Dearborn County
By the numbers: about 51,215 residents (2023 U.S. Census estimate) · 126 licensed amateur radio operators — 63 Technician, 27 General, 2 Advanced, 33 Extra, 1 Novice · 1 licensed club station · 11 more licenses in the FCC's two-year renewal grace period (FCC licenses, by ZIP).
Since 2000: 103 licensed operators at the end of 2000, 126 today (high of 137 in 2012). Rebuilt from FCC license records, counting each licensee at their current address, so earlier years are approximate. Indiana licensing trends
Ham Radio Clubs
- Laughery Valley Amateur Radio Club | Facebook | lvarc.org
Meetings: 1st Thursday monthly at 7:30 PM — Dearborn County EMA, 401 W High St, Lawrenceburg, INAll Hams are welcome as well as interested guests.
As the club publishes it at lvarc.org, checked September 27, 2026.
License exams: Quarterly on Sunday at 1:00 PM (the club says its sessions run quarterly, at 1:00 PM on a Sunday, and its page still gives the next session as to be determined — ask the club, or check the Laurel VEC listing, before counting on one). Coordinated through the Laurel VEC. No charge.
As the club publishes it on lvarc.org — exams — checked September 21, 2026.
Repeater(s): 147.285 MHz (+0.6, PL 146.2) FM, Lawrenceburg; 224.840 MHz (−1.6, PL 146.2) FM, Lawrenceburg; 443.875 MHz (+5.0, PL 146.2) FM, Lawrenceburg
Repeaters
3 amateur radio repeaters are located in Dearborn County on the 2m and 1.25m and 70cm bands. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 147.285 | +0.6 | 146.2 | FM | Lawrenceburg | Laughery Valley Amateur Radio Club |
| 224.840 | -1.6 | 146.2 | FM | Lawrenceburg | Laughery Valley Amateur Radio Club |
| 443.875 | +5.0 | 146.2 | FM | Lawrenceburg | Laughery Valley Amateur Radio Club |
View Dearborn County on RepeaterBookBrowse all Indiana repeaters
Emergency Communications
Dearborn County is part of Indiana ARES District 9 (which mirrors IDHS District 9). Learn how amateur radio supports emergencies in Indiana — ARES, RACES, and Skywarn — on our EmComm page.
County emergency management
Dearborn County's emergency management agency plans for disasters and coordinates the local response. For current contact information, visit the Dearborn 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
Dearborn County is in Indiana ARES District 9. The ARRL Indiana Section's monthly report notes whether each ARES leadership position is filled or vacant.
- County Emergency Coordinator: vacant, according to the September 2025 report.
- District 9 Emergency Coordinator: vacant, according to the October 2025 report.
To join ARES in Dearborn 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
Dearborn County's spotter training comes from the NWS Wilmington, OH office. Classes are usually held from late winter into spring and are set up together with the county emergency management agency. NWS Wilmington, OH 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 Dearborn County come from National Weather Service Wilmington, OH. Local radar: station KILN.
Nets
3 nets meet in Dearborn County, and more are within range from the counties around it — a repeater does not stop at the county line. See the nets near Dearborn County, searchable by ZIP code and distance, along with the statewide HF nets.
📅 Put this county in your calendar.indianahamradio.com/calendars/dearborn.ics is a subscribable calendar of Dearborn 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
Dearborn County borders 3 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/dearborn.json · about the data