Support northern Indiana Skywarn Recognition Day

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This is an appeal to spread the word about the Northern Indiana NWS Skywarn Recognition Day special event starting at 7PM next Friday Dec 6 and running for 24 hours. We need operators to support the event. Many of you have particpated in the past, some have never particpated but are in leadership positions to spread the word to your local members who may be interested. The Fort Wayne Radio Club accepted responsibility for leading this year’s activity and we are welcoming operators from around the region.

We plan to operate primarily 80, 40, 20 SSB and have a 440 station to access the KA9OHV Echo/IRLP repeater. Pat Stevens has agreed to allow the use of his repeater and he has provided me the access codes. We have info listed on the NOAA/NWS Skywarn Recogntion Day page showing that WX9IWX will be active the full 24 hours. I have discussed previous years’ operations with Michael Lewis of the NWS and established some guidelines we need to follow (please see the PDF file linked below). One of the keys to making this event successful is getting operators registered in advance to know their availability. It is important to emphasize that walk-in operators will be discouraged. We need to know who and when each operator is available so we can schedule their operating period.

I scouted the room and antenna options at the NWS office yesterday. To maintain ease of setup and tear down, I’m recommending the use of endfed antennas that can be supported from the parking lot light poles. The Fort Wayne Radio Club has used endfed antennas quite successfully for other portable events. We have dedicated tuned 40 and 20m antennas and a multiband that operates 160 through 10 with a modest tuner. I plan to bring a complete station (IC-706 MKII G, LDG tuner, external DSP, headphones) to remain connected to the multiband endfed. Anyone is welcome to operate from that position during the event. The other antennas will still need stations. I will also have a dedicated dualband mobile VHF/UHF FM transceiver. We will advertize both echolink and IRLP node numbers for the 443.050 KA9OHV repeater and attempt contacting other SRD stations using VOIP.

The FWRC has logging computers that I plan to have set up ready to use at the event start. There will be some snacks provided (not a buffet) and the NWS will have coffee available.

I’m open to other suggestions to make this event successful, but the biggest help you can provide is to spread the word, do some promotion, review the attached guidelines, and get people to contact me so we know who is committed to operate and support the NWS Skywarn Recognition Day special event.

73,
Joseph Lawrence, K9RFZ
k9rfz@yahoo.com
(h) 260 373-1986

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