The Butler County VHF Association applied for and received a grant to purchase the Yeasu FT-1000 Mark V, power supply and matching speaker. That operator position controls the rotor which has a 11 element 10-15 and 20 meter beam. The radio also has a MFJ keyer, dual headset, computer interface and logging software, and a ICOM-2800 VHF radio for local net operation.

To the right of the radio room door is the Yaesu FT-990 station. This station is setup to operate digital communications with a West Mountain sound card interface. It has a ICOM 2800 VHF tranceiver for local nets and computer interface to the radio with logging software. This radio utilizes a pair of verticle 80 meter ham sticks to work the digital modes and to check into the Ohio Single Sideband Net on 80 meters. It does work well on 20-40 and 80 in both voice and digital modes wit hte existing antenna system.

The third operator position has a Kenwood TM-D700A dual band radio with computer interface to assist with programming the radio, APRS and PACKET operation. The metal case has a FT-100D, tuner, external speaker and power supply set up as a "Grab & Go" kit with a G5RV for 10 thru 160 and dual band magnet mount for 144-440.

A fourth computer station has high speed internet access, FAX machine, printer, scanner combination, weather alert radio and a map of the county that allows the ARES group a means of tracking operator locations, roads closed and other emergency/disaster related information.

The Butler County VHF Association has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Butler County Amateur Radio Emergency Services team. The agreement allows ARES to utilize the club station as an Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Center for emergencies within Butler County and on occassion, to relay traffic from outside of Butler County as part of the National Traffic System and Emergency Communications response to disasters.

UPDATE Major changes for the ARECC: Upgrading the VHF-UHF antenna systems to 4 tri-band antennas Adding additional hardline via a new 4" conduit being installed by school maintenance Installation of a heavy duty upper support bracket for the tower that will be bolted to the building steel support structure Adding 20 more feet to the Rohn 45G tower (more verticle space for VHF-UHF antennas) Adding a 10-160 wire dipole antenna - center fed from the tower to north on the building Antenna changes will allow operation on 50-54, 144-148, 220-225, 432-449, 902-911 and 1.2 GHz. The 147.330 repeater located at the school will be DC wire tone remote controlled which will allow the VHF radio used now for access to the repeater, to be used for other repeaters.