Category Archives: Skywarn

Amateur Radio, Amateur Radio Organizations, Event, News, Skywarn

SKYWARN Recognition Day is Saturday, December 2

A heads up: SKYWARN™ Recognition Day (SRD) will take place this year on Saturday, December 2 from 0000 until 2400 UTC (starts on the evening of Friday, December 1, in US time zones). The event begins at 5 p.m. local time. During the SKYWARN Special Event, ham radio operators will set up stations at National Weather Service (NWS) offices and contact other radio amateurs around the world.

Participating Amateur Radio stations will exchange a brief description of their current weather with as many NWS-based stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, and 2 meters plus 70 centimeters. Contacts via repeaters are permitted.

SRD was developed jointly in 1999 by the NWS and ARRL to celebrate the contributions SKYWARN volunteers make to the NWS mission — the protection of life and property. Amateur Radio operators, which comprise a large percentage of SKYWARN volunteers, also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency managers, if normal communications become inoperative.

ARRL article

Amateur Radio Organizations, Amateur Radio Relay League, ARES, Coconino Amateur Radio Club, News, Races, Skywarn

Amateur Radio Emergency Service

All Amateur radio operators have a responsibility during emergency situations. For the most part—particularly with new Ham operators—that responsibility is to keep the frequency in use for the emergency clear for emergency traffic. You can call out if you have an actual emergency which could result in the potential loss of life or property. You must wait for, or ask for, a break in any current messages going through. This applies to SIMPLEX and repeaters.

Just about every two-weeks you can find a catastrophe happening some where around the world. Recently a devastating earthquake struck in New Zealand. Since there are Amateur radio services around the world, emergency communications have cropped up everywhere. They asked that 14.300 MHz be kept clear for their recovery efforts. We are obligated to comply You are, of course, welcome to listen.

This may not concern most new amateur radio operators. Most simply want a technician class license so they can use the limited bands offered, particularly the 2-meter and 70-cm range. Some, however, may eventually want to get to participate in a crisis at home. There are several opportunities to do just that.

One of the projects I have been working on is becoming a member of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES; pronounced Air-Ease). Like everything else in this hobby, it takes some study.
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Amateur Radio Organizations, Amateur Radio Relay League, ARES, News, Races, Skywarn

I will visit with my friend Gianluca Zanna on KTOX

a22de8_3aae620072974c3db31bf2d88bf5787bGianluca Zanna is one of the top artist in what I call Freedom music. He has a talk show on KTOX 1340 am in Kingman. You can listen to the show at his Love, Guns, and Freedom web site. I’ve been on before discussing Constitutional topics such as the militia, the Bill of Rights and freedom.

The role of the militia is not just fighting tyranny. In the period of the War for Independence they were called Committees of Safety. Their role was not just armed defense, but to fight fires and help the members of their community.

This is where Ham radio fits in. There are already agencies in place in the Ham community to respond to emergency situations. RACES is the federal government version and ARES was developed by the American Radio Relay League. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has the SKYWARN system to respond in the event of natural disaster. They have trained weather spotters to report unusual weather conditions. These are forms of militias and they do not have to pack heat.

With the introduction of low-cost amateur radio equipment, anyone can set up equipment to monitor radio transmission when all other means of communication have failed. As we discussed on the show, anyone can monitor these frequencies. There are many good videos on YouTube and other sources that explain how to set these radios up to scan police, fire and other emergency frequencies.

You have to have a license to transmit on Amateur radio or General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) frequencies. The only exception is if there is a possible loss of life or damage to property. In short, a real emergency. Only then can you use these radios to transmit on without a license.

Radios are useful in the event of any emergency from natural disaster to World War. We discussed some possible uses of these low-cost handie-talkies (HT) and other mobile units. We also discuss why you should get at least a Technician Class amateur radio license. It is not hard and you can meet a lot of good people on the air. I forgot to mention that this is one area that is not limited to age. In fact, young people under the age of eighteen are sought after as Ham radio operators. The younger you start, the more you can learn.

You can listen to this pre-recorded segment on KTOX 1340 AM on Sunday March 6 or listen on the Internet. You can listen to, and download, Zanna’s music at Zanna.us. He also has some good love songs and popular music.

Amateur Radio, Amateur Radio Organizations, News, Repeaters, Skywarn

Oh, what a tangled mess nature weaves…

146.980 – 162.2 Mt Elden, Flagstaff W7ARA

800-980 Tower EldenJoe Hobart, W7LUX, sent out these photos of the 980 repeater on Mount Elden in Flagstaff at the end of December. Mount Elden is located in Flagstaff and the repeater frequency is 146.980. The 146.140 repeater is also located on Mount Elden and is connected to the RIMLINK network of Arizona Repeater Association repeaters. The 146.980 repeater is part of the SKYWARN system.

The image to the left shows how the tower should look. The lower image shows how the tower looked at the end of December.
800-980 Tower Elden-2The picture of the mangled tower was taken by Mike Moroney and the picture of the good tower is from Joe.

As you can see, nature can reek havoc with repeater towers. In the top photo, the antenna for 146.980 juts high in the sky. In the lower photo it dangles by a thread. Well, actually, by a cable. It was expected to be down for the winter.

I do not know if a New Year resolution was involved, but today at about 15:00 -7, the 980 repeater is back online thanks to a volunteer crew. It bears repeating that amateur radio is a hobby and these guys that climb the towers are not paid. I’d like to thank those who help us keep contact with the world.

Amateur Radio, Amateur Radio Organizations, Award, Event, News, Personal, Skywarn

Participated in SKYWARN recognition day

skywarnI am trying to get my web site and blog to work. In the meantime I am writing articles about my experience.

I received my Technician Amateur License, often called a “Ticket” by Ham radio operators, in October. I took the test Flagstaff in mid-October and less than a week later I was on the air with my Baofeng UV-82.

I actually obtained a call sign for GMRS first—WQWI485. It cost me $90. The Ham radio license cost me $15. Of course you have to take a test for this license and Morse code (called CW by Ham’s) is no longer required. I will get into this later, but suffice it is to say that there is an economic lesson here. $15 (it could be up to about $25 in your area) versus $90. I’ll let you do the math.

I was in the Village of Oak Creek when I received word of my license and call sign KG7YDJ. I still stumble over it when I say it even though it is easy to remember. I received my first QSO (meaning contact) with KGYOH in Munds Park. A few days later I received a QSL card. QSL means acknowledge contact and Ham operators send cards to each other for events and so forth. I’m still working on mine.

I have worked several repeaters around Arizona. I have participated in several nets. I have heard about contesting and upcoming events such as the National Parks on the Air sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League. You can participate and get special awards, cards and certificates.

There was a good example today. I was unaware of the SKYWARN Recognition day. I happened to be monitoring the local repeater and heard WX7FGZ calling to make as many QSOs as possible. The call sight WX7FGZ is a special call sign assigned by the FCC just for this special event. The NOAA, who runs the SKYWARN system, out of Bellemont, Arizona was part of the event.

I responded and was informed I earned a certificate. The problem is that I cannot find the link to print it. But I’m still looking.

It is worth noting that the SKYWARN organization is an amateur radio organization which reports unusual weather phenomena in the area. NOAA even provides free training for those amateurs who just happen to be weather buffs. It is one of the many amateur organizations that provide community service.

Of course you won’t be asked to run into the middle of a tornado or hold a metal rod in a lightning storm. This service, however, can save lives. In a rural area, for example, you might be the first one to spot a tornado. Imagine calling it in and saving lives. In fact a few years ago Bellemont was the center of just such an event. If I had my ham license then, I could have tuned in to find out exactly what was going on.

There are many more service organization that you can participate in. You can find out more, and how to get your license, at the American Radio Relay League.