Since 1999, SKYWARN™ Recognition Day, developed jointly by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League, celebrates the contributions that volunteer SKYWARN™ radio operators make to the National Weather Service.
This year’s event takes place December 2, 2023 from 0000z to 2400z (December 1st, 7 PM ET – December 2nd, 7 PM ET).
After nearly three years of being in storage due to the pandemic, the radio gear at the NWS is setup and ready to be used for this year’s SRD! SKYWARN radio operators who would like to visit the Forecast Office to operate the radios there, may do so between the hours of 8PM-10PM on Friday evening, and 9AM-12PM on Saturday. Since space is limited, we’re asking that no more than two operators be there at the same time. Please enter your call sign followed by /GYX in those time slots to indicate whether or not you’ll be operating from the NWS.
All other operators are encouraged to take turns activating the WX1GYX call sign, either from their home stations, portable, or mobile, during the event.
If you’d like to use the WX1GYX call sign during SRD, please click here to sign up for a time and band slot (or multiple slots) to operate.
Participants are asked to log contacts in an electronic logging program, such as N1MM, and submit their logs to kb1hnz@yahoo.com in an ADIF format, so they can be merged afterwards.
The suggested exchange for contacts, is your name and current weather conditions (usually temperature and observation).
Click here to visit the event website, where you’ll find operating guidelines and links to register your personal station and spotter location.
SRD is a fun on-air activity that feels very much like a contest, but its informal. There’s no band or mode limitations, and you can even use repeaters. Just get on the air and have fun!
73′
Tim Watson, KB1HNZ
WS1SM Ham Radio Blog 