Polk County ARES will again provide the communication for the Market to Market Relay Race – May 10, 2014 This event will require approximately 30 operators from 6:00am until 8:00pm, however most operators will work 4 – 5 hours shifts.  This is a great event to prepare our skills and equipment for emergency needs. Contact Scott, […]

The Des Moines Radio Amateurs Association maintains an analog 2-meter repeater on 146.940 (negative shift) with a PL tone of 114.8. This repeater was provided in part from a grant from Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management. and is maintained by membership dues and donations.  It is identified by the callsign WØAK and is located […]

 WØAK  has been updated with a new Kenwood repeater, PA deck and battery back-up. The 146.94 repeater was off the air Thursday the 16th, from 9:00 AM until Noon.  This “tech” refresh was completed by Kelly Milligan of KelTek Inc.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2014 edition of the DMRAA Hamfest.  April 19th beginning at 8:00am is the date and the Elwell Family Center is the location.  Click here the DMRAA Hamfest Flyer 2014.  Tell your friends and remember we offer ARRL testing. Testing this year will be in the Varied Industries building.  See you […]

  Really doesn’t sound like this is much of a newsworthy item until you hear the “rest of the story”. We recently had an inquiry on the DMRAA.com website, asking if we could help a gentleman with renewing his father’s FCC license.  The son who is 72 contacted us to help renew WØWSJ, Battista’s license.  […]

The first 2014 Polk County ARES quarterly meeting will be 7:00pm January 20, 2014.  There will be a presentation on Triage by Urbandale Fire Dept. Polk County Emergency Operations Center, 1907 Carpenter, Des Moines   Future meeting dates: April 14, 7:00pm July 21, 7:00pm October 13, 7:00pm

The Des Moines National Weather Service will present their yearly Spotter Training on Tuesday February 25, 2014 at 7:00pm in the Recital Hall at Plymouth Congregational Church, 42nd a& Ingersoll, Des Moines.  This training is recommended to all amateur radio operators.  The public is invited also.  Bring your children and spouse for this important training. […]

Scott Kirstein, NØOOD is the 2013 recipient of the Des Moines Radio Amateurs Association Winthrop Mager Award.  Presented yearly, the Winthrop Mager Award is the club’s “Ham of the Year” award. Scott embodies the ideals of this award as he is very active in Amateur Radio in both leadership and labor.  Scott serves as a […]

The American Lung Association, Fight for Air Climb Members of Polk County ARES are encouraged to participate in these events as a way to train for and be prepared for emergency situations. The purpose of Polk County ARES is to provide emergency radio communications for Polk County and surrounding communities when officially activated via authorized […]

  Stephanie Kitchen, Wind Energy speaker from Mid-American Energy answers questions about wind energy production in Iowa.  Her presentation and discussion was both technical and interesting.  There was also discussion on other methods of energy production and delivery of that energy to the regional grid.