Non Ham Skywarn Operations
People who do not have an amateur radio license can sign up for The National Weather Service's
e-spotter program.
In response to non-hams involved in SKYWARN:
1. I am currently involved with a local REACT team here in North Carolina and we have a phone number we can call direct to our weather service office in Newport.
2. When I am not acting in a "REACT" capacity I usually just use a pay phone (cheaper than a cell phone), or I will give them a storm report by fax later on.
3. I also would like to suggest the use of ALPHA NUMERIC PAGERS for the alerting phase of your SKYWARN program, it does great for getting the message out.
4. Our REACT team has worked in conjunction with the "Hams" in the past by relaying messages from citizens band radio to an amateur radio operator who has both cb and ham capabilities. This works great IF you have enough people "cb er's & hams" who will cooperate with each other, which is the case most of the time.
From the Desk of:
WEATHERFREAK
WEATHERFREAK@JUNO.COM
New Bern, NC
Here in the Tampa Bay Region, the SKYWARN program is managed by the WCM at the WSFO in Ruskin. Although the lead to
improve and increase the number of severe weather spotters was started within amateur radio here in our county, SKYWARN
training has been provided to a number of civic groups and government entities, such as police and fire, for the purpose
of increasing coverage, especially in rural areas.
All severe weather reports come into the weather service office via an 800 telephone number since the office is 25 miles
away from the nearest metropolitan area in the middle of a tomato patch. We also have a significant number of retired
persons who can watch the weather from home and call in to report unusual phenomena.
However, whenever the NWS needs an organized network of spotters, such as in a Coastal Flood Watch, they contact the ham
operator who coordinates the SKYWARN program in the county or counties of concern.
I am in the process now of locating and contacting the non-Ham spotters and sending them information on how to get a
ham license and join us within the network.
Kevin Heyboer E-Mail: kd4uyr@gte.net
Amateur Radio Call: KD4UYR Packet Mail:KD4UYR@W4DPH.#TPA.FL.US
Coordinator, Pinellas (St. Petersburg/Clearwater) SKYWARN
Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Greetings:
Regarding comments on non-amateur SKYWARN participants, while we do operate an amateur radio network, we also offer
alternative programs. Our program utilizes two GMRS repeaters. Non-amateurs are required to obtain their own mobile
GMRS license and callsign, and they sign an agreement that the repeaters are for SKYWARN use only. In our program
they are also responsible for purchasing and maintaining their mobiles &portables Participants also include Civil
Air Patrol members who operate on their own network, and Red Cross volunteers who operate in their system.
Mike Redman, KAØYXU / WCØAAF
St. Louis County R.A.C.E.S. / SKYWARN
greetings1@JUNO.COM
