Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club

Lore & Background

The Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club traces its current form to 1945, though earlier amateur radio activity in Omaha is suggested anecdotally. The club played a critical role in the response to the 1975 tornado that struck Omaha, leading the city to build a new emergency operations center. In recognition of that role, the club received a $10,000 grant from the City of Omaha to outfit a communications room with amateur radio equipment. Over the years, that room has expanded to include two HF capable radios, four VHF/UHF stations, packet radio, APRS, Amateur Television, and most recently D-STAR.

The club supports the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and encourages member participation in the Douglas County ARES organization, which works with the Douglas County Emergency Management Agency and the Omaha Metro Medical Response System (OMMRS). ARES members are trained weather spotters under the National Weather Service's SKYWARN Program. The AARC hosts ARES activities on its KØUSA 146.940 repeater, and Douglas County ARES holds weekly training and information nets on Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. using that repeater.

The club owns a variety of antennas, radios, and generators available for deployment to assist with communication needs. Equipment stores are tested annually during the ARRL's Field Day, which also helps members learn skills for operating away from home when normal lines of communication fail.

Reader's Guide

The Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club's significance lies in its long-standing role as a hub for amateur radio in Omaha and its consistent support of emergency and public-service communications. Since its founding in 1945, the club has maintained ARRL affiliation and has grown to encompass nearly every aspect of ham radio, from DXing to digital modes like packet radio, D-STAR, and high-speed multimedia radio (HSMM). Its membership spans newcomers to experienced operators, fostering knowledge sharing through monthly meetings and on-air nets.

The club's legacy is particularly tied to disaster response. After the 1975 tornado, the club's critical role led to a city grant that established a dedicated communications room, which has since been upgraded with multiple radio systems. The AARC continues to support Douglas County ARES, SKYWARN, and OMMRS activations, providing free communications support for events such as the MS Walk, Corporate Cup, and Nebraska State Track Meet. The club also hosts licensing classes, VE testing, transmitter hunts, and public education events like the Omaha Safety Expo. Its annual Field Day participation tests equipment and builds operator skills for emergency scenarios. The club's equipment—antennas, radios, and generators—is available for deployment, reinforcing its commitment to being a reliable communications resource when normal infrastructure is overloaded or fails.

Did You Know?

• The club received a $10,000 grant from the City of Omaha after the 1975 tornado to outfit a communications room.
• The AARC is not affiliated with The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben.
• The club's communications room now includes two HF radios, four VHF/UHF stations, packet radio, APRS, Amateur Television, and D-STAR.
• Douglas County ARES holds weekly training nets on Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. using the club's KØUSA repeater.

Origins and Institutional Identity

Anecdotal traces suggest that amateur radio enthusiasts in Omaha were gathering even before the Second World War, but the organization that carries the name today was formally established in 1945. From its very first year, the Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club has maintained an affiliation with the American Radio Relay League, a connection that has endured for nearly eight decades. One point of frequent clarification is the club's name: despite sharing the "Ak-Sar-Ben" designation, the AARC has no organizational tie to the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, a separate fraternal body. The club operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a status that underscores its community-service orientation. Its identity is rooted less in a single technical discipline than in a broad, inclusive culture that welcomes operators at every stage of their amateur radio journey, from those who have just earned their first license to veterans who have spent decades refining their craft on the bands.

The 1975 Tornado and a Legacy of Emergency Readiness

The defining moment in the club's public life came in the aftermath of the devastating 1975 tornado that struck Omaha. The AARC's members played a critical role in the disaster response, and in recognition of that service, the City of Omaha awarded the club a $10,000 grant to outfit a dedicated communications room with amateur radio equipment. That room has grown steadily over the years, now housing two HF-capable radios, four VHF/UHF stations, packet radio, APRS, Amateur Television, and D-STAR. The club's emergency mission extends well beyond that single room. It actively supports the Amateur Radio Emergency Services and encourages members to join the Douglas County ARES organization, which works alongside the Douglas County Emergency Management Agency and the Omaha Metro Medical Response System. ARES members also serve as trained weather spotters under the National Weather Service's SKYWARN Program. The club maintains a stock of antennas, radios, and generators ready for deployment, and it tests that equipment annually during the ARRL Field Day, ensuring operators can quickly re-establish communications away from their home stations when normal lines fail.

Communications Support for the Omaha Community

Beyond emergency services, the AARC provides free communications support to a remarkably wide array of community events. These range from the MS Walk and the CROP Walk to the Market-To-Market Relay Race, the Nebraska State Track Meet, Omaha Cycling Weekend, the Dave Babcook Memorial Bike Race, and the Corporate Cup. The club also supports the Strategic Air and Space Museum's Indoor Air Show, the Museum Ships Weekend, and public education events such as the Omaha Safety Expo. Several additional activations—including the Annual Visual Siren Inspection, SKYWARN Activations, OMMRS Activations, and the Offutt Air Force Base MARE Drill—are coordinated by Douglas County ARES with the AARC providing supporting communications. A notable principle governs all of this: in accordance with FCC regulations under Title 47 CFR Part 97, the club's services are offered entirely free of charge. Although the AARC holds 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, no donation is ever requested or expected for its communications support, reinforcing the idea that amateur radio exists to serve the public good.

Meeting Rhythms, Technical Breadth, and Member Development

The AARC's weekly and monthly rhythms give members multiple ways to stay connected. In-person gatherings take place on the second Friday of each month at the Heartland Chapterhouse of the American Red Cross on South 80th Avenue in Omaha. Between those meetings, members gather "on the air" every Monday evening at 9:00 p.m. on the club's KØUSA 2-meter repeater, operating at 146.940 MHz with a negative offset. The technical interests represented within the membership span an impressive spectrum: from traditional DXing to digital modes like packet radio and D-STAR, all the way to high-speed multimedia radio. The club also invests heavily in member development, offering licensing classes, VE testing sessions, transmitter hunts, and an annual ARRL Field Day that challenges operators to get their stations on the air away from home. Additional activities include the Jamboree-On-The-Air, a flea market, social events, and the ARRL National Parks on the Air program, which the club participated in during 2017. Douglas County ARES further holds weekly training and information nets on Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. using the same KØUSA repeater.