An Introduction to AmRRon by KØVAB
In the early 2000’s, as I surveyed the situation in worldwide Geo-politics and the fragile economic systems, it became apparent to me it might be a good idea to become more prepared for an uncertain future. I spent considerable time and effort in beefing up my own preps with storable food, water, medical supplies, emergency gear, and guns and ammo.
It wasn’t too long before I recognized one of my prepping weaknesses was in the area of EMCOMM (emergency communications).
I felt it might be important to have more situational awareness with a communication plan in case the electrical grid were to fail knocking out cell towers and more. I bought a short wave radio (Kaito KA600 Solar/Crank AM/FM/SW NOAA Weather Radio) but learned pretty quick that wouldn’t quite cut it for a real communications plan. It was a great little weather radio with multiple power options and I could hear distant stations on short wave, but couldn’t reach out and interact with anyone.
So, in 2017 I decided to get my ham radio license so I could operate a more powerful radio. I began studying for my ham license and passed the test for my FCC Technician license (KØVAB) late in the year. I had a great time talking on the VHF/UHF frequencies permitted with my Technician license to nearby hams and talking a little further using local repeaters, but it wasn’t long before I wanted to improve my signal and get out a little further.
In case of disaster, while local and regional communications would be good for my situational awareness, to get a bigger picture of what might be going on across the country and globally, HF communications would be necessary. I spent the next month learning everything I could about ham radios, emergency communications strategies, and poured over YouTube videos while studying for my FCC General exam which I passed in Dec. 2017.
My attention then turned to learning more about organizations that might help me become a more effective radio communicator in case of disaster. I became involved with Butler County CERT and SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network) while investigating other EMCOMM organizations like RACES and ARES. These groups were structurally associated with national leadership and oversight by FEMA and other government agencies. That’s fine and I wanted to know how those groups communicated, but I was particularly attracted to a more prepper and patriot oriented group not affiliated with the government.
That’s when I discovered AmRRon (American Redoubt Radio Operators Network), a nationwide emergency communications network of preppers and patriots. The following video presents the history of AmRRon, our values, what we do, and how you can become involved.
As I learned more about AmRRon and discovered many shared values, I joined as a free member at first and later upgraded to become a Corps member.
AmRRon national conducts monthly HF and digital training nets, a weekly AIB (AmRRon Intelligence Brief) digital net, quarterly exercises in emergency comms, and the annual T-REX exercise where all that we learn can be put into practice.
While AmRRon has interoperability with other preparedness and patriot networks nationally on HF, there was no local presence for AmRRon. In 2019, fellow AmRRon member Matt (Mike Bravo 11) began a local 2 meter net once a month. Working with Matt, the net was expanded to a weekly net with shared NCS (net control station) duties.
Our meager group grew over the following months and we planned activities outside the on-air net.
Our local AmRRon group has met together to test antennas and portable radio equipment, and we participated recently with the WØVFW Post 3115 Amateur Radio Club in activating a POTA (Parks on the Air) event at Cheney State Park.
As our group continued to grow and because many members did not have HF capability we felt we needed some kind of “local” structure and communications plan to deal with a disaster. Working from the national S.O.I. (Signals Operation Instructions), we created a localized S.O.I. providing a communications plan for VHF/HF operators in Wichita and Sedgwick County.
In the 2021 T-Rex exercise, our Wichita/Sedgwick County AmRRon team successfully went on the air with 5 scheduled 2 meter nets (146.420 MHz) accepting local STATREPs (status reports) and sharing national SITREPs (situation reports)received on HF bands. Local AmRRon radio operators were on the air for over 30 hours over the three days of the exercise taking approximately 52 check-ins.
Wichita/Sedgwick County 2-meter Net
I am co-NCS for the Wichita/Sedgwick County AmRRon 2-meter net on Saturday evenings at 9:00 p.m. on simplex 146.420 Mhz. where we discuss prepper and EmComm topics. Participation in the net is not restricted only to AmRRon members, but everyone interested in being prepared with emergency communications is welcome.
While those living in Butler County may not be able to reach the local net on the simplex frequency, there are operators standing by willing to relay you in. We are also looking at other alternatives such as Echolink and Allstar to expand our reach.
More About AmRRon
Following is another good introduction to AmRRon presented by our founder John Jacob Schmidt. In it, you’ll learn the role AmRRon took during the Coronavirus pandemic and how AmRRon provides a standardized communications plan to link hams and non-hams with like-minded preppers and patriots with members in every state and Canada.
The following full-length COMMS UP! video first appeared during the Survival Summit in February, 2014. This is an overview of AmRRON showing how it is intended to be practically implemented. The movie documents the importance of a good communications plan before, during, and after a social economic collapse or other disaster. It introduces AmRRON and The Channel 3 Project from Radio Free Redoubt.
If you want to learn more about AmRRon and perhaps become a member, visit https://www.amrron.com and click on the Join link. You can join FREE or as a paid Corps member. Corps membership includes access to the AmRRON Corps website, AmRRON Corps Forum, Digital copy of the S.O.I. and a 15% discount code for the American Redoubt Gear Store.
Once you’ve joined (Free or Paid) and have your AmRRon call sign, let me know by email or phone or otherwise and I’ll add you to the Wichita/Sedgwick County AmRRon membership roll and email contact list.
