NWS Gray ME SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team Operations Manual

National Weather Service Gray, ME

SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team

Operations Manual

Version: 02.20

Serving the County Warning Area (CWA) of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Gray, ME

Including: Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, and York Counties in Maine &

Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, and Sullivan Counties in New Hampshire

Introduction
1. Purpose of this Manual
2. Purpose of SKYWARN
3. Role of Amateur Radio in SKYWARN
4. SKYWARN and Storm Chasers
NWS Gray SKYWARN Team Structure
1. General Information
2. Organization Name
3. Mission Statement
4. Core Values
5. Legal Structure
6. Financial Structure
7. Assets and Liabilities
8. Ability to Further Organize
SKYWARN Operating Areas
1. Cooperation Among Operating Areas
2. SKYWARN Repeaters
3. Subnets
4. Special Provisions for New Operating Areas
SKYWARN Roles
1. SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator
  - Amateur Radio Coordinator Job Description
  - Amateur Radio Coordinator Position Qualifications
  - Selection of the Amateur Radio Coordinator
  - Duties of the Amateur Radio Coordinator
2. Assistant SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator
  - Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Position Qualifications
  - Selection of the Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator
  - Duties of the Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator
3. Area Managers
  - Area Manager Job Description
  - Area Manager Position Qualifications
  - Selection of the Area Managers
  - Duties of Area Manager
4. Net Managers
  - Net Manager Job Description
  - Net Manager Position Qualifications
  - Selection of Net Managers
  - Duties of the Net Manager
5. Net Control Operator
  - Net Control Operator Job Description
  - Net Control Operator Position Qualifications
  - Net Control Operator Station Requirements
  - Selection of Net Control Operators
  - Duties of the Net Control Operator
  - Activity Evaluation and Classification
  - Mix of Regular vs. Reserve NCO’s
6. Responder
  - Position Description
  - Position Qualifications
  - Selection of Responders
  - Duties of the Responder
  - Substitution with Net Controllers and Area Managers
Recruiting and Outreach
1. Recruiting Members
2. Spotter Outreach
3. Club Outreach
4. Public Outreach
5. NWS Outreach
6. Partnerships
Activating SKYWARN
1. Activation Criteria
  - Daytime Activation Criteria
  - Nighttime Activation Criteria
  - Use of Local Discretion for Activation
  - SKYWARN Radio Desk Activation Criteria
  - Handling Nets-In-Progress at End of Day
2. Activation Forecasting
  - Amateur Radio Coordinator Role in Forecasting
  - Coordination with NWS Employees
  - SKYWARN Risk Assessments
3. Activation Procedures
  - Area Manager Role in Activations
  - Team Activation Notifications
  - Notification of Partners
  - NWS Notification
  - Deactivation
General Net Procedures
1. Before the Net
2. Acquiring the Frequency
3. NCO Station Identification
4. Net Scripts
  - Official Scripts
  - Unofficial Scripts
  - Mandatory Script Content
5. Informal vs. Directed Nets
  - Informal Nets Defined
  - Directed Nets Defined
  - Transitioning Net Formats
6. Net Check-Ins
  - Purpose of Check-Ins
  - Information Collected
  - Welfare Check-ups
  - Roll Calls
  - Handing Off Net Control
  - Record Keeping Requirements
7. Taking Reports
  - Reportable Events
  - All Reports Taken
  - Information Collected
  - Logging Requirements
  - Handling Sensitive Information
8. Relaying Reports
  - Sending Reports to NWS
  - Send Urgent Reports by Phone
  - Relaying via Radio
9. Dealing with the Unexpected
  - Frequency Conflicts
  - NCO or WFO Under Direct Threat
  - Widespread Loss of SKYWARN Repeaters
  - Telephone Outage in Areas Unreachable by WFO via VHF
10. Handling Fraudulent or Suspect Reports
  - Identifying Suspicious Reports
  - Probing for Clarity
  - Logging and Relaying Suspect Reports
Radio Desk Operations
1. Decision to Activate
2. Staffing Considerations
3. Service Level Commitment
4. Guests
5. NWS Office Operating Conditions
6. Volunteering for Responder Duty
7. Interaction with NWS Employees
8. Access to the WFO
9. Personal Items
10. Briefing Upon Arrival
11. Security Policies
WX1GYX Station Regulations
1. Call Sign Usage
2. Operating Privileges, Control Operators
3. WX1GYX License Trustee
4. Modification or Renewal of WX1GYX License
5. WX1GYX Station Equipment
6. WX1GYX Equipment Maintenance
7. Ownership of WX1GYX Equipment
8. Equipment Loans
9. Equipment Donations
Interoperability Plan
1. Activation Types Defined
2. Routine Event Interop Plan
3. Major Event Interop Plan
Relationship with Other EMCOMM Organizations
1. Policy Introduction
2. EMCOMM Leadership Members in SKYWARN Leadership Rolesn
3. Guidelines for Third Party EMCOMM Teams Supporting SKYWARN
  - Prevailing Policies and Procedures
  - SKYWARN Support of Third Party EMCOMM Teams
  - Third Party EMCOMM Team Sponsorship of SKYWARN Nets
  - SKYWARN Communications Channels
Reporting Criteria
1. Rainfall
2. Flooding
3. Winter Weather
4. New Snowfall

Appendix A. Hurricane Watch Net
Appendix B. Directions to NWS Gray
Appendix C. County Warning Areas of Adjacent NWS Forecast Offices
Appendix D. ARES Frequency Allocations
1. Maine ARES Frequencies
2. New Hampshire ARES Frequencies
Appendix E. Traffic, Weather, ARES, & RACES Nets
Appendix F. 2 Meter FM Simplex Coverage
Appendix G. Forms
1. Log Sheet
2. Severe Weather Report Form – For use at the NWS Weather Desk
Appendix H. Instructions for Linking & Unlinking Repeaters on the KQ1L System
Appendix I. NBEMS and Digital Messaging
Appendix J. SKYWARN Amateur Radio Network
Appendix K. Radio Equipment at the NWS Gray Radio Desk
1. Yaesu FT-8900
2. Kenwood TS570 HF Transceiver
3. Connect Systems CS801 DMR Transceiver
  - Changing between Talk Groups
  - Changing between Zones (Repeaters)
Appendix L. NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team Contacts

1. Introduction

1.a. Purpose of this Manual

This manual is designed to be used as a reference guide for NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team operations in the area that comprises the County Warning Area (CWA) of the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office in Gray, Maine. The NWS Gray and SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team have a large area of responsibility which includes numerous counties and cities in portions of two states. Some variation in local operating practices and tastes is expected and allowed, and this document serves only as a baseline reference to establish and ensure continuity of operations. Policies and procedures may vary slightly from one Operating Area to another and from time to time. These variances may not be immediately reflected in this Manual.

1.b. Purpose of SKYWARN

SKYWARN is the NWS national network of trained volunteer severe weather Spotters. SKYWARN volunteerssupport their local community and government by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to issue timely and accurate warnings of impending dangerous weather conditions. In addition, working with emergency management officials, SKYWARN Spotters can help provide their communities with advance warning of impending hazardous weather and provide the realtime ground truth required to appropriately respond to these threats.

1.c. Role of Amateur Radio in SKYWARN

Amateur radio has been, and probably always will be, a vital link in the NWS warning system. Fortunately, in the NWS Gray CWA there are hundreds of trained SKYWARN Spotters, a large percentage of which are amateur radio operators. Amateur radio operators possess many characteristics that make them ideal members of the SKYWARN team.

It is the desire of the National Weather Service to utilize, to the fullest possible extent, all the capabilities and technologies that amateur radio has to offer. The SKYWARN Radio Desk and all equipment is either donated by public service-minded amateurs or has been purchased by the National Weather Service. All equipment is maintained by amateur radio operators volunteering their time and expertise. The close working relationship between the NWS and the amateur radio community provides many special benefits to each group. These benefits are highlighted in the following goals for the NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team:

To provide the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports via amateur radio. This includes both incoming reports of severe weather per the NWS criteria and amateur radio operators making observations at specific locations in response to NWS requests.
To create and maintain an organized communication network for passing critical severe weather traffic in a timely fashion to and from the NWS in the event that normal communications are disrupted. The NWS has lost normal communications in the past and it is likely the SKYWARN Radio Desk would be activated in future communication emergencies.
To disseminate warnings, statements, and other products issued by the NWS to the amateur radio community. Every attempt is made to disseminate all statements and warnings issued by NWS over the SKYWARN Net to keep amateurs informed of developing situations and to practice for situations when normal communication channels fail.
To organize and train amateur radio operators to prepare themselves and their families for disaster or emergency weather related situations so that they make be available to assist in emergency net operations. This preparedness training is critical if the SKYWARN system is to operate reliably during true emergency situations.
To maintain a Spotter network that is transparent to jurisdictional and political boundaries and operates uniformly across the entire CWA. The Team is not directly affiliated with any club, group, or organization.

1.d. SKYWARN and Storm Chasers

Local perspectives on storm chasing continue to evolve with time. As the National Weather Service finds increasing value in the contributions of qualified storm chasers, the SKYWARN amateur radio network must evolve to support those needs.

Storm chasing remains a secondary focus at best, and we continue to maintain a position in line with the NWS Gray Forecast Office. That is, we do not recommend, endorse, or encourage storm chasing. However, we will communicate with, and provide reporting channels for, qualified storm chasers who wish to participate in our nets.

For purposes of this program, the term “storm chasing" shall be applied to the intentional pursuit of severe weather, regardless of whether such activities are for purposes of severe weather reporting, photography, videography, research, or thrill.

The National Weather Service and the NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team consider the safety of all SKYWARN volunteers to be of paramount importance. SKYWARN Spotters and other persons who choose to engage in storm chasing do so at their own risk and completely independent of their involvement in the SKYWARN program. The National Weather Service and the SKYWARN program accept no responsibility for the decisions of SKYWARN program participants with regard to storm chasing and can assume no liability for damages arising from the use of SKYWARN reports in storm chasing or any other activities.

2. NWS Gray SKYWARN Team Structure

2.a. General Information

The NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team is a public service organization dedicated to service to the National Weather Service during periods of severe weather. SKYWARN is open to all qualifying amateur radio operators and is an independent group not directly affiliated with any other club, group, or organization. SKYWARN consists of several key elements. The first of these elements is the NWS SKYWARN Program Manager and Focal Point(s). These individuals are NWS employees who are responsible for overseeing the operation of the network, for selecting and appointing key SKYWARN personnel, and for acting as contact points for the NWS among the amateur radio community. The Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) serves as the Program Manager and may appoint SKYWARN Focal Point(s) to perform day-to-day functions associated with the SKYWARN network.

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, along with his Area Managers organize the operation of the entire SKYWARN amateur radio network in accordance with the needs and guidance set forth by the NWS. This volunteer position is elected by majority vote of the NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team, but should be approved by the NWS SKYWARN Program Manager, to ensure that the person chosen can work well with NWS personnel and to ensure stability in the position. The Coordinator must possess superior communication and coordination skills and should be readily available to the NWS, both for severe weather net activations and for consultation on amateur radio issues. The Amateur Radio Coordinator Job Description can be found on page 8 in this manual.

Nothing could be accomplished without Net Control Operators (NCO) and Responders. Net Controllers and Responders are both responsible for operating the local SKYWARN nets during activations, and Responders have the additional role of operating the SKYWARN Radio Desk at the NWS Gray WFO during particularly severe weather events or communication disruptions.

2.b. Organization Name

The organization has in the past been known as “Yankee SKYWARN” and “Maine-New Hampshire SKYWARN.” During the SKYWARN Strategy Meeting on December 7, 2019, the official name that was chosen is: “NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team.” The names “NWS Gray SKYWARN Team,” or simply, “NWS Gray SKYWARN” are the only acceptable variations.

2.c. Mission Statement

The NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team exists to provide communication services for the collection of severe weather reports and dissemination of critical weather information in support of the National Weather Service and its mission to protect life and property by improving warning accuracy.

2.d. Core Values

Since 2014, the NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team has operated under seven Core Values which guide everything we do:

Dedication - We serve the National Weather Service and each other with a spirit of commitment and dedication to our common mission to protect life and property.
Education - We value each other’s interests, skills, and experiences and we actively and publicly share our talents and our knowledge.
Integrity - We act honestly and in the best interest of the SKYWARN mission in everything we do.
Respect - We recognize the duties each person on the team has volunteered to perform and we appreciate their hard work, even when things go wrong.
Teamwork - No one person can carry the weight of the SKYWARN program. It takes many people working together with diverse skills and a common goal to achieve success.
Community Involvement - We share our educational resources and our intellectual assets freely with the communities we serve and strive to be good neighbors and partners in the amateur radio world and our communities in general.
Continuous Improvement - We aim to do a lot of things right and want to be the best, but in order to truly be the best we need to accept that sometimes we'll fail, and that's okay as long as we learn something from it and use that experience to make ourselves stronger.

2.e. Legal Structure

The team currently operates without formal legal structure. Each member is volunteering his or her time, resources, and efforts to the National Weather Service directly. While there is some formal leadership structure to the team, it is not its own distinct legal entity.

2.f. Financial Structure

The team does not have or manage its own finances. Occasional funding for equipment needs is accomplished through the normal budget and procurement process at the National Weather Service, though the primary source of equipment and supplies remains individual donations from team members and partners. The team does not maintain its own physical assets; radio equipment and operational supplies are considered property of the National Weather Service.

The giving of cash or cash-equivalent donations to the team is formally discouraged. Individuals and organizations wishing to donate physical goods such as radio equipment, accessories, or supplies should do so to the National Weather Service. This may be accomplished through the team's leadership structure or by direct contact with the SKYWARN Program Manager.

Lacking any financial structure or assets, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team is unable to reimburse its leadership, members, or other individuals for any equipment, supplies, services, or other purchases, or for mileage, insurance, or any other expenses.

2.g. Assets and Liabilities

In general, all equipment installed at NWS Gray is the property of the United States Department of Commerce. Certain incidental supplies, such as binders, notebooks, pens, paper, food, beverages, etc. at the SKYWARN amateur radio station are supplied by and at the sole expense of the purchasing Amateur Radio Coordinator, Area Manager, Responder, Net Control Operator, or other individual, and become the property of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Support Team.

2.h. Ability to Further Organize

Nothing in this manual shall be construed as to restrict the ability to further organize the team. There would be substantial benefit to incorporating the team as a non-profit organization, and the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator has the ability to restructure the team accordingly in the future.

3. SKYWARN Operating Areas

To better organize the structure of the SKYWARN program and to ensure efficient operation and adequate network staffing during SKYWARN activations, the NWS Gray County Warning Area has been broken down into several Operating Areas. The boundaries of these Operating Areas are generally based on repeater coverage. Each Operating Area is directed by an Area Manager. In the event of a vacancy in that position, the personnel within that Operating Area will report directly to the Amateur Radio Coordinator until the position is filled. The basic duties of the Area Manager are outlined in this manual.

The Area Manager oversees his group of qualified, trained Net Control Stations and ensures that at least two Net Control Operators (or the Area Manager) are available to start a net at all times, throughout the year.

3.a. Cooperation Among Operating Areas

It is often possible for a Net Control Operator in one Operating Area to access the designated SKYWARN repeater in a neighboring Operating Area. Area Managers and their Net Control Operators are expected to cooperate with one another by taking whatever actions are necessary to ensure neighboring nets are covered with a qualified Net Control Operator as needed.

Net Control Operator volunteers shall provide a list of designated SKYWARN repeaters which he/she can access from the location(s) from which they will be serving as NCO, and shall provide updates to this list as station or repeater changes modify station capabilities.

Area Managers whose territories lie at the outer boundaries of the NWS CWA are strongly encouraged to become familiar with and forge a positive, cooperative relationship, with neighboring SKYWARN amateur radio teams.

3.b. SKYWARN Repeaters

In the spirit of good amateur radio practice, the SKYWARN leadership will secure permission from the trustee of each Primary repeater prior to its designation as a Primary SKYWARN repeater.

Generally, no such permission will be sought for repeaters periodically used as Backup repeaters. Repeaters selected for Primary use should be wide-coverage repeaters readily accessible from handheld and mobile stations within the majority of the Operating Area the repeater will serve.

The repeaters should have a track record of reliability and availability, and should be equipped with a minimum of four hours of battery and/or generator backup power. Additional consideration will be given to repeaters with any sort of linking capability.

3.c. Subnets

Some Operating Areas may have Subnets in locations where the Primary SKYWARN Repeater or link system does not have adequate coverage. It is suggested, but not required, that each Subnet be under the direction of a designated Net Manager. The Net Manager role is described in this manual.

Staffing of the Primary Net takes priority; Net Control Operators should be assigned to the Primary Net first, and any remaining Net Control Operators may then be assigned to the Subnet. An exception exists for situations where severe weather is confined to the territory served by the Subnet, in which case it is only necessary to activate the Subnet for that event.

3.d. Special Provisions for New Operating Areas

To facilitate the launch of new Operating Areas or the relaunch of a defunct Operating Area, the Amateur Radio Coordinator has the right to waive some of the training, experience, and licensing requirements. Frequency designations may be made on a temporary basis pending formal approval of repeater trustees and an evaluation of the team's capabilities. Spotter training requirements may be relaxed provided team members are willing to obtain the required training within one year.

4. SKYWARN Roles

4.a. SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator

4.a.1. Amateur Radio Coordinator Job Description

The Amateur Radio Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of the operation of the amateur radio team and its relationship between the team and both the National Weather Service and various outside organizations.

The coordinator should be a trained SKYWARN amateur radio volunteer. He/she is expected to provide technical expertise and assistance to the SKYWARN Program Manager. The coordinator is expected to effectively coordinate SKYWARN efforts over a multi-state area with a wide variety of radio clubs, groups and organizations. He/she should be easily accessible at all times and be willing to devote time and effort to this important cause. The coordinator should, ideally, live within reasonable commuting distance of the NWS WFO Gray. This person should have an interest in the SKYWARN program and be able to work well with the NWS SKYWARN Program Manager and other NWS staff.

4.a.2. Amateur Radio Coordinator Position Qualifications

To be eligible to serve as the Amateur Radio Coordinator, the candidate must meet the following criteria:

Must meet all Net Control Operator Position Qualifications as specified on page 14 of this manual.
Must possess a valid General Class or higher amateur radio license.
Must possess and maintain valid SKYWARN Spotter training from the NWS Gray WFO.
Must be willing and able to respond to the WFO for SKYWARN activations and other administrative tasks as needed.
Must be willing and able to attend Spotter training events and provide outreach services across the entire CWA throughout the year.
Must have strong communication and leadership skills. A professional background in a supervisory or management role is preferred.
Must not be serving in a leadership or supervisory role with any other emergency communications organization (for example, ARES/RACES, Red Cross, etc).
Must have reliable access to the Internet and all potential frequencies and modes of communication (such as VHF FM, HF SSB, DMR & Winlink).
Is recommended to have completed FEMA IS.100, IS.200, IS.700, and IS.800 ICS/NIMS training.

Additional qualifying conditions may be imposed by the SKYWARN Program Manager.

4.a.3. Selection of the Amateur Radio Coordinator

The Amateur Radio Coordinator is an elected position and may serve as long as he/she is willing to volunteer. As the served agency, the National Weather Service will be responsible for approving any Coordinator elected by the team. In the event that the Coordinator position is left vacant, the NWS Program Manager may ask the remaining members of the SKYWARN Leadership Team to assist with suggestions or nominations for the position.

4.a.4. Duties of the Amateur Radio Coordinator

The basic duties of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator are as follows:

Serve as a SKYWARN Spotter and attend training classes whenever possible. Attendance of Spotter training classes is intended both to solidify personal training as a Spotter and also to provide representation for the amateur radio team. The Amateur Radio Coordinator should take a few minutes during each class to speak to the amateur radio operators and prospective hams in the room about the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Support Team, including amateur radio's role in SKYWARN and how to get involved personally.
Work with Area Managers in the organization and operation of the SKYWARN network, including the recruitment and training of Responders, Net Control Operators, and Spotters.
Assist the NWS SKYWARN Program Manager as a technical expert on amateur radio matters.
Ensure that Area Managers and/or Responders are on call at all times to receive the activation call from the National Weather Service.
Ensure that Responders are dispatched to the National Weather Service when needed or requested by NWS staff.
Assist in the creation and maintenance of the SKYWARN Operations Manual.
Coordinate simple and effective procedures for communication between the WFO and the local SKYWARN nets through the use of the most effective frequencies and modes.
Coordinate SKYWARN activities with ARES/RACES and other amateur radio and government groups and agencies to best fulfill the goals of the NWS SKYWARN program.
Maintain the SKYWARN Radio Desk and assist in the acquisition of new equipment when necessary. See WX1GYX Equipment Maintenance on page 43.
Coordinate with SKYWARN nets in adjacent CWA's to establish backup procedures and to share ideas and strategies.
Coordinate, attend, and participate in SKYWARN Leadership meetings/calls.
Issue SKYWARN Risk Assessment Bulletins or other communications to keep all team members abreast of important weather conditions which may impact the team throughout the next 24 to 36 hours. These bulletins are covered in “6.b.3. SKYWARN Risk Assessments" on page 25. The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator may also delegate this task to an Assistant Coordinator or Area Manager.

4.b. Assistant SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator

The Assistant SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator is responsible for assisting with all aspects of the operation of the amateur radio team and its relationship between the team and both the National Weather Service and various outside organizations.

The assistant coordinator should be a trained SKYWARN amateur radio volunteer. He/she is expected to assist the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator as directed. He/she should be easily accessible at all times and be willing to devote time and effort to this important cause. The assistant coordinator should, ideally, live within reasonable commuting distance of the NWS WFO Gray. This person should have an interest in the SKYWARN program and be able to work well with the NWS SKYWARN Program Manager and other NWS staff. He/she shall assume all duties of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator in his/her absence.

4.b.1. Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Position Qualifications

To be eligible to serve as the Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator, the candidate must meet all the qualifications required of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator.

4.b.2. Selection of the Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator

The Amateur Radio Coordinator is an elected position and may serve as long as he/she is willing to volunteer. As the served agency, the National Weather Service will be responsible for approving any Coordinator elected by the team. In the event that the Amateur Radio Coordinator position is left vacant, the NWS Program Manager may ask the remaining members of the SKYWARN Leadership Team to assist with suggestions or nominations for the position.

4.b.3. Duties of the Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator

The duties of the Assistant SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator are to serve as an advisor to the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, and to assist as requested, with any of the duties and/or functions required of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator.

4.c. Area Managers

4.c.1. Area Manager Job Description

The Area Manager is responsible for all local SKYWARN operations within his or her assigned Operating Area. From time to time, an Area Manager may be asked to help with activities in another Operating Area or at the WFO, and an Area Manager may be assigned to more than one Operating Area.

4.c.2. Area Manager Position Qualifications

To be eligible to serve as Area Manager, the following basic conditions must be met by the candidate:

Must meet all Net Control Operator Position Qualifications as specified on page 14 of this manual.
Must possess and maintain valid SKYWARN Spotter training from the Gray WFO.
Must be willing and able to periodically travel to the Gray WFO for administrative tasks as needed.
Must be willing and able to attend Spotter training events and provide outreach services across the assigned Operating Area throughout the year.
Must have strong communication and leadership skills. A professional background in a supervisory or management role is preferred.
Must not be serving in a leadership or supervisory role with any other emergency communications organization (for example, ARES/RACES, Red Cross, etc.) where such involvement may adversely impact the ability to adequately serve SKYWARN during activations. Exceptions may be made for short-term/interim appointments expected to last 6 months or less.
Must have reliable access to the Internet and all potential frequencies and modes of communication (such as VHF FM, HF SSB, DMR & Winlink).

4.c.3. Selection of the Area Manager

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator may appoint, in consultation with the team, one or more Area Managers to assist him in his role as Coordinator. It is generally preferred to maintain a ratio of one Area Manager per Operating Area except in the case of newly formed Operating Areas or the promotion of a new Area Manager, in which case an additional, seasoned Area Manager may be assigned.

4.c.4. Duties of the Area Manager

The Area Manager's duties are similar to those of the Coordinator, but the focus is more local. In the NWS Gray SKYWARN program, each Area Manager will generally be responsible for a single Operating Area and will focus on the recruiting, training, and activation of qualified Net Control Operators for his individual territory.

The Area Manager is expected to attend as many local NWS SKYWARN Spotter training classes as possible and engage in other community service, public relations, or program awareness activities at the local level. This may include periodic SKYWARN outreach presentations to local clubs.

Additionally, forming and maintaining operating agreements with local repeater operators within each Operating Area are the responsibility of the Area Manager. The duties of the Amateur Radio Coordinator may periodically be delegated to one or more Area Managers.

4.d. Net Managers

4.d.1. Net Manager Job Description

A Net Manager may be appointed to oversee a local Subnet. The Net Manager is responsible for ensuring the Subnet activates and operates as needed for severe weather events and provides coordination of Net Control Operator resources between the Subnet and the Primary Net.

4.d.2. Net Manager Position Qualifications

The Net Manager shall meet all of the Net Control Operator Position Qualifications specified on page 14. Additionally, the Net Manager shall possess the communication capabilities required for the operation of his/her designated net and should have the basic leadership capabilities required to properly manage the Net Control Station resources assigned to his/her net.

4.d.3. Selection of Net Managers

Area Managers are responsible for selection of Net Managers serving a Subnet within their assigned Operating Area(s) and may freely add or remove Net Managers as desired. The Amateur Radio Coordinator may also directly add or remove Net Managers for a local Subnet as needed.

4.d.4. Duties of the Net Manager

The Net Manager shall:

Use existing Net Control Operators to staff his Subnet after the Primary Net is properly staffed.
Coordinate the relay of reports from the Subnet to either the Primary Net or the National Weather Service as may be necessary during a communications or systems outage.
Work with the Area Manager to address staffing deficiencies and other operational challenges.
The HF Net Manager reports directly to the Amateur Radio Coordinator instead of an Area Manager.

4.e. Net Control Operator

4.e.1. Net Control Operator Job Description

The Net Control Operator (NCO) is the most critical position in any SKYWARN activation. It is a role that challenges all of an amateur radio operator's communications and technical skills. It is also an extremely responsible position in that the safety of lives and property may rest on the amateur's skills. Although this role is challenging, with proper training and experience, it can also be extremely rewarding when a net is run effectively.

The Reserve Net Control Operator (Reserve NCO) position is available to persons interested in serving as a SKYWARN Net Control Operator on a less frequent basis. Individuals with availability restrictions or other commitments which limit their ability to serve SKYWARN may join as a Reserve NCO. Additionally, regular NCO's who have not participated in SKYWARN activations for an extended period of time may be reclassified as a Reserve NCO.

4.e.2. Net Control Operator Position Qualifications

To serve as a Net Control Operator the following criteria must be met:

Must possess a valid Technician Class or higher amateur radio license. A General Class license or higher is preferred, especially in situations where the Net Control Operator may be required to communicate with WX1GYX or other EMCOMM entities via HF.
Must maintain valid SKYWARN Spotter training from the NWS Gray WFO, or obtain this training within 90 days of joining the team.
Must attend and complete a SKYWARN Net Control Operator training course prior to enlisting as a member and must attend refresher training at least once every three years or as otherwise directed.
Must have a computer and Internet access for logging and relaying of reports. Shortterm backup power for the computer and Internet connectivity is preferred. Must be reasonably comfortable with the operation of the computer, including web browser, basic productivity software, and e-mail.
Must possess and maintain sufficient communications equipment to be able to reliably operate the primary SKYWARN net (see Station Requirements, below).
Must have excellent organization and communications skills. Past experience as a Net Control for any EMCOMM organization is preferred but not required.
Must have a cell phone for notification purposes; mobile e-mail capability is highly recommended.
Must have a working NOAA Weather Radio receiver; SAME capability is recommended.

All of the preceding criteria also apply to Reserve Net Control Operators, except:

Must attend and complete a SKYWARN Net Control Operator training annually unless minimum participation expectations are met.

If a Reserve NCO logs at least one report during a SKYWARN activation in the course of a calendar year, the mandatory 1-year recertification requirement will usually be waived. The Reserve NCO may opt to take the 1-year recertification training, and is encouraged to do so, but it will not usually be required. In any event, the Area Manager may choose to require more frequent training of any NCO, including a Reserve NCO, based on performance or other needs.

4.e.3. Net Control Operator Station Requirements

It is essential that the Net Control Operator's station meet minimum design and performance standards to ensure reliability and continued service in adverse operating conditions.

The station must be able to reliably access the primary SKYWARN repeater and at least one backup repeater within the Operating Area. In most areas, this requires only a 2-meter radio.
The station must be equipped with backup power capable of sustaining continuous net operation for a period of at least three hours. This backup power may be any combination of battery, generator, or alternative energy source. Local amateur radio clubs can prove an invaluable tool in designing and implementing a proper backup power system. Prospective Net Control Operators are encouraged to reach out to other amateurs for assistance with their backup power system if building one from scratch to support SKYWARN.

Reserve NCO station requirements are the same, except:

Backup power requirements are waived.

All other regular NCO station requirements remain in place for Reserve NCO's.

4.e.4. Selection of Net Control Operators

Net Control Operators are recruited from among the general amateur radio population and are not specifically selected or appointed by SKYWARN leadership. Any interested amateur who qualifies and completes the required training may participate as a Net Control Operator.

4.e.5. Duties of the Net Control Operator

The Net Control Operator is responsible for:

Operating the SKYWARN Net in accordance with prescribed operating procedure.
Managing net check-ins and check-outs and maintaining a list of stations currently checked in.
Appropriately managing the flow of traffic on the repeater during both informal and directed nets.
Exercising good judgment in the transition to and from a directed net as required based on traffic flow and current warnings.
Logging all reports received, regardless of whether the reports meet Reporting Criteria.
Relaying those reports which meet Reporting Criteria to the National Weather Service.
Executing requests for reports from specific areas as may be received from NWS employees, Area Managers, or other channels.
Constructively and creatively working alongside other nets which may be active on the same frequency at the same time during large-scale or high-impact events, for example, ARES nets.
Ensuring the frequency remains clear for regular amateur radio use during informal nets and that the frequency remains clear for SKYWARN traffic during directed nets.
Disseminating new watches, warnings, advisories, and statements over the air and periodically providing a recap of existing products.
Handling other incidental emergency traffic as may occur from time to time. Net Control Operators are truly on the front lines of the SKYWARN program and are expected to conduct their nets in a professional and courteous manner at all times.

4.e.6. Activity Evaluation and Classification

Net Control Operators are expected to regularly volunteer to serve as Net Control for SKYWARN activations. This includes periodically operating as a primary Net Control, logging reports from Spotters. Net Control Operator activity will be evaluated based on the number of reports logged and number of days active in the previous 18 months.

Net Control Operators who do not log at least one report in a rolling 18-month period will be systematically reclassified as a Reserve NCO and will be subject to the training requirements applicable to that position.

Reserve NCO's wishing to be moved to regular NCO status can request this change through their Area Manager.

4.e.7. Mix of Regular vs. Reserve NCO's

Area Managers should maintain a minimum of 3 regular NCO's and 3 Reserve NCO's to ensure adequate staffing levels are available. Aside from the minimum headcount, there is no required ratio of regular to Reserve NCO's.

4.f. Responder

4.f.1. Position Description

The Responder is a specially-trained operator who staffs the SKYWARN Radio Desk inside the NWS Gray WFO.

4.f.2. Position Qualifications

To serve as a Responder the following criteria must be met:

Must meet all Net Control Operator Position Qualifications as specified on page 14 of this manual.
Must possess a valid General Class or higher amateur radio license.
Must maintain valid SKYWARN Spotter training from the NWS Gray WFO.
Must be willing to travel to the WFO for SKYWARN activations, which may occur on very short notice and may run anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days.
Must possess the skills necessary to work with a number of Net Control Operators, Area Managers, and NWS employees.
Must be familiar with standard VHF, DMR, and HF net operating procedures.
Must be familiar with Winlink messaging functions.
Is recommended to have completed FEMA IS.100, IS.200, IS.700, and IS.800 training.

4.f.3. Selection of Responders

SKYWARN Responders are selected by the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator and the Area Managers. Responders are selected on the basis of their availability to operate the NWS Radio Desk and their individual experience and other qualifications.

Any Net Control Operator who is interested in becoming a Responder should contact the Amateur Radio Coordinator.

4.f.4. Duties of the Responder

The Responder is responsible for:

Being readily available to report to the WFO on short notice within his or her specified availability.
Effectively moving reports and radio traffic between the individual SKYWARN nets and the WFO.
Exercising good judgment in the utilization of repeater linking technologies and remote bases which the SKYWARN program has received specific authorization to use.
Serving as an on-air interface between the WFO and various emergency service organizations which may be active during large-scale and high-impact weather events.
Periodically running individual SKYWARN nets in the absence of a Net Control Operator.
Efficiently working alongside the NWS employees at the WFO in the movement of reports and requests for reports between the WFO and SKYWARN nets.

To the NWS employees in the WFO, Responders are the “faces” of amateur radio. All Responders are required to maintain a professional appearance and attitude, treat the NWS employees and other SKYWARN volunteers with respect and courtesy, and continuously maintain a high standard of conduct when present in the WFO. Any misconduct on the part of a Responder may result in immediate discharge from the WFO and the SKYWARN program.

4.f.5. Substitution with Net Controllers and Area Managers

In extreme circumstances when no Responder is available to operate the SKYWARN Radio Desk, one or more Net Control Operators and/or Area Managers who otherwise possess the necessary license class and experience may be dispatched to the WFO to serve in the Responder role.

5. Recruiting and Outreach

The continued success of the SKYWARN team depends on a non-stop evolutionary cycle of teaching, developing, and advancing current members and bringing new members into the program. Outreach functions involve establishing and maintaining relationships with our partners in the communities we serve.

5.a. Recruiting Members

The primary responsibility for recruiting new team members lies with the Area Managers. In those circumstances where a new Operating Area is being launched or there is no Area Manager, the Amateur Radio Coordinator assumes a direct responsibility for team member recruitment.

5.b. Spotter Outreach

Area Managers are encouraged to attend Spotter training classes held in their assigned Operating Area(s). In the event an Area Manager cannot attend, he is expected to notify the Amateur Radio Coordinator as soon as possible to that appropriate coverage can be obtained. While attending Spotter training classes, the person representing the team should:

Introduce himself/herself to the NWS employees conducting the session prior to its start.
Work with the NWS employees to find a convenient time to address the audience.
Talk briefly about what amateur radio is and what role it plays in the SKYWARN program.
Provide local frequency information.
Share contact information for those who are licensed and want to get involved in the ham radio team or who are unlicensed and are considering getting licensed.
Answer any audience questions.
Remain available after the class to talk one-on-one with class participants. The person representing the team is expected to dress appropriately and provide a professional appearance and attitude on behalf of the team at all times.

5.c. Club Outreach

In order to remain visible and maintain a good relationship with the amateur radio community it is imperative that both the Amateur Radio Coordinator and Area Managers frequently engage in basic outreach work throughout their assigned Operating Area(s).

This outreach work can be anything from simply being present at club meetings to put a face on SKYWARN, up to full outreach presentations that discuss how club members can support the SKYWARN program with their reports and by volunteering as Net Control Operators.

Whenever feasible, Area Managers and the Amateur Radio Coordinator are encouraged to maintain a personal membership with as many local amateur radio clubs as possible and participate in as many club activities as possible as a means of developing a mutual support system between the club and SKYWARN.

5.d. Public Outreach

Public outreach opportunities most frequently come in the form of outreach presentations to Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and a presence at local hamfests. Many hamfests offer no-charge tables to non-selling organizations such as SKYWARN, and the team maintains a display board and a collection of printable materials which can be used for any sort of public outreach opportunity.

Area Managers are encouraged to get SKYWARN involved in these sorts of activities and should work through the Amateur Radio Coordinator to get NWS employees involved whenever possible.

5.e. NWS Outreach

NWS Outreach opportunities occur whenever there is an interaction between a SKYWARN amateur radio team member and an NWS employee. In particular, there should be an effort to familiarize new forecasters with the team and our procedures for activation. Journeyman Forecasters cycling into the WFO represent a prime opportunity for education on amateur radio and how it supports NWS operations through the SKYWARN program. Additional outreach opportunities can be coordinated between the Amateur Radio Coordinator and the NWS.

5.f. Partnerships

The Amateur Radio Coordinator is encouraged to maintain a close relationship with our emergency service partners in several key organizations:

Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES).
Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).
New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NHHSEM)
County and Local emergency management personnel.

These partnerships can be accomplished by:

Serving as an ARES Official Emergency Station (OES) as SKYWARN Liaison.
Participating in EMA meetings, training, and drills.
Sharing report data with decision makers and emergency managers.
Involving local emergency management personnel in the SKYWARN training process.

It is absolutely critical that these relationships be developed and nurtured to ensure cooperation and interoperability during emergency situations.

6. Activating SKYWARN

6.a. Activation Criteria

The team is “on standby” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and should be able to provide emergency communications services and collection of spotter reports any time of the day or night.

To better utilize its human resources the team has implemented activation criteria which specify the circumstances under which routine report collection services will be provided to the NWS.

In general, amateur radio support services will be provided between 6 AM and 10 PM local time, according to the Daytime Activation Criteria. Nighttime Activation Criteria applies to operation outside these hours, and there is also a separate SKYWARN Radio Desk Activation Criteria.

6.a.1. Daytime Activation Criteria

The team will make itself available to the NWS upon request under any weather conditions and will self-activate between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm local time under any one or more of the following conditions:

Severe Thunderstorm Watch or Tornado Watch Issued, plus one or more of the following on the SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook:
1. Damaging Wind Risk at or above 15%.
2. Severe Hail Risk at or above 15%.
3. Tornado Risk at or above 2%.
Winter Storm/Blizzard/Ice Storm Warning issued.
Flood Watch for Flash Flooding (make sure to look at valid times of Watch as the lead time on issuance of these can be a day in advance unlike Severe/Tornado Watches which are usually only 3 to 6 hours)
Hurricane Warning issued.
Tropical Storm Warning issued.
Upon request from the National Weather Service via Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO) and/or email notification.

When any of these conditions are met, SKYWARN nets will prepare to activate and will go on the air once severe or potentially severe weather is impacting or about to impact the area, provided such weather conditions are occurring between the hours of 6 AM and 10 PM local time. The team will activate anytime there is a formal request from the NWS.

The team may be placed in a “standby” status when there is a threat of severe weather but the criteria provided here are not met.

Generally, if the wind, hail, and/or tornado risks levels are met on the Day 1 Convective Outlook, this should place the team in a standby status, with the issuance of a Watch, or the presence of locally severe weather conditions, serving as the trigger for net activation.

6.a.2. Nighttime Activation Criteria

Overnight activations of SKYWARN nets, between 10 PM and 6 AM local time, may occur under the following conditions:

Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch issued.
Hurricane Warning issued.
Tropical Storm Warning issued.
Upon request from the National Weather Service

It bears repeating that any formal request from the NWS for overnight support overrides any specific weather criteria stated here.

6.a.3. Use of Local Discretion for Activation

Often there are weather situations which warrant activation of a SKYWARN net but fall below the mandatory activation criteria listed in the previous two sections. All currently certified SKYWARN Net Control Operators and Leadership Team members have the authority to start a net at any time. Leadership Team members are encouraged to monitor weather situations closely and evaluate the likelihood of localized severe weather events which may justify calling a net.

Net Control Operators do not need to obtain permission from the Leadership Team to start a net, however, they are encouraged to consult with their Net Manager, Area Manager, or Amateur Radio Coordinator prior to going on the air when time permits.

For urgent situations, such as a tornado warning, available Net Controls should get a net on the air as quickly as possible. Notification of the Leadership Team is not done to request permission to start a net.

Rather, it allows the Leadership Team to locate backup Net Control resources and perform other activities in support of the net, including the generation of activation notificationsfor other team members, Spotters, and EMCOMM partners.

6.a.4. SKYWARN Radio Desk Activation Criteria

In many high-impact weather events such as tornado outbreaks and tropical weather systems it is important that we have a qualified Responder at the SKYWARN Radio Desk. Typically the SKYWARN Radio Desk is activated for large-scale or outbreak type weather events that have the potential to produce widespread damage or that will impact a large portion of the CWA, and at the request of either the NWS or Amateur Radio Coordinator. The Responder’s ability to travel safely to and from the WFO is always taken into consideration.

History hasshown that the amount of radio traffic drops offsharply overnight except in the worst of weather conditions and attempting to keep SKYWARN on the air overnight is usually counterproductive. It may become necessary, however, during very severe or dangerous weather events.

6.a.5. Handling Nets-In-Progress at End of Day

Any SKYWARN Net which is on the air at the end of the day (that is, the point at which the Nighttime Activation Criteria are set to take effect) is not automatically suspended. Provided there are stations checked in, the net should continue untilsuch time that it is reasonable to shut it down, or until the Net Control Operator's personal availability or stamina requires a net be closed. Ultimately it us up to the Area Manager to determine the most appropriate time to shut down a late evening net unless a request for longer operation has been received from the NWS.

6.b. Activation Forecasting

6.b.1. Amateur Radio Coordinator Role in Forecasting

The Amateur Radio Coordinator is responsible for monitoring all available products from the NWS to determine the general need for SKYWARN activation and amateur radio support over the next 24 to 36 hours. Some recommended products are:

SPC Day 1 and Day 2 Convective Outlooks (SWO).
HPC Day 1 and Day 2 QPF Excessive Rainfall Discussion (QPFERD).
HPC winter precipitation products.
NHC tropical products.
WFO GYX Area Forecast Discussion (AFD).
WFO GYX Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO).
Direct guidance from NWS employees.

In the short term (4-12 hours) the HWO and discussion with NWS forecasters are some of the best tools for determining the local need for SKYWARN support, in addition to these products:

SPC Mesoscale Discussions (MCD).
Severe Thunderstorm Watches.
Tornado Watches.
WFO GYX Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO).
Local Storm Reports (LSR) from WFO's and SPC.
Direct guidance from NWS employees.

Based on this guidance and the Activation Criteria specified on page 21, the Amateur Radio Coordinator should determine the potential needs for SKYWARN net activation and communicate this with the leadership team.

6.b.2. Coordination with NWS Employees

A decision to activate local nets will generally be an easy one when using the criteria and resources outlined above. Usually there will be no need to contact NWS employees for guidance on whether to activate local nets, and there is no need to notify the WFO of local net activations.

NWS employees should be consulted on the activation of the SKYWARN Radio Desk. For the majority of severe weather events there will be no substantial benefit to activating the SKYWARN Radio Desk. However, for large-scale or outbreak type weather events that have the potential to produce widespread damage or that will impact a large portion of the CWA simultaneously, activation of the SKYWARN Radio Desk is a possibility.

A phone call to the WFO several hours before the expected onset of severe weather will allow for discussion of the threat and will help make a decision to activate the SKYWARN Radio Desk. If either the Amateur Radio Coordinator or NWS employees determine the activation of the Radio Desk would be beneficial, the Amateur Radio Coordinator will use the Responder roster to develop a list of volunteers to staff the Radio Desk and should provide a list of names to the NWS employees as soon as possible.

6.b.3. SKYWARN Risk Assessments

The SKYWARN Risk Assessment (RA) is an internal bulletin produced by the Amateur Radio Coordinator or his designee which provides:

A headline with a brief description of the expected severe weather threat.
A one-or-two paragraph introduction to the severe weather threat.
The expected onset of severe weather.
The Operating Areas expected to be impacted by the event.
The expected duration of the event.
A Spotter Activation Outlook.
A Communications Team Action Message outlining the need for activation of local nets and/or the SKYWARN Radio Desk.

The RA should be distributed as early as possible and at least once every four to six hours while a severe weather threat exists.

Area Managers should use the information in the RA to assemble a team of Net Control Operators to staff the local SKYWARN net, while the Amateur Radio Coordinator prepares to staff the SKYWARN Radio Desk if necessary.

6.c. Activation Procedures

6.c.1. Area Manager Role in Activations

Area Managers are responsible for using the Risk Assessment and various NWS products as guidance in developing a schedule of Net Control Operators to staff the local SKYWARN net. The Area Manager should maintain information on individual Net Control availability and capabilities.

In the event that an insufficient number of Net Control Operators can be found to staff the net, neighboring Area Managers should be consulted regarding the sharing of Net Control resources across Operating Area boundaries. If linking technologies such as Echolink or IRLP are available, they may be used to bridge two Operating Areas together to overcome a staffing deficiency.

In no uncertain terms, the Area Manager is personally responsible for ensuring the primary net is on the air when it needs to be. If no Net Control resources are available within the Operating Area or an adjacent Area and no relief can be obtained through linking technologies, the Area Manager is required to run the net personally.

Area Managers should report to the Amateur Radio Coordinator when nets are on the air and when they are secured, and should also promptly communicate any problems or concerns that arise during the net.

6.c.2. Team Activation Notifications

The Amateur Radio Coordinator should send out an Activation Notification via e-mail or other electronic system to notify the team when SKYWARN is pending activation, activated, or deactivated in any Operating Area. At a minimum this should be sent to the impacted Operating Area and all Area Managers.

6.c.3. Notification of Partners

Notification of SKYWARN activation should be made to the appropriate SKYWARN partners including state, county and local EOC's in impacted areas, local emergency managers, and others who have requested to be notified of SKYWARN amateur radio activations.

Notification may be made electronically or over the air. The activation notification should include the anticipated date and time of activation (if future) and the frequencies on which SKYWARN will be active, if they differ from standard frequencies and protocols. For example, if there is a need to activate a net on HF, this will be indicated.

6.c.4. NWS Notification

It is not necessary to notify NWS employees when local SKYWARN nets are being activated or deactivated, unless they have requested such notification ahead of time. Since coordination with the NWS is required for activation of the SKYWARN Radio Desk, NWS employees will usually be aware of an amateur radio response to the WFO.

However, the Amateur Radio Coordinator should make a courtesy call to the WFO prior to the arrival of the Responders and should provide the estimated time of arrival and headcount. A list of Responder names should also be available in case it is requested by the NWS employees on duty.

6.c.5. Deactivation

Local SKYWARN nets may be deactivated once the severe weather threat has passed or upon closure of the Daytime Activation Criteria window, described on page 22.

Deactivation of the SKYWARN Radio Desk will be at the discretion of NWS employees.

7. General Net Procedures

7.a. Before the Net

Net Control should perform a basic equipment check prior to getting on the air, ensuring that their radio equipment is functioning properly and that they have access to the SKYWARN Net Reporting Form. Paper log sheets and scripts should be printed, along with a paper copy of the Team Roster and a current SKYWARN frequency list.

Net Control needs to ensure that the repeater is also in good working order and is not in use by another agency.

7.b. Acquiring the Frequency

In accordance with good amateur radio practice, Net Control should identify and make a couple of inquiries as to whether the repeater is in use. If a conversation is in progress, Net Control should politely break in and mention the need to start a SKYWARN net on the frequency. The stations should be encouraged to surrender the frequency as soon as possible, though there is nothing that can force the stations to stop talking. Most stations will gladly give up the frequency within a minute or two.

7.c. NCO Station Identification

Nets should not use the WX1GYX call sign unless they are being conducted directly from the SKYWARN Radio Desk. Instead, each individual Net Control Operator should use his/her own call sign. More information on use of the WX1GYX call sign can be found in Call Sign Usage on page 41.

7.d. Net Scripts

7.d.1. Official Scripts

The team maintains one or more scripts for use under various conditions. One universal script may be used year-round, or there may be separate scripts for convective and winter weather activations, with additional scripts for informal nets and directed nets. Net Control Operators are encouraged to use these scripts, especially until they are comfortable running the net. Printed copies of the current scripts should be kept along with log sheets, a printed copy of the Roster, and current SKYWARN frequencies at all locations from which the Net Control Operator might be operating SKYWARN nets (home, car, work, etc.).

Official scripts will be posted on the SKYWARN Operations web site and copies should be maintained at the SKYWARN Radio Desk.

7.d.2. Unofficial Scripts

There is no requirement that the scripts be used. The Operating Areas and even individual Net Controllers may adjust or even completely re-write their scripts to suit their own preferences.

7.d.3. Mandatory Script Content

All scripts both official and unofficial must identify the net as the NWS Gray SKYWARN Spotter Net, must identify the net controller and the purpose of the net, must provide a reminder of Reporting Criteria applicable to the current weather scenario, and must provide a periodic recap of current watches, warnings, and statements.

7.e. Informal vs. Directed Nets

7.e.1. Informal Nets Defined

An informal net is used for the majority of SKYWARN activations. Informal nets allow for most efficient use of the repeater by allowing a free flow of information and by keeping the repeater open for regular amateur radio communications.

During informal nets, Net Control does maintain a list of check-ins and may periodically call on specific stations based on location. However, stations do not need to request permission to transmit from Net Control and may communicate amongst themselves with or without being checked in to the net.

Periodically (generally every 10 to 15 minutes) Net Control will read the script, call for check-ins and check-outs, and provide a recap of the severe weather threat along with any watches, warnings, and statements.

7.e.2. Directed Nets Defined

Directed nets are used only under either of two conditions:

When a Tornado Warning is active for the net area.
When the amount of net traffic is so great as to require a more formal level of traffic management. This is common during winter weather events when many dozens of stations pile up to call in their snowfall measurements to Net Control.

During directed nets, all transmissions are at the direction of Net Control. Stations check in with Net Control and wait to be recognized. Stations should be asked during the check-in process if they have any specific report for SKYWARN. Stations with reports to pass should be called at the conclusion of check-ins unless there is emergency traffic which must be handled sooner.

As traffic is handled, stations should be asked if they wish to remain checked in to the net.

Stations may still use the repeater to pass traffic to one another, provided it is done at the direction of Net Control. It is imperative that Net Control understand that not all stations will be familiar with the concept of a directed net or the procedures that go along with one, so some stations will take advantage of pauses in net activity to call other stations. If the discussion goes on much longer than simply coordinating a phone call or a switch to a different frequency, Net Control should politely and tactfully remind the stations that a directed SKYWARN net is in progress and they should use an alternate frequency for their discussion.

7.e.3. Transitioning Net Formats

If a net is operating as an informal net and either a tornado warning is issued or the amount of traffic passing through net control warrants a shift to a directed net, Net Control should use this procedure to make the change:

Announce that due to the tornado warning or heavy traffic volume, SKYWARN is transitioning into a directed net. If the switch is due to a tornado warning, read a quick recap of the warning.
Explain that as part of the directed net all transmissions will be at the direction of net control and all stations on frequency are respectfully asked to please hold all nonSKYWARN and non-emergency traffic until such time that the tornado warning expires or traffic subsides to the point the informal net can resume.
Briefly list the call signs of stations already checked in and ask if there are any other stations wishing to check in.
Ask stations that have traffic to call for SKYWARN Net Control and then promptly handle that traffic.
Provide another recap of the tornado warning, if any. As soon as the tornado warning expires or when traffic volume subsides, the net should be reverted back to an informal net and an announcement should be made that transmissions no longer require net control authorization and the frequency is once again open for routine traffic.

7.f. Net Check-Ins

7.f.1. Purpose of Check-Ins

Asking stations to check in to the net provides a means of keeping track of who is on the air and where they are located. This gives Net Control a way to go to specific areas for reports as appropriate for the weather situation or at the request of NWS employees, and it also allows Net Control to keep tabs on the welfare of stations in the path of severe weather.

7.f.2. Information Collected

Net Control should make a note of the call sign, first name, and location of stations as they check in. If a station is mobile, direction of travel should also be noted.

7.f.3. Welfare Check-ups

Net Control should keep an eye on radar and other NWS products and should keep stations appraised of the severe weather threats. Stations in the path of severe weather should be notified and encouraged to take shelter and then check back in with Net Control as soon as the threat passes.

7.f.4. Roll Calls

During longer activations, about once every 60 to 90 minutes, Net Control should run down the list of check-ins and ask each station to come back with an acknowledgment that they are still on frequency and wish to either remain on the net or be checked out (stations may check out at any time and do not need to wait for the roll call.) Stations that do not answer should be called again at the end of the first roll call, and then removed from the list if there is still no response.

7.f.5. Handing Off Net Control

When handing off the net from one Net Controller to another, the list of current check-ins and the time of the last roll call should be provided to the incoming Net Controller. This can be done over the air, online, or through any other method available. This will prevent hassling stations to check in again just because of a change in Net Controllers.

7.f.6. Record Keeping Requirements

There is no need to keep a list of check-ins past the end of a net. Neither the details nor a count of check-ins needs to be documented in the team records. No log entries should be made for simple check-ins or check-outs.

7.g. Taking Reports

7.g.1. Reportable Events

Reportable Events are any weather events which meet the NWS established Reporting Criteria provided on page 52.

7.g.2. All Reports Taken

One of the goals of the net scripts (described on page 28) is to provide a reminder of what constitutes a reportable severe weather event. That is, what kinds of reports the SKYWARN net is looking for. However, all reports taken into a SKYWARN net must be accepted and logged.

Any SKYWARN team member who knowingly and willfully engages in the collection of Spotter reports via amateur radio and fails to log those reports in the electronic log in a timely manner is subject to dismissal from the team.

7.g.3. Information Collected

Reports should include the call sign and name of the Spotter, the location of the event, the date and time of the event (if known, otherwise estimate if possible), the date and time of the report, and the details of the report. If the station calling in the report is a trained Spotter, it should be indicated on the report.

7.g.4. Logging Requirements

All reports received into the SKYWARN net must be logged, regardless of whether the report meets SKYWARN reporting criteria, with two exceptions, noted below. The SKYWARN Net Reporting Form should be used for all report logging unless Internet access is not available to Net Control.

If no Internet access is available to Net Control, or if RMS is down, paper forms and log sheets should be used. Once service is restored, logs must be manually entered into the electronic form. When entering this information care should be exercised to avoid re-notifying NWS with any duplicate reports, and attention to detail is necessary to ensure that the dates and times are entered correctly.

Net Controllers who require assistance getting their paper logs entered into RMS can mail or fax them to their Area Manager who will put the data into the permanent logs.

7.g.5. Handling Sensitive Information

Occasionally a Net Controller will be faced with the task of taking a report of an injury or death due to weather. It is extremely important that this information be handled carefully. Here are the guidelines for handling sensitive information:

Only request the minimum amount of information required to form the report. The location (address, nearby intersection or landmark), number and type of injuries (for example, two adults with injuries to the legs and one child trapped under debris) will suffice.
If this is an initial report for an injury or fatality, gather as much information as possible and immediately relay the information to emergency officials by telephone or radio. Call 911 and request a transfer to the appropriate county or city.
If the internet is down or unavailable and the report must be relayed over the air to the NWS, only give the minimum information necessary to convey the report. Do not give names or other specifics unless requested by NWS, and upon receiving such a request it should go by telephone or Winlink RMS to avoid sending the information “the clear" for the public to hear.
Do not dwell on the situation. Keep the net moving. If Net Control is personally (emotionally) affected by the report, they should contact their Area Manager or another Net Controller for temporary relief.
Do not discuss the information with anyone not immediately a party to the transmission. Of course the exception is law enforcement and emergency crews responding to the incident.

In other words, get every piece of information necessary to summon aid if still needed, but only relay the bare minimum information over the air to the NWS.

7.h. Relaying Reports

7.h.1. Sending Reports to NWS

If the WFO's Internet connectivity is down, reports that are entered into the SKYWARN Net Reporting Form will need to be relayed by telephone or some other means. Only reports that meet Reporting Criteria included on page 52, should be relayed to the WFO unless NWS employees have requested that different reporting criteria be used for a particular event (for example, only hail over 1/2").

7.h.2. Send Urgent Reports by Phone

The NWS has requested that urgent reports (such as tornadoes and funnel clouds) be called in by telephone in addition to being entered into the electronic reporting form. This phone call must be made right away.

7.h.3. Relaying via Radio

In the event of an Internet outage or other difficulty in our normal reporting and communication systems, Spotter reports that meet the Reporting Criteria need to be relayed to the WFO by radio. The most efficient way to do this is typically by Winlink. If there is a total computer outage at the radio desk, or if one party involved in the relay of messages does not have access to Winlink, or another suitable digital messaging platform, a voice relay system should be established.

This voice relay system could consist of the radio desk directly monitoring the local nets, or having an additional Net Controller serve as a relay passing critical messages from local nets to the WFO via a single HF frequency or other communication channel. In any instance of a difficulty in achieving routine communication, the Responder(s) operating the radio desk are charged with the responsibility of establishing a process for passing traffic in and out of the WFO based on the current communication situation.

7.i. Dealing with the Unexpected

7.i.1. Frequency Conflicts

In the event a local SKYWARN subnet conflicts with another agency's use of the repeater, every effort should be made to allow SKYWARN to operate on the Primary SKYWARN Repeater. Under no circumstances should an NCO, Area Manager, or other member of the SKYWARN team engage in any argument or other sort of debate on the air about precedence, who was there first, etc.

If another net is in progress, establish contact with Net Control and advise them of the SKYWARN activation, and let them know you are the SKYWARN Net Control Station and are on frequency. Suggest that they continue to run their net and direct traffic for SKYWARN to you.

In some cases, the other NCO will yield to SKYWARN and either terminate their operations or move them to another frequency. In other cases, the other NCO will continue running their net and will accept check-ins from stations with traffic for SKYWARN, requesting they "go direct" with you to relay the report. Or, if the other net is generating relatively little traffic, both nets may coexist with two separate Net Controllers.

If the other net will not cooperate, check to see if the Backup SKYWARN Repeater is in use. If it is not, politely thank the other NCO and ask them to please periodically announce that SKYWARN is active on the Backup repeater and provide the frequency.

A brief report of the details should be passed up the SKYWARN chain to the Amateur Radio Coordinator, complete with the details of date, time, frequency, and the specifics of the conflicting operation (net controller name/call sign, agency name, etc). This will allow SKYWARN to work out an agreement for better coordination with the other agency in the future.

7.i.2. NCO or WFO Under Direct Threat

If a local Net Control Operator comes under a direct threat, the threatened station is to cease operation immediately. A simple announcement such as “I’m under a tornado warning, gotta go!” is sufficient. Drop the microphone and take cover immediately.

In Case of Emergency

When under a direct threat of severe weather, Net Control should not be concerned with taking time to hand off the net to someone else; there should be a second Net Control Operator on frequency already. If not, someone else (NCO or not) will surely take over the net, or SKYWARN simply goes off the air for a few minutes.

Do not jeopardize your safety for SKYWARN!

If NWS Gray is under a direct threat, such as a Tornado Warning, all operations at the WFO may temporarily cease. Control of the Gray CWA is passed to an adjacent NWS. NWS Staff will likely place volunteers' safety over their own; cooperate, do not delay... immediately go off the air and take shelter until directed otherwise!

Good to Know

If operations at NWS Gray are turned over to NWS Norton for any reason, that office can be reached at (508) 622-3250.

Net Control Operators forced off the air due to storm damage or another emergency should notify any Area Manager or other member of the SKYWARN Leadership team as soon as possible once the threat has passed.

7.i.3. Widespread Loss of SKYWARN Repeaters

In the event of a widespread loss of access to designated SKYWARN Repeaters (for example, if all designated SKYWARN Repeaters in a given Operating Area are off the air) all available Net Control Operators should monitor the designated SKYWARN FM Simplex Frequency for their Area. The Primary Simplex frequency for SKYWARN is 146.595. The idea is to blanket as much of the area as possible with NCO coverage.

Reports may also be collected via the NWS Gray SKYWARN HF Frequencies, which are shared by Maine ARES. Please check the frequency to be sure ARES is not currently active before starting a net. HF can be used to relay reports to the SKYWARN Desk in the event of a major communications emergency. In the event that ARES is active, check into the net, announce yourself as the SKYWARN Net Control, and the ARES NCO will announce that SKYWARN has checked in and ask others on the net to direct any weather reports or other traffic for the NWS to SKYWARN.

7.i.4. Telephone Outage in Areas Unreachable by WFO via VHF

If a severe weather event or other emergency disables telephone service between NWS Gray and one or more Operating Areas, and the impacted Area(s) repeaters are unreachable from the WFO, the designated SKYWARN HF Frequencies are to be used to relay reports.

If the local repeater is still operational, an NCO with simultaneous HF and VHF access can relay reports from the local net to the WFO across the HF link. Another alternative is to use Winlink.

7.j. Handling Fraudulent or Suspect Reports

7.j.1. Identifying Suspicious Reports

A suspicious report is any report which does not appear to fit the current weather situation or which otherwise just doesn't “feel" right. Examples might include a lone report of a tornado on the ground where no rotation is present on radar, or an abnormally high snowfall total such as seven inches where everyone else in town is reporting two inches.

Be Careful!

Suspicious reports may be sent to us with either good or bad intentions. The Spotter may be misidentifying a low-hanging cloud structure or using poor snowfall measurement techniques. It is up to the Net Controller to tell the difference between simply a bad report and one that's malicious, and Net Control must be able to handle each situation appropriately.

7.j.2. Probing for Clarity

As a part of the core Net Control training curriculum, Net Controllers should be trained in asking probing questions to better develop a suspect or incomplete report. Many times the suspicions surrounding an unexpected report can be alleviated by asking questions that prompt the Spotter to take a closer look at the situation and provide more details about what they are seeing. Asking the Spotter to describe the shape and movement of clouds, or asking about where and how snowfall measurements were taken, and then providing some brief guidance to the Spotter not only serves us immediately by getting a better quality report right now, it also improves the Spotter's reporting capabilities in the long-term.

It is extremely important that the Spotter not be “challenged” or ridiculed on the air, and that any questions asked are done so in such a way as to not convey any inherent disbelief or suspicion about the report. Questions from Net Control should be tactful and courteous in nature.

7.j.3. Logging and Relaying Suspect Reports

If a Net Control receives a report that seems erroneous, and is unable to extract any clarifying details, they are still encouraged to log it in the report form, but make a note in the comment field that it seems unusual.

If it is necessary to relay a suspicious report over the air, the only permissible verbiage which may be used is to simply say “flagged” when giving the report. The report should not be called fraudulent, suspicious, fake, etc., and no on-air inquiries should be made or elaboration given.

Remember!

Not all suspicious reports are intentional. Net Control Operators must be very careful in handling these reports, so Spotters are not accused of wrongdoing over the air.

8. Radio Desk Operations

8.a. Decision to Activate

The WFO will be staffed with one or more amateur radio volunteers whenever doing so would provide an operational advantage for the ham radio team or NWS employees. Weather events which are expected to last only a couple of hours or which will impact only a portion of the CWA generally do not warrant the activation of the SKYWARN Radio Desk.

The Amateur Radio Coordinator is responsible for working with the NWS employees to make a decision on whether and when to staff the Radio Desk.

8.b. Staffing Considerations

Activation of the SKYWARN Radio Desk for short-duration and low-probability events will only serve to wear down the team of Responders. Travel time, activation duration, and frequency of activations must be taken into consideration, along with the size of the Responder crew and their apparent willingness to come to the WFO for any given activation.

Travel conditions must also be taken into consideration. Safety of SKYWARN volunteers takes precedence over all other considerations. Hazardous travel conditions before and after the activation (including the likelihood of being stranded at the WFO for an extended period of time) must be assessed before deciding to send volunteers to the WFO.

NWS employees will respect any request to withhold staffing of the SKYWARN Radio Desk based on volunteer safety considerations.

8.c. Service Level Commitment

The SKYWARN Radio Desk Activation Criteria specifies the hours during which amateur radio support will be provided at the WFO and can be found on page 23.

8.d. Guests

Guests should not be brought along to the Forecast Office during activations. The NWS office is not the place for guests or sightseers during SKYWARN activations. Due to United States Department of Homeland Security and Department of Commerce regulations, all visitors including amateur radio operators, may be requested to present identification and state their reason for entry into the government facility. The NWS would be pleased to give a tour of the office during quiet weather and upon prior arrangement. This can be arranged by calling the office; contact information can be found on the WFO website at https://www.weather.gov/gyx/

Special advance arrangements can be made for visitation of emergency management partners and certain SKYWARN team members wishing to observe SKYWARN and/or NWS operations during an activation. The Amateur Radio Coordinator must make these arrangements with the Meteorologist in Charge (MIC) or Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM).

8.e. NWS Office Operating Conditions

When SKYWARN is activated, NWS personnel are usually operating under high tension in a critical weather mode. Forecasters and other staff members are under intense pressure. This means:

Any distractions or interruptions of NWS or SKYWARN operations may mean the loss of life or property.
Sensitive information such as reports of severe damage, deaths, or injuries may be openly discussed and such information should not be repeated by SKYWARN volunteers on the air or outside the NWS.
No more than three SKYWARN volunteers should be in the Operations area at any time. All other volunteers in the building should be staged in the Conference Room or other designated location. The Operations area is very busy during severe weather and traffic through this area should be kept to an absolute minimum.

8.f. Volunteering for Responder Duty

Responders should not go directly to the NWS office or call the NWS office at the first sign of severe weather. To be an effective and well-coordinated system, we must follow protocol:

NWS and/or the Amateur Radio Coordinator determines the need for SKYWARN activation and notifies the appropriate personnel.
The Amateur Radio Coordinator contacts Responders to man the NWS station and will notify the Area Manager(s) in the Operating Area(s) where severe weather is expected, who will in turn contact the individual Net Control Operators to begin preparations for the local nets.
Responders may contact the Amateur Radio Coordinator to inform him/her of their availability during a quiet time in net operations. Do not be insulted if your services are not needed at that time. As the situation evolves, staffing needs may also change.

Do Not Self-Deploy

SKYWARN Team Members should never go directly to the National Weather Service Office without official activation instructions.

8.g. Interaction with NWS Employees

The forecaster who briefs the first Responder upon arrival at the NWS will likely be the contact person until the NWS shift changes. Please follow your instincts on how and when to pass information to the forecasters. If the information is critical, bring this information to the forecaster's attention immediately. Otherwise, you will need to gauge the situation as to whether the information is important enough to bring to the forecaster's immediate attention or if it can wait a few minutes. It is a delicate balance to make this critical part of net operation successful and it must be handled with discretion, tact and diplomacy by the Responder.

One Responder should maintain contact with forecasters to

provide the latest reports and to
keep up with the latest statements, warnings, and areas of concern.

8.h. Access to the WFO

SKYWARN Officials and Responders operating from NWS Gray should park in the main parking lot. Use the front entrance to gain entry to the NWS office. This door is locked at all times. To gain entry, push the button on the left wall and a buzzer will sound inside.

SKYWARN Officials and Responders must sign in at the front desk and note the time of their arrival and time of departure, when they leave.

8.i. Personal Items

Responders are required to provide their own food and beverages in a sufficient quantity to make it through the activation. Survival basics and hygiene items are also to be furnished by the individual Responder.

Responders are required to keep the amount of personal items brought into the WFO to a bare minimum. In general, clothing and other hygiene items should be kept in a backpack. A refrigerator, freezer, microwave, oven, and coffee maker are available for SKYWARN use in the break room.

Please be mindful of the amount of food brought into the building.

A sleeping bag and/or mat, pillow, and change of clothes is a good idea if there is any chance the activation may run into the late evening or overnight hours.

The maximum amount of personal belongings permitted inside the WFO at any point in time is as follows (per person):

1 standard backpack-size bag or container of clothing, food, and/or personal hygiene items.
1 standard paper/2 standard plastic grocery bags of food/snacks.

In addition, during an overnight stay, the following items may be brought in to the WFO only for the period of time spent sleeping inside the building, and must be promptly removed from the building upon waking up in the morning:

1 sleeping bag and/or sleeping mat
1 pillow

Exceptions are of course permitted for equipment and supplies that are medically necessary.

8.j. Briefing Upon Arrival

Upon arrival at the NWS, the Responder should immediately identify himself to a forecaster or other staff member as a SKYWARN amateur radio operator and ask a forecaster for a briefing on the severe weather situation, attempting to get the following information:

Where storms are located and in which direction they are moving.
Characteristics and history of the storm(s) (hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, etc.)
What geographic locations are of primary concern to the forecasters.
The latest statements, watches, and warnings to be read over the net. If another Responder is already on site, he or she should provide this information to incoming volunteers if time and operating conditions permit.

8.k. Security Policies

SKYWARN personnel must abide by all posted policies regarding the security of the Forecast Office, including regulations regarding building access, visitor sign-in and identification, entry and exit policies. Failure to do so may result in immediate and/or permanent removal from the office.

All Responders are required to take an IT Security and Awareness Course before using any WFO computer equipment. This course can be taken online and should be renewed on an annual basis.

9. WX1GYX Station Regulations

9.a. Call Sign Usage

The WX1GYX call sign is to be used for all SKYWARN operations taking place from the SKYWARN amateur radio station located inside NWS Gray. Net Control Stations operating the local nets from outside the NWS office should identify with their personal call sign.

The WX1GYX call sign may also be used for SKYWARN-related special events, such as ARRL Field Day, SKYWARN Appreciation Day, and other events as authorized by the license Trustee.

The WX1GYX call sign may also be used on any SKYWARN-owned and operated repeater or relay station, including APRS and packet nodes, as authorized by the Trustee.

The Responder physically located at the National Weather Service office, as well as Net Control Operators running the local nets, may use the tactical call sign “SKYWARN Net Control” to identify. FCC rules apply, so the operator must also identify himself using the WX1GYX call once every ten minutes and at the end of each contact.

9.b. Operating Privileges, Control Operators

The use of the WX1GYX club call sign does not provide any operating privileges. Operating privileges (frequencies, emissions, etc.) are determined by the privileges of the Responder's personal license class, or those of the station control operator(s).

As a matter of our policy, the Responder(s) holding the highest class of amateur license are considered the control operators for the station. For example, if one Technician and two General licensees are present, the two General licensees share the responsibility as control operator, and the General Class license privileges may be used by the Technician operator while under the direct supervision of one or both of the General operators. As an additional example, if one Technician, one General, and one Extra Class operator are present, the Extra Class operator is considered the control operator and is responsible for all station activities.

In accordance with FCC regulations, at no time may an amateur operate outside his or her license privileges without a control operator present, and at that point operation is limited to the privileges of the control operator, and all such transmissions shall be at the direction and under the supervision of the control operator.

9.c. WX1GYX License Trustee

The Amateur Radio Coordinator shall be listed as the Trustee on the WX1GYX station license. If there is a change in leadership, the incoming Amateur Radio Coordinator and Warning Coordination Meteorologist are responsible for updating the FCC records with the name and call sign of the new Trustee. An Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator may also be listed as the Trustee if agreed upon by the NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team.

9.d. Modification or Renewal of WX1GYX License

From time to time it will be necessary to make changes to the WX1GYX license, such as a Trustee change, address change, or renewal. Because WX1GYX is a vanity club call sign, a Club Station Call Sign Administrator (CSCSA) such as W5YI-VEC must be used to process these changes. While administrative changes are usually performed free of charge, standard vanity call sign renewal fees apply to license renewals.

In general, when making changes to a club call sign, supporting documents in the form of club constitutions or other similar material must be submitted. Because NW Gray SKYWARN is not organized as a club and is instead serving the National Weather Service as a support organization, a special procedure is in place to handle these changes.

The Trustee (or incoming Amateur Radio Coordinator if changing Trustees) must sign off on the modification paperwork. The Warning Coordination Meteorologist will prepare a brief statement on National Weather Service letterhead stating that the call sign is used for purposes of SKYWARN. The letter must also authorize you, by name and call sign, to become the Trustee or make the other administrative changes.

This letter must be submitted along with the application paperwork to the CSCSA, along with any required processing fee(s). Processing fee(s) are generally paid by the National Weather Service Forecast Office directly.

9.e. WX1GYX Station Equipment

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station consists of three radios. There are two VHF/UHF transceivers (one is analog FM and the other is capable of DMR). There is also a Kenwood TS570D HF transceiver for monitoring and communication with the National Hurricane Center and other HF nets. Instructions on the operation of all equipment in the SKYWARN amateur radio station can be found on the shelf above the radios.

Responders are encouraged to become familiar with the operation of these radios prior to responding to the NWS office for an activation. Where possible, electronic versions of the equipment manuals are kept on the SKYWARN computer and on the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Support Team web site.

9.f. WX1GYX Equipment Maintenance

All volunteers using the SKYWARN amateur radio station have a responsibility for assisting with maintenance of station equipment. This responsibility is best carried out by notifying the Amateur Radio Coordinator of any problems with the equipment. The Amateur Radio Coordinator will pursue repair or replacement of equipment as necessary.

The Amateur Radio Coordinator may designate a Tech Team consisting of qualified individuals willing to assist with the periodic maintenance of the station equipment, as needed.

9.g. Ownership of WX1GYX Equipment

All equipment permanently installed at National Weather Service is the property of the United States Department of Commerce, unless otherwise clearly and permanently marked otherwise. SKYWARN radio equipment shall not be removed from the WFO under any circumstances without prior authorization from both the Amateur Radio Coordinator and either the Warning Coordination Meteorologist or Meteorologist-in-Charge. Since this is United States Government property, serious consequences can result from tampering or unauthorized removal.

9.h. Equipment Loans

Occasionally it may be necessary for a Team member or other individual to supply radio equipment or related accessories on a temporary basis, for example, in the event of the failure of a radio, antenna, power supply, microphone, or feedline at the SKYWARN amateur radio station. Neither the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Support Team nor its leadership nor the National Weather Service shall bear any liability for loss or damages to such equipment or accessories.

9.i. Equipment Donations

From time to time a member, amateur, club, or organization may wish to donate equipment to the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team. These donations shall be handled by the Amateur Radio Coordinator and a list of all donated equipment will be maintained by the Amateur Radio Coordinator. Updated copies of this list will be provided to the SKYWARN Program Manager on a regular basis and posted at the SKYWARN amateur radio station to account for the ownership of this equipment.

10. Interoperability Plan

Our ability to function alongside other EMCOMM organizations requires advance planning and careful coordination to ensure efficient sharing of limited airspace. In addition, the team must adhere to established communication protocols to ensure effective communication with other agencies.

This Interoperability Plan (“Interop Plan") describes our plans for coordinating our activities with other organizations and communicating with other agencies. This plan uses a two-part approach depending on the type of activation: “routine event" and “major event."

10.a. Activation Types Defined

A “routine event" activation is any activation meeting these criteria:

Local nets are activated in one or more Operating Areas.
The SKYWARN Radio Desk may or may not be activated.
State Emergency Operations Centers (EOC's) are not activated.
Local EOC's may or may not be activated.
Event duration is generally 6 hours or less.

Examples include most summertime severe weather, short periods of freezing rain or snow which cause brief disruptions to travel, localized flooding, etc.

A “major event" is an activation meeting two or more of these criteria:

Local nets active in two or more Operating Areas.
SKYWARN Radio Desk is activated.
At least one state EOC is activated.
Event duration is generally 12 hours or more.

Examples include tropical storms, hurricanes, major winter storms, and large-scale severe weather outbreaks such as large squall lines.

10.b. Routine Event Interop Plan

During most routine events, SKYWARN is the only EMCOMM group on the air. ARES teams may be on standby or in the early stages of activating, or, in perhaps a rare case, could have nets on the air. The greatest concern for potential on-air conflicts would be local club nets, traffic nets, etc.

For these events, coordination with other nets is best handled by the SKYWARN net controller or the Area Manager. It is not practical to hold a club net alongside a SKYWARN net, so most club nets will gladly yield to SKYWARN activity by delaying or canceling the net or by moving it to an alternate frequency. SKYWARN generally takes precedence in these situations, but if we are asked to move to another frequency, we will honor that request.

The Area Manager or Amateur Radio Coordinator should be engaged by Net Control to work out any disagreements that might arise.

Interagency communication is typically not a concern for these routine events. While several localities might experience a widespread loss of utilities such as power or telephone, communications are not often impacted at such a time and in such a manner as to require an alternate communication path be established between the National Weather Service and one of those localities. In the unlikely event such a need arises, the SKYWARN Radio Desk can be activated to provide that link.

Standard SKYWARN frequency plans will typically be used. The team will maintain both “plain language” and ICS 205 formatted standard frequency plans for each Operating Area and make them available on the team web site. Frequency changes necessitated by cooperation with other repeater users may result in temporary changes to alternate, unpublished frequencies. In this instance, the user of the standard SKYWARN repeater will be asked to help direct SKYWARN traffic to the new frequency. HF frequencies may be used to collect reports from outlying areas not served by VHF/UHF SKYWARN repeaters. These nets would be operated by regular SKYWARN Net Control Operators.

10.c. Major Event Interop Plan

Major events involve significant severe weather over a large portion of the County Warning Area. State and local EOC's are likely active and this plan includes establishing a communications link between the National Weather Service and the EOC's.

In all instances, if the Maine ARES Net is active, the SKYWARN Radio Desk will check in to that net and will maintain a presence there to send and receive formal message traffic from served agencies. Under no circumstances will Spotter reports be handled across this net unless specifically requested by the ARES NCO.

If Maine ARES is not active but MEMA is active, WX1GYX will establish an HF communications link with that EOC via any statewide emergency net or other designated frequency. If the MEMA EOC is not active but New Hampshire’s state EOC is active, an HF link will be established with New Hampshire's EOC via any statewide emergency net or other designated frequency.

If no state EOC is active, the Maine ARES frequency will be monitored for traffic bound for NWS Gray.

NOTE: Consult the latest WX1GYX Standard Communications Plan ICS 205 documents for the current frequencies assigned to Maine and New Hampshire emergency nets.

Communication with local or county EOC's will be coordinated through the appropriate statewide emergency net whenever voice communication is required. In all instances, the preferred method by which formal message traffic should be passed is Winlink, and all messages shall be in standard ICS 213 format.

Prior to the activation of WX1GYX, an ICS Compliant communication plan (ICS 205) will be prepared and transmitted to all team members and emergency management partners and will be posted on the team web site.

During major events, there is a high likelihood that SKYWARN will be sharing VHF/UHF airspace with other nets. It is very easy to run two emergency nets side-by-side on one frequency: the two Net Controls alternate calls for check-ins and take turns handling traffic for their respective nets. Stations breaking into a net should indicate which of the nets they need to communicate with. Should a frequency become too congested trying to share airspace, one net will need to move to another frequency. If SKYWARN's alternate/backup repeater(s) are available, SKYWARN will move to those frequencies. Whichever net stays behind on the original frequency will be asked to assist in directing traffic to the other net.

The Amateur Radio Coordinator is responsible for working out communication conflicts during major event activations and should be consulted immediately if any on-air conflict cannot be promptly resolved to the satisfaction of all parties involved. Historically, good sense and common courtesy have prevailed and there have been no major issues. We expect this to continue.

11. Relationship with Other EMCOMM Organizations

11.a. Policy Introduction

By design, the team operates as a volunteer extension of the National Weather Service Gray WFO, aligned with the SKYWARN storm spotter network. It is operationally independent of any other amateur radio organization, meaning its leadership team, policies, and procedures are determined by SKYWARN team leadership and NWS personnel, rather than by any other entity. Still, the long-term success of SKYWARN depends on its ability to interact and integrate with other amateur radio organizations throughout the CWA, including:

Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)
The Wireless Society of Southern Maine Emergency Communications Team (WSSM-ECT), which serves the Cumberland County EMA.
Individual amateur radio clubs and service groups within the CWA.

These organizations will be collectively referred to as Third Party EMCOMM Teams in this chapter.

11.b. EMCOMM Leadership Members in SKYWARN Leadership Roles

This Operations Manual has policies in place which regulate the appointment of other EMCOMM teams’ officials to SKYWARN leadership roles. These policies are included in the SKYWARN Roles chapter of the Operations Manual (page 8), and generally preclude Third Party EMCOMM Team leadership officials from holding a long-term appointment as a SKYWARN Area Manager or higher. Leadership roles which function primarily in an administrative capacity are exempt from these policies.

There are provisions for the installation of SKYWARN Net Managers in certain circumstances. Where a SKYWARN net is comprised primarily of members of a Third Party EMCOMM Team, it may be beneficial to utilize a Third Party EMCOMM Team leadership official in the SKYWARN Net Manager role. Nothing in this policy prevents a Third Party EMCOMM Team leadership official from serving in a Net Manager role.

Non-leadership members of Third Party EMCOMM Teams are welcome to participate at any level of SKYWARN, including at the leadership level, provided that their involvement in a Third Party EMCOMM Team does not adversely impact their ability to serve SKYWARN, and vice-versa.

11.c. Guidelines for Third Party EMCOMM Teams Supporting SKYWARN

Third Party EMCOMM Teams are encouraged to support SKYWARN by encouraging team members to become a SKYWARN Net Control Operator or Responder.

SKYWARN provides an excellent opportunity for Third Party EMCOMM Team members to keep their communications skills sharp by frequently activating nets and participating in other on-air exercises. In some instances, a local net may be comprised almost entirely of Third Party EMCOMM Team members.

The key points that need to be understood by both SKYWARN and supporting Third Party EMCOMM Teams are:

Third Party EMCOMM Team members who volunteer to become SKYWARN Net Control Operators will be trained on SKYWARN policies and procedures and will be expected to fully comply. This includes provisions requiring collection of reports from all areas (not just the area that the Third Party EMCOMM Team usually serves). See Third Party EMCOMM Team Sponsorship of SKYWARN Nets on page 50 for further discussion.
Third Party EMCOMM Teams do not activate SKYWARN. SKYWARN/NWS does. However, individual trained SKYWARN Net Control Operators have the authority to self-activate as local conditions warrant, and Third Party EMCOMM Team members may exercise this option at any time.
SKYWARN and Third Party EMCOMM Teams are two operationally separate programs which may utilize a common pool of volunteers. These are important distinctions which must be considered when defining the role of Third Party EMCOMM Teams in support of SKYWARN activities.

11.c.1. Prevailing Policies and Procedures

Third Party EMCOMM Team members serving SKYWARN as a Net Control Operator, Responder, or Net Manager are acting as SKYWARN amateur radio team members, and all policies and procedures of the SKYWARN amateur radio team are in effect.

These team members answer to the SKYWARN Leadership Team during SKYWARN activations, for matters involving SKYWARN operations.

Third Party EMCOMM Teams supporting SKYWARN are discouraged from making SKYWARN Team membership mandatory or automatic. Guidelines for Third Party EMCOMM Teams supporting SKYWARN Team members should be free to decide whether they want to extend their roles to support SKYWARN as a Net Control.

11.c.2. SKYWARN Support of Third Party EMCOMM Teams

The SKYWARN amateur radio team will support our Third Party EMCOMM Team partners by advocating for Spotter training opportunities, providing outreach presentations, and offering amateur radio related SKYWARN presentations, either as one-off activities or on-going features of Third Party EMCOMM Team training operations.

These activities must be open to participation by any amateur radio operator, regardless of Third Party EMCOMM Team membership. The SKYWARN team will work with Third Party EMCOMM Team partners to provide access to data on dual-enrollment team members and the activities they perform for the SKYWARN team. This may include:

Providing certain Third Party EMCOMM Team leadership officials with access to SKYWARN net reporting forms.
Providing Third Party EMCOMM Team leadership officials with the details of a member's activity with SKYWARN (whether or not and how often the team member is participating, the number of reports taken, etc.) for purposes of gauging a member's activity level and training needs.
Assisting with retrieval of Spotter training status and date(s) for any Third Party EMCOMM Team member who received Spotter training in the NWS Gray County Warning Area during the past several years. The SKYWARN team will also activate the SKYWARN Radio Desk (WX1GYX) at NWS Gray where sufficient notice and staffing availability permit, in support of Third Party EMCOMM Team drills, communications tests, and other similar activities. These requests should be routed to the Amateur Radio Coordinator at least 45 days in advance, and will be honored on a best effort basis. Where adequate notice was given, but the amateur radio team was not able to provide staffing to activate the SKYWARN Radio Desk, arrangements will be made to grant radio desk access to Third Party EMCOMM Team members for purposes of completing the drill, test, or other activity.

11.c.3. Third Party EMCOMM Team Sponsorship of SKYWARN Nets

A Third Party EMCOMM Team may elect to support SKYWARN amateur radio operations by encouraging its team members to become trained SKYWARN Net Control Operators. This effort may extend into supporting the operation of a local SKYWARN net.

SKYWARN is divided into different Operating Areas. Each Operating Area is served by one primary SKYWARN net. Some Operating Areas may additionally be served by one or more smaller, more localized subnets. Local ARES teams, generally divided at the county level, may want to support a localized subnet that focuses on that one locality.

Part of the reason NWS Gray insists on maintaining some separation between SKYWARN and Third Party EMCOMM Teams is to ensure that SKYWARN amateur radio team members are serving the interests of the National Weather Service. This ties into the team's policy of ensuring the primary SKYWARN net is staffed first before any nearby subnets, since most Spotters will turn to the primary net as a venue for calling in reports and the team must utilize its volunteer resources in a manner which provides the greatest “return on investment."

Third Party EMCOMM Teams cannot give preference to activating only their local subnet. Just as any other SKYWARN Net Control Operator must be willing to serve any SKYWARN net he or she can reach via radio, the same is expected of Third Party EMCOMM Team members serving as SKYWARN Net Control.

The SKYWARN Area Manager will coordinate net activations and deployment of Net Control Operator resources for both the primary net and any local subnets, including those which are sponsored by Third Party EMCOMM Teams.

11.c.4. SKYWARN Communications Channels

The team has made substantial investment in its electronic communications infrastructure to ensure timely and efficient communication of activations and resource requests to all team members.

Third Party EMCOMM Teams which sponsor SKYWARN operations will be included in e-mail communications operated by the SKYWARN amateur radio team, for the purposes of communicating activation requests and other SKYWARN-related information.

An updated roster of Third Party EMCOMM Team members, who regularly participate in SKYWARN activities, should be provided annually to SKYWARN leadership.

12. Reporting Criteria

The following is SKYWARN reporting criteria that should be followed and the type of reports that should be gathered across the entire SKYWARN network via Amateur Radio:

— Tornadoes or funnel clouds (be very wary of look-alikes; watch for rotation)
— Wall clouds, especially if they are rotating
— Hail (Be specific with regard to size; DO NOT report MARBLE size)
— Winds (40 mph or greater; specify whether estimated or recorded)
— Large branches downed (specify diameter of branch)
— Trees/power lines downed
— Structural damage to buildings (roof, windows, etc.)

12.a. Rainfall

— 1 inch or greater in an hour (NOT a 1″/hr. rate for 10 minutes)
— 2 inches or greater storm total

12.b. Flooding

— Streams/Rivers — also, when nearing bankful
— Coastal
— Street (Road Closures/Washouts, Cars Stuck due to flood waters. Minimum of 6″ of water covering an entire roadway or lane of a major route/highway)

12.c. Winter Weather

— Precipitation type change (rain to sleet/freezing rain/snow, when the change has “taken hold”)
— Thunder, when accompanied by snow
— 1/4″ radial ice accretion (from twig outward; not circumference)

12.d. New Snowfall

— First 2 inches; every 2-3 inches thereafter
— 1 inch per hour or greater
— If less than 2 inches total, give final total only
— Give final total (don’t leave us hanging with a partial report)
— Report any snow/sleet/freezing rain if not in NWS forecast!

A. Appendix A. Hurricane Watch Net

Contact should be made with the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) to coordinate efforts. They may need to use the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station to relay ground truth (actual observations) reports into the NWS system.

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) operates in cooperation with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in much the same manner that SKYWARN operates with the National Weather Service Forecast Office, in Gray, ME.

The purpose of the HWN is to:

Disseminate hurricane advisory information to marine interests, Caribbean Island nations, Emergency Operating Centers (EOC’s) and other interests for the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific as promulgated by the NHC in Coral Gables, Florida.
Obtain weather information for the NWS from reporting stations who are not part of the routine network of the World Meteorological Organization and forward the information to the NHC.
Function as a backup communications link for the NHC, EOC's and NWS and other vital interests involved in the protection of life and property before, during and after hurricane events.
Relay initial hurricane damage assessments to the NHC.

HWN operations normally commence anytime a hurricane is within 350 nautical miles of an inhabited land mass and will continue in operation until the storm is no longer a threat. The net DOES NOT handle health and welfare type communication.

Operation will normally take place on 14.325 MHz +/-, however the operation may shift frequency at the request of stations in the hurricane affected area or to take advantage of shifting propagation conditions.

Priority is given to those stations representing the NWS and emergency management organizations. The net control volunteer of the SKYWARN station should identify that they are located at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Gray, ME when checking into the HWN.

The Dade County, Florida Amateur Radio Public Service Corps operates station W4EHW located in the forecast office of the NHC. Most traffic is passed to this station via the HWN or through a landline computer link to Southern Region, NWS. If these links are not available, SKYWARN may be asked to pass the information via NWS facilities located in the WSFO.

Additional information, such as primary and secondary HWN frequencies, and websites, are listed below:

HWN Website: http://hwn.org

WX4NHC Amateur Radio Station: http://w4ehw.fiu.edu

HF Frequencies:

14.325 MHz USB – Primary HF
7.268 MHz LSB – Waterway Net (Secondary HF Daytime)
3.815 MHz LSB – Caribbean Net (Secondary HF Night)
3.950 Mhz LSB – North Florida (Alternate)
3940 MHz LSB – South Florida (Alternate)

Echolink / IRLP

Echolink Conference: “WX-TALK” Node 7203
Echolink Alternate Conference: “VKEMCOMM”
IRLP Node 9219, Alternate Node: 9508 or 9123

B. Appendix B. Directions to NWS Gray

The NWS Gray, Maine Forecast Office is located on Route 231, near Pineland Farms. From the Maine Turnpike exchange in Gray, take a right onto ME-4/ US-202 / ME-115 (Gray Road), and take a slight right onto ME-115 (Yarmouth Road) at the first intersection. Continue about 1.8 miles, and take a left onto Depot Road. In about 2.8 miles, turn right onto ME-231 S. Follow for about .4 miles and take a right onto Weather Lane. Destination will be on the left.

GPS Address: 1 Weather Lane, Gray, ME 04039 Local Telephone number: (207) 688-3216

To report severe weather, call: 1 (800) 482-0913, or Email: gyx [dot] skywarn [at] noaa [dot] gov

Please use the severe weather hotline numbers ONLY for making reports of severe weather. Please do not ask questions at the end of your report and please keep your reports brief. Someone may be trying to reach the NWS with a critical report that may save a life, even if it's sunny where you are. When calling the administrative (local) number please try to do so during good weather as the staff is extremely busy during severe weather.

C. Appendix C. County Warning Areas of Adjacent NWS Forecast Offices

ALY (Magenta) – Albany, NY, BTV (Violet) – Burlington, VT

GYX (White) – Gray, ME, CAR (Yellow) – Caribou, ME,

BOX (Red) – Norton, MA

D. Appendix D. ARES Frequency Allocations

1. Maine ARES Frequencies

Maine ARES Frequencies
County	Primary Simplex	Secondary Simplex	Tertiary Simplex	Primary Repeater	Secondary Repeater
Androscoggin	146.460	147.540	146.430	146.610 - / 88.5	145.290 - / 100.0
Aroostook	146.475	147.510	146.505	146.730 - / NO PL
Cumberland	146.415	147.525	146.535	146.730 - / 100.0
Cumberland ECT	146.580	146.595	147.585	147.090 - / 100.0	UHF x-band: 446.500
Franklin	146.535	147.570	146.580	147.180 + / 123.0
Hancock	146.565	147.495	146.535	146.910 - / 151.4
Kennebec	147.480	146.475	147.450	145.390 - / 100.0
Knox	147.540	146.475	147.450	145.490 - / 91.5
Lincoln	147.510	146.505	147.450	146.985 - / 100.0
Oxford	146.550	147.435	146.505	146.880 - / 100.0
Penobscot	147.565	146.550	147.555	145.450 - / 67.0
Piscataquis	146.400	147.450	146.565	147.105 + / 103.5	147.150 + / 71.9
Sagadahoc	146.490	147.555	146.565	147.210 + / 100.0
Somerset	147.420	146.430	147.525	146.730 - / 91.5
Waldo	146.430	147.465	146.460	147.270 + / 136.5
Washington	147.525	146.460	147.570	147.330 + / 118.8
York	147.570	146.445	147.540	147.345 + / 123.0
Statewide Coord.	52.525;	146.520;	223.500; 446.00	KQ1L Link System
Statewide DMR	145.790	145.510
SKYWARN (Gray)	146.595			KQ1L Link System	147.045 + / 103.5
SKYWARN (Caribou)	146.475			146.730 - / NO PL

An updated PDF of this chart is available here:

http://maineares.org/Frequency_Chart_Jan_05_2017.pdf

Maine HF NVIS Statewide
Purpose	Frequencies	Time of Day
Statewide HF Coordination. 1900L: MECN (Sun); SGN (M-Sat). 0900L: MPSN (Sun)	3940.0 kHz 7262.0 kHz	Night Day
Digital Modes (NBEMS) +1000 Hz Olivia 8/50 keyboard net ops; Thor 50x1 file transfer	3583.0 kHz Unassigned	Night Day

2. New Hampshire ARES Frequencies

An updated PDF of this chart is available here:

http://nhradio.org/nhares/CommPlan/AttachmentB-Nets&Frequencies.pdf

New Hampshire ARES Frequencies
County	Primary Simplex	NBEMS Simplex	Backup Simplex	Primary Repeater	Secondary Repeater
Capital Area	147.450	145.750 NBEMS		146.940 - / 114.8	147.225 + / 100.0
Capital Area (Henniker)	147.450	145.750 NBEMS			146.895 - / 100.0
Central (Guilford)	147.540	145.670 NBEMS		146.985 - / 123.0	147.390 + / 123.0
Central (Franklin)	147.540	145.670 NBEMS		147.300 + / 88.5	147.390 + / 123.0
Cheshire	147.540	145.530 NBEMS		146.805 – 100.0	146.760 - / 110.9
Coos (Berlin)	147.420	145.710 NBEMS	146.580	146.685 - / 100.0	146.655 - / 100.0
Coos (Bethlehem)	147.420	145.710 NBEMS	146.580	147.105 + / 100.0	146.655 - / 100.0
Eastern Rockingham	147.465	145.550 NBEMS		145.150 - / 127.3	146.700 - / 88.5
Western Rockingham	147.435 (100.0)	145.690 NBEMS	445.550 (100.0)	146.850 - / 85.4	147.210 + / 107.2
Greater Manchester	146.535	145.730 NBEMS		147.135 + / 100.0	444.200 + / 186.2
Hillsborough	147.405	145.610 NBEMS		146.730 - / 88.5	449.375 - / 88.5
Mt. Washington Valley	147.495	145.590 NBEMS		145.450 - / 100.0	448.975 - / 141.3
Southern Grafton	146.580	145.630 NBEMS		145.330 - / 100.0	146.760 - / 110.9
Strafford	147.570	145.530 NBEMS		147.000 - / 100.0	146.685 - / 88.5
Sullivan (Claremont)	147.555	145.650 NBEMS		147.285 + / 103.5
Statewide Coord.	147.510	446.075	51.600
NBEMS (State EOC & Section)	145.570
State EOC Team	446.075

New Hampshire ARES NVIS Frequences
3973.0 kHz	Primary Night	Statewide HF Coordination. Net: Saturday at 8:30am local
7273.0 kHz	Primary Day
3582.0 kHz	Primary	NH ARES Digital (PSK125 pri). Net: Saturday at 7:30am local
7072.0 kHz	Backup	NH ARES Digital (PSK125 pri)

E. Appendix E. Traffic, Weather, ARES, & RACES Nets

Traffice, Weather, ARES, & RACES Nets
Frequency	Net Name & Location	Mode	Offset / PL	Local Time	Net Manager	Notes
3539	VT/NH CW Traffic Net	CW		7:00 pm	Joe Burke W1INC	Daily
3539	VT/NH CW Traffic Net (Slow Net)	CW		7:15 pm	Joe Burke W1INC	WED & THUR
146.940	Granite State Traffic Net (NTS)	FM	- / 114.8	9:00 pm	John Gotthardt K1UAF	Daily
147.225	Granite State Traffic Net (NTS)	FM	+ / 100.0			Alternate
3973	Granite State Phone Net	LSB		8:00 pm	John Gotthardt K1UAF	MON - FRI
3980	VT RACES HF Phone	LSB				Night
7280	VT RACES HF Phone	LSB				Day
448.125	VT RACES UHF Linked System	FM	- / 110.9			As Needed
444.700	VT RACES UHF Linked System	FM	+ / 110.9			As Needed
146.520/55	VT RACES 2m Simplex	FM	Simplex			As Needed
3976	VT ARES HF Phone	LSB				Night
7275	VT ARES HF Phone	LSB				Day
3940	ME ARES HF Phone	LSB				Night
7275	ME ARES HF Phone	LSB				Day
146.880	ME ARES VHF	FM	- / 100.0			KQ1L System
146.520	ME ARES Statewide Coord.	FM	Simplex			Coordination
3943	EMA ARES HF Phone	LSB				Primary
7228	EMA ARES HF Phone	LSB				Backup
7245	EMA ARES HF Phone	LSB				Backup
145.230	EMA Traffic Net	FM	- / 88.5	8:00 pm		Daily
3948	NTS 1st Region Net – Cycle 2 (Early)	LSB		2:30 pm	N1UMJ	Daily
3948	NTS 1st Region Net – Cycle 2 (Late)	LSB		4:00 pm	N1UMJ	Daily
3570	NTS 1st Region Net – Cycle 3	CW		6:30 pm	W1KX	Daily
3598	NTS 1st Region Net – Cycle 4 (Early)	CW		7:45 pm	W1UD	Daily
3598	NTS 1st Region Net – Cycle 4 (Late)	CW		9:30 pm	W1UD	Daily
3937	WMA ARES HF Phone	LSB		9:00 pm		As Needed
146.910	WMA ARES Net	FM	- / 162.2			SUN Weekly
3973	NH ARES HF Phone	LSB				SAT Weekly
3582	NH ARES NBEMS Net	USB	Digital	7:30 am		SAT Weekly
7273	NH ARES HF Phone	LSB	8:30 am			Day
3965	Connecticut ARES HF Phone	LSB				As Needed

F. Appendix F. 2 Meter FM Simplex Coverage

G. Appendix G. Forms

1. Log Sheet

2. Severe Weather Report Form

For use at the NWS Weather Desk

H. Appendix H. Instructions for Linking & Unlinking Repeaters on the KQ1L System

Thanks to Dave WE1U, for compiling these notes.

REMEMBER the codes work only on the repeater to link/unlink and NOT through the link.

The repeater IDs are 67, 88, 85, 82, 97, 35, etc.

1=listen to link only 2=connect to the link 3=to end the link

For example, to put Buckfied 146.880 (- / 100Hz) into the link system, the tones are 882.

You must be on the 88.
Press the PTT
Say "This is <callsign> sending tones <keypad 882> <callsign>"
Release the PTT
You should hear the repeater state "Transmit"

To unlink 88:

You must be on the 88.
Check to see if anyone need to use the 88 linked if you can.
Press the PTT
Say "This is <callsign> sending tones <keypad 883> <callsign>"
Release the PTT
You should hear the repeater state "OFF"

I. Appendix I. NBEMS and Digital Messaging

The radio desk at the National Weather Service in Gray accommodates NBEMS messaging on both HF and VHF, and also Winlink communications, as of 2016.

For SKYWARN reports, the recommended form is the Storm Report form that is available in flmsg:

This form is very close to our paper form and contains all the necessary information. Simply fill in the time, date, and location information, and select one of the weather events. If this is all you need to report, then save the form and send it along, but if you need to include additional information, such as storm-related damage, etc., be sure to click the “Details” tab and type in your additional information.

Once complete, this form can be saved and sent as an attachment in Winlink, or if there is someone standing by to receive the message, with fldigi, the form can be sent direct using the AutoSend feature.

If SKYWARN operators are taking part in ARES exercises or activations we will gladly handle ICS213, or ARRL Radiogram forms but during SKYWARN-only activations, we will use the Storm Report form.

For additional information about NBEMS or Winlink operations, especially as it relates to Maine ARES protocols and modes of choice, please refer to the following documents:

SKYWARN radio operators will try to remain consistent with the digital operating procedures as adopted by Maine ARES.

I.a. Digital Communications Proficiency

It is recommended that all SKYWARN radio operators, especially those who activate from the National Weather Service in Gray, become proficient in digital communications.

Please familiarize yourselves with the equipment available at WX1GYX, and take advantage of the helpful information that Steve Hansen KB1TCE, has compiled on: http://maineares.org/digital.htm

Once familiar, the next step is to practice on the air. A good place to start is the Maine VHF Digital NBEMS Net, which meets every Sunday evening at 1900 local time on the KQ1L linked system. Through traffic is welcomed using flmsg.

J. Appendix J. SKYWARN Amateur Radio Network

K. Appendix K. Radio Equipment at the NWS Gray Radio Desk

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station consists of three radios – a Yaesu FT-8900 Quad- Band FM Transceiver, a Kenwood TS-570D HF/6m all-mode transceiver, and a Connect Systems CS801 VHF DMR transceiver.

1. Yaesu FT-8900

The FM Transceiver has the ability to monitor two channels simultaneously, and will always be used in the memory mode, which features pre-programmed repeater and simplex frequencies. This radio is used to establish the primary SKYWARN Net and to seek reports from areas in which the forecasters have expressed an interest because of indications of severe weather.

Identify as “WX1GYX, National Weather Service - Gray”

After operations, leave the radio on 146.880 and 147.045 so non-licensed staff can turn the radio on to monitor remote nets or incoming operators who are called in to activate the station.

Visit: https://www.qrzcq.com/pub/RADIO_MANUALS/YAESU/YAESU--FT-8900R-Service-Ma... to download the radio's manual. It’s good to be familiar with the radio functions BEFORE operating during a deployment. A Quick reference guide as well as a channel guide are also available in a binder located on the shelf above the transceiver at NWS Gray.

2. Kenwood TS570 HF Transceiver

SKYWARN HF frequencies are listed in this manual and also on laminated cards near the station. It is usually recommended to use 40 meters for daytime operations and 80 meters at night, although the radio can be tuned up on several of the HF bands.

Visit: https://www.hamradio.co.uk/userfiles/file/Kenwood%20Manuals/TS-570-Engli... to download the radio’s manual.

3. Connect Systems CS801 DMR Transceiver

BEFORE USE: If you’re using the CS801 installed at NWS Gray, always check the coax position switch, mounted behind and to the left of the radio, and be sure it’s in the DMR position.

POWERING ON: First, be sure the power supply is on. To power the radio on, hold down the round red power button for 2-3 seconds. The LCD screen should glow amber and display the call sign briefly, before returning to a screen displaying a frequency, time slot, and talk group. Please refer to the CS801 Channel guide to find the desired repeater and Talk Group.

The knob on the left is used to adjust the volume.

Changing between Talk Groups

Use the arrow buttons, located to the right of the display, to toggle between Talk Groups. Using these arrows will only toggle between pre-programed Talk Groups or frequencies within the selected Zone.

Changing between Zones (Repeaters)

Use the P2 and P3 buttons to change the pre-programmed frequencies. These buttons are similar to the arrow buttons, except they allow you to scroll through the different repeaters that are programmed in the radio, instead of only the Talk Groups. Once you find one, select an appropriate Talk Group, using the arrow keys.

If you know the specific Zone that you want to go to, choose by pressing P4, then P3 to move to the second position, and then press P4 again to select. A long press of the up and down arrow keys will also change zones.

Most of the time, you should keep the radio on: 145.340 SKYWARN which is the Falmouth, ME repeater, on Time Slot 1, Talk Group 759 (SKYWARN).

L. Appendix L. NWS Gray SKYWARN Amateur Radio Team Contacts

SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator:

Eric Emery, KC1HJK, Email: kc1hjk [at] maine [dot] rr [dot] com Phone: (978) 761-5315

Assistant SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator(s):

Tom Berman, N1KTA, Email: wxtomb [at] yahoo [dot] com Phone: (207) 838-8188

Tim Watson, KB1HNZ, Email: kb1hnz [at] yahoo [dot] com Phone: (207) 831-8132

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