Here’s our latest repeater database. 2-meter, 220, 440, and NOAA radio frequencies. Note the tabs (sheets) at the bottom. You can open this in Excel, in Google Sheets, etc.  Download here.

Just got this. Gotta say: I’m not crazy about it.

Let’s get this out of the way–the darn thing is flimsy. The paper is not quite as thin as a King James Bible, but pretty close. Worse, the cover is glossy, but the stock is thin. These aren’t quibbles. It just doesn’t seem durable.

But here’s the big change. In previous editions, repeaters were listed separately in sections for 2-meter, 440, 220, etc. Now they have ALL repeaters listed by state and then city. So, if you look at Birmingham, for example, ALL the repeaters, 2-meters, 440, etc., are listed together. It’s visually confusing. Or at least to me. Granted, the number of things that I find confusing is increasing.

The Alabama Link (http://www.alabamalink.info/About/) wants to build a statewide Yaesu Fusion network, “The Alabama Link.”

And, according to their website the Alabama Link will be linked to D-Star.

System Fusion Users will see D-Star Link show up on the radios and D-Star users will see KT4ROY Alabama Link show up. D-Star will be linked to System Fusion Alabama Link via the D-Star DCS006F reflector.

Last night I did a couple of hours as NCS for an active weather net on .88. First one for me. Why me? Because I was here and sort of willing. KK4YPK was at work. I waited. No one else was available and tornadoes were a really serious possibility.

I kept hoping someone else would volunteer! Thanks to NZ2O, who headed off to the NWS!

Here’s what I learned.

1. There’s a lot to keep up with. Too much, really, or at least for a first-timer. And, that was on a net that had multiple storms in different areas, but with no major casualties and not too much damage. A back-up/alternate NCS would be tremendously helpful. For example, I had trouble keeping up with which warnings were active, even though I was on NWS chat.  If I had someone just keeping up with that, it would have freed me up to track other things.

2. Once we had a tornado warning, I should have done less updating to keep the repeater clear for emergency traffic. Didn’t seem like too much at the time, but in retrospect, it was too much.

3. I did pass on one amateur radio report to the NWS. Fortunately, I passed it accurately. The report was “quarter-sized hail” and, happily, that’s what I passed on. But, in retrospect, I could easily have misheard it as “quarter-inch hail.” So, the lesson, repeat it back to the person reporting it and otherwise double- or triple-check for accuracy.

4. I really haven’t had time yet to really get trained to do this.  I hear from time-to-time some concerns expressed about nets being run by poorly-trained net control operators, like me. Not to be snarky, but just to be honest: Where are all the trained people?

Maybe the training convinces people they don’t want to do it!  Just kidding. Sort of.

Dale
N4HEY

We’re big fans of the Simplex Net and have talked with Deryl, WD4IGK, and agreed that this website is a good place to serve as the official home of the Central Alabama Simplex Net. Here’s our start and we’ll be adding more later.

I’ve made another attempt at creating the elusive list of Central Alabama repeaters. Read about it and download it here.

Online Storm Spotter training offered this month. See this link.