SKYWARN Recognition Day 2003

The fifth annual SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) will take place on December 6^th from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC (1900 EST December 5 to 1900 EST December 6). This day provides Amateur Radio operators an opportunity to visit National Weather Service (NWS) offices and work to make contact with other NWS offices and operators around the world. If the NWS personnel would like to participate in making contacts, a control operator must be present if the individual is not a licensed amateur. The purpose of SRD is to acknowledge the significant role that Amateur Radio operators play during severe weather events. SRD is a special event co-sponsored by the NWS and the ARRL.

Each NWS office will be allowed to operate on many bands and modes depending on any equipment permanently set up in the office, and equipment amateurs may bring in and set up for the event. For instance, phone operations will generally be on the 80/75, 40, 20, 15, 10 and 2 meter bands while other modes of operation including APRS, CW and PSK-31 can be used. When making contact with other NWS offices or amateurs around the world, an exchange of information will include at a minimum your location, signal strength and weather condition (i.e. snowing, cloudy, breezy, temperature, etc). To obtain information on participating NWS offices, their hours and modes of operation, etc. log on to hamradio.noaa.gov for additional information.

Certificates are available to amateurs participating in this event from NWS offices or from their home stations. Endorsements can be added to the certificates for reaching a minimum number of stations in various weather categories, such as fire weather states, lake effect snow states, etc. Many of the participating offices will also have QSL cards available for this special event for amateurs who make contact with their offices.

This will be the fourth straight year that NWS CAR will be participating in this event. Any amateur radio operator who wishes to operate from the Caribou office for this event should contact Michael Fitzsimmons (KB1ELT) or Hendricus Lulofs at the office. We can be reached by phone at 207-492-0170, or by e-mail at michael.fitzsimmons@noaa.gov. Pre-registration is necessary for security purposes.