This year’s convective weather season is upon us.
As a reminder, for inclement weather or other potentially hazardous situations, we still follow the decades old, keep it simple approach:
- The Lucas County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and SKYWARN main frequency is 146.940 W/PL 103.5. Tune here for inclement weather or other potentially hazardous situations.
- The L.C.A.R.E.S. and A.R.E.S. SKYWARN primary alternate repeater is the 147.270 W8HHF repeater and if that is unavailable, we may move to the 147.375 or 146.610 repeaters. It is highly recommended that these repeaters also be pre-programmed in your radios for normal operation.
- (TRAINING) Tune your radio to the 147.270 W8HHF repeater and listen with TSQL off. If you determine the repeater is functioning, feel free to use TSQL. If there is a repeater failure, still listen on 147.270 no PL or TQSL off. It is recommended that you preprogram a channel for 147.270 simplex with no PL. We will begin a net there and NCS will move as appropriate.
- Simplex Communications are greatly facilitated by a higher power mobile (i.e. 50W) and a decent gain antenna as high as practically possible. Remember to turn off the squelch. HT’s are usually woefully inadequate and often difficult to program on the fly. Simplex operation with directed net relays is a very good skill to possess.
- Please consider joining the (Comm Training) on the 147.270 repeater. This is where we learn important skills such as the information needed to check into a Skywarn net and, practice valuable simplex net skills once a month after the Q&A net officially closes. We may randomly inject simulated repeater failure drills.
- We hold the Comm Training on 147.270 simplex with no PL. We want to practice this on the first Sunday of the month starting on Sunday 6 April 2025 in preparation for the upcoming convective weather season with the repeater turned off for a realistic scenario.