Welcome to the Southern New Jersey Amateur Radio Emergency Communications web site!

Amateur Radio is a critical component in Homeland Defense and Disaster response. This site will provide an overview on how Amateur Radio is organized to provide these emergency communications services in the nine counties of Southern New Jersey.

 

Amateur Radio Operators interested in participating in such activities and agencies requesting such services should contact their County Emergency Coordinator.  These are listed here:

Why ham radio is valuable during emergencies

  Unlike cellphones or landlines which are easily overloaded or disrupted, Amateur radio has several advantages during emergencies:

	Radio transmissions can be heard by an unlimited number of receivers, so  information intended for a group can be sent quickly.
	A large reserve of experienced hams -- each with their own radios -- can quickly establish supplementary communication networks on the ham frequencies.
	Ham operators can prove a common link for agencies who normally operate on disparate frequencies.
	A large number of ham frequencies allow a large number of separate information channels.
	Ham radios operate on batteries, so they can operate from most field locations or when street power is lost.
	Existing ham voice repeaters extend the area of ham coverage far beyond most police or fire radio systems.
	Information can also be sent in digital form when privacy or volume are a  concern.
	Ham television can quickly provide live images from field sites.