Below is a list of suggested and interesting links from the amateur radio community in our region.
Amateur Radio Clubs
- Brandon Amateur Radio Society
BARS has been serving Brandon, Valrico, Mango, Seffner, Palm River, Gibsonton, Riverview, and the East Tampa area for over 40 years providing public service and emergency preparedness communications as well as license classes and radio operator training programs. - Sun City Center Amateur Radio Club
Amateur Radio Club of Sun City Center, FL KE4ZIP - Amateur Radio Station Is operated by the Amateur Radio Club of Sun City Center, FL. Locally the club operates VHF/UHF Repeaters 2 meters 147.225+ & 70 cm 443.250+. Both repeaters require pl 146.2 ---Weekly net = Tuesday evening net 7:30 PM - Tampa Amateur Radio Club – TARC
The Tampa Amateur Radio Club holds meetings at the TARC Opera- tions Center every Monday night at 7:30pm. On the first Monday of the month, regular business meetings are held. The second Monday features train- ing/mentoring for new hams. The Third Monday of the month features presentations on topics of interest to the club membership. The fourth and fifth Mondays are usually infor- mal and are a great time to chat and play with the radios. AN INVITATION TO JOIN US! TARC also holds licensing classes and hosts VE Testing. Please see our website for current dates and times - West Central Florida Group (NI4CE)
The West Central Florida Group, Inc. is a non-profit Amateur Radio organization. The organization was founded in 2001 with a mission statement reading “To promote and advance the art, science and visibility of Amateur Radio and provide necessary Amateur Radio communications infrastructure during communications emergencies”. In keeping with this spirit, we operate West Central Florida’s only regional coverage linked amateur radio repeater system, NI4CE. The network operates five analog repeaters from four sites linked 24 hours a day. The group also operates numerous APRS digipeaters as well as a NXDN digital repeater on the NXDN World-Wide Network. The Board of Directors is elected by active contributing members, and is entrusted with the responsibility of operating and maintaining the NI4CE Repeater System and the organization’s other programs.
Amateur Radio Organizations
- American Amateur Radio League – ARRL
ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs in the nation and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. - ARRL West Central Florida Section
The ARRL is the National Association for Amateur Radio in the USA. The West Central Florida (WCF) Section of the ARRL Field Organization serves amateur radio operators in the following nine counties in Florida: Charlotte, Desoto, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota. - Hillsborough County ARES RACES Inc.
ARES is a field organization of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the largest amateur radio advocacy and fraternal organization in the United States. Today, at a national level, ARES provides the organization and guidance to help amateur radio operators to establish local emergency communications volunteer groups. ARES Emergency Coordinators work with local government agencies such as police, fire, sheriff, search and rescue and offices of emergency management to determine what emergency communications needs may exist and how to best serve the community.
Emergency Support
- Hillsborough County ARES RACES Inc.
ARES is a field organization of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the largest amateur radio advocacy and fraternal organization in the United States. Today, at a national level, ARES provides the organization and guidance to help amateur radio operators to establish local emergency communications volunteer groups. ARES Emergency Coordinators work with local government agencies such as police, fire, sheriff, search and rescue and offices of emergency management to determine what emergency communications needs may exist and how to best serve the community. - South County Communities CERT
The Sun City Center Community Emergency Response Team (SCC-CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. SCC-CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization, allowing professional responders to rely on during disaster situations and allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.