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Chameleon Knowledge Base · The Complete Online HF Antenna Handbook

What Is an ARES® Organization?

Learn what the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) is and how volunteer amateur radio operators support emergency communications.

Emergency Communications EMCOMM Organizations Reviewed 2026-07-14
Short Answer: Learn what the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) is and how volunteer amateur radio operators support emergency communications.

Explanation

Overview The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) is a volunteer emergency communications program sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) . It consists of licensed amateur radio operators who train to provide communications support during emergencies, disasters, and public service events. ARES groups operate at the local, county, district, and state levels throughout the United States. Typical Activities Emergency communications. Disaster response exercises. Public service event support. Severe weather operations. Training and preparedness. Common Skills HF communications. VHF/UHF operations. Digital messaging. Incident communications. Portable station deployment. Note: ARES® is a registered service mark of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Individual participation requirements vary by local organization. Applied to Chameleon Products Portable Chameleon antenna systems are frequently used by ARES volunteers because they deploy rapidly and provide dependable multiband communications during training exercises and emergency operations. Related Articles What Is Emergency Communications (EMCOMM)? What Is RACES? Why Is HF Important During Disasters? What Is Winlink?

The exact result depends on the complete station: frequency, geometry, feed line, matching network, return-current path, environment, operating power, and the reference plane of any measurement. A low SWR establishes an impedance relationship at that point; it does not by itself prove efficiency, radiation pattern, compatibility, or safety.

What to Verify

  • Use the newest official product guide or primary service documentation.
  • Confirm the exact model, revision, components, configuration, and operating conditions.
  • Begin tests at low power and change one variable at a time.
  • Do not infer compatibility from connector or thread fit.

Learn Next

  • Antenna Selection: A Mission-First Decision Guide
  • Engineering Design Tradeoffs in Portable HF Antennas
  • Antenna Measurement Reference Planes
  • Understanding Common-Mode Current

Source note: Independently synthesized with reference to The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications, 99th edition (2022), and The ARRL Antenna Book for Radio Communications, 24th edition (2019). Verify changing regulations, services, software, specifications, availability, and safety requirements against current primary sources.