WEBVTT 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:12.419 Thanks for tuning in. HamTalk Live will be on 00:00:12.419 --> 00:00:30.339 the air shortly. Please stand by. Thanks for 00:00:30.339 --> 00:00:33.100 tuning in. HamTalk Live will be on the air shortly. 00:00:33.380 --> 00:00:44.399 Please stand by. This episode of HamTalk Live 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:48.140 is brought to you by Tower Electronics. For connectors, 00:00:48.539 --> 00:00:51.500 cables, and more, visit them at a hamfest near 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:59.840 you or call 920 -435 -2973 or online at pl -259 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:35.129 .com. Good evening everyone, it's time for HamTalk 00:01:35.129 --> 00:01:41.150 Live, episode number 106. Local and State Skyward 00:01:41.150 --> 00:01:45.969 Nets recorded live on Thursday, March 15th, 2018. 00:01:46.230 --> 00:01:50.010 I'm your host, Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. Thanks for 00:01:50.010 --> 00:01:53.730 tuning in to this episode of HamTalk Live. Tonight 00:01:53.730 --> 00:01:58.310 we're joined by John Mills, KC9BRX. And we'll 00:01:58.310 --> 00:02:01.049 take your calls live in just a few minutes. We'll 00:02:01.049 --> 00:02:04.510 be talking about Skywarn this evening. And last 00:02:04.510 --> 00:02:08.150 week on the show, we had Steve Waterman, K4CGX, 00:02:08.330 --> 00:02:12.139 and Phil Sherrod, W4PHS. talking about how to 00:02:12.139 --> 00:02:15.659 use WinLink. And if you missed that or any show, 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:18.860 just go to HamTalkLive .com and you can listen 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:23.199 on demand anytime you like. And then we're also 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:26.080 on the podcast. You can download us on Apple 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:28.800 Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeart Podcasts, Google Play, 00:02:28.979 --> 00:02:31.819 TuneIn or SoundCloud. You can subscribe to us 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:33.900 there. And we're also on YouTube and you can 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:37.360 subscribe there as well if you like. So get your 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:40.080 Skywarn questions ready to go. After the interview, 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:42.520 you can give us a call. Let me go ahead and give 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:44.419 you the phone number. Now, it's not time to call 00:02:44.419 --> 00:02:47.659 just yet, but let me give you the number. It's 00:02:47.659 --> 00:02:56.259 812 -net -ham -1. That's 812 -638 -4261 for the 00:02:56.259 --> 00:02:59.539 numerically challenged. Or on Skype, you can 00:02:59.539 --> 00:03:02.460 find us at HamTalk Live. You can also send us 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:04.800 a question via Twitter. Our Twitter handle is 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:07.150 at HamTalk. live you can do that whenever you 00:03:07.150 --> 00:03:11.349 like and we'll take a look at those after we 00:03:11.349 --> 00:03:15.069 talk to John and by the way if you if you hear 00:03:15.069 --> 00:03:19.620 some some loud cheering or screaming or or I 00:03:19.620 --> 00:03:22.780 start crying, it's because the UK game only has 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:27.599 three minutes left in it. So, yeah, we kind of 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:29.539 got that on in the background here. So hopefully 00:03:29.539 --> 00:03:32.659 that won't mess up the show here. So we'll be 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:35.599 back. We'll talk to John and then we'll take 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:38.099 your calls. After that, right after this word 00:03:38.099 --> 00:03:41.479 from Tower Electronics right here on HamTalk 00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:44.280 Live. This episode of HamTalk Live is brought 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:47.969 to you in part by Tower Electronics. Tower Electronics 00:03:47.969 --> 00:03:51.189 has been the Ham's Dime Store since 1978. When 00:03:51.189 --> 00:03:53.909 you need connectors, mobile and handheld antennas, 00:03:54.189 --> 00:03:57.370 cables, or adapters, visit Scott or Jill at a 00:03:57.370 --> 00:04:00.710 HamFest near you. Or you can order online at 00:04:00.710 --> 00:04:08.469 PL -259 .com or call 920 -435 -2973. Stock up 00:04:08.469 --> 00:04:11.689 on those supplies like PL -259 and end connectors, 00:04:12.129 --> 00:04:15.289 SMA adapters, audio cables, soldering supplies, 00:04:15.509 --> 00:04:18.269 mobile antennas, and hamsticks. Their silver 00:04:18.269 --> 00:04:21.189 -plated end connectors are even used on the International 00:04:21.189 --> 00:04:24.509 Space Station. Tower Electronics carries MFJ, 00:04:24.730 --> 00:04:28.870 Comet, Daiwa, OPEC, Workman, and HamPro products. 00:04:29.089 --> 00:04:32.670 And don't miss their 0 % off sale going on now! 00:04:32.829 --> 00:04:37.189 Tower Electronics online at PL -259 .com, proud 00:04:37.189 --> 00:04:41.810 to sponsor this episode of HamTalk Live. HamTalk 00:04:41.810 --> 00:04:44.230 Live is on your side, with traffic and weather 00:04:44.230 --> 00:05:02.209 together on the 8's. Thanks to Scott and Jill 00:05:02.209 --> 00:05:04.889 at Tower Electronics for sponsoring the show, 00:05:05.250 --> 00:05:08.629 as always. They help bring you HamTalk Live each 00:05:08.629 --> 00:05:12.269 and every Thursday night. Their HamFest schedule 00:05:12.269 --> 00:05:15.730 coming up this weekend, the 18th will be in Toledo, 00:05:15.790 --> 00:05:19.850 Ohio. On April 6th and 7th, they'll be in Belton, 00:05:19.870 --> 00:05:23.649 Texas. April 7th, they'll be in Stoughton, Wisconsin. 00:05:24.209 --> 00:05:27.899 And April 14th, Mobile, Alabama. and of course 00:05:27.899 --> 00:05:30.279 they'll be at Hamvention and we've got our Hamvention 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:33.480 preview coming up in just a couple of weeks so 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:37.040 make sure you stick around for that but for tower 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:39.560 electronics you can get the hold of them anytime 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:42.579 if they're not at a ham fest near you just pick 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:48.500 up the phone and call 920 -435 -2973 or you can 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:53.970 visit them online at pl -259 .com and tell them 00:05:53.970 --> 00:05:56.610 you heard it on HamTalk Live. Well, my guest 00:05:56.610 --> 00:06:02.829 tonight is John Mills, KC9 BRX. John is an IT 00:06:02.829 --> 00:06:07.550 Service Desk Specialist II working for Trimetics 00:06:07.550 --> 00:06:11.089 in Indianapolis. John resides in Carmel, Indiana 00:06:11.089 --> 00:06:14.589 in the metro Indianapolis area. John attended 00:06:14.589 --> 00:06:17.709 Liberty University and Indiana University, Purdue 00:06:17.709 --> 00:06:21.740 University at Indianapolis. which is commonly 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:26.560 referred to as an acronym of IUPUI or as we say 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:29.699 around here, ooey -pooey. John is one of the 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:33.379 directors for Central Indiana Skywarn, which 00:06:33.379 --> 00:06:35.819 works hand -in -hand with the Indianapolis National 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:38.540 Weather Service office through amateur radio 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:41.339 to protect the lives of Central Indiana residents. 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:44.699 John has been licensed for 16 years and has been 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:47.300 with Central Indiana Skywarn for all of those 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:51.259 16 years. And John also spent much of his time 00:06:51.259 --> 00:06:55.519 in his career in broadcast radio as an on -air 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:59.180 personality, engineer, producer, and even meteorologist. 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:04.740 John has worked for radio stations WXXP, WJJS, 00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:11.540 WHHH, WZPL, and the Radio Forecast Network. also 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:15.800 spends his time in amateur meteorology and John 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:22.019 every time I hear those call letters WZPL I think 00:07:22.019 --> 00:07:27.100 of this old Bob and Tom routine when they said 00:07:27.100 --> 00:07:31.319 we wish Bob would go straight to hell or even 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:39.459 worse work at ZPL oh I remember that well yes 00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:42.500 so That's immediately what I think of when I 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:45.379 hear ZPL. But anyway, good evening, John. Thanks 00:07:45.379 --> 00:07:48.040 for coming on the show and talking to Skywarn 00:07:48.040 --> 00:07:50.519 with us tonight. Well, thanks, Neil, for having 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:55.060 me. So first of all, let's just do a little bit 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:59.560 of a general overview of the idea of Skywarn. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:02.839 So just give us a little idea of what Skywarn 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:05.980 does and how that information that's gathered 00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:10.730 from hams from local nets. Eventually ends up 00:08:10.730 --> 00:08:13.370 at the National Weather Service and then how 00:08:13.370 --> 00:08:18.870 that helps them do their job. So Skywarn is basically 00:08:18.870 --> 00:08:21.170 we have spotters in the field in each county. 00:08:21.579 --> 00:08:24.519 and we position those spotters as to what the 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:27.000 weather service wants to see as far as where 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:29.720 the storm is and we try to keep those spotters 00:08:29.720 --> 00:08:32.340 away from the most dangerous part of those storms 00:08:32.340 --> 00:08:36.200 and those spotters in turn have a network net 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:38.879 in their counties and they relay that information 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:43.139 back to us. The whole process we have for our 00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:46.840 local central Indiana sky where we have two main 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:49.139 frequencies here in Indianapolis and then we 00:08:49.139 --> 00:08:53.360 link up with repeaters up in Lafayette, Indiana, 00:08:53.940 --> 00:08:56.659 Frankfort, Indiana, and then down in Vincennes, 00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:59.080 which you're a big part of that. And all those 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:01.100 repeaters link together in each county, wherever 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:03.799 their position goes into the closest frequency, 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:07.279 and they relay the information into us. How the 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:10.779 whole process works is, so the Storm Prediction 00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:13.340 Center in Norman, Oklahoma does severe weather 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:16.230 outlooks every day. They do watches and warnings 00:09:16.230 --> 00:09:18.789 and they do what's called mesoconvective outlooks. 00:09:18.830 --> 00:09:20.970 When a mesoconvective outlook comes out for a 00:09:20.970 --> 00:09:23.269 particular area, that local weather service office 00:09:23.269 --> 00:09:25.950 gets on a conference call and decides where the 00:09:25.950 --> 00:09:28.389 watch is going to be. And then once that watch 00:09:28.389 --> 00:09:30.909 is issued, the local weather service will contact, 00:09:31.169 --> 00:09:34.519 in our case, SkyWarn to bring up a net. Now, 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:37.419 they don't always contact us if it's a localized 00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:40.220 event or if they don't think they need us, but 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:41.840 we kind of treat the National Weather Service 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:44.379 here in Indianapolis as our client and as our 00:09:44.379 --> 00:09:46.759 customer, and we're at their back and call whenever 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:49.519 they need us. Once we bring up a net, then we 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:51.179 bring up the counties that we think are going 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:53.620 to be affected first, and those counties bring 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:55.980 up their local network, and then they send spotters 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:57.539 out into the field, if that kind of gives you 00:09:57.539 --> 00:10:01.360 an idea how it works. Okay, so then what do the 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:03.820 forecasters do with all of that information? 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:07.919 So they'll look at radar and they'll see in satellite 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:09.879 and computer models and see where they think 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:12.720 the storms are gonna gonna be most likely and 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:15.549 once those storms do form then They'll have us 00:10:15.549 --> 00:10:17.669 bring up that particular county which they'll 00:10:17.669 --> 00:10:20.389 bring up a county net on either most likely UHF 00:10:20.389 --> 00:10:23.009 or VHF depending on what type of county repeater 00:10:23.009 --> 00:10:26.809 they have. They'll send hams out into that particular 00:10:26.809 --> 00:10:30.049 county and then we'll provide the information 00:10:30.049 --> 00:10:32.009 from the Weather Service where we want to position 00:10:32.009 --> 00:10:34.889 those down to street level. The way the radar 00:10:34.889 --> 00:10:37.009 technology works now is we can go to street level 00:10:37.009 --> 00:10:38.850 and we can get those hams where we need them 00:10:38.850 --> 00:10:41.509 to be and then they will report to us through 00:10:41.509 --> 00:10:44.789 their county liaison uh... what the weather conditions 00:10:44.789 --> 00:10:47.750 are so say for example they have hail they'll 00:10:47.750 --> 00:10:50.309 give us an exact location the hammer porting 00:10:50.309 --> 00:10:53.570 station and the size of the hail uh... and then 00:10:53.570 --> 00:10:55.970 will position other spotters but again it's all 00:10:55.970 --> 00:10:59.460 done through the local network uh... in the county 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:02.080 the local net with a county net control and then 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:05.600 a county liaison will read that relay that information 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:09.500 back to the central neos skyward net and if it 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:11.899 gets really really busy we we break it down and 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:14.279 we just we only take severe weather reports a 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:16.340 lot of times i've had events where we've had 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:18.960 to tornadoes on the ground in the same area or 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:21.919 maybe just one tornado but we just we limit our 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:24.600 traffic to emergency traffic only because the 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:26.879 quicker we can get that information very verified 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:29.960 a relayed from the county net back to us to the 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:31.919 Weather Service, the quicker the Weather Service 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:33.620 can make decisions on where they're going to 00:11:33.620 --> 00:11:35.899 issue the next warning. They can get the information 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:37.820 out to the public through local media, Homeland 00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:40.820 Security, Twitter, Facebook, all those different 00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:45.639 resources. So when they take this data that we 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:50.179 help provide to make watches and warnings and 00:11:50.179 --> 00:11:53.500 that kind of thing, we're kind of the The eyes 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:57.340 and ears where they have radar and radar tells 00:11:57.340 --> 00:12:01.820 them a lot radar does a lot of functions, but 00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:04.539 Especially when you get further out from the 00:12:04.539 --> 00:12:08.000 radar site that they can't always see everything 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:13.179 and so The skywarn people are are the eyes that 00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:17.500 are you know right there in a human form? To 00:12:17.500 --> 00:12:19.480 kind of back up what the radar is telling them 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:22.899 That's exactly right Neil the radar technology 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:24.960 has gotten better and better when I first started 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:28.940 in 2002 it it was okay, and now it's gotten very 00:12:28.940 --> 00:12:31.440 very good But like you said as the radar beam 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:34.840 goes out from the radar it goes up in the atmosphere 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:39.519 so that radar beam They can do a slice of the 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:42.549 lowest Lowest degree angle the atmosphere about 00:12:42.549 --> 00:12:46.070 every one to two minutes But if you're you know 00:12:46.070 --> 00:12:48.190 50 from 50 miles from the radar you may be looking 00:12:48.190 --> 00:12:50.149 up at four or five thousand feet in the atmosphere 00:12:50.149 --> 00:12:53.149 Well, we got ham radio guys all throughout the 00:12:53.149 --> 00:12:55.289 county on the ground They're gonna tell us exactly 00:12:55.289 --> 00:12:57.190 what's going on on the ground because a lot of 00:12:57.190 --> 00:12:59.629 times You may see rotation up at four or five 00:12:59.629 --> 00:13:01.690 thousand feet. It looks like a tornado, but on 00:13:01.690 --> 00:13:03.370 the ground It's actually not touching the ground 00:13:03.370 --> 00:13:06.580 or you may see hail But you don't know what size 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:08.279 it is. The radar can give you a general idea. 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:10.879 But without the eyes and ears of the hammer radio 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:13.039 operators, the weather service is kind of blind. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:16.159 And a lot of times, when it is more than maybe, 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:19.179 say, 30, 50, 60 miles from the radar, there might 00:13:19.179 --> 00:13:21.940 be a slight weak rotation on the radar signature. 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:24.120 But that amateur radio operator is on the ground. 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:26.059 He can see and say, hey, we've got a funnel cloud 00:13:26.059 --> 00:13:28.399 or a tornado or a wall cloud. And that can give 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:31.059 the forecaster the needed information to go ahead 00:13:31.059 --> 00:13:32.980 and issue that warning, where he may have been 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:35.340 on the fence. And if something is. Touching the 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:37.299 ground and could be doing damage to life and 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:39.639 property that amateur radio operator has helped 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:44.779 save lives Well, it's a very important role and 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:48.460 in order for all this information to get there 00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:51.879 efficiently and accurately there are some things 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:55.820 that Needs to be done to make sure that you know 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:58.080 We're not reporting what somebody else has already 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:01.019 reported and it just goes in a big circle and 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:04.610 and that kind of thing so Let's talk about some 00:14:04.610 --> 00:14:07.750 of the things that need to be considered if you 00:14:07.750 --> 00:14:10.750 happen to be running a Skywarn Net or you're 00:14:10.750 --> 00:14:13.850 one of the people checking into a Skywarn Net 00:14:13.850 --> 00:14:17.450 to help make sure that everything is correct, 00:14:17.649 --> 00:14:23.860 verified, and efficient. Yes, we always want 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:27.379 to know who what where when how and we always 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:31.659 want to know the spotters call sign We do not 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:34.220 take reports off of police scanners. We do not 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:37.279 take reports from the local media You know somebody 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:40.000 might report the sirens are going off. We don't 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.919 really that's not of interest to us. We are We 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:45.000 get all that information from the Weather Service. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:49.500 We have a nice online chat, secure chat thing 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:51.580 we use that we're in constant contact with the 00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:54.100 Weather Service and with Homeland Security and 00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:57.360 with the media. So the media will send us information 00:14:57.360 --> 00:15:00.980 and we have an idea of what's going on, but we're 00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:02.519 looking out for the Weather Service and we're 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:04.879 basically the eyes and ears. So when somebody 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:07.519 is reporting something, you know, if there's 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:09.840 an event going on in the county like, you know, 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:12.029 severe thunderstorm or tornado, We're not going 00:15:12.029 --> 00:15:14.529 to want the pea -sized hail report. We might 00:15:14.529 --> 00:15:16.570 ask for it sometimes, but if there's something 00:15:16.570 --> 00:15:19.149 major going on, golf ball -sized hail, tornado 00:15:19.149 --> 00:15:21.639 on the ground, funnel cloud, wall cloud... we're 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:23.539 only going to look for severe weather criteria 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:25.519 and we we don't want everybody to be chiming 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:28.139 in you know like hey it's raining over here well 00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:30.120 that's great that you reported that but we're 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.840 concentrating right now on the life and death 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:33.639 of what is actually occurring that's damaging 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:35.740 property and could it you know could be killing 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:38.539 people so we try to limit our traffic um when 00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:41.340 it becomes really severe um all the counties 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:43.080 when they do bring up their net we have you know 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:44.779 they go ahead and let people check in we do that 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:46.620 on the state net but when we actually have stuff 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:50.100 starting to go uh... you know, happen and there's 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:52.539 an event going on, we start to limit things and 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:55.960 we have an incident command that we use and we 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:59.200 really try to encourage people to use radio etiquette 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:02.139 and realize it is an emergency situation. And 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:04.620 unless you have something that is going to add 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:07.259 to the weather service or help save lives, we 00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:08.940 don't need your information. We just want you 00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:10.919 to stand by and tell unless you got something 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:13.080 that's going to, you know, really help us pinpoint 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:15.240 where the storm's going and what's being reported. 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:19.350 So we try to try to limit every to an incident 00:16:19.350 --> 00:16:24.350 command structure, the five W's, if it is severe 00:16:24.350 --> 00:16:27.929 criteria, you know, one inch diameter hail, 60 00:16:27.929 --> 00:16:31.450 mile an hour winds, funnel cloud, tornado, wall 00:16:31.450 --> 00:16:35.210 cloud, that kind of stuff. And of course, that's 00:16:35.210 --> 00:16:39.570 the criteria for our region here in central Indiana. 00:16:40.169 --> 00:16:44.820 And every Skywarn net, that goes through a different 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:48.259 weather office may have slightly different criteria. 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:52.539 But the principle is pretty much the same, I 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:58.559 think, that you want to prioritize what you're 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:02.139 sending back so that they're not overloaded with 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:05.599 information, but they are receiving the critical 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:10.279 information as soon as possible. That is absolutely 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:13.220 absolutely spot -on. Yes spot -on each weather 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:15.039 service in each region. I think it's defined 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.980 by the region Central region southern region 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:19.660 the weather service has different regions around 00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:22.220 the country And I think each region has their 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:24.400 own set of criteria for what they need to report 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:27.359 it now if the forecaster says hey You know sends 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:29.700 me a message and says you know, what do you get 00:17:29.700 --> 00:17:31.380 out of this storm? You know, we're kind of interested 00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:32.960 in this storm. We don't have a warning on it 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:34.619 right now But hey, what are you getting then? 00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:36.480 I would reach out say, you know, hey Clinton 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:40.180 County. I got this cell South of Frankfurt, for 00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:42.160 example, do you have any spotters in the area? 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:43.839 Can you tell us what's what we're getting there? 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:46.859 We do from time to time do that But again when 00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:49.059 you're when you're in a major event, you've got 00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:51.259 you know, like a devastating hailstorm You've 00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:54.640 got a tornado on the ground you go into that 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:56.819 incident command structure and only people that 00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:59.400 are prudent to that area who can give us real 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:02.319 -time reports we really really kind of discourage 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:05.200 all other traffic because like you said the the 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:07.079 net can get very very cluttered and you can have 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:10.180 people piling up on each other and it is an emergency 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:12.660 situation and we are providing a service to the 00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:14.759 weather service no we're not paid we're all volunteers 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:17.460 but we're giving our community a great service 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:19.480 because like we said earlier the radar can only 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:22.000 see so much so when you have hams out in the 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:24.910 field what they're giving the community and providing, 00:18:25.690 --> 00:18:27.930 you know, you can't, there's no other way to 00:18:27.930 --> 00:18:29.650 get that kind of information. So we've got to 00:18:29.650 --> 00:18:32.089 limit our traffic to the pertinent information 00:18:32.089 --> 00:18:35.529 only until, you know, things kind of loosen up 00:18:35.529 --> 00:18:37.930 possibly. But again, for the most part, we're 00:18:37.930 --> 00:18:39.950 normally just asking for severe weather, you 00:18:39.950 --> 00:18:42.250 know, a lot of times when I turn on the radio 00:18:42.250 --> 00:18:44.329 and one of my cohorts is running the net and 00:18:44.329 --> 00:18:46.529 I don't hear a lot of traffic, I think to myself, 00:18:46.609 --> 00:18:48.190 well, there must not be a lot going on because 00:18:48.190 --> 00:18:51.130 that's how we've kind of trained our region is 00:18:51.309 --> 00:18:53.470 Unless there's severe weather, we're not really 00:18:53.470 --> 00:18:55.750 keying up the radio unless the weather service 00:18:55.750 --> 00:18:58.150 asks for a particular area, if that kind of helps. 00:18:58.910 --> 00:19:01.789 Yeah, so we're keeping the frequency clear so 00:19:01.789 --> 00:19:04.869 that if somebody does have some priority traffic 00:19:04.869 --> 00:19:07.009 They can get in and they're not having to wait 00:19:07.009 --> 00:19:11.329 around on You know, well it's raining the sirens 00:19:11.329 --> 00:19:13.829 are going off, you know that kind of thing or 00:19:13.829 --> 00:19:16.390 or just checking in for the numbers You know, 00:19:16.390 --> 00:19:19.410 you're just checking in so that we can show that 00:19:19.410 --> 00:19:22.269 we've had all these people there Well, you know 00:19:22.269 --> 00:19:24.769 we can do that at the end of the net and and 00:19:24.769 --> 00:19:27.690 you know when it's not in priority and sometimes 00:19:27.690 --> 00:19:30.069 that's hard because you're kind of switching 00:19:30.069 --> 00:19:32.329 back and forth you'll start out in kind of an 00:19:32.329 --> 00:19:35.349 informal net where you're just kind of talking 00:19:35.349 --> 00:19:38.650 and you know getting a feel for who's around 00:19:38.650 --> 00:19:41.690 who's available who might be you know in a certain 00:19:41.690 --> 00:19:45.170 area if if that call or that request does come 00:19:45.170 --> 00:19:48.549 in but then all of a sudden when it hits you 00:19:48.549 --> 00:19:52.250 have to switch gears you have to go to you know, 00:19:52.549 --> 00:19:56.450 keeping the frequency clear and trying to make 00:19:56.450 --> 00:19:58.769 sure that we get all the priority traffic so 00:19:58.769 --> 00:20:00.829 that we're getting the golf ball size hail not 00:20:00.829 --> 00:20:04.130 the pea size hail, you know, if that's happening 00:20:04.130 --> 00:20:07.970 and it changes from time to time. Yeah, so what 00:20:07.970 --> 00:20:11.349 I'll do generally and my president taught is 00:20:11.349 --> 00:20:14.650 my mentor in nine GDR Mark Schaefer And so what 00:20:14.650 --> 00:20:16.349 I'll do when I open a net I'll say, you know, 00:20:16.369 --> 00:20:18.890 we're bringing up a net Here's the tornado watches 00:20:18.890 --> 00:20:21.390 every thunderstorm watch what counties are involved 00:20:21.390 --> 00:20:24.230 And then once the stuff gets going and we have 00:20:24.230 --> 00:20:25.829 an area where we're gonna look at I'll say, you 00:20:25.829 --> 00:20:28.029 know, are there any stations from this county? 00:20:28.029 --> 00:20:31.069 typical new Montgomery Park Putnam any stations 00:20:31.069 --> 00:20:32.849 and I'll have those stations check in and I'll 00:20:32.849 --> 00:20:35.240 say, you know whether developing we're going 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.900 to have weather coming into your area can you 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:40.559 please bring up a net and you know let us know 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:42.640 you know who's your liaison station is going 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:45.099 to be and then about every five minutes or so 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:47.019 I'll give an update on what's going on as far 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:49.579 as warnings for our particular area and what 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:52.180 the radar is showing as far as what we're looking 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:55.460 at so kind of give everybody an update and that 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:57.339 way people aren't coming on and saying well what's 00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:59.180 the radar look for my area what's the radar look 00:20:59.180 --> 00:21:01.660 for this area well again we want to limit that 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:03.759 traffic so I'm kind of giving a synopsis every 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:06.900 five to ten minutes as to where the severe activity 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:09.980 that we're really concentrating is in. That way 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.920 we're not tying up the frequency with everybody 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:13.420 wanting to know if it's going to hit their house 00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:16.920 or whatever. And if you just heard a big sigh 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:21.289 of relief... The Kentucky Wildcats were victorious 00:21:21.289 --> 00:21:24.549 this evening, so that's over. So I don't have 00:21:24.549 --> 00:21:27.589 to worry about that now. So anyway. You're not 00:21:27.589 --> 00:21:31.490 sweating it out now. Yeah, not having to sweat 00:21:31.490 --> 00:21:34.269 it out. Now we can do it all over again Saturday. 00:21:35.450 --> 00:21:39.390 So that's a good transition to what I want to 00:21:39.390 --> 00:21:43.849 talk about next, which is traffic the other direction. 00:21:46.209 --> 00:21:49.450 we're serving the national weather service and 00:21:49.450 --> 00:21:54.089 not the other way around and so we can also have 00:21:54.089 --> 00:21:58.789 some issues where. You know we need information 00:21:58.789 --> 00:22:01.710 to get it out to the spotter so that they are 00:22:01.710 --> 00:22:05.150 safe so they know what to look for and what to 00:22:05.150 --> 00:22:08.230 expect but on the other hand. A lot of times 00:22:08.230 --> 00:22:11.430 we know there's a lot of you know friends and 00:22:11.430 --> 00:22:14.450 family that are listening on a scanner and it's 00:22:14.450 --> 00:22:18.490 tempting to want to broadcast. It's tempting 00:22:18.490 --> 00:22:23.990 to want to you know keep reading the watches 00:22:23.990 --> 00:22:28.750 and warnings over and over and over, and keep 00:22:28.750 --> 00:22:32.029 the frequency going and keep the repeater active 00:22:32.029 --> 00:22:38.690 when we actually need to be listening. So a little 00:22:38.690 --> 00:22:44.230 bit about the announcements and maintaining a 00:22:44.230 --> 00:22:49.809 good balance of providing data to keep the spotter 00:22:49.809 --> 00:22:54.009 safe, but yet uh... you know we're not at or 00:22:54.009 --> 00:22:56.670 not in the broadcast business the national weather 00:22:56.670 --> 00:22:59.970 service the ones who need to make those watches 00:22:59.970 --> 00:23:05.190 and warnings yet we don't we only relay information 00:23:05.190 --> 00:23:06.910 from the weather service and like i said i try 00:23:06.910 --> 00:23:10.430 to give a synopsis every 5 to 10 minutes of what 00:23:10.430 --> 00:23:12.789 the radar is showing, what areas we're targeting, 00:23:12.970 --> 00:23:15.970 and what warnings we have in effect. But if they 00:23:15.970 --> 00:23:17.769 do come out with a new tornado warning or severe 00:23:17.769 --> 00:23:19.349 thunderstorm warning, we're going to relay that 00:23:19.349 --> 00:23:22.829 information to the county. So like, for example, 00:23:23.789 --> 00:23:25.470 let's say Monroe County, a severe thunderstorm 00:23:25.470 --> 00:23:28.029 warning comes out for Bloomington. We'll contact 00:23:28.029 --> 00:23:30.470 the liaison station from Monroe County, let them 00:23:30.470 --> 00:23:33.490 know. 95 % of the time, they've got the warning 00:23:33.490 --> 00:23:35.410 too, but we just like to let them know there 00:23:35.410 --> 00:23:37.569 is a warning, and here's where the Weather Service 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:40.180 to position the spotters. We don't want to put 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:42.779 our spotters in harm's way so we encourage them, 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:45.480 we try to position them like maybe a mile and 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:48.200 a mile and a half away from or the harm's way. 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:51.319 So say there was a tornado that was spotted on 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:53.160 the west side of Bloomington. We'd have them 00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:55.880 south of that area and southeast and we'd make 00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:57.579 sure that they have escape routes to get out 00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:59.559 of their that area in case the storm would shift. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:04.039 So we're not Having people punching cores and 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:06.500 driving dominators into storms were there to 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:09.759 report for the Weather Service and Get the information 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:12.500 for the Weather Service and not put ourselves 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:15.180 in harm's way Get as close as we can be to provide 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:18.380 that eyes and ears for the Weather Service without 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:20.980 risking our lives where you know you have some 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:23.420 of these people that they're they love the thrill 00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:26.079 of Trying to drive into the tornado which to 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:27.880 me I've never understood it. I think it's the 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:31.329 dumbest thing you can do because as we saw Couple 00:24:31.329 --> 00:24:34.049 years ago in Oklahoma. They had several very 00:24:34.049 --> 00:24:36.670 very highly respected storm chasers and spotters 00:24:36.670 --> 00:24:38.789 and even meteorologists who got killed because 00:24:38.789 --> 00:24:41.369 the tornado shifted and they had no escape route 00:24:41.369 --> 00:24:43.910 So we always try to think about the spotters 00:24:43.910 --> 00:24:47.359 and position them but yet not too close. The 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:49.240 other thing with the Weather Service and how 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:51.700 the nets work, there may be a lot of times, I 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:53.819 see this a lot in the summer, we have a low and 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:55.559 severe thunderstorm that pops up and there's 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:58.039 no watch or warning. We encourage our counties 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.700 here in central Indiana, if they want to bring 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:02.539 up a net anytime, they are more than welcome 00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:04.960 to do that, but we're not going to bring up our 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:08.579 state net for 39 counties until the Weather Service 00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:10.940 calls us because we consider them, they're our 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:13.750 customer. And if the county wants to bring up 00:25:13.750 --> 00:25:16.450 the net, that's great. They can relay that information 00:25:16.450 --> 00:25:20.650 by phone, by Facebook, Twitter, or even the NWS 00:25:20.650 --> 00:25:23.750 chat service. But we are just totally at the 00:25:23.750 --> 00:25:25.710 beck and call of the Weather Service as their 00:25:25.710 --> 00:25:28.329 customer, whatever they need us to do to help 00:25:28.329 --> 00:25:32.329 them do their job better and save lives. And 00:25:32.329 --> 00:25:35.990 the Weather Service does, at least here, does 00:25:35.990 --> 00:25:39.990 a fabulous job of going out and training weather 00:25:39.990 --> 00:25:43.329 spotters and giving them the information to know 00:25:43.329 --> 00:25:45.710 what to look for, what cloud formations to look 00:25:45.710 --> 00:25:50.549 for, and again, a safe place to do the spotting. 00:25:51.029 --> 00:25:53.509 But a lot of times we don't always get the training 00:25:53.509 --> 00:25:56.980 on What to communicate and how to communicate 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:59.099 and so that's kind of the gap we're trying to 00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:02.480 fill tonight is give you a little bit of an idea 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:06.369 of. You know how to communicate that information 00:26:06.369 --> 00:26:09.869 once you're trained as a skywarn spotter and 00:26:09.869 --> 00:26:14.630 then working in one of these nets so We're going 00:26:14.630 --> 00:26:17.690 to take a break, but we're going to take your 00:26:17.690 --> 00:26:21.450 questions and we'll be back with John and if 00:26:21.450 --> 00:26:24.049 you have a question we'll we'll take those calls 00:26:24.049 --> 00:26:27.329 in just a couple of minutes and Also want to 00:26:27.329 --> 00:26:29.890 mention the skywarn reflector. I had a note to 00:26:29.890 --> 00:26:32.609 to talk about that so we'll do that right after 00:26:32.609 --> 00:26:34.799 the words from the National Voice of America 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:38.000 Museum of Broadcasting and Amateur Radio Newsline 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:41.779 right here on HamTalk Live. The National Voice 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:44.740 of America Museum of Broadcasting located in 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:48.019 Westchester, Ohio just north of Cincinnati is 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:52.140 only two minutes off I -75. The museum is the 00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:54.940 former home of the Voice of America Bethany Relay 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:58.259 Station. Tours are now available every Saturday 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:01.660 and Sunday from 1 to 4 p .m. Eastern Time. You 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:05.319 can see the control room, a 200 ,000 watt transmitter, 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:08.759 and the most comprehensive collection of inventions 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:13.359 by the iconic Powell -Crosley Jr. Also on display 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:17.640 is a huge antique radio exhibit and R .L. Drake's 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:20.660 personal collection of most every Drake amateur 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:24.529 rig ever made. This is a unique opportunity to 00:27:24.529 --> 00:27:27.690 see amateur radio in action and have a chance 00:27:27.690 --> 00:27:33.250 to get on the air from WC8VOA. Admission is only 00:27:33.250 --> 00:27:36.990 $5 a person. The museum is located close to historic 00:27:36.990 --> 00:27:41.690 WLWAM and tons of shopping and restaurants. Take 00:27:41.690 --> 00:27:45.589 a trip to the VOA museum or visit us online at 00:27:45.589 --> 00:27:50.089 voamuseum .org. Nominations are now open for 00:27:50.089 --> 00:27:52.130 the amateur radio news line, Bill Pasternak, 00:27:52.170 --> 00:27:55.809 WA6ITF Young Ham of the Year Award. I'm Don Wilbanks, 00:27:55.910 --> 00:27:59.589 AE5DW. Since 1986, we've had the honor of celebrating 00:27:59.589 --> 00:28:01.589 the accomplishments of Youth and Ham Radio when 00:28:01.589 --> 00:28:03.309 we want to know about your exceptional Young 00:28:03.309 --> 00:28:05.670 Ham. You'll find the rules and a nominating form 00:28:05.670 --> 00:28:08.970 by clicking the Y -H -O -T -Y tab on ARNewsline 00:28:08.970 --> 00:28:11.900 .org. Fill it out, send it in, and we'll see 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:14.039 you and an amazing young ham at the Huntsville 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:17.400 Alabama Ham Fest in August. Thanks and 73 from 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:23.000 Amateur Radio Newsline. Hey baby, what's your 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:27.519 sign? What's your call sign? You're listening 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:33.579 to Ham Talk Live with Neil Rapp. Join the conversation. 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:37.420 Call us on voice with Skype at HamTalk Live or 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:41.920 give us a call at 812 -NET -HAM -1. That's 812 00:28:41.920 --> 00:29:01.390 -638 -4261. Now, here's more HamTalk Live! HamTalk 00:29:01.390 --> 00:29:04.569 Live is on the air every Thursday night at 9 00:29:04.569 --> 00:29:07.769 p .m. Eastern Time right here at HamTalkLive 00:29:07.769 --> 00:29:11.130 .com and be sure to check us out on Facebook, 00:29:11.230 --> 00:29:14.250 Twitter, and Instagram and it's time for your 00:29:14.250 --> 00:29:17.009 calls now. So if you have a question for John, 00:29:17.150 --> 00:29:21.690 give us a call at 812 -NET -HAM -1. That's 812 00:29:21.690 --> 00:29:28.670 -638 -4261. Or you can Skype us or HamTalk Live 00:29:28.670 --> 00:29:32.670 on Skype and you can also tweet us. We're at 00:29:32.670 --> 00:29:37.289 HamTalk Live on Twitter. So be sure to chime 00:29:37.289 --> 00:29:41.210 in and we'll say hello to Carl KD9HQT who's listening. 00:29:42.109 --> 00:29:46.630 and mentions he knows all about the W9ICE repeater 00:29:46.630 --> 00:29:51.410 here in Indiana that the state net is on and 00:29:51.410 --> 00:29:57.029 thanks for listening in Carl and we want to mention 00:29:57.029 --> 00:30:03.890 here KC5FM noted that there is a Skywarn email 00:30:03.890 --> 00:30:09.980 reflector that ties in Skywarn, you know across 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:15.539 the country and that's on the qth net service 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:21.579 mailman qth net and I'll Retweet the address 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:25.220 here. That's probably the easiest way to get 00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:27.920 that link because it's a little long but just 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:31.380 retweeted that so if you're interested in getting 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:34.880 on that email reflector that is another source 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:40.019 of information as well. So we're back with John, 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:44.380 KC9 BRX from Central Indiana Skywarn. And again, 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:48.000 we're We may use some of the Indiana things as 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.859 an example, but the same principles apply wherever 00:30:52.859 --> 00:30:56.839 you are that information needs to be gathered 00:30:56.839 --> 00:31:01.240 and verified and sent in an efficient manner. 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:04.819 And this is the structure that we have here in 00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:06.500 Indiana that we're talking about. But there's 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:11.799 similar things in other areas. John, if you could 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:17.680 talk about a little bit of the dangers of, you 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:20.579 know, you see something on the radar, you know, 00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:24.160 on your local net and then you call that in or 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:31.380 you hear something on the scanner and you call 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:37.150 that in. What can happen with that? Well, you 00:31:37.150 --> 00:31:38.910 could put people in harm's way in your local 00:31:38.910 --> 00:31:41.509 net. A lot of our local counties do have radar 00:31:41.509 --> 00:31:45.369 software. Our group uses the Gibson Ridge GR 00:31:45.369 --> 00:31:48.250 -level analyst software to track the storms, 00:31:48.329 --> 00:31:51.170 but we coordinate directly with the meteorologists. 00:31:51.230 --> 00:31:53.750 So if we see something that we might think is 00:31:53.750 --> 00:31:55.829 an area of concern, we'll check with one of the 00:31:55.829 --> 00:31:57.890 meteorologists first, say, hey, we're seeing 00:31:57.890 --> 00:31:59.710 this. Do you guys agree? What do you guys want 00:31:59.710 --> 00:32:03.349 us to do? And then they direct us rather than 00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:05.759 We've had counties where they say, hey, I see 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:08.619 rotation. It's got a mezzo thing spinning on 00:32:08.619 --> 00:32:10.680 the radar. Should we send somebody into that? 00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:13.220 Well, we always want to check with the weather 00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:15.140 service, because of course, they are the professionals. 00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:18.339 They are the experts. We are amateurs. And we 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:20.700 always want to make sure this is where they want 00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:23.319 to send somebody. And again, when we send somebody 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:25.900 to an area, we always try to position them here 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:28.549 in Indiana. And for the most part, when you're 00:32:28.549 --> 00:32:30.250 spotting for tornadoes, you always want to be 00:32:30.250 --> 00:32:33.089 south, southeast of where the wall cloud and 00:32:33.089 --> 00:32:35.650 the supercell would be. We would never want you 00:32:35.650 --> 00:32:37.650 to drive into it. I stressed that earlier that, 00:32:37.710 --> 00:32:39.490 you know, you see all these chasers driving into 00:32:39.490 --> 00:32:41.589 these things, and that's just putting your life 00:32:41.589 --> 00:32:45.950 at risk and just not a smart move. So we always 00:32:45.950 --> 00:32:48.470 try to verify the weather service. Here's where 00:32:48.470 --> 00:32:50.230 the storm is. Here's where we're going to put 00:32:50.230 --> 00:32:53.049 the spotters and then get the information back. 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:57.119 You know, if you hear scanner reports, the Weather 00:32:57.119 --> 00:33:00.440 Service has, especially nowadays with all the 00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:02.099 internet and everything, they have direct links 00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:04.680 with state police, with Homeland Security, with 00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:08.799 county sheriff, county police, the media, in 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:13.319 fact the media, our organization and other ham 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:15.579 organizations, Homeland Security and the Weather 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:18.220 Service all have a secure chat room that we all 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:21.660 chat within during severe weather and the Weather 00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:24.740 Service kind of limits it to only emergency traffic. 00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:27.019 So they're gonna get that information that you 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:29.579 hear on a scanner so you rebroadcasting over 00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:32.480 your local net or to the state net is not doing 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:34.099 anybody any good because they've already got 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:36.000 that information and again as I stressed earlier 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:38.740 we want to try to keep the frequencies open for 00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:41.400 pertinent traffic. We will have check -ins at 00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:43.299 the beginning of our nets for our county and 00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:45.740 our state but when the ball gets rolling and 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:47.599 the storms start rolling then we limit it to 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:50.240 emergency traffic only and you know there's even 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:51.839 times when we have a severe thunderstorm but 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:53.789 if we've got a live tornado on the ground that's 00:33:53.789 --> 00:33:55.950 hitting an area that could kill people or do 00:33:55.950 --> 00:33:58.150 destruction to homes, we limit the traffic only 00:33:58.150 --> 00:34:00.750 to that area. It just depends on the situation. 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:08.039 We're talking to John Mills, KC9BRX about Skywarn 00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:10.659 issues and so if you want to give us a call at 00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:17.519 812 -638 -4261, 812 -NET -HAM -1 or Skype us 00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:20.880 at HamTalk Live or tweet us at HamTalk Live if 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:23.639 you have a question or comment about the topic 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:29.079 tonight and also I'll remind our listeners that 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:35.780 last spring we had a pair of shows actually the 00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:40.900 hurricane watch net and the voice over ip hurricane 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:44.079 watch net and speaking of here here one of them 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:47.900 is calling in right now but those you know are 00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:51.980 applicable to the coastlines a little more than 00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:56.599 it is for us here we're in tornado central but 00:34:56.599 --> 00:35:01.590 there's all those other Nets out there. And so 00:35:01.590 --> 00:35:04.190 if you are interested in any of that that hurricane 00:35:04.190 --> 00:35:08.469 watch net or the voice over P voice over IP Weather 00:35:08.469 --> 00:35:11.889 net make sure you check out the old ham talk 00:35:11.889 --> 00:35:15.949 live episodes From last spring and speaking of 00:35:15.949 --> 00:35:19.250 that. We do have a caller on the line and it's 00:35:19.250 --> 00:35:23.769 Lloyd Casey nine He see five FM from the voice 00:35:23.769 --> 00:35:27.110 over IP weather net. So good evening Lloyd and 00:35:27.110 --> 00:35:32.159 what's your question for us tonight? Well, I 00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:34.679 had actually called them to listen to the program, 00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:39.000 but thanks for taking my call. And I always appreciate 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:43.199 your topical stuff, considering that Skywarn 00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:47.440 is, well, spring weather season here in Oklahoma 00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:50.739 is right upon us. We have a fire weather watch 00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:54.559 today and tomorrow, warning rather, in Oklahoma. 00:35:54.679 --> 00:35:57.980 So it's important to be all up to speed on all 00:35:57.980 --> 00:36:01.389 kinds of weather. My friend, Katie, one C Y is 00:36:01.389 --> 00:36:04.150 being hammered in the Northeast with the number 00:36:04.150 --> 00:36:07.309 three blizzard. So there's all kinds of weather 00:36:07.309 --> 00:36:11.289 in, in America to be weather aware about in Skywarn 00:36:11.289 --> 00:36:15.550 is a program to help you, uh, do that. Um, I 00:36:15.550 --> 00:36:18.650 appreciate that, uh, comment too about the VOIP, 00:36:18.650 --> 00:36:22.309 uh, weather net over. Okay, Lloyd. Yeah, very 00:36:22.309 --> 00:36:24.829 good. We, uh, we thank you again for coming on 00:36:24.829 --> 00:36:27.929 the show and talking about that and, uh, and 00:36:27.929 --> 00:36:31.710 often feeding us some information and so we'll 00:36:31.710 --> 00:36:36.349 we may post a link to that show again later on 00:36:36.349 --> 00:36:39.309 this evening after the show so you can find it 00:36:39.309 --> 00:36:41.690 easily but it's there in the archive if you just 00:36:41.690 --> 00:36:45.909 go back on hamtalklive .com you can find that 00:36:45.909 --> 00:36:49.610 conversation so yeah Lloyd thanks for for calling 00:36:49.610 --> 00:36:54.610 in and yeah the the nor 'easter's raging out 00:36:54.610 --> 00:36:59.349 there in the northeast and Oklahoma, you're, 00:36:59.489 --> 00:37:01.670 you're on a fire watch. Is that, is that what 00:37:01.670 --> 00:37:04.130 you said? Or you got some, some route going on? 00:37:04.869 --> 00:37:07.989 Uh, we have lots of drought going on about the 00:37:07.989 --> 00:37:11.849 Western third of the stage is in drought. And, 00:37:11.849 --> 00:37:14.590 uh, we have a fire weather warning in place till, 00:37:14.650 --> 00:37:17.210 uh, well, it just ended, but we have a watch 00:37:17.210 --> 00:37:21.510 for tomorrow. And, um, I'm curious to know how 00:37:21.510 --> 00:37:25.690 many of your, uh, listeners are in Scott Warren. 00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:29.760 but also participate in the Weather Ready Nation 00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:32.699 program from the National Weather Service, weather 00:37:32.699 --> 00:37:37.280 .gov slash WRN. Just curious about that. They're 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:41.260 really, really married programs. Weather Ready 00:37:41.260 --> 00:37:47.659 Nation does pretty much what Skyborne had also 00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:51.659 intended to be getting not only getting weather 00:37:51.659 --> 00:37:55.059 reports to the National Weather Service, but 00:37:55.059 --> 00:38:00.460 feeding our Neighbors accurate weather information, 00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:06.880 not relying on an amateur weather person, but 00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:09.380 feeding our neighbors accurate weather information 00:38:09.380 --> 00:38:11.519 from the National Weather Service. I'm curious 00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:14.780 how many of your listeners are even aware of 00:38:14.780 --> 00:38:18.099 the Weather Ready Nation program? Well, if they 00:38:18.099 --> 00:38:22.059 weren't, they are now. And that's one of the 00:38:22.059 --> 00:38:24.980 goals of the show so that's that's good. So yeah, 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:29.510 I I would be interested in knowing that as well. 00:38:29.849 --> 00:38:31.489 And Lloyd, I'm going to put you on the spot here 00:38:31.489 --> 00:38:34.449 for a second because John and I have been talking 00:38:34.449 --> 00:38:37.829 about tornadoes and you're mentioning the fire 00:38:37.829 --> 00:38:41.690 thing. So we don't get that one a whole lot around 00:38:41.690 --> 00:38:44.849 here. I remember one time we did and we had to 00:38:44.849 --> 00:38:49.949 establish some links that normally we wouldn't 00:38:49.949 --> 00:38:53.570 to kind of keep an eye on some things. So what 00:38:53.570 --> 00:38:59.469 do you all do in a ham radio situation with Skywarn 00:38:59.469 --> 00:39:03.650 with the fire warnings? Well, when we do have 00:39:03.650 --> 00:39:07.409 a fire warning, typically our advice to the citizens 00:39:07.409 --> 00:39:11.090 that we apply to ourselves is if you see smoke, 00:39:11.329 --> 00:39:15.789 report it. Currently in Oklahoma, the western 00:39:15.789 --> 00:39:18.289 tier of counties is under a governor's burn ban 00:39:18.289 --> 00:39:22.449 anyway. So if there's smoke out there, you're 00:39:22.449 --> 00:39:26.190 supposed to report it to local authorities. and 00:39:26.190 --> 00:39:31.590 that way you can help enforce that burn ban. 00:39:32.289 --> 00:39:36.070 Second, it's important that our operators have 00:39:36.070 --> 00:39:40.309 radar skills and the smoke detector on our radar 00:39:40.309 --> 00:39:46.929 and radar scope is base reflectivity level one 00:39:46.929 --> 00:39:52.190 and coalition coefficient level one and those 00:39:52.190 --> 00:39:54.969 will detect the smoke plumes before anything 00:39:54.969 --> 00:39:58.489 else. uh, and any other radar product. So those 00:39:58.489 --> 00:40:00.469 are the two things. If you see smoke, report 00:40:00.469 --> 00:40:04.570 it and watch your radar for smoke plumes. Okay. 00:40:04.789 --> 00:40:08.469 Well, we learned something, John. Yes, we did. 00:40:08.989 --> 00:40:12.030 And speaking of Weather Ready Nation, our organization, 00:40:12.230 --> 00:40:14.070 Central Indiana Skyward, is a Weather Ready Nation. 00:40:14.789 --> 00:40:16.969 And that is being promoted by the Indianapolis 00:40:16.969 --> 00:40:18.690 Weather Office, like you had mentioned earlier, 00:40:18.690 --> 00:40:20.730 when they go out and do the county talks. They 00:40:20.730 --> 00:40:24.050 also try to get businesses and the county weather 00:40:24.050 --> 00:40:26.309 ready as well with the Weather Ready Nation program. 00:40:28.130 --> 00:40:34.039 No, I see a lot of the county. Well, we'll get 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:37.239 like a rating, you know that they're they are 00:40:37.239 --> 00:40:40.760 weather ready and see the signs out there a lot 00:40:40.760 --> 00:40:46.300 And that your long was skywarn Skywarn was originally 00:40:46.300 --> 00:40:50.219 the number one Then storm ready was number two 00:40:50.219 --> 00:40:52.539 It was a program developed out of the Norman 00:40:52.539 --> 00:40:54.920 National Weather Service office and the Tulsa 00:40:54.920 --> 00:40:58.340 National Weather Service office and Oklahoma 00:40:58.340 --> 00:41:01.800 and storm ready you can be a storm ready community 00:41:01.800 --> 00:41:06.889 a county a university, a school, you can be a 00:41:06.889 --> 00:41:10.030 storm -ready military base, and I think there's 00:41:10.030 --> 00:41:14.369 even a storm -ready band, but that all involves 00:41:14.369 --> 00:41:19.369 being involved with a community being able to 00:41:19.369 --> 00:41:21.730 document to the Weather Service that they are 00:41:21.730 --> 00:41:25.170 storm -ready, and it all ties into also to SkyWarn 00:41:25.170 --> 00:41:28.750 and to Weather Ready Nation. All right, Lloyd. 00:41:28.869 --> 00:41:31.789 Well, thanks for... Bringing that to our attention 00:41:31.789 --> 00:41:34.250 and we'll try to get those links sent out on 00:41:34.250 --> 00:41:36.510 that as well. So thanks for calling in tonight. 00:41:37.510 --> 00:41:39.730 And thanks for taking my call. I appreciate your 00:41:39.730 --> 00:41:42.670 program. Be safe. All right. Okay. You too, Lloyd. 00:41:42.750 --> 00:41:47.809 Take care. Be careful. Seven three seven five. 00:41:49.210 --> 00:41:51.750 All right. Well, we've got about a minute left 00:41:51.750 --> 00:41:54.869 here, John. So I'm going to check the tweets 00:41:54.869 --> 00:41:58.090 one more time, but we're probably out of time 00:41:58.090 --> 00:42:01.739 for. For calls this evening. Don't see anything 00:42:01.739 --> 00:42:05.059 else coming up on on Twitter. So we'll just kind 00:42:05.059 --> 00:42:09.780 of finish things up here with any last comments 00:42:09.780 --> 00:42:15.579 that you have or Anything that we forgot No, 00:42:15.579 --> 00:42:18.920 I appreciate you having me on the show just want 00:42:18.920 --> 00:42:23.300 to reiterate you can Probably go to your local 00:42:23.300 --> 00:42:25.980 National Weather Service offices to find spotter 00:42:25.980 --> 00:42:28.559 training because I think all the offices uh... 00:42:28.559 --> 00:42:31.800 do it and uh... you if you want to get some more 00:42:31.800 --> 00:42:33.460 training on how to spot and what to look for 00:42:33.460 --> 00:42:35.519 cuz they go through everything i've been through 00:42:35.519 --> 00:42:37.400 many of them were actually having a regional 00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:41.179 one this weekend here in indianapolis on advanced 00:42:41.179 --> 00:42:43.840 spotter training and they'll do a presentation 00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:46.599 at the county level of the clouds and what to 00:42:46.599 --> 00:42:49.679 look for and what to report and is it's really 00:42:49.679 --> 00:42:51.400 good so you can go to your local weather service 00:42:51.400 --> 00:42:55.179 office off of noah dot gov and i gather the information 00:42:55.179 --> 00:42:57.800 on where your spotter training might be But just 00:42:57.800 --> 00:43:00.280 to reiterate, when we bring up nets, make sure 00:43:00.280 --> 00:43:02.940 if there is something going on that you, uh, 00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:04.940 you know, limit your traffic unless you've got 00:43:04.940 --> 00:43:06.920 something that's very pertinent and they can 00:43:06.920 --> 00:43:08.820 help save lives. That's the big point that I 00:43:08.820 --> 00:43:11.619 want to stress tonight. All right, John. Well, 00:43:11.699 --> 00:43:14.320 thank you so much for, uh, taking the time to 00:43:14.320 --> 00:43:19.360 come on and even installing Skype. That may have 00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:23.440 been a big move. Installing site. Oh, yeah took 00:43:23.440 --> 00:43:25.480 hours. I've been all day. I've been installing 00:43:25.480 --> 00:43:29.760 Skype About three minutes and I was there. Unfortunately, 00:43:29.800 --> 00:43:33.199 I'm a techie like you Yeah, yeah, there we go. 00:43:33.460 --> 00:43:38.360 Well, thank you John and that is a wrap for This 00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:41.260 week's episode of ham talk live. Thanks to John 00:43:41.260 --> 00:43:44.440 Mills Casey nine BRX And everyone out there in 00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:46.619 cyberspace for listening and calling in and I 00:43:46.619 --> 00:43:48.880 invite you back next Thursday night at 9 p .m. 00:43:49.059 --> 00:43:53.719 Eastern Time when Rob Brownstein, K6RB, will 00:43:53.719 --> 00:43:57.139 be here to talk about CW Ops, an organization 00:43:57.139 --> 00:44:01.260 of CW operators. And for a list of all of our 00:44:01.260 --> 00:44:03.599 upcoming guests, and it's been updated quite 00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:07.139 a bit recently, go over to HamTalkLive .com and 00:44:07.139 --> 00:44:10.219 just click on that show schedule link and you 00:44:10.219 --> 00:44:13.019 can find out who's coming up in the... the next 00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:15.500 several weeks. So for now, this is Neil Rapp, 00:44:15.659 --> 00:44:21.059 WB9VPG, saying 7 -3, 7 -5, and as always, may 00:44:21.059 --> 00:44:54.130 the good DX be yours. Thanks for watching! 73, 00:44:54.769 --> 00:44:57.469 and good luck from HamTalk Live.