Amateur Radio Organizations

Central indiana amateur radio association (CIARA) N9EOC

CIARA is an Indiana not-for-profit corporation established in 1991 to provide public service communication, increase public awareness of amateur radio, encourage courteous and lawful use of amateur radio, to work with similar agencies, assist people interested in obtaining an amateur radio license, and promote fellowship in the amateur radio community. Membership in CIARA is open to any person interested in amateur radio.

CIARA works with Hamilton County RACES, Hamilton County Emergency Management, Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) other area radio clubs, and community organizations such as SKYWARN, the American Radio Relay League, the Good Samaritan Network, Sam Costa Marathon, and Carmel Marathon.

Meetings are held at 0900 on the first Saturday of the month at Firestation 76, 16800 Hazel Dell Rd, Noblesville, IN 46062. You do not need to be a member to attend a meeting. 

Contact: ciara.n9eoc@gmail.com


PIGLET RADIO INC. (THE PIGLETS) N9BCN

Piglet Radio is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded in 2022 by a small group of hams that wanted to do more with radio, together. Thus, N9BCN (N9-BACON) was born. Since then the club has grown to 30+ members of all ages and backgrounds throughout the community. The Piglets host monthly foxhunts, quarterly workshops, "Intro to Amateur Radio" presentations at Carmel Clay Library, they work with local Emergency Management and many volunteer at Dayton Hamvention! Meetings are the third Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are at Wolfies Grill, 1162 Keystone Way, Carmel, IN 46032. You do not need to be a member to attend.

If you'd like to join in on some amateur radio discussion, feel free to join the Piglet Discord. Are you a newcomer? You will find many people eager to help and talk radio. 

Contact: admin@pigletradio.org

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES (ARES)

Amateur radio operators use their training, skills, and equipment to provide communications during emergencies When All Else Fails®.  Hams serve our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers, and wired and wireless networks. Amateur radio can function completely independently of the internet and phone systems. An amateur radio station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. Hams can quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and power source, and communicate effectively with others. 

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.

For more information on the Hamilton County ARES group or to volunteer with ARES, please visit their website

RADIO AMATEURS CIVIL EMERGENCY SERVICE (RACES)

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is an amateur radio service of amateur radio operators who volunteer for Hamilton County Emergency Management under their Communications team. Their purpose is to provide tactical emergency support radio communications to local government in times of emergency, and to supplement, augment or replace radio communications wherever and whenever needed.

RACES was created in 1952, by the federal government, as an official program through which amateur radio operators could serve the government in an emergency situation. Since then, the RACES program has enabled amateur radio operators to perform varied emergency communications functions as an important supplement Emergency Management communications systems.

RACES is governed by Part 97, subpart E, of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and Regulations.

RACES is called upon by Emergency Management when communication services are deemed necessary for response. They are activated in accordance with an approved Emergency Management communications plan in any emergency concerning:

Natural disasters often cripple or destroy communications facilities and equipment. RACES members are often asked to handle messages for police, fire, public welfare, public utilities, and other emergency services during emergencies.

For more information on joining Hamilton County RACES, please reach out to KJ9M, Joe March at joe.march@hamiltoncounty.in.gov

For information on additional volunteer opportunities with HCEM, please contact the Community Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator, N9MRP, Monica Peterson: monica.peterson@hamiltoncounty.in.gov