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Learn about Alexandria ARES, our mission, team structure, and partnerships serving Alexandria City since 2010
Alexandria ARES provides backup amateur radio communications support to Alexandria City Emergency Operations Center, American Red Cross, Community Emergency Response Teams, and community organizations when primary communications systems fail or are overwhelmed during emergencies and planned events.
We are volunteer amateur radio communicators who train regularly to maintain readiness and integrate seamlessly with partner organizations’ incident management structures. Our members bring diverse professional backgrounds and emergency service experience to support community safety.
Primary Supported Agency: Alexandria City Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
We also work closely with:
Our core membership consists of Alexandria Radio Club (W4HFH) members who also provide the communications trailer used for emergency communications and public outreach events.
We welcome all licensed amateur radio communicators, regardless of club affiliation. If you work, live, or have loved ones in Alexandria City, we encourage you to participate with our team.
Primary ARES Repeater: 146.055 MHz +0.6, CTCSS 141.3 Hz
Sponsored by Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club via partnership with Alexandria City
W4HFH Repeater Network:
VoIP System Integration:
Members participate in weekly nets, Field Day exercises, and regular training on NIMS/ICS standards, field expedient antennas, backup power systems, and RF interference identification. We maintain certifications through ARRL ARES and CISA (COM-L, COM-T, RADO) to ensure consistent capability levels.
When called upon by the Alexandria City EOC or partner organizations, our volunteers deploy with portable and mobile radio equipment to provide communications support. We can operate independently for extended periods or integrate directly with incident management teams based on operational needs.
As an ARRL ARES Affiliated Team, we can request assistance from other regional ARES teams meeting the same training standards. This mutual aid network enables extended operations and 24-hour communications support during major incidents.
Beyond emergency response, we support community events, provide communications planning assistance to local organizations, and conduct public education on emergency preparedness and amateur radio licensing.
Core membership affiliation providing the communications trailer, extensive repeater network (D-STAR, DMR, FM), and VoIP infrastructure. ARC members form the operational backbone of Alexandria ARES.
Weekly Net: Thursday 8:00 PM on 147.315 MHz (PL 107.2)
MVARC sponsors and maintains the 146.055 MHz repeater that serves as Alexandria ARES’ primary emergency communications channel through a partnership agreement with Alexandria City.
Alexandria ARES operates as an ARRL-affiliated ARES team, providing access to standardized training materials, certifications, mutual aid coordination with other ARES teams, and integration with the national emergency communications network.