Auxiliary Communications Emergency Service

Burnside Bridge Antietam Battlefield

Present Alert Status

Become a Ham

The Washington County Auxiliary Communicatons Emergency Service (ACES), a chapter organization of the Antietam Radio Association, Inc. (ARA) welcomes you to the ACES web site.  The primary purpose of this site it to provide information to the amateur radio operators of Washington County, Maryland.  We do, however recoginze that a person browsing through the "net" may find our site.

So, first a word about Amateur Radio. 

Our "hobby" is not seen as a true hobby by the FCC, who grants amateurs the broadcasting "sepctrum" that allows us to communicate locally and internationally.  The FCC provides the following reasons (Basis and Purpose of existance) as:

§97.1 Basis and purpose.

The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles:

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art.

(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.

(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill.

Yet, we do look at amateur radio as a "Hobby" and continue to find ways to have fun.    We even poke fun at ourselves, the following is a good example http://ringwald.com/report.htm .   Our page "Become a Ham" guides you along the path that will lead you to a truly enjoyable hobby.

We not only use the microphone, but we do digital communications of many different kinds, including Morse code.   No, you don't have to know Morse code, but some day you just might get intersted in Morse code (CW).    This is a hobby for all of us and all of the U. S.  as well as all of the other countries in the world.   Yes, join us in meeting and promoting "international good will" it is fun!

VY 73, (Very best wishes)

Bob, KD3JK

Send mail to aces@myactv.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2009 Washington County ACES

 This page was last modified on July 13, 2009

The use of  the ARES® symbol in any printed matter or in any electronic media,  is registered mark of the American Radio Relay League, Incorporated and is used by ARES groups with permission.