Category Archives: Skywarn

Skywarn Recognition Day – December 7, 2024

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Skywarn™ Recognition Day (SRD) was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that Skywarn™ volunteers make to the NWS mission, the protection of life and property.

SRD will be held on December 7, 2024 from 0000z to 2400z (December 6 7 pm ET – December 7 7 pm ET).  The objective for SRD will be

“For all amateur stations to exchange QSO information with as many Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters and National Weather Service Stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2 meter and 70 centimeter bands. Contacts via repeaters are permitted. SKYWARN™ Recognition Day serves to celebrate the contributions to public safety made by amateur radio operators during severe weather events of the past year.” Continue reading →

Western Pennsylvania Skywarn Exercise, October 19,2024

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Between 10:00 and 12:00 on Saturday the nineteenth of October, Western Pennsylvania amateur radio operators cooperated with the National Weather Service offices in State College and Pittsburgh to test amateur communications capabilities throughout the ARRL WPA Section.  It turned out to be a very successful drill confirming the ability of the State College NWS office (NWS CTP) to communicate over a wide area, including contact with the Pittsburgh office (NWS PBZ). Continue reading →

Results of Skywarn Net Jan. 24, 2024 on W3GA, 146.76

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As announced a Skywarn was conducted from the National Weather Service State College Office (NWS CTP) on January 24th at 19:00.  NCS used the NWS CTP call sign WX3CTP.  Carmine, K3CWP and Greg, K3HOT staffed the station.

Nineteen stations checked in from seven counties as listed below.  The showed that the coverage for W3GA will be useful for Skywarn activations should other local repeaters fail.  Thank you to the stations who checked in. They are listed below. Continue reading →

Skywarn net announced for Jan. 24, 2024

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On Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 19:00 local time we will conduct a Skywarn net on the W3GA repeater.  Frequency is 146.760 mHz, -600 kHz shift, 146.2 Tone.  Net control will be operating from the National Weather Service Office in State College using the callsign WX3CTP.
Net control will call for stations to check in from Centre and surrounding counties.  Stations checking in are asked to give their callsign, name, and a brief report of weather observations at their location.
This will give us a test of coverage into the areas west, south, and north of Centre County from the repeater’s location on Rattlesnake Mountain.
Any amateur radio operator is welcome to check in, not just Skywarn spotters.

Public Service Events For 2023

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Opportunities for public service yet this year.  If you want to volunteer for any of the events not coordinated by Nittany Amateur Radio Club contact Carmine at k3cwp@arrl.net.

  • December 2, Skywarn Recognition Day
    • Coordinated by Carmine Prestia, K3CWP, carmine.prestia@gmail.com

Watch this space for more information, especially how to sign up to help.

Centre County Amateurs Participate in ARRL SET on October 1, 2022

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On Saturday October 2, 2022, five Centre County Amateurs participated in the Annual ARRL Simulated Emergency Test from 13:30 UTC (09:30 Local) to 14:30 UTC (11:30 Local).  This year’s drill simulated a major snow and cold weather event over the Western Pennsylvania section:

“A massive snow event and below zero temperatures have blanketed the entire Western Pennsylvania Section, downing power lines, blocking traffic and necessitating the
evacuation of large numbers of people to shelters in every county in the the Section.”

Continue reading →

K3HOT/R Amateur Radio Repeater Information

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A new Amateur Radio Service repeater is now in operation in Centre County.

The K3HOT repeater located on Rattlesnake Mountain operates on a frequency of 443.425mhz with a CTCSS of 107.2hz (pl 1B). The repeater is linked fulltime (a simulcast) with the W3ND repeater 145.11 at Harrisburg. This repeater serves as the PEMA auxiliary communications service repeater for the lower Susquehanna valley. The W3ND repeater also serves as the primary Skywarn repeater for a 10 county area.  Continue reading →