• Remain Weather aware this week as another opportunity for winter weather is possible Friday 30 January - Saturday 31 January 2026.
• Tornado Drill 4 February 2026. This will involve ARES and Skywarn groups across the state, and the state-wide linked repeater net will be active beginning at 08:00 AM. Monitor the KC4AQS repeater (146.805, + offset, PL 100) and follow instructons from Net Control.

• Cherokee ARES Primary Repeater is WA4EOC effective 14DEC2025

• Home page updated with 2026 Mission Dates
• Cherokee ARES/CARS soliciting volunteers to Ruck/Walk 14 February 2025 at 08:00 during the Guns and Hoses 5K in Woodstock GA. Use this event as an opportunity to challenge yourself and get up and move. We will Ruck/Walk together supporting Cherokee County and allow others to track progress via APRS and our Repeater, before we attend the monthly meeting at 10:00am William G Long.
  Registration for Cherokee ARES and Cherokee Amateur Radio Society Only
• DMR page adjusted for browser update that blocked Brandmeister Dashboard.

• Cherokee SET Activation 06:00 11 October 2025
• Check in to the K4SJR-146700 repeater or WA4EOC DMR Talkgroup, or via REF003A DSTAR Repeater
• All available members are asked to deploy to the William G Long Senior Center and check in with W1JKU at the Command Vehicle - Gray Dodge Ram Between 09:00 and 09:45. All members are to bring their Cherokee ARES Operations Manual and check in with W1JKU on Simplex 146425 upon arrival on site.

• Cherokee ARES will be supporting GA Jewel 19-20 Sept2025.
• Cherokee GA Jewel Plan

• Primary Cherokee ARES Repeater is currently 146700-K4SJR until further notice. Check out ICS217A on Frequency Page.

• Cherokee County HOIP (HAMSOverIP) Phone List
• On 28 July 2025 we will run both a DMR net on WA4EOC Talkgroup and DSTAR on REF003A. Feel free to check in on both modes if you have capability.
• The ARES Roster has been updated where a few call signs have been moved to Inactive since they have not checked in reliably over the last 6-9 months. If you have been removed, you can still check in during Visiting Station Call.

• Cherokee County HOIP (HAMSOverIP) Phone List
• This phone list will be updated weekly as HAMS provide update information on adoption. W1JKU will provide to AEC's and NET controls, the Passcode for ARES Bridge, which will remain limited distribution at this time.
• Visit hamsoverip.com to establish an account and then create a ticket and request extension. You must have a DMRID established and must provide your official copy of your radio license to obtain service.
• HOIP will email you the assigned extension, userid, and password to configure your phone. Typical turn around time is less than 24hours. Just know the support team is in Hawaii, 6 hours behind us. Use the WIKI found on the main website for details on configuring your phone!

• DMR Training Field Day 2025

• OpenGD77 Codeplug added to Frequency Page/ Cherokee ARES Radio Loads and Samples.
• We will be adding a DMR ICS217 Page in near future to capture known BrandMeister Repeaters/details we have access to in Cherokee County.

• Cherokee ARES has partnered with Cherokee County GA AUXCOMM. We will discuss this at our meeting on 14 June 2025 at 10:00am.
• Cherokee County GA AUXCOMM operates as a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit, and provides communication resources, assets, and repeaters that are used by Cherokee County ARES, Cherokee County Amateur Radio Society (CARS), RACES, Cherokee AREA Preparedness Group, REACT and CERT units. Cherokee County GA AUXCOMM is not an organization you join, but an organization that is able to receive tax deductible charitable donations to obtain, maintain, and support our communication assets that we use daily. For more details on this organization please see the following link. Please consider making a tax-free donation and support our communication assets and resources.
  Cherokee County GA AUXCOMM

• Cherokee Primary Frequency is now the WA4EOC Repeater 145.190. Check out ICS217A on Frequency Page.

• Cherokee CPTN NET has updated Simplex Frequencies 5/23/2025 to avoid conflict with other repeaters. Those changes are now reflected on the ICS-217A effected 23May2025 and Sample code Plugs.
• Cherokee ARES has begun the process of restoring WA4EOC into our repeater lineup and will soon become our Primary ARES Repeater. You are asked to visit the Frequency Page and download the updated ICS217A dated 22 May 2025 and update your radios. There are several code plug examples that you can use via Chirp or RTSystems to configure your specific radio. Please pay attention that WA4EOC will use a different Tone for Transmit (173.8) and a different Tone for Receive (107.2). Your radio may require you to be configured as SPLIT Mode versus Duplex + mode to leverage both Tones. If you are having troubles, then I suggest you simply stay in Duplex +2.26 and only operate in TONE Mode 173.8 for the Transmit Frequecy of 147.450 and do not enable TSQL (Tone Squelch) on the Receive Frequency 145.190. ** If using TSQL you may not hear the CW for the Repeater, which is expected.
• During Field Day 2025, we will help anyone having issues configure your radio if needed. Also be aware that the CW of the Repeater does not transmit the Receive Tone in order to prevent your radio from making unnecessary noise in your shack or house.
• Based on recent weather events this week, we are also going to augment Net Control with DMR on the Brandmeister WA4EOC Group Call Talk Group: 3215969 to allow you to relay critical traffic as well as receive critical information over DMR. This will occur as many of us take our antennas down during major storms and assist in facilitating critical communications...
• As you will notice on our ICS217A, we are not adding Packet or Vara Winlink Gateway stations to the list. Instead, you are advised to always get the latest information for your nearest Winlink station directly from within the Winlink Application. In the Event you cannot reach a gateway directly, look for a Digipeater on the same Frequecy, near your location. We are publishing DIGIPEATERS, as they do not appear in the Winlink Application to help you decide which digipeater to use based on your location should you need that extra assistance to perform your Packet Winlink transmission. (We will generate a help file/diagram in the future, to better explain Digipeaters to personnel that do not fully understand this concept.)

• Link to DMR Page for more DMR Details
• We will conduct DMR training during Field Day 2025

• KD4KHO-Randy and W1JKU-Rob spent the last week digging through options to configure OpenSPOT4 to the AnyTone D878UVII Pro radio in order to successfully perform SMS via BrandMeister. We had no problem sending, but receiving was challenging. After 8 days of trying various configurations and referencing out of date nuggets on the internet, we finally have it working. For anyone using OpenSpot4 and AnyTone D878UVII Pro, review and enjoy.
  Download PDF Screenshots
• W1JKU will miss our meeting this Saturday as I must make a return trip to Missouri. I look forward to seeing you all at Field Day 2025 where we will perform some DMR Training and expand our ARES Capabilities. I can be found on DMR via ID 3115900 or via the WA4EOC TG 3215969

• Remain Weather Aware next 24hours. If conditions require we will start a local Skywarn Net either Formally or Informally on the 146.700 Repeater (Primary K4SJR), 145.270 Repeater (KG4VUB Alternate 1), or Simplex 146.425
• Reminder each of you are empowered to start our local SKYWARN NET if conditions require, see our SKYWARN Page for more details...
• Reminder on the State Linked Repeater SKYWARN NET 146.805, if Established, only Transmit if conditions meet the criteria of Net Control and if First Hand Reports. DO NOT rebroadcast to them what you see on Radar/Internet/Social Media, Only First-Hand Reports will be transmitted...
• If there is any confusion, I will then suggest you retake a SKYWARN Training course immediately. Setup the Free account on the COMET MetEd Site and begin learning:
• Role of the Skywarn Spotter
• Skywarn Spotter Convective Basics

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

• Still pending updated COMS Plan and additional 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.

• Stay weather aware tonight, we will be activating at the EOC tonight at 19:00hours. See the Frequency Page for details 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

• WA4EOC removed from ICS217A until further notice. Do not program or attempt to use.
• 146425 VHF Simplex for Cherokee County on ICS217
• DO NOT reformat our ICS-217A'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.

• 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 transmitting 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!

• 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

• Winter Field Day, Rob-Long Farm 25 January 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. Miscellaneous training based on requests...

• 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

• 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

• Effective 25 June 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.

• 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

• 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