Florida Non-Profit, 501(C)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization
BE A PART OF OUR TEAM
Do you want to be a part of a dedicated team of licensed amateur radio operators who volunteer their time to serve their communities in Sumter County? Call or email us today to learn how you can be a part of our critically important team. Click here to learn how you can be a member of our team.
Lake Panasoffkee Annual Christmas Parade
In partnership with the Hog County Amateur Radio Association and the Red Oaks Amateur Radio Group, Sumter County ARES will again be participating in amateur radio support for the annual Lake Panasoffkee Christmas Parade, which is scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2025. We are seeking assistance from licensed amateur radio operators who would like to volunteer their time for this annual event. For more information or to signup as a volunteer, please email Gene King (KI4LEH), the President of the Hog County Amateur Radio Association and the Sumter County ARES Planning Section Chief, at K4HOGFL@gmail.com.
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Schedule
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0900 ET: Volunteer amateur radio operators will start to arrive.
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0915 ET: All volunteers will attend a pre-event briefing in front of the Stardust Lounge.
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0930 ET: Volunteers will be at their assigned location/post and be ready to assist.
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1045 ET: All Parade Participants are either in their places or asked to join at the end of the parade.
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1100 ET: The parade will commence at 11:00 PM ET sharp and move south along County Road 470.
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1230 ET: By this time, the Parade should have concluded and disbursement underway or completed.
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1330 ET: By this time all volunteers should have been released from their assignments.
What to Bring
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Wear clothing that is professional in appearance and appropriate for the weather. Each volunteer will be issued a high-visibility ARES vest for safety and to be easily recognized as event staff. Vests must be returned following the event.
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Handheld amateur radio (HT) with the frequencies that are listed in the Communications section below. These frequencies should be programmed into the radio in advance.
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If you are assigned a static post, such as along the parade route, and standing for long periods of time is a physical challenge for you, consider bringing a chair.
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Although food and drink will be available at the event, you may want to consider bringing your own snack and drink.
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Communications
The Sumter County ARES EmComm trailer will be setup for this event and its UHF mobile repeater will be used for primary communiactions, (Communications Plan - A). In the event this repeater fails, the K4HOG repeater will be used, (Communications Plan - B). Please see below the frequencies for these two repeaters.
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Communications Plan - A (Primary)
The KS4SCA mobile repeater will be used for primary communications:
RX (You Receive) frequency: 441.900 MHz
TX (You Transmit) frequency: 446.900 MHz
PL Tone: 123.0 Hz
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Communications Plan - B (Contingency)
The K4HOG repeater will be used for backup communications:
RX (You Receive) frequency: 147.030 MHz
TX (You Transmit) frequency: 147.630 MHz
PL Tone: 123.0 Hz
To facilitate the frequent unit-to-unit communications, there WILL NOT be a Directed Net for this event. Units should use their tactical call signs which will be provided to you in advance.
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IMPORTANT: Speak clearly and slowly, keeping your message brief and to the point. Remember to key the microphone and wait 2 seconds before speaking. To avoid clipping off the end of your message, wait 2 seconds after you have stopped talking before unkeying the microphone.
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Please​ have these frequencies and access tone programmed into your radio and tested for operability in advance.