What is RACES?

The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a program sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is authorized by Part 97.407 of the FCC Rules and Regulations.  Its mission is to operate and maintain Amateur, Public Safety, and other communications systems, and to perform unique, accurate, and efficient communication services to assist government officials in the protection of life and property. 

Cape May County RACES is an affiliate of the Cape May County Emergency Management Communications Center (EMCC), Mr. Francis McCall Director, and is administered by the County Communications Officer and ARRL EC, Mr. Edward Taylor.  The group subscribes to the precepts found in the Amateur Radio, Emergency Communications Plan, Southern New Jersey Section, American Radio Relay League.

Some of our Activities

• Cape May County RACES/ARES is partnered with Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties in the South Jersey Mutual Aid Group.  

• Cape May County RACES/ARES supports the Southern New Jersey Regional Medical Coordination Center (MCC), the South Counties Emergency Radio Network (SCERN) and the Jersey Cape Emergency Repeater Net through the operation of the NJ2CM repeater.

• Cape May County RACES/ARES has a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with the Jersey Cape D-Star User Group (JCDUG) providing exclusive access to their D-Star repeaters during times of emergency or training exercises.

• Cape May County RACES/ARES operates an amateur radio station in the Emergency Operations Center of the Cape Regional Medical Center.

What Equipment is Available?

Cape May County RACES amateur radio equipment includes voice via High Frequency, 2m VHF, 1.25m VHF, 70cm UHF and 33cm UHF.  We also have an amateur television station, an APRS station with Digipeater & Igate and 2 meter & 1.25 meter WinLink RMS.  RACES 2 meter and 33 centimeter amateur repeaters are housed at the EMCC.  Our 2 meter repeater is EchoLink node 359646. There are other amateur repeaters located throughout the county should the need arise.  

What frequencies are used?

• Cape May County RACES/ARES primary communications are conducted on the 2 Meter W2CMC repeater, 147.240 Pl 146.2.  In times of emergency or potential activation Cape May County RACES/ARES operators should monitor this frequency.  In the event the W2CMC repeater is off line, operators should monitor the RACES/ARES 2 meter simplex frequency, 146.415 Pl 203.5.

Cape May County RACES Simplex Communications

•  RACES 2 meter simplex communications are conducted on 146.415 Pl 203.5.
•  RACES 70 cm simplex communications are conducted on 446.025 Pl 203.5.
•  RACES 33 cm simplex communications are conducted on 927.500 Pl 100.
•  RACES 10 m simplex communications are conducted on 28.475 USB.
•  RACES 75 m simplex to the State EOC 3.990.5 +/- 5 khz depending on QRM

Cape May County RACES Digital Simplex Communications

• RACES 2 Meter Winlink RMS W2CMC-10 145.030 @ 1200 Baud
• RACES 2 meter APRS Digipeater and Igate, W2CMC 144.390
• RACES 2 meter simplex slow speed D-Star messaging 145.070
  • D-RATS software is used: Download D-RATS here.
• RACES 70 cm simplex slow speed D-Star messaging 441.025
  • D-RATS software is used: Download D-RATS here.

Cape May County RACES Repeater Communications

•  RACES 2 m repeater W2CMC on the frequency 147.240 + Pl 146.2
  • EchoLink Node 359646 
•   RACES 33 cm repeater KC2JPP Output 927.725, Input 902.0125, Pl 146.2 

Other Cape May County Amateur Repeaters

Analog Repeaters

• 2 m repeater N2CMC on the frequency 146.610 - Pl 88.5 
  • Cape May County Amateur Radio Club Repeater - Cape May Court House
• 2 m repeater KC2KAX on the frequency 147.120 - Pl 203.5
  • East Coast Longwire Association - Avalon
• 70 cm repeater KC2JPP on the frequency 449.875 - Pl 146.2
  • KC2JPP repeater - Erma

D-STAR Digital Repeaters

• 2 m D-Star repeater on the frequency 146.775 -  RPT1 = NJ2DS C
  • Jersey Cape D-Star User Group - Cape May Court House
• 70 cm D-Star repeater on the frequency 447.475 -  RPT1 = NJ2DS B
  • Jersey Cape D-Star User Group - Cape May Court Hou
• 70 cm D-Star repeater on the frequency 440.250 + RPT1= NJ2CM B - Coming Soon
  • MCC repeater operated by SCERN and Cape May County RACES/ARES - Ocean View
• 1.2 gig D-Star repeater on the frequency 1255.3000 +  RPT1= NJ2DS A
  • Jersey Cape D-Star User Group - Cape May Court House
• 1.2 gig D-Star NJ2DS A high speed data frequency 1297.3000 simplex
  • Jersey Cape D-Star User Group - Cape May Court House
• 1.2 gig D-Star NJ2CM A high speed data frequency 1299.3000 simplex - Coming Soon
  • MCC repeater operated by SCERN and Cape May County RACES/ARES - Ocean View
• 1.2 gig D-Star NJ2CM high speed data repeater 1299.8000 simplex - In The Future
  • MCC repeater operated by SCERN and Cape May County RACES/ARES - Location TBA

Adjacent County RACES Frequencies

• Click this link for a .pdf file: Adjacent County RACES Frequencies  This file requires Adobe Reader, if you don't have it you can download it here:

RACES/ARES Go Kits

In times of emergency it may be necessary for RACES/ARES Operators to provide mutual aid in other geographic locations.  To this end we encourage our operators to maintain Go Kits.  

• The ARRL has an excellent article on Go Kits that can be found by clicking here: http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2008/08/20/10272/?nc=1

• Suggested paraphernalia for personal Go Kits for varying times of deployment can be found by clicking here:  RACES/ARES Go Kits  This file requires Adobe Reader, if you don't have it you can download it here:

Cape May Court House, NJ

UTC/GMT