SARC EMCOMM Communications Resource Availability (ICS-217)

Do you know the local EMCOMM frequencies?

Emergency communications, often shortened to EMCOMM, starts with knowing where to listen and how to reach other operators. This SARC reference helps members, visitors, new hams, and volunteers prepare their radios and ask useful questions before an exercise or assignment. SARC develops these skills through training and practice.¹

Page idea from: Joseph Barela, KB9RCR

Amateur Radio VHF / UHF
Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club (SARC)

Source review: October 19, 2026. The supplied reference is based on a November 2016 worksheet. Published information was checked; on-air operation was not tested.

Topic Snapshot

SARC EMCOMM at a glance

Item	Details
Subject	EMCOMM Communications
Purpose	Identify local radio resources, understand programming settings, and prepare for coordinated communications.
Audience	Members, visitors, new hams, the public, operators, and volunteers.
Bands	Very High Frequency (VHF), including 2 meters; Ultra High Frequency (UHF), including 70 centimeters.
Worksheet	ICS-217 / ICS-217A communications resource reference; confirm the current assignment before use.
Start here	SARC Repeater Frequencies and Connection Details and SARC Emergency Communications.
Your next step	Review your radio memories and arrange a coordinated radio check.

What Is an ICS-217 Communications Resource List?

ICS means Incident Command System. FEMA identifies the resource worksheet as ICS-217A, Communications Resource Availability Worksheet. It records channel names, eligible users, frequencies, tones, modes, and remarks. This page retains SARC’s familiar ICS-217 title and the supplied 13-channel layout.²

Next, distinguish a resource list from an assignment. An ICS-205, Incident Radio Communications Plan, identifies the channels assigned for a particular operational period. Use the current event or incident plan and the directions of net control, the operator coordinating radio traffic.³

Read These Confirmation Notes First

The original SARC worksheet is dated November 2016. The table below preserves every supplied channel, frequency, tone, mode code, and remark, including later additions. It is a reference list with unresolved items; it does not establish that every resource is currently available.⁴

Published checks and items requiring confirmation as of October 19, 2026

Channel or item	Current finding and practical action
SARC 1	SARC publishes 145.230 MHz with a minus 600 kHz offset and 107.2 Hz access tone. It lists EchoLink 575848, K9IIK-R, and AllStar 27833. These are published settings, not a live availability test.5
SARC 13	SARC publishes 442.275 MHz with a plus 5 MHz offset, 114.8 Hz analog access tone, analog FM / Yaesu System Fusion operation, and default WIRES-X room IL-K9IIK-ROOM, 40294. Its page does not confirm the supplied claim of a link to 145.230 MHz. Also, the 2016 worksheet specifies RX tone 114.8, while the supplied table says none. Confirm receive filtering and link status with SARC.54
SARC 2, 4, and 5	Coordinate any use of repeater-output talkaround on SARC 2. The original worksheet leaves the SARC 4 and 5 remarks blank; the supplied primary and secondary event labels are later additions. Confirm the event assignments with net control.4
SARC 6, 9, and 11	The Illinois Repeater Association directory supports the listed output frequencies, positive offsets, tones, and call signs. It does not establish every supplied mode or EMCOMM role. Confirm those details with the trustees.6
SARC 7	Chicago FM Club publishes 146.760 MHz, minus 600 kHz, PL 107.2, and P25 Network Access Code (NAC) 293. P25 is a digital voice mode; an analog-only radio cannot decode it. Follow the owner’s current operating guidance.7
SARC 10	The coordinator directory lists N9KNS and P25 at 443.575 MHz. MARC’s owner page, last modified in 2012, lists K9MOT and analog FM. The supplied DMR claim remains unconfirmed. Ask the trustee before relying on the call sign or digital mode.68
SARC 12	Historical identification; availability unconfirmed. The coordinator directory instead lists a nearby 442.800 MHz resource in Elk Grove Village as WW9E / EGV SATERN, 114.8 Hz, under construction. This does not establish that the historical N9EP resource remains available. Obtain trustee confirmation before including it in an operational plan.6

SARC EMCOMM Frequency Reference

All frequencies are in megahertz (MHz). Analog tone values are in hertz (Hz). The following table retains the supplied values and remarks. Apply the confirmation notes above before programming or using these resources.

How to Read and Program the Channels

A repeater receives on one frequency and retransmits on another. Simplex means radios communicate directly on the same frequency. Talkaround is direct operation that bypasses a repeater; coordinate its use so it does not interfere with repeater traffic.

• RX: Your radio’s receive frequency. For a repeater channel, this is the repeater output.
• TX: Your radio’s transmit frequency. For a repeater channel, this is the repeater input.
• TX tone: An analog access tone, also called CTCSS or PL. Set the specified tone when it is required for access.
• RX tone: An optional receive filter. Here, none means no tone decoding is specified in the supplied table; it does not prove the repeater transmits no tone. Confirm any required filtering.
• W / N: Wideband / narrowband notation. W is a bandwidth label, not a power setting in watts. Confirm the appropriate setting for the selected mode.
• A / D / M: Analog / digital / mixed mode. A mixed-mode repeater does not automatically translate every voice mode or connect every network.

For example, SARC 1 uses RX 145.2300 MHz, TX 144.6300 MHz, and TX tone 107.2 Hz for analog FM. That is a minus 0.600 MHz offset. A home station accessing the repeater uses the same subscriber frequency pair as a handheld; do not reverse it simply because the radio is installed at home.

Other abbreviations: ARES means Amateur Radio Emergency Service; CFMC means Chicago FM Club; DMR means Digital Mobile Radio; and AMS means Automatic Mode Select. Yaesu System Fusion is a digital voice system, while WIRES-X provides network linking. AllStar and EchoLink also provide internet-linked amateur radio connections. Their presence in a resource list does not establish current connectivity.

In contrast, SARC 4 has matching receive and transmit frequencies. Confirm that automatic repeater shift is disabled for a simplex memory. Also, ARRL identifies 146.520 MHz as the National Simplex Calling Frequency; that designation does not guarantee local monitoring or an answer.⁹

Original Notes and Source History

The supplied notes are retained below. Read their verification wording as source history. The dated confirmation notes above describe the checks supporting this page.

Programming clarification: The reversal wording applies to repeater-side equipment. Subscriber radios accessing that repeater retain the RX/TX settings shown, including home-installed subscriber radios. The eligible-users label records the worksheet’s intended group; it does not establish exclusive use or authorize an assignment.

Original October 2026 verification statement

Verified and updated October 2026 from the November 2016 ICS-217A source. Always confirm current status before operational use.

This wording is preserved from the supplied material. A blanket verification of every setting, link, mode, and on-air resource has not been established. The original worksheet is available as a SARC-hosted PDF; its source line identifies the ICS-217A Excel form.⁴

How to Participate

1. Start with SARC. Visit the Emergency Communications page or contact SARC to ask about training and the current channel plan.
2. Review your memories. Check frequency, offset, tone, mode, bandwidth, and channel name. Keep a backup of your existing programming.
3. Arrange a radio check. Listen first, identify appropriately, and coordinate a brief two-way check with another operator. Record the location, date, settings, and result.
4. Practice the assigned procedure. During a directed net, follow net control’s instructions. Keep messages clear and brief, and ask for clarification when needed.
5. Confirm your assignment. Obtain the current reporting instructions and channel plan before participating in an activation. Do not self-deploy.
6. Share corrections. Report discrepancies with a source and review date so the resource list can be maintained.

New to amateur radio? Bring your questions. Ask how to observe, help with logs, or learn operating procedures with an experienced club member.

Preparation and Radio-Check Flow

Confirm the plan, program the radio, and arrange a check. If contact fails, review the settings with the coordinating operator and try again. Once contact succeeds, record the result and follow your assignment.

flowchart TD
  A["Confirm the current channel plan"] --> B["Program frequency, tone and mode"]
  B --> C["Arrange a radio check"]
  C --> D{"Contact confirmed?"}
  D -->|Yes| E["Record the result and follow the assignment"]
  D -->|No| F["Review settings with the coordinating operator"]
  F --> B

What to Bring

• A radio suitable for the assigned band and mode, plus its operating guide.
• Charged batteries, a suitable antenna, and the cables your setup requires.
• A printed or offline copy of the current communications plan.
• A notebook, pencil, and any message or activity-log forms requested by the coordinator.
• Your call sign, assignment details, and current reporting instructions.

Where QSO One Fits

QSO One lists support for AllStarLink, EchoLink, and several digital voice networks, including Yaesu System Fusion (YSF) reflectors, internet-connected meeting points for compatible digital voice users. Check its official website for current platforms and setup requirements.¹⁰

For SARC, ask whether an approved internet connection method is available for the planned activity. QSO One’s listed YSF support does not establish direct access to SARC’s WIRES-X room. Application support, account access, node availability, and the event’s operating plan all need to match.

Finally, treat internet-linked access as an additional option. It depends on connectivity and supporting systems. Practice the assigned local radio path as well.

Know the Frequencies Before You Need Them

Do you know the local EMCOMM Frequencies? Review your radio, confirm the current plan, and arrange a radio check. Whether you are an experienced operator or just getting started, SARC offers a place to learn, practice, and help.

Review SARC Repeater Settings · Explore SARC Emergency Communications · Ask SARC About Participating

References

1. Emergency Communications. Publisher: Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club. ↩
2. ICS Form 217A: Communications Resource Availability Worksheet. Publisher: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). ↩
3. ICS Form 205: Incident Radio Communications Plan. Publisher: FEMA. Version 3.1. ↩
4. SARC Communications Resource Availability Worksheet: Amateur Radio VHF / UHF. Publisher: Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club. Worksheet dated November 2016; PDF hosted in the website’s August 2021 uploads directory. ↩a ↩b ↩c ↩d
5. Repeaters. Publisher: Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club. ↩a ↩b
6. Repeater Directory Listing by Frequency. Publisher: Illinois Repeater Association. Directory dated June 30, 2026; individual entry dates vary. ↩a ↩b ↩c
7. CFMC Repeaters. Publisher: Chicago FM Club. ↩
8. MARC Maintained Repeaters and Stations. Publisher: Motorola Amateur Radio Club, Illinois Chapter. Page last modified November 19, 2012; historical comparison only. ↩
9. Band Plan. Publisher: ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio. ↩
10. QSO One: Ham Radio Without the Hardware. Publisher: QSO One. ↩