Lake County
By the numbers: about 500,598 residents (2023 U.S. Census estimate) · 596 licensed amateur radio operators — 278 Technician, 158 General, 22 Advanced, 130 Extra, 8 Novice · 5 licensed club stations · 58 more licenses in the FCC's two-year renewal grace period (FCC licenses, by ZIP).
Ham Radio Clubs
- Lake County Amateur Radio Club (W9LJ): www.w9lj.org | W9LJ@arrl.net | Facebook | QRZ
Meetings: 3rd Friday monthly at 7:00 PM — Lake County Dept of Homeland Security, 2900 W 93rd Ave, Crown Point, IN
Nets: Weekly net currently suspended; repeaters on 147.000, 442.075, and 147.240 MHz (PL 131.8)
Repeater(s): 147.000 MHz (+0.6, PL 131.8) FM, Merrillville; 442.075 MHz (+5, PL 131.8) FM, Merrillville; 147.240 MHz (+0.6, PL 131.8) FM, St. John
Events
Repeaters
Our directory lists 3 amateur radio repeaters in Lake County on the 2m and 70cm bands. A dash means we don’t have that detail on file — check with the sponsoring club or RepeaterBook before you rely on it.
| Frequency | Offset | Tone | Mode | Location | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 147.000 | +0.6 | 131.8 | FM | Merrillville | Lake County Amateur Radio Club (W9LJ) |
| 147.240 | +0.6 | 131.8 | FM | St. John | Lake County Amateur Radio Club (W9LJ) |
| 442.075 | +5 | 131.8 | FM | Merrillville | Lake County Amateur Radio Club (W9LJ) |
View Lake County on RepeaterBookBrowse all Indiana repeaters
Emergency Communications
Lake County is part of Indiana ARES District 1 (which mirrors IDHS District 1). Learn how amateur radio supports emergencies in Indiana — ARES, RACES, and Skywarn — on our EmComm page.
Severe-weather watches and warnings for Lake County come from the National Weather Service — NWS Chicago office. Trained Skywarn spotters relay reports during severe weather; see our EmComm page.
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.
Nets in Lake County
One net meets regularly in Lake County. Visitors are welcome to check in — see the full Indiana net schedule for statewide nets too.
- Lake County Amateur Radio Club Net
Nearby counties
Lake County borders 3 other counties. Repeaters and clubs just across the line are usually well within range, so it is worth checking them too: