Skywarn Recognition Day 2020 info

[Richard KK6RJR]

Skywarn Recognition Day is conducted each year to recognize the contributions Skywarn Spotters make toward fulfilling the NWS mission to save lives.
Skywarn Recognition Day 2020 will be different this year and will include a lot of Social Media elements. This is open to all Skywarn Spotters.
You don't need to be an amateur radio operator to participate; however there will be several presentations on Amateur Radio Operations during the event.

* Want to learn more? Check out the Skywarn Recognition Day webpage ([http://ow.ly/vDDq50CjY35](http://ow.ly/vDDq50CjY35))

* Registration is free and there is NO OBLIGATION. You can participate at whatever level you feel most comfortable. Registration online and open now - ([http://ow.ly/IcTJ50CjY34](http://ow.ly/IcTJ50CjY34) )

* Interested in joining the Skywarn Recognition Day Facebook Group - join us here: [http://ow.ly/cZiI50CjY36](http://ow.ly/cZiI50CjY36)

* Not a trained Skywarn Spotter? Consider completing the MetEd Spotter Course - it's online and FREE! ([http://ow.ly/XTeA50CjY37](http://ow.ly/XTeA50CjY37))

* Interested in Amateur Radio? Visit the ARRL webpage to find out more! ([http://ow.ly/4FJy50CjY33](http://ow.ly/4FJy50CjY33))

Please be sure to register - this will give us a complete list of who is participating this year.

 

[KY4TRK]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Richard KK6RJR]

UPDATE:
SRD+subscribe@groups.io
Using the above link will register you to receive e-mail notifications for the event. I’ve used the link and you will need to respond to an e-mail sent to complete the process. As of yesterday over 400 registered hams are planning on participating.

Sorry, about the original post that I showed links not functioning as expected. A google search will get you to the various locations such as the Facebook page.
73

 

[Richard KK6RJR]

Now over 500 Ham Emergency Radio Operators (HERO’S) have signed up to participate! Here are more details just released by Rob KD1CY


With the changes in SRD due to the inability of volunteers being able to go into NWS offices due to COVID causing a revamp of this year's event with NWS along with several critical work projects, this first note has been delayed but I'm confident we can get the schedule pulled together for this year. The following is the first in the series of updates on SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) 2020 and Echolink/IRLP operations.

For 2020 SRD, understanding any NWS offices that are on the air will most
likely be via NWS employees, we wanted to give everyone on this
distribution first choice on the various time slots. You can operate with
your personal call-sign as NWS coordinator or some may elect to use the NWS
Call-Sign and state they are portable. WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at
the National Hurricane Center, did that this year with their operations
during hurricane activations.

EchoLink and IRLP are just a couple of modes people can utilize to contact
NWS offices during SKYWARN Recognition Day. Many NWS offices will be on 2
Meters, 440 MHz, HF and other VHF/UHF bands. Additional details on SKYWARN
Recognition Day including a registration link opened up to all Amateurs
given the new SRD format can be found via the following link:

SKYWARN Recognition Day

Also, there is a SRD Facebook group created. Those with Facebook can join
it at the following link:
Facebook Groups

For 2020, the EchoLink WX_TALK Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system will
be scheduling time for NWS offices or SKYWARN Coordinators with specific
NWS office time slots to act as a net control to make contacts with
spotters that are on the system. If a NWS office/SKYWARN Coordinator runs
out of contacts and there are other NWS offices/SKYWARN Coordinators on the
system, the NWS office acting as net control can turn it over to a
different NWS office or SKYWARN Coordinator to act as a net control on the
system at their discretion.

There will be other conference systems utilized for SKYWARN Recognition
Day. They are as follows:

The New England Reflector Gateway System will be utilized by SKYWARN
Coordinators from New England from 0000-0500 UTC and 1200-2400 UTC. The New
England Gateway system is on EchoLink Conference server NEW-ENG3 Node:
9123, IRLP reflector 9123. If other SKYWARN Coordinators and NWS offices
would like to join the system, they are welcome to do so and participants
in SKYWARN Recognition Day can also use that system to make contact with
various NWS offices. This is a great place to move off the WX_TALK Node:
7203/IRLP 9219 system after your scheduled time if other Amateurs or NWS
offices wish to make contact with you.

Also, the Western Reflector will be having NWS offices calling CQ as in
past years and have multiple reflector channels and Echolink conferences
available. There is reflector 9250/Echolink Conference HI-GATE node:
357564, IRLP 9251 and the WORLD Echolink Conference node: 479886, IRLP
9257/DCF-ARC Echolink Conference node: 336037 and IRLP 9258/EchoLink
Conference NV-GATE Node: 152566 open for NWS offices. Please contact
Kent-W7AOR for additional information on the Western Reflector.

A few technical reminders for folks interested in making contacts with the
NWS Forecast Offices on the WX-TALK Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 and New England
Reflector Gateway IRLP 9123/NEW-ENG3 Echolink Node: 9123 systems:

-The system allows both EchoLink and IRLP connections. For EchoLink users,
you connect to the WX-TALK Node: 7203 conference system. For IRLP users,
you would connect to IRLP reflector 9219. It is possible we will have
DMR/D-STAR and other modes directly linked on the system. This will be
updated in the next few days regarding that aspect.

-If you are using EchoLink, the RF node or PC that you’re using must have
EchoLink conferencing disabled. If it is not disabled, the system will
automatically kick the node or PC off of the system. The reason this occurs
is to prevent unintentional interference from a conferencing station that
may not know the node is connected somewhere else. This will keep traffic
moving on the net and reduce interference considerably.

For more information on VoIP Technical Configuration Tips, please go to our
web site at http://www.voipwx.net where we have a link to that information
on the main menu of the web site. This announcement will also be on the web
site.

We are looking forward to another fun SKYWARN Recognition Day on the
WX-TALK Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system, New England Reflector
Gateway system and Western Reflector system. Thanks to all for their
support!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Boston/Norton Massachusetts
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator