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K. Appendix K. Radio Equipment at the NWS Gray Radio Desk
K. Appendix K. Radio Equipment at the NWS Gray Radio Desk
The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station consists of three radios – a Yaesu FT-8900 Quad- Band FM Transceiver, a Kenwood TS-570D HF/6m all-mode transceiver, and a Connect Systems CS801 VHF DMR transceiver.
1. Yaesu FT-8900
1. Yaesu FT-8900
The FM Transceiver has the ability to monitor two channels simultaneously, and will always be used in the memory mode, which features pre-programmed repeater and simplex frequencies. This radio is used to establish the primary SKYWARN Net and to seek reports from areas in which the forecasters have expressed an interest because of indications of severe weather.
Identify as “WX1GYX, National Weather Service - Gray”
After operations, leave the radio on 146.880 and 147.045 so non-licensed staff can turn the radio on to monitor remote nets or incoming operators who are called in to activate the station.
Visit: https://www.qrzcq.com/pub/RADIO_MANUALS/YAESU/YAESU--FT-8900R-Service-Manual.pdf to download the radio's manual. It’s good to be familiar with the radio functions BEFORE operating during a deployment. A Quick reference guide as well as a channel guide are also available in a binder located on the shelf above the transceiver at NWS Gray.
2. Kenwood TS570 HF Transceiver
2. Kenwood TS570 HF Transceiver
SKYWARN HF frequencies are listed in this manual and also on laminated cards near the station. It is usually recommended to use 40 meters for daytime operations and 80 meters at night, although the radio can be tuned up on several of the HF bands.
Visit: https://www.hamradio.co.uk/userfiles/file/Kenwood%20Manuals/TS-570-English.pdf to download the radio’s manual.
3. Connect Systems CS801 DMR Transceiver
3. Connect Systems CS801 DMR Transceiver
BEFORE USE: If you’re using the CS801 installed at NWS Gray, always check the coax position switch, mounted behind and to the left of the radio, and be sure it’s in the DMR position.
POWERING ON: First, be sure the power supply is on. To power the radio on, hold down the round red power button for 2-3 seconds. The LCD screen should glow amber and display the call sign briefly, before returning to a screen displaying a frequency, time slot, and talk group. Please refer to the CS801 Channel guide to find the desired repeater and Talk Group.
The knob on the left is used to adjust the volume.
Changing between Talk Groups
Use the arrow buttons, located to the right of the display, to toggle between Talk Groups. Using these arrows will only toggle between pre-programed Talk Groups or frequencies within the selected Zone.
Changing between Zones (Repeaters)
Use the P2 and P3 buttons to change the pre-programmed frequencies. These buttons are similar to the arrow buttons, except they allow you to scroll through the different repeaters that are programmed in the radio, instead of only the Talk Groups. Once you find one, select an appropriate Talk Group, using the arrow keys.
If you know the specific Zone that you want to go to, choose by pressing P4, then P3 to move to the second position, and then press P4 again to select. A long press of the up and down arrow keys will also change zones.
Most of the time, you should keep the radio on: 145.340 SKYWARN which is the Falmouth, ME repeater, on Time Slot 1, Talk Group 759 (SKYWARN).
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