Benton County
By the numbers: about 8,729 residents (2023 U.S. Census estimate) · 18 licensed amateur radio operators — 12 Technician, 5 General, 1 Extra · 1 licensed club station (FCC licenses, by ZIP).
Since 2000: 9 licensed operators at the end of 2000, 18 today. Rebuilt from FCC license records, counting each licensee at their current address, so earlier years are approximate. Indiana licensing trends
Ham Radio Clubs
- West Central Indiana Amateur Radio (WC9IN): wc9in.net | WC9INRadio@gmail.com | Facebook
Dues: a minimum of $25.00 per year to be considered a supporting member. How to join · Officers
As the club publishes it at wc9in.net, checked September 27, 2026.
Net: West Central Indiana Amateur Radio Sunday Night Net (Sunday, 8:00 PM ET (1st & 3rd Sundays), WC9IN linked system: 444.725 MHz (+5, PL 173.8) West Lafayette, 444.825 MHz (+5, PL 173.8) Fowler, 443.675 MHz (+5, PL 88.5) Attica; AllStar node 626480, EchoLink WC9IN-R, FM). All nets
Regional non-profit serving Benton County; operates the 444.825 MHz (+, PL 173.8) repeater in Fowler.
Repeater(s): 444.825 MHz (+, PL 173.8) FM, Fowler; 444.725 MHz (+, PL 173.8) FM, West Lafayette; 146.955 MHz (−0.6, PL 131.8) FM, Galveston; 147.045 MHz (+0.6, PL 173.8) FM, Frankfort; 442.525 MHz (+, PL 131.8) FM, Russiaville; 442.575 MHz (+, PL 173.8) FM, Frankfort; 443.675 MHz (+, PL 88.5) FM, Attica; 145.390 MHz (−0.6, PL 118.8) FM, Linton
Repeaters
1 amateur radio repeater is located in Benton County on the 2m band. Machines in bordering counties are often reachable too — see the full directory. A dash means we don’t have that detail on file; check with the sponsoring club before you rely on it.
| Frequency | Offset | Tone | Mode | Location | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 147.36 | +0.6 | 131.8 | FM/Fusion | Oxford | WQ9P |
Unconfirmed listings
This machine is listed on ARTSCIPUB, a user-submitted directory, and nowhere else we can find — not in the Indiana Repeater Council’s records and not on a club’s own page. A listing may be years out of date, so treat each one as unconfirmed. Know one is on the air, gone, or different? Let us know, or have the sponsoring club say so on its website.
| Frequency | Offset | Tone | Location | Call | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 224.52 | -1.6 | — | Fowler | WA9TCL | Unconfirmed — listed on ARTSCIPUB only |
View Benton County on RepeaterBookBrowse all Indiana repeaters
Emergency Communications
Benton County is part of Indiana ARES District 4 (which mirrors IDHS District 4). Learn how amateur radio supports emergencies in Indiana — ARES, RACES, and Skywarn — on our EmComm page.
County emergency management
Benton County's emergency management agency plans for disasters and coordinates the local response. For current contact information, visit the Benton County emergency management website.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security keeps a directory of every county's agency: IDHS county EMA directory (website link as listed there on October 26, 2026).
ARES
Benton County is in Indiana ARES District 4. The ARRL Indiana Section's monthly report notes whether each ARES leadership position is filled or vacant.
- County Emergency Coordinator: vacant, according to the October 2025 report.
- District 4 Emergency Coordinator: vacant, according to the October 2025 report.
To join ARES in Benton County or ask about volunteering as its Emergency Coordinator, find current Section leadership contacts on the ARRL Indiana Section page and the Section's emergency communications page. The ARRL also explains how ARES works.
Role status from Indiana Section News (latest issue June 2026), checked October 27, 2026. Each line uses the most recent report that mentions the position.
RACES and AUXCOMM
- Licensed amateurs anywhere in Indiana can volunteer with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security's auxiliary communications team: about IDHS AUXCOMM · volunteer interest form
Skywarn spotter training
Benton County's spotter training comes from the NWS Chicago office. Spring spotter classes are usually offered online; the schedule is on the page. NWS Chicago spotter training
The information on this page may not be fully up to date. If you notice anything incorrect or missing, please email campbell@indianahamradio.com with the correction. Club officers: email the same address with your club's meeting, net, event or website changes, and we will update this page.
National Weather Service office
Severe-weather watches and warnings for Benton County come from National Weather Service Chicago, IL. Local radar: station KLOT.
Nets
No net is listed as meeting in Benton County, but nets in the surrounding counties are very likely in range — a repeater does not stop at the county line. See the nets near Benton County, searchable by ZIP code and distance, along with the statewide HF nets.
📅 Put this county in your calendar.indianahamradio.com/calendars/benton.ics is a subscribable calendar of Benton County’s nets, hamfests and exam sessions — subscribe once in Google, Apple or Outlook and it stays current on its own. Clubs without a calendar are welcome to hand it to their members as theirs.
Nearby counties
Benton County borders 5 other counties. Repeaters and clubs just across the line are usually well within range, so it is worth checking them too:
Everything on this page as JSON: /data/counties/benton.json · about the data