Skywarn Net Operations, Procedures and Discipline

Given the serious and important nature of our task, we insist that radio operators follow proper radio procedures and discipline during our Skywarn^TM Nets. If everyone follows proper operating procedure, it allows us to quickly and efficiently get urgent information to the National Weather Service (NWS) accurately and in a timely manner.

How It Works
The County Skywarn^TM Net is activated by the Skywarn^TM Net Coordinator, or another ham radio operator with delegated authority to be a Net Control Operator for the Net. Activation occurs whenever there is Severe Weather observed, or anticipated, or at the request of the Pendleton NWS office. When the Skywarn^TM Net is activated, a Call Out process is initiated to alert ham radio operators in the area. This may include telephone calls, pagers, emails, and/or an announcement over area ham radio repeaters.

Informal Nets
Informal Nets may be called when a Severe Weather Watch is issued by the National Weather Service, or when the National Weather Service requests it. An Informal Net alerts ham radio operaters to the possibility of a Severe Weather event. This allows all ham radio stations to get their equipment ready and be on the net frequency, and begin sharing informal observation reports on current conditions to track the incoming storm. Check-Ins may be held at this time to get a record of all participating stations. Again, this type of Net is usually informal and may not always preceed a Directed Net. This type of Net also allows open use of the repeater by stations not directly participating in the Net. An Informal Net is in Standby Status.

Informal Nets may be called at anytime, and may end without observing or receiving any reports of severe weather. The important thing is to be ready if hazardous or severe weather occurs. For safety and preparedness tips, please refer to the Safety and Preparedness Page.

Directed Nets
Once a Severe Weather event has been observed, a Weather Warning has been issued, or the NWS has requested Net Activation, a Directed Net will be called opened. At this point the Net is in Active Emergency Status for the protection of life and property. When a Directed Net is opened, Skywarn^TM traffic becomes priority traffic and the Net Control Station (NCS) controls all traffic on the frequency. All non-participating stations will be asked to move any non-priority traffic to an alternate frequency until the net is closed. If the primary net control frequency is either in use by another emergency traffic net or the frequency is otherwise unavailable, the NCS will move net control operations and traffic to an alternate frequency.

During severe weather or emergency communications, there may not always be time to conduct a station check-in. If you have something significant to report, simply follow the reporting procedure given in "Brevity and Clarity" below. If we need information from a specific location, we will broadcast this on the air. Many times spotters can sit through an entire net lasting hours, and never give a report, and that's perfectly OK. Sometimes the best report you can give, is no report at all, since that will free up airtime. We know you're out there, and we appreciate your committment and your eyes!

Directed Nets may not always be preceeded by an Informal Net. They may be called at a moment's notice and without prior warning.

Tip: If you see severe weather approaching or are aware of a Weather Watch/Warning in a neighboring County, you should begin monitoring the Skywarn^TM repeater frequency for your county.

The Pendleton NWS Amateur Radio Station
A 2-Meter amateur radio is located in the operations area of the Pendleton NWS office. This radio is referred to as the Skywarn^TM Amateur Radio. When a Skywarn^TM Net is activated, a volunteer ham radio operator can be called to the Pendleton NWS office to operate the Skywarn^TM Amateur Radio to relay weather reports to the NWS Warning Forecaster. In this instance the ham at the NWS office serves as the Skywarn^TM Net Relay Station (NRS) and serves as Liaison between the Skywarn^TM Net and the NWS Warning Forecaster. Another possibility is for a ham operating at a different location in the immediate Pendleton area to serve as the Skywarn^TM NRS. This ham can then relay weather reports to the NWS Warning Forecaster via a local landline call, until such time as a ham can be dispatched to the Pendleton NWS office to operate the Skywarn^TM Amateur Radio. Thus, arrangements can be in place to activate a Skywarn^TM NRS for the Skywarn^TM Net, either at the Pendleton NWS office or in the immediate Pendleton area.

When a Directed Net begins, the Skywarn^TM NCS designates a Skywarn^TM Net Relay Station (NRS). The Skywarn^TM NRS is responsible for logging severe weather reports and relaying them to the Warning Forecaster at the Pendleton NWS office by any means possible. This may be either a landline telephone call or via another Skywarn^TM NRS in the Pendleton area. The NRS can also use the Skywarn^TM Weather Spotter Hotline, an unlisted toll-free 800 number, for this purpose.

Get The Word Out!
The Skywarn^TM Net only works when radio operators participate. If you are aware of an activation of the Net for your county, get the word out to other hams either by phone or by an announcement on another repeater. The more eyes we have out there, the better!

Reporting Procedures
All reports need to meet the Skywarn^TM Weather Event Reporting Criteria specified under "Reporting Criteria". More specific reporting criteria may be specified during the Net if requested by NWS. The Criteria announced during the Net supercedes any and all other Reporting Criteria guidelines. This is the only time you should deviate from the listed Criteria.

Stations with information to report must request recognition from the Net Control Operator first, by giving your call sign and location. (Example: KA7BPR, Benton City.) Calling stations will usually be recognized in order. Avoid transmitting at the same time as another station. Remember, what they are reporting may be just as important or even more so than your report. The net frequency can be quite hectic during a severe weather episode. Patience is a must for everyone involved during a major event, when the radio traffic can become almost non-stop.

Brevity and Clarity
Please try to make reports as brief and concise as possible. We all like to rag-chew at times, but during a Skywarn^TM net, airtime is gold! Airtime must be freed up as much as possible to allow critical reports of severe weather to reach the net. Time is of the essence! A proper report sequence should go like this:

Spotter: KD7QZU, Spotter Benton-511, reporting 50 mile per hour sustained winds measured in Richland.

Elapsed time - about 12 seconds. If we need more detail, we'll ask. Be prepared to give your exact location. For example, "2 Miles West of West Richland" or "Travelling Eastbound on I-82 at milepost 30." Use major landmarks when possible if you are mobile. Talk with a clear, not loud, voice when reporting to NCS. It is not necessary to yell into the radio - it only overmodulates your transmission and makes you harder to understand. If you are outdoors in windy conditions causing wind noise on your mic, get indoors or inside a vehicle… you shouldn't be outdoors during a severe storm anyway!

Have a Heart! The Net Control Operator's position can get very hectic at times, especially during Severe Weather events. We may not always be listening just to the Skywarn^TM frequency. We may be listening to at least two radios, a broadcast radio and possibly a scanner to help corroborate reports. In addition, we may be checked-in to the Pendleton HF SKYWARN^TM Net and monitoring that net as well. We may also be monitoring the APRS or Packet terminal for observations and conditions. Add someone talking to us in person or on the phone. If we ask you to repeat your traffic, understand that we want to make sure we get it right. Also, give us a few seconds to answer when you call. If you do not receive an acknowledgement from the NCS, simply come back to the Net with something like "Net Control, this is KD7QZU, did you copy my report?" and wait for a response. Do make sure your report was heard! Lastly, when giving your call sign please try to use phonetics to make it easier to understand your call sign the first time around.

Training Nets
Training nets are much less formal than activations. Check-ins are taken first. Then any announcements are read. After that a short training topic is covered. Just before the net closes there is an opportunity for questions and answers and discussion. Please contact your county SKYWARN^TM Net coordinator for more information on training net dates.

SkywarnTM Net Operations, Procedures and Discipline

Skywarn^TM Net Operations, Procedures and Discipline