Centre County Amateur Radio Operators (AROs) participated in this years Western Pennsylvania (WPA) Simulated Emergency Test (SET) on Saturday April 3d from 0930 to 1110.  The SET was designed to test amateur communications capability during a weather emergency over the WPA Section.

The event, named Gray Rhino, assumed rain and moderating temperatures causing streams to increase flow while ice was breaking up and contributing to possible flooding.  AROs were to observe stream conditions and report same to their local networks.  These reports were then relayed to stations that forwarded them to the National Weather Service (NWS) and United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Centre County AROs participating were:

• Mike Coslo, N3LI @ NARC Station W3YA
• Rick Gilmore, K3ROG @ Milesburg with a portable HF station
• Greg Guise, K3HOT @ State College, Skywarn NCS
• Dana Harlan, WA8MTZ @ Coburn
• John Horgas, KC3NCO @ Philipsburg
• Davd Kolesar, W3KCK @ Port Matilda
• Gene Moore, KM3AJ @NARC Station W3YA
• Carmine Prestia, K3CWP @ NARC Station W3YA
• Brett Saylor, W3SWL @ NARC Station W3YA
• Bill Smith, WX2DX @ Port Matilda

The field stations reported stream and weather conditions to Skywarn NCS and W3YA.  Skywarn NCS reported these to NWS CTP via email and W3YA copied them and relayed to W3SO in Altoona using digital modes with FLDigi.  The Milesburg station also reported to W3YA and W3SO with FLDigi on HF.  This year Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) was in use to coordinate with W3SO.  It also came into use relaying messages to various WPA stations.

All Centre County stations were secured by 1110 after all messages were relayed.  It was a very successful drill.