SKYWARN Spotter Training and Business Meeting this Thursday!

Please join us this Thursday, May 13th, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, at 200 U.S. Route 1, Suite 210, Scarborough, ME, for virtual SKYWARN Spotter Training, followed by our monthly business meeting.

From 6:00 to 7:15, we’ll log into NWS Gray’s virtual SKYWARN Spotter Training, which will focus on spring and summer storms, including thunderstorm development. The direct link to the SKYWARN training, if you’d like to join from home can be found here (click on the Training tab):

https://www.weather.gov/gyx/skywarn

Once the SKYWARN training is complete, we’ll begin our monthly business meeting. On the agenda, we’ll be previewing 2021 ARRL Field Day, which takes place June 26-27. We’ll also talk about new membership outreach and development processes that were voted on last session, and an upcoming EmComm drill that will take place this Saturday.

If you’d like to join us remotely, here’s the dial-in instructions:

Dial-in number (US): (425) 436-6366
Access code: 2618168#
International dial-in numbers: https://fccdl.in/i/kb1hnz
Online meeting ID: kb1hnz
Join the online meeting: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kb1hnz

For additional assistance connecting to the meeting, text ‘Call Me’ to the Dial-in number above and you will be called into the conference. Message and data rates may apply.

See you there!

73′

Tim
KB1HNZ

WSSM-ECT Training Net 04/22/21 Net Report

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the WSSM-ECT Training Net for Thursday, April 22nd! We had 12 check-ins on the repeater and 2 on DMR. The net started on time, at 7:00PM. Tim KB1HNZ served as moderator.

One announcement was made by Dave KB1FGF, who mentioned having a 4-way coax switch available for free to anyone who needed one, and he was also looking to sell his Connect Systems CS801 DMR radio.

The topic for the evening was SKYWARN, which focused on some of the things that a new Net Control station should be aware of, including where to find information about approaching hazardous weather, when and how to activate a net, on which frequency to operate, what to ask for, and how to log reports.

Tim KB1HNZ talked about the new SKYWARN Official Supporter program that was rolled out on Tuesday, which is designed to encourage more participation in SKYWARN from the ham radio club and EmComm group level.

Eric N1RXR talked about some of his experiences operating as Net Control for SKYWARN, and stressed the importance of good listening and asking for a specific location when taking reports.

Following the net on the repeater, we took call-ups for weather reports on the DMR SKYWARN Talk Group (759) to help familiarize participants with the SKYWARN talk group.

Net Participants:

• KB1FGF Dave, Scarborough, ME (FM)
• KB1IIR Luke, Madison, NH (FM)
• K5RN Frank, Planto, TX (Echolink)
• KC1OLX Tom, Gorham, ME (FM)
• KC1JMH Brad, Waterboro, ME (FM & DMR)
• KC1OER Norris, Portland, ME (FM)
• N1RXR Eric, New Gloucester, ME (FM)
• KC1NZD Rick, Peaks Island, ME (FM)
• KC1HBL Ben, Buxton, ME (FM)
• WX1D B.J., Kennebunk, ME (FM & DMR)
• KU1U, Corey, Sabattus, ME (Echolink)
• W1QUI, George, Auburn, ME (FM)

This was a fun training. SKYWARN is an important topic that we’ll be revisiting again in the future, and we’ll also work on getting more involvement on the DMR side of things, by helping to update code plugs and programming radios if needed.

73′

Tim

KB1HNZ

WSSM-ECT Net – Tonight at 7PM!

Please join us this evening, at 7:00 PM on the W1QUI 147.090 (+ / 100) repeater, for our monthly ECT Training!

We’ll first meet on the repeater, where we’ll exchange traffic and share announcements, and introduce our topic for the evening, which will be SKYWARN. We’ll talk about the SKYWARN activation process, how a typical net occurs, and answer any questions that come up.

After that, we’ll move over the the DMR SKYWARN Talk Group (759), where we’ll take do a call up for weather reports (which may be real or simulated).

Catch you on the air!

73′

Tim
KB1HNZ

NWS Gray Announces Virtual SKYWARN Weather Spotter Training

Help your National Weather Service by becoming a SKYWARN storm spotter! Storm spotters report large hail, damaging wind, tornadoes and flooding. Spotter training will teach you how to identify and report severe weather as well as how to maintain awareness, which will help keep you and your loved ones safe, and may even save the lives of others!

Where: Your Home

When: Monday, May 3rd, at 6:00 PM, Thursday, May 13th, at 6:00 PM, & Tuesday, May 18th, at 6:00 PM.

Cost: FREE to all those interested in weather!

Please visit: https://www.weather.gov/gyx/skywarn to register. You can also contact Donald Dumont: donald.dumont@noaa.gov for additional information on this training.