hours. (If you have not taking this class recently, consider refreshing your skills. Not required, but encouraged.)



    • ARRL Badge

    The SignMan of Baton Rouge.

    Order the Black ARRL MEMBER Badge. 4 Lines on Badge, Line 3 and 4 should remain static:

  • First and Last Name
  • Callsign
  • ARRL Member
  • Cherokee County-GA



    • Website Change Log (Not including routine postings to the News page)

    1. 20DEC2022- Cleanup and Removal of outdated messages