SYSTEM DESCRIPTION: The Kentucky Department of Military Affairs Radio System (DMARCS) is a statewide VHF High Band Two Way Radio System designed and operated to provide Direction and Control (Command and Control) communications from any location statewide back to the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  The system uses frequencies licensed and awarded by the US Army and the Department of Defense. 

DMARCS consists of 53 repeaters statewide organized into 13 Communications Zones and interconnected by the KEWS Microwave Network.  KYEM consolidated their operating Regions from 13 to 11 effective 01 September 2009 in reponse to a state government mandate to cut costs. The original 13 Communications Zones appear to be intact and provide 95% mobile radio coverage statewide.

DMARCS was upgraded during 2007 to an APCO 25 Digital Multicast encrypted two-way radio system.  DMARCS depends on the KEWS network.  To provide emergency communications with the loss of all or part of the KEWS network, all DMARCS VHF Repeaters default to repeater mode allowing for local communications around the repeater. 

In addition to the 53 statewide repeaters, DMARCS includes VHF Base Stations at 52 Armories and KYEM Area Offices.  All of these sites have or have access to full time emergency power. 

To support a New Madrid Earthquake scenario, DMA has worked to create portable point to point VHF links to replace the loss of portions of the KEWS network between Elizabethtown and Wendell H Ford Regional Training Center (WHFRTC) near Greenville, KY and between WHFRTC and far Western KY.  DMA and KYEM have successfully tested the use of airborne portable repeaters to conduct voice communications between the EOC and far Western Kentucky.  Exercising has identified the need for a 100’+ portable tower for reliable voice communications between WHFRTC and Paducah. 

DMARCS can also be augmented with several portable VHF Analog and digital portable repeaters that are easily transportable.  All DMARCS portable and mobile radios are programmed with the state mutual aid channels.

REPEATERS ARE LISTED BY EMA DISTRICT RATHER THAN COMMUNICATIONS ZONE.

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> System can be keyed to talk directly to the Emergency Operations Center in Frankfort or to use each repeater locally.

> Kentucky Civil Air Patrol has capability to utilize this system

> All licenses for the former Disaster and Emergency Services VHF-Low system have been terminated and the system has been dismantled.

> Unless a specific area is to be monitored, it is recommended that NO NAC be programmed into the scanner load in order to monitor the entire system.