South County ARES

100-watt UHF repeater (444.500+ PL100) and a 6-meter repeater (53.68- PL114.8) are owned and maintained by South County ARES to support emergency communications for Belmont, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Menlo Park/Atherton, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, and Woodside/Portola Valley. The organization emphasizes training, including weekly nets and practice sessions, to improve message passing accuracy and brevity, crucial skills for emergency communication. Resources like the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Ham Radio Frequency Plan Recommendation and Chirp-compatible CSV files for Baofeng radios are provided.

Participation in community events is encouraged to build skills and connections among members. The group operates without collecting dues, relying on donations and member contributions of time and expertise. Training pages are available for new hams and those seeking license upgrades, along with a "Tips for New Hams" section. The site also features a monthly calendar of events, including board meetings, general meetings, and hospital nets, alongside a newsletter, the "South County Communicator," and various operational documents like the Net Control Manual and SCARES Handbook.