LaPorte County
By the numbers: about 111,706 residents (2023 U.S. Census estimate) · 244 licensed amateur radio operators — 105 Technician, 73 General, 7 Advanced, 59 Extra · 1 licensed club station · 28 more licenses in the FCC's two-year renewal grace period (FCC licenses, by ZIP).
Since 2000: 271 licensed operators at the end of 2000, 244 today (high of 282 in 2010). Rebuilt from FCC license records, counting each licensee at their current address, so earlier years are approximate. Indiana licensing trends
Ham Radio Clubs
- LaPorte County Amateur Radio Club (K9JSI): lpcarc.org | Facebook | info@lpcarc.org | QRZ
Meetings: 2nd Monday monthly at 7:00 PM Central (no meeting in December, when the club holds a Christmas party instead) — Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1480 Boyd Blvd, LaPorte, IN
Also: A breakfast on the 1st Saturday of each month at 9:00 AM at Chappy's Stadium Inn, Michigan City, and a weekly breakfast every Thursday at 8:00 AM at Mama T's Diner.
As the club publishes it at lpcarc.org, checked September 27, 2026.
Net: LaPorte County Amateur Radio Club Info Net (Wednesday, 7:00 PM CT, 146.970 MHz (PL 131.8), FM). All nets
Repeater(s): 146.610 MHz (−0.6, PL 131.8) FM, LaPorte (K9JSI); 146.970 MHz (−0.6, PL 131.8) FM/C4FM, LaPorte (W9LY); 441.950 MHz (+5, PL 131.8) FM/C4FM/WIRES-X, LaPorte (W9LY)
License exams: The club's testing page points candidates to the Porter County VE Team, which offers exams for all license classes most months in Valparaiso.
Register in advance via HamStudy.org after obtaining an FCC FRN.
As the club publishes it on lpcarc.org — exams — checked September 21, 2026.
Repeaters
5 amateur radio repeaters are located in LaPorte County on the 2m 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 146.610 | -0.6 | 131.8 | FM | LaPorte K9JSI | LaPorte County Amateur Radio Club (K9JSI) |
| 146.970 | -0.6 | 131.8 | FM/Fusion | LaPorte W9LY | LaPorte County Amateur Radio Club (K9JSI) |
| 441.950 | +5 | 131.8 | FM/Fusion | LaPorte W9LY | LaPorte County Amateur Radio Club (K9JSI) |
| 444.675 | +5.0 | — | DMR | Laporte | N9IAA |
| 444.95 | +5.0 | 131.8 | FM | Laporte | W9SAL |
View LaPorte County on RepeaterBookBrowse all Indiana repeaters
Emergency Communications
LaPorte 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.
County emergency management
LaPorte County's emergency management agency plans for disasters and coordinates the local response. For current contact information, visit the LaPorte 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
LaPorte County is in Indiana ARES District 1. The ARRL Indiana Section's monthly report notes whether each ARES leadership position is filled or vacant.
- County Emergency Coordinator: filled, according to the August 2025 report.
- District 1 Emergency Coordinator: vacant, according to the October 2025 report.
To join ARES in LaPorte County, 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
LaPorte County's spotter training comes from the NWS Northern Indiana office. The page lists the season's classes, and the office can send a training certificate after you attend. NWS Northern Indiana 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 LaPorte County come from National Weather Service Northern Indiana. Local radar: station KIWX.
Nets
One net meets in LaPorte County, and more are within range from the counties around it — a repeater does not stop at the county line. See the nets near LaPorte County, searchable by ZIP code and distance, along with the statewide HF nets.
📅 Put this county in your calendar.indianahamradio.com/calendars/laporte.ics is a subscribable calendar of LaPorte 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
LaPorte 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/laporte.json · about the data