They are Knox County’s amateur voice on the airwaves. This dedicated group of radio enthusiasts has been quietly helping to shape the region’s communication landscape for decades.
The Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club, known by its call sign K8EEN, is more than just a hobbyist group — it’s a vital community resource, a hub for technical learning, and a beacon of public service.
Founded in the mid-20th century, MVARC has been affiliated with the American Radio Relay League since September 1958, making it one of the longest-standing amateur radio clubs in the region. As an ARRL Special Service Club, MVARC has consistently demonstrated excellence in public service, emergency preparedness, technical advancement, and education.
From its inception, the club has been committed to promoting amateur radio as both a scientific pursuit and a community service. Over the years, it has grown into the largest group of licensed amateur radio operators in Knox County, with a membership that includes 47 individuals — 46 of whom are licensed voting members.
MVARC’s mission extends far beyond the airwaves. The club plays a critical role in emergency communications, working closely with local agencies and the Knox County Amateur Radio Emergency Service. In times of disaster or public need, MVARC members volunteer their time, equipment, and expertise to ensure reliable communication when traditional systems may fail.
The club also supports Skywarn, a program developed by the National Weather Service that relies on trained amateur radio operators to report severe weather conditions in real time. This collaboration enhances public safety and provides crucial data during storms and other emergencies.
At the core of MVARC’s technical operations are its two repeaters, both located just north of Mount Vernon on State Route 3. The primary repeater operates on 146.790 MHz with a PL tone of 71.9 Hz, while the secondary repeater runs on 444.600 MHz (+5 MHz offset, also with a PL tone of 71.9 Hz). These repeaters serve as the backbone of local amateur radio communication, enabling operators to connect across the county and beyond.
"We keep those up and running for anybody who wants to use them,” said MVARC President Frank Counts, whose amateur radio call sign is KC8EVS. “They’re there, if you have a license, and if you want to use them. Repeaters are falling behind, technologically, because of things like cell phones, but when the cell systems fail to work, repeater systems will.”
MVARC members are active in a wide range of radio specialties. Among these are contest operations, where members participate in national and international competitions to hone their skills. Some members are active in digital modes and DXing, exploring advanced digital communication methods and long-distance contacts. MVARC provides communication support for local races, parades, and community gatherings. Perhaps the club’s most important function is staying prepared for emergencies. They conduct drills and simulations to stay ready for real-world scenarios.
“We have winter field day and that comes up on the last weekend in January,” said Counts. “It will be held in one of our member’s homes, in their garage, which heated — nice and warm.”
Of course, summer field day traditionally takes place on the fourth weekend of June.
“We have a couple of things that we do before that, but those two field days are the big ones for us,” said Counts.
"When Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) calls for a disaster drill, we prepare to provide communication, within the county,” said Counts. “In an actual emergency, we could be the link between Red Cross shelters, the county, and the Emergency Management Agency (EMA). The last one that I participated in was at the Kokosing and I believe they had some kind of gas leak or something. One of us was positioned right there with the fire department, and we were relaying some of their orders back to the EMA office, as far as what road closures were happening and stuff like that. That way, the EMA could disseminate that out to whomever needed to know. Another one that I was involved in was some kind of spill that happened on the west side of town. During that one I believe they cordoned off the area and there was one of us that was there, helping to send information back to the EMA office. We can do that easily, using our repeater and a lot of times, we can talk directly to the local EMA office which is right up near the sheriff's department.”
MVARC is also prepared for floods.
“In 1998, we had a flood here and the Kokosing was way over its banks,” said Counts. “I know that some of the trailer courts that were down close to the river had to evacuate. I spent the night at the Nazarene college, in one of the buildings, just communicating between Red Cross shelters."
Counts was working with his fellow members, gathering information about what shelters were open and how many spaces each had, and making sure that everyone, who was evacuated, was accounted for.
"That wasn't a drill or anything,” said Counts. “I was newly licensed in 1996. I got put there because I had a handheld radio, and I lived pretty close to the place.”
The police department in Mount Vernon has been using MARCS radio systems, which use the internet and cannot be listened to by civilians or unauthorized personnel.
"The only problem with that is, MARCS is partially dependent on the internet and, if the internet goes out, you're out of luck. Also, there are places where MARCS radio still doesn't work, but they've improved that system a lot. Still, they have some problems with it and we kind of like to be there to back them up if problems occur. That's what's important about our group. It’s important for us to be there, because, if the MARCS systems fail, our system will work, because it's not dependent upon the internet. Our repeaters all have backups. They can stay running for quite a while when the power goes off. Many of our home stations have some kind of power back up. My own home station runs for quite a long time. My power is backed up by solar with battery backup. My power could probably last five days without Sun. Many of the other members have home generators to back up their power. Our repeaters can go for 24 hours without anything but there's an emergency generator that will kick in if needed.”
One of MVARC’s most impactful contributions is its commitment to education and mentorship. The club regularly offers entry-level and advanced amateur licensing classes, helping newcomers earn their amateur radio licenses and encouraging lifelong learning among seasoned operators.
Monthly meetings, held on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Academy Building on Fairgrounds Road, are open to the public and feature presentations on technical topics, equipment demonstrations, and collaborative discussions. These gatherings foster a welcoming environment where members can share knowledge, troubleshoot issues, and build lasting friendships.
"We have classes three times a year that will help you to obtain your license and we have a really high success rate with people taking these classes and getting their license,” said Counts. “We do one in the fall for technician class. We also do another one in the spring for technician class. During the summer, we do a class for general license."
The morse code requirement has been dropped from all license classes. You can go all the way up to general and extra class and not have to worry about learning the dots and dashes.
“Even though they dropped the morse code requirement, there are probably more people using morse code than there ever was,” said Counts. “The reason being, is that morse code (also known as CW) is easier to use and communicate with, when there's lots of static and noise. It is often easier to work with instead of using voice communication over the upper and lower side band frequencies."
Whether you're a seasoned ham operator or simply curious about the world of radio, MVARC offers a welcoming and a place to learn, connect, and contribute. The club’s inclusive atmosphere and diverse range of activities make it an ideal entry point for anyone interested in electronics, communication, or public service.
Although he is president of the MVARC, Counts admits that he is no electronics techno-whiz. He wanted to be a part of amateur radio from a young age, but life and family came first.
"I was always interested in amateur radio, from when I was in high school,” said Counts. “I built a Heathkit radio back in the 1970s. Back then, it was quite an ordeal to get your amateur license. Then, I went to college. I got married. Then, I got started working and with kids coming along, there just wasn't time for a hobby like radio. In 1996, we were homeschooling, and one of the projects we took on, my oldest son (Ian) and I, both worked on getting our amateur radio license and going through that whole process, so we went over and took the test in Westerville, over at Otterbein College. Both of us passed and got our license. So, basically that's how I got started."
While Counts was gradually diving into the hobby of amateur radio, the pace of his son’s life began to pick up.
“Ian went off to college, he got busy with his life, and he let his license lapse. Probably a year or two after that, I worked with my wife and our two daughters. They got their licenses, which they let lapse but, my two daughters did it as sort of a homeschool project.
As Counts got further into his amateur radio hobby, his family grew. He and his wife adopted a girl from Columbus. A year later, they adopted two children from Russia while they're on a missionary trip.
"Well, that sort of kept me busy for the 2000s, but when I retired in 2010, I started picking up on doing some other things. That's just the way life went."
MVARC also maintains an active online presence through its website, MVARC.net, where visitors can find information about upcoming events, licensing resources, repeater details, and more.
As technology continues to evolve, so too does amateur radio. MVARC is embracing new digital modes, integrating internet-linked systems like EchoLink and DMR, and exploring the role of amateur radio in modern emergency response frameworks. Yet, at its core, the club remains grounded in the values that have guided it for over six decades: service, education, and community.
In an age where communication is often taken for granted, the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club stands as a reminder of the power of human connection — through the static, across the miles, and in service to others.
If you are looking to get your Ham license, or If you have your license and you want to learn more about the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club, please visit https://mvarc.net. You can also visit the MVARC Facebook page.
