Directed Net Procedures for Skywarn Spotters

Adapted from the Skywarn Net Control Operations Manual
Copyright 1996, by Daniel R. Gropper, KC4OCG
and from original material by Dick Rawson, N6CMJ
(Submitted by Frank Mackey, K4EC)

Training for Skywarn cannot (and should not) take place "on the net" during severe weather. For Skywarn to be effective, everyone in the "system" needs to know their roles before severe weather strikes. All amateurs who monitor and participate in Skywarn should use proper directed net procedures to ensure effective flow of severe weather information between SKYWARN spotters and the NWS and/or emergency management personnel. They must also use standardized severe weather criteria set by the National Weather Service (NWS).
All Skywarn participants should take the Basic I Spotter Course. If you monitor the weather net and haven't taken t his course, it is highly recommended that you do so. To preregister for this (free) 3-hour class, contact the National Weather Service Dulles forecast office at (703) 260-0107, extension 231.
Basic I provides an overview of Skywarn, including severe weather criteria and how to properly call in reports. Completion of this course is required to receive a Skywarn ID number and is a prerequisite for all further NWS courses such as Basic II, Hurricanes, Winter Storms, Floods and Storm Damage Assessment.
Having an ID number is important because it informs the Net Control Station (NCS) and monitoring forecasters that you are trained and understand how to recognize severe weather and submit reports in the proper format. Often, well meaning, but untrained amateurs contact the weather net, causing valuable net time to be lost when Net Control must screen unnecessary reports of non-severe weather or respond to inappropriate queries.
If the Skywarn net is to run efficiently, stations must avoid calling unnecessarily. Doing so may prevent vital severe weather data reaching NWS needed to initiate a timely warning which may save lives.
When Skywarn has been activated, please do not call Net Control if you are not experiencing severe weather in your area! This is because non-severe weather reports and queries beyond the scope of approved NWS bulletins tie up the frequency and may prevent stations with urgent traffic from contacting Net Control.

If you are unable to attend a Basic I class, listen carefully to the instructions and severe weather criteria provided by net control. In summer these criteria are prioritized to identify severe thunder storms having potential to form tornados, cause flooding, or structural damage to buildings:

Identification Priorities:

Priority	Severe Criteria for Spring/Summer
1	TORNADOES, (funnel is in contact with the ground, or airborne debris is clearly visible).
	FUNNEL CLOUDS OR ROTATING WALL CLOUDS (apparent rotation without visual evidence of airborne debris).
2	LARGE HAIL (dime size or larger).
3	HIGH WIND 50 MPH OR GREATER (threshold for damage to unanchored structures and danger from wind blown debris)
4	FLOODING (Standing water on roadways, or streams over their banks).
5	RAIN ACCUMULATION IN EXCESS OF 1 INCH OR MORE PER HOUR (Measured accumulation, don't guess if you don't have a rain gage). Do state observations which indicate heavy rainfall such as severely reduced visibility or standing water in roadways.
6	DAMAGE CAUSED BY WIND OR LIGHTNING. This includes structural damage to buildings, windows broken by flying debris or fallen tree limbs of 4" diameter or more.
7	DOWNED TREES, OR POWER LINES.

Identification Priorities:

Priority	Severe Criteria for Winter
1	SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES (deemed a traffic hazard).
2	SEVERE ICING (>1/4 INCH) ON TREES, STREETS, OR POWER LINES.
3	A change from rain to SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN.
4	WIND IN EXCESS OF 30 MILES PER HOUR (when snow is present, falling or blowing, also note difference from 50 mph in summer due to wind chill)
5	DOWNED TREES, OR POWER LINES.
6	IMPASSABLE OR CLOSED ROADS.

Before calling Net Control, think about and know what you are going to say, so that valuable net time isn't wasted in Net Control having to query you for information or to repeat your traffic. The following directed net procedures are highly recommended:

How to report things:

Step	Action Item
1	Establish initial contact with NCS by stating your call sign only. Wait for NCS to recognize you before transmitting further. If you jump in without being recognized, you may double with someone who then must repeat their traffic, which wastes time.
2	When recognized by NCS, don't speak immediately as you press the "PTT". Wait a half second before speaking. This is because the transceiver takes an instant to change from receive to transmit. There is also a slight delay when going through the repeater. Most hand helds power down after several minutes of standby and need an instant to "wake up.".
3	Answer Net Control's questions as directly as possible. Speak slowly and clearly, using short, simple phrases. Do not offer lengthy explanations. If you think that additional information you have is vital, be brief. Let NCS ask for more detail.
4	Keep all contact with net control brief and to the point. This allows others to "break" in if they have an emergency.
5	Organize your thoughts before calling. Experienced spotters write down their observations and the time before calling.
6	Be prepared to give Net Control your compass direction and distance from the nearest town or State road intersection. Do not use a place names unless shown on a State road map or USGS topo.
7	Always release your "PTT" when you stop speaking. Otherwise you tie up the frequency so no one can break in.
8	Never use Q-signals on phone. Use only plain language because it is more readily understood, with less possibility for misunderstanding.
9	Use correct "procedural words." These quickly convey complex ideas, but are effective only if everyone understands them and uses them correctly:
	"OVER" - Indicates end of transmission, when a reply is expected.
	"CLEAR" - Indicates end of transmission when no reply is expected, returning the frequency to service, but indicating the station is standing by, ready to receive further bulletins or instructions.
	"OUT" - Indicates end of final transmission when changing frequency or leaving the air when no operator will be accessible to the radio.
	"ROGER" Means that the traffic has been received and understood in its entirety. It does not mean "yes" or signify agreement.
	"AFFIRMATIVE" or "NEGATIVE" Are always used instead of "yes" or "no" because their sound is distinctive and their meaning is clear under marginal conditions.
	"DIRECT" Means that you copy a third party directly and to not require a relay to receive and understand the traffic.
	"WAIT" Cease transmission and stand by until contacted by Net Control.
	"BREAK!" USED TO ENTER THE NET IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. This means to clear the frequency for urgent traffic involving immediate threat to safety. (This differs from practice in NTS nets where an NCS uses "Break" to end a transmission with one station and goes immediately to the next).
10	Just because it is noisy don't yell into the radio! It's natural to do this, but it only makes matters worse. This is because when you over-modulate, your transceiver deviates outside the pass band of the repeater, clipping your audio so that you can't be understood. The only way to overcome background noise is to reduce it, by closing the car window or shielding the mike from the wind, or simply waiting until it passes
11	Disconnect outside antennas during thunderstorms! Skywarn operators should always be prepared to operate from an indoor antenna and have 24-hours of battery power
	A 2-meter hand-held with external 12 volt DC power, providing 5 watts output, connected to a magnetic mount antenna, placed indoors on an improvised ground plane such as the top of a refrigerator, washing machine, filing cabinet or other large metal object, makes a safe and satisfactory severe weather station, capable of reaching the 147.300 Bluemont repeater from Northern Virginia, most of suburban and western Maryland and the West Virginia panhandle
12	When conditions are poor (or if your signal is weak so that copy is difficult) spell your call sign and place names phonetically. Always use the ITU phonetic alphabet. Don't say the letter "OH" as in OSCAR , if you mean the figure "ZERO."

If you follow the above operating procedures, your reports will be easily understood and less net time will be wasted in unnecessarily repeated traffic. Good radio procedure reflects pride, efficiency and competence. Please do your part to set a good example for your fellow operators.

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