The mission of the Island County Auxiliary Communications Service/Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ICACS/ARES) is to support governmental and non-governmental agencies in Island County in times of emergency and when requested, to support non-emergency public service events like the Whidbey Marathon and Tour de Whidbey.
ICACS/ARES supports both the RACES for Island County and ARES for Whidbey Island and general ICARC public service activities.
For emergencies, ICACS operates under the Island County Department of Emergency Management (DEM). It is headed by the Chief Radio Officer (RO). For non-governmental public service events on Whidbey Island ICACS represents ARRL ARES and ICARC. ICACS conducts regular weekly nets to practice net procedure and basic communications. ICACS also provides training in emergency radio operations and portable radio equipment.
ICACS/ARES also participates in periodic drills and public service events to develop communications skills and procedures.
ICACS Events can be found on the ICARC Calendar
1st Tuesday of every month, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Greenbank Progressive Club in Greenbank, WA
3090 S Firehouse Rd, Greenbank, WA 98253
The only requirement to join ICACS is an amateur radio license (any class) and a desire to help your community when normal communications are not functioning. You may join by requesting a member registration form from main+owner@ICACS.groups.io. Upon receipt of the member information form, you will be invited to join the ICACS Groups.IO site where you can find more information about training and operations.
Weekly Nets
ICACS/ARES Nets Sundays at 7:30 pm:
VHF – 146.86/147.22 MHz W7AVM repeater system with backup frequencies of 146.86 MHz simplex and 147.22 MHz simplex if there is a repeater failure.
UHF – 441.425 (+) PL 110.9 follows the VHF net on the N7KN repeater.
HF – 28.410 MHz (USB) at 7:45 pm or immediately after the UHF net.
ICACS/ARES Net Monday at 8:00 pm:
VHF – 147.570 Simplex.
OTHER EMERGENCY NETS
The Washington ARES Region 1 OPS 2 nets occur each Tuesday morning at 9:30 am in the following sequence:
VHF – 146.86/147.22 MHz W7AVM repeater system with backup frequencies of 146.86 MHz simplex and 147.22 MHz simplex if there is a repeater failure.
UHF – 441.425 (+) PL 110.9 follows the VHF net on the N7KN repeater.
VHF/UHF – 147.360 (+)/441.050 (+) PL 127.3 W7PIG linked computer system.
Individual operator check-ins are taken after the roll call of fixed stations. Indicate your callsign and number of operators present at your location when recognized by Net Control.
Washington State Emergency Net (WSEN): Saturday morning 9:00 AM Pacific on 3.985 MHz LSB