Ham Radio is
Radioactive!
Shiawassee Amateur Radio Association [SARA]
Established: January, 1958 an ARRL Affiliated Club since 1961
"Whiskey 8 Quack Quack Quack"
Meets at: James P. Capitan Center, Lower Level; 149 E. Corunna Ave.; Corunna, MI 48817 Monthly: 2nd Tuesday @ 7:00 PM
Club station located in the James P. Capitan Center - Lower Level.
IARU: 2 Grid Square EN72wx Latitude: 42.9819 N Longitude: -84.1164 W Alitude: 760 ft.
Contact us at: SARA / W8QQQ <Email>
Your invited to a club meeting! 7:00 PM the 1st Tuesday of each month in Corunna, MI.
Quick Information:
SARA Calendar from the W8SHI site.
Details: VE Testing.
SARA Club Items
Download SARA's Excel Files:
- Transmission Line Calculations ~ File Download
- Bearing Calculations ~ File Download
CONTACT US: SARA / W8QQQ <Email>
Quickly Find Something! Select your Search Range ~ either choice opens in a new Window.
Shiawassee County - Skywarn Information
Skywarn is the network of Radio Amateur operators that provide information to the National Weather Service [NWS]. The NWS utilizes the locally reported information in doing it's job. One of those jobs is to output severe weather watch and warning information to radio / TV outlets for the community they serve. When you see or hear details about a severe storm condition, that information started as an amateur radio report to the NWS in most cases! To repeat, no ham radio means no reports. The accuracy and timing of this information is very critical for public safety. Thus the training and participation of 'local hams' is a very important part of this warning system.
Shiawassee County Skywarn Net: 147.02 +600 (PL 100.0 Hz)
The Skywarn Net meets at 7:00 P.M. on every Monday and additionally as required by weather events on the 2 meter N8DVH repeater (analog FM). The weekly net check-ins provide confidence that the system is and will work when required. If you are Shiawassee ham, please consider assisting our local support.
Skywarn Net Operation Manual ~ Used for reporting to CMEN-MICON to K8DTX NOAA Weather.
The ARES/Skywarn team uses the MICON system "Net Operation Procedures" manual to provide the correct data in an efficient manner. This is the method used used for the radio Skywarn net operations in the Shiawassee county area and for the reporting data into the MICON network. The MICON network is headed at the DTX NOAA weather office [K8DTX] in White Lake. Please printout the manual and have available for your usage. Again, the Shiawassee County Skywarn Net: 147.02 +600 (PL 100.0 Hz) on the N8DVH Repeater in Owosso.
Training ~ Participants are required to have Skywarn Training (provided by NWS at a local location annually) and maintain proficiency by attending a class once every two years.
Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinator [EC] for Shiawassee County (Communications):
For the most current SHIAWASSEE COUNTY {local} information, contact Phil Bates.
|
Phil Bates, AC8FW |
Phil AC8FWis Shiawassee county EC and leads the coordination of ARES, RACES & Skywarn Communications for Shiawassee county (normally net control).
The county has two assistant ECs, Kevin Middleton, K8MID, and Don Warner, WB8GUS. See SARA Officers for contact information.
These three operators are the authorized representatives to check into the MICON net for Shiawassee County. MICON uses the station, K8DTX at the NOAA White Lake weather station for reporting into the NWS system.
Central Michigan Emergency Network
Central Michigan Emergency Network, INC (CMEN) is a non-profit group of independent repeater owners that have pooled their knowledge and personal resources for the betterment of amateur radio emergency communications in Michigan. MICON-DTX uses this network of repeaters to ensure connectivity through out CWA. CMEN offers both 70 cm band voice and DMR voice. The linked repeaters used by MICON-DTX include the following key stations:
| Community | Ham Call | Freq. MHz |
|---|---|---|
| Bancroft | N8IES | 442.625 |
| Chelsea | KD8IEL | 443.575 |
| Detroit | KC8LTS | 442.175 |
| Frankenmuth | KB8SWR | 444.025 |
| Holly | W8FSM | 442.350 |
| Mayville | KB8ZUZ | 443.775 |
| Mt Clemens | KC8UMP | 443.625 |
Reporting Methods:
Shiawassee County Skywarn Net: 147.02 +600 (PL 100.0 Hz) ~ Meets at 7:00 P.M. on Mondays and as required by weather events.
"Other Reporting" Methods:
- FACEBOOK: NWSDetroit
- Twitter @NWSDetroit
- Winlink: K8DTX@winlink.org
- NWS Chat: Cell Phone App
- email: nwslidtx@noaa.gov Email Link {Least Preferred method}
NWS - Skywarn Information
Skywarn activities are managed by the National Weather Service [NWS] and for Shiawassee County is directly handled by:
White Lake NWS
9200 White Lake Rd.
White Lake , MI 48436
Phone [248] 625-3309 FAX [248] 625-4834
Reporting Criteria ~ Includes Winter Weather
Spotters are asked to report any occurence of severe weather. The reports are used to better understand the weather below the radar images and help in understanding the radar and satelite images. The following events should be reported on an emergency traffic basis on the Ham Networks and gotten to the NWS immediately.
- TORNADOS, WATER SPOUTS, & FUNNEL CLOUDS.
- THUNDERSTORM WINDS producing damage. See table below.
- WIND GUSTS - Non-Thunderstorm of 40+ MPH or Damage Caused by Strong Winds
- HAIL - pea sized or larger. See table below.
- LIGHTENING that produces damage or injury.
- FLOODING, Ice Jams, Bankfull Rivers or Streams. Water covering roads or property (to a building).
- RAIN - Report amounts of an inch (1.0") or greater in 24 hours.
- FREEZING RAIN and SLEET - Estimate the amount of glazing (ie. 1/10 inch; 1/4 inch; 1/2 inch - Measure top of ice on object.
- SNOWFALL - Report when 1.0" has fallen, then each additional 2 inches, and a storm total. Need 12 hour totals ending at 7:00 AM and PM.
Reporting Reference Guides
The various Skywarn manuals and guides are uploaded onto the SARA google group used by the club. Please go there for the current latest copies.
Wind Scale
| MPH | Description |
| 25 to 31 | Large branches in motion; whistling heard in overhead wires |
| 32 to 38 | Whole trees in motion; inconvenience walking through wind |
| 39 to 54 | Twigs break off trees; wind generally impeded progress |
| 55 to 72 | Damage to chimmneys, TV antennas; pushes over small rooted trees |
| 73 to 112 | Peels surface off roofs; windows broken; light mobile homes overturned; moving cars pushed off road |
| 113 to 157 | Roofs torn off houses; cars li |
Hail Correlation (Sizes)
| Pea | 0.25 inch | Half Dollar | 1.25 inches | Baseball | 2.75 inches | ||||
| Plain M&M | 0.50 inch | Ping Pong Ball | 1.50 icnhes | Large Apple | 3.00 inches | ||||
| Penny | 0.75 inch | Golf Ball | 1.75 inches | Softball | 4.00 inches | ||||
| Nickel | 0.88 inch | Lime | 2.00 Inches | Grapefruit | 4.50 inches | ||||
| Quarter | 1.00 inch | Tennis Ball | 2.50 inches | CD/DCD | 4.75/5 inches |
Some Skywarn WEB links of interest are:
| Location/Level | Link/Information |
|---|---|
| Local | National Weather Service Detroit Homepage: https://www.weather.gov/dtx/ |
| Local | NWS Chat: https://nwschat.weather.gov |
| Local | Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab: https://www.glerl.noaa.gov |
| Local | NWS Detroit/Pontiac Home Page (White Lake Site): https://www.weather.gov/dtx/ |
| Michigan | National Weather Service Detroit Homepage: https://www.weather.gov/ |
| National | NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration: https://www.noaa.gov/ |
| Michigan | Lansing - SKYWARN Lansing Area/Ingham County SKYWARN http://www.lansingarpsc.com/skywarn/ |
| Michigan | Genesee ARPSC http://www.gc-arpsc.org/ |
| Michigan | Grand Rapids NWS https://www.weather.gov/grr/ |
| Michigan | St. Clair County - SKYWARN http://www.stclaircounty.org/offices/emerg_mngmt/skywarn.aspx |
| Regional | Midwest Severe Storm Tracking/Response Center: http://www.midwestsstrc.org/ |
| Training | What is Skywarn? https://www.nws.noaa.gov/skywarn/ |
| Training | National Weather Service Safety Education Page: https://www.weather.gov/safety |
| Training | Role of the Skywarn Spotter: https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_module.php?id=817 |
| National | Storm Prepardness: http://www.readt.gov/ |
| National | Spotter's Glossary: Spotter terms |
| National | Weather Prediction Center: https://www.ncep.noaa.gov/ |
| National | NOAA Madius Surface Weather Map [CWOP Results]: NOAA Madis Surface Weather Observation Map |
| National | Storm Prediction Center: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/ |
| National | National Centers for Environmental Information: http://www.ncel.noaa.gov/ |
| National | Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL): http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/ |
Weather Related Sites
Includes Hurricane Links
Does not impact Michigan too much, but you need to steer clear of their operations and it can be interesting to listen in.
Click the name and it will take you to a Net's "WEB Site", for further information.
| Weather Links ~ By N4TYV a very large list of resources (several hundred 'Quicklinks').~ Weather and Hurricane Links (2014) from Randy Johnson, N4TYV |
| Hurricane Frequencies ~ By Hugh Stegman NV6H ~ Many places to listen. |
Some Hurricane Nets of interest are:
| Name | Frequency | Time | Some Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOiP SKYWARN/Hurricane Net | Echolink WX-TALK; IRLP Reflector 9219 | 0000 UTC Sundays | A weekly Prep Net is held on Sundays at 0000 UTC, which is Saturday evenings for most of North America. Join by connecting to the EchoLink WX-TALK conference server, IRLP Reflector 9219 or if necessary to one of the backup systems. Monitor the net during hurricanes and other major severe weather events. |
| Caribbean Emergency & Weather Net | 3.815 MHz | Daily 1030Z and 2230Z | The Caribbean Emergency and Weather Net was established in 1958 by Colonel Henry Frew, KV4BZ, for the purpose of having a general calling frequency for the Caribbean Islands and their North and South American friends. The net's original name was the Antilles Emergency Net. |
| Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network [SATERN] | 14.265 MHz | The purpose of the SATERN net is to support the Salvation Army operations in local, regional and international disaster situations, as well as other functions. | |
| Hurricane Watch Net | 14.325 MHz (day)7.268 MHz (night) | Activated whenever a hurricane is within 300 statute miles of expected land-fall. Disseminates storm information and relays meteorological data to National Hurricane Center via embedded NHC station WX4NHC. Also relays post-storm damage reports and other relevant information. | |
| Intercontinental Net | 14.300 MHz | 0700 EDT | Provides a means of emergency communications to any location where the normal means are disrupted by local disaster such as fire, earthquake, storms, floods and terrorist activity. |
| Maritime Mobile Service Net | 14.300 MHz | 1200 PM to 1000 PM EDT | The network acts as a weather beacon for ships during periods of severe weather and regularly repeats high seas and tropical weather warnings and bulletins from the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center. |
| 14.300 MHz Net Information | 14.300 MHz | More information about nets on 14.300 MHz. (Usually Maritime Mobiles) |
Usually not critical for Michigan residents, however a great listening opportunity to hear how Emergency Operations can operate.