In ALERT/K4NWS’s last callout activation 4/14/2019, K4NWS was joined on the D-Star reflector 058B by the NWS Mobile, AL Skywarn group – Rural Radio Preparedness Organization (web | facebook). We’re happy to hear another Skywarn group coming back up to speed.
There were a few questions after the event from Birmingham operators/spotters. After discussing with RRPA, we feel we have a good plan for directing spotter report traffic to the appropriate NWS station, ahead of the upcoming severe weather event Thursday 4/18/2019 Afternoon.
If you’re a Skywarn spotter or NWS Station Operator, check out the article here on how K4NWS would operate when sharing digital:
Operating Digital with Multiple Served Agencies
(Note: Document is subject to change, based on feedback from our partner NWS offices, Skywarn groups, storm spotters, reflector users, and K4NWS members. Feel free to direct comments to the email provided in the article!)
We appreciate the work that our other regional and county Skywarn groups, such as RRPA and NALSW (North Alabama Skywarn). Thank you all for your continued partnership as we all work toward the mission of the National Weather Service: Protect life and property.
Buckle up! An active start to spring is ahead. No, we’re not talking about weather, but it could be. I’m talking about events! What a list!
March-May in Alabama is our prime time for severe weather, and that means it’s a great time to BE READY. Here’s a few events that will help with being ready, and responsive!
- February 22-24 – Alabama Severe Weather Prep Sales Tax Holiday
- February 28 6:30PM – Online Skywarn Spotter Basic Training
- March 1 4PM-7PM, March 2 8:30AM-4PM – BirmingHAMfest
- ALERT will have a table at this event and will be presenting to a forum.
- More info: https://birminghamfest.org/?fbclid=IwAR0TQGjrEzVnR3hlIaYOxN4hUY6zNZYIMMf0RvM84awMTSSW2kzLGiFpEps
- For more info on the host, the Birmingham Amateur Radio Club, check out www.w4cue.com or www.facebook.com/w4cue
- March 5 6:30PM and March 7 1PM – Online Skywarn Spotter Basic Training
- March 6 1PM – Skywarn Spotter Training @ Auburn University Dept of Campus Safety & Security – EM Office
- March 11 7PM – Tuscaloosa Amateur Radio Club Meeting
- Robby, AC4RW, with the Tuscaloosa Amateur Radio Club has invited ALERT to do a talk/presentation at their regular meeting at DCH Northport.
- For more info on Tuscaloosa ARC, check out www.w4xi.org or www.facebook.com/TuscaloosaAmateurRadioClub
- March 12 6:30PM – ALERT Quarterly Board Meeting
- All ALERT voting members are welcome to attend to listen to the board proceeding.
- March 12 7PM – ALERT Monthly Meeting
- Vote on Constitutional Amendment
- Per bylaws, new officer nominating committee to be appointed by president.
- Officers must be with ALERT 1 year in good standing. If you fall in this category, and interested in being an elected officer, or appointed officer, let us know! We’ll share that info with the nominating committee.
- March 14 6:30PM, March 26 1PM, and March 27 6:30PM – Online Skywarn Spotter Basic Training
- April 2 6:30PM – Online Skywarn Spotter Basic Training
- April ?? – More April events TBA!
- May 4 8:30AM-4:30PM – Black Warrior Hamfest
- ALERT has reserved a table, and will have a presence at the first annual Black Warrior Hamfest! Check out this facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/bwhamfest/
- June 14 4PM-7PM, June 15 8:30AM-3PM – Helena Hamfest (NEW)
- ALERT plans on having a presence at Helena Hamfest.
- New date, new location! Indoors, will have forum rooms.
- Check it out! http://www.helenahamfest.com/
We had another successful Skywarn Recognition day and with our new digital assets we pulled in even more contacts via DMR, EchoLink, and IRLP.
Thank you to our volunteers who made this another great event!
On site we had Ron Arant N4PHP, Stephen Moss KB4KKN and Bill Rodgers K4FSO. Offsite we had Russell Thomas KV4S and Rodger Parsons KK4UDU.
Ron setup the R9 6m thru 80m antenna. The 3 onsite members operated HF and D-Star.
Due to hotspot issues on site, Russell handled the DMR/Echolink contacts off site.
Rodger handled Winlink for us.
Hope you all had fun and we look forward to next year!
Here are a few pictures:
This Friday, November 30 @ 6PM Central Time (Dec 1 0:00z), Skywarn Recognition Day kicks off, and continues for the next 24 hours.
The National Weather Service – Birmingham Office (BMX) is also celebrating their 25th Anniversary of being at the Shelby County Airport location.
To commemorate this milestone we have a special event callsign! NWS Birmingham and ALERT, The Alabama Emergency Response Team, will be W4A (Weather 4 Alabama).
Skywarn Recognition Day is an event celebrates the contribution of SKYWARN volunteers to the NWS’s mission. More information about the event, including Operating Procedures for the contest, Participating Offices, Echolink Info/IRLP info, all can be found at the link below:
https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition
There will be a Special Event QSL Card for making contact with W4A, National Weather Service – Birmingham / Alabama Emergency Response Team.
To make contact with us:
HF: 10,17,15,20 Meters
2M FM 146.880 (BARC), 147.320 and 146.980 (SCARC)
220 FM 224.500
DMR Talk Group 31013 which is available on all DMR repeaters in the Birmingham area but is also available on various repeaters in the BMX cwa.
D-Star: REF058B and XRF334C
AllStar: 48168
EchoLink: K4NWS-L (155003)
IRLP Reflector: 9666
WinLink: KK4UDU@winlink.org
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