Wells County
By the numbers: about 28,555 residents (2023 U.S. Census estimate) · 84 licensed amateur radio operators — 42 Technician, 21 General, 3 Advanced, 18 Extra · 2 licensed club stations · 6 more licenses in the FCC's two-year renewal grace period (FCC licenses, by ZIP).
Since 2000: 53 licensed operators at the end of 2000, 84 today (high of 87 in 2025). Rebuilt from FCC license records, counting each licensee at their current address, so earlier years are approximate. Indiana licensing trends
Ham Radio Clubs
- Wells County Amateur Radio Club (W9AYW): wellscountyamateurradioclub.is-great.net | ab9hp@yahoo.com
Meetings: 1st Thursday monthly at 7:00 PM — 200 W Washington St, Bluffton, IN
As the club publishes it at wellscountyamateurradioclub.is-great.net, checked September 27, 2026.
Net: Wells County Amateur Radio Club Net (Saturday, 8:30 AM, 147.060 MHz (PL 141.3), FM). All nets
Repeater(s): 147.060 MHz (+, PL 141.3) FM, Bluffton (W9AYW); 147.165 MHz (+, PL 141.3) FM, Ossian (AB9HP); 145.420 MHz (−, PL 141.3) FM (AB9HP); 443.875 MHz (+, PL 141.3) FM (AB9HP)
License exams: Bi-monthly, 9:00–10:00 AM. $15.
As the club publishes it on wellscountyamateurradioclub.is-great.net — exams — checked September 21, 2026.
Repeaters
4 amateur radio repeaters are located in Wells 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 145.420 | -0.6 | 141.3 | FM | Bluffton AB9HP | Wells County Amateur Radio Club (W9AYW) |
| 147.060 | + | 141.3 | FM | Bluffton W9AYW | Wells County Amateur Radio Club (W9AYW) |
| 147.165 | +0.6 | 141.3 | FM | Ossian AB9HP | Wells County Amateur Radio Club (W9AYW) |
| 443.875 | +5.0 | 141.3 | FM | Bluffton AB9HP | Wells County Amateur Radio Club (W9AYW) |
View Wells County on RepeaterBookBrowse all Indiana repeaters
Emergency Communications
Wells County is part of Indiana ARES District 3 (which mirrors IDHS District 3). Learn how amateur radio supports emergencies in Indiana — ARES, RACES, and Skywarn — on our EmComm page.
County emergency management
Wells County's emergency management agency plans for disasters and coordinates the local response. For current contact information, visit the Wells 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
Wells County is in Indiana ARES District 3. The ARRL Indiana Section's monthly report notes whether each ARES leadership position is filled or vacant.
- County Emergency Coordinator: no status given in recent Section reports.
- District 3 Emergency Coordinator: not listed as filled or vacant; District 3 sent in its own update for the June 2026 report.
To join ARES in Wells 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
Wells 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 Wells County come from National Weather Service Northern Indiana. Local radar: station KIWX.
Nets
One net meets in Wells County, and more are within range from the counties around it — a repeater does not stop at the county line. See the nets near Wells County, searchable by ZIP code and distance, along with the statewide HF nets.
📅 Put this county in your calendar.indianahamradio.com/calendars/wells.ics is a subscribable calendar of Wells 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
Wells County borders 6 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/wells.json · about the data