ARES UK – Amateur Radio Emergency Services UK

The North West Amateur Radio Club – M0KKN is actively working on the development of the ARES UK project (Amateur Radio Emergency Services UK). The goal of this initiative is to promote practical emergency communications skills among amateur radio operators and to support the development of resilient radio networks that can operate when conventional communication infrastructure is unavailable or compromised.

The concept behind ARES UK draws inspiration from the long-established ARES – Amateur Radio Emergency Service programme operated in the United States by the ARRL – American Radio Relay League. For decades, ARES in the USA has demonstrated how organised amateur radio operators can provide reliable communication support during emergencies, natural disasters, and public service events.

While ARES UK is not affiliated with or operated by ARRL, the project follows a similar philosophy: to develop trained, technically capable radio operators who are able to establish and maintain communication networks under difficult or degraded conditions.

Our club focuses on practical experimentation and training that may support emergency communication scenarios. This includes:

• portable radio operations and field deployments
• simplex VHF communication testing
• antenna and coverage experiments
• digital voice communication systems
• independent communication infrastructure
• operator training and practical radio exercises

A key part of this work is the development of real-world operating experience. Through regular radio nets such as the OPS-2m Net, operators are able to test their equipment, practice communication procedures, and evaluate how radio systems perform in realistic conditions.

ARES UK also encourages experimentation with different communication technologies, including HF, VHF and UHF radio systems, digital voice networks, and independent radio infrastructure. The aim is to build knowledge, technical capability, and operational confidence among amateur radio operators.

The project is currently in a development stage and is driven by the enthusiasm of radio amateurs who share an interest in preparedness, communication resilience, and practical radio operation.

ARES UK is intended to complement existing amateur radio activities by encouraging technical learning, collaboration between operators, and the exploration of how amateur radio can contribute to community resilience during unusual or challenging situations.