In keeping with the theme that all disasters/emergencies are LOCAL and in consideration of local schedules and relationships with partners agencies, LOCAL ARES Leaders have the option of conducting their local SET at another date & time besides the focal-point weekend of October 3 and 4, 2026. SETs should be conducted no later than the end of the fall season or the calendar year. Check with your LOCAL ARES Leaders for the exact date or dates of the SET in your area.
2026 Simulated Emergency Test Guidelines
Find all the details here: https://www.arrl.org/simulated-emergency-test
Test Your Readiness on October 3 – 4
ARRL’s Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is October 3 – 4, 2026, and this nationwide exercise is the chance to test your personal emergency-operating skills and the readiness of your communications equipment and accessories in a simulated emergency-like deployment.
ARRL Field Organization Leaders at the section and local levels, and many other volunteers that are active in public service and emergency communications, are developing simulated emergency-like scenarios in consultation with a variety of agencies and organizations for whom radio amateurs are known to provide service during emergencies.
Please remember that station readiness and personal training and practice are tenets of the Amateur Radio Service. Any time we spend on the air will contribute to developing and practicing our personal radio communication capability.
The ARRL’s Amateur Radio Emergency Service ® (ARES®), the National Traffic System (NTS), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), SKYWARN ™, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN), and other allied groups and public-service oriented radio amateurs are among those who are eligible to participate in the simulated exercise and to practice emergency operation plans, nets and procedures.
Find all the details here: https://www.arrl.org/simulated-emergency-test